US1632281A - Stamp-canceling machine - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1927.

J. W. ESKHOLME STAMP CANGELING MACHINE Original Filed March 9. 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 NN k.

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W INVENT FI I my ATTORNEY June 14 1927.

J. W. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Original Filed March 9, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 Mwhwlul l lill l Il INVENTOR June 14, 1927.

.J. W. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE origina; Filed March 9, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 3 aifmzllllllllllllllllllllllllllle=i INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 14, 1927.

` 1,632,281 J. w. EsKHoLME STAMP GANCELING IVIAGINEl original Filed March 9. 1925 sheets-sheet 4 l [76 LE-J ATTORNEY Cil Patented .lune 14, 1927.

lOl-IN W. ESIiI-ULEJIE, 0F EAST GRANGE.. NEVI PLIAITCES, INC., OF NEW' YORK, Y., a CURERTEON OF DELAWARE.

STAMP-CANCELNG llIACHlllTE.

Original application filed March 9, 1925, Serial No. 14h45.

The present invention relates to machines tor handling1 envelopes, cards, and other flat obiectsj and is capable ot a variety of uses.

This application is a division of my copending' application, Serial No. '1i/045, led March 9, 1925.

lt is an .obiect ot' the presentinvention conveniently provide 'for the sealing` 'of velones.

lt is a turther obiect ot the ention to provide ier printing' with inl; on a sealed envelope or on a flat card, as for instance to cancel the stamp` on an envelope and 'to print adjacent to the canceled stamp the name oit the post oiiice. a date? the hour and the permit number oi the user.

lt is a turther object ot the invention to count the nunmer et envelopes, cards', or other hat objects passed through the machine, not for the benefit ot the Government in calculating` the amountv of postage paid thereon. but `for the information ot the user of the machine.

Although the machine is capable ot a Wide variety oit uses7 its greatest utility lies in sealing' stamped envelopes and then canceling` the Government stamp and counting; the number ot stamps so canceled. hlnvelopes to be used in this Way may be ot the character now 'furnished by the United States Government and having the postage stamp formed directly in the paper of the envelope7 or equally Well7 may be a plain envelope to which an adhesive Government stamp has been affixed.

'When the sealed envelopes come from the machine -with the stamps canceled and With the name or the post oiiice and the date printed thereon, they can be delivered in bulk to the post oi'iice and there can be distributed directly into the outgoing pouches without the delays and labor incident to first placing them 'lace upl on the sorting table and then passing them through the stamp canceling' devices nonv commonly used by the Government employees. In other Words, muchof the labor new required the post otliee is done beforeA the mail reaches the post oiiice with a consequent 'saving` in time in placing` the mail inv transit to its destination.

The machine of the present inventionk has a: new type of receiving p'la'tforn'e` ou which" Divided and this application filed November Serial No. 69,592. l Y

the envelopes-may be hed horizontally With their open flaps hanging downward over thev side oif the platform in shingled relation.l means being provided Vat the side of the stach for keeping the envelones in proper alignment i roll to which they are to be delivered one by one from "he platform also the bottom et the stack. i includes adpistable anti-rriction device ol novel character adapted by spring` pressure to anton atically tilt the stack as the number of envelopes in the staclr progressivelyv decreases.

The machine also embodies a novel barrier ot' cylinerical `form eoacting With 'the teedingi'oll and having a ee' movement in a` direction opposite to that of the feeding rollivhereby the Wear on the battle is distributed over its entire cylindrical il. moisteninp` device and water fountain ot' novel ce' `.ructionserves to moistenthe downwardly hanging; flaps of the envelopes during` their passage one by one over the :feed roll. Transfer relis and a coacting inclined guide serve to 'told the gumn'ied Flap ot an envelope upward against thereof. The envelope 'then passes to a pair et sealing` rolls Where it is firmly squeezed to secure goed adhesion oi the gummed Hap.

vWb en the envelope passes from the sealin; rolls it trips a printing` mechanism which by its rolling Aiovement over the travelling` envelope cancels the postage stamp thereoit and prints adjacent to the canceling imprint other vital data such as the name ot the post oiiice, the date, and hour ot caneellation. @ounting1 mechanism operatively connected with the printing de i vice records the number oi' printed imprints and consceuently7 .the number of stamps canceled. rlhe printing` mechanism itself is so mountedv that it can be swung' upward into inverted position to give access to the dies and type With which it is equipped, and the type and dies are so secured in place that their replacement is a matter of but a moments Work, nospecial tools being required. y

Manually controlled levers are 'provided for throwing the counting mechanism out of action',Y for throwing` the printing roll out of, action, and for throwing the inlring` ASSGNOR T) RED STAP; AP

ht automatic the body CII . roll out of action, when occasion may require,

so that if desired, the inachinemay be operated simply as an envelope sealing machine. j

Fewer for the machine is supplied by an electric motor compactly mounted, and those rotating elements of the machine which travel at high speed are equipped with wooden bearing sleeves which are silent in` machine Fig. 2 is asectional plan view of the same i on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the complete machine as seen from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. t is a detail of the anti-friction rollers on the receiving platform;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the water fountain and its valve;

, machine.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sect-ion on-the brolren line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail showing the rubbervfriction surfaces of the main enve lope-feeding drum;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section on the lino 11-11 of Fig. G;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the adjustable plates shown at the top of Figs; 6 and S;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 16%16 of Figs. G andS.

Frame 'work and 'Pecci/ving platformr (F1/lgs'.

1: Q7 31 '/i 6) i The frame work of the machine comprises a cast metal base 1 to which is secured, by a plurality of bolts 2, a subdiase 3 integral with which is a vertical supporting plate 4 carrying` a hub 5 to serve as a bearing support for certain of the rotating elements. Secured to the-'vertical plate at by bolts 6 is a central sheet metal plate 7 on the flanged upper edge of which is bolted a sheet metal platform 8 which extends the entire length of the machine. To its doWuturned rear edge (Fig. 6) is bolted a long lower apron 9 which extends throughout the lengthof the Gn the front down-turned edge of platform 8 is a short lower apron 10 (Figs. 3 and 1) to which is hinged a vertical guide plate 11-(F igs. 1 and 3). At the hinged connection is a coiled spring 12 for controlling t-he position of guide plate 11.

Above platform 8 and supported by a rear wall 13 bolted thereto is a cover plate lll which coversthe left hand two-thirds of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, and which serves as the support for certain adjust-ing mechanisms. The front edge of cover plate 141 is carried by a front wall plate 15 secured along its lower edge by bolts 16 to a. short front apron 17 bolted to the dOWn-turned front edge of platform 8.

The receiving platform for the envelopes to be sealed and then canceled is at. the right hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig.- 1, and includes a pair of anti-friction rollers 18, the details of which are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and ll.

Platform 8 is provided with a. pair of parallel slots 19 (Fig. 2) through which rollers 18 may project to contact with a stack of envelopes horizontally placed thereon. Each roller is mounted to turn freely on a pin 20, the inner end of which is riveted to a vertical leg of a U-shaped support 21. riChat tlshaped support 21 is carried on the upper end of a pull-rod 22 to the lower end of which is secured a handle 23. This pull-rod is guided by a tl-shaped plate 24 secured by bolts (Fig, l) to a pair of brackets 2G, the upper horizontal legs of which contact with the lower face of platform 8 and transversely bridge the parallel slots 19 thereof. TO hold "this mechanism against free sliding movement along slots 19, there are provided a pair of 'transverse bars 27 (Fig. 2) through which bolts pass for threaded engagement in the horizontal upper legs of brackets 26. A coiled spring 28 encircles the pull-rod 22 and thus tends to lreepthe rollers in their nppermost position and projecting well. through platform 8. l3nt when occasion requires, the operator may pull down on handle and thus bring the top of rollers 18 flush with the top of platform 8. During that downward movement, the rollers and their' supporting mechanism are guided in brackets 2G by ears 29 (Figs. 2 and integral with the U-shaped plate 21 and adapted to rub at their edges along the inner faces of brackets 26. Freedom ofmovement along slots 19 is of advantage in adapting the machine to envelopes of different sizes and the bolts which connect the transverse bars 27 with the horizontal upper' legs of brackets 26 are not screwed up so tight but that the operator can move the mechanism along slots 19 as the occasion may require.

.If no anti-friction rollers were used and the stacked envelopes were permitted to lie flat on table 8, the frictional engagement of the lowermost envelope with the table top would be greater than is desired. lt is the primary function of rollers 18 to reduce friction at this point. There is, however, much convenience and some operative advantage in having therollers so supported by a spring that they will be depressed when a full stack of envelopes is placed over them. Except for this, there would be danger that one or more of the top en- Utl lill) llO velopes might slide down between the stack and baille plate 45 and there impede free passage of some of the envelopes over the drum 30. As soon as the ope atei' completes the work of stacking the envelopes on the platform, rollers 18 move upward to produce a tilting` of the stack, thus placing the envelopes in such an inclined posiion as will facilitate entrance over drinn 30.

lVhen the envelopes are stacked for insertion into the machine, the flaps are adjusted at right angles to the bodies, as indicated in Figs. l and 3. The lowermost envelope is brought inte proper' alignment with the rolls when the envelopes areplaced on th receiving platform and spring-pressed vertical plate l1 is relied on to force the stack over vprogressively` so that the lowermost envelope will, at lall times, be in proper alignment. i`

The feeding rolls (Figs. 1, 2?, 6 to d, if)

and .i

The lowermost envelope from the stack is gripped between the large feeding` roll or drum and a small upper ro-ll 3l. Feeding roll 30 has a pairof annular recesses in its working face in each of which is secured a rubber tread 32 with corrugated or knurled faces as shown in Fig. 7.

`This drum 30 is mounted on a drive shaft 33 to which it is locked by a set screw 34 (Fig. 6). Shaft 33 passes*l through hub 5 in which is an anti-friction wood lining so constituted as `not to require application of lubricating oil.

Roll 3l has a smooth yielding face of rubber or like material and does not rotate from frictional engagement with an envelope passed between it and drum 30, but, on the contrary acts as a res raining baille for all but the lowermostenvelope and at the saine time presents a yielding surface along which the envelope can be dragged by the rubber surfaces of drum .30. Platform 8 is provided with appair of longitudinal slots 37 and 38 (Fig. 2) through which the rubber treads of drum 30 project slightly. Roll 3l is positioned midway between these two slots, as appears from Fig. 6, and thus contacts with that part of the envelope vwhich bridges a gap between the rubber treads y ylibe smooth yielding rubber face of roll 3l is subject to considerable wearing action from envelopes sliding under the roll and arovision has been made for turning roll fil with an intermittent movement to equalize the wear on its face, as hereinafter described. lloll 3l is so mounted as to be capable of various other adjustments.

@over plate 14, at its right hand end. is pierced by three bolts 39, 40 and 4l. (Fig. 9.) Bolt 39 passes through a longitudinal slot in the horizontal leg of a bracket pressure but will permit upward swingi.

. thickness.

42. The other or outer leg of this bracket is turned upwardly. Similarly bolts 4() and 41 pass through longitudinal slots in the horizontal leg' of a wide bracket 43, the other or outer leg of which is turned upwardly.

Secured to these outwardly `turned legs ot the two brackets by bolts 44 is a `bail'lle plate 45 (Figs. (i and v8), one function of which is to keep the stack of envelopes from crowding forward againstl roll 3l. laying against the rear face of baile plate 45Y and guided along its edges by the adjacent up-turned edges of brackets 42 and 43is a vertically movable plate 46, the upper end of which is bent over as shownV in gage with a keeper 47 on the lower end of a threaded shaft 48 which passes with threaded engagement through an ear integral with baille plate 45, and is provided atits upper end with a knob 49. (Fig. turning this knob, plate 46 can be made to slide in its guideway. Near the lower end of the plate 46 are two integral ears 50 which are bent forward to serve as supportsl for a shalt 5l (Figs. 8 and 10).

Shaft 5l serves a pivot for a pair of side plates 52 joined 'together by an integral bar 53 and provided at their lower extremities with a shaft on which roll lil may turn. lillrapped around shaft 5l is a coiled wire spring 55, one end of which rests against plate 4G, and the other end of which engages onD of the side plates 52. This spring holds the roll toits work with a yielding C, movement of the roll above shaft- 51 `to accommodate envelopes differing slightly in This spring connection will take care of any change from a one-page letter to a two-page letter. .lhen the envelop are much thicker, as when containing circulars or pamphlets, manual adjusinent can be made at knob 3S) before commencing to pass the envelopes through the machine. rllhe mechanism whereby roll 3l is caused to turn with an intermittent movement to equalize the wear on its face ii :luc es a gag roller 56 preferably of soft rubber and Avfloating between roll 3l and its cross-bar 53. upward thrust on roll 3l produced by its frictional contact with the passing envelope is suflicient to compress slightly the rubber of roll 56 and the contacting rubber face of roll 3l, so that when the envelope has passed through hiere will be a slight rebound of these rubber elements to an eX- ten't sufficient to turn roll 3l slightly in a direction opposite to that of the traveling envelope. 'lher'eytorel in a sense roll 3l may be regarded as a spring-pressed barrier, the wearingsurface of which is periodically renewed. lloll 3l can, ot' course, be turned by hand in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. li to present a new rwearing surface for contact with passing envelopes.

The,

Si i) Ordinarily, however, the intermittent slow rotative movement above described will be entirely suliicientV to equalize the wear. cross-bar 53, by its bearing against the lower end of plate 46, acts as a stop to limit downward swing of roll 3l.

i The moisi/eating alc/vice cmd t8 fountain.

(Fig/8.1,? to 6', 8, y* 67.77.6510).:

vAt the right hand end of base '1, seen inFig. l, are ears 57 and 58 for carrying rubber cushions 59, and tapped into those ears are bolts 60 `and 6lrunder which is clamped a cross bar 62. `testing loosely on an upwardly bent portion of this bar is the foot 63 of an automatic water fountain. This rfountain comprises a metal cup 64 with an air intake and overflow vent 65, this cup being threaded 'to one end of a horizontal feed pipe 66. The mouth of the cup is lined with a soft rubber collar 67 within which is loosely but closely fitted the neck of an inverted glass water bottle 68. The mouth of the bottle is at a level just below the air intake 65. This fountain is of the constant level type for water can iiow out of the glass receptacle only in proportion as air Hows in and air is admitted or excluded in accordance with the level of the water in the lower part of the cup, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

A soft rubber check valve 69 is inserted through the neck of the bottle into the position shown in Fig. 5. )While the fountain is in use, this check valve rests on a leg 7() integral with the fountain cup and its leg 63, but when the water bottle is to be removed, the valve is released and seats against the neck of the bottle to prevent spilling any residue of water while lifting the bottle out for refilling.

To refill the bottle after removing it from Vthe fountain the operator withdraws the soft rubber check valve 69 as if it were a cork thus leaving the neck `of the bottle unobstructed for filling. The valve is then pushed back into lthe bottle, and it makes no difference which end is inserted for both ends are alike. The cross section of the stem is such as to allow ample space for the passage of air upward and the passage of water downward. Y

The moistening device, together with the fountain, are easily removable from the machine, for purposes of adjustment, clean-v ing, etc. To insure ease of removal, these elements are fastened to sub-base 3 by a single bolt 7l which passes through a lug 72 integral with the casting 73 which serves as a well for the moistening water and as a cover 78 encloses the moving elements of the moistening device.

The moving elements of the moistening device include an intermittently rotating sheet metal drum 79 within the 'flanged periphery of which is secured an annular brush 8O with outwardly projecting bristles. This drum turns slowly with an intermittent movement to moisten the bristles by progressive submergence of them in the water of the well 7 3, but with opportunity for the bristles to drain before being brought into contact with the gummed flaps of envelopes to be sealed. y

Drum 79 is secured by a nut 8l to a threaded bushing 82, which is mounted on a bolt 83 on which it can freely turn. Bolted to drum 79 is a sheet metal drum 84 with a flange at its outer edge against which bears frictional ratcheting device now to be described.

The frictional ratcheting device whereby the moistening brush is given an intermittent rotary movement comprises a dog 85 (Fig. l0) pivoted at 86 to the upper end of an oscillating arm 87. That arm is mounted on bushing 82 (Fig. 8) and is free to swing thereon. Integral with dog 85 is a weight 88, the lower edge of which is kerfed to form a tongue 89 which is bent at right angles to the weight so that it can strike against the edge of bar 87 and thus serve to keep the dog in convenient position for reassembly in case the mechanism is taken apart for cleaning. At 86 (Fig. 6) is a stub shaft on which dog 85 can swing, this shaft being threaded through arm 87 and secured by a nut 90. Beyond the threaded portion of the stub shaft is a cylindrical p0rtion'91 (Figs. 6 and 9) which serves as a pin for engagement with a slot 92 in the upper end of a pivotally mounted oscillating lever 93. vThis lever 93 is free to swing about a stub shaft 94 supported by box 77 and equipped with a collar, a nut, and a lock nut as shown in Fig. 6. The

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oscillating movement is imparted tolever 93 by means of a cam 95 which is straddled by the bifurcated lower end of lever 93. This cam is eccentrically mounted and is free to rotate on the reducedl cylindrical end 96 of bolt 83. A bushing 97 is threaded to that bolt and is externally threaded to receive a nut 98, the function of which is to grip the wall of box 77 and hold bolt 83 and its associated parts in proper working relation.

Llo

y simple form of clutch serves to establish driving connection between the main driving shaft 33 (Fig. 6) and the eccentric cam 95. This clutch consists of pin 99 projecting at the end of the hub of the drum 3() and adapted by rotary movement to strike against a similar pin 100 Vprojecting from the side face of cam 95. A gag roller 79 holds drum 79 against rotation in reverse direction.

The front wall of box 77 extends slightly about the axis of bolt 83 but is provided with an upwardly extending ear 101 through which passes a bolt 102 to secure the boX to the front apron 15 and lgive support thereto.

lllhen an envelope is passed over drum 3() its depending .gummed flap wipes across the damp bristles of the annular' brush 8O and the envelope then is pulled forward by the transfer rolls and ultimately is sealed at the next pair of rolls, lThe bristles of the brush are kept in a properly moistened condition by periodic submergence in the water ofY the well 73 and the intermittent rotary movement of the brush is slow enough to protect against too much moisture in the bristles across which the envelope is wiped.

llllien the machine is started up in the morning after it has been standing over night the bristles at the top of the drum will have dried out to such an extent as to be ineffective. There are, however, linger holes in the drum 79 accessible from the .front of the machine so that the operator can turn the drum by hand to bring properly moistened bristles into active position preparatory to starting the machine. Except for this the iirst few envelopes passed through the machine might not have their flaps sufi'iciently moistened.

The here (Figs. 1, 2, 6, 12, 13, cmd 11;).

The machine as a whole is driven by an electric motor 282 (Fig. 1) with its base 283 bolted to a transverse cross bar 284 bolted to base 1, as shown. The drive is through a round belt 285 to speed-reducing pulleys 286 and 287. The latter is connected by a belt 289 to a pulley 288 6). lulley 288 is secured to drive shaft 33 by a set screw 290. Integral with pulley 28S is a larger pulley 291 having a` belt 292 passing` to a pulley 293 (Fig. 2) which is formed integral with a cylindrical Vsleeve 29a carried either' end on anti-friction wooden bearing sleeves.

To operate the machine, the addressed and filled envelopes are placed horizontally in a stach on the receiving platform, with their gummed flaps hanging down Vin shingled relation to one another and their stamped ends toward .drum 30. The lowermost `envelope of the staclr 1s caught between the envelopes rest, a`

feed rollers and pulled out from beneath the stack and advanced across the laterally projecting moist bristles of the moistening brush. The upper retarding or separating roller meantime acts as a guard or barrier to prevent advancement of other envelopes of the stack. The moistened envelope passes directly forward through the transfer rolls while its downwardlyhanging flap strikes against an inclined plate and is gradually folded upward against the horizontal body of the envelope, so that when the envelope reaches the sealing rolls, the flap can be squeezed tigl'itly against the envelope. The sealed envelope then passes to the printing rolls where the postage stamp is cancelled and the naine of the post o'liicc and the date and horn.' and the users permit number are printed adjacent to the canceled stamp, as described in my copending application, Serial lilo. 112,487 liled May 29, 1926.

A great variety of changes may be made in details of the structure and in the mode of operation of the several parts without dcparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

l claim: y

1. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their ylla 3s hangin@v downward over the edge therel e s of in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope, land means for reducing the friction of that envelope on saidplatform.

2. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on vwhich a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward over the edge thereof in shingled relation, a feeding-'drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope, and a pair of rollers for reducing the friction of that envelope on said platform.

8. ln a machine of the character described., the combination of a platform on which a staclr of envelopes may be placed with theirl bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward-over the edge thereof in shingled relation, a feeding drum withdrawing the lowermost envelope, a roller for reducing the friction of said `envelope on' said platform, and a spring for lifting said roller to tilt the stack of envelopes, substantially as described.

a. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stacli: of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging `downward over vthe edge thereof in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawing the `lowermost envelope, a pair of rollers onwhich said stack of spring for lifting said' lil rollers to facilitate delivery to said feeding drum, vand manually operable means for lowering said rollers at will.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward over the edge thereof in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawingy the lowermostenvelope, and a pair of rollers contacting with the lowermost envelope of the stack, said rollers being adjustable along said platform to better accommodate envelopes of different lengths. Y

6. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed withv their' bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward over the edge thereof in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope, a pair of rollers contacting with the lowermost envelope of the stack, said rollers being adjustable along said platform to better accommodate envelopes of different lengths, a spring for lifting said rollers to tilt the stack of envelopes, and manuallyoperable means for compressing said spring and thereby lowering said rollers at will.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation'at the side of said platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack and a cylindrical baiiie under which said envelope is drawn by said drum. I

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stach of envelopes may be placed with their bodlies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the si/de of said platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the staclr, said feeding drum having a pair of rubber treads spaced apart, and a cylindrical baille under which said envelope is drawn by said treads, said baffle remaining substantially stationary during vtransit of the envelope and engaging that part of the envelope which bridges the space between saidl treads.

In a machine of the character dscribed, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their lbodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at theside of said platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, and a cylindrical baffle under` vwhich said envelope is drawn by said drum, said baffle moving but slightly during transit of said envelope and having a smooth surface for engagement with the envelope.

10 In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, a feeding drum having rubber treads spaced apart and adapted to contact with the lowermost envelope of the stack and a cylindrical baiiie having a smooth surface yieldingly engaging that part of the envelope which bridges the space between said treads.

l1. In a machine of Lthe character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantiallyy horizontal and their iiaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, a feeding drnm for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, and a cylindrical baffle yieldingly engaging the upper face of said envelope said baffle being restrained against free movement therewith l2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, and a spring pressed cylindrical baiiie under which said envelope is drawn by said drum.

13. In a platform of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack ofenvelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, and a spring pressed cylindrical baffle under which said envelope is drawn by said drum, said baille being restricted against free rotation with the travelling envelope, but being free to turn in the opposite direction.

14. In a platform of the character described, tlie combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their naps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, a spring pressed cylindrical baiile under which said envelope is drawn by said drum, 'and a gag roller restraining said bafile'against free rotation with the travelling envelope.

15. In a machine Vof ythe character deform on which a stack of envelopes may bel placed, a continuously rotating feeding drum for withdrawing an envelope `trom said stack, a cylindrical baille across the face of which E said envelope is drawn by said drum, and

means restraining said baille against movement with the passing envelope, but rotating the said baffle in the reverse direction with an intermittent movement after the envelope has passed.

i7. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a receiving platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed, a feeding drunr for withdrawing an envelope from the stack a cylindrical baille across the face of which said envelope is drawn by said drum, and spring pressed means for permitting said bal-lie to swing away from said drum when envelopes of greater thickness are to be handled.

i8. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a receiving platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed, a feeding drum for withdrawing an envelope from the stack, a cylindrical baille coacting with said drum and across the face of which said envelope is drawn by said drum, a swinging support for said baille permitting movement thereof to accommodate envelopes of varying thickness and a stop on said frame limiting movement of said baille away from said drum.

19.1"11 a machine of the character described, the combination of a receiving platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed, a feeding drum for withdrawing an envelope from the stack, a cylindrical baille coacting with said drum and across the face of which said envelope is drawn by said drum, a swinging support for said baille permitting movement thereof to accommodate envelopes of varying thickness and a stop on said frame limiting movement of said baille away from said drum, and a spring coacting with said frame to return thebaftle toward said drum.

20. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a receiving platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed, a feeding drum for withdrawing an envelope from the stack, a cylindrical baille, a frame supporting said baille, a pivot on which said frame may swing, and means for adjusting said pivot toward or away from said drum to adjust the eiective gap between said baille and said drinn, yin accordance with the thickness of the envelopes to be handled. i

2l. In a. machine of the ch racter described, the combination of a receiving piatform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed, a feeding drum for witadawing an envelope from the stack, a cylindrical baille, a frame supporting said baille, a pivot on which said frame mayswing, and means for adjusting said pivot toward' or away from said drum to adjust the effective gap between said baille and said drum, in accordance with the thickness of the envelopes to be handled, a stop for limiting the swing ff of said baille away from said drum and a spring operatively connected to return said baille toward said drum.

22.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on most envelope of the stack, and ay spring-` pressed plate for progressively pushing said envelopes laterally into proper alignment with said feeding drum.

23. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, spring pressed rollers at one end of the platform and on which said stack of envelopes rest, a feeding drum at the other end of said platform for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, and a spring pressed-plate for progressively pushing said stack of envelopes laterally so that at all times the lowermost envelope will be in operative alignment with said feeding drum.

2li. in a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging` downward in shingled relation at the side of saidv platform, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stach, rollers on which said stack of envelopes rest, a spring pressed plate for holding the lowermost envelope in operative alignment with the feeding drum, a stationary baiile at the front of said stack, and a cylindrical baille across the face lof which the envelopes are drawn in succession by said feeding drum.

25. ln avv machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantiallyy horizontal and their flaps hanging downwardl in shingled relation at the side of said platl form, a feeding drinn for withdrawing the lowerinost envelope of the stack, rollers on which said stack of envelopes rest, a springpressed plete for holding the lowerinost envelope in operative alignment with the feeding drum, a stationary baille at the front of seid stack, and e cylindrical baille across the face of which the envelopes are drawn in succession by said feeding drum, Said oy lindrical battle being restrained against rotation with e passing envelope but being free to turn in the reverse direction after the envelope has passed.

'In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

JOHN WV. ESKHOLME.

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