Patent GB-396958-A (GB)
Title: Postal franking machines
IPC: G07F17/26
Filed: 1932-10-18
Abstract: 396,958. Coin-freed postal franking- machines. KLœSSENDORF, H., 6, Am Wald, Brieselang, Osthavelland, Germany. Oct. 18, 1932, No. 29176. [Class 27.] Coin action, weight and multiple-coin.-In a coin-controlled postal franking-machine for printing franks of different values on postal matter and of the type in which the printing- stamp on completion of the printing-operation is restored to zero position, a set of printing- discs, connected together by tens transfer mechanism and set by members such as toothed segments according to the value of the coins inserted in the machine is provided, the members being associated with the coin shoots for the different coins and being automatically restored to normal position after actuation by the coins. The printing-discs 11, 12, Fig. 2, are rotatably mounted on a shaft 10 in a casing 3 bodily rotatable on trunnions 5, 5a, the tens disc 12 being set from transfer mechanism actuated by the disc 11. The disc 11 is secured to a gear-wheel 13 meshing with a gear-wheel 14 loose on a shaft 15 but carrying a pawl 16 co-operating with a ratchet wheel 17, Fig. 4, secured to the shaft 15. The shaft 15 carries loosely a set of toothed wheels 211 .. 21<4> each of which is provided with a pawl 22, Fig. 3, co-operating with a ratchet wheel 191 .. 19<4> secured to the shaft. The toothed wheels 21<1> . . 14<4> mesh with segments 23<1> .. 23<4> on a shaft 24 and each of the segments is provided with a stop 30 co-operating with a common stop 31. The segments are held in inoperative position by catches 27 connected to levers 261 .. 264, each of which extends into one of the coin shoots 29<1> .. 29<4>. On insertion of coins into the machine, they are directed to the correct shoot, and oscillate the corresponding lever 26<1> .. 26<4>, releasing the catch 27 and permitting the segment to fall under its own weight. The stops 30 are arranged to arrest the fall of the segment in accordance with the value of the co-operating coin. Movement of the segments causes rotation of the co-operating wheels 21<1> .. 21<4>, the pawls carried thereby slipping over the ratchet wheels. Before reaching the stop 31, the stops 30 are arranged to depress a bar 32 connected by a rod 33 to a spring motor or electromagnetic device to cause a reciprocation of a lever 34 extending under all the segments and acting to raise them to normal position in engagement with the catches 27. On the return of the segments, the shaft 15 is rotated through the gear-wheels 21<1> .. 214, pawls 22 and ratchet wheels 19<1> .. 19<4>, the rotation being communicated through the ratchet wheel 17, pawl 16, gear-wheels 14, 13 to the wheel 11, and, if necessary, through the transfer mechanism, to the wheel 12. The rotation of the shaft 15 is also communicated through a gear-wheel 20 to a totalizer which registers the values and prints them on a control card. The first coin inserted passes to a coincoupling arrangement to permit the rotation of the casing 3 by means of a handle or mechanical or electrical drive. The discs 11, 12 pass over an inking-roller and impress the postal matter which is inserted in a guide 2. The shaft 10 carries a toothed wheel 40 which meshes with an internal gear 41. The discs 11, 12 are each provided with a pawl 38 co-operating with a notch in the shaft 10. After passing the printing-point, the shaft 10 is rotated by the gears 40, 41 and, due to the pawls 38, resets the discs 11, 12 in zero position. The setting of the wheels 10, 11, the transfer between the wheels 10, 11, and the actuation of the totalizer may be effected by electrical or electromagnetic means.