EP0604316A1 - Device for locking the print wheels of a franking machine - Google Patents

Device for locking the print wheels of a franking machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0604316A1
EP0604316A1 EP93403144A EP93403144A EP0604316A1 EP 0604316 A1 EP0604316 A1 EP 0604316A1 EP 93403144 A EP93403144 A EP 93403144A EP 93403144 A EP93403144 A EP 93403144A EP 0604316 A1 EP0604316 A1 EP 0604316A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
unlocking
locking
stirrup
tilting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93403144A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0604316B1 (en
Inventor
Francis Coret
Michel Gravillon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
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Neopost Technologies SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP0604316A1 publication Critical patent/EP0604316A1/en
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Publication of EP0604316B1 publication Critical patent/EP0604316B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/00548—Mechanical printhead

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to franking machines, the print head of which is with a printing drum carrying printing rollers. It relates more particularly in such machines, to a device for locking in position the print wheels.
  • These printing wheels are, in known manner, rotatably mounted on the drum to allow them to be adjusted in position, in the absence of a franking operation. They are also slightly protruding on the periphery of the drum and rotatable with it, for printing fixed and variable postage information at each rotation of the drum.
  • the dials are used to print variable value and postage date information.
  • the printing drum therefore carries two sets of wheels for this variable information, which protrude from the drum through suitable openings in a plate engraved with postal stickers.
  • This engraved plate marries the periphery of the drum and carries the fixed postage information, in the form of imprints of the postage sticker and of the home office sticker, or another defined form.
  • This same drum generally carries, in addition, another engraved plate called advertising similar to the first but often retractable mounted, which is assigned to the printing of fixed advertising information.
  • other printing means such as one or more retractable pads are associated with the drum.
  • knobs are generally coupled to a motorized or manual control assembly with so-called driving pinions driving, by a kinematic connection, so-called pinions driven on the wheels.
  • the motorized control unit is then connected to a control card itself connected to a data input means, for example a keyboard with display screen on the machine.
  • the object of the present invention is, once this adjustment has been made, to lock the racks and the printing knobs during their rotation with the drum at each printing cycle.
  • said unlocking finger is a centering finger of another member of the franking machine which is intended to cooperate with a guide opening which is made accordingly in the body of the printing drum.
  • the rotary printing drum 1 which normally equips the head of a franking machine.
  • the drum 1 is assumed to carry six coaxial printing wheels 2. When these wheels are not locked, it is possible to modify their setting, that is to say to modify the number or the letter which they print, by turning these knobs on themselves around their common axis 3.
  • each wheel 2 is secured to a coaxial toothed wheel 4 which can, when it is unlocked as will be seen below. after, be driven in rotation by a kinematic link itself controlled from the keyboard of the franking machine.
  • knobs 2 are locked in position during the rotation of the printing drum, so that their setting cannot be modified, accidentally or not, during the printing operation of the values carried by these knobs. It is of course also necessary that they can be unlocked when the drum is in the rest position, and they can only be unlocked in this rest position.
  • the locking must be positive and therefore without risks. This would not be the case, for example, if it depended solely on a return spring that could accidentally break while the print drum was being rotated.
  • the device of the invention which will now be described and which equips the drum 1, makes it possible to satisfy these requirements.
  • This locking device basically comprises a locking stirrup 5 which is pivotally mounted around an axis 6 fixed on the drum 1 and parallel to the axis 3 of the knurls 2.
  • This tilting stirrup 5 has as many locking teeth 7 as there are knurls 2, ie five teeth 7 in the simplified example which is shown here. These teeth 7 are shaped and arranged to respectively engage in a tooth of the toothed wheel 4 associated with each wheel 2, thereby locking each of these wheels in position, when the stirrup 5 is tilted forward under the action of a powerful return spring 8 which is stretched between a stud 9 secured to the drum 1 and another stud 10 which is secured to an arm 11 of the stirrup 5, this stud 10 being placed on this arm 11, under the axis 6 so that the action of the spring 8 tends to cause the stirrup 5 to tilt forwards and therefore to engage the locking teeth 7 in the toothed wheels 4.
  • a powerful return spring 8 which is stretched between a stud 9 secured to the drum 1 and another stud 10 which is secured to an arm 11 of the stirrup 5, this stud 10 being placed on this arm 11, under the axis 6 so that the action of the spring 8 tends to cause the stirrup 5 to
  • a first free end 14 of this lever 12 comes to bear against a stop 15 integral with the stirrup 5.
  • the other free end 16 of the lever 12 has a lateral bulge 17 intended to cooperate with an external control finger 18 with a conical end 19. This finger passes through a guide orifice 20 formed in the body of the printing drum 1.
  • This arm 11 has, as shown, its free end 24 permanently engaged in a notch 25 of a locking safety pull tab 26 which is slidably mounted, by means of a slide 27 secured to the drum 1, on one of the generators of said drum 1 .
  • the tilting, shown in dotted lines, of the arm 11 can only be done by sliding, as indicated by the arrows, the pull tab 26 along said generatrix of the drum which is coaxial with it.
  • the free end 29 of the pull tab 26 which is opposite to that 28 which is adjacent to the notch 25 and which forms the retaining stop for this pull tab, is extended by a jumper 30 in "inverted U" shape.
  • This jumper 30 is designed to ride without friction a conjugated flange 31 which is part of the frame 22 for supporting the drum 1 and which is coaxial with this. latest .
  • An opening or notch 32 is provided in this flange 31 and is positioned there such that the jumper 30 comes to overlap this opening when the drum 1 is in its rest position. None then prevents the sliding of the safety zipper 26 in its slide 27, so that the knobs can be unlocked to adjust them in position.
  • the jumper 30 positively overlaps the fixed flange 31.
  • the arm 11 is then completely locked in its position which corresponds to the locking of the rollers 2 by the stirrup 5 because the puller 26 can in no case slide along its longitudinal axis.
  • the locking of the knobs 2 is then positive because it is ensured even in the event of failure of the return spring 8.
  • the unlocking control finger 18 may be a finger only provided for this purpose, but preferably it is positively incorporated in the franking machine in which it simultaneously plays the role of guide finger: this is for example the case when this machine has a removable head containing the printing drum which is designed to mate with a fixed base which in particular includes the control keyboard.
  • the finger 18 then also serves, in cooperation with the guide opening 20 of the tab 1A, as a relative centering finger of the head and the base.
  • it serves as a guide finger for a set of driving pinions, with associated motors, which are positioned in a tilting module included in the base, this module being tilted towards the head only for the adjustment operations of the knobs and then being guided by cooperation between the finger 18 and the guide opening 20 of the tab 1A of the drum.

Abstract

Device for positive locking of the setting wheels (2) with which the printing drum (1) of a franking machine is equipped. A rocking calliper (5) locks the setting wheels (2) against the force of a restoring spring (8). A sliding drawbar (26), fitted with a rider (30) which cooperates with a fixed collar (31) coaxial with the rotary drum (1), provides a safety locking measure by disabling an arm (11) of the calliper (5) during the phase of rotation of this drum (1). <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne les machines à affranchir dont la tête d'impression est à tambour d'impression portant des molettes d'impression. Elle porte plus particulièrement dans de telles machines, sur un dispositif de verrouillage en position des molettes d'impression.The present invention relates to franking machines, the print head of which is with a printing drum carrying printing rollers. It relates more particularly in such machines, to a device for locking in position the print wheels.

Ces molettes d'impression sont, de manière connue, montées rotatives sur le tambour pour permettre leur réglage en position, en l'absence d'opération d'affranchissement. Elles sont par ailleurs légèrement saillantes sur la périphérie du tambour et rotatives avec lui, pour l'impression d'informations fixes et variables d'affranchissement à chaque tour de rotation du tambour. Les molettes sont affectées à l'impression des informations variables de valeur et de date de l'affranchissement. Le tambour d'impression porte donc deux jeux de molettes pour ces informations variables, qui font saillie sur le tambour à travers des ouvertures convenables d'une plaque gravée des vignettes postales. Cette plaque gravée épouse la périphérie du tambour et porte les informations fixes d ' affranchissement, sous la forme d'empreintes de la vignette d'affranchissement et de la vignette du bureau d'attache, ou une autre forme définie. Ce même tambour porte en général, en outre, une autre plaque gravée dite publicitaire analogue à la première mais souvent montée escamotable, qui est affectée à l'impression d'informations fixes de publicité. Dans certaines machines, d'autres moyens d'impression tels qu'un ou plusieurs tampons escamotables, sont associés au tambour.These printing wheels are, in known manner, rotatably mounted on the drum to allow them to be adjusted in position, in the absence of a franking operation. They are also slightly protruding on the periphery of the drum and rotatable with it, for printing fixed and variable postage information at each rotation of the drum. The dials are used to print variable value and postage date information. The printing drum therefore carries two sets of wheels for this variable information, which protrude from the drum through suitable openings in a plate engraved with postal stickers. This engraved plate marries the periphery of the drum and carries the fixed postage information, in the form of imprints of the postage sticker and of the home office sticker, or another defined form. This same drum generally carries, in addition, another engraved plate called advertising similar to the first but often retractable mounted, which is assigned to the printing of fixed advertising information. In some machines, other printing means such as one or more retractable pads are associated with the drum.

Pour leur réglage en position, les molettes sont en général couplées à un ensemble de commande motorisé ou manuel à pignons dits menants entraînant, par une liaison cinématique, des pignons dits menés sur les molettes. L'ensemble de commande motorisé est alors relié à une carte de commande elle-même reliée à un moyen d'entrée de données, par exemple un clavier à écran de visualisation sur la machine.For their position adjustment, the knobs are generally coupled to a motorized or manual control assembly with so-called driving pinions driving, by a kinematic connection, so-called pinions driven on the wheels. The motorized control unit is then connected to a control card itself connected to a data input means, for example a keyboard with display screen on the machine.

La présente invention a pour but, une fois ce réglage effectué, de verrouiller les crémaillères et les molettes d'impression lors de leur rotation avec le tambour à chaque cycle d'impression.The object of the present invention is, once this adjustment has been made, to lock the racks and the printing knobs during their rotation with the drum at each printing cycle.

Il est en effet absolument indispensable, et par ailleurs légalement obligatoire, de prévoir un dispositif qui s'oppose à toute tentative de changement du réglage des molettes d'impression lorsque le tambour d'impression est en cours de rotation.It is indeed absolutely essential, and moreover legally compulsory, to provide a device which is opposed to any attempt to change the setting of the print wheels when the print drum is being rotated.

Des dispositifs de verrouillage existent actuellement et, à titre d'exemple d'état de la technique en la matière, peut être cité la demande de brevet FR-A-2.665.781 déposée par la Société Demanderesse le 7 Août 1990.Locking devices currently exist and, by way of example of the state of the art in the matter, mention may be made of patent application FR-A-2,665,781 filed by the Applicant Company on August 7, 1990.

L'invention entend proposer un dispositif qui, par rapport à ceux de l'art connu, utilise une solution simple, à verrouillage très positif, et pouvant avantageusement être désenclenché par un organe, tel qu'un doigt de centrage, qui assure une toute autre fonction dans la machine à affranchir. Elle se rapporte à cet effet à un dispositif de verrouillage des molettes d'impression réglables qui sont portées coaxialement par un tambour d'impression rotatif équipant une machine à affranchir, ces molettes réglables étant chacune respectivement solidaire d'une roue dentée coaxiale respective, et ce dispositif comportant :

  • . d'une part un étrier qui est monté, sur le tambour, basculant autour d'un axe parallèle à celui des molettes et qui comporte des dents de verrouillage, en nombre au moins égal au nombre de molettes, qui sont prévues pour respectivement s'engager dans au moins une dent de chacune desdites roues dentées respectives lorsque cet étrier est rappelé en sa position de verrouillage de ces molettes par au moins un ressort de rappel fixé sur le tambour d'impression, le basculement de cet étrier, contre la force de ce ressort de rappel, dans sa position de déverrouillage des molettes étant commandé par un levier en "L" qui est monté basculant autour d'un axe orthogonal à l'axe de basculement de 1 ' étrier et dont une première extrémité libre vient en appui contre une butée solidaire de cet étrier, et dont l'autre extrémité libre est prévue pour être repoussée, en faisant alors tourner ce levier, par un organe de commande de déverrouillage, tel qu'un doigt de déverrouillage, qui est extérieur au tambour,
  • . et d'autre part une tirette de sécurité de verrouillage qui est montée coulissante sur une des génératrices du tambour et qui comporte une lumière ou encoche dans laquelle est en permanence engagé un bras de l'étrier de sorte que le basculement de cet étrier, et donc de ce bras, ne peut se faire qu'en faisant coulisser, dans un sens comme dans l'autre, cette tirette le long de sa génératrice de support, une des extrémités de cette tirette se prolongeant par ailleurs par un cavalier en "U renversé" qui est prévu pour enfourcher sans frottement une collerette conjuguée qui fait partie d'un chassis fixe et qui est coaxiale au tambour, de sorte que la coopération de ce cavalier solidaire de la tirette et de cette collerette rend normalement impossible tout coulissement de cette tirette et donc tout déverrouillage des molettes, une ouverture étant cependant prévue dans cette collerette et étant positionnée de sorte que ce cavalier vienne chevaucher cette ouverture lorsque le tambour est en sa position de repos où le réglage des molettes est alors autorisé, de sorte que dans cette position, et uniquement dans celle-ci, ce cavalier et cette collerette ne s'opposent pas au coulissement de la tirette et que le déverrouillage des molettes, et par suite leur réglage, peut alors librement être effectué.
The invention intends to propose a device which, compared with those of the known art, uses a simple solution, with very positive locking, and which can advantageously be disengaged by a member, such as a centering finger, which ensures all another function in the franking machine. To this end, it relates to a device for locking the adjustable printing wheels which are carried coaxially by a rotary printing drum fitted to a franking machine, these adjustable wheels being each respectively secured to a respective coaxial toothed wheel, and this device comprising:
  • . on the one hand, a stirrup which is mounted, on the drum, rocking about an axis parallel to that of the knurls and which comprises locking teeth, in number at least equal to the number of knurls, which are provided for respectively engage in at least one tooth of each of said respective toothed wheels when this stirrup is returned to its locking position of these wheels by at least one return spring fixed on the printing drum, the tilting of this caliper, against the force of this return spring, in its unlocking position of the rollers being controlled by a lever in "L" which is mounted pivoting around of an axis orthogonal to the tilting axis of the stirrup and of which a first free end abuts against a stop integral with this stirrup, and the other free end of which is intended to be pushed back, by then rotating this lever, by an unlocking control member, such as an unlocking finger, which is outside the drum,
  • . and on the other hand, a locking safety pull which is slidably mounted on one of the generators of the drum and which has a slot or notch in which an arm of the stirrup is permanently engaged so that the tilting of this stirrup, and therefore of this arm, can only be done by sliding, in one direction as in the other, this zipper along its support generatrix, one of the ends of this zipper being further extended by a "U" jumper overturned "which is designed to ride without friction a conjugated flange which is part of a fixed frame and which is coaxial with the drum, so that the cooperation of this rider secured to the zipper and this flange normally makes any sliding of this zipper and therefore any unlocking of the knobs, an opening being however provided in this flange and being positioned so that this jumper comes to overlap this opening during that the drum is in its rest position where the adjustment of the knobs is then authorized, so that in this position, and only in this position, this rider and this flange do not oppose the sliding of the zipper and that the unlocking the knobs, and consequently their adjustment, can then be freely carried out.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, ledit doigt de déverrouillage est un doigt de centrage d'un autre organe de la machine à affranchir qui est prévu pour coopérer avec une ouverture de guidage qui est pratiquée en conséquence dans le corps du tambour d'impression.According to another characteristic of the invention, said unlocking finger is a centering finger of another member of the franking machine which is intended to cooperate with a guide opening which is made accordingly in the body of the printing drum.

De toute façon, l'invention sera bien comprise, et ses avantages et autres caractéristiques ressortiront, lors de la description suivante d'un exemple non limitatif de réalisation, en référence au dessin schématique annexé dans lequel la figure unique est une vue en perspective de ce dispositif de verrouillage, le tambour d'impression étant dans sa position de repos.In any case, the invention will be well understood, and its advantages and other characteristics will emerge during the following description of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which the single figure is a perspective view of this locking device, the printing drum being in its rest position.

En se référant à la figure unique, on reconnait le tambour d'impression rotatif 1 qui équipe normalement la tête d'une machine à affranchir. Dans cet exemple simplifié, le tambour 1 est supposé porter six molettes d'impression coaxiales 2. Lorsque ces molettes ne sont pas verrouillées, il est possible de modifier leur réglage, c est-à-dire de modifier le chiffre ou la lettre qu'ils impriment, en faisant tourner ces molettes sur elles-mêmes autour de leur axe commun 3.Referring to the single figure, we recognize the rotary printing drum 1 which normally equips the head of a franking machine. In this simplified example, the drum 1 is assumed to carry six coaxial printing wheels 2. When these wheels are not locked, it is possible to modify their setting, that is to say to modify the number or the letter which they print, by turning these knobs on themselves around their common axis 3.

Cette rotation pourrait en principe être réalisée manuellement si ces molettes étaient directement accessibles à l'utilisateur comme sur la figure. Tel n'est en pratique pas le cas, car ce libre accès est interdit par l'Administration Postale et en réalité chaque molette 2 est solidaire d'une roue dentée coaxiale 4 qui peut, lorsqu'elle est déverrouillée comme on le verra ci-après, être entrainée en rotation par une liaison cinématique elle-même commandée à partir du clavier de la machine à affranchir.This rotation could in principle be carried out manually if these knobs were directly accessible to the user as in the figure. This is not in practice the case, because this free access is prohibited by the Postal Administration and in reality each wheel 2 is secured to a coaxial toothed wheel 4 which can, when it is unlocked as will be seen below. after, be driven in rotation by a kinematic link itself controlled from the keyboard of the franking machine.

Quoi qu'il en soit, il est indispensable que les molettes 2 soient verrouillées en position pendant la rotation du tambour d'impression, afin que leur réglage ne puisse être modifié, accidentellement ou non, pendant l'opération d'impression des valeurs portées par ces molettes. Il est en outre bien entendu nécessaire qu'elles puissent être déverrouillées lorsque le tambour est en position de repos, et qu'elles ne puissent être déverrouillées que dans cette position de repos.Anyway, it is essential that the knobs 2 are locked in position during the rotation of the printing drum, so that their setting cannot be modified, accidentally or not, during the printing operation of the values carried by these knobs. It is of course also necessary that they can be unlocked when the drum is in the rest position, and they can only be unlocked in this rest position.

En outre le verrouillage doit être positif et donc sans aléas. Tel ne serait par exemple pas le cas s'il dépendait uniquement d'un ressort de rappel pouvant accidentellement se casser alors que le tambour d'impression est en cours de rotation. Le dispositif de l'invention, que l'on décrira maintenant et qui équipe le tambour 1, permet de satisfaire à ces exigences.In addition, the locking must be positive and therefore without risks. This would not be the case, for example, if it depended solely on a return spring that could accidentally break while the print drum was being rotated. The device of the invention, which will now be described and which equips the drum 1, makes it possible to satisfy these requirements.

Ce dispositif de verrouillage comporte basiquement un étrier de verrouillage 5 qui est monté basculant autour d'un axe 6 fixé sur le tambour 1 et parallèle à l'axe 3 des molettes 2.This locking device basically comprises a locking stirrup 5 which is pivotally mounted around an axis 6 fixed on the drum 1 and parallel to the axis 3 of the knurls 2.

Cet étrier basculant 5 comporte autant de dents de verrouillage 7 qu'il y a de molettes 2, soit cinq dents 7 dans l'exemple simplifié qui est représenté ici. Ces dents 7 sont conformées et agencées pour respectivement s'engager dans une dent de la roue dentée 4 associée à chaque molette 2, venant ainsi bloquer chacune de ces molettes en position, lorsque l'étrier 5 est basculé vers l'avant sous l'action d'un puissant ressort de rappel 8 qui est tendu entre un picot 9 solidaire du tambour 1 et un autre picot 10 qui est solidaire d'un bras 11 de l'étrier 5, ce picot 10 étant placé, sur ce bras 11, sous l'axe 6 de telle sorte que l'action du ressort 8 tend bien à faire basculer l'étrier 5 vers l'avant et donc à engager les dents de verrouillage 7 dans les roues dentées 4.This tilting stirrup 5 has as many locking teeth 7 as there are knurls 2, ie five teeth 7 in the simplified example which is shown here. These teeth 7 are shaped and arranged to respectively engage in a tooth of the toothed wheel 4 associated with each wheel 2, thereby locking each of these wheels in position, when the stirrup 5 is tilted forward under the action of a powerful return spring 8 which is stretched between a stud 9 secured to the drum 1 and another stud 10 which is secured to an arm 11 of the stirrup 5, this stud 10 being placed on this arm 11, under the axis 6 so that the action of the spring 8 tends to cause the stirrup 5 to tilt forwards and therefore to engage the locking teeth 7 in the toothed wheels 4.

Pour basculer l'étrier 5 vers l'arrière, contre la force du ressort de rappel 8, et donc déverrouiller les molettes 2, il est prévu un levier en "L" 12 qui est monté basculant autour d'un axe 13 orthogonal à l'axe de basculement 6 de l'étrier 5.To tilt the stirrup 5 backwards, against the force of the return spring 8, and therefore unlock the knobs 2, there is provided an "L" shaped lever 12 which is mounted rocking about an axis 13 orthogonal to the tilt axis 6 of stirrup 5.

Une première extrémité libre 14 de ce levier 12 vient en appui contre une butée 15 solidaire de l'étrier 5.A first free end 14 of this lever 12 comes to bear against a stop 15 integral with the stirrup 5.

L'autre extrémité libre 16 du levier 12 comporte un renflement latéral 17 prévu pour coopérer avec un doigt extérieur de commande 18 à extrémité 19 conique. Ce doigt passe dans un orifice de guidage 20 ménagé dans le corps du tambour d'impression 1.The other free end 16 of the lever 12 has a lateral bulge 17 intended to cooperate with an external control finger 18 with a conical end 19. This finger passes through a guide orifice 20 formed in the body of the printing drum 1.

Comme indiqué en pointillés sur la figure, lorsque le doigt 18 est avancé, selon la flèche 21, en direction du levier 12, il vient repousser sur le côté le renflement 17, de sorte que le levier 12 bascule, selon la flèche 23, dans le sens horaire et vient alors pousser contre la butée 15 de façon à entrainer le basculement vers l'arrière de l'étrier 5 contre la force du ressort 8, et donc le déverrouillage des molettes 2.As indicated in dotted lines in the figure, when the finger 18 is advanced, according to arrow 21, in the direction of the lever 12, it pushes the bulge 17 to the side, so that the lever 12 rocks, according to arrow 23, in clockwise and then pushes against the stop 15 so as to cause the rearward tilting of the stirrup 5 against the force of the spring 8, and therefore the unlocking of the knobs 2.

A noter que, comme on l'expliquera maintenant, ce basculement de l'étrier 5 vers l'arrière, et donc le déverrouillage des molettes n'est rendu possible, conformément à l'invention, que dans la position représentée sur la figure, qui est la position de repos du tambour 1, pour laquelle rien ne vient entraver le mouvement de basculement du bras 11.It should be noted that, as will now be explained, this tilting of the stirrup 5 towards the rear, and therefore the unlocking of the rollers, is only made possible, in accordance with the invention, in the position shown in the figure, which is the rest position of the drum 1, for which nothing impedes the tilting movement of the arm 11.

Ce bras 11 a, comme représenté, son extrémité libre 24 engagée en permanence dans une encoche 25 d'une tirette 26 de sécurité de verrouillage qui est montée coulissante, grâce à une glissière 27 solidaire du tambour 1, sur une des génératrices dudit tambour 1.This arm 11 has, as shown, its free end 24 permanently engaged in a notch 25 of a locking safety pull tab 26 which is slidably mounted, by means of a slide 27 secured to the drum 1, on one of the generators of said drum 1 .

De la sorte, le basculement, figuré en pointillés, du bras 11 ne peut se faire qu'en faisant coulisser, comme indiqué par les flèches, la tirette 26 le long de ladite génératrice du tambour qui lui est coaxiale.In this way, the tilting, shown in dotted lines, of the arm 11 can only be done by sliding, as indicated by the arrows, the pull tab 26 along said generatrix of the drum which is coaxial with it.

L'extrémité libre 29 de la tirette 26 qui est opposée à celle 28 qui est adjacente à l'encoche 25 et qui forme butée de retenue de cette tirette, se prolonge par un cavalier 30 en "U renversé".The free end 29 of the pull tab 26 which is opposite to that 28 which is adjacent to the notch 25 and which forms the retaining stop for this pull tab, is extended by a jumper 30 in "inverted U" shape.

Ce cavalier 30 est prévu pour enfourcher sans frottement une collerette conjuguée 31 qui fait partie du châssis 22 de support du tambour 1 et qui est coaxiale à ce dernier .This jumper 30 is designed to ride without friction a conjugated flange 31 which is part of the frame 22 for supporting the drum 1 and which is coaxial with this. latest .

Une ouverture ou encoche 32 est prévue dans cette collerette 31 et y est positionnée de telle sorte que le cavalier 30 vienne chevaucher cette ouverture lorsque le tambour 1 est en sa position de repos. Rien ne s'oppose alors au coulissement de la tirette de sécurité 26 dans sa glissière 27, de sorte que les molettes peuvent être déverrouillées pour procéder à leur réglage en position.An opening or notch 32 is provided in this flange 31 and is positioned there such that the jumper 30 comes to overlap this opening when the drum 1 is in its rest position. Nothing then prevents the sliding of the safety zipper 26 in its slide 27, so that the knobs can be unlocked to adjust them in position.

En revanche, lorsque, comme représenté en pointillés sur la figure, le tambour tourne en vue de l'impression de l'enveloppe à affranchir, le cavalier 30 chevauche positivement la collerette fixe 31. Le bras 11 est alors totalement bloqué dans sa position qui correspond au verrouillage des molettes 2 par l'étrier 5 car la tirette 26 ne peut en aucun cas coulisser selon son axe longitudinal. Le verrouillage des molettes 2 est alors positif car il est assuré même en cas de défaillance du ressort de rappel 8.On the other hand, when, as shown in dotted lines in the figure, the drum rotates with a view to printing the franking envelope, the jumper 30 positively overlaps the fixed flange 31. The arm 11 is then completely locked in its position which corresponds to the locking of the rollers 2 by the stirrup 5 because the puller 26 can in no case slide along its longitudinal axis. The locking of the knobs 2 is then positive because it is ensured even in the event of failure of the return spring 8.

A noter que le doigt de commande de déverrouillage 18 peut être un doigt uniquement prévu à cet effet, mais préférentiellement il est incorporé positivement à la machine à affranchir dans laquelle il joue simultanément un rôle de doigt de guidage : tel est par exemple le cas lorsque cette machine comporte une tête amovible contenant le tambour d'impression qui est prévue pour venir s ' accoupler à une base fixe qui comporte en particulier le clavier de commande. Le doigt 18 sert alors également, en coopération avec l'ouverture de guidage 20 de la patte 1A, de doigt de centrage relatif de la tête et de la base. Par exemple, il sert de doigt de guidage pour un ensemble de pignons menants, avec moteurs associés, qui sont positionnés dans un module basculant inclus dans la base, ce module étant basculé vers la tête uniquement pour les opérations de réglage des molettes et étant alors guidé par coopération entre le doigt 18 et l'ouverture de guidage 20 de la patte 1A du tambour.Note that the unlocking control finger 18 may be a finger only provided for this purpose, but preferably it is positively incorporated in the franking machine in which it simultaneously plays the role of guide finger: this is for example the case when this machine has a removable head containing the printing drum which is designed to mate with a fixed base which in particular includes the control keyboard. The finger 18 then also serves, in cooperation with the guide opening 20 of the tab 1A, as a relative centering finger of the head and the base. For example, it serves as a guide finger for a set of driving pinions, with associated motors, which are positioned in a tilting module included in the base, this module being tilted towards the head only for the adjustment operations of the knobs and then being guided by cooperation between the finger 18 and the guide opening 20 of the tab 1A of the drum.

Comme il va de soi, l'invention n'est pas limitée à l'exemple de réalisation qui vient d'être décrit. Elle est bien au contraire susceptible d'être mise en oeuvre sous de multiples autres formes équivalentes.It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described. On the contrary, it is capable of being implemented in multiple other equivalent forms.

Claims (2)

Dispositif de verrouillage des molettes d'impression réglables (2) qui sont portées coaxialement par un tambour d'impression rotatif (1) équipant une machine à affranchir, ces molettes réglables étant chacune respectivement solidaire d'une roue dentée coaxiale respective (4),
caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte : . d'une part un étrier (5) qui est monté, sur le tambour (1), basculant autour d'un axe (6) parallèle à celui (3) des molettes et qui comporte des dents de verrouillage (7), en nombre au moins égal au nombre de molettes, qui sont prévues pour respectivement s'engager dans au moins une dent de chacune desdites roues dentées respectives (4) lorsque cet étrier (5) est rappelé en sa position de verrouillage de ces molettes par au moins un ressort de rappel (8) fixé sur le tambour d'impression, le basculement de cet étrier, contre la force de ce ressort de rappel, dans sa position de déverrouillage des molettes étant commandé par un levier en "L" (12) qui est monté basculant autour d'un axe (13) orthogonal à l'axe (6) de basculement de l'étrier (5) et dont une première extrémité libre (14) vient en appui contre une butée (15) solidaire de cet étrier (5) et dont l'autre extrémité libre (17) est prévue pour être repoussée, en faisant alors tourner ce levier (12), par un organe de commande de déverrouillage, tel qu'un doigt de déverrouillage (18), qui est extérieur au tambour, . et d'autre part une tirette (26) de sécurité de verrouillage qui est montée coulissante sur une des génératrices du tambour (1) et qui comporte une lumière ou encoche (25) dans laquelle est en permanence engagé un bras (11) de l'étrier de sorte que le basculement de cet étrier, et donc de ce bras, ne peut se faire qu'en faisant coulisser, dans un sens comme dans l'autre, cette tirette (26) le long de sa génératrice de support, une des extrémités (29) de cette tirette se prolongeant par ailleurs par un cavalier en "U renversé" (30) qui est prévu pour enfourcher sans frottement une collerette conjuguée (31) qui fait partie d'un chassis fixe (22) et qui est coaxiale au tambour (1), de sorte que la coopération de ce cavalier (30), solidaire de la tirette (26), et de cette collerette (31) rend normalement impossible tout coulissement de cette tirette (26) et donc tout déverrouillage des molettes (2), une ouverture (32) étant cependant prévue dans cette collerette (31) et étant positionnée de sorte que ce cavalier (30) vienne chevaucher cette ouverture (32) lorsque le tambour (1) est en sa position de repos où le réglage des molettes est alors autorisé, de sorte que dans cette position, et uniquement dans celle-ci, ce cavalier (30) et cette collerette (31) ne s'opposent pas au coulissement de la tirette (26) et que le déverrouillage des molettes (2), et par suite leur réglage, peut alors librement être effectué. Locking device for the adjustable printing wheels (2) which are carried coaxially by a rotary printing drum (1) fitted to a franking machine, these adjustable wheels are each respectively secured to a respective coaxial toothed wheel (4),
characterized in that it comprises: . on the one hand a stirrup (5) which is mounted, on the drum (1), tilting around an axis (6) parallel to that (3) of the knobs and which comprises locking teeth (7), in number at least equal to the number of rollers, which are provided for respectively engaging in at least one tooth of each of said respective toothed wheels (4) when this stirrup (5) is returned to its locking position of these rollers by at least one return spring (8) fixed on the printing drum, the tilting of this caliper, against the force of this return spring, in its unlocking position of the rollers being controlled by a lever in "L" (12) which is mounted tilting about an axis (13) orthogonal to the axis (6) of tilting of the stirrup (5) and of which a first free end (14) bears against a stop (15) integral with this stirrup ( 5) and the other free end (17) of which is designed to be pushed back, by then rotating this lever (12), by an unlocking control member, such as an unlocking finger (18), which is outside the drum, . and on the other hand a locking safety pull tab (26) which is slidably mounted on one of the generators of the drum (1) and which has a slot or notch (25) in which an arm (11) of the caliper so that the tilting of this caliper, and therefore of this arm, can only be done by sliding, in one direction as in the other, this zipper (26) along its support generator, one of the ends (29) of this zipper further extending by an "inverted U" rider (30) which is designed to straddle without friction a conjugated flange (31) which forms part of a fixed frame (22) and which is coaxial with the drum (1), so that the cooperation of this rider (30), integral with the pull tab (26), and of this flange (31) normally makes it impossible for this slide (26) to slide and therefore any unlocking of the knobs (2), an opening (32) being however provided in this flange (31) and being positioned so that this jumper ( 30) overlap this opening (32) when the drum (1) is in its rest position where the adjustment of the knobs is then authorized, so that in this position, and only in this position, this jumper (30) and this flange (31) does not oppose the sliding of the pull tab (26) and that the unlocking of the knobs (2), and consequently their adjustment, can then be freely carried out. Dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit doigt de déverrouillage (18) est un doigt de centrage d'un autre organe de la machine à affranchir qui est prévu pour coopérer avec une ouverture de guidage (20) qui est pratiquée en conséquence dans le corps du tambour d'impression (1).Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said unlocking finger (18) is a centering finger of another member of the franking machine which is designed to cooperate with a guide opening (20) which is formed accordingly in the body of the printing drum (1).
EP93403144A 1992-12-22 1993-12-22 Device for locking the print wheels of a franking machine Expired - Lifetime EP0604316B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9215497 1992-12-22
FR9215497A FR2699711B1 (en) 1992-12-22 1992-12-22 Locking device for knobs on a franking machine.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0604316A1 true EP0604316A1 (en) 1994-06-29
EP0604316B1 EP0604316B1 (en) 1996-11-27

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93403144A Expired - Lifetime EP0604316B1 (en) 1992-12-22 1993-12-22 Device for locking the print wheels of a franking machine

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US (1) US5385090A (en)
EP (1) EP0604316B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69306233T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2699711B1 (en)

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US4160899A (en) * 1977-12-27 1979-07-10 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Detent remover for a postage meter
US4345521A (en) * 1981-01-14 1982-08-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. Inhibiting means for postage register parcel identification system
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US4421023A (en) * 1982-05-20 1983-12-20 Pitney Bowes Inc. Printer control systems for electronic postage meter
US4702164A (en) * 1984-10-04 1987-10-27 Pitney Bowes Inc. Value selector security system
US4723486A (en) * 1984-11-05 1988-02-09 Societe D'etude Et De Construction D'appareils De Precision (S.E.C.A.P.) Device for automatic angular positioning of a plurality of indexable rotary machine elements, and a machine comprising a device of this type, especially a postal franking machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69306233T2 (en) 1997-04-17
US5385090A (en) 1995-01-31
EP0604316B1 (en) 1996-11-27
DE69306233D1 (en) 1997-01-09
FR2699711B1 (en) 1995-02-10
FR2699711A1 (en) 1994-06-24

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