GB1574779A

GB1574779A - Apparatus for franking mail

Info

Publication number: GB1574779A
Application number: GB1867677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd
Current assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd
Priority date: 1977-05-04
Filing date: 1977-05-04
Publication date: 1980-09-10
Also published as: DE2819872A1; CH630736A5; FR2389948A1; FR2389948B1

Abstract

The machine has a housing (12) provided with inlet slots (3 and 12A) for introducing post or coins, a franking machine mounted in this housing and working automatically, and a mechanism (2) actuated as a result of the insertion of a coin. The mechanism contains a closure (6) which closes the inner end of the inlet slot (3) and which is connected to a solenoid (4). One end of the closure (6) is provided with a roller (7) which is rotatable and which touches the surface of the postal item which has passed through the inlet slot. By means of this machine, postal consignments can be franked automatically as a result of the insertion of a coin. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR FRANKING MAIL (71) We, PITNEY BOWES LIMITED, a British Company, of The Pinnacles, Harlow, Essex. CM19 5BD, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for franking mail.

Postal franking machines are widely used in offices for the purpose of stamping mail without the need for purchasing and applying adhesive stamps and it is the object of the present invention to provide franking apparatus which can be installed in or outside post offices, in hotels, offices, hospitals, etc., or in ships, where it can be used by the general public upon inserting a coin.

To this end, according to the invention, coin freed apparatus for franking mail comprises a cabinet having two entry slots for the introduction of mail and coins respectively, a franking machine mounted in said cabinet and automatically operable to mark each item of mail fed thereto with a stamp of the same predetermined value and mechanism operable in response to the insertion of a coin of at least said predetermined value to forward an item of mail introduced into the appropriate entry slot. through said franking machine.

By suitably positioning the cabinet in a hole in a wall it is possible for mail inserted therein by members of the public to pass directly from the cabinet into a security area after franking.

The apparatus according to the invention.

permits of reducing the number of counter clerks required in post offices for selling stamps, eliminates the necessity for cancelling adhesive stamps on envelopes, reduces sorting time, speeds delivery and makes it possible for members of the public to stamp and mail letters at any time of the day or night without having to wait for a post office to open.

One embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 represents an isometric view of the cabinet; Figure 2 represents a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 represents a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, a franking machine 1. for example, a Pitney Bowes Model 6300, which can be preset to apply to each letter fed thereto, a stamp of the same predetermined value, (say 10p , is mounted in a steel cabinet 12 which also contains mechanism 2, operable upon insertion, in a slot 12A in the front of the cabinet, of a coin of at least the same value as that to which the franking machine is presently set, to allow a letter to be pushed through an entry slot 3 in the front of the cabinet and fed by rollers 5 and 5A through the franking machine.

1 The slot 3 is preferably no more than - wide to prevent the entry of unacceptably thick items and is so arranged that letters are inserted with the longer dimension of the envelope extending vertically to ensure correct alignment with the dies of the franking machine 1 regardless of the width of individual envelopes.

The coin-freed mechanism 2 is operable to close circuits through a solenoid 4. energisation of which opens a gate 6 at the inner end of the slot 3 and through a motor. shown at 9 combined with a gear box, for driving the roller 5 which, with the roller 5A. acts upon a letter pushed through the open slot 3 into the nip between them and feeds it into the franking machine 1. operation of which is triggered by the entry of the letter. The roller 5A is capable of yielding against the action of a spring upon entry of a letter between the rollers and on yielding operates a switch in the circuit through the solenoid 4 to deenergise the latter. Upon deenergisation of the solenoid 4 a spring 8 returns the gate 6 towards its closed position and rollers 7 rotatably mounted on the inner end of the -gate engage and roll on one surface of the envelope until the latter has passed out of the slot 3, whereupon the gate closes completely to prevent the entry of a second envelope until another coin is inserted. This system prevents fraudulent use of the apparatus when franking letters contained in envelopes of different lengths.

The franking machine 1 is operable to receive a letter from the rollers 5 and 5A, frank it and afterwards eject it through a slot 10 into a receptacle 11 positioned in a security area of the building or ship, where it can be collected by Post Office or other suitably authorised staff without the possibility of any outside interference.

A hinged door 13, fitted with a safety lock 15, is provided on one side of the cabinet 12 to give only authorised staff access to the franking machine 1 for reading the meter, setting the value and date wheels, removing the coins from a coin box 14, replenishing the ink roller, etc. The meter is of the "current account" type having only a total counter for registering the money collected and the adjustable setting levers are set at a predetermined value (in this case 10p) and are only capable of being reset by suitable authorised staff.

The provision of a coin-operated gate prevents paper or other objects from being pushed into the cabinet and since the slot 3 is only opened when a coin of at least the correct value is inserted in the slot 12A and closes again as soon as a letter has passed fraudulent use is prevented.

When two letters are fed into the slot 3 together only one will be franked and arrangements should be made for returning any unfranked letters passing through the apparatus to the sender.

The coin-freed mechanism may be of the kind which is only operable in response to the insertion of coins of a single value and means provided to reject coins of other denominations inserted in the slot 12A. Alternatively.

the coin-freed mechanism may also be operable in response to the insertion of coins of a value greater than that to which the franking machine is set and means provided for giving the appropriate change.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Coin-freed apparatus for franking mail. comprising a cabinet having entry slots for the introduction of mail and coins respectively. a franking machine mounted in said cabinet and automatically operable to mark each item of mail fed thereto with a stamp of the same predetermined value and mechanism operable in response to the insertion of a coin of at least said predetermined value, to forward an item of mail, introduced into the appropriate entry slot, through said franking machine.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a gate normally closing the inner end of said mail slot and connected to a solenoid which is energised to open said gate upon insertion of an appropriate coin in the coin slot.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein one end of said gate is provided with a roller which is rotatable in contact with one surface of a mail item passing through the mail slot when the gate is open.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said mechanism includes a pair of rollers positioned inwardly of said gate and adapted to feed mail items from the mail slot to said franking machine when at least one of said rollers is driven by a motor energised in response to the insertion of an appropriate coin in the coin slot.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said mail slot is arranged with its longer dimension parallel to the axis of said rollers.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said franking machine is operable automatically upon entry of a mail item therein.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the value setting mechanism of said franking machine is adjustable.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including mechanism for giving change for coins of greater value than that for which the franking machine is set.

9. Coin-freed apparatus for franking mail. substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw zings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

the circuit through the solenoid 4 to deenergise the latter. Upon deenergisation of the solenoid 4 a spring 8 returns the gate 6 towards its closed position and rollers 7 rotatably mounted on the inner end of the -gate engage and roll on one surface of the envelope until the latter has passed out of the slot 3, whereupon the gate closes completely to prevent the entry of a second envelope until another coin is inserted. This system prevents fraudulent use of the apparatus when franking letters contained in envelopes of different lengths.

The franking machine 1 is operable to receive a letter from the rollers 5 and 5A, frank it and afterwards eject it through a slot

10 into a receptacle 11 positioned in a security area of the building or ship, where it can be collected by Post Office or other suitably authorised staff without the possibility of any outside interference.

A hinged door 13, fitted with a safety lock 15, is provided on one side of the cabinet 12 to give only authorised staff access to the franking machine 1 for reading the meter, setting the value and date wheels, removing the coins from a coin box 14, replenishing the ink roller, etc. The meter is of the "current account" type having only a total counter for registering the money collected and the adjustable setting levers are set at a predetermined value (in this case 10p) and are only capable of being reset by suitable authorised staff.

The provision of a coin-operated gate prevents paper or other objects from being pushed into the cabinet and since the slot 3 is only opened when a coin of at least the correct value is inserted in the slot 12A and closes again as soon as a letter has passed fraudulent use is prevented.

When two letters are fed into the slot 3 together only one will be franked and arrangements should be made for returning any unfranked letters passing through the apparatus to the sender.

The coin-freed mechanism may be of the kind which is only operable in response to the insertion of coins of a single value and means provided to reject coins of other denominations inserted in the slot 12A. Alternatively.

the coin-freed mechanism may also be operable in response to the insertion of coins of a value greater than that to which the franking machine is set and means provided for giving the appropriate change.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Coin-freed apparatus for franking mail. comprising a cabinet having entry slots for the introduction of mail and coins respectively. a franking machine mounted in said cabinet and automatically operable to mark each item of mail fed thereto with a stamp of the same predetermined value and mechanism operable in response to the insertion of a coin of at least said predetermined value, to forward an item of mail, introduced into the appropriate entry slot, through said franking machine.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a gate normally closing the inner end of said mail slot and connected to a solenoid which is energised to open said gate upon insertion of an appropriate coin in the coin slot.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein one end of said gate is provided with a roller which is rotatable in contact with one surface of a mail item passing through the mail slot when the gate is open.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said mechanism includes a pair of rollers positioned inwardly of said gate and adapted to feed mail items from the mail slot to said franking machine when at least one of said rollers is driven by a motor energised in response to the insertion of an appropriate coin in the coin slot.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said mail slot is arranged with its longer dimension parallel to the axis of said rollers.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said franking machine is operable automatically upon entry of a mail item therein.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the value setting mechanism of said franking machine is adjustable.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including mechanism for giving change for coins of greater value than that for which the franking machine is set.
9. Coin-freed apparatus for franking mail. substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw zings.