The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1995
Daniel Fluckiger, Zaziwil, CH;
Philippe Chollet, Corcelles, CH;
Christian Gillieron, Fraubrunnen, CH;
Christian Moy, Grossaffoltern, CH;
Martin Muller, Langenthal, CH;
Heinz Wuthrich, Heimiswil, CH;
Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems AG, Bern, CH;
Abstract
A self-contained postage meter does not have a base separable from a main body. The single secure housing contains everything that would be in the main body of a prior art postage meter and everything that would be in a prior art meter base. Despite containing all these things, the single secure housing is small enough and light enough in weight to permit the entire meter to be readily transported to the post office for inspection or resetting. Within the single secure housing are the print rotor with value wheels, all the mechanisms for setting the print wheels, the descending and/or ascending register and associated microprocessor, and all the mechanisms for transport of the mail piece through the meter. Only a handful of controlled elements are required, chiefly a single inexpensive DC motor for franking and value wheel setting and a few electromagnets. Two one-way clutches are used so that rotation of the motor in one direction accomplishes a setting cycle for the value wheels and rotation of the motor in the other direction accomplishes a printing (franking) cycle.