US1790442A - Numbering head - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1931. J. H. REINHARDT NUMBERING HEAD Filed Jan. l1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Bf/yl /JATTORNEY wm i NUMBERING HEAD Filed Jan. 1l, 1929 #Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /TTORNEY Jan. 27, 1931. J. H. REINHARDT NUMBERING HEAD Filed Jan. ll, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Jan. 27, 1931. J. H. RElNHARm NUMBERING HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.

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Saw E mm 07 BY f ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1931Y 1 senr orales EAMES H. REINHARDT., ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, OF NEVI YORK, iN.V Y., A CORPORATIUN 0F NEW YORK nUifiBle-nina nnen `Applfcatuin led'J'anuary 11, 1923. Serial No. 1331/7652,.V

The invention relates to numbering heads, and more particularly to a numberingliead 1n which the digit wheels of the lower denominations receive a timely positive actuation by Y mechanisms incorporated in Vthe numbering machine proper, as 'distinguished from'that type of numbering head including therein transfer mechanisms through which power-is transmitted from, or as a result of the actua.- tion of, a digit wheel of lower denomination to a digit wheel of higher denomination.

l-leretofore, it has been the common practice to construct numbering heads in which the actuation of the various digit wheels is determined solelyv by a mechanism-or mechanisms actuated or controlled by a digit wheel or wheels of lower denomination than the wheel to be actuated.

The numbering heads most extensively used have included therein a swing frame carrying a spring pressed multiple toothed pawl, known as a comb pawl, the teeth of which are of progressively decreasing length, and are adapted to enter sockets or recesses in the digit wheels respectively,` or in a ratchet wheel secured thereto. Acting upon the several digit wheels were a plurality of spring pressed detent or holding 'and alining pawls. rlhe swing frame carrying the comb pawl was actuated by a plunger which was depressed upon engagement with the tympan of the impression cylinder or a striker member so as totension the springs acting upon the plunger and develop suiiicient energy Y therein to provide the power necessary .to turn one or more of the digitv wheels accordnr ing to the setting of the comb pawl. vThis eX# tensively used type of numbering headrequired the cutting of the inlring rollers of the numbering machine by which the digit wheels were inhed, since the actuating plunger, to permit the development of energyy in the springs acting thereon byV the tympan or platen Vof the impression cylinder or the striker member, was required to project considerably beyond the printing surface of the characters upon the'digit wheels. In this old type of numbering head, various automatically acting safety locks wereused as to each digit wheel to avoid possible improper turning of wheels for various reasons.

Furthermore, the springs acting upon the bank nots bonds stocks and other neootiable' 9 7 C instruments, wherein a possible duplication of numbers involved great Awastage of time and material, great care had to be exercised, during the operation of a numbering machine fitted with such heads, tov quickly detect any failure'of the numbering Iheads as a result of breakage of any of the numerous springs upon which the perfect actuation of the head was dependent. j y

Numbering heads, differing in construction from those above referred to, as to the actuating mechanism and the transfer mechanism, have been used, but all such numbering heads, irrespective of the type, Vhave contained' a. single actuating member through which power was directly or indirectly va'pplied to all of the digit wheels embodied in the numbering head. Furthermore, 'all such numbering heads vembodied, a number of" springs opera-tive upon different parts of the produced a numbering head in which there-V are no s rinffs actin@ directl or indirectlTT b n .l

upon the various digit wheels, nor upon the mechanisms' actuating same, thus ensuring' positive movement of lthe various digit wheels and lavoiding a possible failure of their progressive actuation.

'ln the nui'nbering head ofthe invention, each of certain of the digit wheels of lower denomination is provided with its own actuating member, co-operating with a member Aforming a part of the numberinghead ma-- chine itself. Each of" these digit wheelsthus receives a timely,.direct Aactuation ifrom a source of power, by a mechanism independent of that acting upon 'other `digit wheels, the

movements of each wheel not being caused or controlled in any way by the movements of the adjacent v-Jheel. 'l`his utilization o t' independent means for the actuation of the wheels of lower denomination, not only avoids the necessity for the employment of transfer mechanisms of any kind to these wheels, but precluc es possibility of the failure of any wheel to be properly turned as required because of the brealAY ge, or less of adjustment, of delicate mechaL isms in the numbering head itself.

A great advantage of a numbering head embodying the invention is that notwithstandin the necessity for cempactness in its stcture, and the necessity for the use to secure iioning of ght delicate whole may be of more or less light delicate pa this compactness, the proper tu' L on l.

the head is not dependen'u up mechanisms, and the head as made very strong and ruggc i.

lilith the class of work for which the numbering head of the invent-ion is particularly designed, a plurality of longitudinally eX- tending rows of numbering heads are used upon the cylinder ofthe number ig i achine, and the numbering heads of each row are required to be not only in alinement with each other, but capable of adjustment longitudinally of the cylinder to secure the spacing of different units of each row in relation to each other, to properly position the numbers with regard to their relative location on a previously printed sheet upon which the numbers are to be impressed.

ln view of this condition, the numbering head of the invention is so constructed that a plurality of alined units may be incorporated in the same numbering head construction, the digit wheels of each unit being actuated by the same mechanism operative upon the corresponding digit wheels of the other units, each of the units being adjustable in relation to said actuating means and to each other for the purpose of securing the longitudinal adjustment thereof above referred to. Furthermore, the numbering head as a whole may be adjusted cricumferentially of the numbering head cylinder of the machine to secure a proper spacing of each row of numbering head units in relation to other rows.

rlhe various digit wheels of each unit all rotate about the same aXis, and while it is possible with one of the wheels to have the actuating mechanism 'co-axial therewith and act directly thereon, with the other positively actuated wheels it is necessary that they be actua-ted indirectly by an actuating` mechanism not concentric with the axis of the digit wheels actuated thereby. The reason for this will appear more fully hereinafter.

rlhe utilization of independent actuating means for corresponding digit wheels of different units of the numbering head permits,

if desired, the use of two closely adjacent parallel rows of digit wheels in each unit, and the simultaneous actuation of the digit wheels of each row of the same denomination by the same actuating mechanism, thus permitting close spacing of the numbers impressed upon the sheet, not only because of the close juxtaposition of the digit wheels in the parallel rows of each unit, but of the bringing of adjacent numbering heads, into such close relation as to secure the proper position of all of the numbers throughout even a large sheet of paper.

t is the common practice, in the class of work for which the numbering head of my invention was produced, to limit the run of a machine to one thousand sheets with each settiin;l of the numbering head units,'and then to reset all of the numbering heads for a succeeding run. lith this condition, it is only necessary to provide an actua-ting mechanism for the units, tens and hundredths digit wheels, and to have the thousandths wheel automatically actuated by a transfer mechanism. Consequently, l incorporate in each unit, a transfer mechanism actuated by the hundredths wheels and operative upon the thousandths wheel of that unit. rlhe wheels above the thousandths wheel in denomination are actuated only when setting the head, which is hand work. l provide, in each nurnberinO head unit, however, a manually operable rock which may be released to permit the hand setting of wheels of denomination above a thousand, and set to hold such wheels against rotation after they have once been properly set. This is permissible since the automatic actuation of such wheels is not required in the operation of the machine.

Prior to each run of the machine, it is always necessary to set the various thousandths wheels by hand; and to permit a rapid setting of such wheels,l so construct and position the transfer mechanism by which power is applied to the thousandths wheel tarough the huinlredths wheel shaft, as to malte the mecha ismv inoperative in a manner to permit the turning of the thousandths wheels independently of this mechanism and restore the parts to their normal operative relation after the hand setting of the thousandths wheel.

Since, under some conditions, it may be necessary to hand set digit wheels of a denomination below the thousandths wheel, l so construct the actuating mechanism for each of these wheels as to permit the disconnection of the actuating mechanism from the source of power to facilitate such hand sci,- ting of such digit wheels, the means employed being readily accessible so that the digit wheel actuating mechanism may be reconnected with the source of power following the hand setting of the wheels.

l i also provide in the numbering head a straightening bar operative upon the automatically actuated digit wheelsof each unitto bring all of the digit wheels of the unit into proper accurate alinement Jfollowing the actuation of such digit wheels or any of them.

V17 hile digit wheels of corresponding denomination in the dierent units of each numbering head receive movement from the same actuatingmember,each unit is so constructed that the positively actuated digit wheels of each unit may be adjusted in relation to its actuating member seas to permit the characters thereon to be brought into proper alinement lwith the characters upon other digit wheels of the same unit.

Each numbering head is so constructed that it may be quiclrly and conveniently mounted upon, or removed from, the numbering head cylinder to facilitate the malreready of the numberingmachine and changes in the makeready, according to the requirements of the work to be done upon the numbering machine.

rlhe invention consists primarily in a numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, a

numbering unit having a frame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said .digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said independently rotatable wheels, and a gear carried by each of the other of said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel; and in such other `novel features of construction and combination of parts, as are hereinafter set forth and c.escribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

leterring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a laterally condensed side view of a numbering head embodying the invention, showing adjacent portions of the numbering machine Cto-operating with the head, the various wheels and gears or' one of the printing units being omitted; i

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view from'the lett of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 4 is a section on the line lli-i of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is al cross section of one of the units showing the gearing arrangement `for actuating the thousandths wheel;`

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the ing arrangement for actuating the dredths wheel;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the gearing arrangement for actuating the tens wheel;

Fig. 8 is a. similar view showing the geargearhuning arrangement associated with the units wheel; Y

' Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the transfer mechanism for actuating the thousandths wheel;

Fig. l0 is side View upona .greatly enlarged scale of one of the printing units and the straightening mechanism associated therewith; Y Y Y Fig. ll is a plan view of Fig. l0, both oi these iigures showing only a single/set of digit wheels Fig. l2 is a side elevation, showing in detail the straightening mechanism; and

'Fig 13 is a plan view oi' the mechanism shown in F ig. l2. Y

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment oi the invention shown inthe drawings, the numbering head cylinder is shownA at 20, and the numbering headactu-i ating gears forming a part of the numbering machineiare shown 21, 22 and 23 respectively. The mechanism for operatingthese gears is not herein shown, since such. is a part or the numbering machine and not oi the numbering. heads used thereon. lt is recessary, however, for ay proper understai. i of the mode oinA operation of the numberhead, to .explain that these gears 2l, 22 a... 23, throughout the major portion of cach rotation ot the cylinder 20, rotate with said cylinder,'but` that following the completion ot the printing operation by all ot the numbering heads upon'the cylinder, and prior to the succeeding inking operation, these gears 2l, 22 and 23, as required for the progressive actuation ot the various numbering heads, have rotary movement independently of the cylinder 2O to the extent of one tooth, so as to simultaneously impart a one-tenth revolutionA to the various digit wheels actuated therethrough. Thegear 2l receives such an impulse withA each revolution of the cylinder 20; the gear 22 receives such an impulse upon each tenth revolution oi said cylinder, and the gear 23 receives such an impulse upon each one-hundredth revolution ci said cylinder. Y

The numberino' machine itseli2 is a Vspecially constructed machine, and the numbering heads made the subject matter of this applicat-ion are adapted for use only with a machine in which gears such as 2l, 22 and 23 are operated in the manner above described.v

rlhe numbering head proper embodies therein a bridge member 2l, having end brackets 25 and 26, one or both ot which is removablein relation to saidbridge to facilitate theassembly of the numbering head and a change in the number of units embodied therein, as required. This bridge is provided with a depending rib 27 adapted to bear upon an intermediate rim 28 upon the cylinder 20, 'for the purpose of alo'rding support for the itt uit.

rib

rit

bridge at a point or points intermediate the ends thereof.

The ends oi the cylinder 20 are pre Yided with an overhang circuinterentially exten-:l-

ing` bevel 29, as shown, which co-operates With means for securing` the br'd f elution to said evli ler While nerr? itt. circufi tially thereof.

Cooperating with the brilge rember 24, aid Vith the bevel 2S, is a oe dfg h screw threaded oper k' therein ci' by tl.c screw threaded rod fil. S 1 eunted on said 1 od -s a dogv simila lo@` "O and aced upon by a cellar and the rod 3l is provider. v th an operati ig, head y Tlile s and arc not made inte ri'lge 2e, t'iey nevertheless ferm a part o lis br'dge structure and are ien'iovable therei 1th.

iclrets *si and et the iree shaft 35, 35 and 3.7 whi h s to permit the gears 38, oi) e spectively to int-sli 2l, 22 and 23 ei the numbering liiacn et these gears 38-39-40 e shafts carrying saine ta of a revolution with gears 2l, 22 and 23. top et the bridge 24: is undercut, as i in Fig. Ll, to permit numbering head unit or units to be lirmly mounted thereon and secured thereto While at the same time permitting adjustment of each unit longitudina'dy of the bridge 2e' and of the cylinder 20. Supported by the bridge 2% is one or more numbering head units, each of Which is exact replica ot every other, so that a detailed description ot but one oi these units is necessary. The number or' alined numbering head units in each head and their spacing in relation to each other, longitudinally of the bri lge 2l, is determined solely by the character of Work required, as is the number and arrangement of the numberingheads upon the cylinder 20. r

in the accompanying drawings, Figs. l and n n no es ch dovetail with the undercut top of t ie bridge 2d, thus holding the unit firmly in position upon the bridge while permitting,- it te be moved longitudinally tl ereot, when required *o secure the proper spacing; et the in in to each other and te the d igns upon usly printed sheet.

v l els proper, for a single nunby, nd ee-al nl mnh, one ,he drawings. I@ne be, the units digit e :recur-ed te said ziiuglredths Wheel 8 and the Wheels adaptr "i. a twi head, the operation et the second .eet t" l ls i f ly a matter oi the use s conneetii e the digit h the eric-sperm .ng duin t eiation with e t c iv'iees of the other set, or

t 'i s ceriaiu lgear veeel; ei a di '1 heer carried by and rotatable therevith. This vvill ap- )ear more tull7 hereinafter.

t Whoo s Ale, 4A() and i8 rarn l tee d f tween the digit wneels an(4 digit wheel nid one end or Well p Wheels d 4'! and 48, and pover means as te the wheel Lie, 'tor causing the aetuation, when desired, of the other units Wheel ol" a twin head.

The ui. its digit Wheel, being; connected to the sleeve 42, wiil receive ene-tenth et a revolution with each impulse imparted to the shaft oy the gears 2l and 3S. lt is obvious, however, that this shaft cannet be utilized. 'for and Conseone-tenth et a re et thA shalt by the gears 50 ai ter than the d t vfheels te permit the inking and the malrii of an imprint by said Wheels, l transmit motion 'from the gear to the di; i an intermediate gear 52 idly mounted upon the sleeve 44, which Gear 52 is enniesheik with tl ried by said tens Wheel 4K6. t is obvious that the gear 5l, through. the sleeve 4:3 and shaft 3G, acts solely to rotate the tens Wheel 46. rlhe gears 5l and 52 each have ten teeth.

The hundredths Wheel l-T, as stated, carries two gears, but this is largely a matter of convenience and strength, While this Wheel and 22. Since ie gear 50 carllO 47 is, like the wheel 46idly mounted upon the sleeve 42, it is actuated by means of twin gears 53 carried by and rotatable` with the sleeve 44, which in turn is connected with the shaft 87, so that the hundredths wheel 47 receives one-tenth of a revolution with cach ilse said shaie 87 by the gears and i VEhe gears 53, however, instead ot transmitting power through an intermediate gear to the hundredths wheel 47, are directly enmeshed with the gears carried by that wheel. It is thus obvious that the hundredths wheel will` receive one-tenth oi' a revolution vit-h each impulse of the shaft 37 by the gears 40 and 23. Hence the units, the tens'and `the hundredths wheels are each actuated by their own independent sha'tg'the progressive acnation oie'such wheels is determined by the iunct-ioning the gears 21, and 23 of the numbering machine, and no transfer mechanisms Vwhatever are einployed, nor is there any Vtransiter mechanism between the hundredths wheel 47 and the thousandths wheel, which is also mechanicali ly actuated as required during the progressive actua' ion oi the various digit Wheels.

rihis thousandths wheel 48, however, is also actuated from theshait S7 throuoh a Geneva stop movementconsisting of a driv-` ing single-toothed gear 54, having a all therein for receiving one arm of a rocking lock lever 56, the other arm of which engages the teeth oi' a ien-tooth gear 57 carried by a sleeve 58 mounted in the'trame 4l below the the sleeve 58, being connected therewith by a clutch member 59 which may be released at will in a manner, and for the purposes, hereinafter described in connection with the mechanisms provided by which the various numbering head units be Vcpuickly set `preparatory to a run of the numbering machine. Y

For the moment,t'he clutch member 59will f be considered Vmerely as a means oi connecte ing theigear 57 to the sleeve 58 for transmit- (ing power 'from' the shaft 37 tothe thousandt'hs wheel 48.

The sleeve 58 carries a gear GO rotatable therewith and meshed with a gear 61 idly mounted upon the sleeve 44, which gear in turn is enmeshed with the gear 50 of the digit wheel 48.

The remaining wheels 49, which may be of' Vany desired number, are merely Vidly mounted upon the sleeve 42 vwith suitable spacers separating them, ,these wheels always being hand set and never'being automatica'lly actuated.

VIt will be noted that the tens, the hundredths and the thousandths wheels oil' each unit are actuated by gears, either iixedly or idly mounted upon the sleeve 44, so that these gears may be used for alining or registering the various wheels actuated*therebyV so as to ensure a proper alinement of the printing characters following each actuation of the unit. In order to have this alining mechanism also act upon the units wheel, I idly mount, uponpthe sleeve 44, a gear wheel A62 enmeshed with the gear 50 of the units wheel 45.

Heretofore, I have described merely the combination andV relation of parts for a numbering head unit having a single set oi digit wheels. If it be desired to have two sets oi' such digit wheels, however, I mount upon trie sleeve 43, which is parallel with the sleeve 42, a units digit whee1 45a, a tens digit wheel 46a secured to and rotatable with the gear 51, a hundredths wheel 47a, a thousandths wheel 48a and wheels 49a of higher denomination. Each of the wheels 45a, 47a and 48a will have secured thereto a ten-toothed gear 50a, the wheel 47a having two such gears.

The gear of the wheel 45a will mesh with the gear 62, so that this wheel will be driven Jfrom the sleeve 42; the gear 46a will be driven directly from the sleeve 43; the Vwheel 47 a will 4be driven from the twin gears 58 in the same manner as the wheel 47, while the gear of the Vwheel 48a will be meshed with" 1ilsith a twin unit, the mechanisms for' alining or registering roperate upon both sets of wheels in exactly the same manner as though there were only a single set of wheels in Vthe head, since the power for operating y sleeve 44. The gear 57 is idly'mounted upon 'i the wheels of both sets is transmitted through exactly the same mechanisms, excepting as to the units and tens wheels, wherein, as to the former, there is an intermediate gear transmission, and as to the latter, there is a direct drive by a sleeve instead of through an intermediate transmission. i

INhile the thousandths wheel or wheels are actuated through a Geneva stop movement as described, this mechanism is not actuated as a result of the turning of the hundredths wheel, but merely as aV result of the turning ot the power shaft 'for actuating the hundredths wheel.-V Furthermore, the members of the Geneva stop mechanism are arranged eXterotary movement thereof.

Ordinarily, in the class of ,work for which icoV the numbering head of the invention is particularly'rdesigned, sheets are printed in lots of one thousand :for each run of the press,

and upon the completion of this run, the numbering head is reset preparatory to the sueceedingl run of one thousand sheets. lt is therefore highly desirable that means be provided, in connection with each unit, permitting' the disconnection of the thousandtns wheel from the means transmitting` power thereto so as to permit the quick resetting of the thousandths wheel. Since the wheels above the thousandths in denomination are always .hand set. thc means about to be described apply only to the thousandths wheel. ln fact throughout the construction of the numbering head, the wheels of different denominations in each unit, and their actuating means, are characterized by complete independence, one of the other, in all of their functions, the proper timing` in their operation being* under the control of mechanisms in the numbering,r machine and not in the head units themselves.

Referring'` first to the release mechanism for the wheel or wheels 48, the thousandthsl wheels, this is done by means of the clutch mechanism connecting the' driven gear 57 of the Geneva stop movement with the sleeve 5S by a mechanism which may be actuated by an ordinary hand tool, such as a screw driver, in ar manner to disconnect this clutch and keep it open until the thousandths wheel or wheels have been properly set. This clutch mechanism comprises a rod 63 slidably mounted in the sleeve 58, and carrying', at one end thereof, a pin 64 slidable in slots formed in the end of said sleeve 58. rllhe grear 57 is castellated, the pin 64 beine` adapted to enter between the prr'ijecting teeth of said near. rllhe other end of said rod G8 is enlarged as shown at G5, and reduced to a point, the sleeve 58 being shouldered as shown, so as to form a seat for a spring 66 acting between the shoulder therein and the enlarccd head of the rod 63.

tendency of this spring is to normally the pin 64@ with the gear 5.7.

Pivotally mounted upon one side of the frame il is a rocking; lever G7, one end of which engages the reduced end of the enlarged head G5, andthe other end of which is in engaa'eable relation with a screw 68, one side of the head of which is flattened to provide a cam surface for imparting oscillatory movement to the lever G? for the purpose of recinrocating` the rod (38 for disengagine the pin Gli from the gear 57, or permitting` the engagement of these parts under the influence of the spring Under extraordinary conditions, it may be necessary to hand set the units. tens or huiulredths wheels as well as the thousandths wheel and wheels of higher denomination. To permit the freeing of these wheels, the freeing of the shafts 3G and from the `gears 2l, 22 and 23, and the turnina` of these shafts incidental to the hand setting of the wheels actuated thereby, the

gears 38, 39 and 1Y0 are idly mounted upon the shafts 35, 3G and 37, and connected therewith respectively by crown gears 69, 'TO and 71, splined to the shafts 35, 36 and 37 respectively. These crown. or clutch ,gears (if), 70 and 7l are actuated by means of nuts 72, 73 and 7 (io-operating with screw threads upon the ends of the shafts 35, 36 and 37 respectively.

Slidably mounted upon (he numberinp,` head unit frame ll, adjacent the wheels Llil, is a plate having` its opposite edges reduced. the width of this plate beine` such as to permit it to enter between the raised portions of the wheels 49 upon which the printing characters are engraved and hold these wheels against rotary movement. The plate 75 is normally locked in position by means of a set screw 76. f twin sets of digit wheels are used, the plate 75 will act in the same manner upon both sets of wheels.

lllhile in a mnnberingV head in which no transfer mechanisms are employed, and in which the mechanically actuated difrit wheels are positively actuated, substantially all of the possibilities of a failure of the numberhead are avoided, nevertheless there is a` possibility of the loss of alinement of the characters in. excess of the permissible range, which is very small. due to wear of parts in the actuating mechanism.

To correct this condition, I provide the bridge 2li with an alininfg, refristering` or straightenin device operative upon the various gears 52, 6l and 62 which will, with each rotation of the cylinder 2() following the actuation of the four digit wheels of low deimminations` correct any slight loss of alinement, and preferably hold the wheels against displacement. however minute, during the hiking and the printingT operations. rlhe actuating` means for this alinine' device forms a part of the numbering machine.r and consists of a cam member concentric with the cylinder 20.

Specifically, the aliningr device comprises a slide 77, mounted in a slideway 7S formed in the bridge 2l directly below the vertical diameter of the sleeve fifi. This slide has, through the opposite 4walls thereof. spaced cam slots 79. the slide beine' troiurhed, as shown more particularly in Fie. i3.

Seated in the slide 77 is vertically reciprocatory bar 80, having a` slot 8l. extending' along,` the length thereof above the top of the slide 77. this bar beine`r provided with studs 82 entering' the cam slots T9 respectively. By this construction, the bar SO may have vertical recipractory movement imparted thereto by horizontal reiprocatory ino-vement of the slide 77.

Carried by the aliuing bar 8() within the frame il of each numbering head unit is a long straight tooth 83, conforming to and adapted to enter the alined spaces between Vtin teeth upon the gears 52, if the .teeth of any of t sli.t itly out of ati; n correct this condition o by properly tioning each of such also' properly position the digit Wheels cirtiairer1 therewith. w

rlhe tooth isprovided with a flange 34, adapted to enter the groove 31 in the bar 80, and an offset portion adapted to bring the tooth 33 d'rectly above the slide T? so as to avoid possible lateral play of the tooth.. ln fact, if desired, thevends of the tooth maybe seated in suitable guidewaysin the frame 41. It is desirable to so construct and arrange the straightening or alining bar and the tooth carried thereby, as to'jprovide a yieldable support positioned between the tooth and said ba r so as avoid the necessity for any particular nieetyin the adjustinentv of the actuating-mechanism for said bar.A This means, inthe form of the invention shown, comprises a bowed spring which will yield with excess movement of the bar 30 f"ll.oWing th(l engagement of the tooth 83 with the oears,

Saidv bar 80.V is provided atone end with l a pendant arm 8G, carrying an antiefriction :roller 87, movable in afcamslot 88 1n the fixed cam 89, which Wheel is concentric With the cylinder 20. This lcam slot is provided With a rise 90 and afall 91 Which are so po- Y sitioned as'to` actuate the-alining or straightening bar immediately following each impulse of the shafts 35, 36 or 37 so as to engage the teeth 83 with the'gears with which they co-operate as to each numbering headunit, and maintain this relation during the inking and printing intervals, thereafter Withdrawf ing said teeth fromV said gears preparatory to the ynext impulse of saidy shaft.V rlhe spring 85 is used merely to permit the teeth 83 to co-ope'rate with the teeth upon the gears to Vthe fullest possible e'xtentvvhile affording sufficient play to permit slight excess move? ment of the bar 80V Without likelihood of injuring the gears. s

in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, the parts areshown at about one-half their actual size,

except as to the thickness of thevarious gearsV ,1, cri-operating with the various digit Wheels,

which in order to shovv dimensions are'upon a slightly larger scale vthan in the actual numbering head units.

The various gears and the alining vor straightening teeth are `v`all hardened so as to minimize wear. The various digit Wheels are of theusualconstruction. The construction and assembly of these parts requires eX- tremely close Work. Y

In assembling the numbering head units, great difficultyl Was experienced in properly locating the feather `or spline connecting the various sleeves'42, 43 and'44 with the shafts 3,5, 36 and 37` Within the allovvedleeway., ap-

prexmetslr three `one-thnusardt.hs jef; en

' operates.

inch. To .correctthis conditioml adjustably connect each sleeve 4'2-,43-44 With its shaft by means. of an adjustable coupling consist- .ing of a collar, such as 92, 93 or 94, each having afeather projecting` into the keyWay 96 of the shaft With which it co-operates, so as to be freely slidable longitudinally of said shaft. Carried by each sleeve is acollar 97 98 or 99. The co-operating collars are paired together. y c

y One collar92-93 or 94 of each pair is provided withl .diametrically oppositev bearing shoulders such as 100 and 101, While the cooperating .collar of each pair 95-96 or 97 carries two diametrically opposite set- screws 102 and 103. The tWo collars` of each pair having a swiveling relation, so that by loosening or tightening said` screws, the sleeve carrying one of them, and the Wheel or gear carried thereby, be accurately adjustedV circuinferentially Vof the actuating shaft therefor, so as'to bring the wheel carried or actuated'fthereby into proper alinement withV the adjacent Wheels.

While, primarily, this is an assemblingoperation, the screws 102 and 103 may be used tol correct any lossr of alinement of a digit Wheel, due to any slight imperfections in the keyvvay in the actuating shaft for that sleeve.

This last named condition may arise as a reconnected lby suitable screws in the usualV man-ner.V Y The shafts 35,136 and37 are mounted inthe brackets 25 and 26, numbering units of the desired numberbeing mounted upon said shafts before one of the end brackets, as 2,6, is connected with the 'bridge 24, ofv

which it forms a-part. The adjustment for spacing the various units is done after the bridgeis mounted upon the cylinder 20. The shaft V35 passesthrough the sleeve42 ofall of the unitsof each bridge; the shaft 36 through all of thesleeves 43, and the shaft 37 through all of the sleeves 44, the feather 95, carried by each collar 92, 93 or 94, entering a keyWay in the shaft with which it co- The head structure in its entirety is assembled on the bench, and any adjustment of thescrews 102 and 103, necessary to properly line up the characters of the digit Wheels of each unit, may be done upon the bench, or

inder 20. Y Y Y When the head has been equipped -With the desired number of units,it is mounted upon the cylinder 20 by tightening the screw rod 3.1v after the does 3Q and 32 have. been sepa-- Vafter the mounting of the head uponthe cylrated and their bevelled edges positioned below the bevels 29 upon the cylinder 20. When a number of heads have been thus positioned upon the cylinder, they are severally adjusted circumferentially of the cylinder to secure a proper positioning of all heads upon the cylinder. and a proper spacing of the units et' each head in relation to the others before tightening said screw rods. 1li/hen so adjustingg the head, the clutch gears 69, and 71 may be disconnected from the gears 38, 39 and 40 so as to permit said gears to run idly about the machine actuated gears 21, 22 and 23 without actuating the digit wheels carried by, or positively actuated from, the shafts 35, 36 and 37.

lVhcn the digit wheels of each nit have been properly alined by means of the screws 102 and 103, if such alincment is required, the units of each numbering' head properly spaced longitudinallyT of the cylinder 20, and the various heads properly spaced circumferentially of said cylinder, the machine is ready for a hand setting of the digit wheels of each unit preparatory to the beginning' of a run of the numbering machine.

1n adjusting the various units longitudinally of the cylinder 20. they slide freely along the shafts 36 and 37. These shafts will vary in length according to the length of the cylinder 2O of the machine, which in turn is determined by the maximum width of sheet which the machine is required to accommodate.

With the shafts of the length ordinarily used, there may be slight deviation in the keyway cut in the shaft, from an absolutely true line, so that when the various Vunits have been properly set, with relation to each other, some of the digit wheels may be slightly out of alinement through an imperfection in the lreyway. The screws 102 and 103 may be used to correct this condition.

1n setting the machine, it is always necessary to change the thousandths wheel of each unit, and it may be necessary to also change the units, tens and hundredths wheel and wheels of a denomination above the thousandths. according to the numbers to be printed. 1 will assume that all of the digit wheels thus require to be set.

The crown gears 69, 70 and 71, being disengaged from the gears 38, 39 and 40, the various shafts 35, 36 and 37 may be turned relation to said gears 38, 39 and 40. The screw 68 is then turned so as to roch :the lever 67, thus thrusting the rod 63 longitudinally of the sleeve 58 and disengaging the pin 64 from the gear 57, thus disconnecting the sleeve 58 from the shaft 37 and permitting the turning of said shaft or of said sleeve, one independently of the other. Thereafter, the shaft 35 maybe turned to bring all of the units wheels actuated thereby to a position where, with the next actuation of the machine, the desired digit will be brought into the printing position. The shafts 36 and 37 are similarly turned to bring the proper digit in the 'desired position as to the tens and the hundredths wheels respectively. The thousandths wheel is then turned by means of hand pick. 1f high numbers are te be printed, the screw 7 6 may be released, and the plate 7 5 moved out of engaging relation with the digit wheels 49, and such of these wheels as are required for the desired setting of the unit, are turned by hand, and the plate reset and locked in position by means ofthe screw 76, since none of the wheels 49 are turned during the operation of the numbering machine.

Assuming that the sheets to be numbered have ten-on, arranged in five rows of two each, the thousandths wheels of the units of all numbering heads will be differently set, so that upon the completion of the run of a thousand sheets, there will be no duplication of numbers, and yet there will be ten thousand consecutively numbered imprints. Prior to the succeeding run of a thousand sheets, it will be necessary for the operator to again change the thousandths and the tens of thousandths wheels as to all of the units upon all of the numbering heads on the machine.

1t is for this reason thatmechanisms permit-ting the rapid resetting, particularly of the thousandths wheels, are desirable, and that the automatic actuation of the tens of thousandths wheel is not necessary.

When the digit wheels have been properly set by hand, the screw 68 is turned in a reverse position, thus permitting the spring` 66 to re-enpage the pin 64 with the gear 57, and the various nuts 72, 73 and 74 are turned to engage the crown gears 69, 70 and 71 with the gears 38, 39 and 40 to couple these gears to the shafts 35, 36 and 37.Y rlhe gears 69, 70 and 71 act in so setting the machine as to cause the transmission of power to the sleeves 42, 43 and 44 of all of the units embodied in a numbering head. The screws 68 and 76 are operative only as to each unit.

1f it be desired to operate the numbering machine a number of times to properly inl: the various digit wheels before beginning a run of the machine, the crown gears 69, 7 0 and 71 may be maintained out of engagement with the gears 38, 39 and 40 until this preinhing operation has been completed.

As heretofore stated, the timing in the actuation of the shafts 35, 36 and 37 is controlled by mechanisms in the machine proper.

Vhen the parts have been so set, the machine is ready for a run of a thousand sheets, or any multiple of a. thousand sheets, according to the setting of the thousandths wheels.

r1`he various units are secured in position upon the bridge 24 by means of the dovetailing between the frame 41 of each unit and said bridge, set screws also being used as to each unit forv locking'it against movement` longitudinally of the bridge.

As heretofore stated, the gears 2'1, 22 and 23 receive a timely actuation from mechanisms in the numbering machine. All of these gears rotate vvith the cylinder 20, and

during this rotation, the shaft- s 35, 36 and 37 Will not be turned, since the gears 38, 39 and 40, While enmeshed with the gears-2l, 22 and 23, are turning therewith. Y Y Y During each rotation of the cylinder 20, the gear-2l receives one impulse in excess of its turning movement With the cylinder 2G,

the length of this impulse being one tooth, so` that asthe gear 2l is thus turned, the shaft each ten revolutions of the cylinder, and the Y latter with eachone-hundred revolutions of the cylinder. Consequently, Vvvith each revolution of the cylinder 20, the units Wheel of each digit Wheel unit Will be advanced one i stage as a resuit of the rotation of the shaft of each numbering head, since all of the numbering heads are simultaneously actuated, as to the units, s tens or hundredths Wheels, bythe same gears v21, 22 and 23.

As the shaft 35 rotates, it will, as to each printing unit in each head, turn the sleeve 42 one-tenth ofy a revolution, and the units Wheel 45 carried thereby to the same extent. This shaft has no iniiuence Whatever upon any of the other digit Wheels of the various digit Wheel units. i V Y Upon each tenth revolution, theshaft 36 of each numbering head will turn the sleeves 43, of the various units of each numbering head, one-tenth of la revolution, the movement of this sleeve through the gear 51 and the intermediate gear 52, idly mounted upon the sleeve 44 and enmeshed With the gearV 50 of the tens Wheel 46, will impart one-tenth of a. revolution to the tens Wheel Which is idly i mounted upon the sleeve 42. The shaft 36 has tenth revolution, which movement, through the gears 53, enmeshed with the gears of the digit Wheel 47, will impart a one-tenth revolution to this Wheel. rlhe operation of the shaft 37, however, also serves to actuate the thousandths Wheel of each digit WheelV unit through the Geneva stop mechanism described, the sleeve 58 receiving one-tenth of` a revolution With each ten revolutions oftheV shaft 37. Therefore, the shaft 37 acts through' the gears 53 upon the hundredths Wheel, and

through the Geneva stop movement upon the thousandths Wheel, but the thousandths Wheel isnot actuated as a result of the turning Vof the hundredths vvheel, but merely by a mechanism Which does this turning,- and through a, mechanismthe Geneva stop movement, whichV has no influence Whatever upon the` operation ofthe hundredths'wvheel. Each of the gear Wheels 50, carried bythe respective digit Wheels of each unit-45, 46, 47 and, 48, is enmeshed with a gear upon the sleeve 44.the gear 50 of the digit Wheel 45 being enmeshed with the gear 62, the gear 50 of the tensivheel 46, With the gear 52, said gears 52 and 62 being idly mounted upon said shaft, thegears 50 of the hundredths YWheel 47, With the gears 53 carried by and rotatable With said sleeve 44 and the gear 50 of the thousandths Wheel 48vvith .the gear- 61 idly -mountedgupon said sleeve 44; i The teeth of the gears 52, 53, 6l and 62 are all accurately alined when the characters Yupon the digit Wheels actuated thereby are accurately alined, so that these gears may be utilized to correct any slight variation in the rotary movement of the digit Wheels, due to Wear, or conditions akin to Wear, upon the various gear Wheels.;

The digit Wheels upon all numbering heads which in their progressive actuation require to be turnedduring any revolution of the cylinder 20, are simultaneously turned, this turning movement occurring after the completion of the imprint by all of the numbering Yheads upon the sheet,`and prior to the engagement of the various digit Wheels With the inking mechanism of the numbering machine.

The rise 90 of the fixed cam 89 is so located as to be operative immediately following the impulse imparted to any of the gears 21, 22 Y and 23, While the fall 91 is so locatedas to be operative immediately following the completion' ofthe impression upon the sheet being printed and preceding such animpulse.

Withthe position of parts as shovvn in Fig. l, the numbering head therein shown is the first of a seriesof such heads upon the cylinderV 20, the various gears 2l, 22 and 23 having been just actuated to turn the various ldigit Wheels requiring to be turned during that cycle of the operation ofthe machine.V With the continued rotation of the cylinder, the roller 87, shown in 1,*Will enter the. rise `90, and the roller 87 of each succeedingl numbering head as it reaches this position, vvill enter said'rise. As said roller en tersrthe'rise 90, the slide 77 will be moved to the right, Fig. l, in the slideWay7 8. 'The cam slots 79 in this slide acting upon the studs 82, carried by the bar 80, Will move this bar toward the sleeveA 44, thus moving the tooth 83 toward theV sleeve 44 and into engagement With the teeth upon the gears 52, 53, 6l and 62 with a corrective effect in the event that any of the teeth of this gear be out of alinement. lt is obvious that any movement of the various gears above referred to will, through the gears 50, b ave a similar corrective effect upon the various digit wheels carrying these gears. Between the rise 90 and the fall 91, the tooth 83 will be held in this position, so that during the engagement of the various digit wheels with the inking rollers, and during the printing operation, the tooth 83 will prevent any vmovement of the various digit wheels out of alinement.

As each numbering head leaves the printing position, the roller 87 carried by the slide 77 of that particular head, will enter the fall 91, thus imparting a reverse reciprocation to the slide 77 and a resultant downward movement of the bar 80 and of the teeth 83 carried thereby, thus disengaging said teeth from the gears 52, 53, G1 and 62 of each unit prior to the neXt actuation of same and of the mechanically actuated digit wheels associated with said gears.

Twin printing units are used only when it is necessary to have the numbers fairly close together, as inthe case of coupon sheets, in which case all of the units will be set to a number corresponding with the bond to which the coupon sheet is attached. When so used, there may be an indeiinite run of the machine without resetting any of the digit wheels. `When twin heads are used, the mode of operation is the same as with a single set of wheels, the sole diderence being that the gear 51 has a digit wheel attached thereto, and other digit wheels idly mounted upon the sleeve i3 carry gears enmeshed with the gears 52, 53, 61 and 62.

Whether a single or a twin set of printing wheels is used, it is necessary that the printing characters be engraved upon the wheel in an order to correspond with the direction in which the wheel turns, since with the arrangement of gearing described, some of the wheels will turn in one direction, While other wheels will turn in the other direction.

The construction of each of the units of a numbering head embodying the invention is such that there can be no cumulative error from a prolonged use of the head, since any slight error, due to structural defects or wear, will be automatically corrected during each i'otatioirof the cylinder 20.

A numbering head contains no springs upon which the turning of the various digit wheels is dependent, allv movements being positive and under power from the source driving the machine.

With head embodying the invention there is no possibility of duplication, skipping or any material overrunning of any of the wheels.

The head is capable of a wide range of adjustment, may be quickly mounted upon, and removed from, the cylinder, and each head may include a plurality' of printing units accurately alined.

After each run of the machine, the various digit wheels, as required, may be rapidly reset by hand.

The positive actuation of the various digit wheels of each unit of the numbering head permits the numbering machine to be operated at much higher speeds than is possible with spring actuated numbering heads, since no inspection to detect failure of the numbering heads is required, and possibility of breakage of springs, or their failure to operate through inertia, is absent.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, since such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what l claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is l 1. A numbering head embodying' therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may bo mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts re spectively, a numbering unit having a frame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said fame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of. said sleeve, gears carried by said independ-l ently rotatable wheels, and a. gear carried by each of the other of said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel.

2. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in saidbridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a nun'ibering unit having a frame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, said shafts respectively passing through a sleeve, means whereby said sleeves are each slidably and rotatably connected with a. sha-ft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of. said sleeve, gears carried by said independently rotatable wheels, and a gear carried by each of the other of said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel.

3. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected Witha shaft, digit Wheelsincluding a units, a tens and a hundredths Wheel upon one of said sleeves, one of said Wheels being connected With said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears car-Y ried by said idly mounted Wheels respectively, a gear train operating one offsaid idly mounted Wheels, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed With the gear carriedby said Wheel, and agearsecured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the other idly mounted Wheel. Y

l. A numbering head embodying therein` gears carried by said vidly mounted Wheels respectively, a gear trai-n operating said tens Wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third ,sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens Wheel, a gear'secnred to the third sleeve enmeshed With the gear carried by the hundredths Wheel, and agear train between the' shaft connected with the sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths Wheel and the thousandths Wheel for imparting a timely actuation to said thousandths Wheel.

5. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means vwhereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by saidfshafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each con# nected with a shaft, digit'wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths Wheel upon one of said sleeves, the units Wheel being connected with said sleeve,fand-the others being` idly mounted thereon, gearscarried by said idlv mounted Wheels respective-y ly, a gear train operating said tens Wheel, including a gearflixed to one'of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens Wheel, a gear' secured to the third sleeve enmeshed With the gear carried by the hundredths Wheel, a th'ousa-ndths Wheel actuating shaft rotatablyV mounted in said frame. :rear carried there .Q by, an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the sleeve 'carrying the gear operating the hundredths Wheel, and enmershed With the gear carried by the thousandths Wheel, andra Geneva stop movement, the driving gear of Whichvis carried by the shaft With which the sleeve carrying the .gear operating the hun dredths Wheel is connected, and the driven gear of Which is carried by said thousandths Wheel actuating shaft.

' 6. A. numbering head embodying therein a A bridge, means whereby said bridgevmay-be mounted upon anumbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit`having a frame, :three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame through which said shafts respectively pass, means whereby said sleeves are each slidably and rotatably connected. with a shaft, digit Wheels including a units, a tens and a hundredths wheel upon one of said sleeves, one of said Wheels being connected'vvith said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted Wheels respectively, a gear train operating one 'of said idly mounted Wheels, including al gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed With the gear carried by said Wheel, and a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the other idly lmounted Wheel.

7. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a .numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted inY said frame through which said shafts respectively pass, means whereby said sleeves are each slidably and rotatably connected with a shaft, digit Wheels including a units, a tens, a `hundredths and a thousandths Wheel upon one of said sleeves, the units Wheel being ,connected With said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carriedby said idly mounted Wheels respectively, a gear train operating said tens Wheel, including al gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed With the Vgear carried by said tens Wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths Wheel, a thousandths Wheel actuating shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a gear carried there-` by,an intermediate Vgear idly mounted upon the sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths Wheel, and ,enmeshed .with the gear carried by thevthousandths Wheel, and .a Geneva stop movement, the driving gear of lwhich is carried by the shaft with which the sleeve carrying the gearoperating ,the hundredths Wheel is connected, and the :driven 'bil gear of which is carried by lsaid thousandths wheel actuating shaft.

8. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves areeach connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel upon one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels respectively, a gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve cmneshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths wheel, a gear train between the shaft connected .with the sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and th'e thousandths wheel for i1 parting a timely actuation to said thousandths wheel, and means whereby said gear train may be made inoperative to transmit power from said shaft to said thousandths wheel.

9. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel upon one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels respectively, a gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths wheel, a thousandths wheel actuating means comprising a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a gear carried thereby, an intermediate gear idly mounted upon a. sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and enmeshed with the gear carried by the tliousandths wheel, a Gcneva. stop movement including a driving' gear carried by the shaft with which the sleeve carryingthe gearoperating the hund redths wheel is connected, and a driven 0jear idly mounted upon said hollow shaft, a clutch member slidably mounted on said hollow shaft, a rod slidably mounted in said hollow' shaft, a clutch I member carried by said rod and rotatable with said shaft, clutch members co-operatingtherewith carried by said driven gear, a rocking lever carried by said frame in operative relation to said rod, and a manually operative cam member mounted upon said frame and engaging said lever, whereby said Geneva stop movement may be made inoperative to transmit power to permit the hand setting of the thousandths wheel.

l0. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears idly mounted upon said shafts respectively, a. releasabie clutch mechanism whereby each of said gears may be connected with its shaft, and a numbering unit having a frame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable witl, and the others being rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said independently rotatable wheels, and a gear carried by each of the other of said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel.

ll. A numbering' head embodying therein bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears idly mounted upon said shafts respectively, a releasable clutch mechanism whereby each of said gears may be connected with its shaft, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel upon one of said sleeves, the units wh-eel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels respectively, a gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hun dredths wheel, a gear train beti 'een the shaft connected with the sleeve carrying the gear operatino` the hundredths wheel and the thousandths wheel for imparting a timely actuation to said thousandths wheel, and means whereby said gear train may be made inoperative to transmit power from said shaft to said thousandths wheel.

12. A numbering head embodying therein a` bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears idly mounted upon said shafts respectively, a releasable clutch mechanism whereby each of saidy gears may be .conneoted with its shaft, and a numbering lunit having la frame, three sleeves lrotatably mounted in said frame,means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheeis including units, a tens, a limidredtlis and a Vthousainlths wheel upon. one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by saididly mounted wheels respectively, a `gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and aniin# termediate gear idly mounted upon the third sl-eeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured Yto the third sleeve enmeslied with the gear carried by thehundredths wheel, a tliousaiidths wheel actuating means comprising a khollow shaft ro* tatably mounted inisaid frame, a gear'carried thereby, an Aintermediate gear idly mounted upon afsleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and .enmeshed with the gear carried `by the thousandths wheel, a Geneva stop movement iiicluding a drivinggearcarried by the shaft with which the sleevecarrying the gear topf VeratingV thehundredths wheel is` connected,.

and a driven gear idly mounted upon said hollow shaft, clutch Ymember slidably mounted onsaid hollow shaft, a' rod slidably mounted in said hollow shaft, a clutch member carried by said` rod and rotatable with said shaf clutch members efe-operating therewith carried by said driven gear, a rocking lever carried by said frame in operative relation to said rod, and a manually operativecam member mounted upon said frame and engaging said lever, whereby said Geneva stop movementmay be made inoper-v ative to transmit power to permit the hand setting of the thousandths wheel. Y

13, A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, mea-nswhereby said bridgemay be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatablymountedin said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame,` a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said 'frame,'meanswhereby said sleeves are each connected `with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one'of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable witl-v and the others being rotatable independently of, saidsleeve, gears. carried by said digit wheels respectively, gears car ried by another of said sleeves, one of which connected with said sleeve, and the others of which are idly mounted' thereon, said gears being enmeshed withthe Agears upon said digit wheels respectively, aV gear carried by the third sleeve ennieshed with one of said idly mounted gears, a straiglitjtooth movable one of said sleeves, v and means operative to engage and disengage said vtooth and said gears. Y

14. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, -means whereby saidbridge may be:

mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame,

a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted invn y said framemeans whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digitiwheels upon oneof said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independentlyof, said sleeve, gears carried by said digitwheels respectively, gears carried by another of said sleeves, one of which is connected withsaid sleeve, and the others of which are idly mounted thereon, said gears being enmeshed with the gears upon said digit wheels respectively, a gear carriedby the third sleeve enmeshed withfone of said idly mounted gears, a straight tooth movable in said frame and engageable 4with the several gears carried by or idly mounted upon one of said sleeves, a slide mounted upon said bridge, a straightening bar operative upon said tooth, co-operating means carried by said slide and said straightening bar, whereby with reciprocatory movement of said slide, said bar will be moved toward and from said gears to engage and disengage said tooth and said gears, and

means whereby reoiprocatory movement may digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheelsbeing rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of, said sleeve,-gears 'carried by said digit wheels respectively, gears carried by another of said sleeves, one of which is connected with said sleeve, and the others of whichV are v idly mounted thereon, said gears being enmeshed with the gears upon said digit wheels respectively, a gear carried. by the third sleeve enmeshed with one of said idlymounted gears, a straight tooth movable in said framefand engageable Vwith the several gears carried by or iio idly mounted upon one of said sleeves, a slide i mounted upon said bridge, a straightening bar having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, saidltoothrhaving a flange entering saidslot whereby it may slide along said bar, Y

co-operating means cairied by said slidejand said straightening bar, whereby with reciprocatory movement of said slide, said bar will be moved toward and from said gears to engage and disengage said tooth and said gears, and means whereby reciprocatory movement may be imparted to said slide.

16. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, a plurality of slee-ves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said digit wheels respectively, gears carried by another of said sleeves, one of which is connected with said sleeve, and the others of which are idly mounted thereon, said gears being enmeshed with the gears upon said digit wheels respectively, a gear carried by the third sleeve enmeshed with one of said idly mounted gears, a straight tooth movable in said frame and engageable with the several gears carried by or idly mounted'upon one of said sleeves, a slide mounted upon said bridge, al straightening bar having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, said tooth having a flange entering said slot whereby it may slide along said bar,

yieldable means positioned between saidv tooth and said bar, (zo-operating means carried by said slide and said straightening bar, whereby with reciprocatory movement of said slide, said bar will be moved toward and from said gears to engage and disengage said tooth and said gears, and means whereby reciprocatory movement may be imparted to said slide.

17. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering yhead cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel and a plurality of wheels of higher denomination upon one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels, other than said wheels of higher denomination, respectively, a gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths wheel, a gear train between the shaft connected with the sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and the thousandths wheel for imparting a timely actuation to said thousandths wheel, a slide engageable with said wheels of higher denomination, and means permitting movement of said slide to permit the hand turning of said wheels.

18. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel and a plurality of wheels of higher denomination upon one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels, other than said wheels of higher denomination, respectively, a gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve emneshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths wheel, a gear train between the shaft connected with the sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and the thousandths wheel for imparting a timely actuation to said thousandths wheel, means whereby said gear train may be made inoperative to transmit power from said shaft to said thousandths wheel, a slide engageable with said wheels of higher denomination, and means permitting movement of said slide to permit the hand turning of said wheels.

19. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a nuifnbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears idly mounted upon said shafts respectively, a releasable clutch mechanism whereby each of said gears may be eouueeted with its shaft, and a numbering unit having a frame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame. means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves. the digit wheels of lower denomina tion being positively driven. and the wheels of higher denomination being only manually operative, one of said digit wheels of lower denomination being rotatable with, and the others of lower denomination being' rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said independently rotatable wheels, a gear carried by each of the other of said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an inde- Vpendently rotatable wheel, a slide engageable with said wheels of higher denomina4 tion, and means permitting movement of said slidev to permit the hand turning' of said wheels.

20. ri, numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in saidbridge, gears idly mounted upon said shafts respec tively, a releasable clutch mechanism whereby each of said gears may be connected with its shaft, Aand a numbering unit having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted `in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths'and a thousandths wheel and a plurality of wheels of higher denomination upon one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and theothers being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels, other than said wheels of higher denomination, respectively,a gear train opcrating said tens wheel, including a gear fixed to one of` said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mountedV upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried bysaid tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the vhundredths wheel, a gear train between the shaft connected with the sleeve carrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and the thou sandths wheel for imparting Va timely actuation to ld thousandths Wheel, means where by said geartrain may be made inoperative te transmit power from said shaft to said th'ousandths' wheel, a slide engageable with said wheels of higher denomination, and

means permitting movement of said slide to permit the hand turning of saidwheels'.

i 2l. il numbering head embodying therein a bi' lge, means whereby said bridge'may be nun-ut d upon avnui'nberingV head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carriedby said shafts respectively, and a 'plurality -of'numbering units adjustably mounted upon said bridge and in relation to each other, each VAhaving a frame,

a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in.

said frame, said shaftsrespeotively passing through a sleeve, means whereby said sleeves are each slidably and rotatably connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said independently rotatable wheels, and a gear carried by each of the Y other of said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel.

22. A numbering headfembodying-therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a.v numbering head cylinder,-

three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge,

Vgears carri-ed by said shafts respectively, and v a plurality of numbering units adjustably Y mounted upon said bridge and in relation to each other, each having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens and a hundredths wheel upon one of said sleeves, one of said wheels being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels respectively, a gear train operating one of said idly mounted wheels, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear car 1ied by said wheel, and a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the otheridly mounted wheel.

A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder,V

three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge,

a plurality of numbering units adjustably Vmounted upon said bridge and in relation to each other, each'having a frame, three sleeves lrotatably mounted in said fra-me, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel' upon one of said sleeves, the-units wheel beingconnec'ted with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon,.gears carried by said idly mounted wheels respectively, a gear train operating said tens wheel, including a gear fined to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gearV idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths wheel, a thousandths wheel actu Vatingshaft Vrotatably mountedin said frame,

gear operating the hundredths wheel, and enmeshed with the gearcarried by the thousandths wheel, and a Geneva stop movement,

the driving gear of which is carried by the shaft with which the sleevecarrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel is connected,

'and the driven gear ofwhich is carried by said Vthousandths'wheel actuating shaft.

24. A, numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a

plurality* of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried byjsaid shafts respectively,a plurality of numbering units adjust- Y ably `mounted upon said bridge and inrrrelation toreachother, each having a fra-me, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in ,said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, Va plurality of digitv wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently ol", said sleeve` gears carried by said digit wheels respectively, gears carried by another ot said sleeves, one of which is connected with said sleeve, andthe others of which are idlyv mounted thereon, said gears being enmeshed with the gears upon said digit wheels respectively, a gear carried by tl third sleeve enmeshed with one of said idly mounted gears, and a straight tooth movable in said frame and engageable 'ith the several gears carried by or idly mounted upon one ot said sleeves, a slide mounted upon said bridge, a straightening har having a slot extending longitudinally thereof adjacent all of said units, said teeth respectively having a flange entering a slot whereby said teeth may slide along said bar, (zo-operating means carried by said slide and said straightening bar, whereby with reciproeatory movement of said slide. said bar will be moved toward and from said gears to engage and disengage said tooth and said gears,

and means whereby reeiproeatory movement may be imparted to said slide.

25. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, three shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears idly mounted upon said shafts respectively, a releasable clutch mechanism whereby each of said gears may be connected with its shaft, a plurality of numbering units adjustably mounted upon said bridge and in relation to each other, each having a frame, three sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, digit wheels including a units, a tens, a hundredths and a thousandths wheel and a plurality of wheels of higher denomination upon one of said sleeves, the units wheel being connected with said sleeve, and the others being idly mounted thereon, gears carried by said idly mounted wheels, other than said wheels of higher denomination, respectively a gear rain operating said tens .vheel, including a gear fixed to one of said other sleeves, and an intermediate gear idly mounted upon the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by said tens wheel, a gear secured to the third sleeve enmeshed with the gear carried by the hundredths wheel, a gear train between the shaft connected with the sleeve arrying the gear operating the hundredths wheel and the thousandths wheel tor imparting a timely actuation to said thousand hs wheel, means whereby said gear train may be made inoperative to transmit pow r from said shaft to said thousandths wheel, a slide engageable with said wheels of higher denomination, and means permitting n'iovement of said slide to permit the hand 'turning of said wheels.

2G. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality ot shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit haring a trame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft., including therein eo-opera members whereby said sleeves may be adjusted eireumferentially of their respective shafts, :i plurality of digit wheels upon one et said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others b i oft-stable independently of, said sleeve, s carried by said independently rotatable wheels, and a gear carried by each of the other ot sai l sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel.

27. A numbering head embodying therein a. bridg`r` means whereby said bridge may be mounted upon a numbering head cylinder, a plurality of shatts rotatably mounted in said bridge gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numberir. unit having a frame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said. frame, a collar, co-operating means upon sain shaft and upon said collar whereby said collar may be adjusted longitudinally oli' said shaft and will be rotatable therewith, a second collar carried by the sleeve and rotatable in relation to said first named collar, said collars being provided with registering opposed shoulders, set screws projecting beyond the shoulders of one of said collars into engaging relation with the shoulders upon the other of said collars, whereby said sleeves may be adjusted cireumferentially of said shafts, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one oi said digit wheels being rotatable with, and the others being rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said independently rotatable wheels, and a gear carried by each of the other ot said sleeves, entrained with a gear upon an independently rotatable wheel.

28. A numbering head embodying therein a bridge, bevelled dogs slidably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said bridge, a screw threaded rod engaging a screw threadw ed opening in one of said dogs and passing through the other of said dogs, a collar liXed to said rod engaging the other ot said dogs, whereby said bridge may be mounted upon, or removed from, a mnnbering head cylinder, a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said bridge, gears carried by said shafts respectively, and a numbering unit havin arame, a plurality of sleeves rotatably mounted in said frame, means whereby said sleeves are each connected with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels upon one of said sleeves, one of said digit wheels being rotatable with, and theothers being rotatable independently of, said sleeve, gears carried by said independ-

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