Ink tray
US5259878A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00548
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ink pad device for a high speed mailing machine is disclosed. The ink pad device includes an ink pad and an ink chamber in which the ink pad is at least partially disposed to sorb ink therefrom. The ink pad device may also comprise an ink reservoir and/or a pump for pumping ink from the reservoir to the ink chamber. The ink pad device is attachable to a drive for moving the ink pad horizontally and vertically from a horizontal home position to a horizontal inking position in which the ink pad is tamped against a printing device which imprints postage indicia. The ink pump comprises a deformable chamber which is compressed to pump ink from the reservoir to the ink chamber. In one embodiment, the ink pad and the ink chamber are provided as a disposable, non-replenishable, non-refillable unit containing a limited amount of ink for limited use. In another embodiment, the ink chamber, the ink pad, the reservoir and the pump form a unit in which ink is replenished from the reservoir to the ink chamber. In that embodiment, the entire unit may be made disposable and may be moved by the drive to the inking position. In still another embodiment, the ink pad and the ink chamber form a disp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.