Patent GB-257316-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to machines for operating upon articles, such as sealing and stamping and like machines
IPC: B43M5/04
Filed: 1925-04-29
Abstract: 257,316. Imray, O. Y., (Vidaver Mailing Machine Corporation). April 29, 1925. Franking-machines ; stopping and starting arrangements.-A machine for performing operations on articles, such as sealing envelopes and affixing stamps or printing characters thereon, comprises mechanism for feeding the articles, means controlled by the feeding of each article for applying a designating character or insignium thereto, and means responsive to the weight of each article exceeding a predetermined weight to control application of the character or insignium by the applying means. The machine is controlled by the article as it enters into the feeding means to initiate a cycle of operations of the machine, the cycle being terminated through control by the article upon completion of the operations thereon. In the sealing and stamping machine shown, the driving-motor M drives the main shaft 15 through a countershaft 12 and chain and belt gearing. The envelope is fed along between guides 48 and on the feed table 11 by pairs of feed rollers 20, 22 and rubber-covered feeding and sealing rollers 24, 26, all the rollers being driven at the same speed from the shaft 15. The apparatus for affixing stamps includes mechanism for delivering a perforated strip of stamps from a reel 84 to feed rollers 51, 52. This comprises serrated or other rollers 70, 71, one of which is grooved to receive a guide plate 72. The rollers 70, 71 are driven through a friction clutch on the lower roller shaft 74. An external knob may be provided for manually feeding the stamps or adjusting the stamp strip. Retarding or checking mechanism for the rollers 70, 71 comprises a spring pawl 86 engaging with a toothed wheel on the shaft 74 of the roller 71 and controlled by an electromagnet 88. When the stamp strip is exhausted a bell 89 is struck by a spring-pressed clapper 90 the shank 91 of which passes through a slot in the guide plate 72. The stamp-delivering mechanism is controlled both by the forward movement of the envelope and by its weight. In the path of the envelope is an arm 94 of an operating member provided with a spring-controlled arm 95 adapted to make contact with spaced contact pieces 96, 97. A switch 99 operated by the weight of the envelopes comprises contact pieces 100, 101, a spring plunger 102, and an inclined plate 103. When the arm 95 engages the contact piece 96 the magnet 88 is energized through the conductors 17, 105, arm 95, contact piece 96, conductors 106, 107, and return conductors 108, 16. A cutout switch 109 is provided in the conductor 108. When the arm 95 engages contact piece 97 and the weight-operated switch 99 is simultaneously closed, the magnet 88 is energized through cornductors 17, 105, arm 95, contact piece 97, conductor 111, contacts 100, 101, conductors 110, 107, and return conductors 108, 16. The magnet 88 is energized momentarily to release the checking pawl 86 by the contact of the arm 95 with contact pieces 96. This allows the rollers 70, 71 to advance the stamp strip the length of one stamp. When the pawl 86 engages the next tooth in the wheel 85 the rollers 70, 71 are checked and the stamp torn off by the feed rollers 51, 52. When the weight exceeds a predetermined amount, the magnet 88 is again energized by the simultaneous closing of the switches 99 and 95, 97 and lifts the pawl 86 over another tooth to allow an additional stamp to be fed forward before the first is torn off. The two stamps may be separated by re-arrangement of the teeth, the wheel 85, by changing the ratio of the feed rollers, or varying the timing of the closing of the switches. The friction clutch by which the shaft 74 is driven may be replaced by a clutch controlled by the envelope. Mechanism for starting the machine when an envelope is inserted and for stopping it when the envelope passes beyond the last pair of feed rollers comprises a motor-control switch 18 operated by a link 114 connected by arms 115 to transverse shafts 112 each carrying one or more downwardly and rearwardly inclined arms 113 which are raised by the passage of the envelope. Successive envelopes may be introduced after or before the preceding one has left the machine. The modified machine shown in Fig. 8 applies a printed character or insignia to the envelope instead of a stamp. A cylinder 120 has printing-plates 121 attached to it to engage with the envelope as it passes beneath a pressure roller 122. An inking-pad is mounted on a roller 123 driven bv contact with the plates 121. The printing-apparatus is controlled by an electromagnet 88a &c. in the same way as the stamping-apparatus so as to make either one or two impressions on the envelope according to its weight. The characters printed may indicate amounts of postage paid, and a counter or registering-device 126 may be provided.