Printing – Selective or progressive – Rotary machines
Patent
1991-02-04
1994-11-15
Eickholt, Eugene H.
Printing
Selective or progressive
Rotary machines
101110, 235130R, B41L 4746
Patent
active
053637607
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a rotor unit for a postage meter machine and to a method for operating such rotor unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Postage meter machines are commercially available in a number of variations. A printing rotor which comprises a postage value stamp on its cylindrical surface is standard in these machines. The numerals on this value stamp are selectively movable and are set by the user according to the postage required in each case. A counter or meter amount storage, in which all meter amounts and postage amounts are added up so that they can be accounted for by the authorized postal authority, is coupled with the postage value stamp. In addition, a place and date stamp, an advertizing stamp and possibly other stamps are arranged on the cylinder surface of the printing rotor and can be set as desired.
In metering, the printing rotor rolls over the postal item to be metered, e.g. a letter, making a complete revolution and in so doing imprints the various stamps one after the other. Such a postage meter machine is described for example in Hasler Mitteilungen [Hasler Review] 37 (Apr. 1978), No. 1, pages 1-7 (R. Grunig: Die Frankiermaschine Hasler Mailmaster [The Hasler Mailmaster Postage Meter Machine]).
In the past, the postage value stamp was generally adjusted via toothed racks which are supported in the shaft of the printing rotor so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of this shaft and constitute part of a working connection between the value stamp and the meter amount storage. Patent CH 160 586 is referred to in this regard by way of example.
A newer postage meter machine is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,164 in which the postage amounts are set without the aid of toothed racks of the aforementioned type. This postage meter machine has a printing rotor which is supported on its shaft so as to be rotatable. The printing rotor and the adjusting means therein can be connected in three different ways by means of a positioning rod, which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and by other means. Accordingly, three different modes of operation can be adjusted. In the "value select" or "digit select" operating mode, a printing wheel is rotated into a desired adjusting position while the rotor remains stationary, thereby setting a number to be imprinted. In the "print wheel select" (bank select) operating mode, the next print wheel to be set is mechanically coupled with the shaft while the rotor again remains stationary. Finally, in the third operating mode, "print", the rotor is rigidly coupled with the shaft in the conventional sense and the desired metering is effected in that the rotor rolls over the postal item running through it.
The shafts of all of the aforementioned postage meter machines are relatively complicated, and accordingly costly parts which can generally be produced only by chip-removing machining.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the invention is to provide a postage meter machine in which the shaft of the printing rotor is constructed in a more simple manner. Further, the remaining construction should be capable of being manufactured more easily and, thus, more cheaply.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotor unit for a postage-meter machine, comprising a rotatingly mounted rotor cylinder, at least one stamp, located on the rotor cylinder, with which are associated a number of adjustable number wheels, setting elements which can be mechanically coupled to the number wheels and by means of which these wheels can be set according to requirements of a user, a drive shaft that can be rotated in opposite directions and which acts together with the setting elements, a drive motor which drives the drive shaft either directly or via step-down gearing, locking means which lock against movement all numeral wheels whose setting is not to be changed at the particular time, and connecting means which, depending on the direction of rotation of the setting shaft, act in such a way that
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patent: 3890491 (1975-06-01), Malavazos et al.
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patent: 3965815 (1976-06-01), Lupkas et al.
patent: 4448122 (1984-05-01), Holland-Letz
patent: 4520725 (1985-06-01), Haug
patent: 4649814 (1987-03-01), Sette
patent: 4702164 (1987-09-01), Muller
patent: 4723486 (1988-02-01), Le Meur et al.
patent: 4739701 (1988-04-01), Haug
patent: 4771688 (1988-09-01), Muller
patent: 4774881 (1988-10-01), Schubert
Hasler Mitteilungen [Hasler Review] 37 (Apr. 1978), No. 1 pp. 1-7 (R. Grunig: Die Frankiermaschine Hasler Mail Master [The Hasler Mail Master Postage Meter Machine].
Lindenmueller Johann
Wagner Alois
Ascom Hasler AG
Eickholt Eugene H.
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