US1077755A - Addressing-machine. - Google Patents

Description

R. N. ROGERS.

ADDRESSING MACHINE.

nruonxon Hmm :um: 4, 1901.

Patented Nov.4, 1913.

4 BHBETB-SHEET 1.

Inventar.' jwselllyefs.

R. N. RoGBBs. ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUBBJ, 1907.

Patented Nov..g1913.

4 BHEET'BHBET 2.

R. N. ROGERS.

ADDBBSSING MACHINE.

APrLxoA'rIox Hmm mum. 1907.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ffmessaf: fwm

R. N. RUGERS.

ADDRESSING MACHINE.'

APPLIUATIGN funn JUNE 1907.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL N. ROGERS, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 JOHN B. HALL AND JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AnDnEssiNe-Mncnmn Specification of Letters' Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rrssnu. N. Roenes, a citizen of the United Stat-es, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Addressing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descripn tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in addressing machines and has special reference t0 machines of that class in which address carriers or type plates are employed, the same being used repeatedly with dill'erentlots of envelops, bill-heads, cards' or sheets.

The objects of my inverni-.m are to provide au improved addres'ing` machine ot simple crmstruction. of lon; cost, and which even an unskilled person may successfully operate.

Further and particular objects of the invent-ion are t0 provide a machine of the class mentioned which shall be of small size, which shall be durable, which shall require very little power for its operation, which shall be rapid in action, and which shall perform its work neatly and accurately.

Further specific objects of the invention are to provide av machine which shall be adapted to hold a stack of type-plates in readiness l'or use, which shall remove the plates from the stack one at a time, which shall ink the plates, which shall automatically feed an envelop or the like upon each type-plate at the proper time, which shall discharge and separate the plates and the cnvelops autolizfti 'allyY which shall arrest and invert each envelop to expose the print or address thereon tov view` which shall be" provided with u plate drawer, or receptacle, into which the used plates shall be: discharged, which shall he provided with means for closely and regularly packing the plates in said drawer or receptacle, and the drawer aud the plateholder of which shall be constructed to work together in such manner as to facilitate the emptying of the plates from the drawer into the holder or magazine.

Still another and general objet-t. of the invention to improve the construction and elementary mechanisms composing the operation of the addressin machine described and claimed in etters Patent #876,913, granted to me Jan. 14, 1908.

My invention consists, generally, in an addressing machine of the construction, arrangement aad combina-tion of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

An addressing macl 'ne embodying my invention, and wherein the foregoing objects are attained, will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which;

Figure l is a plan view of my addressing machine, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with a portieri of its upper part or bed broken away to snow the manner in which the type-plates leat e the stack-holder 0r magazine. and approach the .inking device; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the mechanism at the front end of the machine; Figs. 4 and 5 are like sections showing the positions of the parts at other instants and Fig. 6 is a front end sectional View on the irregular section tine, X-X of Fig. 2.

My invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms and its essential elementary mechanisms and` parts, while distinctly' co-dependent in the machine herein illustrated, are capable of employment alone or in conjunction with less than the whole number of elements; and, as will be understood from the following, my invention is not confine-d to the certain or speeiic constructions illustrated in the drawings, as both the construction and arrangement of the elements and parts of my machine may be readilv modified by one skilled in the art without. departing from the spirit of the invent1on.

I have here illustrated, and shall describe my invention comprised or presented in the form of a` small, compact machine, adapted to be placed upon a table or desk ,and operated by a person standing or sitting beside it. i j* A thorough understanding of the invention will be facilitated by brief mention and description of the principal elements and machine herein shown.

An endless conveyer, B, preferably occuplates, P.

pying a horizontal plane, is arranged in a light frame, A, and means (preferably a crank) are employed for rotating the conveyor, Above the rear end of the conveyer is a helder, C, to receive a stack of type In front of the holder is an inking device, D. The conveyer, B, is provided with lugs cr pins which engage the bottom plate, P, in the holder.y Thereby the plates are successively extracted from the holder, C, the type being inked as the plates pass beneathV the inking device, D. Associated with the upper part of the conveyor is a i' ht bed or plate, F, having flanges which ett and guide the ends or edges of the l L r-plates, l), during their forward moveniea The printing mechanism which cooperates with successive type-plates, to impress the addresses upon envelops, E, which are suitably fed thereto, is arranged at the forward end of the conveyor and preferably comprises two simple rolls, G and H, between which the plates, P, and envelope, E, pass. The larger (G) of the printing or pressure rolls is preferably mounted on the shaft at the forward end of the conveyer, B, andthe other roller, H., is held above it to afford the necessary pressure upon the type. An envelop receptacle or feeder, I, is arranged above the conveyer, B, near the upper printing roller, H, and by means of a simple mechanism operating automatically, the envelops, E, are taken between` the rolls, G and H, one by one, in time to meet the type plates. An envelop inverting device, K, is so arranged in front of the printing rolls, that each envelop dropping thereon will be Vdischarged and inverted by the envelop which follows. The type-plate recovering or re-stacking device has for its chief element a drawer or slide, L, placed in the lower part of the frame, A, beneath the conveyer, B, in position to receive the type. plates as they fall away from the forward end of the conveyer. A packer mechanism, M, actuated from the conveyer shaft and operating in or above the forward end of the drawer, L, engages each plate as it drops into the drawer and moves it back to make room for the next plate. The equipment of my machine includes a number of these drawers filled with type-plates, and in operating the machine a stack of plates is first emptied from a drawer, L, Into the holder, C, at the rear end of the machine.

'lhe empty drawer is then placed in the lower part of the machine in readiness to receive the same plates as fast as they are used. Thus the machine is completed and made ready for use. A number of envelops, E, are placed in the feeder, l, at the iorward endl of the machine. lVhen the conveyer, B, is operated (by the crank shown) the type plates .ind the cnvelops are automatically fcd between the printing rolls, G and H, the

'tively deep ribsx'p?. the plates, when stacked, present their ribs drawer support or shelf, a2, and at thetop are joined by the bed plate, F. The slideway or shelf a2 is preferably a metal casting and is provided with cheek pieces or side plates, a3, which rise nearly to the top of the frame at its forward vend. The member c is of less width than the frame andthe cheek pieces stand relatively 'between the sides of the frame' at the front end, they serving as guide parts for the type plates as hereinafter explained. The bed plate F contains grooves, f1, in its edges, for the sprocket belts composing the conveyer, B,

and parts or strips, f2, on the top of F form,

overhanging flanges designed to avert vertical displacement of the plates onthe conveyer. The middle portion of the plate F, see Figs. l and 2, is occupied by or enlarged vto form the two raised portions, f3 and f4'.

The edges, f5, of the former, serve as guides for the type-plates, P. The raised surface f* serves to slightly elevate and holdy the type-plates against the inking roll D while being carried past the same by the conveyer` as again referred to hereinafter. The side frames, al, contain the adjustable bearings,

at, and at the opposite end are provided with bearings,val and a for the shafts of the hereinafter described printing or pressure rolls,

G and H. I j

The conveyer B co-mprises two endless chains or belts b1, b1, together with sprocket'A` wheels on the shafts', b2, b3, in bearings a and a5, respectively. The upper parts or legs of the belts pass over the bed plate, F,

the belts are equipped with lugs, b", for extracting type-plates, P, from the plate holder or magazine, C. AA crank, b, is arranged on the shaft, b3', when the machine is to be operated by hand,'and when power is available the crank is replaced by/a belt wheel or the like.

The type plates, P, which I prefer to use with my machine are of ecliar design and construction. As well sown in Figs. 1', 2, and 6, each type plate comprises a thiii'sheetv metal plate, p1, having on its back two rela- As shown in.Fig. l,

downwardly, one resting on the other, and the ribs of one holding it off the type, 775, of the other. The rear, or upper edge, p2,

,beneath the flanges, f2, thereof. At-intervals of the plate is longer than the lower edge, pg, and arms, or ears, p4, are formed on the ends of the plate. P is a card attached to the plate and bearing the address which is reversely set in the type, p5. The lines of type extend transversely on the plate in order that they may occupy 'a longitudinal position in the machine. The. bottom plate in the holder, C, rests upon the supporting surface, f3, of plate F. 1When the rear edge of the plate is engaged by two of the conveyer pins, b4, the plate is pushed forward from beneath the other plates, and passing under the inking device, D, is presented be l tween the rolls G and H, from which it is finally discharged into the drawer, L. The latter is of the width of the lower v)art of the plate, and hence, the ears of the plat/e hook over the longitudinal edges of the drawer, and support the plate in slight-ly iny clined position therein as shown.

The plate holder or magazine C comprises a block c1, and standard, c2, c2, which 'rise therefrom and are connected from the top by a cross brace, c3. The block, c1, rests on the top of the frame and is detaehably secured thereto by hooks, c4, joined by a. rod, o5, to work together. Dowel pins, (not shown) prevent the shiftingr of the block on the frame. On each standard I hinge the supplementary sections, c, having-inwardlyv turned flanges, c7, to engage the oi" thefears, p, on the plates, l as best shown in Fig. l. The hinged parts, o, are held in position by spring interposed between them in the barrel, c, and may be simultaneously opened by grasping the knobs, C9, which extend through slots in the barrel, c". When opened they permit the plates to be placed in the. holder from the front side thereof. The lower ends of the flanges. c7, on hinged sections, c, are cut away to allow the bottom plate to leave the holder, (see Fig. 2), that is, they stand above the level of the surface, f3. In leaving the holder the plates are guided by the engagement ot' their ribs, p7, with the edges, f5, of tln` portion, f3.

The printing mechanism proper, wherein the type are pressed against the envelops. sheets, or cards, comprises the two rolls (i and H. and it. will be noted that the roll G is on the same shaft as the sprocket wheels of the coni-'oyen The shaft h1 is bold by its bearings, a, in fixed position with relation to the roll, G. The roll G preferably made of incompressible material while the roll ll is made of .soft composition, like a printers roll. The narrow roll parts., on the shaft z are of less pliable rubber and coact with the roll H in the envelop feeding operation; The shafts f1.1 and o are connected b v gears, ha and it* and the. peripheral speeds of the rolls G and H are the same. The roll G also provided with.

parts which assist in feeding the envelops, to-wit, the cam surface g1 and grooves g2 and the rib or draft piece g3.

The envelop-feeding mechanism comprises the parts above mentioned together with .an envelop holder or tray, so-called restralningr devices and stop-fingers, 1, which latter are operated by the cams on the roll G. The fingers, 1, are provided with upwardly turned or hooked ends, 2, and are fastened upon the forward end of the bed plate F. The space between the rolls G and H is sufticient to permit the finger ends, i2, to rise upon the cam surfaces, g1, without interferingir with the rotation of the roll, H. When in the grooves, g2, the finger ends are below the surface of the roll G, and permit the type-plates to passy freely. The plat-1, 3, rest-s upon the frames a1 and extends across the conveyor, above the path of the plates. This plate is adjustable by means of the screws, 4, and is fastened by other screws, Obviously, the forward edge of the plate, '113, presented to the intake side of the roll, H, and may be adjusted back and forth with relation thereto. Slots, i are provided in the plate, 3, and before the other parts are placed thereon two wide rubber bands, i7, are slipped on the plate. These bands turn about the forward edge of the plate` i3, and projecting),` slightly therefrom constitute the restraining devices before referred to. The rubber ends or restraining); devices are indicated as, da. They operate to hold back. the second or Anext to the front envelop in the holder. Two plates, is, are laterally adjustable upon the plate, z'i", and on these l provide the sides, i, of the. tray, and the inclined bottom strips, il". The envelops are placed on edge on the inclined strips 1" and of their own weight sink to the lower ends thereof. thereby pressin;r the first envelop against the intake side of roll ll'. The sides, 9, being adi'ustable, are adapted to receive cnvelops 0f different widths. A rod. 2"". extending through the sides. and adjustalle in different holes, im thereof. .serves to hold the loose pack of envelop-s. li. at the proper inclination. The operation of the envclopfeeding mechanism is as follows. The roll, H, being r0- rated draws down the first envelop, and tl'irougrh thc medium thereof presses the second envelop tirmlv upon the restraining devices. i". It is assisted in this bv the fact that the parts, i, are opposite the soft portion of the roll which yields to the envelop` vwhile the less pliable ends, k2. tend to hold bach the cruisers of the envelop and thus fr them b ward npon the inclined s or ways, lWhen the first envelop @xn down, it is caught bv the fingers,

n 1 V.tion of the roll G finally carries the piece into engagement with the end h are then elevated as shown in Fig.

of the envelop, and at the same instant drops the lingers into the grooves g2 (as shown in Fig. 3), thereby releasing the envelop slightly in advance of the arrival of the type-plate. From that time on, the envelop and the plate pass between the rolls roll G is fastened to the shaft b3 by a separate set screw g* (see dotted lines, Fig. 4), and by adiusting the roll the time of the arrival of the draft piece g3 at drawing position may be fixed with relation to the conveyer belt pins Zi* as required to adjust the machinelto envelops of different lengths.'

The inking devicelD comprises an inked roller d1 arranged above the part ft. The

roll rl1 is carried by a light yoke l pivotcd.

ou the rear end of the plate A :crew d3 serves as a lilit stop for the roll and its pressure upon the type-plates may `be adjusted by this screw. It will be understood that the screw d is fastened in the plate 3 and that the yoke is pressed against the same bv a spring. Small springs d* serve to hold the shaft d of the roll in its bearings in the yoke. The roll rotates freely when engaged by a plate on the conveyer and inks the type uniformly.

The envelop receiving and'inverting device K comprises a plate k1 having a ledge .f2 at its lower end, and arranged for vertical movement in front of the print-ing mechanism. The plate, 7:1, is vertically adjustable upon a carrying plate, las, which latter has side pieces, k, slidable upon the cheek pieces, a3, the connection being made by the slot, fc5, and the pins in the cheek pieces, as'.

shown in Fig. 2. Between the plates, k1 and k I arrange an intermediate plate, k, having a. rubber strip, c'f, at the top. The same' screws, les, fasten the plates, k1 and la, and when loosened permit the independent adjustment thereof, to fit di'flcrsent sized envelops. The rubber piece k7, acts as a retard i ing device at the upper end of the receiver,

and each envelop which is projected from the printing rolls, moves across the strip, k7, and when freed from the rolls is stopped by said strip, whereupon the envelop tilts over upon the plate, 7:1, and drops upon its ledge 1.12. The next envelop strikes the one on the receiver after the manner shown in Fig.4, and tips it ofil of the same thereby inverting it. The receiver, K, is dropped at the instant that an envelop begins to pass the printing rolls and is raised into contact with the under Side of the envelop just in time to catch it and prevent its being thrown to a distance by the projecting force of the rolls. The means employed for reciprocating the inclined envelop receiver comprise levers, 7cm, connected to the side plates, k, and pivot-ed to the frame by short links as shown in Fig. 2. These levers in turn are operated by eccentric rods is, the straps of which encircle eccentrics, km, on the shaft b3, and the parts being related in a manner to secure the sequence of operations neat above described. If found desirable the part lc maybe rigidly attached to the arms or levers 1cm, in which Case said levers will be dir .tly pivoted on the frame and the slides or pieces, la* will be dispensed with.

V-hen the type-plates are discharged from between the printing rolls they drop into a guide or chute in which their fall is checked momentarily before they drop into the plate drawer or receptacle, L. The cheek pieces, a3, are parts of the chute-referred to which is completed by inclined anges, J, and the fins J on the platee/c3. As shown in Figs. 1 and (i the lower ends of J, J, are bifurcated to receive the fins .1. A plate on being freed from the rolls drops face upward upon the fianges or slides, J, and at this moment the part K is raised; hence, at such moment, the fins, J', intercept the flanges, J, and the plat-e is caught and stopped thereon, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 5 shows the part K during -its downward movement and the plate l) is about to be released from the "chute` At the time that the fins reach their lowest .position the h ute is, lso to speak, open at the bottom, and (lli'e plate drops in to the front end of the drawerat, passing forward of the packer bar M. y;

The packer proper comprises the bar, M, which extends through the cheek pieces a3 above the drawer, L- It is operated by means of the levers 7cm, the bar being U-shaped in form'and having its ends, m1, ivotedto the parts, c. Definite movemen is given the bar by cam slots m2, inthe cheek.V pieces, a5. On the upward movemeni'l of the bar, it is raised above the plates'in the drawer and downward movement thrusts the bar back against the plates to force them rearwardly in the drawer. The bar descends at the moment that a plate is dropping in over or in front of it, and thus the plates already in the drawer are pushed back to make room for the falling one. On the upstroke of the bar M and theV envelop receiver K, the bar is raised from behind the front plate in the drawer and allows it to drop b'ack against 'the next plate. It should be observed that one plate drops into the drawer while the bar is pushing back the other. A slight bend provided in the bar M prevents mutilation of the type on the plate. Very little force is required to repack the plates inv the drawer in the foregoing manner as the plates practically hang from the edges of the drawer and, therefore, move very freely.

rThe drawer L may be taken out from either end of the shelf a2. The drawer L here shown is presumed to be one of many which, when not 4in use, are held in a cabinet. provided therefor. lVhen a drawer is taken from the cabinet, it is first stood on end to settle the plates together', whereupon it is an 'easy matter to place the upright drawer in front of the holder C and, upon opening the hinged sections thereof, to place the stack of plates in the holder. The ears or hooks on the plate project beyond the sides of the drawer and, therefore, the hinged sections c6 may be released and permitted to firmly engage the plates before the drawer is removed. After placing the plates in the holder, the empty drawer is put on the shelf a2 to receive the same plates as they fall from the printing rolls.

Then stowing or packing the machine it is usual to remove the magazine or holder C, which may be done by simply disengaging the hooks c,

As a general statement of the operation of my machine precedes the foregoing detailed description and as the operations of the several parts and component mechanisms have been described in connection with the explanations of their form and arrange-- nient, it is deemed unnecessary to further summarize or define the use and operation of the machine.

As numerous modifications of the inven tion herein specifically disclosed will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not confine the invention to the specific structure herein shown and described.

Haring thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters` Patent,

l. An addressing machine having a bed plate, F, provided with raised surfaces,

and f4, and having conveyor and type-plate guides, in combination with. a plate-holder above the surface, f3, and an inking device above the surface, f4, in position to ink a type-plate resting thereon' substantially described.

An addressing machine comprising a frame, in combination with a type-plate con 'vevcr therein, a printing mechanism and a plato magazine to supply plates to con veyer, and comprising a rigidly upright portion and vertically hinged sections at either side thereof, adapted to he opened to receive type-plates substantially as described.

3. A magazine for addressing machines comprising a base, in combination with standards thereon, and sections vertically hinged upon said standards, ,and having inturned flanges at their 'forward edges substantially as described.

.4. A magazine or plate-holder for addressing machines comprising a back and partial sides,Y in combination with sections having inturned flanges and vertically hinged on said sides, and means for operattheir Withdrawal therefrom together, singly,

or in stacked forni, substantially as described. f

6. An addressing machine bed plate, in combination with a conveyor, a plate bridging said bed plate and conveyor, a yoke pivoted thereon, means limiting the movement of said yoke, an inling roll and an inking roll shaft detachably held in said yoke substantially as described.

7. In an addressing machine, a type plate feeder in combination with a frame therefor, printing rolls to which said feeder delivers plates, a sheet holder at the intake side of the upper roll, to deliver sheets thereto, hooked fingers projecting between said rolls, the lower roll being provided with a cam groove, g2, and surface, g1, and said lower roll being rotatively adjustable with respect to said feeder to vary the time of action of said fingers substantially as described.

8. A sheet holder for addressing machines, comprising a bottom plate, upright, narrow inclined Ways thereon, adjustable side plates, and means between the plates and supported thei'ehy for adjusting the inclination of the ",v as described.

addressing iiiachines t.. Y'. and inciined ways ion with elastic lia-nds a id Wa vs. constii .tizio side comprising a lo. thereon, in on 'said ho tnting re plates siioetaii l0. In an addi .ting ma( ine, a, sheet holder having an inclined bottom t0 support upstanding sheets, in combinationwith second shoot training devices at; the forward erige ./.i raid bottom, a shaft parallel to said edge and adjacent thereto, a roll of soft composition on said shaft, and other short. rolls on said shaft, and composed of iess pliable material, as and for the purpose specified.

11. In an addressing machine, a printing mechanism adapted to eject the printed article, in combination with an upright receiver, having a retarding piece at its upper edge, and a ledge at its lower end, and

means for moving said receiver vertically, as and for the purpose specified.

1Q. In an addressing machine, a printing mechanism adapted to eject the printed articles. an upright envelop receiver having a ledge or ingerat its lower end,`a vertically movable member whereon the receiver is adjustab'ly mounted, and an adjustable retarding piece at the upper end of said recciver.

13. In an addressing machine a type plate feeder, in combination with a printing mechanism, a plate chute to receive plates from said mechanism, a plate drawer, and a packer vertically and backWardly mdvable above said drawer substantially as described.

14. In an addressing machine a type-plate feeder, in combination with a printing mechanism, a plate chute to receive plates from said mechanism, a plate drawer, a packer, vertically and backwardly movable above said drawer, and back of said chute, as and A for the purpose specified.

15. In an addressing machine a type-plate feeder in combination with a printing mechanism, an inclined chute to receive plates from said mechanism, an arrest-ing device operable in said chute, a plate 'drawer be-l neath the chute, a packer vertically and backwardly movable above said drawer, and beneath said chute, and means common to said arresting means and packer for operating them, substantially as described.

1G. An addressing machine frame, in combination with a plate magazine rising perpendicularly therefrom and adapted to contain a plurality of plates each provided lwith depending ribs near its ends, a guide member provided on said frame to support the lowermost plate between the ribs thereon and adapted to coact with the inner sides of said ribs` and a uni-directional convcyer operable adjacent to said guide member and adapted to expel successive lovvermostl plates from said magazine, :along said guide member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 25th day of May, 1907, in therpresence of tivo subscribing witnesses.

RUSSELL Il ROGERS.

Witnesses:

M. SIMON, A, W. NELSON.

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