Removable mailing machine tape module

Europaisches P a t e n t a m t
®
(jj) Publication number:
European Patent Office
PATENT
{§) Date of publication of patent specification : 05.12.90
4 7 1
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Office europeen des brevets
EUROPEAN
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SPECIFICATION
® Int. CI.5: G 07 B 1 7 / 0 0
(§) Application number: 84102820.2
® Date of filing: 15.03.84
(H) Removable mailing machine tape module.
(D Priority: 21.03.83 US 477096
(43) Date of publication of application:
24.10.84 Bulletin 84/43
(45) Publication of the grant of the patent:
05.12.90 Bulletin 90/49
(H) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE FR GB LI
@ References
US-A-1 829
US-A-3 245
US-A-3917
(§) Proprietor: PITNEY BOWES, INC.
Walter H. Wheeler, Jr. Drive
Stamford Connecticut 06926 (US)
® Inventor: Wologodzew, Leo
127 Thompson Street
Huntington, Conn. 06484 (US)
(74) Representative: Patentanwalte Leinweber &
Zimmermann
Rosental 7/11 Aufg.
D-8000 Miinchen 2 (DE)
cited:
286
633
090
ffi
CM
CM
Q.
LU
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may
give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall
be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1 ) European patent convention).
^ouner Press, Leamington Spa, England.
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Description
Background of the Invention
The instant invention relates to mailing
machines and more particularly to a tape dispensing module which is removable from the mailing
machine for purposes of loading tape into the
module.
In mailing machines having postage meters
therein, provisions are made for the printing of a
postage indicia on tape as well as on envelopes.
For the most part, such machines are used
primarily for the printing of envelopes and the
leading end of the tape is maintained out of the
path of travel of the envelope through the printing
station. When a printed tape strip is desired, the
movement of the tape from its normal position of
rest must be in timed relation to the cyclic rotation
of the postage meter print drum bearing the
postage indicia, so that the printed indicia will be
properly positioned on the tape when the tape is
severed to form the strip. Positive control of the
tape to maintain this relationship between the
movement of the tape and rotation of the print
drum is also necessary to ensure a complete and
legible postmark impression with each machine
operation.
Loading of the tape into the milling machine
has posed many problems for the users of the
mailing machine. In many mailing machines, the
tape has to be loaded directly into the machine,
which, owing to its size and configuration, makes
installation of the tape in proper starting orientation a difficult procedure. There are machines
(US —A—3 917 090) which include tape housings
which slide or swing out from the mailing
machine, which facilitates installation of the tape,
but orienting and maintaining the lead end of the
tape in proper starting position still remains a
problem.
The invention therefore provides a removable
tape dispensing module which overcomes all of
the foregoing problems associated with loading
and orienting tape into a mailing machine by
being completely removable from the mailing
machine and by incorporating therein a device for
clamping the lead end of the tape when the
module is outside the mailing machine.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, the instant invention provides a
mailing machine including a postage meter for
printing postage impressions on tape, a removable tape dispensing module, and means for
receiving the removable tape dispensing module.
The removable tape dispensing module comprises a support housing, a shaft translatably
mounted in the housing, an advance roller slidably mounted on the inner end of and rotatably
with the shaft, a paddle pivotabiy mounted on the
housing and biased downwardly onto the
advance roller to thereby clamp the tape, a cam
fixedly mounted on the interior portion of the
shaft, the cam being engagable with the paddle to
lift the paddle away from the advance roller, a
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rotatable knob mounted on the outer end of the
shaft and capable of rotating the advance roller,
and means for effecting translation of the cam in
the direction of the axis of the shaft.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tape dispensing module according to the instant invention
separate from any mailing machine;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tape dispensing module seen in Fig. 1 mounted in a mailing
machine but showing the module oriented substantially perpendicular to the position seen in
Fig. 2;
Fig. 3 is a side, elevational view of the tape
dispensing module seen in Fig. 1 without any
tape;
Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 except it shows the
cam translated to the right to move the paddle up
and away from the advance roller.
Detailed Description
In describing the instant invention, reference is
made to the drawings, wherein there is seen a
tape dispensing module generally designated 10
mounted on a pair of guide rails 12 and 14
situated in a mailing machine 15. The tape dispensing module 10 includes a housing 16 which
can be conventiently installed or removed from
the mailing machine by sliding a pair of channels
17 and 19 respectively on the guide rails 12 and
14. The dispensing module 10 also includes a
shaft 18 the inner end of which engages a retainer
20 (see Figs. 3 and 4) seated in a sidewall 23 of the
mailing machine 15. A roll of tape 22 is supported
by the shaft 18, and the module 10 is removed
from the mailing machine when a new roll of tape
22 is mounted on the shaft 18, thereby making
installation of the tape 22 simple and convenient.
After the roll of tape 22 is mounted on the shaft
18 the lead end of the tape 22 is wound between
an outer guide shield 24 and an inner guide shield
26, around the roll 22 and over a rectangular
shroud 28 and an advance roller 30 and under a
paddle member 32 which is biased downwardly
against the advance roller 30 and the rectangular
shroud 28 by means of a torsion spring 34 (see
Fig. 1). The lead end of the tape 22 is thereby held
in a stationary position by being pinched between
the shroud 28 and the paddle member 32. The
advance roller 30 is slidably mounted on the inner
end of a rotatable, D-shaped, translatable shaft
36, to be discussed futher herein below. The
shroud 28 includes an opening (see Figs. 3 and 4)
through which the advance roller 30 is projected
in order to engage and advance the tape 22.
A camming plate 38 having a camming surface
40 is mounted on the translatable shaft 36. A knob
42 is mounted on the rotatable shaft 36 with a
sleeve 37 such that rotation of the knob 42 will
cause rotation of the shaft 36 but translation of
the shaft 36 will not effect translation of the knob
42. When a new roll of tape 22 is installed on the
shaft 18, the module 10 is remote from the
mailing machine, and the camming plate 38 is
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rged into the position shown in hgs. 1—3 Dy tne
/eight of the paddle member 32 exerting a down/ard force which effects a downward force on the
amming surface 40 which results in the camling plate 38 being moved out from under the
addle member 32. In this position, the paddle
lember 32 can effect a pinching action on the
sad end of the tape 22 against the advance roller
0 and the rectangular shroud 28, and thereby
ssure that the lead end of the tape roll 22 will be
1 proper position when the module 10 is inserted
ito the mailing machine.
Once the tape roll 22 is mounted in the module
0 and the lead end of the roll 22 is clamped by
he paddle member 32, the module 10 is ready for
ristallation in the mailing machine. As best seen
n Fig. 2, the mailing machine includes a rotatable
loor 44 which has a pair of guide tracks 46 and 48
or assisting in aligning the module 10 prior to
nsertion into the mailing machine. When the
loor 44 is in the open position, as shown in Figs. 1
md 3, the module 10 can be set on the guide
racks 46 and 48 by locating the guide rails 12 and
4 of the module 10 on the guide tracks 46 and 48
espectively. The module can then be slid into the
>osition shown in the drawings. The mailing
nachine includes an end of tape sensor 50 (see
:ig. 2) which is pivoted out of engagement with
he tape roll 22 by a supporting rod 52 when the
loor 44 is in the open position and which is
jivoted into sensing engagement against the roll
jf tape 22 when the door 44 is closed as seen in
:ig. 4.
Whenever the door 44 is not pressing against
he end of the shaft 36, the paddle member 32
jinches the lead end of the tape roll 22 against the
shroud 28. Accordingly, the lead end of the roll of
:ape 22 is always secure during installation of the
■oil. Once the module 10 is completely inserted in
:he mailing machine, the door 44 is closed as seen
n Fig. 4, which has the effect of urging the shaft
36 inward, which in turn causes the camming
plate 38 to move inward and engage the beveled
surface 54 of the paddle member 32. This camming action of the camming plate 38 on the
paddle member 32 causes the paddle member 32
to be lifted. The advance roller 30 is not translated
since it is slidably mounted on the shaft 36.
While the invention has been described with
reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is
not confined to the details set forth and this
application is intended to cover such modification
or changes as may come within the scope of the
following claims.
Claims
1. A mailing machine (15), comprising:
A. a postage meter for printing postage
impressions of tape;
B. a removable tape (22) dispensing module
(10) having
(i) a support housing (16),
(ii) a shaft (36) translatably mounted in said
ousing (16),
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on the inner end of and rotatable with said shaft
(36),
(iv) a paddle (32) pivotably mounted on said
housing (16) and biased downwardly onto said
advance roller (30) to thereby clamp the tape (22),
(v) a cam (38) fixedly mounted on the interior
portion of said shaft (36), said cam (38) being
engageable with said paddle (32) to lift said
paddle (32) away from said advance roller (30),
(vi) a rotatable knob (42) on the outer end of
said shaft (36) and capable of rotating the
advance roller (30), and
(vii) means (44) for effecting translation of
said cam (38) in the direction of the axis of said
shaft (36); and
C. means (12, 14) for receiving said removable
tape dispensing module (10).
2. The mailing machine of claim 1, wherein the
translation effecting means comprises a door (44)
rotatably secured to the mailing machine (15),
whereby closure of the door (44) effects movement of the paddle (32) away from the advance
roller (30), thereby allowing the advance roller
(30) to advance the tape (22).
3. The mailing machine of claim 2, wherein the
mailing machine (15) additionally includes a pair
of guide rails (12, 14) and the removable tape
dispensing module (10) includes a pair of
channels (17, 19) for sliding engagement with
said guide rails (12, 14) whereby the module (10)
is mounted in the mailing machine (15).
4. The mailing machine of claim 3, wherein the
mailing machine door (44) includes a pair of guide
tracks (46, 48) for assisting in aligning the module
(10) priorto insertion in the mailing machine (15).
5. The mailing machine of claim 4, wherein the
dispensing module (10) additionally comprises a
shroud (28) located between the advance roller
(30) and the paddle (32), said shroud (28) having
an opening through which the advance roller (30)
is projected for engagement with the tape (22).
Patentanspruche
1. Postmaschine (15), umfassend:
A. ein Frankiereinrichtung zum Aufdrucken von
Postwertzeichen auf ein Band;
B. ein abnehmbares Bandabgabemodul (10),
aufweisend
(i) ein Stutzgehause (16),
(ii) ein in dem Gehause (16) verschiebbar
gelagerte Welle (36),
(iii) eine Vorschubrolle (30), die auf dem
inneren Ende der Welle (36) verschiebbar und
zusammen mit dieser verdrehbar angeordnet ist,
(iv) eine Schaufel (32), die auf dem Gehause
(16) schwenkbar gelagert und nach unten gegen
die Vorschubrolle (30) vorgespannt ist, urn
dadurch das Band (22) einzuklemmen,
(v) eine Steuerkurve (38), die am inneren
Bereich der Welle (36) ortsfest angeordnet ist,
wobei diese Steuerkurve (38) mit der Schaufel
(32) in Eingriff bringbar ist, urn die Schaufel (32)
von der Vorschubrolle (30) abzuheben,
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(vi) einen Drehgriff (42), der am auBeren Ende
der Welle (36) angeordnet ist und mit dem die
Vorschubrolle (30) verdrehbar ist, und
(vii) eine Einrichtung (44) zum Verlagern der
Steuerkurve (38) in Richtung der Achse der Welle
(36); und
C. eine Einrichtung (12, 14) zur Aufnahme des
abnehmbaren Bandabgabemoduls (10).
2. Postmachine nach Anspruch 1, wobei die
Verlagerungseinrichtung eine Tur (44) umfaBt,
die and der Postmachine (15) schwenkbar befestigt ist, wodurch ein SchilielSen der Tur (44) ein
Abheben der Schaufel (32) von der Vorschubrolle
(30) bewirkt, so dalS die Vorschubrolle (30) das
Band (22) vowarts bewegen kann.
3. Postmachine nach Anspruch 2, wobei die
Postmaschine (15) zusatzlich zwei Fuhrungsschienen (12, 14) aufweist und das abnehmbare
Bandabgabemodul (10) zwei Nuten (17, 19) zum
Gleiteingriff mitdiesen Fuhrungsschienen (12, 14)
aufweist, wodurch das Modul (10) in der Postmaschine (15) gelagert ist.
4. Postmachine nach Anspruch 3, wobei die
Postmaschinentur (44) zwei Fuhrungsspuren (46,
48) aufweist zum Ausrichten des Moduls (10) vor
dem Einsetzen in die Postmaschine (15).
5. Postmachine nach Anspruch 4, wobei das
Bandabgabemodul (10) zusatzlich eine zwischen
der Vorschubrolle (30) und der Schaufel (32)
angeordnete Ummantelung (28) umfaBt, wobei
diese Ummantelung (28) eine Offnung hat, durch
die die Vorschubrolle (30) zum Eingriff mit dem
Band (22) hindurchragt.
Revendications
1. Machine d'affranchissement (15), comprenant:
A. un compteur d'affranchissement destine a
former des impressions de timbrage sur une
bande,
B. un module amovible (10) de distribution de
bande (22) comprenant;
(i) un boftier de support (16),
(ii) un arbre (36) monte afin qu'il puisse se
deplacer en translation dans le boftier (16),
(iii) un rouleau (30) d'avance monte sur I'extremite interne de I'arbe (36) de mainere qu'il
puisse coulisser sur I'arbre tout en pouvant tourner avec lui.
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(iv) une platte (32) montee sous forme articulee sur le boftier (16) et rappelee vers le bas, vers
le rouleau d'avance (30), afin qu'elle serre la
bande (22),
(v) une came (38) montee a demeure sur la
partie interne de I'arbre (36), la came (38) etant
destinee a etre au contact de la palette (32) afin
qu'elle ecarte la palette (32) du rouleau d'avance
(30),
(vi) un bouton rotatif (42) monte a I'extremite
externe de I'arbre (36) et permettant la rotation du
rouleau d'avance (30), et
(vii) un dispositif (44) destine a provoquer le
deplacement en translation de la came (38) dans
la direction de I'axe de I'arbre (36), et
C. Un dispositif (12, 14) destine a loger le
module amovible (10) de distribution de bande.
2. Machine d'affranchissement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le dispositif destine a
provoquer, le deplacement en translation comprend une porte (44) fixee de maniere articulee
sur la machine d'affranchissement (15), de
maniere que la fermeture de la porte (44) provoque un deplacement de la palette (32) qui
s'ecarte du rouleau d'avance (30) si bien que le
rouleau d'avance (30) peut faire avancer la bande
(22).
3. Machine d'affranchissement selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle la machine d'affranchissement (15) comporte en outre une paire de rails de
guidage (12, 14), et le module amovible (10) de
distribution de bande comporte deux canaux (17,
19) destines a couilisser le long des rails de
guidage (12, 14) de maniere que le module (10)
dans
la
machine
etre
monte
puisse
d'affranchissement (15).
4. Machine d'affranchissement selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle la porte (44) de la machine
comprend deux voies de guidage (46, 48) destinees a faciliter I'alignement due module (10)
avant son introduction dans la machine
d'affranchissement (15).
5. Machine d'affranchissement selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle le module de distribution
(10) comporte en outre une joue (28) placee entre
le rouleau d'avance (30) et la palette (32), la joue
(28) ayant une ouverture par laquelle depasse le
rouleau d'avance (30) afin qu'il vienne au contact
de la bande (22).
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