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:
May. 22, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2009
Daniel J. Williams, Woodbury, CT (US);
Russell W. Holbrook, Southbury, CT (US);
Daniel J. Williams, Woodbury, CT (US);
Russell W. Holbrook, Southbury, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes, Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A print module for printing mailpieces comprises a print head assembly operative to deposit ink on each mailpiece and a registration plate for registering a first surface of each of the mailpieces during print operations. The print module includes a conveyor belt opposing the registration plate and engaging a second surface of each of the mailpieces for conveyance along a feed path. Disposed beneath and supporting an underside surface of the conveyor belt, is a continuous compliant deck operative to urge the conveyor belt and mailpieces toward the registration plate during printing. The compliant deck is also operative to print consecutive mailpieces of variable thickness dimension. The print module also includes a pivotable support rack for mounting the print head assembly to a housing. A pair of gas springs produces a moment about a pivot axis to bias the support rack to an open position and a pair of locking mechanisms produces a biasing moment opposing the moment produced by the gas springs to retain the support rack in a closed position.