JPH01196384A - Ink module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an ink coating apparatus suitable for a flat-bed printing press for a mail machine by providing a positioning device allowing an ink module to vertically move from the first position with respect to an ink pad tray to subsequently rise to reach a second position to certainly operate the ink module. CONSTITUTION: An ink module 19 is provided between the support walls 33, 35 of a mail machine and a gear 117 is fixed to one end of the output shaft 115 of a drive motor 113 to be always meshed with a second gear 119. A link device equipped with a drive shaft or a first link 121 has a second gear 119 fixed to one end thereof and first and second transport links 129, 130 are respectively attached to one end thereof in a separated state. Inclined surfaces 141 are formed to the transport links 129, 130 and, when a motor 113 is operated, the link device is driven forwardly and, when an ink pad tray 139 is positioned just under the recording region of a meter 15, the inclined surfaces 141 are pressed to a guide pin 135 to be inclined upwardly and an ink pad sump 139 rises to come into contact with the recording region of the meter 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to stamping systems such as rate meters in postal machines used to stamp information on sheet-like media, and particularly to postal machines that utilize flatbed printing technology. For mailing machines suitable for mounting a postage meter, the mailing machine is equipped with a suitable postage ink device.

In the mail processing incarnation, it is most desirable for the system operator to feed the mail processing equipment with "mixed mail", i.e., batches consisting of a large number of envelopes of various sizes, and especially of various thicknesses and weights. It is possible to do so.

The ability of the mail processing system to handle a wide variety of mixed mail pieces eliminates the preliminary step of pre-sorting the mail pieces by the system operator. Even more desirable for mail processing equipment is the ability to weigh individual envelopes! I!
Appropriate price stamps can be affixed according to the quantity. It would generally be advantageous if mail processing equipment could stamp type indicia on envelopes that vary in thickness from postcard thickness to about 1/4 inch. It would also be advantageous for mail processing equipment to have the ability to stamp postage stamps on strips of tape that can be applied to packages that are too large to be received by the mail processing equipment.

Known mail processing equipment simply consists of a feeder that continuously supplies envelopes to a transport device. The transport device places the envelope on the weighing post. After sufficient time to read the true value on the scale of the envelope weight, commonly known as the "static weight," the transport device again takes control of the envelope and feeds the envelope to the mailing machine.

The mail machine consists of an integral transport device and an attached rotating printing drum type postage meter. The transport device of the mailing machine applies speed control to the envelopes and performs the necessary speed adjustments to match the rate meter print drum imprint speed and envelope cross speed to facilitate type indicia printing. It is known to provide a scale-influenced rate setting mechanism for a rate meter, which causes the rate meter value setting mechanism to adjust the rate meter printing mechanism so that the appropriate rate rate is printed on the arriving envelope by the scale. Perform according to the determined envelope weight.

The above-mentioned mail processing system has as its main purpose (I) the ability to process envelopes that vary widely in size, especially with respect to thickness and l; (■) the ability to process envelopes per second as quickly as possible; and (m) the ability to apply type indicia. be. The above-mentioned mail processing method has several limitations on increasing the amount of processing relative to the cost of the system. One such limitation is represented by the time required to transport envelopes from one processing station to another. Other limitations reflect the time required to obtain accurate weights from the scale. Requirements such as transportation time and weighing time can be expected to be reduced with associated advanced technology. However, the rule of decreasing regression predicts that such conditions will be achieved either by system-wide modifications or by a disproportionate increase in system cost.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Another means of increasing the throughput of a mail handling system is to include a large number of scales and a suitable transport system in which the scales are installed for different uses.

Such devices significantly increase system processing, resulting in duplication of steps or functions.

However, such alternatives increase costs in terms of equipment and process complexity.

In order for mail processing equipment to be compatible with the processing of packaged mail, it is desirable to produce strips printed with postage indicia that can be affixed to packaged mail by a suitable mechanism within the mail processing facility. Since such a mechanism handles regular envelope mail,
It does not impair the speed capability of mail processing equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a generally modular inking mechanism integrated into a mailing machine for inking printing elements of rate meters mounted on the mailing machine.The inking module comprises: It is integrated into the mailing machine for processing regular envelope mail or so as not to impair the speed capabilities of the mailing machine when the mailing machine processes rate stamp tape.

[Means to solve the problem]

The ink module of the present invention is used in a new postage meter mailing machine that increases throughput in part by providing a mailing machine with a single pass station where envelopes are weighed and stamped. It is especially suitable for The mailing machine is equipped with a transport device for properly positioning the envelopes at processing stations. Envelopes are fed to the mail machine transport device by a suitable envelope feeding device, such as a mixed mail feeder. After the envelopes have been weighed and stamped at the processing station, the transport device again exerts control over the envelopes and ejects them from the mailing machine.

The mail machine processing station supports an integral scale adapted to fit the transport device, an optional envelope sealing device to complement the transport device, a vertically displaceable flat printing platen, and a suitably mounted postage meter. It consists of a postage meter support device. Through the use of multi-function processing stations, mail machine throughput has been significantly increased by minimizing time delays between work functions on each envelope and eliminating the transit time required by multiple processing station schemes.

The entire scale is mounted independently on the base of the mailing machine and has a number of grooves on the weighing plate of the scale. The weighing plate is fitted with a number of support members having a generally C-shaped configuration. The support member is fixedly attached to an envelope clamping device which clamps the envelope to the weighing plate during weighing to facilitate transportation of the envelope.

The transport device includes a number of rollers independently supported by the mailing machine board, the rollers being in a vertically engaged position (upward position) in contact with the clamping device, or in a vertically separated position (downward position) in which the rollers are disengaged from the clamping device. Can be done. Each roller aligns partially through the valley in the upper position.

A reversible drive motor device is connected to each roller via an endless belt. A drive motor arrangement is operable with the transport apparatus such that actuation of the motor in the first direction produces a driving force on each roller on the endless belt and actuation of the motor in the second direction causes the transport apparatus to reposition the rollers in a second position. It is equipped with a one-way clutch.

The sealing device is mounted on the mailing machine in suspension above a portion of the weighing plate of the scale and includes a number of sealing members selectively positionable in a downwardly biased first position and an upwardly retracted second position. It is equipped with In the first position, a number of sealing members are biased onto separate transport rollers.

The mailing machine further includes a vertically displaceable hanging platen assembly mounted on the base of the mailing machine, attached to the postage meter support arrangement, and aligned for proper cooperation with the postage meter.

The tape module generally cantilevers the tape track and extends generally below the meter module located on one side of the meter module.

The tape module optionally has a tape trajectory vertically below the printing device and platen device of the meter module.
and selectively positioned in a first position vertically disposed therebetween. In the second position of the tape module, the tape track is located longitudinally below and longitudinally spaced from the printing device and platen module of the meter module. The tape module includes a tape feeder capable of selectively feeding one of two types of tape onto the tape track for imprinting by the meter module.

The cutter module includes a lever arm slidably mounted to the mailing machine support wall laterally of the tape strip exit path of the tape module.

The lever arm rotatably supports a rotating cutter blade. The lever arm is driven by a crank and reciprocates.

The mail machine further includes an inking mechanism for inking the printing elements of the meter. The ink module is located below a suitable postage meter mounted on the mailing machine. A toothed drive motor having an output shaft is mounted on the mailing machine in such a way that the gears are in constant mesh with the connecting gears of the ink module. A coupling device responsive to the coupling gear includes an ink pad tray in which an ink pad is provided. Upon actuation of the drive motor, the coupling device is forward such that the ink pad tray is located just below the recording area of the meter, and then tilts upwardly, raising the ink pad into contact with the recording area of the meter.

Other possibilities and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

〔Example〕

A postage meter mailing machine particularly suitable for use with the present invention uses a novel modular construction. That is, the mail machine is made up of subsystems that are independent of each other. Accordingly, a mailing machine can be configured to include only those subsystem modules necessary to meet the specific operational requirements of a given application environment. Alternatively, the mailing machine can be configured with a full array of subsystems to maximize application flexibility. For example, if the operating environment is limited to processing uniform mail pieces, the weighing module described below can be removed from the mailing machine without affecting the system functionality or system controls of the remaining modules. Most are omitted.

1 and 2, a mailing machine according to the invention, generally designated 11, includes a weighing module 13, a transport module 12, a postage meter module 15, a tape supply module 17, an ink module 19 and a platen module 21. It uses a novel subsystem modular structure that includes: Each module is installed in the mailing machine 11 such that the weighing module 13 is located in front of the parallel support walls 33,35. The support walls 33,35 are laterally spaced and fixedly attached to the mail machine base plate 30.

An ink module 19 or substrate 30 is mounted between the support walls 33,35. A postage meter module 15 is mounted above the ink module 19 relative to the support wall 33,35. The platen module 21 is mounted to the substrate 30 directly below the recording portion of the postage meter module 15, as described in more detail below. Additionally, the mailing machine has a tape supply module 17 mounted on the wall 35 that cooperates with a tape cutting mechanism 230 in the preferred embodiment.

1 and 3, a weighing module 13 most suitable for the present invention is illustrated in the patent application published in 1987 entitled "Apparatus and Method for Determining Weight of Articles by Measuring Displacement During Periods of Harmonic Motion" filed concurrently with the present invention. The elastic weighing module is described in more detail in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 073,790, filed May 7, 2007, to which reference is hereby made.

In summary, the optimal elastic scale module described in said application utilizes harmonic vibration theory to determine the weight of an article. Flexibly attached platform (members 37, 40.43, 45.47 and 49 together)
is caused to vibrate by the initial excitation action. The vibration frequency depends primarily on the total weight of the platform and its associated components such as envelopes present on the platform and the spring constant of the platform. Therefore,
The weight of the envelope present on the platform can also be used to determine the specified fLH by comparing the vibration subsequently obtained for the presence of the envelope to a known nominal vibration. In short, the weighing module 13 described here
The part shown in FIG. 1 shows that part of the elastic scale necessary to explain the correlation between the mail machine 11 and the scale.

In particular, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the weighing module 1
3 is an elastic type, and its both ends are connected to vertical beam members 40 respectively.
It is equipped with a measuring plate 37 supported by. The other end of each beam member 40 is fixedly attached to a counter 42. The postal machine base 11R30 has a large number of scale support columns 36.
, and each strut 36 includes a flexible member 34. Each flexible member 34 is attached to the counter plate 42 of the weighing module 1.
3 is fixedly attached so as to support it apart from the substrate 30.

The metering plate 37 is generally rectangular and has a vertically extending recess 38 along the rear side of the metering plate 37.
is also provided with a number of aligned grooves 41 (not shown for clarity in FIG. 3). A first generally C-shaped clamp 43 extends into a recess 38 along the rear side of the metering plate.
is laterally fixedly attached to one side of the A second generally C-shaped clamp 45 is laterally fixedly attached to the rear side of the metering plate 37 on the other side of the recess 38 . A support beam 47 (shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 for clarity) is fixedly attached to each clamp 43,45 at its end. A plurality of clamp members 49 are rotatably mounted to the support beam 47 by conventional means, each clamp member 49 being mounted above a respective one of the grooves 41. Each clamp member 49 includes a mounting arm 51 rotatably attached to the support beam 47 at one end and biased downwardly by conventional means such as a spring. A flange member 53 is fixed to the other end of the mounting arm 51 and has a generally arched shape and is sized to prevent the flange member 53 from protruding into each groove 41 .

If it is not desired to include a weighing function, the weighing module with the cited functional capabilities of the related application as mentioned above may be omitted. Minor modifications or substitutions required are the metering plate 3
7, which can be fixedly attached directly to the mail machine base plate 30 and is equipped with clamps 4B, 45, support beams 47 and clamp members 49. Members 43, 45, 47°4
9 is supported according to an embodiment of the invention to interact with the transport module as described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, an embodiment of the present invention includes a seal module generally designated 42. As shown in FIGS. Seal module 42 includes a generally L-shaped support member 44 .

Support member 44 is fixedly attached to one end of mail machine board 30. The other end of the support member 44 is connected to the spring 4
8 supports a number of seal members 46 biased downwardly. Seal member 46 is generally convoluted and longitudinally aligned and includes a tab 56 . The solenoid 50 is attached to the support member 44 by the solenoid piston arm 5.
2 is fixedly attached so as to contact a portion of the transport link 54 which is slidably attached to the support member 44. The transport link 54 is partially connected to the tab 56 of each seal member.
come into contact with. Actuation of the solenoid 50 causes the solenoid piston arm 52 to displace the transport link 54 and rotate the seal member 46 away from the IQ temporary 37 during the metering process.

In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, a large number of first guide rollers 5
The transport module 12 with 7 is rotatably mounted to a frame 58 (as best shown in Figure 3.4). The frame 58 has a support seat 70 and a convex seat 7
0 has an inner seat 72.

A number of generally L-shaped support members 74 are fixedly attached to one end of the base plate 30 so that they do not interfere with the counter plate 42 of the weighing module. Support member 74
The other end receives the convex seat 70 of the frame 58. Each support member 74 includes a seat 76 that biases the guide pin 7 vertically upwardly by a spring 80 mounted thereon.
It has 8. A portion of the guide pin 78 also partially
It is seated on the inner seat 70 of each frame seat 72.

Also, a number of rollers 61 are rotatably attached to the frame 58, and the rollers 61 are provided vertically downward from and between adjacent guide rollers 57. A reversible drive motor 63 and associated drive gear train, generally designated 65, are fixedly mounted in a conventional manner so as not to interfere with the operation of the weighing module 13 relative to the base plate 30 of the mailing machine. There is. The endless belt 69 is the drive gear train 6
5, and the drive gear train 65 is generally connected to the drive gear train 65.
It has a one-way clutch shown at 7. endless belt 69
is installed in a meandering manner around the rollers 57 and 61, and drives and connects the drive motor 63 and the roller 57.

When the belt 69 is driven in the envelope feeding direction of the mailing machine by the drive motor 63 as enabled by the one-way clutch 67, the frame 58 is urged against the spring-biased guide pin 78 to assume a predetermined or first position. . In the first position, the roller 57 is positioned by the frame 58 so that it projects through the groove 41 of the weighing platform 37 and slightly above it. When belt 69 is driven in a direction opposite to the envelope feeding direction, the one-way clutch prevents continued displacement of belt 69 and causes belt 69 to exert a downward force on frame 58 due to the biasing force of spring 80. overcome. Therefore, the frame 58 is displaced downward to the second position and the roller 57 is pulled out from the groove 41. Drive gear train 6
5 has a tensioning roller 66 which is biased in the usual way, and when the frame 58 is in the second position the tensioning device
Hold 9 in tension.

When the roller 57 is pulled out from the full 41, the clamp 47
The weighing process is carried out by temporarily biasing the envelope. When the roller 57 is partially transported into the container 41, the clamp 4
7 assists in transportation functions.

In Figures 1, 2, 4 and 12, especially Figure 6,
As mentioned above, the postage meter 15 is attached to the support wall 33.35.
installed between. Overall postage meter is 7
It has a recording area provided at the front, indicated by No. 1 82. A platen module 21 is mounted on the mail machine board 30 immediately below the recording area 82 of the postage meter 15. The platen module 21 includes the substrate 3
0 is provided with a support wall 81 fixedly attached to it.

A large number of C-shaped brackets 83 and guide pins 85 are vertically aligned 4i and fixedly attached to one surface of the support wall 81.
It allows platen guide rod 87 to slide vertically along a predetermined vertical path. The platen guide rod 87 is laterally supported by a C-shaped bracket 83 and guide pin 85, and has a platen plate 89 at its top.
is permanently installed. The platen plate also includes first and second rack supports 9, spaced apart laterally.
1.93 or fixedly installed. Platen plate 89
Attached to the top is an elastomeric material having a generally rectangular shape of constant thickness.

Drive motor 97 is mounted to and between parallel support brackets 99 such that rack posts 91,93 are on the outside of each bracket 99. The drive motor 97 has a drive shaft 101 extending axially through the drive motor 97.
It is equipped with Rack supports 9 are provided at both ends of the drive shaft 101.
1.93, a gear 103 is fixedly attached so that it always meshes with the gear 103. When the drive motor 97 operates,
Platen plate 89 is raised on the rack post to engage elastomeric member 95 with an envelope properly placed in the meter recording projection area while printing an indicia on the envelope.

In FIGS. 1, 7, and 12, the ink module 19
are provided between the supporting walls 33, 35 of the mailing machine 25. The motor mounting plate 111 is fixedly mounted perpendicularly to the substrate 30. The drive motor 113 is mounted on the motor mounting plate-1
11, an output shaft 115 is fixedly attached to the plate 111 such that it extends through the plate 111. Output shaft 1 on the outside of the plate 111
A gear 117 is fixedly attached around one end of 15. The second gear 119 is pivoted on the base plate 30 and always meshes with the gear 117. Drive shaft or first link 1
A linkage with 21 is fixedly attached to the second gear 119 at one end. Along the first link 121,
The second link 123 and the third link 125 are fixedly attached in parallel with each other, and the fourth link 127 is connected to each link 1.
25.123 at each end thereof. The first and second transport links 129, 130 are, respectively,
It is attached at one end of the fourth link 127 apart from the fourth link 127 . Support wall 33. Inside the 35, the first
A guide pin 135 and a second guide pin 137 are fixedly attached.

Each transport link 129, 130 has a guide pin 1
35 and above the guide pin 137, the guide pin 135
, 137 extend to guide the longitudinal displacement path of the transport link 129, 130, respectively. The guide pins 135, 137 also have vertical supports. An ink pad reservoir 139 is fixedly attached to the front end of each transport link, and an ink pad (not shown) is provided therein. An inclined surface 141 is formed at the other end of each transport link 129,130. Thus, when the motor 113 is actuated, the linkage is driven forward. When one ink pad tray 13 is located directly below the recording area 85 of the meter 15, the ramp 141 is pressed against the pin 135, tilting the transport links 130, 129 upwardly and raising the ink pad reservoir 139 to the meter 15. contact with the recording area 85 of.

Furthermore, FIGS. 1, 4, 8, 9, and 10.

In FIG. 12, tape module 17 is slidably attached to wall 35 along a track 150 formed along the outside of wall 35. In FIG. A tape module with rails 151 is longitudinally slidably mounted to track 150 and defines a longitudinal displacement path for tape module 17 .

Bracket 155 is fixedly attached to rail 153. A second bracket 157 having a generally vertically extending groove 159 is attached to bracket 155. The bracket 155 includes a rear wall 161 .
A first tape drive motor 163 and a second tape drive motor 165 are attached. Bracket 155 includes a first set of longitudinally aligned bracket flanges 167. Each flange 167 has a first pivot arm 169
One end is pivoted. Bracket 155 further includes a second set of bracket flanges 171, which in turn each have a second pivot arm 173.
One end is pivoted. Each swivel arm 169.173
The other end is pivotally connected to tape guide housing 175.

Tape guide housing 175 has an aligned inlet 177 opposite outlet 179 . tape track] 81 is fixedly cantilevered to tape guide housing 175 and extends outwardly from outlet 179 of tape guide housing 175, tape track 181 extends partially into tape guide housing 175 (wedge-shaped feed The tape track 1-81 and the supply member 183 are connected to the housing 17.
5 and extends laterally across the outlet 179. The tape tracks 181 have first and second tape tracks, respectively.
Channel-shaped sidewalls 174, 176 are provided with a strip member 178 supported longitudinally by and between the sidewall passageways (see FIG. 7). Each tape guide housing 175 has a first. Second tape drive rollers 185, 187 are rotatably mounted. The housing 175 includes
A first idle roller 1 is placed on the opposite side of the first drive roller 185.
87 is rotatably mounted, and similarly a second idle roller 191 is rotatably mounted on the opposite side of the second tape drive roller 187.

A flexible shaft 193 couples the first motor 163 to the first tape drive roller 185 , and similarly, a second flexible shaft 195 couples the second tape drive roller 187 to the first tape drive motor 16 .
It is connected to 5.

The housing 175 further includes a flange portion 197 to which a number of first guide pins 198 and a number of second guide pins 199 are fixedly attached. The duplex tape support device 200 is J! It is fixedly attached to the temporary 30 and rotatably supports the first and second tape rolls 203 and 205, respectively. First tape roll 203 is threaded such that the guide pin moves into housing 175 and tape track 181 in alignment with tape 203 . The tape 203 is on the tape track 181
The groove-shaped side walls 174 and 176 rest on the strip 178, and are supported between the groove-shaped side walls 174 and 176. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
is a backing tape fed with sufficient return lead to extend downward in the opposite direction and between the idle roller 191 and the drive roller 187;
The actuation of the tape 203 on the backing tape 180 advances the tape 203 and peels off the backing strip. Tape 205 is attached to pin 1
98, passes between the idle roller 189 and the drive roller 185, passes through the tape track 181, is placed on the tape 203, and is supported between the grooved side walls 174, 176.

If desired, tape 203 can be unlined. The tape can be passed directly between the rollers 187 and 191 of the track 181, as shown in dashed lines in FIG.

In particular, in FIGS. 10 and 12, the tape module 1
7 is slidable along a track 150 formed in the wall 35 according to the movement of the second bracket 157. The tape module 17 is connected to the recording area 80 of the postage meter 15 and the platen module 21 so that the track 181 is the first one between the postage recording area 80 and the platen module 21.
It is placed in the correct position. In the second position, the track 181 is repositioned below the postage meter 15 and beyond the path of travel of the platen plate 89. The position of track 150 depends on the position of second bracket 157.

To drive the second bracket 157 and the track 181
The motor 210 is connected to the mailing machine's base plate 30 in order to position the mailing machine in a first position (shown in phantom in FIG. 12) or in a second position.
permanently attached to the A pulley 212 is fixedly attached around the output shaft of the motor 210. wall 3
5, a double-boot device 214 having a first pulley 216 and a second pulley 220 is mounted to rotate i1. The first pulley 216 is connected to the motor 210 through an endless belt 218 that moves between the pulleys 212 and 216. The crank device 222 is rotatably mounted on the wall 35 and allows the endless belt 226 to pass through the pulley device 21.
The pulley 224 is drivingly connected to the pulley 220 of No. 4. The crank device 214 also includes the crank arm 22
8, and the crank arm 228 is connected to the tape module 1.
7 of the brackets 157 have sliding pins 230 provided therein.

Movement of tape module 17 along track 150 is accomplished by having motor 212 rotate pulley 212 in the direction shown in FIG. The rotation of pulley 212 is transmitted by belts 218, 216 through double pulley device 214 to pulley 224 of crank device 222.

A half turn of pulley 224 causes tape module 17 to move
position to a second position. Further actuation of motor 210 further rotates pulley 224 to complete the rotation and return the tape module to the first position.

In FIG. 11, the mailing machine of the present invention further includes a tape cutter module 230.

Tape cutter module 230 includes dual tracks 232 mounted on the outside of wall 33. Member 234 is slidably attached to track 222. A lever arm 236 having a vertically oriented groove 238 is fixedly attached to member 34.

Lever arm 236 has a portion 240 extending horizontally and cantilevered and having rotating blade 24 at its end.
2 is rotatably mounted.

Cutter beam 244 is attached to wall 33 and cooperates with rotating blade 242.

Actuation of cutter module 230 is performed by motor 210. When the mailing machine is equipped with cutter module 230 as in the embodiment described above, double pulley 214 allows displacement of pulley 216 in a first direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10) to move pulley 220 without responsive rotation of shaft 246.
transmitted directly to. The opposite displacement of pulley 214 caused by the opposite direction drive of motor 210 causes pulley 214 to
The blade 246 is rotated, and the blade shaft 220 is stationary.

The pulley 214 and foot 246 arrangement is a conventional slip type double pulley construction.

The shaft 246 extends longitudinally and is rotatably mounted to a support member 248 that is fixedly mounted to the base plate 30 of the mailing machine. The member 24 is generally disposed about a portion of the axis 246.
A crank arm 250 is fixedly attached adjacent to 8. The crank arm 250 is the lever arm 236
A pin 252 is slidably supported in the groove 238 of the double bobber shaft 2 during the first half revolution of the motor 210.
46 and displaces lever arm 236 by crank arm pin 252 to a second position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 11). Further actuation of motor 210 in the opposite direction causes pulley 224 to rotate further to complete the rotation, causing the rotating cutter blade to cooperate with beam 244 to cut tape 205 and eject it rearward.

Mailing machine 11 operates such that transport module 12 receives envelopes from a suitable feeding mechanism (not shown). The transportation method properly positions the envelope on the metering plate relative to the meter module 15. Next, the transport roller 57 is connected to the motor 63.
is retracted as described above. At the same time, the ink module 19 is activated as described above to transfer printing ink to the recording area 85 of the postage meter module 15.
and pull it into the first position before the envelope arrives. Once the envelope has reached the proper location in the processing station, it is moved by transport rollers 57.
When retracted, the weighing module 13 weighs the envelope and sets the meter to the meter as described in co-filed application no. Notice as set forth in Application No. 114.358, filed October 27th.

Following weighing of the envelopes, the platen module 21 is activated as described above to print indicia on the envelopes. Simultaneously with actuation of platen module 21 or after a minimum period of time, transport module 12 is re-energized or further actuated to return rollers 57 to their first position. When roller 57 reaches the first position, the envelope is ejected from the mailing machine. At the same time that the processing station begins ejecting envelopes from the processing station, new envelopes are picked up through the transport module 12.

Further, in an embodiment of the invention, tape module 17
is the tape 2 supported by the tape module 17
03 or 205 can be placed as described above for stamping. The vertical height of the tape track 181 is located vertically below the ink pad reservoir 139 so that the tape track 181 does not interfere with the operation of the ink module 17.

To place an indicia onto tape 205, only the platen drive motor 97 needs to be activated.

Ink application can occur after each cycle of platen drive motor 97. Following stamping, the tape drive motor 163 moves the indicia portion of the tape 205 into the cutter module 2.
30 to cut and drain as described above. In order to stamp the tape 205, the tape 205 is
The description is repeated again, except that tape 203 is pulled in the opposite direction by tape drive motor 163 to expose tape 203 to the meter recording area.

The designated tape portion of tape 203 is ejected by the action of tape drive motor 165.

Although the invention has been described in preferred embodiments and conditions, the above description is not intended to limit the invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention can reliably operate the ink module by providing a positioning device that allows the ink module to move vertically from the first position to the ink bad tray and then rise to reach the second position. , we were able to provide an ink coating device suitable for flatbed printing machines for mail machines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a exploded exploded view of a mailing machine according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the mail machine. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a weighing module and a transport module according to the present invention. Fourth
The figure is a partially sectional side view of a mail machine. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the transport module frame support member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a platen module according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ink module according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side view of a tape module according to the present invention. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the tape track. FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the tape module. FIG. 10 is a side view of the tape module. FIG. 11 is a side view of a cutting module according to the invention. Figure 12 is a side view of the mail machine. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12... Transportation module, 13... Weighing module, 15... Meter module, 17... Tape module, 19... Ink module, 21... Platen module, 30... Story temporary, 33 .35...Supporting wall, 37...Measuring plate, 38...Recess, 41...
Groove, 45...Clamp, seal module...57
．． 61...Roller, 58...Frame, 89...
Platen support device, 113... Drive motor, 117.
119...Gear, 121.123.125.127.
...1st to 4th links, 129.130...1.2
Transport link, 135.137...1.2 guide pin,
139... Ink pad reservoir, 141... Inclined surface,
181... Tape trajectory, 203, 205... Tape, 230... Cutter module, 242... Cutter trajectory Applicant's agent Sato-Yu n.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ink module, comprising: an ink pad tray; and a device for selectively positioning the ink pad tray in an extended first position and a second raised position; An ink module comprising: a positioning device for moving the ink pad tray from the first position, vertically projecting to the second position, and raising the ink pad tray to the second position. 2. The positioning device includes a plurality of first links extending horizontally and in parallel, one end of the first link is fixedly attached to the ink pad, and the other end of the first link forms an inclined surface. a drive device for causing the first link to displace the ink pad tray between the first and second positions; and a drive device for guiding the first link horizontally along a straight path and contacting the first link. a guiding device, the guiding device comprising: a guiding device, wherein the contacting device tilts the first link vertically when the inclined surface contacts the contacting device to position the ink pad tray in the second position; The ink module according to claim 1. 3. The guide device includes a plurality of support walls, each support wall having at least a first and a second guide pin attached to the second support wall, and the first link. extends below the first guide pin and above the second guide pin of each support wall so as to contact between the first guide pin and the inclined surface and raise the link to the link pad tray. , The ink module according to claim 1. 4. The drive device includes: a drive motor that drives the output shaft; a first gear fixedly attached to the output shaft;
a second gear that constantly meshes with the gear; a support device that pivotally connects the second gear; a second link fixedly attached to the center of the second gear; one end fixedly attached to the second link; 4. The ink module of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of parallel third links pivotally connected at an end to each one of the first links, the third links extending in parallel. 5. A mailing machine consisting of a plurality of modules, each module being attached to the mailing machine and forming a single processing station, the mailing machine having a base plate and a plurality of supporting walls; A weighing module having a weighing device, the weighing module comprising:
a weighing module having a weighing plate formed with a plurality of grooves and recesses, and a support device for supporting the weighing plate in a vertically spaced relation to a base plate of the mailing machine; a transport module for discharging from the processing station a frame, a number of rollers rotatably mounted on the frame, supporting the frame below the metering plate, and supporting the frame with some of the rollers above the metering plate; a frame support device selectively positioned in a first position protruding through the groove of the meter plate or in a second position resetting the roller generally below the metering plate; a meter module having a recording area and a printing device installed in the recording area for imprinting an indicia on the envelope; vertically aligned with and upwardly spaced from the recess in the metering plate; a platen module, a platen plate; an elastomeric member fixedly attached to a first side of the platen plate;
the platen plate so that the elastomeric member is opposite the recording area of the meter module, and the platen plate in a first position where the elastomeric member is in close contact with the printing device of the meter module; a platen support device generally supporting the weigh module for selective positioning in a second position below the metering plate; and an ink module fixedly mounted below the meter module. , an ink pad tray, and an apparatus for selectively positioning the ink pad tray in a retracted first position and in a raised second position, the second position positioning the ink pad tray in the recording area of the meter. the ink module, the ink module comprising: an apparatus for raising the ink pad tray from the first position to the second position following longitudinal protrusion of the ink pad tray from the first position to the second position; A postal machine in which the modules operate functionally independently of the other modules as a whole, without interfering with the operation of any other module, and each module performs a function on the envelope while the envelope is in the processing station. . 6. The guide device includes a plurality of first links extending horizontally and in parallel, one end of the first link being fixedly attached to the ink pad tray, and the other end of the first link being attached to an inclined surface. a drive device for displacing the ink pad tray between the first position and the second position on the first link, and guiding the first link along a horizontal straight path. 2. The ink pad tray according to claim 1, further comprising a contact device, said contact device including a guide device for vertically tilting said first link to position said ink pad tray in said second position when said inclined surface contacts said tilting device. 5. The ink module according to 5. 7. The guide device is a support wall, and at least the first and second guide pins are fixedly attached to the second support wall, and the first link and the first guide pin are fixedly attached to the second support wall. The first link extends below the first guide pin and above the second guide pin of each support wall, and contact between the first guide pin and the inclined surface causes the link to rise to the ink pad tray. The ink module according to claim 6, comprising: 8. The drive device includes: a drive motor fixedly attached to the substrate and having an output shaft; a first gear fixedly attached to the output shaft;
a second gear that always meshes with the gear and is pivotally connected to the base plate; a second link that is fixedly attached to the center of the second gear; and a second link that is fixedly attached to one end of the second link. a plurality of third links mounted on the
The ink module according to claim 7, further comprising the third link, which is a link and extends in parallel. 9. a tape track; a support device for generally cantilevering the tape track and extending generally below the meter module and the ink pad reservoir when the ink pad reservoir is in the second position; a tape positioning device, wherein the support device is located laterally of the meter module; a tape positioning device, the positioning device being located between the recording area of the meter module and the elastomeric member of the platen module; selectively positioned in a first position located between and longitudinally downwardly relative to and longitudinally spaced apart from the recording area of the meter module and the elastomeric member of the platen module; the tape positioning device selectively feeds imprint tape into and through the tape track, the imprint tape within the tape track being in the meter module when the tape track is in the second position; 9. A mailing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5, 6, 7 and 8, further comprising a tape module for supplying stamp tape, the tape supply device being perpendicularly opposed to the stamp device.