Patent · US Expired

Print head stop mechanism for a postage meter

US5844584A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
2References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1996
Grant dateDec 1, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J25/308
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A postage meter for printing an indicia image on a print surface of a mailpiece includes a print head having a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected to print the indicia image on the print surface during relative movement between the print head and the mailpiece; a registration plate having a registration surface against which the mailpiece is registered to define an operative gap between the nozzles and the print surface, the registration plate having an opening therein to expose the print surface to the nozzles to permit printing of the indicia image on the print surface; and a stop mechanism connected to the print head so that at times when the print surface of the mailpiece extends through the opening the stop mechanism prevents contact between the print surface and the nozzles during printing of the indicia image.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.