Patent GB-272723-A (GB)
Abstract: 272,723. Jones, G. V. Wynne-, and Universal Postal Frankers, Ltd. Aug. 31, 1926. Franking - machines. - Relates to postal franking-machines of the kind comprising a rotatable printing- drum carrying a multilaced franking-die and additional dies for printing cancellation, advertisement, &c. markings, and means for actuating a counter in accordance with the value of the impression produced, and consists mainly in improvements whereby undesired actuation and overrunning of the counter are prevented, and whereby a number of value impressions may be printed side-by-side on one article. The general construction of the machine is similar to that of the machine described in Specification 240,901. Driving the printing-drum. A drum 1<a> mounted on a shaft 4 in a casing 2 is rotated by gears 17, 54 from a hand-crank 6 fixed on a shaft 5. A single rotation of the crank is allowed by turning a lever 9 fixed on a shaft 8, the end 8<a> of which normally lies in the path of the crank, inward movement of the shaft 8 to free the crank being produced by the engagement with a fixed pin 11 of a grooved cam 10 on the shaft. Incidentally, a tail 18 on the cam 10 releases a pawl from a ratchet 23 on the shaft 5. Adjusting the franking-die. This is moved into a new position by pushing inwardly a knob so as to couple a shaft 44. Fig. 1, to the franking- die and then rotating the knob, the inward movement being prevented except when the drum 1<a> is in the rest position. Actuating the counter. A meter is driven by one of a set of mutilated pinions 28 - - 30 on the shaft 5 through a pinion 32 on a shaft 33. A cam 43 fixed on the shaft 44 acts on a pivoted lever 39 connected to a shaft 36, which is slidably mounted inside the shaft 5 and is attached to the pinions 28 - - 30, whereby the rate of actuation of the meter is altered when the value die is changed. To allow removal of the pinions 28 - - 30 from the shaft 5 in the transverse direction, they are provided with U-shaped notches 35, Fig. 4. Limit-locking arrangements. At the prepaid limit, a bolt is projected from the meter and moves a lever into the path of an arm on the shaft 8, thus preventing rotation thereof and therefore of the hand-crank 6. Preventing actuation and overrunning of the counter. The shaft 4 carries an arm 55, which. at the end of each rotation of the drum, engages between adjacent teeth on a wheel 56 fixed on the shaft 33 and locks the shaft against rotation. To prevent overrunning, a braking-device consisting of a spring-pressed pad is arranged to bear against the face of the wheel 56. Printing value impressions side-by-side. The end of an arm 82 fixed on a shaft 80 is pressed down on to the article to prevent its advance except when the value die is printing. This device is under the control of a knob 64 fixed on a shaft 66 carrying a cam 67 engaging the face of a cam 68 mounted on the shaft 4 so as to move it into an operative position to act on a roller 72 on the end of a lever 73, which engages an arm 78 fixed on the shaft 80. The cam 67 has three faces A - - C, the face A corresponding to a position in which the cam 68 is out of contact with the rollers 72 so that a value impression followed by the other markings is printed, the face B holding the cam 68 in engagement with the roller 72 so that value impression are printed in succession until the knob 64 is turned back and a final impression followed by the other markings is printed, and the curved fact C allowing rotation of the cam 67 by the cam 68 so that the latter is gradually returned to its inoperative position, the result being that a definite number of value impressions is printed followed by the advertisement and markings. Printing on articles of various thicknesses. The arms 82 also serves to depress each article into the same position relatively to the printing-drum, a lug 77 on the shaft 4 being arranged to engage a rocking lever 75 engaging a second arm 79 fixed on the shaft 80.