Abstract:
A module for mounting and use in a postage meter for printing postage includes a housing and two ink cartridges for ink-jet printing, each of the cartridges having a flexible electrical circuit member operatively attached thereto, with one of the electrical circuits including a microprocessor. The housing consists of two lateral components, each containing one of the ink cartridges, a central panel component interposed between the lateral components, and elements for maintaining the components in assembly. The ink cartridges are placed into cavities formed by the lateral components, which are then assembled on opposite sides of the central component with the flexible circuit members suitably arranged, to produce the inking module. The central panel includes features for applying laterally outward biasing force upon the seated ink cartridges, and structure is provided on the module to facilitate mounting and retention in a postage printing machine.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Inking modules for use in postage meters for printing postage are well known in the art. Such modules normally comprise a housing containing one or more ink-jet printing cartridges and an integrated flexible circuit, incorporating a microprocessor, for interfacing the cartridges and the housing with a postage meter. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,238,038 and 8,894,192 provide comprehensive expositions of the state of the art, as pertinent to the present invention; they are directed to a secure digital postage print module and to a recyclable and remanufacturable microprocessor-based postal evidencing module, respectively. Despite the wide commercial acceptance of postage meter printer modules of the kind disclosed in the foregoing patents and other prior art, the industry desires an inking module that employs a less complex housing, which is simpler and more economical to fabricate and to use for manufacturing a module. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, broad objects of the present invention are to provide a novel housing for containing standard ink-jet printing cartridges, and a novel inking module comprised of an assembly of such a housing and two ink cartridges, which housing is of relatively incomplex and inexpensive construction and facilitates secure, stable, and simplified assembly with standard ink-jet printing cartridges, by way of lateral loading rather than insertion from the top, to provide a module that is of sleek and aesthetically pleasing appearance and can readily be installed in a standard postage printing meter. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide such a housing which may be constructed for facile and nondestructive manual disassembly to permit ready replacement of the printing cartridges for remanufacture of the module. 
     It has now been found that certain of the foregoing and related objects of the invention attained by the provision of a housing for the containment of two ink cartridges for ink-jet printing, the housing being comprised of a pair of similarly configured lateral components (distinguished from one another essentially by features that may be necessary to house the ink cartridges in an offset, or staggered, relationship) and a generally planar central panel component. Each of the lateral components includes a side panel having a peripheral edge, and a peripheral wall that extends laterally from the peripheral edge and includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and a rear portion; the peripheral wall and the side panel cooperatively define an ink cartridge-receiving cavity in each of the lateral components. 
     The bottom portion of the peripheral wall of the each lateral component has a gap that extends from the free edge of the wall toward the side panel, and that is dimensioned and configured for receiving the ink-discharge nozzle of a contained cartridge. The front portion of the peripheral wall of at least one of the lateral components is formed with a slot that extends from the free edge toward the side panel and is dimensioned and configured (i.e., preferably defined by an inverted, broad T-shaped periphery) for the receipt therethrough of an electrical circuit member, normally in the form of a strip, or flexible circuit, that integrates one or more microprocessors, circuitry, and terminals for making operative electrical connections and programming of the microprocessor(s). 
     The housing also includes a generally planar central panel component having a peripheral edge portion. The components of the housing are so dimensioned and configured that the free edges of the peripheral walls of the lateral components engage the peripheral edge portion of the central panel component when the lateral components are assembled against opposite sides there, and means is provided for securing the components in such assembly. In its external configuration, the assembled housing is generally symmetrical about a plane of the central panel component. 
     The means for securing will desirably be so constructed as to disengageably secure the housing components, to permit ready disassembly, and such means for securing will preferably be constructed so as to permit reuse, after disassembly, to enable replacement of the ink cartridges for remanufacture of the module. An indentation, or slot-like recess, may be provided at the joint between the peripheral edge portion of the central panel component and the free edge of a lateral housing component for receipt of a tool to facilitate prying the components apart. Alternatively, the means for securing may be so constructed as to prevent reuse after disassembly of the housing components, such as by employing frangible, or break away, elements. 
     In either case, the means for securing will beneficially comprise a plurality of pins extending laterally inwardly from at least one of the lateral housing components, and a corresponding plurality of holes in at least the other lateral housing component, the pins being aligned with the holes and being dimensioned and configured to tightly engage the surrounding surfaces (i.e., for friction fitting) to secure the components of the housing in assembly; it will be appreciated that selectively positioned pins and corresponding holes may be provided on both lateral components. Where such pins are employed, a plurality of apertures will be provided in the peripheral edge portion of the central panel component, the apertures being dimensioned, configured, and spaced about the central panel component for receiving therethrough the pins on the lateral housing component(s). 
     Most desirably, the central panel component will have biasing means formed thereon for exerting laterally outward biasing force upon an ink cartridge seated in the cartridge-receiving cavity of each lateral component. Such biasing means will advantageously comprise a multiplicity of resiliently deflectable fingers integrally formed on the central panel component, with each of a first plurality of the fingers having a contact element thereon that project from one side of the central panel component and each of a second plurality of the fingers having a contact element thereon that project from the opposite side thereof. 
     The lateral housing component in which the front portion of the peripheral wall is slotted for receipt of an electrical circuit member, as hereinabove mentioned, will desirably include support structure within its cavity, located adjacent the slot and constructed for supporting a distal end portion of an inserted flexible circuit member. Locating tabs will advantageously be provided at a bottom, front corner portion of each of the components to facilitate correct positioning of the housing in the postage meter in which it is used. 
     Other objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a module for mounting and use in a postage meter for printing postage, comprising a housing, as hereinabove and hereinafter described, and two ink cartridges for ink-jet printing, each of the cartridges having an ink-discharge nozzle and having a flexible electrical circuit member attached for operative electrical connection to a postage meter for controlling the discharge of ink through the nozzle thereof. Thus, the module comprises an assembly of the lateral housing components, positioned on opposite sides of the central panel component and secured by the securing means with the free edges of the peripheral walls of the lateral components engaging the peripheral edge portion of the central panel component, with one of the ink cartridges being seated in the cartridge-receiving cavity of each of the lateral components, and with the central panel component interposed between the cartridges. The ink-discharge nozzles of the ink cartridges and the attached, operatively connected flexible electrical circuit members extend through the gaps in the bottom portions of the peripheral walls of the lateral components to provide portions of the circuit members exposed, for electrical contact, on the exterior of the front portions of the peripheral walls of the lateral components. The flexible electrical circuit member of the ink cartridge seated in the cavity of one of the lateral components extends through the slot in the front portion of the peripheral wall thereof, and has a distal end portion, which carries a microprocessor and programming points therefor, contained in the ink cartridge-receiving cavity of that component. 
     Normally, the peripheral walls of the lateral components of the housing will engage the peripheral edge portion of the central panel component in direct surface contact, and the housing will desirably be generally symmetrical, in external configuration, about a plane of its central panel component. In preferred embodiments of the module, the central panel component will have biasing means thereon comprised of elements that act in opposite directions for exerting lateral biasing force upon both of the ink cartridges seated in the respective cavities of their lateral housing components, the biasing means most desirably being integrally formed on the central panel component. In most instances the flexible electrical circuit member employed in the module will be of strip form and will have a distal end portion on which a microprocessor, and programming points (electrical contacts) therefor, is provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a module for use in a postage meter for printing postage, embodying the present invention and being taken from the front, upper right side thereof (it will be appreciated that designation of the right and left sides and front and rear of the module, and the constituent housing, is somewhat arbitrary). 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the module of the invention, taken from the rear, upper left side thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the module of the invention, taken from the front, bottom right side thereof. 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are exploded perspective views of the module taken from the right rear and left front, respectively. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the right housing component, showing the interior thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the left housing component, showing the interior thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view of one side of the central panel component, the opposite side being essentially a mirror image thereof. 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are elevational views showing an ink cartridge for ink-jet printing seated in the cartridge-receiving cavity of, respectively, the right and left lateral components of the housing of the module of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now in detail to the appended drawings, therein illustrated is a module for mounting and use in a postage meter for printing postage, and the several components of which it is comprised. More particularly, the housing of the module, generally designated by the numeral  12 , comprises right side and left side lateral components, generally designated respectively by the numerals  16  and  18 , and a central panel component generally designated by the numeral  20  interposed therebetween. The housing contains two ink cartridges for ink-jet printing, generally designated by the numerals  14  and  14 ′. 
     The right side housing component  16  consists of a side panel  22  and a peripheral wall comprised of a top portion  24 , a bottom portion  26 , a front portion  28 , and a rear portion  30 . The side panel  22  and the peripheral wall portions  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  define a cartridge-receiving cavity  32  in the component  16 . The peripheral wall has a free inner edge  34 , and a gap  36  is formed in the bottom portion  26  thereof. Slots  38  and  40  are formed in the bottom portion  26  and front portion  28  of the wall, respectively, and an upwardly curved wall section  42  extends inwardly from the bottom of the slot  40  into the cavity  32 . Bores  44  extend laterally outwardly into receptacle elements  45  provided at several locations spaced about the component  16  along and beneath its peripheral wall. 
     Generally rectangular backstop elements  46 ,  47 ,  48 , and bosses  50 , are formed on, and project inwardly from, the inside surface of side panel  22 . The top portion  24  of the peripheral wall is arcuately indented at  52  and has a corrugated surface to provide enhanced traction; a flat area  54  spaced forwardly of the indentation  52  is also corrugated for enhanced traction. A hook element  56  is formed on the front portion  28  of the peripheral wall, and a locating tab  58  is formed at the intersection of the bottom and front wall portions  26 ,  28 ; these elements coact with structures in a printer (not shown) to correctly locate and retain the module  12  therein. 
     The left side lateral component  18  is comprised of elements similar to those of the right side lateral component  16 , and to that extent common numbers, differentiated however by the addition of prime marks, are used to designate them. The left housing component  18  additionally has a backstop element  49  formed thereon, which extends inwardly from the panel  22 ′, and six pins  60  extend laterally inwardly from locations spaced about and underlying the peripheral wall. 
     The central panel component  20  has a peripheral edge portion  68  that mates with the free inner edges  34 ,  34 ′ of the peripheral walls ( 24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′,  28 ,  28 ′,  30 ,  30 ′) of the lateral housing components  16 ,  18 ; it also includes corrugated areas  52 ″,  54 ″ that align with the corresponding areas on the components  16 ,  18 . In addition, apertures  70  extend through the central panel component  20  at spaced locations on its peripheral edge portion  68 , and a short indentation  72  is formed along the rear edge of the central panel component to provide a “coin slot” in cooperation with the adjacent edge of the rear wall portion  30  of the lateral component  16 . 
     Integrally formed in the central panel component  20  are eight fingers  76 , which are attached at one end and have projecting stubs  78 ,  78 ′ at their free opposite ends. As will be appreciated, the fingers are resiliently deflectable out of the plane of the panel component  20 , and the stubs  78 ,  78 ′ on alternating fingers  76  project respectively in opposite directions therefrom. A short bar element  80  extends laterally from the front edge of the component  20 , and a locating tab  58 ″ is formed at an intersection of the front and bottom edges of the peripheral portion  68 ; in assembly, the bar element  80  lies in the peripheral wall slot  40  to cooperatively define its T-shaped periphery. 
     Two ink cartridges for ink-jet printing  14 ,  14 ′ are provided in the module  12 . The cartridges are of standard construction, and each consists generally of a hollow body  84  for the containment of ink, an ink-discharge nozzle  86  at the bottom front of the cartridge, a handle formation  88  at the top rear, and a catch element  90  at the upper, forward shoulder. 
     An integrated circuit member  92 ,  92 ′ is attached to a front surface of each cartridge  14 ,  14 ′. As is conventional, the members  92 ,  92 ′ contain an array of electrical contacts and associated circuitry, diagrammatically illustrated at  93 . The circuit member  92  includes a distal and portion  94 , carrying a microprocessor  95  and electrical contact points  97  for programming it. 
     In assembling the module  12 , the ink cartridges  14 ,  14 ′ are initially introduced by placing them into the cartridge-retrieving cavities  32 ,  32 ′ of the lateral housing components  16 ,  18 , respectively; the resultant subassemblies are indicated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . It will be noted that the backstop elements  46 ,  47 ,  48  and  49  snugly embrace the cartridges  14 ,  14 ′ at the front, top, and back, and serve to accurately locate and secure them against a relative movement in the housing; the backup elements  48 ,  48 ′ engage the catch elements  90  on the cartridges to afford particularly firm support against rotation of the cartridges in the cavities  32 ,  32 ′. 
     Following placement of the cartridges into the cavities of the lateral components, the central panel component  20  is disposed over the cartridge  14 ′ seated in the cavity  32 ′ of component  18 , by inserting the pins  60  thereon through the apertures  70  in the central panel component  20 . The lateral component  16 , containing the cartridge  14 , is then positioned over the central panel component  20  with the pins  60  aligned with the peripheral bores  44  in the component  16 . Forcing the lateral components  16 ,  18  together secures the assembly by frictional engagement of the pins  60  within the bores  44 . 
     In effecting assembly, the distal end portion  94  of the flexible circuit member  92  is caused to enter the slot  40  in the front peripheral wall portion  28  of the component  16 , and to rest upon the curved wall section  42  adjacent thereto. The short bar  80  element that projects from the peripheral edge portion  68  of the central panel component  20  also enters the slot  40  and cooperates to define the T-shaped periphery and to maintain the circuit member  92  in place. Albeit preferred, the (inverted) T-shape is not necessary if a uniform slot provided is sufficiently wide (from top-to-bottom) to accommodate passage of the microprocessor(s) on the flexible circuit member. 
     It will be appreciated that the tabs  58 ,  58 ′,  58 ″ on the housing components  16 ,  18 ,  20 , respectively, engage in mating structures of a postage meter (not illustrated) to properly locate the module and facilitate insertion. The fully inserted relationship is achieved with the application of manual force upon the housing, conveniently by pushing on the unified corrugated areas  54 ,  54 ′,  54 ″, urging the module forwardly and downwardly into the printer until the hook elements  56 ,  56 ′ engage with a latching part that is conventionally provided in the printer. 
     It will be appreciated that the resiliently deflectable fingers  76  of the central panel component  20  serve the important function of biasing the cartridges  14 ,  14 ′ toward the side panels  22 ,  22 ′ defining their respective cavities  32 ,  32 ′, causing the central panel component  20  to optimally cooperate with the several backstop elements  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49  for maintaining the cartridges firmly seated and securely fixed in positions within the housing, and thus within a postage printer. As will be apparent, the central panel component  20  (as well as the other components  16 ,  18  of the housing) will normally be fabricated from a suitable synthetic resinous material so as to inherently provide the desired resiliency to the fingers  76 , molded thereinto. 
     It will be appreciated that variations may be made in the housing and module of the invention without departure from the scope of the appended claims, as will be evident to those skilled in the art. For example, securing means other than coacting pins and holes may be provided for assembling the lateral housing components; various latching and other interengaging elements are well known in the art and may be employed, as appropriate. The securing means may or may not permit disassembly and reassembly (for reloading and remanufacture of the module). The use of engaging pins that release wholly and cleanly from cooperating holes would, for example, readily permit reassembly. On the other hand, reassembly would be prevented (or at least inhibited) by, for example, forming engaging pins of a frangible material, or as a mechanically weak or weakened structure, so as to fracture upon separation of the components; remanufacture may also be prevented by bonding or welding of the housing components to one another. 
     Similarly, means other than the integral, resiliently deflectable fingers (for example, raised arcuate elements) may be provided on or by the central panel component for exerting biasing and stabilizing force upon the contained ink cartridges. As previously indicated, resiliently deflectable fingers are most conveniently provided by forming them in the course of molding of a suitable plastic material. However, other fabrication means and materials may be employed for the several housing components, as may be appropriate and desired. 
     Finally, albeit the present module is particularly constructed for use in a postage printer, the concepts disclosed herein may be equally applicable for the provision of modules suitable for use in other printing machines. 
     Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a novel housing for containing standard ink-jet printing cartridges, and a novel inking module comprised of an assembly of such a housing and two ink cartridges. The housing is of relatively incomplex and inexpensive construction, and facilitates secure, stable, and simplified assembly with standard ink-jet printing cartridges, by way of lateral loading rather than insertion from the top, to provide a module that is of sleek and aesthetically pleasing appearance and that enables ready installation in a standard postage meter. The housing may be constructed for facile manual disassembly and reassembly of its components to permit ready replacement of ink-jet printing cartridges for reloading and remanufacture of the module.