Postage meter stepper motor module

• Main Authors: LEONARD; DANIEL P, MCDONALD; JOHN V, NIEMI; ONNI W, PAYN; WARD J, SIMON; ELIZABETH A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.04.1987
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: CHECKING-DEVICES; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS; PHYSICS; TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS

A postage meter stepper motor module for use in a postage meter of the type having a base supporting a rotatable main shaft to which a printhead is mounted. The main shaft has a number of value rods mounted to it. The outer ends of the value rods are coupled to the printhead so movement of the value rods parallel to the main shaft axis changes the chosen value print character at the printhead. The stepper motor module includes a stepper motor frame mounted to the base at a chosen position relative to the main shaft. A stepper motor is mounted to the stepper motor frame. A yoke couples the stepper motor to a chosen axial position along one of the value rods through a coupler ring. The coupler ring and yoke allow the value rod to rotate freely about the main shaft while maintaining the axial position determined by the stepper motor. The stepper motor and yoke are coupled by a rack and pinion arrangement to translate the rotary motion of the stepper motor to the linear motion of the yoke.