Thermal printing postage meter system
US5325114A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00685
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The thermal printing postage meter includes a base supporting a registration wall and a deck, and a thermal print head mounted to the registration wall above a portion of the deck to define a print station. A position sensing assembly is provided for sensing the presence of the envelope's leading edge in the print station and informing a microcontroller. A thermal tape cassette is mounted to the registration wall such that a portion of the thermal ribbon passing below the thermal print head. A platen roller assembly and position assembly are responsive to instruction from the microcontroller for causing the platen roller to assume either a position biasing the envelope against the thermal ribbon and thermal print head or a retracted position. An ejection roller assembly having position assembly is responsive to instruction from the microcontroller for causing the ejection roller to assume either a retracted position or a position biasing the ejection roller against the envelope and an ejection plate. A motor which is responsive to the microcontroller causes the platen roller or the ejection roller to rotate. The microcontroller is programmed such that in response to activation of t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.