Pitney Bowes Inc.

Frederick C Close

Peter J Loeber

Ray L Bannister

Raymond L Bannister

Peter J Coeber

A gear arrangement includes a first gear wheel 10 having a section 12 with missing teeth. A second gear wheel 14 is arranged to mesh with the first gear wheel 10. The first tooth 16 on the first gear wheel 10 to engage with the second gear wheel 14 (following the missing teeth section 12) is resiliently movable inwardly within a radial slot 18 to withdraw when engaging an opposing tooth 22. A spring 20 urges the tooth 16 outwardly to one side of the opposing tooth 22 and into a gap on that side of the opposing tooth 22, so as to align the first and second gear wheels. Such a gear arrangement has particular use in a geared value setting mechanism provided on a print drum shaft of a postage meter.

Anti-jamming gear arrangement

A print drum for a postage meter has a drum structure provided with a plurality of recesses in its periphery. One of these recesses accommodates a print wheel assembly and at least some of the other recesses are provided with axially extending means whereby imprinting dies can be slid in and out. The movement in and out of the recesses is in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the print drum.

Print drum for a postage meter

A counter mechanism for a postage meter includes a number of sections each having a number wheel (14) repesenting the respective order of accounted value, transfer mechanisms in the form of Geneva gears connecting the number wheels (14) to provide carry-over movements between adjacent sections. A ratchet mechanism is provided in the number wheel (14) to allow rotation of the number drum (16) as a result of an account input from the postage meter, even when a carry movement gear (18) of the number wheel (14) is locked by the Geneva gear. The ratchet mechanism includes an internally-profiled surface on one part (16) having ratchet steps (70) separated by portions (76) of relatively low gradient. Projections (74) are provided on a central member (72) of another part (18), the projections extending substantially tangential to the internally-profiled surface so as to engage in the ratchet steps (70) in the event of attempted rotation in one direction and to stop such rotation. Rotation in the other direction can take place. The counter mechanism may also include thumbwheels for resetting the lower order number wheels (14), the thumbwheels including similar ratchet mechanisms.

Counter mechanisms

A postage meter having a rotable print drum also has a control arrangement ensuring that power is fed to the motor which drives the print drum via at least two parallel paths. One of these paths is operative to cause the motor to be driven until an envelope trip switch signifies that the envelope is fully discharged from the meter, irrespective of whether the other path is electrically conductive or not.

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Great Amwell, United Kingdom

Frederick C Close