Patent GB-1008951-A (GB)
Abstract: 1,008,951. Cash registers; transfer mechanisms. TELEFONBAU UND NORMALZEIT. Oct. 16, 1963 [Oct. 18, 1962], No. 40813/63. Headings G4D and G4T. [Also in Division B6] In a franking machine, a cash register is provided having a plurality of toothed racks, each for one numerical place of the highest fee amount capable of being stamped, which cooperate with number wheels of a counting mechanism. Each rack is presettable by a differential mechanism and is reciprocated by a full-stroke mechanism when coupled to the counting mechanism. Differential mechanism.-In the cash register of the franking mechanism. Fig. 1, two racks 17, 18 are provided. The differential mechanism has two value setting devices 21, 22, Fig. 3, each comprising a knurled disc 23, a toothed cylinder 24 and a number wheel 25 mounted on a shaft 19 spring biased away from the racks 17 and 18. To preset the racks 17, 18 the setting devices 21 and 22 are pressed downwards so that the toothed cylinder 24 of each engages its respective rack and a gear-wheel 14 or 16. These gear wheels in turn mesh with franking or printing wheels 11 and 12 to preset the printing wheels simultaneously with the racks 17 and 18. The racks 17 and 18 are mounted in a frame 48 which is pivoted at 49 to the main frame of the franking machine. The frame 48 is spring biased by means not illustrated in an anti-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. Depressing the setting device 21, 22 against the rack 17 and 18 also pivots the frame 48 about 49 so that the racks become disengaged from the pinions 27, 30 and 71, 72 of known counting and reverse counting mechanisms 26 and 70 respectively and also the gear segment 40 of the full-stroke mechanism described below. Rotation of each of the knurled discs 23 to the required number with the toothed cylinder 24 engaging its respective rack, sets the rack in the required position. Figs. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d illustrate four operative positions of the rack 17 and Fig. 4c illustrates the actual drive between the pinion 27 and the toothed portions 35 of the rack to drive the unit number wheel 29 of the counting mechanism 26. Fig. 5 (not shown) illustrates four operative positions of the decadic rack 18. It should be noted that the knurled discs 23 are rotated in opposite directions when setting the racks and that whereas the unit pinions 27 and 71 of the two counting mechanisms engage the second and third toothed portions of rack 17, the decadic pinions 30 and 31 of the two counting mechanisms engage the first and second toothed portions of rack 18 respectively, as seen from the left in Fig. 1. Full-stroke mechanisms.-This mechanism comprises a gear segment 40 and a segmental plate 43 attached to a shaft 41 which is oscillated by a handle 42. The gear segment 40 engages the racks 17 and 18 for the anticlockwise movement of the handle 42. The plate 43 is provided with two grooves 44 and 45 each provided with a spring-loaded pawl 61 and 66 respectively. A pin 51 attached to an extension 50 of the frame 48 rides in the groove 44 for the anticlockwise rotation of the handle 42 and returns in groove 45. In this way the frame 48 is pivoted about 49 so that the racks 17 and 18 are disengaged from the pinions of the counting mechanisms 26 and 70 for the return stroke. The drive to the racks for the return stroke is through a series of gear-wheels 67, 66 and 65, Fig. 4d, gear-wheels 65 meshing with toothed portions on the underside of each rack. Transfer mechanisms.-The transfer mechanism of the counting mechanisms 26 and 70 are known. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 6 and 7, each rack other than the unit rack is provided with an extra tooth 106, mounted on a spring-loaded lever 105 pivoted to the rack at 107. Should the lower number wheel 104 rotate beyond the number nine position, a pin 120 attached thereto co-operates with a member 111 pivoted at 112 to change the position from that shown in Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7 of the member 111. When the rack 102 moves to mesh with the pinion 103 associated with the decadic number wheel of the counter mechanism, a cam 109 attached to the lever 105 co-operates with a cam surface 110 on the member 111 to add the extra tooth 106 to the toothed rack 102. The racks of this alternative embodiment are modified also in that the toothed portions associated with the full return mechanism are on the inside surfaces of a frame member forming part of the rack illustrated in Fig. 9 (not shown).