Electrically controlled postage meter

Abstract

An electromechanical setting mechanism is disclosed, which uses a plurality of solenoid banks to set each print wheel of a postage printing drum. Each bank features two pairs of solenoids which are mounted upon a movable frame. One pair of the two pairs of solenoids cause the frame to move with respect to the meter housing. The moving frame in turn, positions a setting linkage which sets a postage value for a print wheel. The other pair of solenoids acts directly upon this setting linkage so as to also set a postage value for the print wheel. Each solenoid is actuated by coded electrical signals, and is offset from the center of a setting link a differing amount, to provide differing resultant settings. The actuation of any or some of the solenoids, will provide any given print wheel position from zero through nine.