Abstract: In order to be able to simply and rapidly replace a printing plate on the franking head of a franking machine without the hands or the surrounding area being exposed to a risk of dirtying, an automatic change mechanism is provided in the franking head, as well as in and on an interchangeable magazine. An electromotive drive bring about the disengagement and discharge of the printing plate from the franking head into the circumferentially fixed, but detachably secured magazine. Ratchet levers and ejecting levers mounted in the franking head are used for this purpose. These levers are driven by cam bodies, while a similar group of stop levers and delivery levers mounted in the interchangeable magazine is operated by electromagnets. An ejecting lever loaded by a spring presses against the back of the cassette, so that after the release of a latching means the cassette is moved out by means of a pawl on guide bolts.

Abstract: An electromechanical drive for a franking machine comprises a module in which an electic motor controlled by an electronic circuit formed on a printed circuit board is manufactured as a modular unit by mounting the motor, mechanical drive components and a position sensor on the substrate of the printed circuit board. This module is mounted on a further module consisting solely of mechanical components and the drive components of the two modules are thereby drivingly engaged. This construction leads to economies in manufacture and ease of servicing because no electrical connections are required between the modules and hence assembly and dis-assembly of the circuit board and mechanical component module are made easier.

Abstract: An electronic postage meter which has a computer and apparatus for printing a postage value, wherein the computer includes instrumentalities for authorizing printing the postage value, and has shutter apparatus which is operable for alternately preventing and permitting operation of the postage printing apparatus, and has interposing apparatus which is operable for alternately preventing and permitting operation of the shutter apparatus, is provided with an improvement for controlling the operation of the interposing apparatus.

Abstract: A low cost compact franking machine includes a rotatable member comprising a print drum and an enclosure housing print element setting means and electronic accounting means, the rotatable member being rotatably mounted on a base. The rotatable member may be rotated by a manually operated lever coupled to the rotatable member through a one-way clutch to allow the lever to return to a rest position without rotation of the rotatable member, the return of the lever may operate a feed to eject a franked mail item.

Abstract: A device for automatic angular positioning of indexable rotary elements, ecially for postal franking machines and the like comprises a common indexing-control gear-wheel rigidly fixed to a cylindrical indexing-control rod, and an indexing-control rotating primary shaft which forms a ball cage. The balls are engaged in an annular groove of a shaft bearing and in helical grooves of the control rod which can be temporarily locked either against rotational motion or against sliding motion, a support being provided for the bearing and capable of moving towards the series of indexable rotary elements.

Abstract: The thickness compensation means includes an upper and lower reaction roller. The upper reaction roller is rotatably mounted to a mailing machine is fixed location. A bracket is pivotally mounted to the mailing machine for rotatably supporting the lower reaction roller in tangential radial alignment with the upper reaction roller. The bracket is biased in a first direction to urge the lower reaction roller through an accommodating opening in the mailing machine platen into tangential communication with the upper reaction roller. The bracket further rotatably supports an impression roller in tangential alignment to the print drum of a postage meter coupled to the mailing machine.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by moving gears (transmission members) connected to respective print wheels one at a time. A locking device locks each of the gears except the one one being displaced. All the gears may be locked during print cycling.

Abstract: A mailing system including a postage meter adaptable to either a high-speed mailing machine capable of parallel postal value selection or a low-speed mailing machine capable of serial value selection is disclosed. The postage meter includes a print drum with printing value members. A rod extends outwardly from the drum. The rod contains linear racks that are axially located above the horizontal centerline of the rod. The linear racks interact with the value members to provide the proper value setting. Attached to the postage meter are a plurality of cross-over shafts with pinion gears. The gears engage the racks to facilitate value selection. In the high-speed mailing machine, a series of drive members engage the shafts. Apparatus within the high-speed mailing machine causes the shafts to rotate in a parallel fashion to allow for postal value selection to facilitate postal printing. In the low-speed mailing machine, one drive member engages on e shaft of the postage meter.

Abstract: Independent control by a single motor of two members mounted on a shaft, e.g. print wheels in a printing machine such as a postal franking machine, is enabled by having the first member either fixed in rotation to the shaft or connected to the shaft by a one-way clutch, and having the second member connected to the shaft by a one-way clutch, the arrangement being such that rotation of the shaft in one direction causes movement of the first member only (by direct drive or by the action of the associated clutch) and rotation of the shaft in the other direction causes movement of the second member only, by the action of the associated clutch.

Abstract: A postage meter utilizing an offset printing roll. A die plate carried by the roll has a first region for receiving thereon fixed information such as the city and state, and a second region for receiving thereon variable information such as the date and postage amount. At the beginning of a revolution of the printing roll, the second region is depressed and an inking roll applies ink to the first region. Then the second region is moved into the plane of the first region and an ink jet printing device projects ink droplets onto the second region to form the variable information thereon. The quality of the printed form of the variable information is sensed. If acceptable, a document is printed. If unacceptable, the first and second regions are both wiped clean and the entire operation is repeated. The cleaning operation can employ an hydrophilic oil which is applied to the printing roll.

Abstract: A franking machine adapted to print variable data as well as constant data onto mail as it is presented to the variable data including a plurality of endless bands of self-inking material containing printing indicia around their external surfaces; a separate drive for each band for advancing same to present different ones of said printing indicia to the printing station; microprocessor adapted to control the operation of the separate drive; transducers adapted to produce an electrical signal indicative of the position to which a band has moved at any instant relative to a reference position; and, a device for feeding to the microprocesser the electrical signal or signals derived therefrom whereby the microprocessor is continually made aware of the position occupied by each movable band.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the firing of a print hammer so as to maintain constant intercharacter spacing during printing. The speed of a motor which moves a document in printing relationship with a printer is used to ascertain the instantaneous velocity of the document just prior to the firing of a hammer associated with the printer. An up/down counter is used in determining the delay, if any, in firing the hammer to compensate for instantaneous velocities which are slower than the fastest velocity of document travel expected.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of gears. The mechanism for selecting a postage value is controlled by the same drive system that operates the print drum for printing the postage on a mailpiece.

Abstract: A shaft assembly, including a main shaft, is used with a postage meter of the type including a base supporting the main shaft. A printhead is mounted to the outer end of the main shaft so the main shaft and printhead rotate together. The main shaft has a flat surface against which a number of elongate value rods are mounted parallel to the main shaft axis. The outer ends of the value rods are coupled to the printhead to operate the printing elements of the printhead. The inner ends of the value rods are connected to stepper motor drives, mounted to the base, to move the value rods axially. Bearings, mounted to the main shaft, radially position the main shaft relative to the base. At least one of the bearings is fixed to a chosen axial position along the main shaft so that such bearing, when mounted to the base, also axially positions the main shaft relative to the base.

Abstract: A postage meter stepper motor module for use in a postage meter of the type having a base supporting a rotatable main shaft to which a printhead is mounted. The main shaft has a number of value rods mounted to it. The outer ends of the value rods are coupled to the printhead so movement of the value rods parallel to the main shaft axis changes the chosen value print character at the printhead. The stepper motor module includes a stepper motor frame mounted to the base at a chosen position relative to the main shaft. A stepper motor is mounted to the stepper motor frame. A yoke couples the stepper motor to a chosen axial position along one of the value rods through a coupler ring. The coupler ring and yoke allow the value rod to rotate freely about the main shaft while maintaining the axial position determined by the stepper motor. The stepper motor and yoke are coupled by a rack and pinion arrangement to translate the rotary motion of the stepper motor to the linear motion of the yoke.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is used with a postage meter of the type having a base supporting a main shaft and a stepper motor drive. The stepper motor drive positions value rods carried by the main shaft according to the value of the postage to be printed. The printhead assembly includes a value module mounted to an outer end of the main shaft so to rotate with the shaft. A dater/slogan module is also mounted to the outer end of the main shaft assembly and is positioned or indexed, such as using guide pins, to the value module. The components are housed within an enclosure including a separate printhead cover assembly. The printhead cover assembly includes an opening through which the field service personnel has access to the dater/slogan module to allow the them to remove the dater/slogan module, such as for maintenance or repair, without affecting the security of the meter.

Abstract: A franking machine has a control lever (7) which is operable between a first position and a second position to cause a slogan to be printed or not to be printed respectively. When said franking machine is being fed with labels, the label selector selects a short label or a long label depending on whether the label is to receive a slogan. The label selector comprises an emitter (E) and a receiver (R) which are mounted in an opto-electronic detector head (41) at a distance from said lever (7) and which are coupled to each other by means of a mirror (42) mounted on the lever (7), but only when the lever is in one of its two specified positions.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of axially displaceable racks which in turn are controlled by a helical nut and pinion system which is driven by motor.

Abstract: In printing apparatus including structure for changing a value to be printed and structure for selecting a value to be printed, wherein the former includes a plurality of banks, each of which includes a print wheel having a plurality of print elements, and the latter includes structure for selecting each bank and structure for selecting each print element of a selected bank, and structure for driving the bank and print element selection structure, wherein the driving structure includes an output shaft, and structure for selectively coupling the shaft to the bank and print element selection structure, the improvement for controlling the value selection structure, the improvement comprising: the driving structure including a d.c.

Abstract: In combination with apparatus for printing indicia on a sheet, and a microcomputer for controlling the indicia printing apparatus to cause the indicia to be printed a predetermined marginal distance from an edge of the sheet, there is provided an improvement for changing the marginal distance. The improvement comprises: operator-controlled apparatus for providing at least one signal representative of at least one increment of distance; and programming the microcomputer for processing the at least one signal to provide a changed marginal distance, wherein the changed marginal distance includes the predetermined distance changed by the at least one increment of distance.

Abstract: A modular universal postage meter includes a base to which stepper motor modules and a drive shaft assembly are mounted to predetermined positions relative to the base. The drive shaft has a bifurcated printhead, including a secure value module and a field service accessible and removable dater/slogan module, mounted to its outer end. The stepper motors are coupled to the value module of the printhead through a number of value rods mounted to and parallel with the shaft assembly. The value rods can move parallel to the axis of the main shaft. Rings surround the shaft engage respective value rods and are themselves axially positioned by yokes coupled to the stepper motors. Since the stepper motor modules are registered to the base, they can be moved and replaced with minimal adjustments and realignment since the shaft assembly is likewise registered to a predetermined position relative to the base. Thus the base acts as a reference for the stepper motor modules, the shaft assembly and the printhead.

Abstract: Sheet handling apparatus is provided which includes structure for feeding a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, for sensing the sheet in the path of travel and providing at least one sensing signal indicative thereof, for printing postage indicia on the sheet, and for controlling the printing structure. The sensing structure is coupled to the controlling structure, which includes a microcomputer adapted to be energized from a local source of supply of power. The microcomputer is responsive to the at least one sensing signal for providing a time delay before commencement of operation of the printing structure to cause the postage indicia to be printed on the sheet a predetermined marginal distance from a reference edge of the sheet. The controlling structure includes a keyboard coupled to the microcomputer. The keyboard includes at least one key selectively operable for generating at least one key signal representative of a desired change in the marginal distance.

Abstract: In combination with a postage meter which includes a plurality of loads, a source of supply of motive power for driving the respective loads and instrumentalities for selectively coupling the source of motive power to the respective loads, there is provided an improvement which comprises: the motive power source including a d.c.

Abstract: An improvement in combination with a postage meter including a rotary postage printing drum having apparatus for changing respective postage values to be printed, and including apparatus for actuating the changing apparatus, there is provided an improvement for indexing the changing apparatus into engagement with the actuating apparatus. The improvement comprises: a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation of the drum; a device for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and a computer coupled to the sensing device and to the d.c. motor; wherein the computer provides respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, responds to the sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, compensates for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generates a d.c.

Abstract: An improvement in combination with a postage meter including a rotary drum having a periphery adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel. The improvement comprises: a first device for sensing a time interval during which a sheet is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel; a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation of the drum; a second device for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and a computer coupled to the first and second sensing devices and to the d.c. motor; wherein the computer responds to the first sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, responds to the second sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, compensates for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generates a d.c.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling the velocity of a portion of a load in accordance with a trapazoidal-shaped velocity versus time profile. The apparatus includes a d.c.

Abstract: An offset printing press includes a blanket cylinder defining a first cylindrical surface having a radius r.sub.1 and a recessed section. A blanket is tightly stretched around the blanket cylinder and defines a second cylindrical surface having a radius r.sub.2 greater than r.sub.1. An impression cylinder is aligned with the blanket cylinder to define a printing interface between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder to receive paper sheets and to transfer an inked image from the blanket to the paper sheets. Drive means defines and maintains a fixed phase angle between the blanket cylinder and the immpression cylinder and rotates both cylinders at an equal angular velocity and in complementary directions to transfer images to the paper sheets. The number imprinting apparatus interfaces with the offset printing press and includes a number head having a body and a number imprinting surface.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The print wheels are adjusted by displacing respective transmission members; e.g. gears, which are driven by a pinion which is shifted from gear to gear. Control means is provided for controlling the shifting of the pinion so that it is engaged during each value setting only with those gears whose print wheel requires adjustment from its previous setting.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of rack gears. The racks are displaced by a pinion which is shifted from rack to rack. The racks are arranged in an arcuate or part annular array around the pinion.

Abstract: A mailing system including a postage meter adaptable to either a high-speed mailing machine capable of parallel postal value selection or a low-speed mailing machine capable of serial value selection is disclosed. The postage meter includes a print drum with printing value members, a rod extends outwardly from the drum, the rod contains linear racks that are axially located above the horizontal center line of the rod, the linear racks interact with the value members to provide the proper value setting. Attached to the postage meter are a plurality of cross-over shafts with pinion gears, the pinion gears engage the racks to facilitate value selection. The postage meter also includes a rotary shutter device, the shutter device prevents unauthorized movement of the rack members and unintended rotation of the drum member. A cam bar arrangement within the postage meter interacts with the mailing machine to produce the above-mentioned actions.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The print wheels are adjusted by displacing respective rack gears through an annular drive member and a pinion, and the print drum is rotated for printing the selected value on a workpiece. A shutter bar locks the print drum against rotation during value selection and locks the annular member against rotation during print drum rotation.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of a plurality of axially displaceable rack gears. The racks are displaced by a pinion which is selectively directly engaged with the racks one at a time and the racks are shifted with respect to a fixed position.

Abstract: A drive system in which a rack having orthogonal teeth is driven off a helically threaded drive gear through a pinion. In order to compensate for the angle between the helical thread of the drive gear and the teeth of the driven rack, the drive gear and the rack engage the pinion at diametrically opposed positions and the axis of rotation of the pinion is skewed relative to the teeth of the rack by half the angle and the teeth themselves are also skewed relative to the axis of the pinion by half the angle. This has the effect that the teeth of the pinion are parallel at one side to the helical thread and are also parallel at the opposite side to the teeth of the rack. The drive system may be used in a postage meter for adjusting the print value wheels.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-alone electronic mailing machine that includes a postage metering device. The invention has particular utility when utilized in a mailing machine of the reciprocating platen type. The entire drive mechanism, setting mechanism, and control devices as well as the postage metering mechanisms are all contained in one housing so that there is no need for a separate base. In the mailing machine of this invention, a single central processing unit is utilized along with memory for the purpose of accounting for the postage value that has been charged into the mailing machine as well as the amount that has been used. Non-volatile memory is provided for permanent storage in case of power failure. A pair of stepper motors is used for the purpose of adjusting the print dies with the amounts that are to be imprinted. One of the stepper motors is also used to trip a single revolution clutch which is utilized to affect the printing operation.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the high speed printing of a line of text on a sheet in very accurate registration with an edge of the sheet or another feature (for example an existing print line) on the sheet. The sheet is fed without preregistration on to a track (10, FIG. 1) which passes the printing station (20). A detector (16) adjacent the track senses the arrival of the edge or some other feature of the sheet and a printing control means (14) responsive to the detector signal initiates the firing of the printing hammer (22) when the print line reaches the printing station, a registered operation being thereby effected without stopping the sheet. The detector signal may start the operation of a counter (70, FIG.

Abstract: The type wheels provided on a postage or franking head of a postage meter or franking machine are adjusted in stepwise manner from outside the franking head by means of adjusting push rods, which in each case engage a pinion associated with a type wheel. The engagement and adjusting movement of the adjusting push rod is performed by electromagnets. The engagement movement takes place by pivoting a guide plate carrying the adjusting push rods, on which the rods are displaceable by means of the electromagnet counter to the tension of a tension spring. The electromagnets can be energized on the basis of an electrical pulse, which is simultaneously used for adjusting an electronic display, provided on the franking machine casing.

Abstract: In a postage meter, an auxiliary printing device is included for printing additional information on a mail piece relating to the type of mail being processed. The postage meter is of the flat printing type and a multi-faced printing member containing the additional information to be printed is mounted adjacent the standard postal printing mechanism. Each of the faces of the printing member may contain postal information to be printed and the appropriate information may be selected by rotating a handle attached to the member. A detent means aligns the selected printing face with the rest of the postage meter printing die. The detent means may be manually released from the printing member to remove the member from the postage meter.

Abstract: A printing machine such as a postage meter has the capability of printing value indicia on material by means of a printing device having a plurality of selectably positioned printing wheels with a plurality of spaced apart numerical printing members arranged about the periphery of each wheel. The printing wheels are mounted for rotation on a common axis and each wheel has a concentrically located gear mounted on one side. The number of gear teeth in each printing wheel gear corresponds to the number of printing members and tooth spaces located in drivem members which mesh with the printing wheel gears in a predetermined synchronous relationship associated with the drive members. The printing wheel gears further have non-disfigured gear teeth as well as at least one disfigured gear tooth which meshes with correspondingly shaped spaces on each drive member so that any forced change in the synchronous relationship will render the postage meter inoperative.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus for identifying access to a postage meter is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a paper seal membrane which is partially exposed to the outside of the postage meter. The membrane is punctured providing access to a locking member within the postage member that allows for the opening of a postage meter door. The locking member has a slidable bolt that is easily engaged after the sealing membrane is punctured. Once the bolt is moved to an open position, access to the setting of the meter or the keyboard is easily accomplished. In accordance with this embodiment, the seal membrane once punctured must be replaced when meter door is closed. Thus, unauthorized access thereto is easily identified inasmuch as only authorized personnel will have access to the seal membrane that can be replaced thereto.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for incrementing characters in a printing device, generally applicable to the field of endorsers. An endless character belt has printing characters on its outer surface, the character belt designed to be incremented to present varied characters. The belt is moved by means of a sprocket wheel having gear teeth. A rod with an upstanding pin engages the sprocket wheel of the character belt to be incremented. By stacking several character belts adjacent to each other, each having its own sprocket wheel, the belts can be incremented separately and apart from each other.

Abstract: An entire electronic accounting and controlling system for a franking machine is mounted on two connected printed circuit boards, one along the top of the machine and the other along one side of the machine within the machine casing. The top board carries four rotary encoding switches and press button switches which are scanned by signals from a microcomputer on the side board passing to a binary counter controlling a binary to decimal decoder to send multiplexed signals to the switches enabling the rotary switches to send four pairs of five-bit words along ten scanning lines to the microcomputer which delivers equivalent eight-bit error immune signals to duplicate non-volatile memories. The press button switches send signals along the scanning lines to enable a display module on the top board to display decimal digits according to the information stored in the memories. A printing drum is set mechanically simultaneously with the rotary switches.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing wheel for a rotary printer comprising a plurality of type rings (6) positioned side by side on a cylindrical support (3). On their outer periphery said type rings (6) carry printing types (9), while on their inner periphery they are provided with internal toothing (10) capable of meshing with a pinion (11) which, by means of an adjusting spindle (14) connected for co-rotation therewith, is axially slidable into the planes of the individual type rings (6). By means of the pinion (11) the type rings (6) can be rotated relative to one another on the support (3) to bring selected printing types (9) into a predetermined position of adjustment. In order to avoid that during adjustment of a type ring (6) the adjacent type rings (6) are carried along a locking member (16, 17) is provided on the adjusting spindle (14), on either side of the pinion (11), for rotation relative to the adjusting spindle (14), and is secured against - axial shifting.

Abstract: A self-supported, free standing, demountable, printing/endorsing apparatus including a demountably removable, replaceable, adjustable printing module having ribbon transporting and re-inking means integral therewith. Solenoid actuated means operably, drivingly connected to an impact member for impact engagement with the demountable printing member enabling the device to print on an item. Secondary impression producing means is demountably carried by the printing means and is adjustable relative to the impact member and together with the impact member forms an item receiving pathway normal to the impact member through which the item is transported. The impact member is Gimbal mounted relative to the pathway effectively enabling printing without regard to the flatness of the subject matter of the item, and without the prior art high impact forces generally employed.

Abstract: In an electronic postage meter, the setting motors for setting the print wheels in the printing drum are directly controllable externally of the secure portion of the meter. The meter includes a shutter bar arranged to block rotation of the printing drum under determined conditions, the printing drum being rotatable in response to drive from a postage meter base. The postage meter includes first and second interposers controlled by a microprocessor for redundantly inhibiting movement of the shutter bar from a position blocking printing of postage. One of the microprocessor controlled interposers is also mechanically coupled to the print wheel setting mechanism to inhibit release of the interposer at determined positions of the stepping mechanism, and to inhibit operation of the setting mechanism when the interposer is released.

Abstract: Adjusting device for postage metering and value stamping machines for adjusting printing rollers and cylinders which includes type wheels mounted in a printing cylinder having a shaft, each of the type wheels having a respective stepping motor operatively associated therewith for adjusting the respective type wheel by means of a respective toothed rack and a respective double toothed rack, the toothed racks and the stepping motors being disposed radially to the printing-cylinder shaft and the double toothed racks being disposed parallel to one another, a selective printing roller adjustable by one of the double toothed racks via a belt drive, the toothed racks and the double toothed racks being coupled by a hook-connection, one of the respective toothed and double toothed racks having a widened hook-shaped part, the double toothed racks being adjustable beyond a maximally required number of steps of the type wheels, and the ends of the double toothed racks being guidable laterally out of the printing cylinder

Abstract: A multi-function document processor, including proof inscribing and sorting functions. The document feed station keyboard, and stacker are connected in such a fashion so as to allow easy access to each of these machine elements by an operator without leaving a seated position. The advantageously accessible arrangement of functional elements is achieved by a novel use of rotary document processing stations, resulting in a folded transport path of significantly shorter length, and a transition station for moving the documents from a first plane into a second plane for more compact stacker pocket orientation. Document travel through the improved transport and into the stacker pockets is controlled by logic in the form of a plurality of microprocessors communicating via an okay to send wire.

Abstract: A printing system for printing coded bar elements on a record member include a rotatable drum member having slidably mounted print elements disposed about its periphery. An actuator member positioned adjacent the drum member engages one of the print elements upon movement of the drum member to position a print element adjacent a record member. The actuator member is operated to slide the engaged print element to a printing position enabling the print element to print a coded bar on the record member.

Abstract: A value selection system for a postage meter includes a plurality of print wheels rotatably mounted within a print drum. The print drum is coupled to be driven to rotate such that selected print elements on each of the print wheels are moved to imprint a postage value on a mail piece or other postage imprint receiving surface. The print wheels are selectively positioned by a print wheel value selection mechanism which is operable to set the print wheels during any time within a printing cycle except when the actual imprint is being impressed. The mechanism is operable to move the print wheels when the print drum is at rest and when the print drum is in motion. The position of the print wheels and the print drum may be monitored to account for the printing of postage by the meter.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with presequencing machine-readable time card identifications in the printing of decks of time cards, automatically using the time-recording clock to fill in corresponding human-readable identification, and with a correspondence map memory between machine-and-human readable identifications, enabling repetitive assignment of the machine-readable identification of subsequent decks of time cards to provide complete use of the decks by changing such assignment correspondence.

Abstract: A value setting mechanism constituting an interface between printing mechanism and an electronic accounting system in a franking machine has each value precisely set without possibility of alteration during a printing cycle. A four digit value can be set by rotating thumb wheels that transmit the value to encoding switches and printing elements. A spring loaded locking bar lies between aligned recesses on the wheels when properly set. To initiate a cycle a trip lever is electromagnetically moved from a first position to a second position releasing a clutch pawl to actuate the printing elements via a clutch and to close switches. If bar fails to enter aligned recesses, a detent unit prevents the trip lever from moving to the second position. When it does so move, an arm thereon inhibits detent unit from moving in a direction to allow bar to withdraw from the aligned recesses.