1,168,379. Counters. WOESS MFG. AGENCIES Ltd. 1 May, 1968, No. 20589/68. Heading G4D. A postal franking machine has means which crumple part of a record card when it is inserted so that if the record card is inserted again the franking machine remains locked. As described in Specification 1,098,366, the franking machine cannot operate until a card has been placed on a tray 5 which has then been pushed leftwards in Fig. 1 so as to be held by a spring catch 17. A sprung pawl 21 prevents inward movement of the tray in the absence of a card. The innermost end of the card engages a projection 31, Fig. 2, to lift a plate 27 to free the franking counter and a serial number counter and a record is made in known manner. Simultaneously the projection 31 crumples the part of the card overlying a gap 4. At the end of a period a second record is made and the card is ejected. The crumpled part of the card lacks the rigidity necessary to lift the plate 27 if it is re-inserted.
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