Mailing machine including improved trip means

Claim 1

In a mailing machine including a postage meter, wherein the postage meter includes rotary printing means for printing indicia on a sheet fed to the machine, wherein the machine includes means for driving the printing means, wherein the machine includes means for feeding a sheet fed thereto downstream in a path of travel through the machine, the sheet feeding means includes an impression roller rotatably mounted beneath the rotary printing means, and wherein the impression roller has an inner end and an outer end, an improvement comprising: a. trip means including an elongate trip lever and a shaft on which the lever is pivotally mounted, the trip lever extending into the path of travel; b. the driving means including a trip switch actuatable for starting operation of the driving means; c. the trip means including a spring connected to the trip lever for normally holding the trip lever in actuating engagement with the trip switch to actuate the trip switch for maintaining the driving means ready for starting operation thereof, the trip lever pivoting about the shaft against the force of the spring when a sheet fed to the machine moves the trip lever, and the trip lever actuating the trip switch for starting operation of the driving means for rotating the printing means when a sheet moves the trip lever; and d. the trip lever normally extending above the path of travel to permit the printing means to rotate into engagement with the trip lever and pivot the trip lever against the force of the spring for lowering trip lever into the path of travel before engaging a sheet fed to the machine.