US2001287A

US2001287A - Hand operated postal machine

Info

Publication number: US2001287A
Application number: US673639A
Authority: US
Inventors: Commodore D Ryan
Original assignee: Nat Postal Meter Company
Current assignee: National Postal Meter Co
Priority date: 1933-05-31
Filing date: 1933-05-31
Publication date: 1935-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1952-05-14

Description

May 14, 1935- c. D. RYAN 2,001,287

HAND OPERATED POSTAL MACHINE i i yA Filed May 3l, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 14, 1935.

c, D. RYAN 2,001,287

HAND OPERATED POSTAL MACHINE FiledMay 5l, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 US, MAIL May 14, 1935. c. D. RYAN 2,001,287

HAND OPE-RATED POSTAL` MACHINE Filed May 3l, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 14, 1935. c. D. RYAN 2,001,287

HAND OPERATED POSTAL MACHINE Filed May 3l, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 14, 1935- c. D. RYAN 2,001,287

HAND OPERATED POSTAL MACHINE Filed May 31, 1933 5 sheets-sheet S mmfmlluunngm... I

ffy-15 Patented May 14, 1935 HAND OPERATED POSTAL MACHINE Commodore D. Ryan, Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to National Postal Meter Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 31, 1933, Serial No. 673,639

9 Claims.

My invention relates to metered postal machines for printing indicia on mail matter, and more particularly to a machine of the portable hand operated class.

The large power driven postal machines now in use are very satisfactory for printing indicia upon relatively large quantities of mail matter. However, the power driven machines are too costly to be used by the majority of firms and individuals whose quantity of outgoing mail is relatively small.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a hand operated postal machine which is simple in construction so as to be manufactured at a small cost and sold at a relatively low price, thus enabling many small business firms to enjoy the use of such a machine.

'I'he use of postal machines is strictly controlled by the Federal authorities in accordance with certain postal rules and regulations, and the present practice necessitates taking the machine or a portion thereof to a post ofiice where the machine is set to print a predetermined amount of postage in return for payment therefor.

To facilitate transportation to and from the post oilice, it is another object of my invention to provide a machine of light weight and small size, thus enabling a person to conveniently carry the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a postal machine which includes a suitable envelope flap moistener.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a postal machine in which certain portions of the indicia printing die may be conveniently shifted to a non-printing position to permit the printing of different amounts of postage in a manner to be made clear hereinafter.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description in view of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, the side of the housing being broken away to show the interior of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine 'with the housing removed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view somewhat similar to Fig. 7 showing the non-printing position of one of the printing dies shown therein. 5

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar in part to Fig. 7 showing the manner of removing one of the printing dies shown therein.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line I0I0 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is -a v'lew similar to Fig. 2 showing the mechanism of the machine disposed in operative position.

Figs. 14 and l5 are vertical sectional views taken on the lines I4-I4 and I5I5 respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line lli-I6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is a semi-diagrammatical perspective view showing the power transmitting mechanism included in my invention.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I8-I8 of Fig. 13, and

Figs. 19 and 20 are semi-diagrammatic views of envelopes showing the arrangement of the indicia as printed by the machine of my invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a postal machine I0, comprising a preferred embodiment of my invention, includes a base II, printing unit I2, a moistener I3, and -a power transmitting mechanism i4.

35 The base 11 Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 4, and 14, the base II shown therein is formed as by casting to provide a bottom 20, side walls 2|, and a rear 40 wall 22. Provided on the front end of the base II is a housing 23 in which a drawer 24 is slidably mounted as shown in Fig. 4, a font of type 25 being stored in the drawer 24 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Fixed on top of the rear end of the base Il is a vertical upwardly extending plate 30, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, having a bearing 3l provided thereon. Mounted on the plate 30 and extending horizontally therefrom are upper and

lower posts

32 and 33 as 50 shown in Fig. 15. Also fixed to the plate 3l) is a lug 34 shown clearly in Fig. 2. The purpose of the

posts

32 and 33 and the lug 34 will be made clear hereinafter in connection with the description of the power transmitting mechanism I4.

'I'he under side of the base is covered by a soft rubber pad 35 to prevent the machine I0 from sliding about and scratching a surface upon which it might be supported. The printing unit 12 The printing unit I2 is somewhat similar to the -printing press shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 652,255, filed January 18. 1933, for Inking mechanism. However, the unit I2 will be described herein sufficiently to clearly point out its structure and operation.

The unit I2, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, includes a base plate 40 supported on top of .the aforedescribed base Fixed on the front end of the base plate 40 is a pair of upstanding arms 4| which are joined at their upper ends by a transverse memter 42. Formed on the member 42 midway between the arms 4| is a depending lug 43. the latter having a bearing 44 suitably mounted therein, the bearing 44 being axially aligned with the aforementioned bearing 3| on the rear plate 30.

Formed integral with the base plate 40 on the rear edge thereof is an upstanding plate 46 in an upper portion of which a bearing 41 is mounted, the latter being disposed in alignment with both of the aforementioned bearings 3| and 44.

Mounted on a front portion of the base plate 40 isa printing platen 50 which extends forward over the housing 23 of the base Il, a more detailed description of the platen 50 being available in the above referred to copending application. Provided on the under side of the platen 50 is a pair of depending lugs 5|.

Supported by the platen 50, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, is a horizontal envelope supporting plate 52 having upstanding guide portions 53 formed on the rear edge thereof. The plate 52 is formed to provide a rectangular opening 54 into which the platen 50 extends. Fixed on the plate 52 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 is a work positioning lug 55 having a primary face 56 and a secondary face 51, the latter being formed by uptuming the right hand edge of the lug as shown. Stamped onto the front face of the right-hand guide portion 53 is an arrow 58 shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The purpose of therarrow 58 and the

faces

56 and 51 of the lug 55 will be explained later in connection with the operation of the machine I0.

Pivotaliy secured to a lower portion of the vertical plate 46 of the printing unit I2 on a suitable pin 59 is a. pair of forward extending arms 60 and 6|, these arms being guided transversely by contact withinner faces of the aforementioned upstanding arms 4|. The arms 60 and 6| are formed at their forward ends as best shown in Fig. 17, a cross-bar 62 being provided to join the extremities of these arms. The arm 60 is formed to provide an opening 63 to permit removal of certain parts of the printing unit, as will be described hereinafter.

Slidably mounted between the arms 60 and 6| is an ink pad 64 shown in Fig. 4, a detailed description of theconstruction and operation of the ink pad 64 being presented in the above referred to copending application. Suitable compression springs 65 are positioned between the base plate 40 of the unit I2 and each of the arms 60 and 6| to urgethe latter to the normal position in which they are shown in Fig. 2.

Also pivoted on the pin 59 is another pair of forwardly extending arms l66 and 61 on the forward extremities of which a printing head 68 is fixed by suitable rivets 69 as seen in Fig. 8. Se-

cured on the top side of the head 68 by screws 10 are front and rear spaced cam plates 1| and 12 respectively. Slidably mounted between the cam plates 1| and 12'as shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive is a Wedge 13 which is guided relative to the cams 1| and 12 by a pair of rollers 14. Fixed to one end oi' the wedge 13 is a finger 15, the latter extending forwardly from under the cam plate 1| as shown in Fig. 10. The nger 16 is adapted to actuate the wedge 13 in a manner to be explained later.

Fixed on the under side and at one end of the printing head 68 is a printing die 11, the face of which is formed to print postage indicia. The under side of the opposite end oi' the printing head 68 is formed to provide a recess 18, ledges 19 being positioned on opposite sides of the recess 18, each of these ledges having spring lingers on the upper sides thereof as shown in Figs. 8 and 1l.

Disposed within the recess 18 of the printing head 68 is a date circle printing die 82 having channels 83 on opposite sidesthereot for receiving the ledges 19 and springs 80 thereof. The channels 83 are sumciently Wide to permit a slight vertical movement of the die 82 relative to the head 68, the spring ngers 80 tending to continuously urge the die 82 to its uppermost position in which it is shown in Fig. 8. The die 82 is normally retained within the recess 19 by a keeper 84 which is slidable vertically in a suitable slot 85 provided between one end o! the head 69 and the end of the arm 66 as shown in Fig. 7. The keeper 84 has a. vertical slot 90, the latter embracing one of the rivets 69 of the head 68, vertical movement of the keeper being limited by contact of the ends of the slot with the rivet 69. The keeper 84 is urged to its lowermost position by a spring 9| mounted on the arm 66 as shown in Fig. 11.

The

arms

66 and 61 are urged to the uppermost position in which they are shown in Fig. 2 by suitable compression springs 92, the latter being interposed between these arms and the base plate 40 of the printing unit I2.

Journalled in the bearings 3|, 44, and 41 of the machine I0 is a driven shaft 95 upon the front end of which a crank 96 is fixed. Rotatably mounted on the end of the crank 96 and disposed in operative relation with the cam plates 1| and 12 ofthe printing head 68 is a roller 91. Also fixed on a front portion of the shaft adjacent the bearing 44 is a cam 98 shown in Figs. 3 and 17.

Suitably supported in the unit I2 is a meter |00 geared to the shaft 95 as by gears |0| as shown in Fig. 3. The meter |00 registers each rotation of the shaft 95 and is provided with suitable mechanism (not shown) but preferably 'of the type illustrated and described in the patent to Whitlock, No. 1,879,967, dated September 27, 1932 for locking the shaft 95 against rotation upon completion of a predetermined number of printing operations of the machine I0. Fixed on the shaft 95 between the meter |00 and the plate 46 is a ratchet wheel |05, a pawl |06 being pivoted on the plate 46 in operative relation to the wheel |05 so as to prevent reverse rotation of the shaft 95 as shown in Fig. 3.

The moistener 13 The moistener I3 is removably supported in front of the machine I0 adjacent the printing platen 50 as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, this moistener including a water receptacle ||0 having a spring clip on one side thereof for engagement with the lugs 5| on the under side of the platen 50 (see Figs. 2 and 6). Formed inside the receptacle I| on the bottom thereof is an upstanding lug ||2 suitably positioned so as to retain a brush I|3 in the position in which this brush is shown in Fig. 4. Removably mounted on top of the receptacle ||0 is a cover I|4 having a slot ||5 at one end thereof to allow the upper end of the brush I I3 to extend therethrough. Above the cover ||4 in spaced relation therewith is an arcuate plate ||6 suitably supported from one side of the cover by a finger I| 1. As seen in Fig. 2, the arcuate plate 6 is positioned so that one edge thereof contacts the upper end of the brush ||3.

The power transmitting mechanism 14 Suitably journalled in the side walls 2| of the base of the machine |0 is a horizontal drive shaft disposed in transverse relation to the machine I0. This shaft is adapted to be partially rotated by a manually actuated arm |2|. The power transmitting mechanism I4 to be recited in the following description includes certain elements for transmitting rotation of the 'drive shaft |20 to the aforedescribed driven shaft 95. Also included by the power transmitting mechanism is a shaft positioning mechanism |22 to be described hereinafter.

Fixed to the shaft |20 and extending radially therefrom is a-stud |23, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. Fixed at their lower ends to opposite ends of the drive shaft |20 are pairs of upstanding arms 24, a roller |25 being carried between the upper ends of each pair of these arms. Pivoted on suitable pins |26 of each of the arms 4| of the unit I2 are identical cam levers |21 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 17, the free ends of the levers |21 being joined to opposite ends of a transverse rod |28, the latter being formed to provide an inverted U-shaped portion |29.

Rotatably mounted on the driven shaft 95 adjacent the bearing 41 is a drum |32 having a central annular flange |33 formed integral therewith as shown in Figs. 2 and 15, one end of the drum having a ratchet tooth |34 formed thereon as seen in Fig. 15. Wound around the drum |32 on one side of the iiange |33 is a. torsion spring |35, the inner end of the spring being fixed to the drum while the outer end of the spring is attached to the aforementioned upper post 32 of the plate 30 as shown in Fig. 14. Also wound around the drum |32 is a chain |36, one end of which is xed to the drum while the other end is attached to the rod |28 of the levers |21 as shown in Figs. 14 and 17.

The shaft positioning mechanism |22 as shown in Figs. 2, 13, and 15 includes a vertically disposed arm bifurcated at its upper end and pivotally mounted at its lower end to the rear end wall 22 of the base I I. Rotatably mounted in the bifurcated upper end of the arm |45 is a roller |46, the arm being positioned so that the roller |46 thereof contacts the periphery of the aforementioned cam |31. Connected at its opposite ends to the arm |45 and the post 33 of the aforedescribed plate 30 is a contractile spring |41, the latter being provided so as toyieldably urge the roller |46 against the periphery of the cam |31. Fixed to the arm |45 is a horizontally disposed apertured bracket |48.

Slidably received by the apertured bracket |48 of the bifurcated arm |45 is a vertical rod |51, the lower end of this rod being bent so as to. be received by the apertured end of the lever |5I as shown in Fig. 15. Fixed to the upper end of the rod |51 is a cork shaped head |58 which is preferably made of rubber.

As shown through the several views of the drawings, the mechanism of themachine |0 is enclosed by a suitable housing 60, lower edge portions of the latter resting on top of the sides 2| and rear end 22 of the base l Suitable means (not shown) isprovided for locking and sealing the housing onto the machine |0 to prevent access to the mechanism thereof by unauthorized persons.

Mounted on the front end of the housing I 60 as shown in Fig. 1 is a plate |8| having suitable indicia |82 and |83 thereon for indicating the relative positions of the printing dies 11 and 82 respectively.

Operation Assuming the meter |00 of the machine I0 to be set by the postal authorities for a predetermined amount of prepaid postage, the machine I0 is made ready for use by unlocking the lock |18 s0 that the lug |19 thereof swings out of the path of the arm |24.

Before using the machine I0 the date circle die 82 must be removed and supplied with the proper type from the drawer 24 for printing the current date. 'I'he die 82 is removed by opening the door |16 of the housing |60 and screwing the threaded end ofV a wrench |9| into a suitable threaded opening provided in the die 82 as shown in Fig. 9. The wrench |9| has an enlarged portion |92 which forces the keeper 84 upward so as to permit removal of the die 62. After suitable type is placed in the die 82 the latter is replaced and the wrench |9| unscrewed therefrom.

Prior to the printing operation. the ap of an envelope may be moistened by the molstener I3 by drawing the iiap of the envelope rightwardly across the top of the cover ||4 and under the arcuate plate ||6 so that the gummed side of the envelope ap is wiped by the brush ||3,

`the latter being automatically moistened by capillary action. After the moistening operation, the ap is 'properly folded, but not necessarily sealed, and the envelope indicated by the numeral in Fig. 13 is then placed face up on the work receiving plate 52 so that the rear edge of the envelope contacts the guide portions 53 of the plate 52. The envelope is then moved rightward until it contacts the primary face 56 of the lug 55. The operator then pushes the arm |2| rearwardly, thus rotating the drive shaft |20 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 13. As the shaft |20 rotates, the pairs of arms |24 are swung as shown in Fig. 13, the rollers |25 of these arms riding along the upper edges of the levers |21 causing the latter to swing downwardly. As the levers swing in this manner the transverse rod |28 thereof pulls on the chain |36, thus rotating the drum |32 of the driven shaft 95. Rotation of the drum |32 is transmitted to the shaft by engagement of the ratchet tooth |34 with the pawl |39 of the cam |31 as shown in Fig. 18. As the driven shaft 95 rotates the crank 96 on the end thereof rotates causing the roller 91 to contact the cam plates 1| and 12, thus swinging the arms 66 and the printing head 68 to the printing position shown in Fig. 13. As the printing head 68 is being lowered the cam 98 of the shaft 95 actuates suitable mechanism (not shown) which causes the ink pad 64 to be drawn from under the printing head 68 and also causes the arms 60 and 6| to be lowered so that the lower edges of the forward ends of these arms contact the envelope |90 so as to press the latter against the platen 50, thus preventing removal of the envelope until the printing operation is completed.

While the drive shaft |20 is being rotated by manually pushing on the arm |2|, the driven shaft positioning mechanism functions in the following manner: As shown in Fig. 13, rotation of the drive shaft |28 swings the stud |23 downward into contact with the inclined flange |54 of the lever |5| causing the latter to be rocked as shown. As the longer arm of this lever swings upward the vertical rod |51 is raised positioning the rubber head |58 thereof between the aforementioned lug 34 and the bifurcated arm |45, as

shown in Figs. 13 and 18.

As described hereinbefore, the driven shaft 95 is actuated by the power transmitting mechanism |4 in response to manual actuation of the arm |2|. However, just after the printing dies 11 and 92 are pressed against the envelope |90 the driven shaft 95 is rotated very rapidly as a result of the expansion of the compression springs 65 of the arms 60 and 6| and the springs 92 of the

arms

66 and 61.

Upon completion of a revolution of the driven shaft 95 the roller |46 of the bifurcated arm |45 enters the arcuate recess |38 of the cam |31, the roller being urged against the cam by the spring |41 of the arm |45. As the shaft 95 completes its revolution at a rapid rate (as shown in Fig. 15), the arcuate recess |38 of the cam |31 tends to ride past the roller |46. This, however, is prevented by the rubber head |58, the latter being wedged between the arm |45 and the lug 36 as aforedescribed. 'Ihe head |58 is made of resilient material so as to absorb the shock exerted by the rapidly moving cam |31 as the latter completes its'rotation.

During a cycle of operation of the machine |0 uneven torque loads are exerted on the driven shaft 95 as the roller 91 of the crank 96 contacts the cam plates 1| and 12, and the cam 98 functions to operate the arms 60 and 6| as described in detail in the aforementioned capending application. The levers |21 of the power transmitting mechanism I4 are shaped so that varying degrees of leverage may be had by the drive shaft |20 vover the driven shaft 95, thus permitting a uniform force to be applied on the arm |2| in spite of the uneven torque of the shaft 95 to be overcome.

The present postal rates require that three cents postage be paid for each ounce of first class mail matter. The printing die 11 of the machine is formed to print postage in accordance with the one ounce requirements of the postal rates, the date circle die 82 being formed to print the cancellation date. With the date circle disposed in operative position, as shown in Fig. 10, the envelope |90 is printed as shown in Fig. 19, the postage indicium and date circle being indicated at |93 and |94 respectively, it being noted that the postage and date circle are spaced as shown. If the mail matter weighs between one and two ounces, it is necessary to print two postage indicia upon the envelope as shown in Fig. 20. This is accomplished by manually sliding the knob |10 of the pin |69 (see Fig. 10) which moves the member |64 laterally. The finger 15 is carried by the member |64 causing the wedge 13 to be drawn from over the date circle die 82 as shown in Fig. 8, the spring fingers 80 urging the die 82 upward into non-printing position. The envelope is then shifted until its right-hand edge contacts the secondary face 51 of the lug 55 and the machine |0 is actuated so as to print a. second indicium as shown in Fig. 20.

If necessary to print more than two postage indicia, the date circle is moved to non-printing position and two indicia printed by locating the envelope against the primary face 56 and then the secondary face 51 of the lug 55. Then by sliding the envelope rightwardly until the righthand edge of the first printed indicium comes in line with the arrow 58 on the guide portion 53 of the plate 52, the envelope is positioned for the third indicium, this process being continued until all but the last required postage indicium is printed. Before the last printing operation the date circle die is moved to printing position as aforedescribed and the date circle printed simultaneously with the printing of the last indicium.

sov

It is obvious that after the gummed surface of an envelope is moistened by the moistener I3 as aforedescribed and properly folded, the iiap will be sealed to the envelope during the printing operation as a result of the pressure exerted on the envelope between the printing dies and the platen.

When necessary to replace or ink the pad 64 the same may be removed by using the Wrench ISI in substantially the same manner described in the aforementioned copending application.

Although I have shown and described but one preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications might be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a postal machine, the combination of: a platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a meter adapted to register each rotation of said driven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a pulley rotatably mounted on said driven shaft; ratchet means for transmitting'rotation of said pulley to said driven shaft; and means for driving said pulley.

2. In a postal machine, the combination of: a platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a meter adapted to register each rotation of said driven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a pulley rotatably mounted on said driven shaft; ratchet means for transmitting rotation of said pulley to said driven shaft; a drive shaft; and means for transmitting rotation of said drive shaft to said pulley..

3. In a postal machine, the combination of a platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a meter adapted to register each rotation of said driven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a drive shaft; and cam means for transmitting power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, said cam means being formed so as to exert a varying force on said driven shaft to compensate for uneven torque loads exerted by said driven shaft during a printing cycle.

4. In a postal machine, the combination of: a platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a meter adapted to register each rotation of said driven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a pulley rotatably mounted on said driven shaft; means for yieldably returning said pulley to normal position; means for transmitting unidirectional rotation of said pulley to said driven shaft; and driving means adapted to rotate said pulley Iexclusively in said direction.

5. In a postal machine, the combination of: a platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a meter adapted to register each rotation of said driven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a drive shaft; a bar pivotally mounted at one end thereof; cam means for oscillating said bar in response to rotation of said drive shaft; and means for rotating said driven shaft in response to oscillation of said bar.

6. In a postal machine, the combination of: al platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a. meter adapted to register each rotation of said driven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a pulley rotatably mounted on said driven shaft; ratchet means for transmitting unidirectional rotation of said pulley to said driven shaft; a drive shaft; a bar pivotally mounted at one end thereof; cam means for oscillating said bar in response to rotation of said drive shaft; and means for rotating said pulley in response to oscillation of said bar.

7. In a postal machine, the combination of: a platen; a printing die movable to and from said platen; a unidirectional driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for actuating said die as aforesaid; a meter adapted to register each rotation of saiddriven shaft and lock said shaft upon completion of a predetermined number of rotations; a pulley rotatably mounted on said driven shaft; ratchet means for transmitting rotation of said pulley to said driven shaft;l a drive shaft; and cam means for transmitting rotation of said drive shaft to said pulley, said cam means being formed so as to exert different degrees of force on said pulley and thus compensate for uneven torque loads exerted by said driven shaft during a printing operation.

8. In a postal machine, the combination of: a platen; a printing head movable substantially vertically to and from said platen; a printing die removably mounted on said head; means for retaining said die on said head; a Wrench for removing said die; and means on said wrench for automatically moving said retaining means into inoperative position in response to applying said wrench to said die.

9. In a postal machine, the combination of: a,stationary platen;` a printing head movable substantially vertically relative to said platen; a printing die shiftable substantially horizontally and vertically relative to said head; means for selectively shifting said die vertically to printing and non-printing positions; means for normally locking said die against horizontal movement relative to said head; a tool adapted to remove said die horizontally from said head; and means on said tool for automatically releasing said locking means so as to permit removal of said die.

.QOMMODORE D. RYAN.