JPS625078B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a stamping deck mechanism used in a postage meter device, and more particularly to a stamping deck that reduces the noise generated by conventional stamping decks.

With the increase in high speed address printing machines, there has been a trend towards increased noise production. What is desired today is a machine that is high speed, yet quieter. This invention is directed to the problem of noise reduction and vibration isolation in postage meter machines.

More specifically, this invention relates to a sound-deadening movable marking deck mechanism for use in a postage meter mechanism. The imprinting deck of the present invention provides a more uniform postage impression on letters of different thickness than a postage meter, despite the differences in thickness.
shall be stamped. This is due in part to the highly flexible nature of the deck. The flexibility of the deck is due in part to its leaf spring support member and also in part to the tension bracket and its relationship to the deck. Another advantage of these leaf spring supports is that their connections have little relative movement. This slight movement reduces friction and noise generation.

The mechanism of the invention includes a conveyor belt that transports the mailed items to the postage meter. A movable mail support deck is located near the conveyor belt. The sent mail is received between the conveyor belt and the movable deck. A central frame member supports the deck, relative to which the conveyor belt rests on a sound attenuating pad or flexible support member.

Spaced leaf springs are mounted on the deck and the central frame to allow relative movement of the deck while reducing the operating noise level of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved postage meter stamping deck.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamping deck mechanism for a postage meter device that is much quieter than previous stamping deck mechanisms.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stamping deck mechanism that eliminates shock.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the description below.

In short, the present invention provides a sound-deadening stamping deck for use in a postage meter device, in which the stamping deck and the postage meter at its end are mounted on a central frame that blocks shock and sound. . The connection between the movable deck and the central frame is made by a sound-deadening leaf spring. These leaf springs provide a high degree of elastic deck movement while reducing relative movement between the deck and the central frame support connection. The relative movement between the deck support and the deck connection is reduced, which significantly reduces noise generation from the deck mechanism.

Specific examples will be described below.

1 and 2, a postage metering device 10 is shown. Mail pieces 11 are fed to the front end of the device 10 in the direction of arrow 12. The mail is sandwiched between feed rollers 13, 13a and fed between a conveyor belt 14 and a deflectable mail deck 15. The deck 15 is spring biased upwards so that mail items are captured by the conveyor belt 14 moving in the direction of arrow 16. This mail item 11 is then transferred to the printing drum 1 of the postage meter 18.
7, where a postage mark (postage mark) is printed.

The deck 15, conveyor belt 14, postage meter 18, and most of the other moving parts of the apparatus are all supported by a central (main) support frame 19. The central frame member 19 has four flange members 20, one at each corner of the device. All of these flange members 20 are supported on flexible pads 21 which have a cushioning effect and isolate the aforementioned moving parts from their surroundings. This cushioning action dampens the transmission of sound and vibrations to and from the device.

This device also provides a great deal of noise reduction due to the leaf springs 22. The leaf spring 22 supports the deck 15 in a flexible state.

One of the leaf springs 22 acts as a flexible joint between the lip 23 of the deck 15 and the central frame 19. The other two springs 22 act as flexible connections between the deck 15 and the frame 19 and are located below the postage meter 18. Other 2
The two springs 22 form approximately a parallelogram as shown.

All leaf springs 22 generally have the same shape, length and width. This allows the deck 15 to deflect in translation. Although this translational movement is not completely parallel, it enables uniform stamping of postage stamps regardless of the thickness of the mailpiece.
Hitherto, this function has been performed by fixed link members. However, this leaf spring 22 provides much quieter operation.

FIG. 3 shows a fairly thick piece of mail 24 which deflects the deck 15.
As mentioned above, the decks 15 are maintained substantially parallel.

The thickness of the leaf springs 22 may vary in order for the leaf springs to support greater weight. That is, the leaf spring 22 at the bottom of the postage meter 18 may need to be thicker than the spring 22 at the bottom of the lip 23.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the movable marking deck mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is similar to FIG. 2 with the deck in the depressed position. Explanation of symbols, 10... Postage metering device, 11...
... Mail, 13, 13a ... Feed roller, 1
4...Conveyor belt, 15...Mail deck,
17...Printing drum, 18...Postage meter, 1
9... Main support frame member, 20... Flange member, 2
1... Pad, 22... Leaf spring, 23... Lip, 24... Mail.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Postage stamps are uniformly stamped on mail pieces of different thicknesses by a postage meter regardless of the difference in thickness of the mail pieces, and this postage stamping is carried out in a very quiet manner. , a movable sound-deadening stamping deck mechanism for use in a postage meter apparatus, comprising: a movable conveyor belt for conveying a supply of mail to the postage meter; a movable mail support deck movably mounted parallel to and movably mounted to receive delivered mail of different thicknesses; a flexible support member for reducing noise; and the flexible support member. a central frame member placed thereon; and a central frame member disposed along the mail supply direction, the ends of which are pulled apart from each other along the direction with respect to the central frame member and the movable mail support deck, respectively. leaf spring means connected in position for supporting the movable mail support deck for relative movement up and down with respect to the central frame member, thereby providing very quiet movement of the deck; A sound-muffling movable stamping deck mechanism. 2. The sound-deadening movable stamping deck mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a postage meter connected to the central frame member in the immediate vicinity of the movable conveyor belt. 3. A sound-muffling movable marking deck mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring means comprises a plurality of leaf springs having substantially the same length. 4. A sound-deadening movable marking deck mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring means comprises a plurality of leaf springs having substantially the same width as each other. 5. The sound-muffling movable marking deck mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring means comprises a plurality of leaf springs having substantially the same shape as each other. 6 leaf spring means having a first leaf spring connected at one end to the front end of said movable mail support deck; second and third leaf springs connected at one end to the rear end of said deck; A sound-deadening movable marking deck mechanism according to claim 1, comprising: a leaf spring; 7. The sound-muffling movable stamping deck mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the second and third leaf springs are comprised of two leaf springs arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart in the vertical direction.