Pitney Bowes Inc.

Chiping Sye

Walter J Kulpa

Ian R Jenkins

Steven A Supron

John P Miller

David Privin

William B Riley

Christopher V Hibberd

Christopher Mallick

Howard M Stevens

An illustrative mailing machine is provided including at least one adjustable optical media width sensor that may be reconfigured for differing postal rating requirements. The media width sensor subassembly has a narrow linear sensor window that is positioned perpendicular to the path of travel of the mail piece. The media width sensor subassembly includes a sensor carriage mount and width measurement scale for facilitating the accurate placement of the adjustable, but secure when placed, sensor carriage. The sensor carriage slidably engages a mount and is spring biased into a locking mechanism in the underside of the media width sensor locating scale.

Adjustable media width sensor for a mailing machine

A transport system that reduces the amount of oscillation of the weighing platform thereby weighing mail pieces faster. A take-away nip of the weighing module is formed by a pivot arm having a roller mounted thereon and a drive roller mounted in the weighing platform. The take-away nip feeds mail pieces from the weighing platform to the subsequent module of the mailing machine. The pivot arm has a biasing mechanism with a force that results in less impact force between the pivot arm roller and drive roller when the trailing edge of each mail piece passes through the take-away nip, resulting in less vibration of the weighing platform as mail pieces exit the weighing platform. The reduction in vibration results quicker settling of the weighing platform during weighing of subsequent mail piece, allowing for faster weighing of the mail pieces, which increases the throughput of the mailing machine.

Mailing machine transport system with integral scale for weighing mail pieces where the contact force on the take away rollers is reduced to eliminate oscillations of the weighing platform

Methods and apparatus are provided for mating a first gear and a second gear, such as those utilized in drive mechanisms of mailing machine modules. A gear frame can mount a first gear on a first annular gear mount. A first end of a link can be pivotally mounted on a fulcrum and a second end can have a second gear mounted on a second annular gear mount. A normal force can be provided on the link in a direction opposing pivotal movement of the link. When the first gear and the second gear are brought together for mating, the link can pivot to allow the first gear and the second gear to mesh. The second annular gear mount can be guided into a channel in the gear frame to secure the second gear in a meshed position with the first gear.

Gear train mating interface for separable mailing machine modules

A buckle accumulator including an input feed system, an output feed system located downstream in a path of travel from the input feed system, a receiving space located adjacent the path of travel between the input feed system and the output feed system, and a deflector. The input feed system feeds a plurality of sheets one at a time in a path of travel into the buckle accumulator. Each of the plurality of sheets has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The output feed system feeds a stack of sheets out of the buckle accumulator. Generally, the lead edge for each of the plurality of sheets is substantially unrestrained between the input feed system and the output feed system. The receiving space accepts the plurality of sheets one at a time to create the stack. The deflector is mounted in proximity to the receiving space for selectively actuating between a first position out of contact with a first sheet previously accumulated in the receiving space and a second position in contact with the first sheet. The first sheet having a first configuration when the deflector is in the first position and a second configuration when the deflector is in the second position. The deflector is in the second position when the lead edge of a second sheet is between the input feed system and the output feed system so that a portion of the first sheet in the second configuration forms a guide to assist the lead edge of the second sheet in following the path of travel and entering the output feed system.

Buckle accumulator having selectively activateable sheet deflector

The moistening system is used in combination with a postage meter system, wherein the postage meter system includes a horizontal extend deck supported by a meter housing. A portion of the deck defines a printing station. The moistening system includes a housing defining a first chamber. A horizontally extending feed deck is detachably mounted to the housing enclosing the first chamber. A second chamber defined by the housing includes a latching mechanism for detachably mounting the housing and feed deck to the postage meter such that the feed deck is aligned contiguous to the deck of the postage meter. A reservoir container is removably mounted within the first chamber of the housing and has an aperture aligned to an aperture formed in the feed deck. A wick assembly includes a support brace is detachably mounted to the feed deck, a wick and a cap. The support brace has a first section extending into the reservoir and the wick has a first section confined by the first section of the support brace to extend into the reservoir. The support brace also has a second section extending horizontally in spaced apart relation to the feed deck and supporting a second section of the wick such that a portion of the wick extends horizontally beyond the second section of the brace. A cap is detachably mounted to the second section of the brace to securely position the second section of the wick therebetween.

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Stamford, CT, United States of America

Chiping Sye