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US4492159A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Postage printing apparatus having a print head with a replaceable ribbon cartridge

Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1983-03-08
•
Granted: 1985-01-08
•
Expires: 2003-03-08
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Abstract

Abstract A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece having a cyclically operating drum for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter. The periphery of the drum has an aperture therein. Structure is provided to maintain the mailpiece against the drum as the mailpiece is fed by the drum and to cycle the drum. A matrix print head located internal to the drum has a printing position and non-printing position. The print head is automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum to its printing position, when the aperture is between the print head and the mailpiece. The print head is a matrix print head of impact or other type and includes a cooperating ribbon either inked or other to print on the mailpiece. The inked ribbon is contained in a replaceable cartridge. Structure is provided to activate the print head when it is in its printing position. The circumference of the drum may be fitted with a letterpress printing plate to allow simultaneous matrix printing of variable data and conventional rotary letterpress printing of repetitive data.

Inventors

  • 👤 John I. Clark

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 23:30
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; B; B41; B41J; B41J32/00; B41J32/02; G07B17/00467; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/0025; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/00548

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 205 words
A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece comprising: (a) a rotary operating drum means for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter, the periphery of the drum means having an aperture therein, (b) means for maintaining the mailpiece against the drum means as the mailpiece is fed by the drum, (c) means to cycle the drum means, (d) a reciprocating print head means located internal to the drum means having a printing position and non-printing position, the print head means being automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum means to its printing position when the aperture is between the print head means and a mailpiece, the print head means being an impact matrix print head, and (e) a replaceable cartridge located on and rotating with the drum means, the cartridge having first and second arms extending into the drum means, the cartridge containing an inked ribbon means, the print head means and inked ribbon means cooperate to print on the mailpiece, (f) means to activate the print head means when it is in its printing position, and (g) means associated with the print head means to advance the ribbon on activating of the print head means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 205 words
A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece comprising: (a) a rotary operating drum means for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter, the periphery of the drum means having an aperture therein, (b) means for maintaining the mailpiece against the drum means as the mailpiece is fed by the drum, (c) means to cycle the drum means, (d) a reciprocating print head means located internal to the drum means having a printing position and non-printing position, the print head means being automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum means to its printing position when the aperture is between the print head means and a mailpiece, the print head means being an impact matrix print head, and (e) a replaceable cartridge located on and rotating with the drum means, the cartridge having first and second arms extending into the drum means, the cartridge containing an inked ribbon means, the print head means and inked ribbon means cooperate to print on the mailpiece, (f) means to activate the print head means when it is in its printing position, and (g) means associated with the print head means to advance the ribbon on activating of the print head means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the replaceable cartridge is secured to the drum means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the drum means includes a generally circular plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein the replaceable cartridge extends through an aperture disposed in the plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the ribbon extends intermediate the first and second arms and during at least a portion of the cycle of the apparatus is disposed intermediate the first and second arms within a single plane.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2412472A Cited
US785709A Cited
US991203A Cited
US1433181A Cited
GB594026A Cited
US2586905A Cited
US3869986A Cited
US4373823A Cited
US4278023A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-01-08 1988-07-09 1989-01-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-01-08 1992-07-09 1993-01-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-01-08 1996-07-09 1997-01-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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