US3057547A - Decoder - Google Patents

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US3057547A
US3057547A US3057547DA US3057547A US 3057547 A US3057547 A US 3057547A US 3057547D A US3057547D A US 3057547DA US 3057547 A US3057547 A US 3057547A
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lever
sectors
pawl
cam
notches
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/02Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S177/00Weighing scales
    • Y10S177/02Digitizers mechanical

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electro-mechanical translators and more particularly to mechanism for encoding and decoding information.
  • One object of the invention is to facilitate the accurate encoding or decoding of information.
  • Another object is to reduce the power requirements of an encoding or decoding mechanism.
  • Another object is to control the speed of the operation in a decoding device whereby certain functions are performed rapidly and others where speed may be detrimental to accuracy can be performed at speeds consistent with the necessary degree of accuracy.
  • one form of this invention involves a mechanical permutation selector including a plurality of shiftable elements each bearing a group of notches and stationary elements in alignment With the shiftable elements and also bearing a plurality of notches.
  • the shiftable elements are provided with means tending to urge them to a first position and second means operating against the first means to urge them to a second position in response to an input signal.
  • a searching means in the form of an indexing pawl, is caused to traverse the shifta-ble elements during an operating cycle and to be stopped by the engagement of the pawl in a series of aligned slots in the stationary and shiftable elements.
  • the initial conditioning of the indexing pawl for its searching cycle is accomplished by a positive drive operating at relatively high speeds.
  • This initial conditioning involves positioning the indexing pawl at one end of its range of travel and lifting it free of the shiftable members whereby any frictional load by the pawl is eliminated while those members are actuated by their driving means.
  • the pawl and its driving means are carried toward the opposite end of its range of travel by the termination of the driving forces and the operation of a return spring.
  • Engagement of the pawl, when in registration with an aligned group of notches in the stationary and movable elements, is ensured by retarding the speed of movement of the pawl across the permutation elements during its searching operation.
  • One such means of accomplishing this retardation is to employ a dashpot connected to the pawl driving means.
  • Another technique is to utilize a combination of a cam which becomes effective as the driving means initiates its return to its initial position with an electric motor arranged to provide dynamic braking.
  • a feature of this invention resides in positively fixing the position of an index in an encoding or decoding device. Incidental to this feature, this means also relieves 3,057,547 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 ice certain of the opposing forces to which the system is subject, latching permutation members therein in fixed relationship and position.
  • Another feature resides in a driving mechanism of an encoder or decoder having sufiicient force to operate elements opposing substantial loads wherein the driving forces may be relieved from the system by a positive locking mechanism during intervals of operation.
  • Another feature involves combining retarding means with a high speed drive for the indexing mechanism whereby, during the indexing portion of an operating cycle, suflicient time is given to the indexing function to assure its accurate and positive realization.
  • FIG. I depicts the over-all combination, represented in functional block diagram form, of one utilization of the present invention in a computing weighing scale
  • FIG. II is a diagrammatic perspective, with portions broken away, to more fully illustrate more details of a signal stage of a mechanical translator or decoder according to this invention
  • FIG. III is a side view of a three-stage mechanical translator typical of this invention.
  • FIG. IV is an end view of the mechanism of FIG. III.
  • FIG. V is an enlarged detailed side view showing portions of the elements which positively retain the indexing member of the decoder.
  • FIG. I A general representation of a typical system utilizing mechanism according to this invention as a mechanical decoder of electrical signals is shown in FIG. I.
  • the disclosed system is intended to automatically prepare metered postage stamps or labels for packages that are to be sent by parcel post and accordingly, comprises a computing scale coupled by means of the mechanism of this invention to a postage meter.
  • FIG. I a scale It conveniently of the countertop type, is provided with means 11 to prevent its premature operation when a package, which is to be provided with metered postage, is first placed on its load receiver.
  • a computer 13 is rendered effective in the manner set forth in detail in the application of R. E. Bell and R. B. Williams, Jr. entitled Load Measuring Apparatus, Serial No. 657,947, filed herewith, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference to illustrate a system utilizing this invention.
  • zone selection is achieved by the operation of one of five sets of self-hold contact closures in the zone selector 12.
  • Completing one set of contact closures sets up an appropriate three order, multiplying factor through three contact closures, sets up a two digit preset quantity of constant in the counters of the computer by means of two additional closures, and conditions a control integrated with the motion detecting means to activate the computer on the next complete readout cycle of the scale.
  • controls are operated to lockout succeeding readout cycles from the computer and utilization of the information in the computer counters is initiated b operation of the decoder of this invention.
  • the information utilized by this mechanism is the sum of the constant or minimum postal rate and the product of the preset multiplying factor and the applied load on the scale. It is stored at the end of the first complete readout cycle in the decade counters in binary code.
  • Three decade counters supply the dollars and cents information to three sets of drivers in the output stage of the computer 13. Each driver energizes four solenoids in the decoder or postage selector control 14 according to the coded information received from its decade.
  • the drivers comprise amplifiers individual to each output terminal of the decade counter, for example triodes which are either cutoif or heavily conducting depending upon the signal from the decade output terminals. Each amplifier is individual to a solenoid of a driver.
  • the decoded signal is translated to mechanical displacement of control elements in a post-age meter 14' by means of decoder 14 and suitable couplers. Upon completion of the decoding the postage meter is actuated by means of the decoder to print a metered label.
  • each of the four solenoids 15, .16, 17, and 18 connected to a given driver is associated with a mechanical decoder which converts the binary coded information, as indicated by the relative positions of the armatures 19, 20', 21, and 22 of the four solenoids, to a position related to a corresponding setting of the postage meter setting lever 23 arranged according to a decimal system of numeration.
  • Each solenoid consists of means for shifting the position of a shiftable element 24, 25, 26 or 27, advantageously in the form of a permutation sector rotatable around an axis 28, from a rest position against a stop 29 to a second position'slightly displaced therefrom.
  • the energized solenoids operate against a return spring 30 and respectively maintain their permutation elements in the second position apart from the stop 29 so long as they are energized.
  • Axle 28 and stop 29 are rod-like in form and extend between a pair of side plates or frames 31, only one of which is shown in FIG. II.
  • a stationary stop or index plate 32 is supported from frame 31 by axle 28 and stop 29 so that it has an edge 33 in alignment with the edges 34 of the permutation sectors and adjacent thereto.
  • No-tches 35 are provided in the edges 34 of the permutation sectors 24, 25, 26, and 27 and in the edge 33 of stop plate 32 in such a combination of positions on the sectors that only one position along the sectors between the limits of the group of notches exist at which five notches are in line for each permutation of the sectors as determined by the solenoids.
  • Each factor of the postage meter is set by a lever 23 which is driven to a position corresponding to that digit represented by the group of five aligned notches 35 in the permutation sectors and the stationary stop plate by means of a setting link 36 coupled thereto by a pin 37 riding in a T-slot 38 best seen in FIG. III.
  • This slot is provided to introduce some flexibility in the linkage so that strong detenting forces inherent in the postage meter setting lever mechanism (not shown) are permitted to function despite slight misorientation between the lever 23 and the setting link 36.
  • the setting link in turn is driven by a bifurcated lever 39 which is pivoted on axle 28 for rotation coaxially of the arc of the permutation sectors 24 through 27.
  • An indexing means is provided in the form'of a stopping pawl 40 having an inclined plane 41 along its effective edge 41a (as best seen in FIG. V) which is arranged to engage the edges 33 and 34 of the permutation sectors and the stationary plate.
  • Pawl 40 is urged against the edges of the permutation sectors by spring 42 embracing the shaft 43 journaled between the arms of lever 39 and supporting pawl 40 for rotation.
  • a drive cam 44 is secured to a cam shaft 45. Cam 44 and shaft 45 are rotated by means to be described below. Cam 44 urges drive lever 39 to a position beyond the limits of the group of slots on the permutation sectors and stationary plate through cam follower 46 in the form of a roller mounted on the drive lever by a shaft 47.
  • the solenoid drivers have two operating states available as determined from the counter, the first, with the triode in its output (not shown) heavily conducting or, the second with it cutoff.
  • the solenoids 15 through 18 individual to each triode are either deenergized or energized.
  • the sectors to which they are coupled are drawn to the right as viewed in FIG. II and to the left as viewed in FIG. III.
  • the spring fingers 30 individual to those sectors urge them to the left as viewed in FIG. H and to the right as viewed in FIG. III so their ends abut the stop 29.
  • solenoids 15, 16 and 17 are energized to draw permutation sectors 24, 25 and 26 to the right by means of rods 49, '50 and 51 respectively, connected to their armatures 19, 20 and 21. It will be noted that notches 35 in the edges of all sectors and the stop plate are aligned at position No. 5.
  • the pawl 40' is lifted completely free of the edges 34 of the movable sectors 24 through 27 at the limit of its motion, at the zero end of the sectors, by a raised portion 52 on the edge 33 of stationary stop plate 32, thereby, removing any forces retarding the sector resetting operation which might be imposed by the frictional engagement of the edge 41a of the pawl with the edges 34 of the sectors. Accordingly, at the time the searching operation of the pawl is initiated the sectors have been reset and they are maintained reset by the energization of appropriate solenoids during the search.
  • the decoder of FIGS. III and IV consists of three electro-mechanical decoder sections 54, 55 and 56 of the type shown in FIG. II. These decoders translate the dollars and cents information from the computer into corresponding settings for the dollars and cents levers of the postage meter.
  • the selector structure also includes a drive motor 57, a single revolution clutch 58, an index drive velocity control mechanism or retarder 59', and a group of cam operated control contacts for the various circuits associated with the operation of the selector.
  • Drive motor 57 runs continuously and is coupled to the single revolution clutch 58 by means of a gear train 60 offering a gear reduction to 60 rpm. in the preferred embodiment.
  • Clutch 58 couples the drive motor 57 to the cam shaft common to all decoder sections through the gear train including gear 62.
  • Operation of the computer control circuit advantageously after the scale has ceased to oscillate as indicated by the motion detecting circuit, and the readout mechanism has been conditioned to scan a complete readout cycle and feed that information to the computer, energizes a clutch solenoid 61 to engage the clutch for one revolution of the cam shaft 45.
  • the cam shaft also has a pair of circuit actuating cams 63 and 64, which actuates electrical contacts, and a retarding cam 65 whose function is to retard the velocity of the levers 39 as the pawl seeks an aligned series of slots on their return.
  • the three drive cams all set in identical angular positions on the shaft, are arranged to drive the decoder levers 39 toward the zero end of the permutation sectors as shown in FIG. III.
  • each lever is driven back toward the nine end of the permutation sectors as the drive cams recede.
  • the speed with which the setting levers 39 recede during the second half of the cam shaft revolution should be controlled so that the velocity of the pawl 40" over the edges 33 and 34 of the permutation sectors assures that it will enter an aligned series of notches and lock in that position.
  • One means of controlling the velocity of the searching pawl or indexing means during this portion of the cycle is to utilize a driving motor 57 which opposes any tendency to increase its speed due to the aiding force of the springs 43 applied to the cam shaft 45 through the rollers 46 engaging cams 44.
  • An electric motor having dynamic braking characteristics will provide such a result when coupled to the cam shaft as by a suitable gear train or cams.
  • an alternative form of retarding mechanism is employed.
  • This mechanism is an oil dashpot 66 coupled to the cam shaft to restrict its speed of rotation during the second half of its operating cycle.
  • This coupling is effected through the medium of an essentially circular cam coupled to the cam shaft 45 so that its minimum diameter becomes effective on follower 67 at the position shown in FIG. III at the instant that the setting levers 39 have been driven to their maximum excursion at the zero end of the permutation sectors.
  • the inward motion of follower 67 present little loading on cam 65' and shaft 45 since the dashpot is valved to permit the withdrawal of rod therefrom. This withdrawal is aided by tension spring which draws arm 88 upward and thereby maintains follower 67 against cam 65.
  • cam 65 picks up a load through the linkage provided by cam follower 67 rotatably mounted on connecting arm 68. Arm 68 is pivoted around shaft 69 and pivotally connected to the piston rod 76 of dashpot 66.
  • the degree of retardation can conveniently be adjusted by adjusting the valve of the dashpot whereby the speed of rotation during the second half revolution of the cam shaft is controlled.
  • cam 63 and 64 on shaft 45 drive electrical contacts through the medium of followers 71 and 72, respectively.
  • Cam 63 and follower 71 are arranged to disengage permitting the closure of contacts 73 throughout most of the revolution of the cam shaft and to engage to open the contacts at the cam shaft stop position.
  • several normally open sets of contacts can be actuated by cam 63 depending on the functions required. However, in the interest of clarity only one set of contacts is illustrated here.
  • Contacts actuated in this manner may function to lockout the transmission of further information from the readout mechanism of the scale to the multiplier and computer sections in order to prevent the values in the drivers to the solenoids 15 through 13 from being altered, to complete energization circuits for the solenoids 15 through 18, to recycle portions of the computer such as that wherein the computing factor is selected, and to activate guard circuits preventing malfunctioning during the decoding operation.
  • Contacts 73 are opened at the end of the shaft rotation to release those circuits performing the above functions thereby conditioning the system for its next utilization.
  • Cam '64 is arranged to engage follower 72 and to close electrical contacts 74 near the end of the cam shaft revolution and to release those contacts as the cam shaft reaches its stopped position.
  • the closure of contacts 74 energizes a print solenoid (not shown) which operates the postage meter print lever (not shown) to print a metered label of the value corresponding to that estab lished by the decoder.
  • FIG. IV The organization of the cam shaft 45 and the cams thereon is shown in detail in FIG. IV.
  • the shaft As illustrated in FIG. HI the shaft is journaled in the side portions of the housing 76 and 77 corresponding to the side plates 31 of FIG. II.
  • the drive mechanism including gear 62, the cams 44 operating drive levers 3-9, and the contact actuating cams 63 and 64 are all within the housing and bounded by side plates 76 and 77 while cam 65 coupled to the retarding mechanism is outside of plate 76.
  • the stopped position or starting position for the shaft is such that the contact follower 71 is engaged by the high surface 78 of cam 63. In this position the cams 44 have retreated to the maximum extent toward shaft 45, i.e.
  • cam 65 is shown displaced in the same manner with respect to the minimum diameters on cams 44, about 90 clockwise from those minimum diameters.
  • Contact actuating cam 64 is intended to actuate the print mechanism after the decoding operation is completed and therefore it is arranged to pick up follower 72 near the end of the cycle and release it essentially at the end.
  • follower 72 is displaced counter clockwise with respect to follower '71.
  • Cam 64 is arranged so that its trailing edge 79 disengages follower 72 just prior to the disengagement of the trailing portion of face 78 from follower 71 and therefore is displaced counter clockwise slightly from face 78.
  • a mechanical translating mechanism comprising an axis, a plurality of elements rotatable about said axis, an arcuate sector on each element having a periphery defined by a given radius from said axis and having a plurality of notches therein, a fixed element having an arcuate sector with a periphery defined by a radius from said axis equal to said given radius and in alignment with said rotatable elements, said periphery of said arcuate sector of said fixed element having a plurality of notches therein, means for selectively rotating said rotatable elements to align a group of notches on said fixed and rotatable elements, a lever rotatable about said axis, a drive link coupled to said lever on one side of said axis, an indexing latch on said lever on said one side of said axis and adjacent said drive link, means urging said latch against the peripheries of said arcuate sectors on said elements, first means urging said lever to a first position wherein said latch is
  • a mechanical translating mechanism comprising an axis, a plurality of elements rotatable about said axis, an arcuate sector on each element having a periphery defined by a given radius from said axis and having a plurality of notches therein, a fixed element having an arcuate sector with a periphery defined by a radius from said axis equal to said given radius and in alignment with said rotatable elements, said periphery of said arcuate sector of said fixed element having a plurality of notches therein, means for selectively rotating said rotatable elements to align a group of notches on said fixed and r0- tatable elements, a lever rotatable about said axis, a drive link coupled to said lever on one side of said axis, an indexing latch on said lever on said one side of said axis and adjacent said drive link, means urging said latch against the peripheries of said arcuate sectors on said elements, first means urging said lever to a first position wherein said latch
  • a mechanical translating mechanism comprising an axis, a plurality of elements rotatable about said axis, an arcuate sector on each element having a periphery defined by a given radius from said axis and having a plurality of notches therein, a fixed element having an arcuate sector with a periphery defined by a radius from said axis equal to said given radius and in alignment with said rotatable elements, said periphery of said arcuate sector of said fixed element having a plurality of notches therein, means for selectively rotating said rotatable elements to align a group of notches on said fixed and rotatable elements, a lever rotatable about said axis, a drive link coupled to said lever on one side of said axis, an indexing latch on said lever on said one side of said axis and adjacent said drive link, means urging said latch against the perlpheries of said arcuate sectors on said elements,
  • first means urging said lever to a first position wherein said latch is on one side of said plurality of notches on said sectors, driving means operatively connected to said lever to overpower said first means and to position said lever whereby said latch is on a second side opposite said one side of said plurality of notches in said sectors, said driving means releasing said lever and terminating the 10 overpowering of said first means upon positioning of References Cited in the file of this patent said latch on said second side whereby said first means UNITED STATES PATENTS tends to move said lever toward said first position to 7 position said latch in registry with said aligned group ffggi :93:52 et a1 XL' Z of notches and to position said drive link around an are 5 1726539 Carroll Sept 1929 about said axis, means to free said latch means from 1:843:986 Peirce 1 2 said ancuate sectors of all rotatable elements while said 1,950,187 Mansel Man 6 4 latch is on said second side of said plurality of notches 2 50

Description

O 1962 c. E. ADLER ETAL 3,057,547
DECODER Filed May 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z= t q I /v0 PREMATURE ZONE OPERATION $614 LE SELECTOR COMPUTER POSTAGE SELECTOR co/v M01.
Pas mas ME rm INVENTOR5 CLARENCE E. ADLER BY DONWAN L. HALL w i m 1962 c. E. ADLER ETAL 3,
DECODER Filed May 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CLARENCE E. ADLER DONIVAN L. HALL ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1962 c. ADLER ET AL DECODER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 8, 1957 INVENTORS CLARENCE E. ADLER DONIVAN HALL ATTORNEYS WW M Oct. 9, 1962 c. E. ADLER ETAL 3,057,547
DECODER Filed May 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O JIQ- INVENTORS CLARENCE E. ADLER DONIVAN L. HALL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,057,547 DECODER Clarence E. Adler and Donivan L. Hall, Toledo, Ohio,
assignors, by mesne assignments, to Toledo Scale Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 8, 1957, Ser. No. 657,817 4 Claims. (Cl. 235-1) This invention relates to electro-mechanical translators and more particularly to mechanism for encoding and decoding information.
One object of the invention is to facilitate the accurate encoding or decoding of information.
Another object is to reduce the power requirements of an encoding or decoding mechanism.
Another object is to control the speed of the operation in a decoding device whereby certain functions are performed rapidly and others where speed may be detrimental to accuracy can be performed at speeds consistent with the necessary degree of accuracy.
In accordance with the above objects, one form of this invention involves a mechanical permutation selector including a plurality of shiftable elements each bearing a group of notches and stationary elements in alignment With the shiftable elements and also bearing a plurality of notches. The shiftable elements are provided with means tending to urge them to a first position and second means operating against the first means to urge them to a second position in response to an input signal. A searching means, in the form of an indexing pawl, is caused to traverse the shifta-ble elements during an operating cycle and to be stopped by the engagement of the pawl in a series of aligned slots in the stationary and shiftable elements. The engagement of a pawl in the notch in the stationary element ensures that the shiftable elements will be maintained in their respective positions and enables certain of the opposing forces driving the shiftable elements and the indexing pawl to be deenergized. This locking action of the pawl thus reduces the energy necessary in operating the mechanism accurately, positively positions the indexing member, and conditions the mechanism so that certain functions of the current operating cycle can be reset for the next succeeding operating cycle without losing the information fed to the mechanism.
In order to further enhance the accuracy of operation while maintaining a high rate of operation and generating substantial mechanical forces, the initial conditioning of the indexing pawl for its searching cycle is accomplished by a positive drive operating at relatively high speeds. This initial conditioning involves positioning the indexing pawl at one end of its range of travel and lifting it free of the shiftable members whereby any frictional load by the pawl is eliminated while those members are actuated by their driving means. The pawl and its driving means are carried toward the opposite end of its range of travel by the termination of the driving forces and the operation of a return spring. Engagement of the pawl, when in registration with an aligned group of notches in the stationary and movable elements, is ensured by retarding the speed of movement of the pawl across the permutation elements during its searching operation. One such means of accomplishing this retardation is to employ a dashpot connected to the pawl driving means.
Another technique is to utilize a combination of a cam which becomes effective as the driving means initiates its return to its initial position with an electric motor arranged to provide dynamic braking.
A feature of this invention resides in positively fixing the position of an index in an encoding or decoding device. Incidental to this feature, this means also relieves 3,057,547 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 ice certain of the opposing forces to which the system is subject, latching permutation members therein in fixed relationship and position.
Another feature resides in a driving mechanism of an encoder or decoder having sufiicient force to operate elements opposing substantial loads wherein the driving forces may be relieved from the system by a positive locking mechanism during intervals of operation.
Another feature involves combining retarding means with a high speed drive for the indexing mechanism whereby, during the indexing portion of an operating cycle, suflicient time is given to the indexing function to assure its accurate and positive realization.
The above and additional objects and features of this invention will be more fully appreciated from reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. I depicts the over-all combination, represented in functional block diagram form, of one utilization of the present invention in a computing weighing scale;
FIG. II is a diagrammatic perspective, with portions broken away, to more fully illustrate more details of a signal stage of a mechanical translator or decoder according to this invention;
FIG. III is a side view of a three-stage mechanical translator typical of this invention;
FIG. IV is an end view of the mechanism of FIG. III; and
FIG. V is an enlarged detailed side view showing portions of the elements which positively retain the indexing member of the decoder.
A general representation of a typical system utilizing mechanism according to this invention as a mechanical decoder of electrical signals is shown in FIG. I. The disclosed system is intended to automatically prepare metered postage stamps or labels for packages that are to be sent by parcel post and accordingly, comprises a computing scale coupled by means of the mechanism of this invention to a postage meter.
In FIG. I a scale It conveniently of the countertop type, is provided with means 11 to prevent its premature operation when a package, which is to be provided with metered postage, is first placed on its load receiver. A computer 13 is rendered effective in the manner set forth in detail in the application of R. E. Bell and R. B. Williams, Jr. entitled Load Measuring Apparatus, Serial No. 657,947, filed herewith, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference to illustrate a system utilizing this invention. When the system is properly conditioned, as indicated by the enabling means 11 at the instant motion in the movable system of the scale falls below a predetermined level consistent with accurate weight determination and by the operation of a selector 12 presetting constants and correlated multiplying factors for the postal zone to which the package is addressed, computation is effected by computer 13. As disclosed in further detail in that application, zone selection is achieved by the operation of one of five sets of self-hold contact closures in the zone selector 12. Completing one set of contact closures sets up an appropriate three order, multiplying factor through three contact closures, sets up a two digit preset quantity of constant in the counters of the computer by means of two additional closures, and conditions a control integrated with the motion detecting means to activate the computer on the next complete readout cycle of the scale.
At the end of a readout cycle from the scale, controls are operated to lockout succeeding readout cycles from the computer and utilization of the information in the computer counters is initiated b operation of the decoder of this invention. The information utilized by this mechanism is the sum of the constant or minimum postal rate and the product of the preset multiplying factor and the applied load on the scale. It is stored at the end of the first complete readout cycle in the decade counters in binary code. Three decade counters supply the dollars and cents information to three sets of drivers in the output stage of the computer 13. Each driver energizes four solenoids in the decoder or postage selector control 14 according to the coded information received from its decade. The drivers comprise amplifiers individual to each output terminal of the decade counter, for example triodes which are either cutoif or heavily conducting depending upon the signal from the decade output terminals. Each amplifier is individual to a solenoid of a driver. The decoded signal is translated to mechanical displacement of control elements in a post-age meter 14' by means of decoder 14 and suitable couplers. Upon completion of the decoding the postage meter is actuated by means of the decoder to print a metered label.
As shown in FIG. II, each of the four solenoids 15, .16, 17, and 18 connected to a given driver (not shown) is associated with a mechanical decoder which converts the binary coded information, as indicated by the relative positions of the armatures 19, 20', 21, and 22 of the four solenoids, to a position related to a corresponding setting of the postage meter setting lever 23 arranged according to a decimal system of numeration.
Each solenoid consists of means for shifting the position of a shiftable element 24, 25, 26 or 27, advantageously in the form of a permutation sector rotatable around an axis 28, from a rest position against a stop 29 to a second position'slightly displaced therefrom. The energized solenoids operate against a return spring 30 and respectively maintain their permutation elements in the second position apart from the stop 29 so long as they are energized. Axle 28 and stop 29 are rod-like in form and extend between a pair of side plates or frames 31, only one of which is shown in FIG. II. A stationary stop or index plate 32 is supported from frame 31 by axle 28 and stop 29 so that it has an edge 33 in alignment with the edges 34 of the permutation sectors and adjacent thereto. No-tches 35 are provided in the edges 34 of the permutation sectors 24, 25, 26, and 27 and in the edge 33 of stop plate 32 in such a combination of positions on the sectors that only one position along the sectors between the limits of the group of notches exist at which five notches are in line for each permutation of the sectors as determined by the solenoids.
Each factor of the postage meter is set by a lever 23 which is driven to a position corresponding to that digit represented by the group of five aligned notches 35 in the permutation sectors and the stationary stop plate by means of a setting link 36 coupled thereto by a pin 37 riding in a T-slot 38 best seen in FIG. III. This slot is provided to introduce some flexibility in the linkage so that strong detenting forces inherent in the postage meter setting lever mechanism (not shown) are permitted to function despite slight misorientation between the lever 23 and the setting link 36. The setting link in turn is driven by a bifurcated lever 39 which is pivoted on axle 28 for rotation coaxially of the arc of the permutation sectors 24 through 27.
An indexing means is provided in the form'of a stopping pawl 40 having an inclined plane 41 along its effective edge 41a (as best seen in FIG. V) which is arranged to engage the edges 33 and 34 of the permutation sectors and the stationary plate. Pawl 40 is urged against the edges of the permutation sectors by spring 42 embracing the shaft 43 journaled between the arms of lever 39 and supporting pawl 40 for rotation. A drive cam 44 is secured to a cam shaft 45. Cam 44 and shaft 45 are rotated by means to be described below. Cam 44 urges drive lever 39 to a position beyond the limits of the group of slots on the permutation sectors and stationary plate through cam follower 46 in the form of a roller mounted on the drive lever by a shaft 47. Rotation of the drive cam thus positioned the drive lever so that the pawl 40 engages edges 33 and 34 at a position beyond the zero position for the postage meter setting lever. This drive operates against-a tension spring 48. Thus, as the drive cam retreats, spring 48 con-tracts to carry the lever 39 and stopping pawl 40 toward the ninth position or opposite limit on the permutation sectors.
In practice the solenoid drivers have two operating states available as determined from the counter, the first, with the triode in its output (not shown) heavily conducting or, the second with it cutoff. Thus, the solenoids 15 through 18 individual to each triode are either deenergized or energized. When the solenoids are energized, the sectors to which they are coupled are drawn to the right as viewed in FIG. II and to the left as viewed in FIG. III. When no solenoid force is. imposed upon the sectors the spring fingers 30 individual to those sectors urge them to the left as viewed in FIG. H and to the right as viewed in FIG. III so their ends abut the stop 29. Only a light spring force is imposed by the fingers 30 while the force of the solenoids is much greater, that force resulting in a net force after the spring force has been overcome which is suflicient to maintain the sectors displaced to their energized position despite the drag imposed by the travel of the pawl 40 over their edges 33 and 34 during the searching interval of the cycle while it travels toward the stop 29 and tends to urge the sectors toward that stop. As is evident from the description below of the operation of the cams carried by shaft 45, during all but the initial and final portions of the cycle of shaft 45 the solenoids 15 through 18 have their circuits enabled so that if the coded signal dictates, they are energized through at least the entire search portion of the cycle to maintain the coding position of the sectors 24 through 27. The four stage binary code can thus be converted to the decimal system by energizing solenoids in the following pattern:
None
solenoid 15 solenoid 16 solenoids 15 and 16 solenoids 16 and 17 solenoids 15, 16 and 17 solenoids 17 and 18 solenoids 15, 17 and 18 solenoids 16, 17 and 18 solenoids 15, 16, 17 and 18 As shown in FIG. II solenoids 15, 16 and 17 are energized to draw permutation sectors 24, 25 and 26 to the right by means of rods 49, '50 and 51 respectively, connected to their armatures 19, 20 and 21. It will be noted that notches 35 in the edges of all sectors and the stop plate are aligned at position No. 5. Thus, with sector 27 urged against stop 29 by spring 30 and sectors 24, 25 and 26 shifted by their solenoids, the drive lever, when no longer driven to the right by cam 44, returns to the left under the impetus of spring 48 until pawl edge 41a is in registry with position No. 5. The pawl rides along a smooth, continuous are made up of the several aligned sector arcs until it reaches position No. 5. As the pawl reaches that position, it is forced into the aligned notches by spring 42 locking the drive lever, the postage meter setting lever 23, and the permutation sectors 24 through 27 in positions corresponding to notch 53, the No. 5 notch on stationary stop plate 32.
As will be explained below, the repositioning of the sectors 24 through 27 in accordance with the count fed the decoder is urged by the solenoids during the first portion of the rotation of shaft 45. Such repositioning is prevented until the drive cam 44 picks up lever 39 thereby lifting pawl 40 out of the slot in which it was positioned during the preceding operating cycle by the action of incline plane 41 on its leading edge. It should be noted that the pressure imposed by the springs is insufficient to shift those sectors 24 through 27 which are displaced from the stop 29 inasmuch as that pressure when translated to a pawl lifting pressure by the urging of the trailing edge b (as best seen in FIG. V) of notch 35 on a sector against the inclined face 41 is insufficient to overcome the pressure of spring 42 urging pawl 46 into the notches. Further, the solenoids if energized while the pawl is seated within a group of aligned notches 35 are ineffective to shift the sectors since such energization urges the leading edges 35a of the notches 35 against the latching face of the pawl 40. Since notch leading edge 35a is parallel with the latching face of pawl til a force tending to move an edge 35a against the pawl generates no component of force tending to lift the pawl. Pawl 40 can be lifted free of the notches 35 only by driving the lever 39 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. II and V. This is accomplished by the motor driven cam 44 acting on the follower 46 mounted on the lever 39. That cam will drive the lever in a clockwise direction thereby moving the pawl 46 with respect to the notches 35 to carry the inclined face 41 of the pawl into engagement with the trailing edges 35!; of the notches. The force generated by the motor is sufficient to generate a component at the inclined face 41 lifting the pawl 46 against the force imposed by spring 42 so that the pawl is released from the notch 35. Until the pawl is released, its engagement with notch 35 in stationary stop plate 32 positively fixes the position of the sectors despite any changes in the forces exerted by the solenoids 15 through 18. The pawl 40' is lifted completely free of the edges 34 of the movable sectors 24 through 27 at the limit of its motion, at the zero end of the sectors, by a raised portion 52 on the edge 33 of stationary stop plate 32, thereby, removing any forces retarding the sector resetting operation which might be imposed by the frictional engagement of the edge 41a of the pawl with the edges 34 of the sectors. Accordingly, at the time the searching operation of the pawl is initiated the sectors have been reset and they are maintained reset by the energization of appropriate solenoids during the search.
The decoder of FIGS. III and IV consists of three electro- mechanical decoder sections 54, 55 and 56 of the type shown in FIG. II. These decoders translate the dollars and cents information from the computer into corresponding settings for the dollars and cents levers of the postage meter. The selector structure also includes a drive motor 57, a single revolution clutch 58, an index drive velocity control mechanism or retarder 59', and a group of cam operated control contacts for the various circuits associated with the operation of the selector.
Drive motor 57 runs continuously and is coupled to the single revolution clutch 58 by means of a gear train 60 offering a gear reduction to 60 rpm. in the preferred embodiment. Clutch 58 couples the drive motor 57 to the cam shaft common to all decoder sections through the gear train including gear 62. Operation of the computer control circuit, advantageously after the scale has ceased to oscillate as indicated by the motion detecting circuit, and the readout mechanism has been conditioned to scan a complete readout cycle and feed that information to the computer, energizes a clutch solenoid 61 to engage the clutch for one revolution of the cam shaft 45.
In addition to the three identical drive cams 44 for respective levers 39 of the individual decoders 54, and 56 the cam shaft also has a pair of circuit actuating cams 63 and 64, which actuates electrical contacts, and a retarding cam 65 whose function is to retard the velocity of the levers 39 as the pawl seeks an aligned series of slots on their return. During the first half revolution of the cam shaft the three drive cams, all set in identical angular positions on the shaft, are arranged to drive the decoder levers 39 toward the zero end of the permutation sectors as shown in FIG. III. During the second half revolution each lever is driven back toward the nine end of the permutation sectors as the drive cams recede. It is during this half of the cycle that the pawl 40, attached to each selector lever 39, seeks and latches in the position of the five-in-line notches on the edges of the permutation sectors. The power causing the levers to recede as supplied by spring 48 is also the means for setting the postage meter levers through the coupling of the links 36.
The speed with which the setting levers 39 recede during the second half of the cam shaft revolution should be controlled so that the velocity of the pawl 40" over the edges 33 and 34 of the permutation sectors assures that it will enter an aligned series of notches and lock in that position. One means of controlling the velocity of the searching pawl or indexing means during this portion of the cycle is to utilize a driving motor 57 which opposes any tendency to increase its speed due to the aiding force of the springs 43 applied to the cam shaft 45 through the rollers 46 engaging cams 44. An electric motor having dynamic braking characteristics will provide such a result when coupled to the cam shaft as by a suitable gear train or cams. In the embodiment illustrated, an alternative form of retarding mechanism is employed. This mechanism is an oil dashpot 66 coupled to the cam shaft to restrict its speed of rotation during the second half of its operating cycle. This coupling is effected through the medium of an essentially circular cam coupled to the cam shaft 45 so that its minimum diameter becomes effective on follower 67 at the position shown in FIG. III at the instant that the setting levers 39 have been driven to their maximum excursion at the zero end of the permutation sectors. The inward motion of follower 67 present little loading on cam 65' and shaft 45 since the dashpot is valved to permit the withdrawal of rod therefrom. This withdrawal is aided by tension spring which draws arm 88 upward and thereby maintains follower 67 against cam 65. Further motion of the cam shaft causes the effective cam face for drive cams 44 to recede so that tension spring 48 tends to accelerate the speed of rotation of the cam shaft. However, cam 65 picks up a load through the linkage provided by cam follower 67 rotatably mounted on connecting arm 68. Arm 68 is pivoted around shaft 69 and pivotally connected to the piston rod 76 of dashpot 66. Thus, the outward motion of follower 67 from shaft 45 is opposed by the action of the dashpot, thereby retarding the speed of rotation of that shaft. The degree of retardation can conveniently be adjusted by adjusting the valve of the dashpot whereby the speed of rotation during the second half revolution of the cam shaft is controlled.
The two remaining earns 63 and 64 on shaft 45 drive electrical contacts through the medium of followers 71 and 72, respectively. Cam 63 and follower 71 are arranged to disengage permitting the closure of contacts 73 throughout most of the revolution of the cam shaft and to engage to open the contacts at the cam shaft stop position. In practice, as is explained more fully in the above noted Bell and Williams application, several normally open sets of contacts can be actuated by cam 63 depending on the functions required. However, in the interest of clarity only one set of contacts is illustrated here. Contacts actuated in this manner may function to lockout the transmission of further information from the readout mechanism of the scale to the multiplier and computer sections in order to prevent the values in the drivers to the solenoids 15 through 13 from being altered, to complete energization circuits for the solenoids 15 through 18, to recycle portions of the computer such as that wherein the computing factor is selected, and to activate guard circuits preventing malfunctioning during the decoding operation. Contacts 73 are opened at the end of the shaft rotation to release those circuits performing the above functions thereby conditioning the system for its next utilization.
Cam '64 is arranged to engage follower 72 and to close electrical contacts 74 near the end of the cam shaft revolution and to release those contacts as the cam shaft reaches its stopped position. The closure of contacts 74 energizes a print solenoid (not shown) which operates the postage meter print lever (not shown) to print a metered label of the value corresponding to that estab lished by the decoder.
The organization of the cam shaft 45 and the cams thereon is shown in detail in FIG. IV. As illustrated in FIG. HI the shaft is journaled in the side portions of the housing 76 and 77 corresponding to the side plates 31 of FIG. II. The drive mechanism including gear 62, the cams 44 operating drive levers 3-9, and the contact actuating cams 63 and 64 are all within the housing and bounded by side plates 76 and 77 while cam 65 coupled to the retarding mechanism is outside of plate 76. The stopped position or starting position for the shaft is such that the contact follower 71 is engaged by the high surface 78 of cam 63. In this position the cams 44 have retreated to the maximum extent toward shaft 45, i.e. their effective surface engaging drive lever followers 46 is closest to the shaft, so that at the end of the preceding cycle the levers were free to carry pawl '40 to the No. 9 position in its search. Since the followers 4 6 are displaced essentially 180 around shaft 45 from follower 71, the minimum extensions of cams 44 are displaced in this manner with respect to face 78 of cam 63. Drive gears 62 rotates shaft 45 clockwise. Since the retarding mechanism is designed to become effective during the retreat of the faces of cams 44 toward shaft 45, it is arranged to have its minimum effective departure from the shaft coincide with the maximum effective departure of the faces of cams 44. Cam 65 is effective at a point displaced about 90 clockwise around shaft 45 from that for earns 44. Accordingly, the maximum diameter on cam 65 is shown displaced in the same manner with respect to the minimum diameters on cams 44, about 90 clockwise from those minimum diameters. Contact actuating cam 64 is intended to actuate the print mechanism after the decoding operation is completed and therefore it is arranged to pick up follower 72 near the end of the cycle and release it essentially at the end. Follower 72 is displaced counter clockwise with respect to follower '71. Cam 64 is arranged so that its trailing edge 79 disengages follower 72 just prior to the disengagement of the trailing portion of face 78 from follower 71 and therefore is displaced counter clockwise slightly from face 78.
While the invention has been described as applied to a decoding device for a specific application it is to be understood that the features of this mechanism might as readily be applied to other forms of permutation devices. In particular, it is contemplated as within the scope of this invention to utilize a stationary, positioning, and latching mechanism to accurately maintain the position of a movable element during critical stages of the operation of a permutation device as during the print cycle of the postal meter in the example, and to employ the speed control mechanisms which have been utilized in this invention where mechanical movements of the type disclosed are employed. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the described embodiment is presented as illustrative of the invention and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.
What is claimed is:
l. A mechanical translating mechanism comprising an axis, a plurality of elements rotatable about said axis, an arcuate sector on each element having a periphery defined by a given radius from said axis and having a plurality of notches therein, a fixed element having an arcuate sector with a periphery defined by a radius from said axis equal to said given radius and in alignment with said rotatable elements, said periphery of said arcuate sector of said fixed element having a plurality of notches therein, means for selectively rotating said rotatable elements to align a group of notches on said fixed and rotatable elements, a lever rotatable about said axis, a drive link coupled to said lever on one side of said axis, an indexing latch on said lever on said one side of said axis and adjacent said drive link, means urging said latch against the peripheries of said arcuate sectors on said elements, first means urging said lever to a first position wherein said latch is on one side of said plurality of notches on said sectors, and driving means operatively connected to said lever to overpower said first means and to position said lever whereby said latch is on a second side opposite said one side of said plurality of notches in said sectors, said driving means releasing said lever and terminating the overpowering of said first means upon positioning said latch on said second side whereby said first means tends to move said lever toward said first position to position said latch in registry with said aligned group of notches and to position said drive link along an are about said axis.
2. A mechanical translating mechanism comprising an axis, a plurality of elements rotatable about said axis, an arcuate sector on each element having a periphery defined by a given radius from said axis and having a plurality of notches therein, a fixed element having an arcuate sector with a periphery defined by a radius from said axis equal to said given radius and in alignment with said rotatable elements, said periphery of said arcuate sector of said fixed element having a plurality of notches therein, means for selectively rotating said rotatable elements to align a group of notches on said fixed and r0- tatable elements, a lever rotatable about said axis, a drive link coupled to said lever on one side of said axis, an indexing latch on said lever on said one side of said axis and adjacent said drive link, means urging said latch against the peripheries of said arcuate sectors on said elements, first means urging said lever to a first position wherein said latch is on one side of said plurality of notches on said sectors, driving means operatively connected to said lever to overpower said first means and to position said lever whereby said latch is on a second side opposite said one side of said plurality of notches in said sectors, said driving means releasing said lever and termihating the overpowering of said first means upon positioning said latch on said second side whereby said first means tends to move said lever toward said first position to position said latch in registry with said aligned group of notches and to position said drive link along an are about said axis, and means retarding the speed of movement of said lever toward said first position. I
3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retarding means is a dashpot.
4. A mechanical translating mechanism comprising an axis, a plurality of elements rotatable about said axis, an arcuate sector on each element having a periphery defined by a given radius from said axis and having a plurality of notches therein, a fixed element having an arcuate sector with a periphery defined by a radius from said axis equal to said given radius and in alignment with said rotatable elements, said periphery of said arcuate sector of said fixed element having a plurality of notches therein, means for selectively rotating said rotatable elements to align a group of notches on said fixed and rotatable elements, a lever rotatable about said axis, a drive link coupled to said lever on one side of said axis, an indexing latch on said lever on said one side of said axis and adjacent said drive link, means urging said latch against the perlpheries of said arcuate sectors on said elements,
first means urging said lever to a first position wherein said latch is on one side of said plurality of notches on said sectors, driving means operatively connected to said lever to overpower said first means and to position said lever whereby said latch is on a second side opposite said one side of said plurality of notches in said sectors, said driving means releasing said lever and terminating the 10 overpowering of said first means upon positioning of References Cited in the file of this patent said latch on said second side whereby said first means UNITED STATES PATENTS tends to move said lever toward said first position to 7 position said latch in registry with said aligned group ffggi :93:52 et a1 XL' Z of notches and to position said drive link around an are 5 1726539 Carroll Sept 1929 about said axis, means to free said latch means from 1:843:986 Peirce 1 2 said ancuate sectors of all rotatable elements while said 1,950,187 Mansel Man 6 4 latch is on said second side of said plurality of notches 2 503 03 Gollwitzer May 213 1950 on said sectors, and means retarding the speed of move- 10 2 675,176 P i Apr 13, 1954 ment of said lever toward said first position. 2,7 57,866 Johnson Aug. 7, 1956
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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3290491A (en) * 1961-06-19 1966-12-06 Eric C Wahlberg Automatic mailing machine
US3428948A (en) * 1965-12-13 1969-02-18 Gen Res Inc Postage metering system
US3635297A (en) * 1970-08-06 1972-01-18 Roger F Salava Postage calculator
US3692988A (en) * 1971-01-18 1972-09-19 Pitney Bowes Inc Parcel postage metering system
US3724570A (en) * 1971-06-07 1973-04-03 G Chenut Postal meter with letter weight checking device
DE2438055A1 (en) * 1973-10-16 1975-04-30 Pitney Bowes DEVICE FOR PRINTING NUMERICAL AMOUNTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR MEASURING POSTAGE CHARGES AND POSING MAILINGS
US3938095A (en) * 1971-11-04 1976-02-10 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Computer responsive postage meter
US3978457A (en) * 1974-12-23 1976-08-31 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Microcomputerized electronic postage meter system
US4119161A (en) * 1977-01-24 1978-10-10 Orbitran Company, Inc. Automatic operating system for lever type postage metering machine
DE3003842A1 (en) * 1979-02-05 1980-08-07 Vickers Ltd DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE VALUE, ESPECIALLY FOR FRANKING MACHINES
WO1981001897A1 (en) * 1979-12-28 1981-07-09 Pitney Bowes Inc Encoder for postage meter
USRE31875E (en) * 1971-11-04 1985-04-30 Pitney Bowes Inc. Computer responsive postage meter
US4675841A (en) * 1974-12-23 1987-06-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Micro computerized electronic postage meter system

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US1726539A (en) * 1927-04-22 1929-09-03 Tabulating Machine Co Rotary alphabet-printing tabulator
US1843986A (en) * 1926-01-12 1932-02-09 Tabulating Machine Co Tabulating machine
US1950187A (en) * 1930-07-14 1934-03-06 Siemens Ag Statistical machine
USRE22394E (en) * 1943-11-23 Printing telegraph system
US2508603A (en) * 1946-04-19 1950-05-23 Addressograph Multigraph Sensing mechanism for record cards and the like
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USRE22394E (en) * 1943-11-23 Printing telegraph system
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US1843986A (en) * 1926-01-12 1932-02-09 Tabulating Machine Co Tabulating machine
US1726539A (en) * 1927-04-22 1929-09-03 Tabulating Machine Co Rotary alphabet-printing tabulator
US1950187A (en) * 1930-07-14 1934-03-06 Siemens Ag Statistical machine
US2508603A (en) * 1946-04-19 1950-05-23 Addressograph Multigraph Sensing mechanism for record cards and the like
US2675176A (en) * 1950-01-09 1954-04-13 Powers Samas Account Mach Ltd Decoding device for statistical machines
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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3290491A (en) * 1961-06-19 1966-12-06 Eric C Wahlberg Automatic mailing machine
US3428948A (en) * 1965-12-13 1969-02-18 Gen Res Inc Postage metering system
US3635297A (en) * 1970-08-06 1972-01-18 Roger F Salava Postage calculator
US3692988A (en) * 1971-01-18 1972-09-19 Pitney Bowes Inc Parcel postage metering system
US3724570A (en) * 1971-06-07 1973-04-03 G Chenut Postal meter with letter weight checking device
US3938095A (en) * 1971-11-04 1976-02-10 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Computer responsive postage meter
USRE31875E (en) * 1971-11-04 1985-04-30 Pitney Bowes Inc. Computer responsive postage meter
DE2438055A1 (en) * 1973-10-16 1975-04-30 Pitney Bowes DEVICE FOR PRINTING NUMERICAL AMOUNTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR MEASURING POSTAGE CHARGES AND POSING MAILINGS
US3978457A (en) * 1974-12-23 1976-08-31 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Microcomputerized electronic postage meter system
US4675841A (en) * 1974-12-23 1987-06-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Micro computerized electronic postage meter system
US4119161A (en) * 1977-01-24 1978-10-10 Orbitran Company, Inc. Automatic operating system for lever type postage metering machine
DE3003842A1 (en) * 1979-02-05 1980-08-07 Vickers Ltd DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE VALUE, ESPECIALLY FOR FRANKING MACHINES
WO1981001897A1 (en) * 1979-12-28 1981-07-09 Pitney Bowes Inc Encoder for postage meter
US4286144A (en) * 1979-12-28 1981-08-25 Pitney Bowes Inc. Encoder for postage meter

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