Patent GB-191222920-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Franking or Stamping Mail Matter.
Inventor: WRIGHT ARTHUR HARRY
Filed: 1912-10-08
Granted: 1913-09-11
Abstract: 22,920. Wright, A. H. Oct. 8. Index type-wheel machines with printing- surfaces for franking; hammer - impression arrangements. - The machine comprises a type-wheel and registering-wheels for monetary values arranged so that when the type-wheel prints a mark the value of the mark is subtracted from the registering-wheels, locking- means being provided for successively locking the registering-wheels as their values are exhausted and for locking the machine against operation when the total value is exhausted. (1) The type-wheel 7, Fig. 2, with sliding types or dies 103<G> is set by a handle 10 which reads over a dial 9 and is provided with a spring- pressed sliding tongue adapted to engage notches 113. The shaft 6 of the type-wheel gears with a rack 12 on the slide 13 provided with arms 15 embracing a drum 17. This drum is feathered on a shaft 18 operated by a crank 19 and is formed with circumferential rows 20 ... 30, Fig. 6, of teeth, varying in number from one to thirty, for operating registering-wheels 31, 40, 21 which are respectively for pounds, shillings, and half-pence. When the handle is set to print a mark, for example nine-pence, the drum is simultaneously set with a row of eighteen teeth opposite a pawl 36 engaging a wheel 37 connected to the registering-wheels. The crank-shaft 18 is then turned through one revolution and the teeth engage a pin on the pawl-lever 34 and subtract nine-pence from the registering-wheels. When the handle is set to print a pound mark, the drum is set with a single tooth 30 opposite a pinion 39 connected to the pounds-wheel 31. (2) The selected die is moved to impression on the envelope &c., which is inserted at 111 into a gripping-device described below, by mechanism operated from the crank-shaft 18 and comprising a cam-shaft 75 which is geared through a wheel 58 to the crank-shaft. The cam-shaft is provided with a cam 95, Fig. 7, engaging a lever 96 connected by links 97 and a lever 98 to a slide 99, which is guided by a rod 102 and is provided with an ordinary consecutive-numbering device. The dies 103<G> are each secured to a separate channel-member 103 provided with a D-section finger, which can slide in a recess in the typewheel and is secured by a detachable plate 103<o>. When any die is set, it engages the slide 99 and on operation of the crank-shaft, the slide moves the die to impression. The dies are each provided with a returning-spring 103<I>. The die-mark is preferably arranged to surround the number-mark. To prevent fraudulent impressions from being taken, the numbering- types are normally slightly above the level of the dies; further, access to the dies and the numbering-device may be prevented by a disk 79, Fig. 7, mounted on a lever 80 controlled by a cam 78, the arrangement being such that the disk is not swung aside until the impressionstroke is effected. (3) For counting individually the number of the various marks printed, there is provided a series of counters 59, 59<A>, &c., Fig. 6, operated selectively, depending on the value of the mark, by a sleeve 60 which is provided with tappets 60<A>, 60<B>, &c., and is movable longitudinally by a finger 70 on the slide 13. The sleeve is mounted on a square spindle 61 provided with a pinion 68 engaged by a rack 66 which can be moved longitudinally by a cam 69 on the shaft 18. When the typewheel is set, the sleeve moves longitudinally to select one of the counters and this is operated by the rack when the crank is turned. Locking - devices. - Locking - levers 41, 42, 43, Fig. 6, each provided with a pin 48 and a spring 47, Fig. 16, are arranged opposite the registering- wheels 31, 40, 21. Normally the pins engage the peripheries of the wheels but when the value of any wheel is reduced to zero an aperture 51, 53 or 55 is presented to the pin and the lever can drop and lock the wheel. As the apertures 53, 55 are presented at each revolution of the shillings-wheel 40 and the half-pence wheel 21 a device is provided for holding up the levers 42, 43 until the pounds-wheel is reduced to zero. This device consists of an arm projecting laterally from the lever 41, Fig. 16, and normally engaging the levers 42, 43 which are thus held up until the lever 41 drops. The lever 43 is provided with an arm 56 which engages a detent 57, Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that when all the registering-wheels are reduced to zero, the lever 43 releases the detent 57, which thereupon engages the wheel 58 and locks the machine against operation. To prevent the handle 10 from being set to print a mark of higher value than that shown on the registering-wheels, the slide 13 is provided with shoulders 50, 52, 54, Fig. 6, respectively adapted to engage the lower ends of the levers 41, 42, 43 when these are in locking position, the levers then serving as stops to arrest the slide and the handle. Sheet-clamping arrangements; paper-supports.- The envelope &c. is inserted between clamps 85, 86 mounted for parallel movement on crossed links 87 connected by a toggle 89 to a slide 91, which is held by a spring in engagement with a cam 84 on the shaft 75. The envelope is supported by the clamp 86, the clamps closing to grip the envelope during the rotation of the crank-shaft. Roller inking-arrangements.-The inking-roller 106, Fig. 7, is carried by a lever 105 engaged by pins 108 on a lever controlled by a cam 104, on the shaft 75, the roller wiping over the printing-surfaces at the beginning of the impression stroke. The roller rests normally on a removable ink-pad 110.