Patent GB-729049-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to multi-value postal franking machines
Filed: 1952-07-03
Abstract: 729,049. Postal franking machines. UNIVERSAL POSTAL FRANKERS, Ltd., and PARFETT, F. July 3, 1953 [July 3, 1952], No. 16773/52. Class 100 (2). In a multi-value postal franking machine of the kind having a series of rotatable creditindicating members capable of being preset to a predetermined credit and corresponding, for example, successively to units, tens, hundreds, &c., means are provided co-operating with one or more of the value-setting members and with one or more of the credit-indicating members which are operable to render the machine inoperative in the event of there being selected on said value-setting member or members a value which exceeds, or a number of values whose total exceeds the amount of any unexpired credit. In the form shown three value setting members associated with three of the lower value credit-indicating discs comprise gear wheels 4a, 4b, 4c, Fig. 1, rotatable through a selected angle to set the type wheels on the printing roller as described in Specification 298,134, [Class 100 (ii)]. This rotation projects certain radial pins f which on subsequent rotation of the assembly during the printing operation serve to rotate credit-indicating discs 2a, 2b, 2c, through intermediate gears 5, 6. These gears also rotate counting discs m. A toothed rim on the setting wheel 4c meshes with a.gear wheel 27d carrying a cam 26d, Fig. 3. The credit disc of highest value 2e has a rim 12e on one side having a notch 11e to receive a pawl 10e when the credit of that disc is expended. The pawl is fixedly mounted on a shaft 7 to which is also fixed a pawl 10d, Fig. 3, co-operating similarly with a notch 11d in a pin 12d on the next credit disc 2d. This pawl has an extension carrying a pin 13d engaging. in a notch 14d in a lever 15d pivoted to a bracket 16 and carrying on another arm 18d a lever 19d. One end of lever 19d carries at one end a roller 25d, urged by spring 28d against the cam 26d and the other end normally rests against a stop 31. When the credit disc 2d returns to zero, provided the higher discs are also at zero, the pawl 10d can enter the notch 11d under the action of a spring and cause clockwise rocking of lever 15d. This brings the roller 25d into engagement with the cam 26d. If the value-setting wheel 4c is at zero the roller enters a recess 30d and there is no rotation of the lever 19d. If the value-setting wheel 4c is rotated away from its zero position, cam 26d rotates to rock the lever 19d so that its other end is lifted to abut a link 21 and displace it out of hooking engagement with pin 24 on a toggle lever 23 so that the toggle joint 22, 23 can no longer be used to operate the machine. By this means the printing mechanism is uncoupled from the driving means as described in Specification 336,073, [Class 100 (ii)], so that any further attempt to operate the machine is ineffective. Similarly, the machine is rendered inoperative of the credit disc 2d reaches zero when there is already a value on the setting wheel 4c. Values for franking can thereafter be set only on the setting wheels 4a, 4b. In order to lock the machine when the credit disc 2c reaches zero there is also provided a pawl 10c fixed on the shaft 7 and adapted in the expended position to enter a notch 11c in rim member 12c attached to this-disc. This causes rotation of shaft 7, an arm of which is arranged to abut a projection from the clutch connecting the driving handle to the printing mechanism and causes the clutch to be uncoupled, also as described in Specification 336,073, [Class 100 (ii)]. This latter provision (pawl 10c) is unnecessary if, as may be the case, the lower value setting wheels 4a, 4b and corresponding credit discs 2b 2c are also provided with means to prevent operation of the machine as above described associated with credit disc 2d and setting wheel 4c. The credit discs 2c, 2d are resettable by authorized persons to renew the credit, this causing release of the locking means.