US5338387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular apparatus for preparing articles to be mailed
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-12-09
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Granted: 1994-08-16
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Expires: 2013-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A modular assembly of components is provided for various aspects of high volume mailing. The modular system of components includes a postage meter, having a base with a driving motor and a head driven by the driving motor and operative to apply selected postage to a piece of mail. The postage meter head can be selectively removed from the postage meter base. The modular systems of components further includes at least one accessory selectively mountable to the postage meter base and capable of being driven thereby. The accessory may include an applicator for applying a closure tab, a label or a stamp to an envelope or sheet of material being driven by the postage meter base.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin H. Noll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:51
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M5/00; B43M5/02; B43M5/025; B65; B65C; B65C1/00; B65C1/02; B65C1/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A modular apparatus for preparing sheets of material to be mailed, said apparatus comprising: a postage meter base having a motor, feed means operatively connected to said motor for sequentially feeding the sheets of material relative to said base and a driver operatively connected to the motor and projecting from said postage meter base; a postage meter head removably engageable with the postage meter base, said postage meter head including adjustable printing means driven by said driver of said base for sequentially printing indicia on the sheets of material driven by the postage meter base; and at least one applicator head removably engageable with the postage meter base upon removal of the postage meter head therefrom, said applicator head being engageable with the driver of the postage meter base for selectively applying adhesive backed applications to the sheets of material driven by the postage meter base, said applicator head comprising means for storing a strip of adhesive backed applications, means for selectively advancing said strip such that a leading application in said strip is in a position to be engaged by one said sheet driven by the postage meter base, and means for bursting said strip at a location for severing said leading application from said strip and enabling said application to be adhesively attached to said sheet of material driven by the postage meter base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A modular apparatus for preparing sheets of material to be mailed, said apparatus comprising: a postage meter base having a motor, feed means operatively connected to said motor for sequentially feeding the sheets of material relative to said base and a driver operatively connected to the motor and projecting from said postage meter base; a postage meter head removably engageable with the postage meter base, said postage meter head including adjustable printing means driven by said driver of said base for sequentially printing indicia on the sheets of material driven by the postage meter base; and at least one applicator head removably engageable with the postage meter base upon removal of the postage meter head therefrom, said applicator head being engageable with the driver of the postage meter base for selectively applying adhesive backed applications to the sheets of material driven by the postage meter base, said applicator head comprising means for storing a strip of adhesive backed applications, means for selectively advancing said strip such that a leading application in said strip is in a position to be engaged by one said sheet driven by the postage meter base, and means for bursting said strip at a location for severing said leading application from said strip and enabling said application to be adhesively attached to said sheet of material driven by the postage meter base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the applicator head further comprises detector means for sensing when said leading application is in a position to be severed from remaining portions of said strip, said detector means being connected to the means for advancing the strip and being operative to stop the advancing of the strip when the leading applicator is in the position to be engaged by the sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising brake means connected to said means for sequentially advancing said strip and connected to said detector means, said brake means being for stopping the sequential advancing of said strip when said leading application is in said position to be engaged by said sheet of material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said detector means is a photo-optical detector which is operative to detect registration marks on said strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising first and second strip gripping means on opposite respective sides of said means for bursting said strip, said strip gripping means holding said strip sufficiently tight to prevent movement in response to engagement of said strip by said means for bursting said strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said means for selectively advancing said strip comprises first and second feed rollers disposed on opposite respective sides of said means for bursting said strip, said first and second strip gripping means comprising springs for tightly urging said strip against said first and second feed rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said feed rollers have concave outer surfaces for preventing curling of said strip around said feed rollers and achieving accurate guiding of said leading application into the position for engagement by the sheet of material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said applicator head further comprises a roller rotatably mounted for tightly urging said leading application into adhesive engagement with the sheet of material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
168 words
A postage stamp applicator for applying adhesive backed stamps to sheets of material, said stamp applicator being usable with a postage meter having a base with a motor and having a postage meter head removably attached to said base, feed means operatively connected to said motor for sequentially feeding the sheets of material along a feed path adjacent said base and a driver operatively connected to the motor and projecting from the postage meter base, the stamp applicator removably engageable with the postage meter base upon removal of a postage meter head therefrom comprising: means for storing a unitary strip of adhesive backed stamps, means for selectively advancing said strip such that a leading stamp in said strip is in position to be engaged by one said sheet driven by the postage meter base, and means for bursting said strip at a location adjacent said leading stamp and enabling said leading stamp to be adhesively attached to one said sheet of material driven by the postage meter base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
A postage stamp applicator for applying adhesive backed stamps to sheets of material, said stamp applicator being usable with a postage meter having a base with a motor and having a postage meter head removably attached to said base, feed means operatively connected to said motor for sequentially feeding the sheets of material along a feed path adjacent said base and a driver operatively connected to the motor and projecting from the postage meter base, the stamp applicator removably engageable with the postage meter base upon removal of a postage meter head therefrom comprising: means for storing a unitary strip of adhesive backed stamps, means for selectively advancing said strip such that a leading stamp in said strip is in position to be engaged by one said sheet driven by the postage meter base, and means for bursting said strip at a location adjacent said leading stamp and enabling said leading stamp to be adhesively attached to one said sheet of material driven by the postage meter base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 9, further comprising detector means for sensing when said leading stamp is in a position to be bursted from remaining portions of said strip, said detector means being connected to the means for advancing the strip and being operative to stop the advancing of the strip when the leading stamp is in the position to be engaged by the sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 10, further comprising brake means connected to said means for sequentially advancing said strip and connected to said detector means, said brake means being for stopping the sequential advancing of said strip when said leading stamp is in said position to be engaged by said sheet of material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 10, wherein said detector means is a photo-optical detector which is operative to detect registration marks on said strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 9, further comprising first and second strip gripping means on opposite respective sides of said means for bursting said strip, said strip gripping means holding said strip sufficiently tight to prevent movement in response to engagement of said strip by said means for bursting said strip
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 13, wherein said means for selectively advancing said strip comprises first and second feed rollers disposed on opposite respective sides of said means for bursting said strip, said first and second strip gripping means comprising springs for tightly urging said strip against said first and second feed rollers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 14, wherein said feed rollers have concave outer surfaces for preventing curling of said strip around said feed rollers and for achieving accurate guiding of said leading stamp into the position for engagement by the sheet of material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A stamp applicator as in claim 9, further comprising a roller rotatably mounted for tightly urging said leading stamp into adhesive engagement with said sheet of material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-15 | 1998-02-14 | 1998-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-15 | 2002-02-14 | 2002-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-15 | 2006-02-14 | 2006-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |