US1152347A - Mail-marking machine. - Google Patents

Description

T. G. STODDARD.

MAIL MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. 1912.

1,152,347. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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'I'HQMrlS G. STODDARD, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN POSTAL MACHINE$ COMPANY, 015 BOSTON, lllEl-TSSAGH'I'ISETTS, A GORPORATION 0F MATNE.

MAIL-MARKING" MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug; 31, 1915.

Application filed December 26, 1912. Serial 110. 738,528.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that T, THOMAS Gr. S'roDDARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Marking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to mail marking machines, and more particularly to mechanism for controlling the operation of the die carrying roll.

The object of the invention is to provide novel and improved devices through which the rotation of the die carrying roll may be controlled ,1 by the mail matter passing through the machine, and to this end the invention comprises the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and referred to in the claims.

The invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the mechanism illustrated therein. p

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing a mail marking machine embodying the invention in its preferred form; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the die carrying roll; Fig. 3 is a detailview of the latches for controlling the rotation of the die carrying roll; and F ig. 4: is a detail view of the sleeve on which the stops for the die carrying roll are formed.

In the machine illustrated, the letters or other pieces of mail matter are fed in succession between the die carrying roll 1 and the impression roll 2 by feed rolls 3, and are delivered from the marking rolls to a stacking device 1 by the delivery rolls 5. The die carrying roll is provided with the usual stamp canceling and post marking die 6, and is secured upon a sleeve 7 mounted to turn freely upon a stationary shaft 8. The hub of the sleeve 7 issurrounded by a rotary driving sleeve 9, the upper end of which carries a friction ring 10 adapted to engage a flange 11 on the sleeve 7 and to transmit motion to the sleeve. The die carrying roll is 'normally held against rotation and is released and stopped by devices operated by the letters passing between the feed rolls 3. In the construction shown, the devices for controlling the rotation of the die carrying roll comprise two stops 12 and 13 formed on a collar 14 which is secured to the roll carrying sleeve 7, so that the stops move withthe marking die. The stops are arranged in different planes, higher plane than the stop 18. The stops cooperate with two latches 15 and 16, which are formed on a pivoted arm 17 and are so arranged that movement of one latch out of the path of the cooperating stop brings the other latch into the path of its cooperating stop. The latches are rendered alternately and successively active and inactive by a finger 18 carried by the arm 17 and arranged to extend across the letter path between the feed rollsS. The controlling finger 18 and the latches are held normally in the position indicated in Fig. 1 by a spring 19, one end of which is connected to the arm 17, and the other end of which is connected to the base plate 20 of the machine. 1

When no letter is passing through the machine, the parts are in the position indicated in Fig.1, with the controlling finger 18 extending across the letter path, and with the stop 12 in engagement with the latch 15.

VVhenthe forward end of a letter strikes the finger 18 it swings the arm 17 about its pivot, thus disengaging the latch 15 from the stop 12, so that the marking die is released and is rotated by the frictional engagement of the driving sleeve 9 with the die carrying sleeve 7. The movement of the arm 17 which disengages the latch 15 from the stop 12 also brings the latch 16 into the path of the stop 13, so that the rotation of the marking die is arrested by the engagement of the stop 13 with the latch 16 after it has nearly completed a. revolution. The parts are held in this position by the engagement of the letter with the finger 18 until the rear end of the letter passes beyond the finger, when the spring 19 swings'the arm 17 back into the position indicated in Fig. 1. This returns the finger 18 into position across the letter path, disengages the latch 16 from the stop 13, and brings the latch 15 into the path of the stop 12. When the latch 16 is disengaged from the stop 13 the die carrying roll completes its revolution, bringing the stop l2-into engagement with I the latch 15, so that the parts are reset in position for properly markingthe succeedconnected with .the die to cooperate with the ing letter. I I

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, it will be Understood that this construction and arrangement are not essentlal, and may be varied and modified without departing from the broader latches instopping and releasing the die,

and'means operating when engaged by the letter to renderone latchinactive and the other active, and operating when released by the letter torender the latter latchinactive and the former again active. 1

3. A mail 'marking machine, having, in combination, a rotary marking die, two stops connected to rotate therewith, two cooperating latches, and a controlling finger arranged across the letter path and connected to shift the latches alternatelyinto and out of the paths of the corresponding stops by its movement back and forth across the letter path.

4. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a rotary marking die, two stops connected to rotate therewith and arranged in different planes, a pivoted arm provided with latches arranged to be moved alternately into and out of the paths of the stops, and a finger carried by the arm and extending across the letter path.

5. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a rotary marking die, two latches for alternately stopping the roll, a letter engaging device connected to render one latch inactive and the other active When engaged by the letter, and to render the latter latch inactive and the former again active when the letter has passed.

6. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a rotary marking die, a latch for holding the die in normalposition, a finger extending across the letter path and connected to move the latch out of active position when moved out of the letter path and into active position when returned to initial position, and a second latch connected to be moved. into and out of active position in alternation with the first latch.

' THOMAS G. STODDARD.

Witnesses:

IRA L. FISH,

H. D. MOPHAIL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G.

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