GB2108050A - Index-lug positioning device for a postal franking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The index-lug positioning device comprises a stationary frame 1 for supporting manual control means 2, 3, 4, 5 which select the index-lug positions and first respective transmission means 10, 9, 8, 7 located between the control means and index-lug positioning slide members 11, 12, 13, 14 each corresponding to one manual operation, a carriage 16 displaceable in translational motion for supporting the slide members and second complementary transmission means associated with retractable locking means 49, 50 and combined means for locking the manual control means and the first and second transmission means as well as the slide members in the indexing position while the index- lugs are released at the same time by the slide members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Index-lug positioning device for a postal franking machine This invention relates to a hand-operated indexlug positioning device to a postal franking machine equipped with a device of this type.

Index-lug positioning devices are commonly employed in various types of printing machines for modifying elements of the printing unit, and especially numerals.

A noteworthy application of index-lug positioning devices is in the field of postal franking machines, in which the printing wheels are controlled by toothed racks slidably mounted in the shaft of the printing drum.

In certain known devices and especially the device described in French patent No 2,377,066, the aforementioned toothed racks are actuated by means of rings slidably mounted on the drum shaft and actuated by means of knurled wheels, gear-wheels and connecting-arms.

Said gear-wheels and connecting-arms are readily deformable since they are subjected to bending stress in their smallest dimension.

Furthermore, the rings jam against the shaft if the ring-guiding distance is of small value as would be desirable in order to reduce the overall size of the device.

in order to minimize flexural deformations and to prevent jamming, it has therefore been found necessary to make use of cumbersome connecting-arms and rings of appreciable length, thus resulting in bulky devices.

In another conventional device described in French patent No 2,538,704, the toothed racks are arranged in the shaft so as to be located diametrically opposite in pairs, thus again resulting in a device of large overall size.

The aim of the invention is to mitigate one or more of the disadvantages of conventional devices with a view to the construction of an index-lug positioning device which is compact and/or is practical!y unattended by any potential danger of deformation, and/or which does not give rise to any uncertainty in positioning, and/or which permits relatively broad machining tolerances.

The invention is directed to an index-lug positioning device which essentially comprises: a) a stationary frame adapted to carry manual control means which serve to select the positions of the index-lugs and are associated with first transmission means located between the said control means and slide members for positioning the index-lugs; b) a carriage capable of displacement in translational motion and adapted to carry the slide members which correspond in each case to one manual operation, as well as second transmission means which are complementary to the first and associated with retractable locking means; c) combined means for locking the manual control means and the first and second transmission means as well as the slide members in the indexing position whiie the index-lugs are released at the same time by the said slide members.

The manual control means for selecting the positions of the index-lugs are each advantageously constituted by a knurled wheel associated with a position-indicator drum which carries the same number of reference elements.

All the wheel-drum assemblies are disposed in coaxial relation and coupled respectively by means of concentric shafts in each case to a first transmission gear-wheel. All the first gear-wheels are of equal diameter and disposed in contiguous relation in the coaxial line of extension of the wheel-drum assemblies and are provided with an equal number of aligned teeth which are also equal in number to the reference elements of the drums.

The knurled wheels can be provided with uniformly spaced locking notches which are equal in number to the reference elements of the drums.

In an advantageous embodiment, the second transmission means are each constituted by a second gear-wheel disposed in meshing engagement with a first transmission gear-wheel.

All the second gear-wheels are in coaxial relation, are of equal diameter, and are located in spaced relation. The said second gear-wheels are positioned individuaily by means of a spring-loaded pawl which is retractable in both directions of rotation of the second gear-wheels and ensures alignment of the teeth of all the gear-wheels in respect of each indexing position together with a possiblility of axial displacement of all the second gearwheels in sliding motion along the first gearwheels.

The slide members are suitably designed in the form of a T, are each adapted to carry a transverse toothed rack, and are located in superposed relation. The toothed racks are disposed in parallel relation in the same plane and each adapted to engage with a third transmission gear-wheel rigidly fixed in each case to a second gear-wheel.

The slide members are slidably supported within the carriage at right angles to the axis of the gearwheels. The vertical stem of the T of each slide member terminates in an index-lug engagement fork which is parallel to the axis of the carriage.

In each T-shaped slide member of this type, the cross-arm of the T can have the same width and be provided with an open portion. The toothed racks of the lower slide members pass through the open portions of the upper slide members, each slide member being guided in sliding motion within the carriage by the edges of its cross-arm.

In a simple and sturdy constructional arrangement, the combined locking means consist of lugs provided on the carriage and capable of insertion in the notches of the knurled wheels when the carriage is moved to a withdrawn position for releasing positioned slide members.

The invention is also directed to a postal franking machine comprising a rotary printing drum containing gear-driven printing wheels. Each gear-wheel is disposed in meshing engagement with a toothed rack carried by a slide-bar which is mounted within the shaft so as to permit of sliding displacement in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum and which is adapted to carry a positioning index-lug, the said index-lugs being positioned by means of a device in accordance with the invention.

A franking machine of this type can advantageously comprise a locking device for securing the index-lug bars against translational -motion when the said index-lugs are not being positioned, the said locking device being coupled to the carriage of the positioning device.

In a described embodiment of with the invention, the distance between the control element and the index-lug positioning member is reduced to a minimum in all three dimensions.

The slide members as well as the frame and carriage can readily be formed by die-stamping and bending. The gear-wheels constitute one of the means for guiding the carriage in sliding motion and assembly of the different elements can be carried out with particularly great ease by stacking flat components or by threading coaxial gear-wheels.

The above-mentioned device constitutes a single unit which can readily be removed from a franking machine. This facilitates both assembly and maintenance or any machine repairs which may prove necessary.

The invention finds an application more especially in the manufacture of franking machines for ordinary letters, whether such machines are of the manual-feed or automaticfeed type.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be gained from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the machine and of the device in accordance with the invention are shown by way of example without any limitation being implied, and in which:: -Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an index-lug positioning device in accordance with the invention and as shown in the index-lug displacement position; -Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation showing the device of Fig. 1 with a portion broken away; -Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic rear view in elevation and showing the device of Figs 1 and 2; -Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view looking on the underside of the device of Fig. 1; -Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view looking on one end of the device of Fig. 1; -Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic part-sectional view taken along the line VI--VI of Fig. 7;; -Fig. 7 is a view which is similar to Fig. 1 and shows the same device in the position of locking with release of the index-lugs; -Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view in elevation showing a postal franking machine equipped with the index-lug positioning device of Figs. 1 to 7; -Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the relationships of the different constituent elements of the device of Figs. 1 to 7 in the machine of Fig. 8 and in the value-setting position; -Fig. 10 is a view which is similar to Fig. 9 in the franking position; -Fig. 11 is an exploded view in perspective which provides a diagrammatic illustration of the connection between the main components of the positioning device and the index-lugs of the franking machine;; -Fig. 12 is a diagram of the shaft and of the printing drum of the machine of Fig. 8; -Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view in crosssection taken along the IineXIll-XIll of Fig. 12.

The index-lug positioning device shown in Figs.

1 to 7 essentially comprises a stationary frame 1 of cut-out and bent steel sheet, and a carriage 1 6 designed for translational displacement, said carriage being also formed by cut-out and bent steel sheets.

As shown in the drawings, the upper portion of the frame 1 is adapted to carry a shaft 30 on which is keyed a knurled wheel 5 associated with a drum 26 which carries ten digits from 0 to 9, a pinion 10 being keyed on the said shaft at the opposite end.

Between the knurled wheel 5 and the pinion 10, a tubular shaft 31 is mounted on the shaft 30 for free rotational motion. A knurled wheel 4 associated with a numbered drum 27 is keyed on the said tubular shaft 31 at one end of this latter and a pinion 9 is keyed at the other end.

Between the knurled wheel 4 and the pinion 9, a tubular shaft 32 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 31 for free rotational motion. A knurled wheel 3 associated with a numbered drum 28 is keyed on the said tubular shaft 32 at one end of this latter and a pinion 8 is keyed at the other end.

A fourth knurled wheel 2 is mounted for free rotational motion between the knurled wheel 3 and the pinion 8, the said knurled wheei being associated with a numbered drum 29 and with a pinion 7.

At the end corresponding to the pinions, the shaft 30 is pivotally mounted in an end-bearing 60 attached to the frame 1 but rests at the end nearest knurled wheel 5 in a cradle 61 formed by a recess cut-oput in the frame 1. A stop 90 attached to the frame 1 serves to maintain the shaft 32 in position and to ensure axial position-setting of the entire assembly.

A spacer member 73 which is rigidly fixed to the frame 1 serves to maintain all the spindles of the knurled wheels and pinions in position. A support plate 62 rigidly fixed to the cradle 1 6 and slidably mounted in a shaft 63 carried out by the frame 1 is adapted to carry a shaft 64 on which four identical pinions 1 7, 18, 19, 20 are mounted to rotate freely. Each pinion is engaged with the pinions 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the position of the carriage 1 6 shown in Figs. 1 to 6 in which the knurled wheels are free to rotate.

The pinions 7, 8, 9, 10 each have a number of teeth equal to the reference numerals of the drums 26, 27, 28, 29, namely ten teeth.

Gear-wheels 38, 39, 40, 41 are each associated with a secondary pinion 1 7, 18, 19, 20 and are each in mesh with a toothed tack 34, 35, 36, 37 carried by a slide member 11, 12, 13, 14.

Each member is slidably mounted in recesses cut in two plates 65, 66 of cut-out and bent sheet steel which are fixed on each side of the support plate 62 and constitute the frame of the carriage 16.

Each slide member 11,12,13,14is constituted by a cut-out and bent sheet-steel plate having the general shape of a T. The vertical stems 1 5, 42, 43, 44 of the said T-plates each terminate respectively in a fork 67, 68, 69, 70 which is intended to grip an index-lug 6 (as shown in Fig.

11).

The cross-arm of the T of each of the slide members 11, 12, 13, 14 has an open portion as indicated at 45, 46, 47, 48 and each slide member has a portion which is bent-back at right angles and cut-out in the shape of a toothed rack 34, 35, 36, 37.

The four slide members 11, 12, 13, 14 are superposed and the bent-back portions of the slide members 12, 13, 14 which are located beneath the slide member 11 pass through the open portions 45, 46, 47, 48 in order to engage at the same level with the gear-wheels 38, 39,40, 41.

The end of the plate 66 is bent-back at right angles so as to form a projecting arm 71 for displacing the carriage 1 6 in translational motion.

The top edge of the plate 65 is cut-out and bent so as to form lugs 49, 50, 51, 52 whilst the end 25 of the plate 65 is capable of sliding freely within an elongated slot cut in the end-wall of the frame 1.

Depending on the position of the carriage 16, the lugs 49, 51, 52 either release the entire device (as shown in Figs. 1 to 5) or engage within notches such as the notch 33 of the knurled wheels 2, 3, 4, 5 when the carriage is moved to the locked position (Figs. 6 and 7) with concomitant release of the index-lugs 6 from which the forks 67, 68, 69, 70 are disengaged.

The carriage 1 6 is also adapted to carry a shaft 72 disposed between the support plate 62 and a spacer member 73 on which are pivotally mounted pawls 21,22, 23, 24, each pawl being associated with a safety-pin type spring 74, 75, 76, 77 which is threaded on the shaft 72 and applied on one side against the plate 66 of the carriage 1 6 and on the other side within a drilled hole 78 of the associated pawl 22.

Each pawl 21,22, 23, 24 respectively is disposed in meshing engagement with one of the pinions 1 7, 18, 1 9 and 20. The said pawls withdraw elastically when the pinions 7, 8, 9, 10 are caused to rotate by means of the knurled wheels 2, 3, 4, 5 but ensure that all the pinions are aligned in the rest position, thus enabling the pinions 1 7, 18, 1 9, 20 to slide freely while guiding the carriage 16 over the pinions 7, 8, 9, 10.

There is formed in the bottom edge of the plate 65 of the carriage 16 a notch 79 which serves to provide a connection with a member (not shown in the drawings) for locking released index-lugs in position (Figs. 6, 7 and 10) and for releasing the index-lugs 6 in translational motion for positioning (as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, 9 and 11).

The postal franking machine illustrated in Fig. 8 is provided with an outer casing 80 from which the knurled wheels 2, 3, 4, 5 project through slots so as to display one of the reference numerals of each drum 26, 27, 28, 29 as well as the projecting arm 71 for controlling the translational displacement of the carriage.

The machine comprises two rollers for displacing envelopes 81,82 to be stamped towards a drum 53 for printing the envelope against a bearing roller 84.

The printing drum 53 comprises a printing head 83 associated with a manual control knob 85 on a shaft 59 driven by a motor 86.

Bars 57, 87, 88, 89 are slidably mounted in the shaft 59 and each terminate at one end in an index-lug such as the lug 6 whilst the other end is cut-out so as to form a toothed rack 56. Each toothed rack 56 is disposed in meshing engagement with a pinion 55 rigidly fixed to a printing wheel 54 which carries the characters to be printed.

A set of pawls such as the pawl 58 engaged with the pinions 55 and actuated by a connectingrod system (not shown in the drawings) which is coupled to the notch 79 of the carriage 1 6 serves either to lock each printing wheel 54 in position when the index-lugs 6 are disengaged from the forks 67 or to release the printing wheels 54 in order to position these latter in coincidence with the reference numerals of the drums 26,27,28, 29 which are controlled by the knurled wheels 2, 3, 4, 5, the shaft 58 being secured against rotation by known means such as, for example, a connecting-rod system (not shown) coupled to the notch 79.

Thus, when it is desired to displace the indexlugs 6 in order to bring the printing wheels 54 into the position corresponding to a franking value indicated by the drums 26, 27, 28, 29, the initial operation consists in displacing the carriage 1 6 towards the left (as shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4, 5 and 9).

The knurled wheels 2, 3, 4, 5 are rotated so as to display the value numerals in the slots of the casing 80.

The forks 67 are engaged with the lugs 6 of the slide-bars 57 whilst the shaft 59 is located in position and the pinions 55 are released from the pawls 58.

Once the appropriate value has been indicated, the carriage 1 6 is displaced towards the right in the position shown in Figs. 6, 7, 10, thus releasing the index-lugs 6 whilst the printing wheels 54 are locked by the pawls 58 in a position corresponding to the value displayed, whereupon the shaft 59 is free to rotate for the franking operation of the drum 53.

As will readily be understood, the invention is not limited in any sense to the form of construction of the machine and of the device hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Depending on the applications which are contemplated, many alternative forms of construction within the capacity of those versed in the art may accordingly be considered without thereby departing either from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. An index-lug positioning device, characterized in that it comprises a stationary frame adapted to carry manual control means which serve to select the positions of the index-lugs and are associated with first transmission means located between the said control means and slide members for positioning the index-lugs, a carriage capable of displacement in translational motion and adapted t6 carry the slide members which correspond in each case to one manual operation as well as second transmission means which are complementary to the first and associated with retractable locking means, and combined means for locking the said manual control means and the first and second transmission means as well as the slide members in the indexing position while the index-lugs are released at the same time by the said slide members.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the manual control means for selecting the positions of the index-lugs are each advantageously constituted by a knurled wheel associated with a position-indicator drum which carries the same number of reference elements, all the wheel-drum assemblies being disposed in coaxial relation and coupled respectively by means of concentric shafts in each case to a first transmission gear-wheel, all the first gear-wheels being of equal diameter and disposed in contiguous relation in the coaxial line of extension of the wheel-drum assemblies and being provided with an equal number of aligned teeth which are also equal in number to the reference elements of the drums.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the knurled wheels are provided with uniformly spaced locking notches which are equal in number to the reference elements of the drums.

4. A device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second transmission means are each constituted by a second gear-wheel respectively disposed in meshing engagement with a first transmission gear-wheel, all the second gear-wheels being in coaxial relation, of equal diameter, located in spaced relation, and positioned individually by means of a spring-loaded pawl which is retractable in both directions of rotation of the said second gear-wheels and ensures alignment of the teeth of all the gear-wheels in respect of each indexing position together with a possibility of axial displacement of all the second gear-wheels in sliding motion along the first gear-wheels.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the slide members are designed in the form of a T and each adapted to carry a transverse toothed rack, all the slide members being in superposed relation, the toothed racks being disposed in parallel relation in the same plane and each adapted to engage with a third transmission gear-wheel rigidly fixed in each case to a second gear-wheel, the slide members being slidably supported within the carriage at right angles to the axis of the gearwheels, the vertical stem of the T of each slide member being adapted to terminate in an indexlug engagement fork.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the cross-arm of the T of each slide member has the same width and is provided with an open portion, the toothed racks of the lower slide members being adapted to pass through the open portions of the upper slide members, each slide member being guided in sliding motion within the carriage by the edges of its cross-arm.

7. A device in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the combined locking means are constituted by lugs provided on the carriage and capable of insertion in the notches of the knurled wheels when the carriage is moved to a withdrawn position for releasing positioned slide members.

8. A postal franking machine comprising a rotary printing drum containing gear-driven printing wheels each disposed in meshing engagement with a toothed rack carried by a slide-bar which is mounted within the shaft so as to permit of sliding displacement in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum and which is adapted to carry a positioning index-lug, characterized in that the said index-lugs are positioned by means of a device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, 10 and 12.

9. A machine in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the said machine comprises a locking device for securing the index-lug bars against translational motion when the said indexlugs are not being positioned, the said locking device being coupled to the carriage of the positioning device.

10. An index-lug positioning device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A postal franking machine equipped with an index-lug positioning device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. An index-lug positioning device comprising a sub-combination of two or more features of the index-lug positioning device of claim 1.