Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4650973?dq=5,825,242
Timestamp: 2014-03-15 15:51:21
Document Index: 192191468

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 44', 'art 352', 'art 44', 'art 44', 'art 350', 'arts 350', 'art 350', 'art 350', 'art 352']

Patent US4650973 - Postage meter cover assembly - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA cover assembly for use with a postage meter includes an upper cover having a display opening and a keypad opening formed in one side. The upper cover is secured to a lower cover to provide a housing or enclosure for the meter. A display assembly, including a character display, and a keypad are both...http://www.google.com/patents/US4650973?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4650973 - Postage meter cover assemblyAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4650973 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/795,672Publication dateMar 17, 1987Filing dateNov 6, 1985Priority dateNov 6, 1985Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE3685547D1, DE3685547T2, DE3685547T3, EP0221555A2, EP0221555A3, EP0221555B1, EP0221555B2Publication number06795672, 795672, US 4650973 A, US 4650973A, US-A-4650973, US4650973 A, US4650973AInventorsTimothy D. PikeOriginal AssigneeF.M.E. CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (2), Referenced by (7), Classifications (9), Legal Events (9) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPostage meter cover assemblyUS 4650973 AAbstract A cover assembly for use with a postage meter includes an upper cover having a display opening and a keypad opening formed in one side. The upper cover is secured to a lower cover to provide a housing or enclosure for the meter. A display assembly, including a character display, and a keypad are both mounted to the inner surface of the upper cover. Portions of the keypad extend through the keypad opening while the character display is visible through the display opening. A support plate is mounted to the underside of the upper cover and is shaped to generally conform to the shape of the contents beneath the cover. The support plate is configured to press against the keypad and display assembly so to secure them in place. A battery, used to power the meter when removed from the meter base, is also supported between the support plate and the upper cover.
I claim: 1. A cover assembly for use with a value printing meter, the cover assembly comprising:an upper cover including a work side with a display opening and a keypad opening formed therein, the work side having a chosen shape with inner and outer surfaces; a lower cover to which the upper cover is secured; a keypad positioned at the keypad opening with a portion of the keypad abutting the inner surface of the work side; a display assembly positioned at the display opening with a portion of the display assembly abutting the inner surface of the work side; and a support plate, having a shape generally corresponding to at least a portion of the chosen shape, mounted to the work side inner surface with the keypad and display assembly captured between the support plate and the work side inner surface to retain the kaypad and display assembly at their respective keypad and display openings. 2. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the support plate includes a battery support portion sized to support a battery between the support plate and the work side inner surface.
3. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the keypad opening includes an array of key openings.
4. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the display assembly includes a display element having a display surface and a display element cover for covering at least the display surface, at least a portion of the display element cover which overlies the display surface being transparent.
5. The cover of claim 4 wherein the display assembly includes a printed circuit board to which the display element is secured.
6. The cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the display element cover includes means for resiliently securing the display element cover to the display element and printed circuit board combination.
7. The cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising a static discharge shield surrounding the keypad.
8. The cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising means for latching the upper and lower covers to one another including complementary tabs and openings carried by the upper and lower covers along one side thereof, a user actuated movable latch, secured to one of the upper and lower covers, for movement along a latching path between latched and released positions and a catch secured to the other of the upper and lower covers positioned for engagement by the latch.
9. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein the movable latch includes a first inclined surface.
10. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein the movable latch includes a mounting opening and the one of the upper and lower covers includes a mounting member slidably housed within the mounting opening.
11. The cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the mounting member includes a lip.
12. The cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the mounting opening includes an enlarged portion and a narrowed portion, the narrowed portion sized smaller than a portion of the mounting member including said lip.
13. The cover assembly of claim 9 wherein the catch includes a second inclined surface.
14. The cover assembly of claim 13 wherein the first and second inclined surfaces are inclined along planes aligned with the latching path.
15. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein the latch is actuated by a screw.
16. The cover assembly of claim 15 wherein the screw is a draw screw.
17. The cover assembly of claim 16 wherein the draw screw includes a head generally aligned with a line of intersection between the upper and lower covers.
18. The cover assembly of claim 17 wherein one of the upper and lower covers includes a tool access opening to provide access to the screw head.
19. The cover assembly of claim 18 further comprising means for blocking access to the access opening.
20. The cover assembly of claim 19 wherein the access blocking means includes a wire secured to the upper and lower covers and passing through the tool access opening.
21. A cover assembly for use with a postage meter, the cover assembly comprising:a upper cover including work side with a display opening and a keypad opening formed therein, the work side having a chosen shape with inner and outer surfaces; a lower cover; means for latching the upper and lower covers to one another including complementary tabs and openings carried by the upper and lower covers along one side thereof, a screw actuated movable latch, secured to one of the upper and lower covers, for movement along a latching path between latched and released positions and a catch secured to the other of the upper and lower covers positioned for engagement by the latch, the movable latch and catch include a first and second surfaces inclined along planes aligned with the latching path, the screw being accessible from outside the cover assembly through a normally sealed access opening; a keypad positioned at the keypad opening with a portion of the keypad abutting the inner surface of the work side; a display assembly positioned at the display opening with a portion of the display assembly abutting the inner surface of the work side; and a support plate, having a shape generally corresponding to at least a portion of the chosen shape, mounted to the work side inner surface with the keypad and display assembly captured between the support plate and the work side inner surface to retain the keypad and display assembly at their respective keypad and display openings. Description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B and 2, applicant's modular universal postage meter 2, which of course can be used to print other values and indicia besides postage, includes broadly a base 4 and a cover assembly 6 housing electronic components 8, a shaft assembly 10 and two stepper motor modules 12. A separator sheet 13 is mounted between two of the component boards 15 carrying components 8. Electronic components 8 are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 795,139, assigned to the assignee of this application, filed on Oct. 25, 1985, and entitled Improved Electronic Meter Circuitry, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. A printhead 14, including a value module 16 and a dater/slogan module 18, are mounted to the outer end 20 of a main or drive shaft 22. Printhead 14 is partially enclosed by a printhead cover assembly 24 which is open at its outer face 26 to permit access to dater/slogan module 18. A handle assembly 27 is secured to base 4 to allow meter 2 to be easily carried.
In use, the user first brings meter 2 to the post office for addition of postage. A post office employee removes wire seal 104 and post office door 122 is slid to the left to expose key lock 128. Key lock 128 is momentarily turned and released and then the appropriate amount of postage is entered through keypad 130. After this is done, the key is turned back to its off position to allow the key to be removed. Post office door 122 is slid back to the right covering opening 120 and a wire seal 104 is fastened through vertical bore 103 in sealing ears 100, 101 and tab 124. No separate supply of energy need be used during these operations because of the use of batteries 170 mounted between the underside 172 of cover 102 and support plate 108, shown in FIG. 10. Meter 2 is then mounted to postage meter base 134, which may be of several different types. Locking lever 142 is moved to its locking position thus securing legs 140 in place and moving bar 152 away from plate 34. Upon demand for a print cycle, meter base 134 causes main driving gear 160 to rotate sufficiently to rotate shaft assembly 10 one complete revolution.
In use, stepper motor modules are mounted to base 4 at a fixed position through pins 72 and secured in place by bars 74. Minor positional adjustments of yokes 212 is achieved by moving stepper motor 60 slightly through the mainpulation of mounting screws 198, 199. Final positional adjustments of sensing units 236 are made by backing off screws 238 slightly and moving sensing units 236 through the insertion of an object, such as the tip of a screw driver, into opening 256 and then retightening screws 238. Stepper motors 60 are actuated by electronic components 8 through lines 262 to rotate gears 202 to drive racks 216 thus moving yokes 212 parallel to arrow 214.
Value Module Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, value module 16 is shown to include value base 46 comprising first part 44 a second, intermediate value module base port 350 and a third, upper value module base part 352. As discussed above, first part 44 is secured to outer end 20 of shaft 22 by a plate 48 and screws 50 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, value module 16 rotates together with shaft 22. A conventional spring biased roller mechanism 354 is pivotally mounted to a pin 356 extending from first part 44. Roller mechanism 354 engages letters or other item passing between printhead 14 and a drive base 358 of postage meter base 134 shown in FIG. 1B.
Racks 370 also include, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 4A, downwardly extending rod clips 230 which engage reduced diameter portions 226 of value rods 228 at the outer ends 229 of the value rods. Movement of value rods 228 drove racks 370 along guide rods 390; this rotates value print wheels to the appropriate positions.
A value print wheels lock 410 is mounted to second base part 350 and between the second and third base parts 350, 352. Lock 410 includes a generally Z-shaped cam member 412 pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 414 to second base part 350, the ends of pin 414 being housed within saddles 416 formed within second base part 350. Cam member 412 includes a cam lip 418 which overlies and engages a value print wheel cam surface 419 of combination cam plate and bearing 43. Lock 410 also includes a pawl assembly 420 including a pawl 422 for each value print wheel 362. Pawl assembly 420 is also pivotally mounted to pivot pin 414. Pawls 422 are positioned so that they may engage or disengage teeth 374 of gears 376 associatd with each value print wheel 362.
A coil spring 424 is mounted within a depression 426 in pawl assembly 420. The upper end of spring 424 presses against an overlying portion of third base part 352; this biases pawls 422 up and away from teeth 374. Spring 424 also causes pawl assembly 420 to press against cam member 412 thus biasing cam lip 418 against cam surface 419. An adjustment screw 428 engages a threaded through hole 430 in pawl assembly 420; the end of screw 428 passes through pawl assembly 420 to rest against cam member 412. Movement of adjustment screw 428 varies the point along cam surface 419 at which cam lip 418 has moved sufficiently to cause pawls 422 to engage and disengage teeth 374. In the preferred embodiment, cam surface 420 is formed so that pawls 422 engage gear teeth 374 starting about 20 to 30 prevening any rotation of value print wheels 362 for about the next 180 gears 376.
Assembly 462 is mounted so that it pivots about a date select wheels mounting pin 474; this allows an inner end 476 of assembly 462 to move radially or vertically inwardly and outwardly with respect to axis 270. This is accomplished by movement of a handle 478 which is operbly connected to end 476 by a number of linkage members 480-484. Thus, movement of handle 478 allows the outermost portions of date print wheels 486 to move vertically inwardly and outwardly through an opening 488 in town circle mount 464. With this arrangement the user can select the date by manipulating the date select wheels 468, which are presented through opening 472 in cover plate 176, and can retract date print wheels 486 when no date is desired to be printed. The appropriate town circle, not shown, is secured to town circle mount 464 using threaded holes 490.
A slogan plate mounting assembly 494 is mounted to frame 460 for movement between a radially extended, printing position and a radially retracted, nonprinting position by a handle 496 (see FIG. 2). Assembly 494 includes a slogan plate base 497 having an outer surface 498 to which a slogan plate, not shown, is secured. Plate 497 is mounted between a pair of side plates 499 by pairs of pins 500 extending from side plates 499. Interposed between side plates 499 and slogan plate base 497 are couplers 501 having slots 502 for engagement of pins 500 therein. Couplers 501 are secured to frame 460 by screws 503. Frame 460, side plates 499 and couplers 501 each have respective slots 504, 505, 506 for passage of an actuator rod 507 therethrough. One end 508 of actuator rod 507 is connected to handle 496 by linkage 509. A square crosssection rod 510 is mounted between couplers 501. Rods 507, 510 are secured to one another by clamp plates 511, 512 and screws 513. This arrangement causes clamped rods 507, 510 to act as an eccentric to either place outer surface 498 in a radially extended, printing position or a retracted, nonprinting position by actuating handle 496.
FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the mechanical components and base of the meter of FIG. 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a cover assembly for use with a postage meter or like apparatus. The cover assembly includes an upper cover having a display opening and a keypad opening formed therein. The upper cover is secured to a lower cover to provide a housing for the meter. A display assembly, including a character display, and keypad are both mounted to the inner surface of the upper cover. Portions of the keypad extends through the keypad opening for access by the user. The character display is visible through the display opening.
A support plate is mounted to the underside of the upper cover and is shaped to generally conform to the shape of the contents beneath the cover. The keypad and display assembly are captured between the support plate and the upper cover inner surface to keep the keypad and the display assembly in position.
A battery is used for the post office mode. That is, when the meter is removed from the source of power in the meter base and taken to the post office to add additional postage, the battery supplies the necessary power. The battery is preferably supported between the support plate and the upper cover.
The display assembly includes a display element, preferably a liquid crystal display element, secured to a printed circuit board, the combination being mounted to a display element cover. The portion of the display element cover overlying the character display of the display element is clear to permit the user to view the characters displayed while it protects the character display from damage. The display element cover preferably includes tabs for resiliently securing the display element cover to the display element and PC board.
The upper and lower covers are preferably hingedly mounted to one another at one end and secured at another at the opposite end using a factory personnel actuated slide latch. Such latch, secured to one of the upper and lower covers, includes an angled surface for engaging the complementary latching surface of a latching element secured to the other cover. The latch is preferably drawn into engagement with the latching member through a screw or like device. The screw is accessible to the assembler through an access opening, preferably in only one of the covers, using a non-standard tool. The access opening is normally blocked by a seal, such as a wire seal, to prevent unauthorized access to the meter.
Other features and advantages will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detailed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3739978 *Oct 8, 1971Jun 19, 1973Powell RConversion apparatusUS4484307 *Feb 16, 1982Nov 20, 1984F.M.E. CorporationElectronic postage meter having improved security and fault tolerance features* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5204807 *Aug 19, 1992Apr 20, 1993Pitney Bowes Plc.Postage meter housing arrangement having RF and electromagnetic induction shieldingUS5496990 *Dec 1, 1993Mar 5, 1996Gillieron; ChristianVersatile locking mechanism for postage metersUS5689098 *May 26, 1995Nov 18, 1997Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems AgPostage meter with improved postal lockUS6468114Nov 14, 2000Oct 22, 2002Neopost IndustrieSecured accounting module for franking machineEP0469186A1 *Dec 4, 1990Feb 5, 1992Siemens AktiengesellschaftElectric module comprising a plurality of circuit boardsEP0507018A1 *Apr 4, 1991Oct 7, 1992Pitney Bowes PLCHousing arrangementEP1102214A1 *Nov 14, 2000May 23, 2001Neopost IndustrieSecure accounting module for a franking machine* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification235/1.00D, 235/101International ClassificationG07B17/00, H05K7/14Cooperative ClassificationG07B2017/00233, H05K7/1427, G07B17/00193European ClassificationH05K7/14F7, G07B17/00E1Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 20, 2000ASAssignmentOwner name: NEOPOST, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ;REEL/FRAME:010766/0929Effective date: 20000328Owner name: NEOPOST, INC. 30955 HUNTWOOD AVENUE HAYWARD CALIFOSep 8, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: NEOPOST INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:F.M.E. CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:009463/0904Effective date: 19980715May 12, 1998FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Oct 14, 1997ASAssignmentOwner name: CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ, FRANCEFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:F.M.E. CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:008732/0973Effective date: 19970924Apr 4, 1994FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Apr 11, 1990FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 19, 1988CCCertificate of correctionMay 5, 1986ASAssignmentOwner name: F.M.E. CORORATION, 30955 HUNTWOOD, HAYWARD, CA. 9Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:PIKE, TIMOTHY D.;REEL/FRAME:004542/0161Effective date: 19860310Nov 6, 1985ASAssignmentOwner name: F.M.E. CORPORATION, 30955 HUNTWOOD, HAYWARD, CA.,Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:PIKE, TIMOTHY D.;REEL/FRAME:004486/0205Effective date: 19851105RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google