US1633246A - Stamp-canceling machine - Google Patents

Description

June 21 192?.

J. w; ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELIL G MACHINE 8 SheetsESheet 2 Original Filed'March 9 1925 mama- 2 rirlii; a

Mr. J w

"June 21 1927.

J. w. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Ofiginal Filed March9 1925 Aid ATTO R N EV June 21, 1927.

J. W. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE 8 ShetsT-Shee't Original Filed March9 1925 June 21 1927. 1,633,246

'Jgw. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Original Filed March9 1925 8 sheet-sheet 5 2 A :w) I I June '21 1927.

. J. w. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Original Filed Marh 9 1925 8 sheets' shee't 6 June 21 1927.

J. W. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Original- Filed March 9 1925 8 sheets shee't 7 x78 m m 774/ m m flm M A i M a w .9 m a W w m w a. 0 0 a J. w. ESKHOLME STAMP CANCBLING MACHINE Original Filed MarchQ 1925 asheetsI-sheet s June 21 1927.

Z 7 Z9 4 I, N150 ATTO R N EYS Patented June 21, 1927.

vuurrso STATES PATENT orrica.

JOHN W. ESKHOLME, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AVSSlIGNOB T0 RED STAR APPLI- ANCES, INQ, OF STAMFORD, GONNEGTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

' STAMP-CANCELING MACHINE.

Original application filed March 9, 1925, Serial No. 14,045. Divided and this application filed May 29, 1926. Serial No. 112,487.

The present invention relates to machines for handling envelopes, cards, and other fiat objects, and is capable of a varietyo t uses.

It is an object ofthe: invention to provide for printing with ink on a sealed envelope or on a fiat card, as for instance. to cancel the stamp on an envelope and to print adjacent to the canceled stamp the name, of the post oflice, a date, the hour and the permit number of the user.

It is a further objectof the invention to count the number of envelopes, cards, or other flat objectspassed through the machine, not for the benefit of the Government in calculating the amount ofpostagepaid thereon, but for the information of the-user of the machine.

Although the machine is capable of awide ariety of uses, its 'greatestutility lies in sealing stamped envelopes andthen canceling the Government stamp and countingthe number of stamps so canceled. Envelopes to be used in this way may be of the character now furnished by the United States Government and having the postage stamp which an adhesive Government stamp has been atiixed- When the sealed envelopes come from the machine with the stamps canceled, and with the name of the post ofiice and the date printed thereon, they can be delivered in bulk to the post oliice and there can be distributed directly into the outgoing pouches without the delays and labor incident to first placing them face up on the sorting table and then passing them throizigh the stamp canceling devices now conin'ionly used by the Government employees. In other words, much of the labor now required at the post oilice is done before the mail reaches the post office with a consequent savingin time in placing the mail in transit to it-s destination.

This application is a division of my copeniling application, Serial No. 14t,045, filed March 9, 1925.

In the machine of the present invention suitable means are provided for successively feeding envelopes into the machine from .a feeding plattorm of novel construction, moistening the flaps of the envelopes and then sealing the envelopes. After being sealed, each envelope is forwarded by suitable means until it trips a printing'mechanism which by its rolling movement over the travelling envelope cancels the postage stamp thereof and prints adjacent to the canceling imprint other vital data, such as the name of the post oilice, the date, and hour of cancellation. -Counting mechanism operatively connected with the printing device records the number of printed imprints and consequently, the number of stamps can celed, This printing mechanism itself is so mounted that'it canbe 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 replac'ementis a mattergof but a moments work, no special tools being required.

The present invention more particularly relates to the means for operating the printing mechanism and handling the envelopes as they pass theret-hrough,

, Manually controlled levers are provided for throwing the counting "mechanism out of action, for throwing the printing roll out of ac-tion,and for throwing the inking roll out of actiomwhen occasionmay require, so that if desired, the machine may be operated simply as an envelope sealing machine.

Powerfor 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 wood en bearing sleeves which are silent in operation and to which no lubricating oil need be applied by the operator. There is, therefore, no chance that d ripping oil will. mar or soil envelopes or other articles being passed ,on the line 22 ofFig. 1,;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine as it appears when viewed from the left of Fig. 1 certain parts being omitted for great er clarity 5 1 Fig. 4 is a detailed plan view of the printing, counting and inking mechanism, with the cover plate of the machine removed. or more strictly speaking, is an horizontal section on the line 2121 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same, or a vertical section on the line 2222 of Fig. 4';

Fig. 6 shows the inking mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 7 shows the printing mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 2 12 l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 8 shows details of the counting mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 9 shows the counting mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 26-26 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 shows the inking mechanism as it it appears in vertical section on the line 27-27 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 shows the inking mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 28-28 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 shows the printing mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 2929 of Fig. 9; i

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of the printing drum and dies on the line 3030 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14: shows a lock for the printing mechanism as it appears in vertical section on the line 3131 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 shows a part of the printing mechanism and corresponds to Fig. 6 excepting that a hinged support and elements carried thereby has been swung upward and over against the top of the machine and into the position where changes can be made in the printing dies. Certain elements of Fig. 6 are omitted from Fig. 15 for greater clarity of illustration;

Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 15, when viewed from the left;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the elements shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a sectional'detail of the printing drum and dies;

Fig. 19 is a transverse or vertical section on the line 3636 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a transverse vertical section of the printing drum and dies on the line 37- 37 of Fig. 18 and is closely related to Fig. 13:

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the printing drum stripped of the die holder which it normally carries;

Fig. 22 is a section of the die holder alone;

Fig. 23 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the same when positioned as in Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a plan View of the die and its removable type;

Fig. 26 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 27 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 28 is a plan view of the stamp canceling die;

Fig. 29 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 30 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 31 is a perspective View of a removable type bearing the users number;

Fig. 32 shows the means by which the type are held in the die, as it appears in section on the line 4949 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 83 is a section on the line 50-50 of Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 shows one of the removable type in elevation with its printing face at the top;

35 is a detail of the type holding spring;

Fig. 36 (sheet 2) indicates the appearance of a stamped envelope after it has been passed through the machine for cancellation of the stamp and for printing of the name of the post office and the date of cancellation.

Frame work and receiving platform (Figs. .7, 2 and 3).

The frame work of the machine comprises a cast metal base 1 to which is secured, by a plurality of bolts 2, a sub-base 3 integral with which is a vertical supporting plate t carrying a hub 5 to serve as bearing support for certain of the rotating elements. Secured to the vertical plate 4 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 down-turned rear edge (Fig. 3) is bolted a long lower apron 9 which extends throughout the length of the machine. On the front down-turned edge of platform 8 is a short lower apron 10 (Fig 1) to which is hinged a vertical guide plate 11 (Fig. 1). At the hinged connection is a coiled spring 12 for controlling the position of guide plate 11.

Above platform 8 and supported by a rear wall 13 bolted thereto is a cover plate 14: which covers the left hand two-thirds of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, and which serves as the support for certain adjusting mechanisms. The front edge of cover plate 14 is carried by a front wall plate 15 (Fig. 1) secured along its lower edge by bolts 16 to a short front apron 17 bolted to the downturned 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 Fig. 2.

Platform 8 is provided with a pair of parallel slots 19 (Fig. 2) through which roller; 1,8 project to contact with a stack of envelopes horizontally placed thereon. These rollers are suitably mounted to turn The sealing is accomplished by means of'two parallel rolls, 122 and 123, shown in Fig. 1, which rolls are suitably operated and act to forward the envelopes to the printing mechanism which will. be hereinafter described. As the feeding, inoistening, transferring and sealing mechanisms do not comprise a part of the present invention, a detailed description of these parts will not be given.

The printing mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, and 3 to 34 inclusive).

The lower roller 137 (Fig. 5) of the printing mechanism has a rubber face 138 and in all of its structural details is essentially like lower sealing roller 123. It is supported on astationary shaft 139 (Fig. 2), the ends of which are bolted to side rails or levers 140 and 141 pivoted at one end on bar 124 and connected at the other end by an integral plate 142 on which is a centrally positioned lug 143 through which passes a rod 144. The upper end of rod 144 (Fig. 5) is prorided with an enlargement 145 which is free to swing about a stationary horizontal tie rod 146. The lower end of rod 144 is provided with nuts 147 and an encircling coiled spring 148 whereby lug 143, and conseuentlv roller 137 are ur 'ed u Jwardl This yielding support for roller 14., is of importance in insuring a clear imprint regardless of reasonable variations in the thickness of the filled envelope.

Referring to Fig. 5 cover plate 14 has a hinged extension 149 pivoted to it on each side by a bolt 150'so that the extension can be swung through 180 to bring the printing roller bot-tom side up as shown in Fig. 15. This is of convenience when the roller is to be cleaned or the dies or type are to be changed.

As will appear from Figs. 9-11, inclusive, the hinged extension 149 carries depending side plates 151 and 152 bolted thereto. A stationary bar or shaft 153 (Fig. 10) is bolted between these plates and is provided at its respective ends *ith spacing sleeves 154 and (Fig. 10) between which the printing drum and its driving pulley are mounted. Mounted to turn freely on bar 153'is a wooden sleeve 156, and fitted to that sleeve with a driving fitis a driving pulley 157 having a rubber facing 158. This pulley is driven by frictional engagement with the lower spring-pressed roller 137 or with an envelope passing between the two.

At the side of driving pulley 157 and encircling the wooden sleeve 156 and initially driven thereby by frictional engagement is a printing drum comprising a metal sleeve 159 having a'wide flange 160 shod with a rubber ring 161.

A cheek plate 162 holds the rubber ring 161 in position. At the side oi this cheek plate is a cam 163 for operating thecounting mechanism as hereinafter described.

The printing drum also comprises a collar 164 having a beveled side as shown in Fig. 10 for engagement with the removable printing die holder 165, the details of which are hereinafter described. Cooperating therewith is a second collar 166 having a beveled engagement with the die holder, and also bearing a lug 167 which engages in a recess on the die holder to insure proper positioning of the die holder and proper timing with other parts of the device. Collar 166, die holder 165, collar 164, cam 163, and cheek plate 162 are all rigidly clamped togetherand against flange 160 by a nut 168 threaded. to the end of sleeve 159. Collar 166 projects out beyond nut 168 andhas two notches 169 and 170, the purpose of which is mentioned hereinafter.

The printing operation must be so'timed that the imprint will be impressed in its proper place on the envelope. Also for certain classes of work it is desirable to seal the envelopes without printing anything on them. These needs are taken care of in the, present machine by a latching device controlled in position and in operation by a hand lever accessible at the end of the machine. Similarly it is at times desirable to throw the inking mechanism out of action. These details of the complete machine will now be described, reference being had to Figs. 611, inclusive.

Referring to Fig.7 which is a vertical section on the line 2424- of Fig. 10, there is a dog 171 mounted on a hub of sleeve 159. The nose of this dog is in position for engagement with a latch 172, Fig. 7 this latch bein pivoted at 173 on a metal bracket 174. Many of the partsnow to be described are shown in Fig. 7 in two positions, the full line position showing normal operation when the printing mechanism is to n'int on the envelope. Integral with latch 17 2 is an arm 175, the free end of which is in proximity to a lever arm 17 6 pivoted at 177 on a sheet metal bracket 178 and having an integral off-set lever arm 176. Coactiug with lever arm 176 is a hand lever 17 9 pivoted at 180 to a pair of brackets 181 mounted on a. transverse supporting plate 182 (Fig. 4). Coiled tension springs 183 secured at one end to lever 179 and at the other end to bracket 181 act on the principle of atoggle to yieldingly hold lever 179 in one or the other of the two positions shown in the drawings.

When the envelope comes through between the sealing rolls, it engages a row of yielding fingers 184 (Figs. 7 and 11) all of which are rigidly secured to a casting 185 pivoted on a pair of stub shafts 186. Thus casting 185 is suspended between supporting arms 187 and 188. The former is bolted to the side plate 152 as shown in. Fig. 11, and the latter is bolted to the under surface of the hinged extension 149 of the cover plate 14, as shown in 11. Casting 185 carries a pair of integral lugs through which is a shaft 189. Pivoted on that shaft is a pawl 190, the working nose of which engages with one arm 191 of a bell crank leverpivotcd at 192. Another arm 193 of the bell crank lever has its working nose against the lowermost notched corner of latch 172.. A compression spring 194 bears at one end on a shoulder 195 integral with latch 172 and arm 175 and bears at its other end on a shoulder 196 integral with arms 191 and 193.

With the elements in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 the operation is as follows:

An envelope 125 moving forward through the sealing rolls will strike fingers 184 and swing them upward to the dotted position, simultaneously rocking arm 185 about pivot 186. The tail end of pawl 190 engages casting 185 and 197 and so is forced to move forward into the dotted position, thereby swinging arm 191 about its pivot 192 and thus disengaging arm 193 from dog 171. Spring 194 effects unlatching as soon as the latch is released, forcing latch 172 into the dotted position. This leaves dog 171 free to turn, thus releasing the printing roll so that it can be driven by the frictional engagement between sleeve 159 and the wooden sleeve 156 on which it is mounted. This brings the printing die and type into rolling engagement with the moving envelope as it passes over roller 137 and in properly timed relation thereto. But after dog 171 swings through the greater part of a circle its nose strikes the lower edge of arm 175 which then is being held in the dotted line position by spring 194 with its tail end seated against the under face of bracket 174, forcing that arm upward and thus forcing latch 172 back to the full line position, while the bell crank lever 193, under theaction of spring 194, resumes its original position and locks the latch 172. Ultimately dog 171 strikes again on latch 172 and is stopped thereby.

Effective driving connection between dog 17.1 and sieeve 159 is effected by means of three pins 198, 199 and 200, and a leaf spring 201. These pins project from flange 160 of sleeve 159. The spring is wrapped around pin 199 and has one end hooked under pin 200, and the other end riding on the upper edge of dog 171. Pin 198 serves as a stop for the dog. As soon as the printing drum has made part of a revolution the rubber face 161 of flange 160 engagesthe eniielope and assists in driving the printing rol With the several parts restored to their initial position, as above described, pawl 190 can clear the lower corner of arm 191, but to swing that pawl completely back to the full line position, there is provided a spring 202 coiled about pivot 189 as shown in Fig. 11.

The foregoing description illustrates the normal printing operation with the imprint of the type timed to fall on. the stamp and adjacent parts of the envelope, the printing drum making but one revolution for each envelope and in timed relation with the movement of that envelope.

l Vhen the machine is to be used for sealing envelopes without doing any printing on them, hand lever 17 9 (Fig. 7 is thrown upward into the dotted position thus bringing its arm 203 against the beveled end of lever arm 176, forcing that end downward. The opposite lever arm 176 is thereby forced upward engaging arm 175 and acting as a stop against downward swinging movement thereof. Then when an envelope comes through, the resultant swinging of bell crank lever 193 and compression of spring 194 cannot operate to swing latch 172, but leaves that latch in permanent engagement with dog 171. Under these conditions the printing drum will not rotate.

To give adequateclearance for transit of the envelope on which no printing is to be done, flange 160 and its rubber face 161 are fiat for a portion of their periphery as shown in Fig. 8, and so do not touch the travelling envelope and are not driven thereby, there being adequate clearance beneath the flat face as shown in Fig. 10.

The die holder is so constructed that for this locked condition of the printing mecha nism there is adequate clearance between it and the lower printing roll 137, as will be clear from Fig. 6.

The means for supplying ink to the printing die and type comprises an inking roller 204 (Fig. 6) rotatable on a pivot 205 which is supported between the lower ends of a pair of arms 206 which in turn are pivoted on a bar 207 and are connected together along one edge by an integral strap 208. Bar 207 is supported in a U-shaped bracket 209 bolted to plate 149. This U-shaped bracket has a downwardly extending finger 210 which carries a pair of bolts 211 over each of which fits a horizontal coiled spring 212. The other ends of those springs are seated over the ends of bolts threaded into strap 208. These bolts also secure in position on strap 208, a bent plate 213 which serves as a cam. The means forcamming that plate downward about the pivot shaft 207 and thereby swinging the inking roll 204 into. the dotted position and out of contact with the printing die, comprises a roller 214 mounted on the bent end of a push bar 215. That roller is provided with shrouds 216 which 'run along on the under surface .of bracket 2029. Rod 2'15v is slotted for. guidance over a screw 217 carried by bracket 178. The other end of push bar 215 is pivoted to a bell crank lever 218, like lever 179 of Fig. 7. ".Yith the parts in the position shown in Fig. lithe inking roller is against the printing fun-face and .by raising leve'r218 to the dotted position the inking roller can .be thrown out of action. I 1

' trap 208 is so positioned that it'almost contacts with the under surface of bracket 209 when the inking roller is working thus allowing proper contact with the type and yet whenthe type faces have passed from contact preventing the inking roller from swinging far enough forward to ink or smear the irregular surfaces of the die holder.

Cozmtz'ng mechanism.

As a means for keeping count of the number of envelopes or other articles on which-a printed impression has been made, use is made of the cam 163 which, as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 10, is rigidly mounted on sleeve 159 and rotates-therewith i Cam 163, (Fig. 10),-in addition to being firmly clamped againstcheek plate 162 by nut 163 on sleeve 159, has a horizontal pin 198 F 7 and 8),,heretofore mentioned,

which protrudes through cheek plate 162and fiange 160, thereby anchoring cam 163 to the adjacent parts and compelling it to rotate therewith.

As shown in Fig. 8, cam 163 is engaged by a roller 219 mounted on the end of a swinging arm 220 which is rigidly attached to a horizontal rock shaft 221 pivoted in bracket 178. Also secured to rock shaft 221 is a second arm 222 carrying at its outer .end a pin for engagement in the bifurcated end of a finger 224 rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 225. Shaft 225 is the rock shaftof a counter as hereinafter described. I

Inasmuch as cam 163 (Fig. 8) rotates clockwise, its engaging roller 219 will be cam'med out and back once foreach revolu tion of the printing drum. 1

hen the printing drum is inactive, the counter is likewise inactive, and to render the counter inactive while leaving the printing drum active, there is provided a disengaging'mechanism now to'be described by reference to Figs. 4, 8 and 9. V

A hand lever 226 identical in detail with hand lever 179 and mounted alongside the latter on plate 182 at the end of the-machine is arranged for rocking movement 011 a pivot 1227 Its bentend 228 (Fig. 8) ispositioned to strike against an arm 229 mounted toswing about a rigid vertical bolt 230. In

tegral with arm 239 and offset vertically with respect thereto is a second and smaller arm 231 (Fig.4) which can swing 1n a horizontal plane andwhih engages one end of upward A coiled compression spring-232 This same spring,

to hold roller 219 against the working face of cam 163 during normal operation of the counting mechanism, and likewise controls the swing of the associated parts. Connection is established between rock shaft 221 and acounter 223 of usual type (Fig.4) by means of the arm 222 and its associated swinging arm 224. Counter 233 is detachably bolted to a bracket 234 which in turn is bolted to the side plate 151, thereby making the counter easily accessible for removalwhen occasion requires. The upperfor.

reading face of the counter protrudes through plate 149 as shown in Fig. 8.

The hinged extension of the cover plate (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 amid).

intricate parts of the printing drum and its die holder. v I

Referringto F gs. 3, 5 and 15, and for convenlence viewing Fig. 15 upside down,

is freeto turn inside plates 151 and 152 and at each end is held against longitudinal there will be found .a main shaft 235 which movement by a washer 236 and a belt 237 V tapped into the shaft as shown in Fig. 3..

Immediately adjacent the washer 236, the shaft 235 has a square cross section to ac? commodate a handle 238 on the. side face of which is an eccentric circular shoulder .239

for engagement/with a circular recess in a swinginglatch 240. Thuslatch 240 is free to swing on shoulder 239, and the latter acts as a cam to raise or lower 240 as viewed in transverse pin 244(Fig. 15) carried by latch 240 is movable with the latchback and forth across a slot 245 in side plate 151, but limits swinging movement of the latch.

Handle 238 has an extension 246 (Figs. 5

is to be inserted. WVith the die in its final and 15) traversed by a horizontal pin 247 which is positioned to strike against the adjacent edge of latch 240. At the other end of shaft 235 is a similar handle 248 and associated adjuncts as just described.

l/Vhen the hinged extension 149 is swung from the inverted position shown in Fig. 15 to the normal working position shown in Fig. 5, the operator takes hold of handles 238 and 248, or either of them, and after pushing the pair of latches 240 into position beneath the projections 242 turns handies 238 and 248 and their associated shaft 235 to cam latches 240 upward into tighter engagement with projections 242, thus looking the hinged element tightly in place and preventing it from rattling or from working loose when the printing mechanism is running at high speed. -Side play of the hinged extension 149 is prevented by a pair of lugs 249 at the corners most remote from pivot 150 where they overlap the side plates 17 and 9, as indicated in Fig. 5.

lVhen the hinged member is to be released and again lifted, the operator takes hold of handles 238 and 248, oreither of them, and came the latches 240 downward to release their grip on projections 242,'an'd this movement of the handles is continued until pin 247 strikes against the adjacent edge of latch 240 and forcibly backs hooks 241 away fromprojection 242.

The die holder and dies (Figs. 12 to 34).

The die holder 165 (Fig. 22 has a circular bore so that it will slip over sleeve 159 (Fig. 21), that circular bore flaring out-' wardly at each end to accommodate the conical collars 164 and 166 (Fig. 18) as heretofore explained. The periphery of the die one face, the die holder is provided with a slot 252 having undercut or dovetail edges. The die 253 for use in this slot 252 is shown in Fig. 26 and comprises a segment of a cylinder into which removable'type can be inserted as hereinafter explained. On the bottom of this segmental die is a tongue 254 dovetailed to lit in slot-252. To guard against inadvertent substitution of another die in place of this one, there is provided on tongue 254 a lug 255 so positioned that it can slide as a key along a slot 256 (Fig. 24). This arrangement also insures against inserting the die in the guideway wrong end to. To hold the die in proper working position in the guideway, there is provided a spring-pressed cylindrical plunger 2 57 travelling in a cylindrical hole in die 165. There is a thumb piece 258 on this plunger by which it canbe retracted when the die position, thumb piece 258 is released and spring 259 advances the plunger, bringing a lug 260 at the upper end thereof into looking engagement with a slot 261 (Fig. 26) in the lower face of the die. bear the name of the post office in raised letters thereon, and within the circular printing area thus provided for, may be set up with movable type, a date, hour and year in the manner now to be described.

Within the die 253 is a rectangular recess (Fig. 32) into which is fitted a type 262 having a width equal to that of the recess. Other type bars 263 (Fig. 34) of half that width can be inserted in pairs to carry the month, the day of the month, the hour, and whether morning or afternoon. All of these type bars are provided mid-way their length with a cylindrical cut 264 (Fig. 34) so that there is formed a cylindrical passage through the group of type. Holes are provided in the die in alignment therewith. A spring key 265 isinserted through these cylindrical holes to lock the type in the die. This spring key 265 is of unusual shape and func- This die can tions in an unusual way. It is made from a flat strip of resilient metal and comprises a pair of arms 265 connected together by an.

integral leaf-spring which also serves as a handle,-as shown in Fig. 35. Each arm is bent backward at 265 to form a finger 265 which engages the type to be held by contacting therewithalong the upper and lower corners of the finger, as shown in Fig. 33. When this spring is compressed from its expanded condition,-shown in Fig. 35, and is inserted into the cylindrical hole through the die and type the two fingers 265 assume a relation parallel to one another and are urged outward against the dies partly through resiliency at'the bend 265 and partly because of resiliency at the handle portion ofthe key. The frictional engagement is so good that the key does not work loose and yet it can beeasily and quickly removed by an unskilled operator without theaid'of any special tools.

Referring againto Fig. 22, there will be found a second slot'267 similar in all essential respects to slot 252 into which can be inserted the die 268 of Figs. 28 to 30. This die 268 has a dove-tailed tongue 269, the

In order that die 268 may bear the permit Ill) number of the user of the machine, itis re- 7 cessed along one edge to receive an auxiliary die 275 which can he slipped into place while the die is being pushed into its slot 267. The dove-tail tongue 276 and the beveled vertical sides of this auxiliarydie lock it in working position.

It is the function of die 268 to cancel the stamp on the envelope, as shownin Fig. 36, and to print adjacent to the canceled stamp the mailers post mark permit number. Adm jacent thereto but printed by the other die of the printing drum is the name of the post oflice, the date, the hour and the year ofcancellation. I

i As a. convenient means for holding the die against rotation while changes in the type are being in de there is provided a latch 277 (Figs. '12 and 15) pivoted on a stub shaft 278 and provided with a weight 279 at its outer end.

W hen the printing mechanism is in working position this latch 27'? is in the position shown in F 12, with its upper end resting against the inwardly bent end 152 of side plate 152, .being held in that position by weight 279, and with its latching nose280 out of contact with anything. But when the cover plate extension 149 is swung upward about bolts 150 into the inverted position shown in Fig. 15, Weight 279 will drop down by gravity and bring the latch ing nose 280 into engagement with the cylindrical collar 166 (Fig. 10), in position to drop into notch 169, or into notcl 170 (Fig. 15). When in notch 169, the die of Figs. 25427 lies uppermost, and is easily accessible to permit sliding Withdrawal of the die. 265 can be reached conveniently for withdrawal to release the type, which then can be picked out one by one with tweezers. When the other die is to be removed, the operator puts his finger under the laterally bent tail 281 of latch 27? and lifts weight 27 9 to swing latching nose 280 out of engagement with slot 169. The the can then be turned 90 and the latching nose will drop into slot 170 thus holding the die of Figs. 2830 uppermost while its springpressed plungeris being retracted and the die slipped out of its slot.

The drive (Figs. 1, 2, and

pulleys. The shaft 139, which is the shaft of the lower printing roll 137, is driven through Similarly, spring key a belt 310 and a pulley 311 from the sealing rolls, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pulley 311 is slightly smaller than pulley 309 so that the printing rolls tend slightly to pull the envelopes from the sealing rolls, the ultimate tension on the'envelope being safe-guarded by a ratchet connection between sleeve 306 and the lower sealing roll 123. 7

To operate the machine, the addressed and tilled envelopes are placed horizontally in a stack on the receiving platform, with their guunued flaps hanging down in shingled re rolls where the postage stamp is'canceled andthe nai'ue of the post oilice and the date and hour and the users permit number are printed adjacent to the canceled stamp. The result is the same whether the postage stamp is a part of the envelope or is an adhesivestamp, for the machine is equally effective with either type of envelope.

The printing rolls can be thrown out of action at the will of the operator, the counting mechanism can be thrown out of action without interruption to the printing, and the inking roll can be thrown out of action at any time. There is no occasion for Gov ernment supervision of the counting mechanism, for each envelope bears full postage of the proper denomination, whether that postage be in the form of an imprint in the envelope or in the form of an ordinary postage stamp stuck on with adhesive. Data furnished by the counting mechanism is of interest, not to the Government, but to the user of the machine.

The user ofa permit number in the printed inscription is a safe-guard against abuse of the privilege of depositing at the post oflice, in bulk, stamped envelopes on which I the stamps have been canceled by some one other than a Government employee.

As will be clear from the above description, the machine is capable of a wide variety of uses in the handling of filled envelopes. It can, of course, be operated as a simple sealing machine, orveven as a mere counter of cards and like fiat objects, the latter result being efiected by removing the die and throwing the inking roll out'of action, thus permitting the cards to trip the printing drum, and thereby actuate the counter, but without at the same time receiving any imprint from the printing dies.

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

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a stationary shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, a pulley fixed to said sleeve, a. printing drum journalled on said sleeve and having a frictional engagement. therewith, a power driven lower roll having a driving connection with said pulley, means for holding said printing drum stationary with respect to said sleeve, means for at times releasing said holding means, and a rubber faced flange on said printing drum for at times establishing a driving connection between said drum and said lower roll.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a stationary shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, a pulley fixed to said sleeve, a printing drum journalled on said sleeve, said drum having a frictional engagement with said sleeve and capable of turning relative thereto, a power driven lower roll having a driving connection with said pulley, means initially holding said printing drum against rotation with said sleeve, a release for said holding means, said release being positioned for actuation by an approaching'envelope, and said printing drum including a rubber faced flange which is cut away along one side, whereby a driving connection is established between said printing drum and an envelope passing between said drum and said lower roll.

3. In a machine of the character described, a power driven lower roll, a cover plate having a hinged extension extending over said roll, means suspended from said hinged extension including a printing drum and means for establishing a driving connection between said printing drum and said lower roll when said extension is in the normal position, said drum and said driving means being adapted to be inverted when said extension is swung over into contact with said cover plate, and a latch for engaging said printing drum while in this inverted position to hold it against rotation while adjustments are being made.

In a machine of the character described,

a power driven lower roll, a cover plate having a hinged extension extending over said roll, a printing drum carried by said hinged extension, and means carried by said extension for at times establishing a driving connection between said lower roll and said printing drum when said extension is in the normal position, said printing drum and said connecting means being readily accessiole when said extension is folded over against said cover plate.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cover plate having a hinged extension, a printing drum and means for controlling the operation of said drum suspended from said hing-ed extension, a latch for holding said extension in'working position and a manually'operat-ive cam for tightening saidlatch to lessen vibration.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cover plate having a hinged extension, a printing drum suspended from said extension in position to be turned bottom side up when said extension is swung over to contact with said cover plate, and a latch for engaging said printing drum while in this inverted position to hold it against rotation while adjustments are being made, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cover plate having a iinged extension, a printing drum suspended from said extension in position to be turned bottom side up when said extension is swung over to contact with said cover plate, and a gravity actuated latch automatically engaging said printing drum when in the inverted position, thereby holding said drum against accidental rotation while changes are being made in said drum.

8. In a machine of the character described,

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

JOHN W. ESKHOLME.

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