GB404673A - An improved machine for printing upon letters and like articles - Google Patents

Abstract

404,673. Printing-machines. JONES, G. V.WYNNE-, and UNIVERSAL POSTAL FRANKERS, Ltd., Victory House, Regent Street, London. June 19, 1932, No. 20449. [Class 100 (ii).] Stamp-cancelling and franking machines hand-stamps.-A portable machine for printing cancellation and dating impressions or postal franks on letters or other mail matter is provided with a reciprocable printing-member depressed by electrical mechanism which is set in operation by manual movement of the machine as a whole. The printing-member 24 is carried by a bridge member 8 connected to the core 5 of a solenoid and guided in slots 9 in the side frames of the machine. The member is normally held in raised position by a spring 40 enclosed in a housing 4 to which an insulated handle 7 is secured. The lower end of the frame is provided with rollers 12, 13, and with a plate 15 pivoted at its rear end to the frame and held in depressed position by a spring. A lever 17 is pivoted to the rear end of the plate and is formed at its upper end as a hook 18 adapted to engage a lever 20, the free end of which engages the upper side of the bridge 8. The bridge carries an insulating member 35 to which is pivoted a contact 31 connected by a spring strip 34 to a plate 36 connected to one pole of a source of current. The other pole is connected to a plate 32 with which the contact 31 engages during descent. In use, the machine is applied to the article to be stamped, and is tilted forwardly until stopped by the engagement of stops 43 on the frame with the plate 15. This causes a slight downward movement of the bridge and printing-member through the parts 17, 20, the movement being sufficient to bring the contact 31 and the plate 32 into engagement in order to energise the solenoid coils and depress the member 24. An inking-pad 27 normally in engagement with the printing-member, is supported by arms 28 pivoted to the frame, and links 30 pivoted to the bridge, so that during downward movement of the member 24 it is swung out of the way. The member 24 passes to printing position through an aperture in the plate 15. The bridge 8 carries a cam 25 engaging a surface on the lever 17 so as to disconnect the hook 18 from the lever 20 during downward movement. The contact 31 passes out of engagement with the plate 32 before the member 24 reaches printing-position so that printing is effected under the momentum of the stamp. A second impression cannot be obtained until the parts have been returned to normal positions which is effected by the various springs. On the return movement, an insulated strip on top of the contact 31 engages the plate 32 due to the pivotal mounting of the contact, so that the solenoid coils are not energised. A counter 44 or, if a value-printing frank is employed, a meter is connected to the rear end of the plate 15.