Patent GB-336593-A (GB)
Abstract: 336,593. Jones, G. V. Wynne-, Parfett, F., and Universal Postal Frankers, Ltd. July 15, 1929. Franking-machines; platen machines; embossing-machines.-A machine for printing, embossing, or printing and embossing stamps on insurance cards &c. comprises continuously-operating sheet-feeding devices and intermittently-operating stamping-means which is released when an article has been temporarily arrested beneath a stamp die. As shown, endless belts 1, 2, arranged sideby-side feed cards laid thereon between side guides 42, 43, described below, and up to a front stop 50. The card is then situated beneath a die 14 adapted to be depressed by a plunger 13 actuated by a cam 18 on a shaft 11 rotated from a driving-shaft 9 through a clutch 16, 17 thrown in by band. The stop 50 is adjustably mounted on a graduated arm 51, and is lowered, just before the die commences to print, by a cam 52 on the shaft 11 acting through arms 54 - - 56 to rotate a shaft 57 on which is an arm 58 engaging a recess in a plunger 60 fixed to the arm 51. The die 14 is carried by a detachable unit 15 including registering and locking devices. When the unit is removed from the machine, a bolt 72 passing through a slot 68 in the die is moved to the left, Fig. 2, so that its head enters a hole 67 in the die and locks it against further movement. When the unit is replaced, a key 64 thereon engages a lock 65 on the machine whereby the bolt is pushed back and the die is released. The unit may be replaced by one carrying either a die of another value or a multi-value die. For embossing stamps, a complementary die is arranged beneath the die 14. The side guides 42, 43, Fig. 4, are carried by arms 44, 45 adjustably fixed together by a screw 47, the arm 44 being fixed by a screw 47<a> to a graduated guide bracket 46, and the ends of the guides being flared outwardly and provided with horizontal portions 49 to facilitate entry of the cards. Stopping, starting, tripping, throw-out, and like arrangements. - A registering-device comprising counter wheels 74<a>, Fig. 5, is actuated by a pawl 78 on a vertically reciprocating bar 75 engaging between shoulders 76 on the die 14. The wheels 74<a> have projections engaging notches in a plunger 80, which at a prepaid limit is released and projected into a hole 66, Fig. 2, in the die 14 to lock the die against movement. To provide access to the counter-wheels for resetting, a lid 90 of the counter casing is opened about a hinge 91, and an arm 89 connected to the plunger 80 and to the lid moves the plunger back to normal position where it is again held by the projections on the wheels 74<a>. The clutch 16, 17 is thrown in by lifting a trigger 33, Figs. 1 and 2, fixed on a shaft 34, which, through an arm 35, rocks a pivoted clutch arm 36. The trigger 33 depresses a spring plunger 39, which is subsequently engaged by a cam 38 on the shaft 11 to return the trigger to normal position. To prevent actuation of the trigger at the prepaid limit, the movement of the plunger 80 is arranged to release a sliding bar 83, Fig. 5, which is moved by a spring 85 so that a projection 84 thereof lies in the path of an arm 86, Fig. 2, fixed to the shaft 34. Inking-apparatus.-The die 14 is inked by means of a reciprocating pad 31, Fig. 1, carried first under an inking-roller 30 and then under the die. The pad is reciprocated by a rocking arm 28 actuated by a grooved cam 25 on a shaft 24 rotated from the shaft 11 by spiral gears 22, 23.