Patent · US Expired

Drive gear system using a single motor for a priming operation and driving a platen in a postage meter

US6007178A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
14References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 1996
Grant dateDec 28, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07B2017/00564
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A postage meter includes a printing device for printing a dot-matrix postal indicia on a mailpiece; and a drive train system having a moveable platen for positioning the mailpiece in fixed relationship to the printing device; a priming pump operatively connectable to the printing device for priming the printing device; a gear train; and a motor engaged with the gear train for driving into operation, via the gear train, both the platen and the priming pump. A method for driving components of a postage meter, includes energizing a motor in a first direction for driving, via a gear train, a platen into a fixed position relative to a printhead used for printing a postage indicia; driving, via the gear train, a priming pump into operation for priming the printhead; and during driving of the priming pump utilizing the gear train for effectuating moving of a wiper blade into a position for wiping the printhead.

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