US1658572A - Ments - Google Patents

Description

A. H., PITNEY POSTAGE METER REGISTER LOCKING AND RESETTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l lllllllil I I I "Nd: orneo s Inventor orne s A. H. FITNEY POSTAGE METER REGISTER LOCKING AND RIJSE'TIING' DEVICE Filed March 8, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Feb. 7, 1928.

C2 W I $220 22 Feb; 7, 1928. 1,s5&,572

A. H. PITNEY POSTAGE METER REGISTER LOCKING AND RESETTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 inventor gzfltwaiwaw Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES l,tf58,572

PATENT OFFWE.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO PITNEY-BOWES POSTAGE METER COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTI- OUT, A COQPOBATION OF DELAWARE.

IOS TAGE-METER-BEGISTER LOCKING AND BESETTING DEVICE.

Application filed March a, 1924. Serial No. 697,889.

This invention relates to registering mechanisms usedin the so-called postage meter machines of the type Patent #1,273,793, dated Jul 23, 1918; and

- more particularly to the mac ines shown In my Patent #l,370,668, dated March 8, 1921, and its Reissue #153,734 dated December 18,

1923. Such machines are'designed for use by persons, firms, or corporations having aby until a furtheramount of postage is paidfor and the meter reset by the proper ofiicial. i

The present invention is an improvement '-on the registering mechanism shown in my applic tion for patent on registering mecha msmfor ostag'e meter machines, filed July 7, 1923, erial No. 650,128.

The object of the present invent-ion is to provide means for locking the printing die and registering mechanism of the meter, independently of the automatic means described in my aforesaid application whereby a-meter, although still charged, may be rendered inoperative by a postal oflicial.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention; which, however, is capable of various changes within the scope of the invention: and 1t will be understood that the invention is adaptable to other meters or registering mechanisms in which are employed numeral wheels of the geared type. In the claims '1 have set forth the essentials of the invention and the 7 novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a meter equipped with my improvements.

Figure 2 is a side view of the meter with part of the casing broken away to show interior mechanisms in elevation.

Figure 3 is a front end view of such meter.

shown in my Figure 7 is a detail section on the line '7-7, Figure 3.

I Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the meter looking upward, the base closing plate being removed.

The meter consists of a base casting 1 (Figures 1 and 2) provided with a printing die 2; an idler roller 3; and two registering mechanisms enclosed in a casing 9. The registering mechanisms are referably of the geared type: and one of t ese registers (indicated at T, Figure 1) is called the total re 'ster, adds one unit to its count for every e ective operation of the machine. This total register is'never reset or charged and! registers the total output oi the meter. The other register (tindicated at B, in Figural) is called the alance register, and is arranged to subtract one unit for each effective operation of the machine from the number for which it was Fset or charged; and is automatically locked, or rendered inoperative, when it reaches zero.

Suitable means are provided for operating the registering mechanisms in accordance with the efiectlve operationsof the die, this means being preferably such as shown and described in my aforesaid patents and applications, and therefore it is unnecessar to illustrate and describe the same in detail herein.

As shown, the total and balance registers are mounted in a frame comprising a base member 70 top plate 72, and side members 71 (Fig. The balance register B comprisesa series of similar numeral wheels and a numeral wheel of the highest denomination. The wheel 60 is located at the end of the series opposite the units wheel.

The shaft 52 of the balance register carries a spur gear 12 which meshes with a worm 11 on a vertical shaft 11 journalled in the top plate 72 base, and the total reg ister T may be also similarly geared to and operated from the shaft 11*. These parts are preferably constructed and operated as described in my application filed July 12,

of the die 2. This gearing may be substan tlally such as explained in my aforesaid patents and application, SerialNo. 606,427, and needs no special description herein. The ratio of the gearing'bearing is such that foreach revolution of the die the unit wheel of each of register B and T will make one-tenth of a revolution and alter the respective totals thereof one unit.

Asdescribed in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 650,128, a locking comb 68 is pivoted at 68 beneath the registering mechanisms B and T (see Figs. 2 and i), the teeth 68 being in position to engage notches in the numeral wheelsof the balance register under pressure of the spring 68 lVhen the notches'in all the numeral wheels'S-U are in alignment with the teeth 68, and the notches in the sleeve 66 and shell are in alignment with tooth 68'- (that is when all the numeral wheels have returned to .0). the

locking plate 68 is moved in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4c, and the balance register cannot be further operated until the machine is reset, as fully described in the above mentioned application.

As shown, a plate 68" is attached to the bottom oflocking comb 68, and a spring 68 is attached to one end of the plate 68 opposite the pivot 68. A part of plate 68" is turned downwardly to form a catch member 68 which is adapted to engage a catch member 6 on the upturned end of a lever 6 which controls the locking levers in the base of the' meter. The opposite end of plate 68 has a downwardly projecting Iug 68 adapted to be engaged by a push bar 76 to return the locking comb to its normal position and hold it therein while changing or resetting the register B.

The lever 6 practically corresponds in function to the lever 53 described in my application Serial No. 606,427, aforesaid,- and the machine in which the register is used is preferably provided with automatic devices whereby when the plate 68 is shifted to po sition to lock the numeral wheels of the balance register further operations of the ma chine are prevented. These devices, however, are fully described andiclaimed in my aforesaid patentsand applications, and it is unnecessary to describe same in detail herein. When the locking comb engages all the wheels of the balance register, the parts will become lockedand no further effective operations canbe made until said comb is disengaged from thenumeral wheels of the balessary to restore both the-trip lever 6 and the comb 68 to their original positions shown in full lines. in Figures 4 and-5.. This is accomplished by the following means As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6, the catch member 6 projectsinto the path of a push bar 77 and the lug 68 projects into the path of an oppositely movable push bar 76. These push bars are guided in aligned channels in the base plate 70 of the frame in which the registering mechanisms and locking comb are mounted. The push bars 76 and 77 are p in alignment, and are disposed at right angles to and onopposite sides of a slide bar (see Figs. 4 and 6). Bar 75 is guided in a channel in base 70, and lies at right angles to pushbars 76 and 77, and bar 75 is provided with cam recesses 75 and 75 adjacent the inner ends of the push bars 76 and 77, these cam recesses being so disposed that when the'bar 75 is pulled outward said cams force bars'76 and 77 outward. When bar 75 is pushed inward the push bars 76 and 77 are moved inward by the action of a spring 78 (Fig. 4) connected to the bars 76 and 77 and normally drawing them toward each other and holding their inner ends in contact with-the bar 75.

When the push bars 76 and 77 are moved outward they respectively engage catch member 6' on trip lever 6 and the lug 68 be done until the trip lever 6 is moved out from under the catch 68 of the comb 68, the cam 75" which moves the trip lever 6 is made to engage the cross bar 77, and carry it to its farthest out position before the cam 75" pushes bar 76 into engagement with lug 68 thereby lowering the teeth 68 from the slots in the numeral wheels, and dropping the lug 68 into the path of catch 6, the said lug 68 (as shown in Fig. 2) being disposed to one side of the push bar 77. This insures a. clear path for the catch 68 in its downward course. A pin75 on the bar 75 moves in a slot 75 and limits the travel of bar 75 in both directions.

After the register has been properly reset the door 10 is closed. This door is provided with bosses 10 and 10 (Figs. 1 and 2) on its inner side, which will respectively en- "age the head 74 and the outer end of bar 15-, and will prevent the door being closed it either bar 75 (or head 74) are not properly positioned after the register B has been reset or charged.

A sheet metal guard plate 73 (Figs. 2. 6 and 7) is fastened inside the case 9, and is bent downwardly opposite the outer end of the registers (Fig. 2) and completely hides them. This plate is provided with slots in its top opposite the sight openings, and in its front side has an aperture for the passage of knob 74, and a recess for the passage of bar (Fig. 3). This plate prevents access to the register and tampering with the numeral wheels or mechanism when the meter is opened.

To charge or reset the register, unlock and open door 10 and pull bar 75 out to the stop. Then pull sightly on knob 74 and turn it in the direction of arrow (Fig. 3) until the desired number appears at the sight opening for register B' (Fig. 1). When numeral-1 shows (as in Fig. '1), the knob can be turned no further, as the highest amount for which the register can be charged then appears at the sight opening. When the desired num her appears knob 74 is released. Then bar 75 should be pushed back as far as itwill' go, and the door 10closed, This completes the resetting or charging operation.

Referring to Figure 8,'(the gears are indicated in dotted line to avoid confusion) a an intermediate gear 101, which runs loosely on a stud 101. Gear 101 has secured to it a ratchet wheel 101 and acam 101, all ro-= tating as if integral.

Fastened to gear 11 is a stop disk 11 similar to the stop disk, 101.

A pawl 107 pivoted on a stud 107 is held continually engaged with ratchet 101 on gear .101, by a spring 107 and said pawl 107 will The parts thus far described are or may be constructed substantially as more fully shown and described in my aforesaid application Serial No. 650,128.

In the presentmeters there is no way of clearing the meter,that is, making the balance counter read Zero, by turning the different numeral wheels back to 0. And if the holder of a permit for using metered mail should for any reason desire to surrenderlns permit at atimewhen there yet re mained a quantity of unusuedpostage paid for in his meter,means must be provided for preventing the meter (which is still charged with the unused balance) from the possibility' of getting into the hands of an unscrupulous person who might attempt to unlawfully appropriate the unused postage by inserting a new slug in the mortiw in the die indicating a permit or license number diiiercnt from that'under which the meter is recorded in connection with the name of the use! at the post office.

The present invention provides means to prevent such unlawful use and whereby the mechanisms of such meter can be placed in such 'COndltlOIl that it can not be again used,

- no matter into whose possession it may come,

unless it is first released by the proper official. The novel devices about to be described will positively lock the meter and are only accessible by the proper post oilice otlicial, authorized to charge and seal such postage meters.

In my aforesaid application, Serial No. (350,128, the description of the locking devices was omitted on account of their similarity to my aforesaid application, Serial No. 606,427, filed Dec. 12, 1922, and my applicat-ion, filed March 14, 1923, Serial No. 624.997.

But to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, the locking levers and driving gearing will be explained.

prevent the train of gears being turnedin a reversed direction.

A latch lever 102 is pivoted on a stud 102 so thatit can be oscillated to engage either a shoulder 101' or stop disk 101, or a shoulder 11 of stop disk 11; and when engaged with either disk it will lock the train of gears operated by and including the gear 100; but when latch lever 102 is in'its normal intermediate position it engages neither of the cams 11 or 101 and the train of gears can freelyoperate. I

Latclrlever'102has an arm 102 to which is connected one end of a link 104, and aspring 102 which control the position of the latch lever 102 with relation to the two stop disks 11 and 101. t

A lever 103 pivoted on a stud 103 has on its free end a head 103, whose face is machined concentric with the pivot stud 103, and in said head 103 is a socket 103 which, when lever 103 is inits normal position, registers with a hole 1 in the wall of the meter base 1. This hole 1 and socket'103 are provided for the entry of the meter pin 200 which is a part of the tripping mechanism of the postage meter machine to which the meter is attached, and with which it functions in the printing of metered mail indicia. When the socket 103 is moved out of line with hole 1', by the movement oflever 103, the meter pin cannot enter, and the meter cannot function. These parts operate as fully described in my Reissue Patent No.

15,731 dated December 18, 1923 aforesaid,

7 every printing operation, and if for any reason its entry is prevented, no movement can be communicated to the die shaft in the meter. as explained in said patent.

The shutter lever 103 has an arm 103 which is held in contact with the arm 102 of the latch lever 102 by a spring 103. The position of the arm 102 and the pull of lie &

spring 103 control the position of lever 103 One end of the lever is bent upward at 6 a The longer arm 6 B reaches 'zero.

(see Figs. 2, 4 and 6) and protrudes through a hole 1 in the top of the meter base into position to be engaged by a ing 68 on. the locking comb 68 (as hereinbefore explained). of said lever lies entirely within the base 1, and is connected by the link 104' to the arm 102? of the latch lever 102.

The pull ofspring 102 is augmented by the pull of spring 103 and is communicated through link 104 to the lever 6 and tends to hold its upturned end 6 in close contact with lug 68 of the locking comb; and when said lug 68 is lifted up out of engagement with 6 by the upward movement of locking comb 68 at the discharge of the balance register (as has already been explained) the three levers 6, 102 and 103 will assume the positions indicated by dotted lines 6, 102, 102",

and 103, in Fig. 8. In such positions lever 102 engages stop disk 101 and prevents the train of gears from turning; and the socket 103 is out of alignment with hole 1 and prevents entr of meter pin 200; and this will preventt e die shaft being operated, as explained in my aforesaid reissue patent.

The foregoing explains the actions of the various parts and levers which render the meter inoperative when the balance register But in order to lock the meter while the balance counter is still charged and the lever 6 is still in engagement with latch 68, :1. different positioning of the levers must be effected, as the normal engagement of lug 6 with lug 68, as shown in Fig. 4, would prevent the parts being positioned as just described.

As has been stated, the latch lever 102 will effectually lock the gear train whether it is in engagement with stop disk 11 or stop disk 101; and it is also true-that the meter pin 200 will be prevented from entering the socket 103, whether said socket be at the right or left'of hole 1". In order to cause the levers 102 and 103 to take up the said latter positions (indicated by dotted lines 102 and 103 in Fig. 8) novel manually operable devices are introduced into the meter which can be operated without regard to the charged or discharged state of the balance register. said device, however, being so placed in the meter casing that they cannot be operated to lock the parts except by an authorized person havlngaccess to t e interior of the meter. 7

As shown in Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8, lever 6 has an arm 6 extending almost at right angles thereto; and arm 6" has a projecting lug 6 which projects toward a small disk 105, which disk has projecting from its lower face a pin 105. Said disk105 has a shank 105", which projects through an open- ,the push bar 75. A sleeve 105 is fastened to shank 105 by screw 105i and prevents shank 105 from moving longitudinally but permits it to be turned. A plate 105 is fastened to sleeve 105 and forms a convenient handle by which the shank 105 and disk 105 can be turned. On account of the position of handle 105 adjacent guard 73, the disk 105 can only be turned one, half a revolution. The disk 105 can be held in one adjusted position by a detent 106 set in the base of the counter frame and actuated by spring 106 and disk 105 can be held in its other adjusted position by a pin on the push bar 75'engaging handle 105 (.see Figs. 3 and 6). 1

The pin 'l05 -will occupy either the posi t-ion shown in full lines in Fig. 8, or the lines, Fig. 8, and

.to move to the positions indicated in dotted lines 6" and 6 in'Fig. 8, which will move 1 the upturned end 6 of lever 6 out of contact with the latch lug 68!and to .tion indicated in dotted lines 6, in Figs. 4 and 8, so that the position of lug 68 will not then aflect the lever 6.

The said movement of lever 6 to position 6 also causes link 104 to move levers 102 and 103 to the position indicated in dotted lines 102 and 103 in Fig. 8, and thus locks the train of gears and prevents further operation of the meter or register.

A flange 1 on the underside of the top of the base 1 (see Figs. 5, 7 and 8) will prevent any one improperly shifting the levers by between the sliding plate 108 and the base 1.

With this invention, it it is desired to lock :1- meter out of service before the descending register is exhausted, it is only necessary to unlock and open the door 10; pull out the bar 75 by means of the cross pin 75; turn the'handle 105 over to the position shown in Fig. 3; then push back the bar 75; whereupon pin 7 5 will hold handle 105 securely. The ar 75 will then be held in such position when the door is closed; and

when the door is locked and sealed the meter.

the posiinserting a thin piece of metal emma It is desirable when the meter is locked,

either automatically or manually, as above described; to permit the die to berevolved a small fraction of a turn. to make it pos-- sible to change the slug in the die which prints the users permit number on each piece of mall. Such limited turning can be permitted by having the pawl 10? which Operation.

When the numeral wheels of the balance register are locked at zero, to charge or rerest the register, unlock andopen the door 10., and pull the bar 75 out to the stop. By pulling the bar-7 outward the cam faces thereof force the push bars7 6 and 77 outwardthereby lowering the comb 68 so that the teeth 68 68 thereof no longer engage the slots in the numeral wheels, and the comb 68 is held in down position. Then pull slightly on knob 74 turning same in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) until the desired number appears at the sight opening 9 (Fig. 1). lVhen the numeral 1 shows in the 6th place (Fig. 1) the knob can be turned no further. 'Knob 74 is then released, and the same springs back in place and the bar 75 should be pushed back as far as it will go and door closed. The register is then reset.

Guard 73 prevents access to the register and tampering with the numeral wheels or mechanism when the meter is opened except bar 75 and knob 74 which extend through openings in the guard. \Vhilc the meter is being reset I the push bar 76 extended by the bar 75 engages the downwardly projecting lug 68 and holds the comb 68 out of en gagement with the slots in the numeral wheels so that the later may be reset by turning the knob 74.

Another downwardly projecting lug 68 on the comb 68 engages catch member 6 on the lever 6 which controls the locking levers in the base oi the meter, catch member 6 being normally yieldingly held into engagement with the lug 68 by the action of the springs 102 and 103 acting on the arm 102 through link 104.

Vhen however the numeral wheels register zero, and the teeth 68, 68 of comb 68 engage the slots in said wheels and comb 68 is thereby raised by action of spring 68-, out of engagement with the catch 6 of lever 6, the three levers 6, 102 and 103 will assume the positions indicated by dotted lines 6, 102", and 103 in Figs. 4 and 8, in which positions latch lever 102 engaging disk 101 prevents rotation of the gear shaft 11 and hence the numeral wheel shafts 52. Also socket 103 being out of alignment with hole 1 prevents pin 200 from entering therein,

and the die shaft from rotating (as explained in my Reissue Patent $15,734), thereby rendering the meter inoperative when the balance register B reads Zero.

Inorder to lock the meter while the balance counter is still charged and catch 6 is still engaged with lug 68, the levers 1 02 and 103 must be thrown into the positions shown by dottedlines 102 and 103 in Fig. 8 by an authorized agent of the Post Otlice Department. This is done by opening the door 10 and manually throwing the lever 105 thereby rotating disk'105 so that pin 105 shifts the end 6 of lever 6 into the position shown in dotted lines 6 in Figs. 4 and 8 so that the position of lug 68 will not afi'ect lever 6. Insuch position of lever 6, levers 102 and 103 are moved by link 4 to the position shown in dotted lines 102, 103 in Fig. 8, and thereby lock the train of gears and prevent further operation of the meter register.

I claim:

1. In a meter of the character specified,

having a printer; a register; gearing between the printer and the re ister; and devices for directly locking the register; a latch lever adapted to lock the gearing; means for moving this latch lever in one direction; a second lever and connections whereby the latch lever is controlled by the second lever; and means whereby when the devices for directly locking the register are in unlocking position the latch lever is normally held disengaged said second lever being released when the said devices lock the register and the latch lever caused by said connection to lock the gearing to prevent further operation of the meter.

2. In a meter of the character specified, having a printer; a register; gearing between the printer and the register; and a locking comb for lockin the register; a latch lever adapted to ock the gearing; means for moving this latch lever in one direction; a second lever and connections whereby the latch lever is controlled by the second lever; and an arm on the second lever having a lug adapted to be engaged by the locking comb when in unlocked position whereby the latch lever is normally held disengaged and when the locking comb locks the register said second lever is released and the latch lever caused to engage one of the gears of the train to prevent further operation of the meter.

3. In a meter of the character specified, lTaving a printer; a register; a train of gearing between the printer and the register; and a locking comb adapted to engage and lock the register; a latch lever adapted to engage one or another of gears of the, train to lock the gears; spring means for drawing the latch lever in one direction; a controlling lever adapted to be engaged by the locking comb when in unlocked osition and whereby when the locking com said controlling lever is released; and a link connecting the. controlling-lever with the latch lever whereby the latch lever is controlled by the controlling lever and normally held disengaged when the locking comb is in unlocked position and when Said locking comb is released the latch lever is caused to engage one of the gears of the train to prevent further operation of the meter.

4':- In a meter of the character specified, having a printer, aregister, gearing between the printer and the register, and devices for directly locking the register; a latch lever adapted to lock the gearing, and connections whereby When'thc devices for directly locking the register are in unlocking position the latch lever is normally held disengaged and is released when the said devices lock the register; manually operable means whereby the meter can be manually locked before said mechanisms have automatically operated to lock the register.

5. In a meter of the character s ecified, having a printer, aregister, gearing etween the printer and the register, and devices for directly locking the register; a latch lever adapted to lock the gearing. means for moving this latch lever in one direction, a second lever and connections whereby the latch lever is controlled by the second lever; manually operable means comprising a disk having a pin adapted to engage an arm of the second lever and move said lever when the disk'is manually turned, a sleeve attachedto the shankof the disk, a handle on said sleeve, means for normally holding the disk in inefiective position, and means'whereby after the disk has been turned to shift the lever it will be held in such position when the casing is closed;

6. In a meter of the character specified, having an opening for the entry of a meter pin, and containing aprinter, a register,

' gearing between the printer and the register,

and devices for directly locking the register; a latch lever adapted to lock the gearing,

locks the register means for moving this latch lever in one by the latch. lever adapted to prevent the entranceof the meter pin into the meter base when said latch lever is shifted to looking position.

7. In a meter of the character specified a register, a train 'of gears driving the register, a lever adapted to engage eithe'r ofadjacent gears to lock the same, means for holding this lever in unlocking position, means controlled by the register locking mecha'nismadapted when the register locking mechanism is released to engage the lever with one of the gears, and manually operable means whereby the lev r may beengaged with the other gear.

8. In a meter of the character specified. a register, a train of gears for driving the register, a lever. adapted to engage either of adjacent gears in the train to lock the same, a second lever, a link connecting said levers, a register locking device and connections adapted to hold the said second lever in position to keep the first lever in unlocked position when the register is unlocked, and

manually operable means for shifting the second lever to cause the first lever to lock the *gearl 9.. In a meter of the character specified, a register, a train of gears driving the register, a locking lever adapted to engage either of adjacent gears in the train to lock the same, a second lever, a, link connecting said levers, a register locking device and connections adapted to hold the said second lever in position to keep the first lever in unlocked position when the-register is unlocked, means adapted to cause the locking lever to engage one gear when the register is lockd by its locking device, and manually operable means for shifting the second lever to cause the first lever to lock the gear.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I ailix my signature.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY.

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