Tape storage apparatus for mailing machine

摘要

A tape storage apparatus is used with a mailing machine having printing postage indicia on a discrete portion of a strip of tape of indefinite length which is fed along a tape path extending through the mailing machine by a tape feeding device mounted within the mailing machine. The tape storage apparatus includes a base having vertical guide rails and a tape holding device mounted on the guide rails for movement therealong. A releasable latch holds the tape holding device in a lowermost position against the force of a plurality of resilient spring device for moving the tape holding device upwardly to a position in which the tape holding device becomes accessible to an operator or service person for reloading rolls of tape or performing service on the apparatus. When the tape holding device is in its lowermost position, it is functionally integrated with the mailing machine, but it is inaccessible for reloading tape or for threading tape into the feeding device in the mailing machine.