Abstract: A device for automatic angular positioning of indexable rotary elements, ecially for postal franking machines and the like comprises a common indexing-control gear-wheel rigidly fixed to a cylindrical indexing-control rod, and an indexing-control rotating primary shaft which forms a ball cage. The balls are engaged in an annular groove of a shaft bearing and in helical grooves of the control rod which can be temporarily locked either against rotational motion or against sliding motion, a support being provided for the bearing and capable of moving towards the series of indexable rotary elements.

Abstract: The device comprises a magazine for a stack of sheets, a sheet-extracting head which can be connected to a vacuum source and is rotatably mounted on a turntable which carries a number of columns, and means for counting the number of revolutions performed by the turntable. A first safety device indicates whether the sheet-extracting head has taken more than one sheet and a second safety device checks whether the extracting head has in fact taken at least one sheet. A circular sector of the first safety device is pivotally mounted on the extracting head. The radius of the sector is equal to the distance between its geometrical axis and the cylindrical surface of the next column increased by a value between the thickness of a single sheet to be counted and the sum of thicknesses of two sheets.

Abstract: A franking machine having a locating operation applied to one out of ten tinct positions of value setting components, with five transducers provided for delivery of 5-bit coded activation information zones which makes it possible to check the accuracy of the information collected by the transducer.

Abstract: A device for setting the prepayment values of printing wheels in a machine or franking mail envelopes and wrappers comprises in the case of each printing wheel a mechanical planet-wheel transmission system in which an eccentrically mounted pinion is in mesh with a ring-gear within a franking drum. The ring-gear is rigidly fixed to an annular sliding disc which is freely rotatable on the drum and coupled thereto by means of a clutch. A retractable stop is capable of maintaining the clutch in the disengaged position as soon as the drum begins its movement of rotation for one revolution. The angular amplitude of rotation is predetermined in response to the position of a unit for controlling the prepayment value setting of the printing wheel considered.

Abstract: Printing wheels carried by a printing drum which is driven in rotation dug one cycle are manually set at the desired prepayment values for the purpose of franking postal envelopes, parcels and wrappers. Intermediate stopping of the machine can be effected if necessary on completion of a first part of the cycle prior to printing. Electronic means are provided for the acquisition of the prepayment value during the first part of the cycle, for the detection of fault conditions during operation, for the inhibition of the intermediate stopping means, and for transferring the prepayment value from the acquisition means to means for recording the total prepayment values.

Abstract: A mail franking machine comprises a totalizing device having electronic ms for recording at least a predetermined number of lower-order digits of the total printed franking values. An electronic recording counter receives values to be recorded from a decade counter the stages of which are set by a shift register and pulse generator under the control of an order counter and a synchronizing circuit actuated by a pulse transmitter connected to a printing drum of the machine. The shift register receives signals in succession from sensing elements selectively actuated during rotation of the printing drum in dependence upon the set positions of adjustable printing wheels on the drum.