Patent GB-481756-A (GB)
Abstract: 481,756. Counting - apparatus. PITNEY BOWES POSTAGE METER CO. Oct. 9, 1936, No. 27454. Convention date, Oct. 29, 1935. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group XVI] Relates to a postage meter machine for printing franks of various values and registering the value of the franks printed by mechanism contained in a detachable meter unit. The values of the franks are set up by means of levers 218 projecting from a meter mounted on the base, and guided by slots provided with graduations. The levers 218, Figs. 13 and 14, are integral with wheels 215 rotatable on a shaft 211 and formed with two sets of teeth 221, 222. The teeth 221 actuate indicator wheels 280 visible through a window in the casing, while the teeth 222 actuate corresponding gear-wheels 273 whereby the movement of the gear wheels 215 is communioated to other gear-wheels 261 also rotatably motmted on the shaft 211. The gear-wheels 215 are also formed with camslots 219 in which engage projections 226 on pawls 225 carried by gear-wheels 214 also loose on the shaft 211 and arranged to drive the counting-mechanism. When the levers 218 are set, the gears 215 are set relatively to the gears 214. When the shaft 211 is rocked during an operation of the machine, a member 229 secured to the shaft and having a slot engaging the pawl 225, carries the gear-wheel 214 until the pawl is released when the projection 226 passes into the raised part 223 of the slot 219. On the return of the shaft, a raised portion 230 of the member 229 engages the pawl 225 and returns the gear-wheel 214 to normal position. The shaft 211 is rocked by co-operating gear-segments 235, 236, the latter being oscillated by cams 239, 244 on a shaft 241 driven by bevel gearing 248, 249 from the main meter shaft 177. The various gear-wheels 261 mesh with gear-wheels 253 connected to corresponding number wheels 251, Figs. 20 and 22, on shafts 252 in counters C, one of which is an adding counter and cannot be reset, while the other is a subtracting counter adapted for resetting. The counters are mounted in brackets 254 pivoted on spindles 250 and having the projecting ends of the shafts 252 engaged by cam slots in a member 274 pivoted on the shaft 211 and rocked by cams 275, 276 on the shaft 241 so that, at each operation of the machine, the counters are rocked to bring the gear-wheels 253 into engagement with the gear-wheels 261 in order that the setting of the levers 218 may be registered. Each gear-wheel 253 has a transfer tooth 260 adapted to set a corresponding pawl 258 in position to be engaged by a roller 267 on a plate 265 pivoted on the shaft 211 and oscillated by a tooth on a shafts 283 rotated once for each operation of the machine from the shaft 241. The pawls 258 and the teeth are staggered relatively so that the transfer operation on the lower value wheels occurs first. The plates 265 are returned to normal position by a spring 271, but in case of failure of the springs, return is ensured by a bar 286 engaging slots 290 in the plates and carried by arms 287 secured to the shaft 211. The roller 278 on the member 274, which is engaged by the cam 276, moves into a slot in a bail 289 when the counters are rocked to bring the gear-wheels 253, 261 into mesh, the bail being pivoted on studs 291 and having a projection 294 engaging over the tail 295 of the plate 265 to prevent actuation of the transfer mechanism. The gear-wheels 261 are normally locked by a bail 298 actuated by a cam 320 on the shaft 241. The gear-wheels 253 of the subtracting counter mesh with gear-wheels 301 having slotted hubs, against which bear levers 305 secured to a shaft 306 to which is also secured an arm 307 engaging a pin 312, Fig. 24, on a plate 308 pivoted on the shaft 211. When the counter reaches a predetermined position, the levers 305 are drawn into the slots of the hubs by a spring 309 engaging the plate 308. This results in a tail 314 of the plate being moved into the path of a projection on a collar 317 on the shaft 283, so that the machine is held against operation. Rocking of the plate 308 also permits a slide 327 to fall and rock a shutter 318 pivoted on a pin 319 ; the shutter has a slotted edge which moves over an aperture in the base of the meter. When the machine is tripped, a pin 115 is raised and normally passes into the slot in the edge of the member 318, but is held depressed when the member is rocked. If the levers 218 are not set correctly, pivoted arms 363 thereon do not fall to the full extent permitted by teeth 370 on the gear-wheels 215. The arms co-operate with a lever 369 connected by a link 373 to a gear segment 377 engaging teeth on a second shutter 362 pivoted on the pin 319 and having a slotted edge with which the pin 115 engages, thus preventing operation. For resetting the subtracting counter, a normally sealed door 335, Fig. 22, is opened to give access to a cam member pivoted on the shaft of the wheels 301 and held in inoperative position by a spring. Rocking of the cam causes the levers 305 to be withdrawn from locking-position to permit the counter to be reset. The door carries a cam which acts to move the teeth of a comb 339 into position to jam against the transfer pawls 258 to prevent accidental tripping and the setting of the counter wheels beyond the transfer point. When the door is opened a cam 351 on the spindle depresses a pivoted bar 346 and locks detent pawls 257 co-operating with the wheels of the adding counter. The bar 346 is not permitted to rise until a projection 353 on the door is in such a position that access to the counter is prevented. The number of operations of the machine is recorded on a counter by means of a crank on the shaft 283.