ENVELOPE PRESENCE SENSING MECHANISM FOR A THERMAL POSTAGE METER

摘要

ENVELOPE PRESENCE SENSING MECHANISM FOR A THERMAL POSTAGE METER of the Invention The position sensing assembly is employed in combination with a thermal printing postage meter having a base supporting a registration wall and a deck, and a thermal print head fixably mounted to the registration wall above a portion of the deck to define a print station for printing a postage indicia on an envelope. A position sensing lever is mounted to a positioning support arrangement for providing supporting the position sensing lever support in a first position such that the position sensing lever has a home position where in a portion extending generally perpendicular to the deck to encounter the leading edge of the envelope positioned on the deck. The position lever encounters the envelope leading edge such that the leading edge deflects the position sensing lever when position in the print station and for repositioning the position sensing lever in a second position which removes the position sensing lever from encountering the leading edge of the envelope. A microcontroller is in communication with a sensor acted upon by position sensing lever for causing the positioning support arrangement to position the position sensing lever in the second position when encountering the envelope leading edge and, as a result thereof, initial of a meter print cycle. After the print cycle is completed the position sensing lever is returned to the home position.