Patent GB-242808-A (GB)
Abstract: 242,808. Haddan, R., (Postage Meters & Machines Co.). Dec. 19, 1924. Gearing for stopping and starting machinery. - In machines which are adapted to be set to perform a predetermined number of operations, e.g. machines for printing prepaid postage, tickets, &c., a controller is provided which, when inserted in the machine, renders it operative and, when removed, prevents further action thereof. The mechanism in the controller comprises a series of charge discs actuated from the printing mechanism and resettable by an authorized person and devices actuated by the discs for locking the machine at the predetermined limit. The invention is described in connection with the postage meter machine of Specification 170,058, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes &c.], the removable meter thereof being modified to receive the controller. The meter may, however, be formed as an integral part of the machine, which may be arranged to receive a number of controllers corresponding respectively to stamps of different values. The meter comprises a casing 1, Figs. 2 and 3. on which is mounted a printing- roller 3 and below the bottom plate of which driving and stopping mechanism is arranged which is rendered inaccessible by means of a cover-plate 6 permanently secured in position. Two flanged tubular members 7, 8 secured together and to the casing 1 provide a socket to receive the controller, and above these are arranged two visible ascending counters 34, 35 respectively totalizing and set-back counters, and, in addition, if required a balance counter. A vertical worm shaft 54 driven by gears 50 - - 53 from the shaft 3<a> of the printer 3 serves to actuate the counters and to rotate a disc 11 adapted to drive the charge discs in the controller. This driving mechanism is covered in by a plate 9 forming the end wall of the controller socket 7, 8. Projecting beyond the plate 9 and into the socket are a key 12<a> and a pin-tumbler lock 13, the shaft 12 of the key and the plug 13<a> of the lock being connected by gears 14, 15. The controller is shown in Figs. 8, 18, and 21 and consists of a tubular casing 200 provided, to ensure alignment, with flats on the inner half 8ax engaging flat surfaces 8<a>, 8<b>, Fig. 3, on the inside of the member 8 of the socket. Fixed within the casing are partitions 204, 204<a>, 204<b> supporting a shaft 205
 on which the charge discs are mounted and two parallel shafts 217, 220 geared together and rotatable, by external knobs 219<a>, 219. Fixed on the shafts are the plug 215<a> of a lock 215 and a key 220<a> adapted respectively to fit the key 12<a> and the lock 13 when the controller is in place in the meter. The shaft 205
 is then coupled to the driving disc 11 by an end flange 208<a>. A disc 205 keyed on the shaft 205
 is adapted to advance a series of loose discs 205<a>, 205<b> by means of carry-over devices of the kind usual in counting-mechanism. A turn of one division of the last disc actuates the locking-mechanism. This comprises a shutter 209 loosely mounted on the shaft 205
 and slotted to receive a slidable bar 214, one end of which engages one of a series of radial slots 205<e> in the disc 205<b>, whereby, when the disc is advanced one point, a recess 209<a> in the shutter is moved into line with a hole 7<a> in the socket 7 and a coincident hole in the casing 200 to allow the entry of a trip finger 23<a> adapted to actuate locking-devices as hereinafter described. For setting purposes, the other end of the bar 214 is provided with a lip 214<a> engaging a cam slot 210<a> in a rotatable member 210 adapted to reciprocate the bar and withdraw it from one slot 205e and engage it with the next, the shutter being meanwhile turned through one division by means of a plate 211 having a lug bearing against the bar 214, the plate being pivoted on the partition 204<b> and oscillated at each rotation of the cam 210. Reverse rotation of the shutter is prevented by a pawl 213. In resetting, a key is inserted in a lock 212 fixed inside a cap 201 at the outer end of the controller casing, the plug of the lock being coupled to the cam 210 and the keyhole being protected by a sealed cover plate 200<n>. The end of the casing is permanently closed by a disc 202 having an inturned flange engaged by pins mounted in a diametrical groove on the cap 201 and spring-pressed outwardly. To prevent tampering with the shaft 205
 from the open end of the controller, a worm 216 mounted on the shaft 217 is arranged to slide a bolt 215<c> into locking engagement with slots in a disc 208 on the shaft 205
. The aperture formed in the end of the controller to receive the meter lock' 13 is closed, to prevent tampering and to exclude dust, by means of a tube 223 sliding in a housing in the controller and spring-pressed outwardly, a revolving dust-cap 223<b> in the end of the tube being slotted to receive the key 220<a>. The tube is pressed inwardly by the lock when the controller is inserted in the machine. Before the controller can operate when in place in the machine, one or both of the knobs 219, 219<a> must be turned to release the discs and locking gear, and before it can be removed, the looking gear must be released and the bolt 215<c> pushed in. Once the controller is removed, the knobs 219, 219<a> cannot be turned as the coacting lock and key are absent. Stopping the machine when the controller is removed or discharged. The printing-roller 3 is rotated through a clutch controlled from a letteroperated trip as described in Specification 170,058, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes &c.]. The mechanism includes a reciprocating pin 19, Fig. 15, adapted to enter the casing 1 and, when prevented from doing so, acting to stop the machine. Normally, the pin 19 enters a recess 20b in the curved foot 20<a> of a bell-crank 20 retained in position against the action of a spring 20
 by means of a lever 21<a> connected by a rod 24 to an arm 22 mounted on a pivot pin 22<d> which carries a yoke 23. A finger 23<a> mounted on this yoke is adapted to enter coincident apertures in the tube 7 and casing 200, Fig. 21, and to rest on the shutter 209, Fig. 8, until the controller is discharged when the finger enters the recess 209<a>, the levers 20, 21<a> are released, the foot 20<a> swings down and the pin 19 can no longer enter. As a further precaution, an arm 21 on the lever 21<a> swings against a disc 51<a>, Fig. 2, on the gear 51 and locks the gearing against movement. The printer is locked against rotation when the controller is removed before or after discharge by means of a bar 25 hooked over a pin 22<c> on the pivot pin connecting the arms 22, 24 and connected to a second arm 26 on the pivot 21d of the lever 21<a>, this arm 26 being moved against a second locking disc 51b on the gear 51 and the arm 22 being swung round to move the foot 20<a> over to the opposite side of the aperture 20<b> and to withdraw the finger 23<a> from the controller. The bar 25 is connected for operation to the lower end of an arm 27 fixed on one end of a crossshaft 28 carrying at its opposite end an arm 29 received in a slot in the end of a verticallysliding bar 16 raised by a tooth on a disc coupled to the gear 14. The opposite end of the arm 29 actuates by gearing a vertically-sliding rack-bar 31 to release it from a hole in the controller casing.