Abstract: A postage meter having a movable shutter covering the printing die of the meter and mechanisms associated either with the postage meter or a meter base for locking the shutter and moving it, are disclosed. In one embodiment a keyswitch is provided which control locking and unlocking of the shutter and its movement. The meter base locks the postage meter therein with unlocking being controlled by the keyswitch.

Abstract: A tape advancing system for advancing a tape past a printing device in a mailing machine selective draws one of two tapes, from a supply reeled and presents the selected tape for postage indicia printing. The tape system includes, a first motor for selectively advancing a first one of a plurality of tapes and a second motor for moving the selected tape to a printing position. The tapes are advanced past the printing device in a parallel, facing relationship. The selected tape is exposed for imprinting by the printing device. The tape is moved into a printing position only when it is desired to imprint tape. At other times, the tapes are clear of printing device thereby permitting the printing device to imprint envelopes delivered by an envelope transport.

Abstract: An integrated slip guide member and slip table assembly for use with business machines. The slip table has a first and second groups of parallel grooves thereon which are spaced apart in parallel relationship. The slip guide member has first and second members which receive the a portion of the slip table to enable the guide member to be moveable on the slip table to accommodate different widths of documents. The slip guide member also has detent members thereon to mesh with the first and second groups of parallel grooves to adjustably secure the slip guide member on the slip table.

Abstract: The check positioning system includes a guide tray (12) which in turn includes a guiding edge (31). Roller assemblies (18,20,22) in combination with associated lower gripping wheels (40,42,44) and a system (16) for driving the roller assemblies (18,20,22) move the check longitudinally in both directions along the guide tray (12). A clamping apparatus (48) controls the clamping of the check. A deskewing roller (28) on each of the roller assemblies moves the check laterally as well as longitudinally when the check is not clamped. A laterally movable edge detector (14) detects the edges of the check so it can be located relative to the guide tray (12) for accurate printing/encoding of the check.

Abstract: A service station installation is disclosed in which the fuel amount and cost registers of the dispensing pump are connected by an information link to a hand-portable unit which displays the same information. The unit can be affixed to the windscreen of the vehicle which is being refueled or can be placed on the vehicle. The driver can monitor fuel amount and cost without leaving his vehicle.

Abstract: An electronic printer calculator containing rolls of paper outside and inside the calculator and a printer for printing out data on either of the rolls of paper. The paper rolls can be set inside and outside the calculator main body, respectively. A passage for leading the roll paper set outside the calculator main body to the printer is separate from that for leading the roll paper set inside the calculator main body to the printer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording medium holding apparatus to stably fix a recording medium onto which the recording is performed by a recording member by a holding member when the recording medium is used. When the recording medium is not used, the holding member is enclosed into the bottom surface of the main body so as to prevent the holding member from projecting out of the main body and becoming an obstacle. Further, the enclosed holding member is stably fixed to prevent the damage of the apparatus main body due to the vibration or the like.

Abstract: A wire marker printer is formed from a commercially available electronic calculator. The calculator having both computation and printing capabilities is modified to function as a wire marker printer. The computation capabilities are deactivated and the paper receiving chamber is modified to accept a roll of wire markers.

Abstract: A desk-top calculator wherein a printer of the type having a movable character wheel is designed so as to effect printing on paper on a desk and when the calculator is moved, the character wheel is returned to its initial position.

Abstract: Microprocessor controlled flow metering apparatus employs mechanically coupled registers driven by a positive displacement or other flow meter to display fluid volume dispensed during a monitored transaction--and as a cumulative total over time. User adjustable electrical switch decades electrically enter computational scale factor variables such as price per gallon and tax rate.The stored program controlled microprocessor computes all desired output variables (fuel cost, tax)--and outputs the variables in predesignated fields onto a printed ticket (invoice) while controlling printer carriage movement and solenoid actuation. In accordance with varying aspects of the invention, mechanical and software security is provided to ensure proper correlation between customer fluid (e.g., fuel) receipt and billing.

Abstract: A printing device of a construction, wherein a plurality of printing hammers are arranged in parallel facing toward a character wheel provided on its outer peripheral surface with a plurality of character types to be struck by the printing hammers through a printing paper, etc., interposed between the printing hammers and the character wheel, and an ink applying device is kept in contact with the character wheel to apply printing ink onto the type face of the characters, the ink applying device having on its surface discrete sections to apply a printing ink of a color to a particular character to be struck by a particular printing hammer out of a plurality of the printing hammers, and another printing ink of another color to the remainder of the characters to be struck by the remainder of the printing hammers.

Abstract: A postage meter is provided with a combination whereby the detent members retarding the selector gears of the postage meter are removed immediately prior to the changing of the postage amount. The combination is also able to engage a bail lock-out mechanism at the same instant the detent is removed to prevent accidental meter trips or tampering with the meter.

Abstract: An electronic digital display scale with a label printer adapted to weigh an article, to print a measured weight of said article on a label and to adhere said label onto said article weighed, wherein the printed label is held by a label transfer device by means of adhering or suction and transferred to an applying position outside a frame, thereby said label is applied to the weighted article by depressing said weighed article against the label retained by said label transfer device.

Abstract: A setting mechanism for a postage meter for use in a continuous mail sorting and postage imprinting system which automatically weighs and meters each piece of mail. The system is designed to rapidly handle a large quantity of mixed mail. Mixed mail is continuously and synchronously fed in seriatim along a continuous feed path. Unsealed envelopes have their flaps wetted and sealed. All the envelopes are stopped at a weighing station where they are weighed, and the postage corresponding to their particular weight is computed. The determined postage value is used to continuously reset a postage meter which imprints the required postage upon each envelope as it arrives at a metering station. The actuator banks of the meter are controlled by stepper motors. The metering and weighing functions of the system are synchronized such that the postage meter will imprint the proper postage upon each piece of mail, despite the fact that several envelopes may be simultaneously in transit along the feed path.

Abstract: A device for transmitting information in the form of an electrical signal to at least one mechanism for giving a readout of the information, comprises a readout mechanism which has at least one symbol wheel which carries symbols on its circumference. A plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending actuating members are affixed to a drive shaft which rotates to move the actuating members in a first plane. The actuating members are divertible into a second plane parallel to the first plane by a switch arranged in the plane of movement of the actuators so as to selectively divert the actuating members into a second plane. The actuating members have individual symbols corresponding to the number of readout symbols and guide walls are provided for supporting the actuators and the switch, as well as a gear drive for a symbol wheel in the respective first and second planes. A relay is employed for sensing the symbol position of the symbol wheel and it is connected to the switch to energize the switch.

Abstract: This invention relates to a selection mechanism for a postage meter in which a single Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator is rigidly mounted on a hollow cylindrical drive shaft on which is also mounted the postage meter printing head, and comprises a series of selection bars lying longitudinally of the drive shaft and angularly therearound, each of which bars is set by a suitable manual positioning means, such as a selection wheel, each such bar carrying a yoke to position a driven gear of a first register to be driven by the actuator, a like series of auxiliary setting bars, each of which is rigidly yoked to the respective first setting bar and which carries a yoke for setting a register drive gear of another register of a postage meter. The main setting bar, at its forward end, is provided with gear teeth which drive a gear train that meshes with a rack carried by the actuator drive shaft to set the mechanism in the print wheel.

Abstract: A counter for measuring apparatus such as a water meter or the like includes a first number wheel for a low decade; a drive shaft for driving the first number wheel; an additional number wheel for values of a lowest decade; a clutch coupling for coupling the additional number wheel to the drive shaft; and, a cam mechanism for aligning the number wheels. The cam mechanism includes a rotatable cam shaft for actuating a first pawl for engaging an alignment star of the first number wheel and an additional pawl for engaging an alignment star of the additional number wheel. The cam shaft is configured so as to first cause the additional pawl to engage the alignment star of the additional number wheel, and then, to cause the first pawl to engage the alignment star of the first number wheel when the cam shaft is rotated.