US1796296A - Postage meter - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1931.

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Filgd Oct. 29, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

MSHPhlJ; 1931. 1 M 1,796,296

POSTAGE METER Filed Oct. 29,1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 as INVENTOR. N

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER 5 March 17, 1931.

Filed Oct'. 29, 1928 e sh ets-sneet 4 I" II A Mil/I1111/11/11/111/11/11/1///I/l/// I N VEN TOR.

&

IIIIIII/III/IIIII/II/I/II/I /I///////4///Jn March 17, 1931. 1.. L. MACK POSTAGE IETER Filed Oct. 29. 1928 e Sheets-Shet s I I I :Patented Mar. 17, 1931 LUTHER- L. -MACK, OF SOUTH PASADENA,

PA T" orric CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO S. POSTAL METER, CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAVIARE POSTAGE METER Application'filed October 29, 1928. Serial No. 315,617.

This invention relates to and has: for a main ob ect the provision of a simplified and improved typeofpostag'e meter, capable-of being operated manually or bymeans ot an electric motor, and arranged to be 'settoiprint an uthorized and predetermined-number of postage stamp impressions and'to automatically look when the authorized number of impressions has been made. 1

An object is to provide a compact machine .of minimum Weight andsize embodying a continuously rotatable printing cylinder with a printing die reciprocably mounted thereon, means controlled'b-y the'printingi cylinder for feeding successive. pieces of mail matter to and irom printingposition, means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position torre'gulating and efi'ecting the operation of the printing die, and means controlled by the operation of the printingdie for re istering successive pieces of-mail matter simultaneously on two separate registers, one of ascending and one of'descending scale. I A further object is to provide means for locking the printing cylinder against rotation and the descending register against further operation when a predetermined number 0 stamp impressions has been made.

.Another object is to provide means for printing but one, impression on a single piece of mail matter, regardless of its length.

Another object is to provide means for lock- 'ingthe meter against unauthorized access. 1 Othe' 3ects will appear as the descript on pro esses.

ln co eration ofthe present invention, attention called to Letters Patent Nos. 1,527 .d 1,527,866, dated Feb. 24, 1925,

which hay y been granted tome for improvements in mg l marking machines and postage meters, 'respeotlvely.

Thave' shown a preferred form of device in the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is a neat elevation. I Fig. 2 1S 'ctional elevation'on'hne 22 of Fig. 1'

sition'.

Fig. 6'is asectional plan of the'm'achine on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig.7 is-asectional elevation online 7-? of Fig. 3.

I Fig. 8 is a of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation on line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a section of the printing means on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

F 11 is a side elevation of'the descending re ister and locking means therefor;

Fig. 12 is a section of the same on line 12-12 of. Fig. 11.

F ig. 1.3 is a sectional elevation of the machine on line 13-18 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a section of the same on line l llof Fig. 3.

Fig. 15' is a fragmentary section on line 15-15 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary section on line l616 of Fig. 15.

Briefly described, my machine includes a suitable base A on which is mounted a feed plate or receptacle B adapted to hold a stack ofcards or letters preparatory toa stamping and sealing operation, from which the mail matter is moved by means of a pair of feed belts C, C beneath rollers D, D and a separating device E, to printing position between a printing cylinder F and an impression roller G. The printing means may be inked by means of a suitable inking. mechanism as at H.

The feed receptacle B has a laterally adjustable guide 6 movable in a channel, or channels 1 formed on the bottom plate 2 thereof and spaced from the face plate 3 which is vertically disposed. Thus a stack of letters may be held between the plate 3 and fragmentary section on line 88 the guide Z) in longitudinal alinement with tacle B may be attached to the base A means'of a screw 5- and-to a bracket J by an angle plate 6, or otherwise. Guide 6 may be locked in adjusted position on plate 2 by means of a set screw 7, or otherwise.

1 The feed belts C, C are continuous and operate over a pair of idler pulleys G, C carried ona shaft Swhich is j ournaled in bearings 9 and 10, respectively, in the base A and the bracket J. Saidbelts are driven bymeans of pulleys 11, 11 on'a shaft 12 whi'ch'isjoure naled in bearings13 and 14, respectively, in said base and said bracket. Pulleys '11, 11 are frictionally connected with an intermediate feed roller K by means of sets" of friction discs 15,15 etcicarried on shaft 12, sothat when the pulleys are-fixed to the shaft the roller K will be driven thereby. Roller K has r a pair laterally spaced annular flan es 16,

16 which are provided with laterally-opposite and corresponding peripheral notches 17 ,17

' on the hub of the roller K and prevents the of rubber or the like stationarily he1dbe-- rotation of the roller except when the shaft 19 is oscillated to, release the latch arm'18.

The idler forwarding rollers D, D are mounted over and in contact with the belts O, C

and are carried on arms 65, d which are pivotally held on the face of the base A by means of a stud or screw 23, the rollers being rotatably held on the arms (Z, (Z by means of screws 24, 24 and yieldable relative to the ,belts'C, by meansof springs 25,25 carried on the.

screw 23 and having their outer endsovere lying "the arms and their inner ends attached to the's'crew',:or otherwise. 7 Theseparator E embodies a circular'disc tween the flanges e, e of an arm E whichfis also pivoted on the screw 23. The flanges e, e overlie the portions 16, 16 of the feed roller K and the disc E overlies the spacebetween the portions 16,16. Flangese, e are so formed-that only a small'portion of the peripheryof the disc E is exposed below the i which is slidably heldin a portion 27 bent V outwardly from the-feed plate '4, and carries v a compression spring 28 between the arm E;

edges of the flanges for engagement with the upper surfaces of the pieces of mail matter for preventing but one card or letter at a time to enter the grip of the beltsC, G and rollers, D, D.

The left hand portion of arm E is pivotal ly connected with an adjusting screw 26' ceptacle' or carrier.

and the portion 27, for yieldably supporting i the separator relative to the'roller'K. "An adjustment nut 29 is carried on theupper end of screw 26 for adjusting and limiting the downward movement of theseparatonso as to vary the space between the separator and I feed roller to correspond to various thicknesses of mailmatter.v 4

' The printing cylinder F is fixed to a master shaft f andis rotatably held between the base A and a meter cover A with its periphery disposed tangentially to the path of the mail matter through the machine. Shaft f isjournaled in a sleeve 30 which is 'slidable in the 7 base A and in a bearing 31 in the meter cover A and also at its rear end. in a bearing 32 formed on a bracket L. V

' Bearing 20, has a sleeve 53 which encompasses the shaft 19'and oscill'atably carries an arm gwhich has a yoke g on its free end be tween the furcations of which the impression roller. G is operably mounted'in opposition to the printingcylinderF, as Shown in'Figs.

land 6. Roller G has a frictional band G 1 of rubber or the like thereon and is :held on a section of shaft 34 which is journale' d in the r opposite armsof the yoke g.

It will be noted that the cylinder F hasa pair of annular flanges 35,35 on the periphery thereofwhich contact with the band G ofthe roller G, between which flanges and said roller the mail matter is frictionally held and moved through and from printing position. A suitable thin metal-bed plate 36 is .mounted on an extensionS? of the base A and is attached-thereto for forming aflat surfaceover. which the mail *matter is moved throughthe machine and fromwhich the same is discharged by the rollers G subsequent to the printing operations into a suitable re- Bas'e A has arearwardly eXtended overhanging portion which is closed by means ofa cover a adapted tobeattached thereto by means of screws 38,1or otherwise. Thus the base supports and encloses all of the perating gears, cams and the like at the rear'of the] machine,as shown in Fig. 3. The bracket L is mountedon aflat portion and is. secured there by means of screws 40, 40,etc. Said bracket is also attached at its upperend to V the web of the baseA by means of screws 41.

The master shaft 7 carries a gear 42 which meshes with a smaller gear 43 on a section of shaft 44 j ournaled in the bracket L. Shaft sections 34 and 44 are universally connected together by means of a coupling 45 which permits the adjustment .of the impression roller G relative to the printing cylinder F.

' Said adjustment is regulated by means of a screw 46 which pivotally' connects with an arm 47 of yoke g and is slidable in a boss 48 on the bottom of extension 37. Screw 46 car.-

ries one or more nuts 49 on the outer; end

thereof for adjusting the position of theeim- V of an idler gear5l loosely held on shaft 19' or rne ans. of gears 53 and 54 carried on said .Inwardly ofthe gear em-.m1 opening 73 111mm die carrier iN', 5Q .through which thefsleeve extends. flhus i eriesofthe flang'esj35, for aprinting open concentricallymounted with respect thereto.

7 The forward end of shaft f may connect with a. shortershaft52 journaled in a bearingiof .the .meter. cover A, as shown. in Fig. 5 3, by

shafts,respectively. Shaft 52 may have a crankdetachablyheld onits extended outer end by means of which the machine may be manually operated. Also master gear 42 20 may connect .Withapinion 56-held on a shaft .57 which is operably held on the bracket L and has a driven pulley 58 thereon adapted to be connected with ajsource. of power by means of a belt 59. i v w 7 I v 42 I provide a master calnM which. has an internal concentric face v 60'and acontinuing rise 61 adapted to be engaged by a roller follower 62 which is carried on a.lever.63. Said lever is pivotallyheld on apin 64; heldinlugs 65, 65 between which the lever is mounted. The, upper portion of the lever has. a yoke 66 which straddles theshaft. f and-engages. the rear end of thereciprocable (sleeve 3Ov and'the, sleeveis slidably held in bearings, rand 68 of the cylinder F. Said 7 sleeve is suitably. fixed to the cylinder F: and to the shaft fby means ofkeys,as at69, or"

otherwise.)

I '2 radially, slidable die carrier N' on' which. a

; stamping die Ofis fixedly held and a dater O, isdetachably'held, ias shown in Fig. 9. n 5 Saiddies areextensible through an openlng 70 inthe periphery of cylinder F between the flanges .35, Sleeve carries a pa r of .Qpr it y xt ed nd cor e p dine y I .peredwedgesi 1,17 1 which engage oppositely formed tapered faces? 2, '7 2 at the ends of a r the. movement of the sleeve 30 relative to the cylinder, F willv correspondingly extend and p retract the, dies 0' and O lso that their I ari fcuate peripheries will aline with theperiph,

. ation- Cy nder/Ems a movab e .canF'. for aflording accesstothe interior. thereof ..,for the purpose ofj'assembling the cylinder.

. ,Cylinder F operates between the fa ce of orth Pur os fr nl l n 't e pr n ned ea n ae s throi hei t ama o p r q p 1 the. revol on 9f t e. yli a hOW i Fig. Ink.is.s pp edf o,therr nt ns i 5 by means of the inking roller H, of absorbent Fig. '9.

asst "whi h steamy fn'l isaaia'l a bracket H which is pivotally held on a pin 7 3,]said pin being carried by a hanger" 74: attached to the side of the meter housinga. BracketHis adjustable relative to the printing dies by means of a nut75 threaded on an outwardly projecting stud 76 on which a compression spring 77 is held for yieldably holding the inlrer in inking position. 1 in 7 3 is preferablyheld in slots 78,78 in the sides 79.

79 of the hanger 7i, so that the inker maybe readily removed for re-inking. To this end a a fiat springSO is attached to a lug 81 on the hanger which engages the upper end ofthe bracket, H for retaining the inker in operl ative position, but same, at will. v 4

Base Ahas a countersunk chamber 82 removable for releasing the .therein between the cylinder F andtheweb, I in which I providea train of gearsfor oper ably connecting the printing mechanism with a pairfof registers P and P". Thus each time astamp impression is made both of the regis tors? and P will be correspondingly actuated, butin opposite directionalfor increasing the total of the ascending reg sterand decreasing the total of the descending register. The

two registers are similar except that .thedescending registeris arranged to be reset while I the ascendlng register not only cannot be resetpbut is actually inaccessible to anyone machine.

for 'anyipurpose without disassembling the I Each register is composedof a plurality of counters in the form of discs, as at 83; 83, etc. with spur gears 84: on one of their sides and single notched discs 85 on their opposite sides, and intermittent gears 86. having but two teeth intermediate the members 84 and 85, in eachcase. The counters in each set' are of any'number and are arranged in sequences of units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. The units counters are fixed to the sup- 87 and 88 respectively, and the two are commonly driven by means of 1 an idler gear 89 carried on a pin90 in the supporting bracket. 91, gears 92 and 93, re-

spectively, being provided on. shafts 87 and :88 which. with the idler, shown in Each register has a plurality of pinions 94, and 95, respectively, with alternating long and short teeth which engage the' 'gears 841, 85

and 86 jas shown'in Fig. 11. Thus the count oftl e registers is advanced and transferred from 'units to tens, tens to hundreds, etc. in a manner sim lar to the operation of a speedometer register. Plnions 94; and 95 are car- I M p, A H p v pried onshafts 96 and 97.

co the base A and the rear side of the cover A,

sleeve some an intermittent geadisc 98 fi xedthereto by means offa key 99,th.e for- .ward portion of which has two'teeth and'cor- 'discs 85 of the registers. 'Within' thechamber 82 the gear isoperably. connectedwith the fsh'aft90 by'inea'n's of a pinion 101 held on a shaft 102 and a gear100on'the inner end of a shaft 90, as shown in Fig. 14. Pinion 101 corresponds to the pinion-s 94 and95 ofthe registers]? and P. r

- As shown in Fig. 3., the gear 98 normally disengages the short teeth of pinion 101 but 1s 1n continuous engagement with the long teeth thereof, so that until the sleeve and gear 98 are moved to the left the mechanism is not operative for actuating the registers and PT Said sleeveand gear are urged .1nto inoperative position by a'compression for a portion of a revolution prior to, during, I and subsequent to a printing operation, gear 98 will engage and rotate pinion 101 for onefourth ofa revolution, gears 89, 92, 93 and 100 each one-tenth of a revolution, and thus" actuate the counters of the registers correspondingly. Thus the actualcounting of the stamp V impressions is accomplished only .when,'as,

- formed with ratchetteeth' internally. thereof and adapted to be'engaged by pawls' 104 eX- tensiblyheld in recesses in smaller discs 83 so that each of the counters of the descendingscale may be moved in a counter clockwise direction for resetting or setting to any de- V direction.

is ment with the periphery of the cylinderiF.

and during the timethe printing dies are extended from the cylinder F, and not other- Wise. Register Phas itscounters 83 annularly sired number.

' As shown in Figs. 15and16, the cylinder F is arranged so that it may notvunder any mg ditions be rotated reversely of its operating This is effected by means of a 'yieldable pawl 105 mounted in a recess in the wall of the chamber 82 for frictional engagewithin said-chamber. Said cylinder has a plurality of peripheral recesses 107 which, ,when the cylinder is rotated in a. clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 15, move by the pawl 105, but when the cylinder is reversely ro-. tated the pawl will lockin the first of said;

I recesses which is moved into engagement therewith, and will prevent the furtherand we may be urged'into frictional lockingeng agement with the cylinder by means of a spring D with the feedbelts C, C.

continued rotation of the cylinder. 7 The pawl ,108arranged as shown or otherwise.

It is necessary to prevent the reverse rotation of the prlntmg cylinder for more than a slight distance at all times, and further to positively lock the cylinder against rotation and theiregisters againstoperation'when the descending register has reached zero. Accordi'nalv the meter housing is provided with a locking dog. 109 fixed to a shaft -11 0 carried in the bracket 91. Said dog has a; central bar 3 111 which is' adapted to seat in notches 112 in all of the counters 83 of the descending regcylinder-Fleas an annular rib 118 with a gap 119 therein at a given point into which the portion 1200f arm 116 will'fallwhen the dog 109 seats in the notches 112 of the register. Thus cylinder F may not be'rotated again until'the same is unlocked by proper authorization. A spring 117 tensions the lever 113 and 116 for movement into locking position. The meter'cover A is attachedto the base A by meansof a pairof screws 121,121 and the heads thereof are sealed over witha welded or molded closure, as at 122, so that access to the meter case cannot be had without breaking the seals. Provision is made, however, for affording access to the metercase for setting the register P. Suchmeans comprises a door 123 hinged on to'oneof the screws 121 and locked at its free end by means of a revoluble cylinder 124 carried in a boss 125 and connectedwith a permutation lock The meter case a and, the door l23'ihave f glass covered apertures 128 and 129 through which, the registers are, visible and may be read for ascertaining the count thereof Shaft 19'is rocked for releasing the latch 18 from thefeed roller K by means of the master camM which has an externalsegment 130 adapted to engage a roller- 131 on a follower132 which is fixed to shaft "19 rearward- -ly' of the webbase'A. Arm 132 is spring held in 'engagementwith' the cam by means of a tension spring 133 The movement of mail matter through themachine, onepiece' at a time, in succession,'for each revolution of the shaft f, is regulated and efiected bymeans of an actuating mechanism including an 6X ternal arm R carried on a'shaft 134L in the base A and an associated trip lever '17, which arms depend from their common axis'to the right, as seen in Fig. 1, between the arm E and the rear arm cl; Tripris pivotally held on the lower end-of the 'arm R and has an abutment r disposed between the roller K and the inner pulley ll s'othat its edge rests below the plane of contact j'offthe rollers D,

The belts C. continuously emanation on the lower surfaces ofthe pieces of mail matter. while the separator E exerts a friction on' all pieces above the bottom piece, which tends to retard the' upper pieces and to per mit the lowest pieces in' succession to move to printing position The mail matter'is 1 moved forwardly by the belts C until the forw ard' edges thereof engage the shoulders of the' notches- :171: inxthef roller while said,-

roller is held: stationary by the' latch' l8ilnitil apredetermined:- time i'duringathe irevolutionr o-f'the cylinderiF;-at which time the Tel-lerKE rotates and permits the -inail matterto move, between the1r'ollers-'D',-D and1rbelts C,-:G rand against the; abutment r" -',of;1';thefiactuzitom Pressureon't'hefarmr:rocksthe arrirsltflnd I rto thexleft' andgin the directionzoiwmov-i' \,m11'i3 of the mail:- m'atterl; Lintil the lowcnedgez her side of a depending lag 146' on th "fates to move the-lever j 63 anti sleeve: Boat is t given oint revelution of cylinder of the abutment 'r' 'zis elevated aboyethe mow ing piece of matterywherenpoir the ar'rrlsaR' and r are retracted: to 2 normal cpOsigtiQnt by spring pressure "from'behind" the :web of:'the

ascribedv and shown web of thefbase A es: shown (in FFiggQ for tensio'nin'g' the arm and rshaift-134 for. operation as described. The arm" 136 is difierem ti'ally "connected with arm 1 135 ,by means 1 of a pm 138 engaging1a slot Z139 onsthe inner edge fo'f Y arm" i136; Thus': tmovement of arm" I36 'w'ill correspondingly move arm-135 fasfea'c'h "piece of mail matter is advanced: :to

printing position, i but; shaft 1 34,- arm' 136 and arms and r my be restored to normalposi tions'in'dep'endently of the mm 135:

'135 isconne'cted with se med-b 'Inean'sf of aibar' 1'41 Wl1lClLlS plYOt63d to said cam at 142; Cam 140 is piyotallyfheld' on a portion 0? the wall of ch amber'82 :by means of a screw 14:3 and is provided 'w'ith afsector" having concentric edgele la: and: a'cut away portion 145 adapted tOi {engage them- 1 10P 1ng ler er-63(seeiFig 'iilfl 4 iig'fl46 hdnhany restsf in the o on-145 the earn 140 but whenthe tam: M I oper- "when aningoin piece offmail I'natft'er movesthe 'actiiator Bra- 9135 and: 136 iarejm vdrorwa d1y; and cam 140 'is 'mo ved so that the ersonnel of the camqengages thelug 146 of lever 632*This' actionloeks lever63and sleeve"ae infextended posif tion for a short periodfof time only if" no piece elf mail matter has entered the gri 1 f mnersixD anaben'so, Can'd sha pened I of time su'fli'ci'e'ntto "complete aj-printing op- 'eration.if a piece of ofgsaid rollers.

inatter enters'the grip 111i 1 the former l casegj'both arms l ad 9 136 are restored together; "but in the latter case, the arm 136 Will be restored afterfa "period of time snflicien't to insure a piece of matter moving into position beneath t he'trip anced through print 1', while arm 135 will be locked in extended positiongwith the cam 140 and leyer63 hen rollenK is unl'a tched/ bythe 'retrac-Q tion of latch-$18,, arm let-Ton the rear end ofi-shaf-tilfl will be moved upwardly 'as seen interfere -with a u /149011 a-:pawl .1 5O:ca r-,

ried on the endof lever; 136 and; piyoted by meansota screw: 1 5 1; Saidpawlis normally held in the position shownin Fig: 4 by means of -a spring 1 52stipportedlon the leiier l36'so that its upper en d; engages va pin 153 in said le er-.;;*-Tl iepawl, *however is movable, in ,a'. coujnt ergcloclgwise direction against the teng. SaiQ IQfl P Z Il 'EQ/W The normal positions 151 areisuch that the lug,149 may move tothe left over the hook 5148, on the arm; but: not to the rightnntil'the restoration ofthe i arm ll'Land lever 136,, The purposeof the pawl connection with arn1y147 is to holdthe actuator u p'momentarily while a piece of; mail matter moves beneath theabutment 1", where t nths sam -m y b i e red'soes 0 1 bard the nt y- 0f a s cceeding piece/0f ma tei: until propertime. :1 i

placed; ;in'-'the feedqreceptacle V'B with their nn r? edges in i'cg ntac w t he face p a 3M li he en e e ges i e o m tp ce In operatiomastack otiletters or cards is I iii-s ght contac :Wi hih adj st le 15, 1-

f ali ntaw hi t e :printi g'm eh i m The? torward e dges :of the lett ersare in con,- tactwith; the transverse plate' l, so that when thecra'nlc 155;. or pulley -58,-is. operated, ;the

pieces ;of.matl;er will fcedfrom thei bottom of, the stack oneat a time, in regular succesf sion, by neansj of thefriction :beltsC, C and beneath: the l we edge 9 Pl t 4:, n taot'w'ith therollers D, vDandE. 1' i -;The front edge of each piece of matter, .v

turn is; stopped. by-engagement, with the shoiiliders f-the notches 17 in the, feed lroller -K;whi,ch is inofrmally stationary. I The letters above -;the lowermost ones (are; retarded from :entranoeintdthe grip oi the; rollers 11(1) and belts, G lG'by means ofthefriction, of the :stationary separator member Vvhen and as the cam M operates to release thearm 1 8 the friction driven roller Krotates for one "complete re zolu'tiononly, permitting the suc- M cessiverpieces ofmattergto advance singleffile to :the' grip ofther'oller Gand the cylinder F. er: :The; movement of 1 the matter against the --actu-ator member 1- swings the arms; R 135 an ':l;lr36:tothe right, as seenin Figsrlz ands Land: causes the cam- 140 ,to seat behin the zliigwl46iof;the'lever 63 after saidlever has -beenaji1stpreviously ;operated 10y cam M. Thus the sleeve 30-andprinting dies Oand ::O" are-heldTeXtendedtov printing position as;

long as. cam 140. is, held in locking position and for atime sufficient: to; complete; aprinting: op eration,- and the letters are. :inrthel'v adin'g; position, and are 12:0

restored by the tension of spring 137 to nor-.

discharged from the members and G sub-1 sequent to each printing operation. 1

In the meantime the arms; 136yandiR are null positions almost immediately after their operation'to the right by the entrance of a piece of matter and in readiness to intercept a subsequent piece for eiiecting a subsequent operation of the printing means.

The machine is sotimed that the dies O and 0 will be "extended at points slightly in advance of theinker H so that in the further rotationof cylinder'Fthe'surface of the dies maybe coated with ink preceding printing operationsi I The meter is'arranged to belo'cked by post'al'oiiicials' by whom the keys are retained at p a an times,'and the lock is sealed against unauthorized access so as to give evidence of tamierin 'withthe mechanism. The re ister]? my .setby the'otficials for any desired number of impressions within the range thereof, and subsequent printing operations will be subtracted from theoriginal reading,

while suchimpressions will be added tothe original reading of the register P 1 l Vhenthe register P reaches 0 on all of the counters thereofthe locking dog 109 will fallintolocking engagement therewith and will preventthe further rotation of the registers. Also at suchtime the 'cylinder lock 120 will operativelyienga'ge the space-119 of the cylinder cap 67 and prevent the further-ro-r tation of the printing-cylinder untilthe same has 'been'released 'and the meter reset. The detent 105," as described,prevents' the reverse movement of member F at all times.

i t is to be noted-that allmechanism which is vital to the secrecy and safety of the meter'is permanently-enclosed in a-sealed housing against unauthorized access for any purpose except resetting-by 'properoflicials and authority and-tampering with the parts exposed, or within the housing will not'aflect orimpair' these safety'factors, insofar as a loss tothe Government is-concerned. Any tampering with such-parts will only cheat the user. Y

What I claim, is; w i

A postage'meter comprising a rotatable printing member, 'means for feeding mail -m atter in succession to the printin'g' means, means normallyholding the printing means inoperative, means for rendering the print ingf'meajns operative. once ineach revolution I thereofiand means controlled by'the passage of the mail matter to printing position for locking the printing means inoperative position during, a 'printng operaton.

2. A postage meter comprising rotatable fprintingmeans normally held-against con- V tact'witl1 the matter to be printed,means for feeding successive pieces'of matter to printmg "position, means controlled by the movement of the matter to printing positionfor Jon said matter;

locking the printing means'in printing position prior to and during a printing operation.

' 3. I A postage meter comprising rotatable V printing means normally held against contact with the matter to-be printed, means i'or feeding successivepieces of matter to printing position, means controlled by the movement ofthe matter to printing position for locking'the printing means in printing position prior to andduring-a printing opera-. tion, and means for inking the printing means While the same is operatively held prior to reaching printing position.

4:. A postage meter comprising a continu:

ousl rotatable printing e. meansgnormally held against contact withthe matter to be printed, means for feeding successive pieces of'matter to printingposition, means controlled byithe movement of the matter to printing'position for rendering the printing means'operative prior to reaching printing position, means for locking the printing means'in operative position prior to and during aprinting operation, andmeans permitting the restoration of the controlling means prior to theunlocking oft-he printing means.

5. A postage meter comprising a. continu ously rotatable prlntlng member havlng a fixed axis, printing means receptacle thereon,

means 'forfeeding' successive pieces of. mail matter to the printingmeans, means for operatively and inoperatively supporting the printing means throughout difierent portions of each revolutionin extended and retracted positions, andmeans controlled bythe movement of the matter to printing position for rendering the printing means extended for longer intervals when matter is advancedto printing position.-

6; A postage metercompri-sing a continuously rotatable printing member, printing means extensibly held thereon, means for feeding a piece of mail matter to andat each "revolution. of the"; printing means, means for extensibly and retractably supporting the printing means relative to the mail matter for diiierent intervals during each revolution thereof, and meanscontrolled by the movement-of the matter to printing position for s {lengthening the intervals duringr fwhich the printing means is extending, for: effective printingoperations; l

: 7.- A postage meter comprlsinga continuously rotatable printing member, printing 1 means extensibly heldon said member, means controlled-by the rotation of the printing means for feeding successive pieces .ofmatter to the prlntlng means, means normally sup porting the printing means outjoi contact 'with. the mail matter, and means controlled y by the movement of thematter to printing '-'-position for extending the printing means to and supporting the same in position @for contact'withthe matte for printing for retracting said dies during a portion of each revolution of the printing member.

9. A postage meter comprising a continuously rotatable printing member, printing dies os ensibly mounted thereon, means for feeding successive pieces of matter to the printing member, means controlled by the movement of the matter to printing position for extending said dies to operative position relative to the matter and for retractin said dies during a portion of each revolution of the printing member, and means controlled bythe rotation of the printing member for feeding but a single piece of mail matter to printing position at predetermined points in each revolution of the printing member.

10. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing cylinder, printing dies exten- 'sibly held thereon, means for feeding mail matter to the printing means, means controlled by the movement of the matter to printing position for extending said dies to and retracting the same from operative positions at predetermined points in their revolution, means controlled by the rotation of the printing means for feeding but a single piece of matter at each revolution thereof, and means for inking the dies while they are so extended and prior to the printing operauons.

11 A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing cylinder, printing means extensibly mounted thereon, means for normally supporting the printing means in retracted position, means for feeding mail matter to the printing means, means controlled by the movement of the matter to printing positionfor extending said dies prior to their movement to printing position, and means controlled by the rotation of the printing means for feeding the mail matter one piece at a time for each revolution of the printing means to printing position.

12. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing member, printing means extensibly held thereon, means for normally supporting the printing means in retracted position, means for extending and retracting the printing means during each revoluion thereof, means for feeding successive pieces of mail matter to printing position, said feeding means controlled by the printing member, and means controlled by the movement of the matter to printing position for supporting the printing means in ex tended position for longer than a normal period of time when each piece of matter is advanced to printing position.

213. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing member, printing means BX- tensibly mounted thereon, means for extending and retracting the printing means during each revolution thereof, means for feeding successive pieces of matter to printing position, said feeding means controlled by the printing member, means for supporting the printing means in extended position for more than a normal period of time when a piece of matter is in printing position, and means controlled by the movement of the matter to printing position for locking said printing means in extended position.

14. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing member with extensible printing dies thereon, means for extending and retracting said dies at predetermined points uring each revolution thereof, means for ceding mail matter to the printing means, me ns controlled by the movement of the matter to printing position for locking said dies in extended positions for intervals er:- ceeding normal intervals, meansrfor inking the dies while the same are extended, and means cooperating with the printing means for printing impressions on the mail matter from said dies.

15. A postage meter as characterized in claim 1, including means operatively connected with and adapted to be operated only when the printing means is in operative position for registering successive impressions made by the printing means.

16. A postage meter as characterized 1n claim 1, including means operatively connected with and adapted to be operated only when the printing means is in operative posi- -further operation when a predetermined number of impressions has been made by the printing means, said last mentioned means including devices for locking the registering means against further operation when said predetermined number of impressions have been registered thereon.

18. A postage meter as characterized in claim 2, including a housing enclosing said printing means against unauthorized access,

a registering mechanism in said housing, and

means operatively connecting the registering mechanism with the printing means for registering successive impressions made byvthec printing means.

19. A postage meter as characterized in claim 2, including a housing enclosing said printing means a-gainst'unauthorlzed access,

a registering mechanism in said housing,

means operatively connecting the registering mechanism' with the printing means for reglstering successive impressions made by the printing means, and means controlled by.

the registering mechanism for locking the printing mechanism and the registering mechanism against further operation When the predetermined number of impressions have been made by the printing means.

20. A postage meter ascharacterized in claim 2; including a housing enclosing said printing means against unauthorizedaccess,

registering mechanism in said housing, means operatively connecting the registering mechanism with the printing means for registering successive impressions made by the printing means, means controlled by the registering mechanism'forlocking the printing mechanism and the registering mechanism agalnst further operation When the predetermined number of impressions have been made by the printing means, and means for :unlocking said printing means and said registering mechanism for further operation hensaid housing is opened by'a-uthorized persons.

LUTHER L. MACK. c

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