Postage meter with hollow rotor axle
US5719381A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00548
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A postage meter has a secure housing, an accounting register within the secure housing, and a print rotor the rotation of which defines a paper path. The rotor axle is formed of two halves, and within the two haves is a lengthwise cavity along which setting racks are capable of axial movement. The racks engage with print wheels at one end and are accessible to the main body of the postage meter at the other end. Each rack engages with its value wheel in a rack-and-pinion engagement. The axle halves are made of plastic and they snap together. The racks slide within grooves, and are held in place with pins. The axle has journal bearings and a thrust bearing defining its movement relative to the secure housing. A worm gear in the housing engages a worm wheel in the rotor to bring about rotation of the rotor for the printing of postage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.