US3823666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Value dispensing mechanisms
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1973-04-16
•
Granted: 1974-07-16
•
Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A postage meter having a mechanism which is rotatable to print a postage impression of a selected value. A mechanism for setting the postage value is provided, and is assembled with the printing mechanism for rotation therewith. This setting mechanism includes selector wheels which are coaxially rotatable, and setting bars which are longitudinally translatable in response to rotation of the selector wheels. Economic accountability is assured by postage registers having four drivable decimal orders, and input pinions for each such order. The setting mechanism has four adjustable register-driving gear clusters which are normally disengaged from the register pinions, but engage them during printing. Mechanisms are provided for choking the register, and for clamping the choke devices to provide positive register locking when the driving gear clusters are disengaged from the pinions. The setting bars comprise an assembly of individual bar members, pairs of which are connected together for joint translation. The bars are nested in a unique way, and are formed with respective gear tooth racks which adjust the registerdriving gear clusters and set the numerical value of the postage printing wheels. Rectification is accomplished by pawls which engage the setting bar racks, and have a mutually interlocking relationship with a shutter disk. This interlock operates either to disable the meter trip mechanism, and thus prevent postage printing operation, when the setting bars are not in rectified position; or to lock the setting bars during a postage printing cycle. A deadlock latch, which acts as an intermediate link between the shutter disk and trip mechanism, also blocks the trip mechanism when the descending postage balance is low, or the register compartment access door is open.
Inventors
- 👤 W Hanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:16
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/00548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a value dispensing device of the type having variable numerical value dispensing means, and a value setting assembly including selector means and bar means which are longitudinally translatable in response to said selector means and which have a toothed rack thereon; the improvement comprising: pawl means arranged to nest between said rack teeth when said bar means is in at least one predetermined position; means pivotally mounting said pawl means whereby to rotate into and out of nested engagement with said teeth; means including a lockable and releasable trip mechanism operative to drive said value dispensing means when said trip mechanism is released; and shutter means movable to release said trip mechanism and engaging with said pawl means in a manner (1) to prevent such movement of said shutter means when said pawl is out of said nested engagement, and (2) to prevent movement of said pawl means out of said nested engagement when said shutter means moves to release said trip mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a value dispensing device of the type having variable numerical value dispensing means, and a value setting assembly including selector means and bar means which are longitudinally translatable in response to said selector means and which have a toothed rack thereon; the improvement comprising: pawl means arranged to nest between said rack teeth when said bar means is in at least one predetermined position; means pivotally mounting said pawl means whereby to rotate into and out of nested engagement with said teeth; means including a lockable and releasable trip mechanism operative to drive said value dispensing means when said trip mechanism is released; and shutter means movable to release said trip mechanism and engaging with said pawl means in a manner (1) to prevent such movement of said shutter means when said pawl is out of said nested engagement, and (2) to prevent movement of said pawl means out of said nested engagement when said shutter means moves to release said trip mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein: said shutter means is formed with a pawl-receiving opening aligned with said pawl means; said pawl means, when not nested between said teeth, projecting into said pawl-receiving opening in position to engage said shutter means upon trip-mechanism-releasing movement thereof; said shutter means is arranged so that said trip-mechanism-releasing movement thereof moves said pawl-receiving opening out of engageable alignment with said pawl means and interposes the body of said shutter means to block rotation of said pawl means; and said pawl means is arranged so that, when the body of said shutter means is so interposed, said pawl means is locked in nested engagement with said teeth whereby to prevent the movement of said bar means which is required to operate said setting means, whereby a change of value setting cannot be accomplished during operation of said dispensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein: said shutter means has a locking surface; said device further comprising deadlock means pivotable between positions for engaging with and disengaging from said shutter locking surface, said deadlock means when in said engaging position blocking said movement of said shutter means whereby to prevent operation of said value dispensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein said trip mechanism comprises: sensing means which moves toward said deadlock means during operation of said trip mechanism, said sensing means motion being effective, if said deadlock means is not blocked, to drive said deadlock means from said shutter-engaging to said disengaging position thereof, whereby to release said shutter means and allow said trip mechanism to operate said value dispensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device as in claim 3 further comprising: a blocking member arranged for movement from a deadlock means unblocking position to either of two positions for blocking said deadlock means in said shutter-engaging position thereof whereby to prevent operation of said value dispensing means; first means for moving said blocking means to a first one of said blocking positions; and second means for moving said blocking member to a second one of said blocking positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said value dispensing means comprises a driven gear affixed thereto for rotation therewith about said first axis, said device comprising means including a drive gear driving said driven gear whereby to drive said value dispensing means through said operating rotation, said setting means being assembled with said driven gear, said shutter means being movably mounted on said driven gear for moving said pawl-receiving opening out of alignment with said pawl means and locking of said pawl means in nested position by said shutter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 6 wherein said rotating value dispeNsing means comprises a carriage slideably supporting said bar means, said driven gear being mounted on said carriage whereby said value dispensing means rotates in response to said driven gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as in claim 6 further comprising means for moving said shutter means relative to said driven gear to assume said pawl-locking position at a predetermined phase of said value dispensing rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as in claim 8 wherein said shutter moving means comprises a spring biasing said shutter means into said pawl-locking position, said deadlock means in its engaging position blocking said spring-driven movement of said shutter means, and releasing said shutter means for such movement when driven out of its shutter engaging position by said trip mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 8 further comprising means for locking said shutter means in pawl-locking position relative to said driven gear during value dispensing rotation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said shutter means is mounted for rotation into pawl-locking position coaxially with, and relative to, said driven gear, said device further comprising a lost motion coupling between said shutter means and said driven gear allowing sufficient relative rotation therebetween at the start of said value dispensing rotation for pawl-locking to take place, and means locking said shutter means and driven gear together for joint rotation during value dispensing operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said shutter locking means comprises gear teeth on the periphery of said shutter means arranged to mesh with said drive gear after said initial rotation of said shutter means permitted by said lost motion coupling, whereby said shutter means and driven gear thereafter maintain a fixed angular relationship with each other, through joint meshing with said drive gear, during said value dispensing rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a value dispensing device of the type having value dispensing means, means including a motor for driving said value dispensing means through an operating cycle, a switch for starting and stopping said motor, a trip mechanism for closing said switch to start a value dispensing cycle and re-opening said switch at the conclusion of said cycle, and secured means for setting and registering the numerical value to be dispensed; the improvement comprising: means responsive to said secured means for blocking operation of said trip mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a value dispensing device of the type having value dispensing means, means including a motor for driving said value dispensing means through an operating cycle, a switch for starting and stopping said motor, a trip mechanism for closing said switch to start a value dispensing cycle and re-opening said switch at the conclusion of said cycle, and secured means for setting and registering the numerical value to be dispensed; the improvement comprising: means responsive to said secured means for blocking operation of said trip mechanism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device as in claim 13 wherein: said trip mechanism comprises an operating control and trip means movable in response to said operating control for closing said motor switch; said trip means includes sensing means movable during operation of said trip means; and said blocking means comprises deadlock means responsive to said secured means for blocking said movement of said sensing means whereby to prevent operation of said trip means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
A device as in claim 14 further comprising: shutter means movable to release said sensing means from blocking engagement with said deadlock means, means biasing said shutter means to perform said releasing motion, said deadlock means being positioned to block said releasing motion of said shutter means, and said sensing means motion being effective, if said deadlock means is not blocked, to drive said deadlock means out of shutter-blocking-position whereby to release said shutter means, whereby said shutter means then releases said sensing means from said deadlock means to permit operation of said trip mechanism to drive said value dispensing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2306499A
Cited
US2321425A
Cited
US3363547A
Cited
US3363549A
Cited
US3381790A
Cited
US3515060A
Cited
US3494282A
Cited
US3572239A
Cited
US3618513A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |