Pitney Bowes Inc.

David Privin

Steven A Supron

Norman R Lilly

Neil F Baldino

Chiping Sye

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 connection device is provided for meshing of gears on disparate modules, such as those that form a mailing machine. A tongue having a rack can extend from a first module into a cavity formed in the second module. A spur gear is mounted to the second module and can engage the rack of the tongue received into the cavity. A mechanism controls movement of the first spur gear. The mechanism can include a drive gear meshed with the first spur gear and concentrically mounted on one end of a drive shaft with a worm gear mounted concentrically on an opposing end of the drive shaft. Rotation of the worm gear causes the spur gear and the drive gear to rotate and cause movement in the rack received into the cavity and separate or bring together the modules as a result of the movement in the rack.

Module latching mechanism for mailing machine

A thermal ink ribbon cassette for holding an inked ribbon of indefinite length for use in a thermal transfer printing mechanism holds a spool of fresh ink ribbon which passes out of the cassette and across a thermal printing head, and then back into the cassette. The features of construction and arrangement of the cassette are such that the length of the portion of the normal feed path of envelopes through the mailing machine in which the ink ribbon and the envelopes travel coextensively is reduced to an absolute minimum to avoid unnecessary contact after printing take place. A slanted wall is provided for ensuring that the envelopes remain in their normal path of travel regardless of any tendency of the envelope to adhere to the ink ribbon after the point of normal separation, or if they are bulged and tend to jam on internal portions of the mailing machine. A rectangular opening is provided to permit manual access to the interior of the cassette housing so that the broken end of an ink ribbon can be inserted into the housing and reattached to used ribbon accumulated on the take up spool. Also, an improved anti-reverse mechanism has been provided that remains operable to prevent reverse rotation of the take up spool regardless of the physical orientation of the cassette.

Thermal ink ribbon cassette for mailing machines

A mailing machine with a rotatable drum including a printing die peripherally extending therefrom, structure for intermittently rotating the drum to move the printing die in a predetermined circularly-extending path of travel, a receptacle, and a disposable inking cartridge removably mountable in the receptacle and comprising: a generally rectangularly-shaped hollow housing having opposed side walls and having an edge wall extending between the side walls, the walls defining an aperture formed in the housing; a reservoir roller impregnated with printing ink and rotatably connected to the side walls so as to extend therebetween; a transfer roller impregnated with printing ink and rotatably connected to the side walls so as to extend therebetween; and be accessible via the housing aperture; the reservoir and transfer rollers respectively dimensioned for rolling engagement with each other to cause ink from the reservoir roller to be transferred to the transfer roller, and the transfer roller dimensioned for disposition in the path of travel of the printing die when the cartridge is mounted in the receptacle to permit engagement by the printing die for transferring printing ink from the transfer roller to the printing die.

Mailing machine having a disposable inking cartridge

A disposable inking cartridge adapted to be removably connected to a mailing machine, the cartridge comprising: a generally rectangularly-shaped hollow housing having opposed side walls and having an edge wall extending between the side walls, the walls defining an aperture formed in the housing; an ink impregnated reservoir roller extending between the side walls and supported thereby for rotation about a first predetermined axis; an ink impregnated transfer roller extending between the side walls and supported thereby for rotation about a second predetermined axis extending parallel to the first axis; and the reservoir and transfer rollers respectively dimensioned for rolling engagement with each other to cause ink from the reservoir roller to be transferred to the transfer roller, and the transfer roller disposed within the housing to permit peripheral access thereto via the housing aperture.

Inking cartridge

A mailing machine including a base; a postage meter removably mountable on the base; the base and meter respectively including structure for guiding the meter in a path of travel to a predetermined position on the base when mounting the meter thereon; and a disposable inking cartridge having a generally rectangularly-shaped hollow housing movably connected to the base, the housing having opposed side walls and having an elongate perimeter edge wall extending between the side walls, each of the side walls including an arcuately-shaped cam surface oppositely spaced from the cam surface of the other side wall, the cam surfaces and edge wall defining a substantially arcuately-shaped aperture formed in the housing; and a transfer roller impregnated with printing ink and rotatably connected to the side walls so as to extend therebetween and be accessible via the housing aperture, the cam surfaces located in the path of travel of the meter for engagement thereby to move the housing out of the path of travel and carry therewith the transfer roller as the postage meter is mounted on the base.

Growing community of inventors

Stamford, CT, United States of America

David Privin