U.S. patent number 3,791,293 [Application Number 05/125,686] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-12 for printing selectively on letters or on tape with flat bed printing means.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pitney-Bowes, Inc.. Invention is credited to Andrew W. Rastorguyeff, Frederick W. Uthenwoldt.
United States Patent |
3,791,293 |
Rastorguyeff , et
al. |
February 12, 1974 |
PRINTING SELECTIVELY ON LETTERS OR ON TAPE WITH FLAT BED PRINTING
MEANS
Abstract
A machine for printing selectively on letters or on lengths of
tape of the pressure sensitive adhesive type is provided by
combining with a postage meter having flat bed printing means, tape
supply and control means and a tape carrier which is projectible
into the throat of the postage meter to the printing station
therein, and means responsive to the position of the tape carrier
to condition the machine for ejecting printed letters or for
advancing the printed end of a tape strip a predetermined distance
to a position where it can be torn off, including means for taking
up slack in the tape when the carrier is retracted in shifting from
tape mode to letter mode operation.
Inventors: |
Rastorguyeff; Andrew W.
(Norwalk, CT), Uthenwoldt; Frederick W. (Glenbrook, CT) |
Assignee: |
Pitney-Bowes, Inc. (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
22420931 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/125,686 |
Filed: |
March 18, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/234; 101/92;
101/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B
17/00508 (20130101); G07B 2017/0025 (20130101); G07B
2017/0062 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07B
17/00 (20060101); B41f 013/24 (); B41f
001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/232,233,234,235,236,237,91,92,288,291,292 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Coughenour; Clyde I.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Soltow, Jr.; William D. Scribner;
Albert W. Wittstein; Martin D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A machine for printing either on individual pieces, such as
letters, sheets and the like, or on the leading end of a tape strip
of record material, which comprises:
a printing station disposed within the machine;
printing means disposed within the machine in predetermined
position relative to the printing station;
means to sense when either a letter or the leading end of a strip
of record material is positioned at the printing station and to
trigger the printing means to print on the said letter or the said
end of a strip of record material;
means actuated by the printing means for ejecting a letter from the
machine after it has been positioned at the printing station and
printed on;
a carrier for a portion of a length of a tape strip;
means for moving the carrier linearly and horizontally between
letter mode position remote from the printing station and a tape
mode position in which it presents at the printing station the
leading end of a tape strip of record material supported on the
carrier;
means for advancing the tape strip over the carrier a predetermined
amount to position the printed on end portion of the tape strip to
be detached from the remainder of the tape strip;
drive means;
means responsive to the said respective movements of the carrier to
connect the drive means to the letter eject means or to the strip
advancing means; and
means responsive to and actuated in sequence with a printing
operation on a letter or on a tape strip for actuating the drive
means.
2. The machine claimed in claim 1 in which the means actuated in
sequence with a printing operation for actuating the drive means
includes a reciprocable first member, the drive means includes a
letter eject drive clutch and a control arm therefor, a second
member interposable between said first member and the control arm,
and means for interposing the second member between the first
member and the control arm to communicate movement from the first
member to the control arm and close the clutch for the letter mode
operation.
3. The machine claimed in claim 1 in which the means responsive to
a printing operation for actuating the drive means includes a
reciprocable first member, the drive means includes a letter eject
drive clutch and a control arm therefor, a second member
interposable between said first member and the control arm, and
means for interposing the second member between the first member
and the control arm to communicate movement from the first member
to the control arm and close the clutch for the letter mode
operation, and means responsive to the position of the tape carrier
for preventing the second member from being interposed between the
first member and the control arm during tape mode operation.
4. The machine claimed in claim 1 in which the drive means includes
a tape drive clutch and means responsive to the position of the
tape carrier for controlling the tape drive clutch.
5. The machine claimed in claim 1 which incorporates a printing
device removably mounted on a base, and means responsive to
movement of the tape carrier to lock the said printing device on
the base when the tape carrier is positioned to present a tape
strip thereon at the printing station of the said device.
6. The means claimed in claim 1 including a carriage on which the
tape carrier is mounted, and support means on which the carriage is
movable to transport the tape carrier between a position remote
from the printing station and a position in which the carrier
presents the leading end of said record material at said
station.
7. A machine for recording data either on letters or on tape which
comprises:
a surface on which either a letter or a portion of a length of tape
may be positioned at a recording station preparatory to a recording
operation;
means for performing a recording operation disposed in relation to
a letter or a portion of a length of tape disposed at said
station;
means for actuating the recording means to perform a recording
operation on either a letter or a portion of a length of tape
positioned at the recording station;
a tape carrier on which a portion of a length of tape may be placed
and over which the tape may be advanced;
means for moving the carrier linearly and horizontally between a
position in which it presents a portion of a length of tape thereon
at said station and a position in which it and the tape thereon are
remote from said station;
letter eject means and means for operating it conditioned by
movement of the carrier to its said remote position and the
performance of a recording operation on a letter positioned at the
recording station;
tape advancing means operative to advance a length of tape when the
carrier is at its position for presenting a portion of a length of
tape at said station and a recording operation has been performed
thereon;
drive means; and
means responsive to the position of the tape carrier for connecting
drive means to the letter eject means or to the tape advancing
means.
8. The machine claimed in claim 7 in which the carrier is mounted
on a carriage and means are provided on which the carrier may be
moved toward and away from the recording station, to project the
carrier over said surface to its position for presenting a portion
of a length of tape at said station, and to withdraw the carrier
from said surface to its said remote position.
9. The machine claimed in claim 7 in which the carrier is mounted
on a carriage and means are provided on which the carriage may be
moved toward and away from the recording station to project the
carrier over said surface to its position for presenting a portion
of a length of tape at said station, and to withdraw the carrier
from said surface to its said remote position, the carriage
comprising a vertical slideway and a slide thereon to which the
carrier is attached, means for controlling the position of the
slide on said slideway, and other means coactive with the position
controlling means to cause the slide to move down its slideway when
the carrier is withdrawn to its remote position, and cause the tape
carrier to be lowered to a position below said surface.
10. The machine claimed in claim 7 in which the carrier is mounted
on a carriage and means are provided on which the carriage may be
moved toward and away from the recording station, to project the
carrier over said surface to its position for presenting a portion
of a length of tape at said station, and to withdraw the carrier
from said surface to its said remote position, the carriage
comprising a latching member, and means for engaging the latch when
the carrier is in either one of its said two positions.
11. The machine claimed in claim 7 in which the carrier is mounted
on a carriage and means are provided on which the carriage may be
moved toward and away from the recording station to project the
carrier over said surface to its position for presenting a portion
of a length of tape at said station, and to withdraw the carrier
from said surface to its said remote position, the carriage
comprising an arm to facilitate lifting the assembly comprising the
carriage, slide and tape carrier and moving it between its said two
positions, said arm being mounted on the carriage for movement
between a latching position and an operating position, and means
adapted to coact with the arm when it is in its latching position
to engage the carriage when it is at either limit of its carrier
positioning travel.
12. In the machine claimed in claim 7 in which means are provided
for lifting a letter or a tape portion supported on the carrier
from the said surface for a recording operation to be performed and
the tape drive means comprises an electric control circuit
including an on-off switch, means comprising a plurality of members
including a triggering means for closing said switch, and means
movable up and down with the carrier for triggering said triggering
means.
13. A machine for printing on either individual pieces, such as
letters, sheets and the like, or on the leading end of a tape strip
of record material: comprising
a frame;
a printing machine carried by said frame and having a relatively
narrow slot type throat that effectively defines a printing
station;
guide means on said frame defining a substantially flat straight
feed path that is co-extensive with the plane of said slot type
throat of said printing machine;
a flat elongated tape carrier;
mounting means for supporting said tape carrier in cantilever
fashion on said frame for endwise planar movement along said flat
straight feed path into and out of a first position wherein the
cantilevered portion thereof is disposed within said narrow slot
type throat of said printing machine;
said mounting means allowing movement of said tape carrier to a
rectracted position wherein said cantilevered portion of said
carrier is disposed out of said feed path;
means for feeding individual pieces along said flat feed path and
through said slot type throat when said tape carrier is in said
retracted position; and
means for feeding tape strip record material along said flat tape
carrier when the latter is in said first position wherein said
cantilevered portion of said carrier is disposed within said slot
type throat of said printing machine.
14. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said mounting means is
arranged to allow said tape carrier to move in a direction that is
substantially normal to said plane of said slot type throat during
the terminal portion of said movement of said carrier to its said
retracted position.
15. Apparatus as defined by claim 14 wherein said mounting means
includes a cam means for moving said tape carrier in said normal
direction in response to said terminal portion of said carrier
movement.
16. Apparatus as defined by claim 13 wherein said tape strip of
record material comprises two layers of material, one print
receiving layer and one backing layer, and wherein said means for
feeding tape strip record material includes a means for taking up
said backing layer after the latter has moved around the free end
of said flat cantilevered portion of said tape carrier when the
latter is operatively disposed in its said first position.
17. Apparatus as defined by claim 13: additionally comprising means
for positioning said feeding means for said individual pieces so as
to prevent insertion of individal pieces into the said slot type
throat of said printing machine when said flat tape carrier is in
its said first position.
18. Apparatus as defined by claim 17 wherein said means for
positioning said feeding means is operated in response to the said
terminal portion of said carrier movement for permitting insertion
of said individual pieces into said slot like throat of said
printing machine.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore no flat bed printing machine of the postage meter type
has been available to print selectively on letters or on tape. Flat
bed printing machines for printing only on separate work pieces
such as letters are known, and in co-pending application Ser. No.
806,099 filed Mar. 1, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,163 issued Apr.
27, 1971, means are provided for speedily ejecting documents such
as letters from a postage meter of the flat bed printing type. In
co-pending application Ser. No. 66,350, filed Aug. 24, 1970, now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,527, a machine of the flat bed printing type is
provided for printing selectively on one, or on more than one unit
length of the print receiving tape strip which is initially the top
ply of a two ply composite strip, and thereafter advancing the tape
a distance equal to one or more units of the printed strip in
accordance with the number of units printed upon, to project the
printed on end portion of the top tape strip perforation provided
for this purpose for use as a label and to advance the under ply to
a take-up reel. Travel of the tape strip which initially is the
under ply of said two ply strip is employed to rotate a star wheel
by which the extent of advance of the tape is controlled by pre-set
means. The star wheel has peripheral projections that are engaged
in holes along a margin of said under ply, and a predetermined
number of circularly disposed projecting contact pins, the spacing
between the pins being determinative of the length of a tape
advance. By the present invention a single machine is provided for
printing selectively either on letters and the like or on the top
ply of tape of the kind described in said co-pending application
Ser. No. 66,350, and the length of each tape advance is subject to
control by a star wheel as in said copending application.
The word "letter" is used herein broadly to include individual
pieces such as sheets. The term "print receiving tape" is used
broadly to mean a strip of record material. The term "printing" is
used broadly to mean the recording of data or indicia.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
The described embodiment of the invention incorporates a letter
printing postage meter of known kind and adds to it a tape carrier
which can be projected into the throat of the postage meter for
tape mode operation of the machine, or retracted from the meter
throat for letter mode operation. The tape carrier supports and
carries with it, an intermediate portion of a tape strip which
extends from a supply roll to, over and around the end of the tape
carrier and over and around guide means and past a star wheel to a
take-up reel which is driven by means controlled by the position of
the tape carrier, and the end portion of a print receiving tape
strip which is superimposed upon the first mentioned tape strip and
travels with it from the supply roll to the end of the carrier.
When the tape carrier is projected into the throat of the postage
meter, means in the base section are actuated for locking the
postage meter to the base to prevent damage to the tape carrier due
to lifting of the postage meter from the base, and other means are
actuated to keep disengaged a letter mode clutch used
intermittently during letter mode operation for driving letter
eject means, and to engage a tape mode clutch for advancing the
tape; and to lift a ramp defining arm to deflect upwardly the
advancing printed end portion of the upper ply of the tape to a
position in which it can be conveniently severed. When the tape
carrier is withdrawn from the postage meter throat the meter
locking clutch operating and ramp bar lifting actions are reversed,
and means are actuated for taking up the resulting slack in both
the composite tape and in the portion of the second tape strip
between the forward end of the carrier and the take-up reel.
When a printing operation is performed on the print receiving tape
strip, by means within the postage meter, linkage and a series of
interacting members including a segmental cam, a star wheel latch,
and a latch release member, are actuated to control an electric
circuit and cause the composite tape to be advanced a predetermined
distance and simultaneously release a tape brake and hold it
released until the tape has travelled the predetermined distance.
Other means actuated by movement of the tape carrier and its
support means release the tape brake whenever the carrier is
shifted, so that tape can be drawn from the supply roll when the
carrier is being projected into the throat of the meter, or rewound
on the outside of the tape roll holder to take up slack in the
composite tape occuring between the tape supply holder and the
carrier when the carrier is retracted from the meter throat.
Slack in the protective tape strip occuring between the forward end
of the carrier and the take-up reel is taken up in a loop formed by
a gravity controlled member which rides on the said tape strip.
A manually operable horizontally movable cam is provided by means
of which, acting with cam follower means and coacting members and
linkage, the tape drive means may be deactuated preparatory to
threading tape into the machine; the star wheel may be freed to
rotate; and the tape brake held in released position so that the
tape may be freely drawn from the supply roll.
An object of the invention is to provide a single machine of the
postage meter flat bed printing type capable of printing
alternatively on separate pieces such as letters, sheets and the
like, or on successive end portions of an intermittently advanced
tape strip.
The invention will be best understood by reading the following
description in connection with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention
comprising three sections including, a postage meter section,
positioned above a base section, and a tape handling section, with
the front cover of the machine removed and some parts omitted for
clarity, partly cut away and with some parts in cross section;
FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing a tape
supply roll mounted within a holder which is rotatable to take up
slack in a length of tape led through a slot in the peripheral wall
of the holder and lightly tensioned against the outer surface of
said holder wall;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation showing a supporting wall, partly cut
away, within the tape handling section with some means mounted on
both sides of the wall for simultaneously actuating and controlling
tape advancing and stopping means and tape brake actuating and
deactuating means;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a tape carrier and carriage assembly,
including a slide on which the carrier is supported and a tape hold
down member also supported from said slide above the carrier;
FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the tape carrier and carriage and of
the slide which is movable vertically on the carriage when the tape
carrier is fully withdrawn from the throat of the postage
meter;
FIG. 6 is an elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 5, partly in
section, showing the carriage operating handle and how it swings an
elongated u-member to actuate a switch and cause the tape brake to
be released while the carriage and tape carrier are being
shifted;
FIG. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 5;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged detail views of swinging cam mechanism,
triggered by a pin on the carriage as it is raised and falls for
each tape printing operation, for simultaneously actuating the tape
drive and tape brake release means;
FIG. 11 is a plan view taken on the line 11--11 of FIG. 12 showning
an angle cam member and cam follower means, and an operating handle
for manually moving the cam in preparing for threading tape into
the machine by inhibiting the switch controlled tape drive while
freeing the star wheel and releasing the tape brake;
FIG. 12 is a front elevation partly in section showing the star
wheel, the switch which controls the tape drive and tape brake
release means, the segmental cam mounted on the star wheel shaft by
which the switch is controlled, and the angle cam, and cam follower
and other means for actuating the swinging cam to open and
deactuate the switch and free the star wheel and release the tape
brake, including the lower end of a tape brake control link the
full length of which is shown in FIG. 3; and also showing means for
controlling and taking up slack in the protective tape strip
between the carrier and the take-up reel, and tape slack control
arm lock means controlled by the angle cam;
FIG. 13 is a wiring diagram;
FIG. 14 shows the position of the tape when threaded through the
machine with the tape carrier extended for tape mode operation of
the machine;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the position of
the tape when the tape carrier is retracted for letter mode
operation;
FIG. 16 is a front elevation of the letter eject and tape mode
clutch drive train;
FIG. 17 is a plan view of the drive means for letter mode and tape
mode operation; and
FIG. 18 shows a length of composite tape T disposed as it is on the
track, with print receiving strip t-1 divided into units of equal
length by transverse lines of perforation, and with the laterally
extending margin of protective strip t-2 provided with slots which
are aligned with the lines of perforation, and with strip t-2
doubled back as strip t-1 is separated from it and extends
forwardly.
DESCRIPTION
The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises three
sections, indicated generally by the numerals 10, 12 and 14.
Section 10 is a postage meter of known kind for printing a postage
stamp impression with or without other indicia in the upper right
hand corner of letters and the like. Section 12 contains tape
handling means including a tape carrier projectible into the throat
T of the postage meter comprising section 10. Section 14 laterally
adjoins section 12 and provides a base on which section 10 is
placed. It contains drive means, for actuating letter eject
mechanism when the machine is in letter operating mode, and for
driving a tape strip take-up roll when the machine is in tape
operating mode. It also contains means connected with means in
section 12 and responsive to the position of the tape carrier, as
will be explained, for shifting the drive means between letter and
tape operating modes.
Tape from a supply roll R mounted on the hub h of a tape supply
roll holder H rotatably mounted on arm 442 extending up from the
left end of section 12 is led through a slot s in the rim of the
holder and under the tensioning end of a spring clamp S which
extends over the slot, and through guideway g to the tape carrier
180 which is spaced from the forward end of the guideway. The tape
used in this machine is a composite tape of the kind described in
said co-pending patent application Ser. No. 66,350 and referred to
above and in its composite form as shown in FIG. 18 is identified
herein as t. The print receiving top ply tape strip, which is
separated from the under ply, protective strip adjacent the forward
end of the tape carrier, is identified as t-1, and the protective
strip which extends all the way from the tape supply roll to the
take-up reel and not only carries strip t-1 with it to the point of
separation but also has holes 319 in its margin which engage
peripheral projections on the star wheel and causes the star wheel
to rotate when it is advanced by being wound up on the take-up
reel, is identified as t-2.
Since a postage meter of this kind comprising section 10 is well
known and contains its own motor and actuating mechanism mention is
made herein only of its following structural features which enable
sections 12 and 14 to co-act with section 10.
The meter is mounted on the portion of the base section 14
adjoining section 12 and is locked in position by a sliding plate
17 which engages locating pins 16 on the bottom of the meter. A
slot 18 is provided in the bottom plate of the meter and for tape
mode operation a finger 20 pivotally mounted in base section 14 is
swung up into the slot, by means to be described, and prevents
movement of the sliding plate 17 out of engagement with the
locating pins 16 thereby preventing the meter from being removed
from the base section when the tape carrier is located in the
throat T of the meter.
A sensing probe 22 pivoted at 24 within the meter is biased by a
spring 26, see FIG. 4, to project into the throat T of the postage
meter and, when moved inwardly by a letter or by the tape carrier,
conditions the postage meter to perform a printing operation when
the meter starting button 28 is depressed.
Flush with the deck 11 and within the throat T is a platen 30 which
is raised each time starting switch control button 28 is depressed
and lifts any work piece positioned within the throat and abutting
the probe, into contact with flat bed printing means (not shown)
disposed above the throat.
In the bottom of the postage meter is an opening 32 and vertically
aligned with it within the meter is a pin 34 (FIG. 1) which each
time after the meter starting button 28 has been depressed, and
near the end of the resulting printing operation, is reciprocated
through a short stroke downward by means within the meter, not
shown. In the known machine for exclusively printing on letters and
the like each downward movement of pin 34 is employed to strike the
upturned end of a pivoted eject clutch control arm and release the
clutch long enough to permit eject mechanism to eject the letter
which has just been printed on. In the machine described herein
control arm 36, similar to the control arm referred to above but
having a shorter turned-up end, 38, is employed for intermittently
actuating the letter eject means during letter mode operation. In
this machine the pin 34 does not strike the upturned end 38 of
control arm 36 during tape mode operation but only when a flag
member 42 is interposed between pin 34 and the upturned end 38 of
arm 36, which occurs only during letter mode operation as will be
explained.
Within the meter above its throat T a pressure roller assembly is
indicated in FIG. 1 by numeral 48. When operating in letter mode,
each time a letter is printed the pressure roller assembly is
lowered on it, by means described in said co-pending U. S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 806,099 and not shown herein, to co-act with
the drive rollers 50 and 52, located below deck 11 and accessible
through deck openings to the lower surface of the letter, in
ejecting the letter from the meter.
In the machine disclosed in said co-pending U. S. application Ser.
No. 806,099, as soon as a letter was ejected from within the meter
it was engaged between opposed pairs of rollers to be conveyed a
further distance away from the postage meter. As shown herein,
however, an endless belt 54, extending around driven pulley 56 and
idler pulley 58, is provided within the base section in position to
receive letters as they are ejected from the postage meter, and a
pressure plate 60 with an upturned front end is provided spaced
just above, and in parallel relation to, the top flight of the
endless belt. The drive rollers 50 and 52 and the driven pulley 56
are all driven from gear 64 on stub shaft 63 when the letter eject
drive clutch 80 is engaged, the drive being from motor M (FIG. 17)
and clutch shaft 62, clutch 80 and stub shaft 63 to gear 64 and
through large gear 66 to gears 68 and 70 on the drive roller
shafts, and through gears 72, 74 and 76 to gear 78 on the driven
pulley shaft, as shown in FIG. 16. The provision of the pressure
plate cooperating with the endless belt has the advantage of
providing more space on the ejection end of the postage meter into
which the printed end of a tape strip t-1 may be projected when
operating in tape mode, and gives the operator more room to grasp
the end of the tape strip and tear it off along one of the lines of
perforations, not shown, by which the tape strip may be divided
into units of equal length. Into the space thus provided the bent
over ramp defining end 84 of a pivoted ramp bar 82 is projected, by
means to be described, for operating in tape mode. The ramp
provides an upwardly sloping surface which serves to deflect
upwardly the printed leading end of projected tape strip t-1.
As seen in FIG. 17, a gear 87 on clutch shaft 62 meshes with a gear
88 on a shaft 94 which may be connected through clutch 96 with a
pulley 98, mounted on stub shaft 99, connected by belt 100 with a
pulley 102 (FIG. 1) mounted on the shaft 101 of a tape take-up reel
104, located in section 12, to which the leading end of tape strip
t-2 is connected in any suitable way. The drive from motor M is to
gear 64 when the letter eject drive clutch 80 is engaged, and it is
to pulley 98 on stub shaft 99 when the clutch 96 is engaged.
The letter eject drive clutch 80 is controlled by arm 36 referred
to above. As seen in FIG. 1, arm 36 is pivotally mounted
intermediate its ends on the support wall W at 37. Its down turned
end 39 is adapted to enter and engage in a recess 81 in clutch
member 80a and is biased to do so by spring 80b, and while so
engaged the clutch 80 is disengaged. When the down stroke of pin 34
is communicated to the upturned end 38 of arm 36 through the
interposed flag 42 the down turned end 39 of arm 36 is lifted from
the recess 81 and the clutch 80 engages for one revolution during
which the letter eject means is driven. Projecting from the lower
edge of control arm 36 is a projection 40 which, when arm 36 is
holding the letter eject drive clutch disengaged, holds switch SW-2
in its down position as seen in FIG. 13, and when arm 36 allows the
clutch to engage it also allows the switch to move to its up
position as seen in FIG. 13.
As seen in FIG. 1, the flag 42 which is mounted for limited
vertical movement with pin 34, extends up from one end of a
horizontal arm 110 which is pivotally mounted between its ends on
the bracket 112 supported on wall W. The other end of arm 110 is
connected to wall W by spring 114 which tends to swing the arm to
interpose the flag between the pin 34 and the upturned end 38 of
control arm 36 but is held from doing so during tape operating mode
by the horizontally reciprocal control bar 116 to be described.
As seen in FIG. 3, the tape take-up reel drive is controlled by a
pawl 120 which is engageable with the ratchet wheel 112 and when so
engaged holds clutch 96 disengaged. At its lower end pawl 120 is
pivoted on pin 124 extending from the wall W. Intermediate its ends
the pawl is connected to the right hand end of link 126 by a pin
and slot connection 128 which allows the pawl a limited rotary
movement for moving in and out between the teeth on the circular
ratchet. The other end of link 126 is connected to a reel take-up
brake spring 130 which extends from the link 126 partly around the
reel to an adjustable anchoring member 132. Link 126 is biased
toward reel braking and pawl engaging position by spring 134 and it
is moved in the opposite direction for tape mode when an abutment
138 on member 136 is swung against a pin 140 which projects
laterally from link 126. Member 136 is pivotally mounted on wall W
at 142 and pivotally connected at 144 to the lower end of a link
146 the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the core 148
of solenoid S-1 comprised in the control circuit shown in FIG.
13.
As seen in FIG. 1, the meter locking finger 20 referred to above is
pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on pivot 160 extending from
wall W. The lower end of the locking finger 20 is pivotally
connected at 162 to one end of horizontally extending link 164, the
forward (right hand) end of which is pivotally connected at 165 to
another link 166, the forward end of which is also pivotally
connected at 86 to the lower end of ramp bar 82 which intermediate
its ends is pivoted on pin 168 projecting from wall W. Below pivot
160 locking finger 20 is pivotally connected at 170 to a link 172
extending horizontally to the left and pivotally connected at 174
to the downwardly extending forward (right hand) end of operating
bar 116 which extends into section 14 from section 12. The lower
edge of bar 116 is stepped near its forward end forming a shoulder
177, which when the machine is in letter mode, presses against the
arm of switch SW-1 holding the switch arm in its upper position as
seen in FIG. 13. The position of SW-1 conditions the electrical
control circuit for letter mode or tape mode operation.
In section 12 of the machine a carriage 178 by which the tape
carrier 180 is supported and may be moved between extended
operative and retracted inoperative positions, according to whether
tape or letter mode operation is desired, is slidably mounted on a
horizontal rod 182 which extends between the end walls of the
section, and the lower end of the carriage is positioned and guided
by the horizontal rod 184, the lower end of the carriage having the
downwardly extending spaced arms 186 and 187 which straddle the rod
184. On the lower end of the carriage is the forwardly projecting
pin 188 which engages in a long slot 189 extending longitudinally
of the bar 116 a distance slightly less than the length of travel
of the carriage. Beyond the ends of slot 189 are short slots 190
and 192 into which extend pins 194 and 196 respectively, from wall
W. As the carriage and tape carrier are moved between extended and
retracted positions pin 188 reaches an end of slot 189 and moves
the bar with the carriage during the remaining movement of the
carriage which is a distance equal to the length of slots 190 and
192.
As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the carriage comprises a relatively
thin body portion 198 extending between upper cross heads 200 and
202 and the lower cross heads 204 and 206. Between the upper and
lower cross heads and in front of the body portion and adjacent its
lateral edges, are the horizontally spaced, vertical slide rods 208
and 210, and mounted between them for vertical movement is a slide
212. At the lateral edges of the slide are the pair of arms 214
which embrace and slide on slide rod 208 and the pairs of arms 216
which engage and slide on slide rod 210. The carriage body 198
defines a vertical slot 199 in which travel rollers 213 carried by
the slide.
Projecting forwardly from slide 212 is a bracket 218 on which the
tape carrier 180 is mounted in spaced parallel relation to the
slide. As best seen in FIG. 4 the tape carrier 180 comprises a
lower member 220 and an upper member 222 superimposed on the lower
member, and biased by spring 224 to slide forward on the lower
member a short distance limited by te pin and slot connection 226
between the two members. If this occurs, due to exhaustion of the
tape supply or a break in tape strip 5-2, a space 228 is opened
between the laterally projecting head portions 230 and 232 of the
two carrier members and the forward end of sensing probe 22,
referred to above, which is biased to swing into the throat T of
the meter, swings into the space 228 and deconditions the meter.
The upper member 222 is normally held back in operation by the
pressure exerted on its front end by the tape strip t-2 which is
doubled back under the forward end of the tape carrier in its
travel between the tape carrier and the take-up reel (see FIG. 14
and 15).
Also projecting forwardly from slide 212, above bracket 218 is a
bracket 234 which supports a tape hold down means 235 which serves
to prevent movement of the tape strip t to the left as seen in FIG.
14; which movement would cause the tape strip to return to the
supply roll such as might otherwise occur for example, during
threading of the tape strip t into the machine. Additionally, the
tape hold down means 235 serves to draw the necessary length of
tape strip from the supply roll as the tape carrier 180 is moved
into the throat T of the meter in the change over from letter to
tape mode operation. Bracket 234 comprises two arms between which a
three sided support member 236 is mounted on cross pin 237. The
hold down 235 is a u-shaped member which is pivotally mounted on
pivot 238 extending between the parallel arms of said support
member, for swinging movement longitudinally of the carrier. A
spring 239 extends from the arms of the hold down 235 around pivot
238 and over cross pin 237 and urges the hold down to assume a
vertical position.
As seen in FIG. 5, vertical movement of the slide 212 on the slide
rods 208 and 210 is controlled by the bell crank 240 which is
pivoted on the carrier at 242. The arm 244 of the bell crank
projects upwardly and to the left of the carrier, and the arm 246
extends under a stud 248, which projects rearwardly from the slide
212 into the vertical slot 250 in the carriage and holds the slide
from moving down because it is urged upwardly by spring 252
extending between arm 246 and the body of the carriage above
it.
When the carriage 178 is moved to the left far enough to withdraw
the carrier 180 entirely from the throat of the postage meter the
contact roller 254 at the upper end of the arm 244 of the bell
crank will strike the left hand end wall of section 12 causing the
bell crank to swing in clockwise direction, moving arm 246 down and
allowing the slide to move down on the slide rods 208 and 210 due
to gravity, and lowering the tape carrier 180 to a position below
the level of the deck 11 of the postage meter where it is out of
the way during letter mode operation.
The carriage assembly 178 is controlled an moved back and forth by
the operating arm 260 pivotally mounted on cross rod 262 extending
between the upper cross heads 200 and 202 of the carriage. A coil
spring 264 extending around rod 262 urges the arm upwardly to the
position shown in full lines in FIG. 6. Arm 260 extends beyond the
pivot rod and divides into an upper arm 266 which rests on a cross
rod 270 which extends between the ends of section 12, and a lower
arm 268 which has a reverse bend so that it extends under the cross
rod 268 and under an elongated bail-shaped member 272 which is
mounted for swinging movement around cross rod 268. When arm 260 is
depressed into position shown in broken lines it will be seen by
reference to FIG. 3 that the elongated member 272 will be swung up
into contact with the arm of microswitch SW-3 and move it to its
lower position (FIG. 13) and actuate solenoid S-2 to release tape
brake 274 while the tape carrier assembly is being shifted and
disables the tape drive circuit.
Adjacent its respective ends the cross rod 270 is reduced in
diameter at 276 and 278 providing seats into one or the other of
which the arm 266 falls when the carriage reaches the limits of its
travel and the operating arm 260 is released, thus locking the
carriage, slide and tape carrier assembly until operating arm 260
is depressed.
Positioned on the support wall W above the pin 256 which projects
from the carriage slide through slot 250 in the carriage, is a
triggering member 280 which is pivoted at its lower end, by pivot
282, to the lower end of a member 284 which at its upper end is
mounted on a shaft 286 which extends through the support wall and
is connected to the upper end of a short link 288, the lower end of
which is connected by pivot 290 to the upper end of a long
downwardly inclined link 292, the full length of which is shown in
FIG. 3. Member 280 has in it an arcuate slot 294 into which a pin
296 extends from member 284 and this pin and slot connection allows
member 280 to be swung on its pivot 282 relative to the member 284
a distance controlled by the length of slot 294. A spring 298,
extending between the upturned flange 300 on member 280 and the
upturned flange 302 on member 284, urges the members to a position
in which pin 296 is at the upper end of slot 294. Member 280 has a
lower upwardly curving edge 304 which meets at a point with an
upper downwardly inclined edge 306. When the platen 30 of the
postage meter rises and lifts a tape carrier 180 disposed in throat
T, the carriage slide 212 is of course also lifted and its
rearwardly projecting camming pin 256, which extends rearwardly
through slot 250 in the carriage, strikes the edge 304 and swings
member 280 clockwise, see FIG. 9, allowing the pin to move to a
position above the downwardly inclined edge 306. As soon as the
printing operation has been performed the platen 30 immediately
falls carrying with it the tape carrier 180 and the carriage slide
212, and the pressure of pin 256 on the edge 306 causes members 280
and 284 to swing counter-clockwise as shown in FIG. 10, thereby
swinging link 288 to raise link 292.
As seen in FIG. 12, the lower end of link 292 is connected by pivot
307 to the upper end of a member 308 the lower end of which is
connected, by a shaft 309 extending forwardly through the
supporting wall W, to the cam latch release member 310 forming part
of an assembly for controlling the tape drive, both when the
machine is operating in tape mode and when the tape is being
threaded into the machine, and comprising a shaft 312 on which a
star wheel 314 is mounted to rotate freely, a segmental cam 316
which is mounted on shaft 312 and can swing back and forth, and the
cam latch 332.
Star wheel 314 has around its periphery the projections 318, FIG.
1, adapted to engage holes 319 provided along one margin of the
tape strip t-2 (FIG. 18) and has projecting from its rear face a
preselected number of pins 320, FIG. 12, the spacing between said
pins determining the extent of each tape advance. The star wheel or
drum 314 is described in detail in said co-pending application Ser.
No. 66,350 and since per se it is not part of this invention it is
not described herein except to point out that when the tape strip
t-2 is advanced star wheel 314 is rotated due to the engagement of
its peripheral projections 318 in the said tape holes 319; and the
number of pins 320 projecting from the rear face of the star wheel
may be controlled, by means not shown. When four pins 320 are
projected the distance between successive projected pins
corresponds with a unit length of the tape strip t-1, which
desirably is the distance between transverse perforations (321) in
the tape strip. When only two pins 320 are projected the distance
between them corresponds with the length of two tape units.
Therefore only two diametrically opposed pins 320 are employed when
it is desired to print a label equal in length to two units of tape
strip t-1, and four pins 320 are used, as indicated in FIG. 12,
when it is desired to print on only one unit length of the
tape.
Cam 316 which has an upper edge 322 disposed in operative relation
to the arm 324 of tape drive microswitch SW-4, is biased by spring
326 to swing in a clockwise direction, away from the switch arm.
Spring 326 extends between a lug 328 on the cam and a pin 330 on
wall W. A star wheel latching member 332 is pivotally mounted on
cam 316 by pivot 334 adjacent the curved periphery of the cam.
Member 332 is somewhat v-shaped with its upper and lower portions
angled inwardly over the cam from the pivot mounting. At its upper
end is the outturned flange 336 and at its lower end is the
outturned flange 338. A spring 340, extending between the upper end
of member 332 and the cam, urges the latch member 332 to swing in a
counter-clockwise direction and interpose its flange 336 in the
rotary path of the star wheel pins 320.
The cam latch release member 310, referred to above, comprises two
arms 342 and 344. When the release member 310 is swung clockwise by
the upward movement of link 292, arm 342 strikes the abutment
flange 338 at the lower end of latch 332 and swings the latch
clockwise thus withdrawing the upper abutment flange 336 from the
rotary path of the pins 320 and allowing the star wheel 314 to
rotate in response to movement of the tape t-2 a distance equal to
the spacing between pins 320. The second arm 344 of latch release
member 310 is employed when threading tape into the machine.
The machine is prepared for threading tape into it by moving a
right angle cam member 350, disposed within section 12 below the
star wheel 314 (FIG. 1), which is slidably mounted on a horizontal
support 354 by pins 356 which extend down from the horizontal cam
portion 351 into slots 358 in the support, the length of the slots
358 determining the extent of movement of the cam (FIG. 11). The
vertically extending portion 352 of the cam is shaped on its upper
surface to provide a cam surface on which rides a cam follower 359
mounted on the face of a member 360 which is pivotally mounted on a
pivot 361 supported on wall W. At its upper end member 360 carries
a pin 363 disposed so that when the member is swung clockwise due
to movement of the cam surface under cam follower 359, the pin
strikes against the lower edge of the segmental cam 316 and swings
the cam against the arm of SW-4 and deactuates the tape drive.
The angle cam 350 is manually reciprocated by a crank arm 364
pivoted for horizontal swinging movement on support 354 by pin 366.
A spring 368 connected between an upward extending lug 379 on the
base 14 and a pin 370 extending downward from arm 364 through a
slot 381 in support 354 is positioned so as to provide an
overcenter toggle type arrangement to effectively detent the crank
arm 364 either in a position as shown in FIG. 11 or in a second
position after clockwise rotation of crank arm 364 about pivot pin
366. The forward end of the arm extends into a cut out 372 along
the front end of the horizontal leg 351 of cam 350, and as arm 364
is swung its projecting stud 374 contacts one or the other of the
side edges of the cut out and moves cam 350 horizontally. The outer
end of arm 364 is inclined upwardly providing a handle.
When arm 364 is swung out, clockwise, cam 350 is moved to the right
and the inclined right hand end 378 of the vertical leg of the cam
moves under the lower pin 380 on member 382 which is mounted on
shaft 384, and swings the member 382 counter-clockwise causing its
upper pin 386 to strike against arm 344 of latch release member 310
and swing it clockwise causing its arm 342 to contact and swing the
latch 332 clockwise and thus moving its flange 336 out of the line
of travel of the star wheel pins 320, leaving the star wheel free
to rotate.
Shaft 384, which supports member 382, extends through the wall W
and supports there a member 388. When member 382 is moved
counter-clockwise member 388 is also rotated counter-clockwise,
against the force of spring 390, and this action pulls downwardly
on a link 392 the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 394
to the lower end of said spring biased member 388. The upper end of
the link 392 (see FIG. 3) is pivotally connected by pivot 395 to an
arm 396 intermediate the ends of the arm. The right hand end of the
arm is mounted on pivot 398, and adjacent the left hand end of the
arm are two pins 400 and 402, spaced apart vertically on opposite
sides of the tail portion 404 of tape brake member 274 which is
mounted so that its forward end 406 can be swung into or away from
contact with the portion of tape strip t within the guide throat g.
Within the guide throat is a pin 407 against which the brake
presses the tape when in tape stopping position.
It will be noted that the left hand end of arm 396 is also
connected to the core 408 of a solenoid S-2 by which the arm may be
moved up or down to control the position of the brake member by
electrical means through the switch member SW-3 and the bail-shaped
swinging member 272 as will be explained.
When the angle cam 350 is moved to the right the pin 420 projecting
from its vertical portion 352 moves under the lower end of arm 422
which is pivoted at 424 thus causing the hook 426 at the upper end
of said arm to be swung down over the abutment 428 projecting up
from the tape slack control arm 430 which is mounted for rotation
on the star wheel shaft and at its outer end carries the tape slack
control roller 432, thus locking the arm 430 in its lower position
until the cam 350 is moved to the left, as at the end of an
operation of threading tape into the machine, when the locking arm
swings back by gravity to the position shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 shows how tape is disposed in the machine when the tape
carrier is in extended position, and FIG. 15 shows in solid lines
how tape is disposed in the machine when the carrier is fully
retracted into section 12, and also indicates by the changes in
position of the tape, the tape supply roll holder H, and the
pivoted tape positioning arm, from the position shown in FIG. 14,
how the slack occuring both in the tape above the carrier and in
the tape below the carrier is taken up.
The slack occuring in the tape above the carrier is taken up by
winding it up on the outer surface of the rim of the tape supply
roll holder H. As best seen in FIG. 2 one end of a coil spring 440
is attached to the support arm 442 and its outer end is attached to
one end of a flexible connector 446 which extends around the hub of
the holder H and at its other end is attached to a projection 444
on the rear of the holder. The projection has an arcuate surface
around which the flexible connector extends. Spring 440 exerts a
constant torque on the holder H which is overcome by the pull of
the tape when it is taut and extended as shown in FIG. 14. When the
pull on the tape is relieved by the retraction of the tape carrier
180 the holder H is rotated by spring 440 a sufficient distance,
indicated by the arrows and letter A.sub.1 in FIG. 15, to wind
around its rim a length of tape equal to the distance between the
extended and retracted positions of the tape carrier, indicated by
the arrows and letter A in FIG. 15.
The print receiving tape strip t-1 is projected beyond the right
hand end of the postage meter and then torn off and the lower tape
strip t-2 is led back under the tape carrier to and around a guide
roller 450 which is positioned adjacent the left hand end of the
machine. A second guide roller 452 is positioned above and in
advance of the star wheel 314, and a third guide roller 454 is
positioned below the star wheel 314, and intermediate the star
wheel and the take-up reel 104. Mounted for rotation on the shaft
312 of the star wheel 314 is the tape slack control arm 430,
referred to above, which at its outer end carries the roller 432
which rests on the tape strip t-2 between the guide rollers 450 and
452. When the tape carrier is moved from projected operative
position to its retracted position within section 14 of the
machine, roller 432 and its arm 430 swing down and carry the tape
strip down, forming a downwardly extending loop L in the tape strip
t-2, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 15, thus taking up the slack in
tape strip t-2 below the tape carrier.
In the electric circuit shown in FIG. 13 there are three
two-position switches SW-1, SW-2 and SW-3 and a one-position (open
or closed) switch SW-4, the motor M, and two solenoids, S-1 and
S-2. Whether the circuit is conditioned for letter mode or tape
mode operation is determined by the position of switch SW-1 which
is controlled by the position of the ramp actuator bar 176 which
has the switch arm contacting shoulder 177 and moves in response to
shifting of the tape carrier.
When the carrier 180 is in its retracted position the arm of switch
SW-1 will be in its upper (letter mode) position, as seen in FIG.
13, and motor M will be actuated, through leads a and b, and will
drive the letter eject means when switch SW-2 is in its upper
position due to the control arm 36 being lifted from it when a down
movement of meter pin 34 is transmitted to the upturned end of the
arm through the interposed flag 42 thus causing the letter eject
drive clutch 80 to be engaged for one cycle, allowing a letter to
be ejected.
When the carrier 180 is in its extended position, the arms of
switches SW-1 and SW-2 will be in their lower (tape mode) positions
as seen in FIG. 13, and solenoids S-1 and S-2 and motor M will be
energized through leads c, d and e when switch SW-4 is actuated
(closed), if the arm of switch SW-3 is in its upper position. The
arm of switch SW-3 is in its down position only when the carrier is
being shifted, its arm being moved by the bail-shaped member 272
which is swung up when the carriage operating arm 260 is
depressed.
When solenoid S-1 is energized it causes the tape feed clutch to be
engaged, and when solenoid S-2 is energized it causes the tape
brake to be moved to released position.
Switch SW-4 is actuated when the segmental cam 316 on the star
wheel shaft 312 is swung away from the switch arm in response to
triggering of member 280 by the pin 256 during the rising and
falling movement of the tape carrier and carriage slide immediately
following a printed operation. Switch SW-1 is deactuated (opened)
when the said segmental cam 316 is swung against its arm after the
tape has been advanced and has turned the star wheel the
predetermined distance, thus de-energizing solenoids S-1 and S-2
and motor M.
OPERATION
The position of the tape carrier 180 determines the mode of
operation of the machine. For moving the carrier the operating arm
260 is depressed to lift its rearwardly extending arm 266 from the
seat 276 or 278 and may then be employed to move the carriage
assembly, including the carriage slide and the tape carrier,
horizontally. In retracted position the pivoted bell crank 240 has
been swung clockwise by contact with the left hand end wall of
section 12 and has released the slide 212 which has moved down its
slideway and positioned the tape carrier 180 below the level of the
deck 11 of section 10. When the assembly is moved from retracted
position the bell crank 240 will swing back and allow slide 212 to
rise to position the carrier above the level of deck 11 in position
to be projected into the throat T of the postage meter.
If the tape carrier is fully retracted from the throat T of the
postage meter 10, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, the machine
is in letter mode, and switch SW-1 will be in its upper position,
as shown in FIG. 13, thus conditioning the electric circuit for
letter mode operation, and the motor M will be actuated through
switch SW-2 each time pin 34 in the meter causes the letter clutch
control pawl 36 to free clutch 80, and will drive the letter eject
mechanism. Since the other operations performed during letter mode
are performed in a postage meter of known kind it is not necessary
to further describe the letter mode operation.
When the tape carrier is fully projected into the throat T of the
postage meter, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1, the step abutment
177 on the ramp actuator bar 176 will have moved away from the
switch SW-1 allowing it to move to its lower position, as seen in
FIG. 13, thus conditioning the electrical circuit for tape mode
operation, and switch SW-2 will be in its lower position and will
complete the circuit to motor M for tape operation.
When the platen 30 of the postage meter rises and falls carrying
with it the tape carrier 180 and the carriage slide 212 and the
triggering member 280 thereon, switch SW-4 will be closed, by
movement of the segmental cam 316 actuated by movement of link 292
and of the cam latch 332 and cam latch release member 310, switch
SW-3 will be in its up position (FIG. 13), and solenoids S-1 and
S-2 will be actuated thus releasing the tape brake 274, loosening
the take-up reel brake spring 130, and retracting pawl 120 from
ratchet wheel 122, allowing clutch 96 to be engaged to transmit the
drive from motor M to the take-up reel 104, thus advancing the tape
and rotating the star wheel 314 the preset distance. After rotating
the preset distance one of the star wheel pins 320 will strike the
abutment flange 336 on cam latch 332 and lift cam 316 to deactuate
switch SW-4 and both solenoids S-1 and S-2, thus moving tape brake
274 against the tape t, tightening the tape reel brake spring 130,
and causing pawl 120 to reengage the ratchet wheel 122 and
disengaging clutch 96.
Each time the tape is advanced a distance in accordance with the
number of units of tape strip t-1 which have been printed on, the
end of the tape strip t-1 will be projected from the meter section
of the machine, as indicated in FISG. 1 and 14, and severed by the
operator, and the next printing operation on the one or more tape
units which will then form the free end of the tape will be
initiated when the button 28 of the postage meter is again
depressed causing the meter platen to rise and fall thereby again
triggering member 280 and the linkage which causes the star wheel
cam to again close switch SW-4.
When the tape carrier is moved back out of the throat of the
postage meter slack in the portion of the composite tape between
the supply roll and the tape carrier, is immediately taken up by
rotation of the tape supply holder H due to the pull exerted by the
constant torque spring 440 and the fact that the counteracting
tension on the tape has been relieved, and the spring clip S
presses the tape against the rim of the holder H.
Slack in the tape strip t-2, beneath the tape carrier 180 is taken
up by falling of arm 430 and its roller 432 which rests on the tape
strip, and in falling forms a downwardly extending loop in the tape
strip thereby restoring and maintaining the tape strip in taut
condition.
When the machine is to be threaded with tape the operator grasps
the handle 378 of arm 364 and pulls it out clockwise to move the
angle cam 350 to the right and lock switch SW-4 in open, deactuated
position, to prevent inadvertent actuation of the tape drive, and
the tape brake 274 and the star wheel 314 are mechanically released
as has been described to allow the tape to be drawn from its supply
roll to its take-up reel 104 and permit the star wheel to rotate as
the tape is advanced.
* * * * *