Postal mailing system having an adaptable postage meter

摘要

A mailing system including a postage meter adaptable to either a high-speed mailing machine capable of parallel postal value selection or a low-speed mailing machine capable of serial value selection is disclosed. The postage meter includes a print drum with printing value members. A rod extends outwardly from the drum. The rod contains linear racks that are axially located above the horizontal centerline of the rod. The linear racks interact with the value members to provide the proper value setting. Attached to the postage meter are a plurality of cross-over shafts with pinion gears. The gears engage the racks to facilitate value selection. In the high-speed mailing machine, a series of drive members engage the shafts. Apparatus within the high-speed mailing machine causes the shafts to rotate in a parallel fashion to allow for postal value selection to facilitate postal printing. In the low-speed mailing machine, one drive member engages on e shaft of the postage meter. Apparatus within the low-speed mailing machine causes the pinion gear to engage a rack to provide the proper print value. The apparatus in the low-speed machine also causes the drum member to rotate so that the other racks can be serially acted upon by that shaft-pinion gear arrangement to provide the proper postal value to facilitate postal printing. In accordance with this embodiment, a locking device is utilized to prevent inadvertent movement of the adjacent rack members when one rack is being adjusted.