US2003218A - Adjustable printing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1935" w. J. PEARSON 2,003,213

I ADJUSTABLE PRINTING HECHANISM I Filed Oct. 23, 1951 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1931 l5 Sheets-sheaf. 2

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ATTQRNEY May 28, 1935. w. J. PEARSON ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1951 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVENTOR.

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INVENTOR y 8, 1935. w. J. PEARSON 2,003,218

ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORN EY y 1935. w. J. PEARSON 2,003,218

ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR '0 M/finv J @Qm'an, v Q Q: By V ez A TTORNE 1 May 28, 1935. w. J. PEARSON ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 May 28, 1935. w. J. PEARSON ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 ,4 TTORNE I" w. J. PEARSON 2,003,218

ADJUSTABLE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 IN VENTUA M/figh flarfon g/ w w A TTORNEY Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 25 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable printing mechanism designed to be used in conjunction with a parcel post machine, such as is disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 367,106, filed May 29, 1929, entitled Parcel post weighing and stamp printing machine, which is designed to weigh parcel post packages and to print parcel post stamps of the prepaid metered type.

The Parcel post weighing and stamp printing machine disclosed in said application is designed for printing purposes, more particularly the printing of metered parcel post stamps, wherein it may be required to print a stamp bearing the name of the place of original mailing, the date, the zone number to which the package is addressed, the weight of the package, the monetary value of the stamp derived from the weight and the zone, a serial number, and such other words, phrases, figures, decorations, and designations as it may be desired to print. This mechanism is used in conjunction with a scale, meters, and a paper supply, and may be motor driven and used for any printing purpose. This mechanism is more particularly designed for the purpose of printing stamps within the postal limits as in use at the present time, namely, from 71;) to $6.01 inclusive, the machine described having a capacity of $9.99, but may be constructed for any capacity desired.

This mechanism is particularly adapted for the printing of parcel post stamps upon a paper strip which is delivered from the machine, cut to the proper stamp length, and, being gummed on the reverse side, may be moistened at the delivery point of the machine and, in this condition, attached to the package to be mailed.

This mechanism is also designed to be used in conjunction with a metering or registering device which continuously registers within a set of numeral wheels constituting a meter the monctary values of the stamps printed; and also with a control meter which may be set for a predetermined monetary value and which, upon exhaustion of the set amount, will function to lock the entire machine against operation until again so set, and may be so disposed as to actuate any other mechanism that may be desired.

This mechanism also provides a novel method of setting up within the machine the mechanical equivalents of numbers put into the machine by an operator by actuation of the keys of a keyboard. This mechanism provides a novel method of setting up a series of type within the machine through the use by an operator of a single bank of ten keys which, when the required numbers have been set up or the required number of keys operated on the keyboad by means of a control key and the connected motor drive, performs the printing operation, whereupon the entire machine is cleared and re-set preparatory to the next setting and printing operation. In the form of the machine disclosed, there are six numbers to be printed, hence six figures must be set up in the machine and therefore six keys on the keyboard must be punched before the progressive release lock will be fully operated to unlock and allow the printing mechanism to function. Thus, it is impossible to print a stamp until the required number of keys have been punched on the keyboard, no more and no less, thus reducing to a minimum the possibility of printing incorrect or mutilated stamps and the consequent registering of incorrect amounts within the recited meters.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising the peculiar features required by the operation of a machine for the purposes as set forth and to produce the said results, wherein multiple type may be set up by a single keyboard successively for printing purposes, which type may be returned to the original position at the will of the operator and which will be automatically returned to the original position at the completion of a printing operation.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising a series of printing wheels actuated by a keyboard mechanism to be rotated to a position corresponding to the numbers put into the keyboard, successively and in. rotation, and presenting the certain type faces in printing relation to a platen.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising a locking element adapted to engage the recited printing wheels while still in geared relation to the setting means, retaining them in the position as locked during a printing operation and returning them to the said geared relation in the original position assumed before the locking operation occurred.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising a platen against which the type operate to print which includes a duplicating mechanism composed of an inked ribbon and the spools for winding the ribbon, the winding mechanism and reversing mechanism for the ribbon, and runways or guides for the paper strips to pass through under the printer, thus placing the ink ribbon between the two paper strips and allowing the type to print a duplicate stamp bymeans of the force of the blow delivered against the platen.

.An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising an inking device for inking the type faces of the numeral wheels, wherein there is a. reservoir for holding a supply of ink and means to feed the ink to the surface of a pad, and a roller operating in tracks for the purpose of carrying the ink from the pad to the type faces and properly and evenly inking the said type faces; and also to provide means for inking the said type faces in the minimum of time prior to a printing operation of the numeral printer, wherein the said roller is required to travel from an original position at one side of the pad across the face of the pad, to and across the race of the type, and then to return to the original position.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising an automatically operated serial numbering device having numeral wheels similar to the just recited numeral wheels and adapted to align and print with the other parts of the printer and to be inked by the same recited inking device, and operated to increase the reading by one number each time that a printing operation occurs, and to be actuated by the same means as the printer to print both an original and a duplicate impression.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism comprising a dating device with removable and replaceable type with type faces bearing letters and numerals for composing the date. The type are enclosed within a dater body which is removable and replaceable in the machine and aligns with the type faces on the recited numeral wheels, is inked and operated by the same means and at the same time as the recited numeral printer, and is provided with a positioning device including an electric switch in the motor circuit, which is opened when the dater block is removed, and which will not be closed unless the dater block is again correctly positioned in the printer. This provides means preventing operation of the machine when the dater is absent or incorrectly positioned, and precludes mutilating a stamp from this cause.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism including a driving mechanism wherein the motive power is continuously supplied but intermittently connected to the printer parts for actuation only at such points in the cycle of operation as relate with other operative parts of the machine. This I have provided in a novel clutch mechanism which intermittently engages and disengages the drive elements with the driven elements.

An object of my invention is to provide a printing mechanism including, with the recited numeral printer, the combination of a second printer, this printer being a self-inking rotary printer bearing the indicia plate for the printing of a stamp, and using ink of a different color from the ink used in the numeral printer, giving greater visibility in reading by reason of the contrast. This rotary printer is operated, together with the conveyer rolls, by the recited intermittent clutch; and it further drives, with the same intermittent movement, a take-up spindle for the duplicate type whereon it is rolled and which may be removed at the will of the operator.

Various other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawi gs which form 9.

part of this disclosure and which illustrate a preferred form. of embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of that portion of a parcel post machine comprising the right-hand front corner of the base plate, the casing being broken away so as to disclose the interior mechanism which includes the keyboard, the re-set meter, the power clutch, the progressive release locking mechanism, the selector, and the meter set-up mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of that portion of a parcel post machine residing adjacent and to the left of that portion shown in Fig. 1, the casing being broken away so as to disclose the interior mechanism which comprises the rotary printer and its attendant clutch and geared connections, the numeral printer, the moistener, the recording meter and the meter-controlled switch in a power circuit.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view approximately on line 3-3 on Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the numeral printer, the selector, and a sectional view of the key bars and their attendant connections.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear portion of the machine, comprising that portion of the machine not shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the casing being broken away to show the interior mechanism, including the electric motor for a motor-driven machine, a transformer for providing a low voltage current for certain portions of the control and signal mechanism, the paper roll feed and the solenoid operated switches which are a part of the control mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section from the left of the rotary and numeral printers taken approximately on the line 5-5 on Fig. 2, parts being removed to show parts otherwise hidden.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the numeral printer taken approximately on the line 8-6 of Fig. 2 with certain parts broken away to show those otherwise hidden.

Fig. 7 is a.view of the numeral printer drive cam, taken opposite to the view shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to the left-hand portion of Fig. 3, and showing the numeral printer with the front plate removed, showing certain parts in section and disclosing a diagrammatic view of the various cams and levers contained therein and the adjoining selector unit.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 8 of a numeral printer, taken approximately on the line 99 of Fig. 5 and disclosing the cams and levers operating the automatic numbering machine and inking device, with the printer in non-printing position.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at approximately the same position as Fig. 9 and showing the relative positions of the printing elements in printing position.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the numeral printer taken approximately on the line I l-l I of Fig. 5 and disclosing the printing hammer and one of the rack and pinion elements which actuate the numeral printing wheels, as well as the selector that operates the racks.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the numeral printer, taken approximately on the line I 2--l 2 of Fig. 5 and disclosing in section the dater device which is included as a part of the numeral printer and here shown in non-printing position.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the printer only, as shown in Fig. 12, disclosing the dater device in section and in printing position.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, showing the rear ends of the key bars and one complete connection from one of the key bars to one of the push bars which actuate the selector.

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the numeral printer, taken approximately on a line with arrows IS in Fig. and showing the opposite view of the various levers and connection: heretofore disclosed.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view of the numeral printer taken approximately on the line l6-l6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmental sectional view of the numeral printer in printing position.

Figs. 1, 2, and 4 provide together a plan view of the entire machine; the keyboard A is located at the right-hand corner at the front in a convenient location for operation by an operator; extending backward from this keyboard are key bars B which by their several connections operate the selector unit C which, in turn, operates the numeral printer D, (best shown in Fig. 2), and, by various connections, the meter set-up unit E in which is set up a mechanical equivalent of the numbers punched in on the key board A by an operator; upon a printing operation being instituted, these mechanical equivalents are transmitted into the two meters of which the re-set meter F is disclosed immediately behind the keyboard A in Fig. 1 and the total meter G is disclosed adjacent the front of the machine in Fig. 2.

As these elements of the machine are actuated simultaneously during a set-up and a printing operation, their complete construction and operation will be described, as well as that of the rotary printer H (Fig. 2), which functions to print the indicia upon the paper tape in the form of a stamp preparatory to the action of the numeral printer to print the numerals thereon, completing the printing operation of a stamp.

There are several units which control or govern the operations of all of these units prior to and during printing operations. Among those that most directly affect the printing mechanism are the meter-controlled lock J (Fig. 1), and the connected meter-controlled switch K (Fig. 2), which opens the motor circuit upon the exhaustion of a pre-set amount of postage in the re-set meter which is adapted to be set by the postmaster for an amount of postage purchased by the consumer; lock J and switch K are returned to normal position upon the operation of re-setting the re-set member by the postmaster. A control device is provided to govern the operation of the printer within the limits of the present keyboard construction, namely, that there must be six keys punched in on the keyboard before a printing operation can be performed; this device consists of the progressive release lock M (Fig. l), which operates to release the power clutch L upon the proper operation of the keyboard.

In addition, there are (Fig. 4) the paper supply units comprising the roll carrier N and the solenoid-operated switch 0, the transformer P, a main switch Q (key-operated from the outside of the machine), an electric motor R supplying motive power for the operation of the machine and its gearing and speed reducing units S.

In the operation of this machine, the paper tape is carried from the rolls N (Fig. 4) through the rotary printer H andthe numeral printer D, where a duplicate copy is made on one of the paper tapes through the original paper tape which comprises the stamp, and thence to a moistener T, where, when the stamp has been forwarded its length into the moistener, it is severed from the balance of the tape and, at the will of the operator, may be discharged by manual operation, during which operation the gummed surface of the stamp is moistened, while the duplicate stamp is rolled up within the machine for future use.

Owing to the peculiar operation requirements of this particular character of work, there is a requirement for a printer of a flexible character wherein the series of numbers may be set up on type wheels and wherein, should an error occur during the set-up operation, the operator may manually return the numeral wheels to their original position and make a new and correct set-up. This work must be done without affecting the previous registering in the meters of numerals printed; to that end I have provided the recited meter set-up mechanism E wherein there is made a set-up composed of a mechanical equivalent of the numbers punched in on the keyboard A by an operator, and, whereby, when the printing operation occurs, these mechanical equivalent numbers are put into the meters, but, should an error occur, it is necessary to clear the machine of whatever set-up may have been put into it prior to a printing operation, that these mechanical equivalent numbers not be registered within the meters at the time that a set-up is being made. By my meter set-up mechanism the set-up may be cleared without interfering with the meter action. This mechanism is the subject of a co-pending application filed October 23, 1931, Serial Number 570,620.

The progressive release lock M governs the printing operations of the machine for the purpose of more completely eliminating the possibility of error in numbers set-up within the printer by means of the keyboard, for example, if less than six or more than six keys are punched inadvertently, the printing mechanism cannot be operated because the power clutch L has not been released by the progressive release lock M; the operator must then clear the machine and properly set up the number by effecting the required number of key-actuations on the keyboard; with this operation properly completed, the power clutch L is released and may be en gaged by means controlled from the keyboard. At the completion of the printing operation, the progressive release lock M is automatically set in locking position against the power clutch L, and so remains until the next complete keyboard operation.

I will now describe in detail the numeral printer D to which this application primarily pertains.

Fig. 6, which illustrates the numeral printer as a unit, shows the base of the machine 20 upon which is mounted the frame 2! of the numeral printer and a similar oppositely-disposed frame 22 (Figs. 8 and 12) to which most of the elements comprising the printer are secured.

Associated with a series of numeral wheels 23, 24, 25, 26, 2'1, and 28 (Fig. 5) which comprise the so-called numeral printer, is an automatic numbering machine 29 which comprises three numeral wheels 30 similar to the numeral wheels of the numeral printer and aligned to print with them. The numeral printer also includes a dating device 3| which is the subject of a co-pending application Serial Number 570,628, filed October 23, 1931. This dating device comprises a dater block 32 which is adapted to receive the type 33, and has a handle 84 for removal from the carriage 35 in which it resides when in operative position in the numeral printer; this device is also provided with a positioning pin 36, and a manually movable switch control arm 31 which operates the positioning pin 36 and which, when moved in either lateral direction, disconnects the switch contact points 38 in the electric circuit supplying the electric motor R (Figs. 5 and 16.)

The positioning pin 36 may be manually removed from contact with the dater block 32 for the purpose of removing the block for re-setting the type; and, when the switch control arm 3? is moved out for this purpose, the switch contacts 35 are disconnected, and, after the deter block 82 is removed and the arm 3'! released, it moves laterally in the opposite direction a sufficient amount to disconnect the switch points 38, and thus the motor circuit is broken while the dater block is out. Should the dater block be returned to the printer in an incorrect position wherein the positioning pin 36 does not properly seat itself in the deter block 32, the switch contacts 38 will remain open until the dater block 32 is properly positioned and the pin 35 properly seated. This mechanism prevents operation of the numeral printer when the deter is removed or is in an incorrect position.

The dater carriage 35 (Fig. 5) constitutes a bearing for one end of the shaft 39, upon which are rotatably mounted the numeral printer wheels and the wheels of the automatic numbering machine 29. The other end of the shaft 39 is mounted in a sliding plate til, (Fig. 15). The two plates 5% at either end of the numeral printer support the deter, numeral wheels, and automatic numbering machine, and are attached to an upper plate 49. The sliding plates 46 ride vertically betwen rails 32 secured to the inside of the frame parts 2i and 22 (Fig. 10). Secured to the inside of the slide plates d are rails as between which slide the end guide plates ll attached to the hammer Q5. The frames 2! and 22 are tied together at the top by a cross plate Alt and across the front by tie plate M.

It being required, in this form of a parcel post machine, that the numeral printer be operated with a hammer-like blow for the purpose of printing the duplicate stamp through an inked ribbon, I have provided for this purpose a means comprising a driven shaft to which are secured arms 69 which oscillate to operate the hammer 35 with a reciprocating movement; the connection between the arms and hammer is of a slidable type in the form of a pin 58 secured to the hammer 65 and riding in an elongated opening in one end of the arms ie, thus permitting arcuate movement of the arms.

It being also required, in a machine of this character, that it be impossible to obtain a stamp surreptitiously, I have provided a means to that end. The numeral wheels 23, 2t, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are set up by means of the keyboard A and the intervening mechanism culminating in a series of rack bars 52, (one of which is illustrated in Fig. 11), each rack bar has a rack section 53 adapted to engage a pinion wheel 54! secured to one of the numeral wheels. The particular rack bars 52 which operate numeral wheels 26, 21, and 28, for printing the monetary value of the stamp are provided with extensions 55 (Figs. 8, 9, and 11), which extend to and operate rack bars 56, 57, and 58 which, through various connections, actuate the meter set-up unit E; by this means any numeral set-up on the monetary numeral wheels in the printer has a corresponding set-up in the meter set-up mechanism E.

To provide for positively printing the exact numeral set-up made by the arrangement of the numeral wheels, I have provided, on the lower face of the hammer 45, a series of locking devices 45' each of which is adapted to engage the projecting type upon the numeral wheel which is presented toward the hammer. The two positions of the hammer relative to one of the numeral wheels are best shown in Figs. 9 and Fig. 9 discloses the relative position of the parts when in non-printing position and Fig. 10 shows these parts in their engaged and printing position.

The printing operations of the hammer con= sist in an initial downward movement suficient to engage the type member presented toward it, for the balance of its downward movement the hammer carries with it the entire numeral wheel assembly to a point where the type presented to the printing surface contacts the paper tape and completes the printing operation. The carriage, comprising the plates 68 and M, permits the hammer to move vertically. The springs 59 in chambers 60 within the hammer 35 are tensioned upwardly against the plate ill, and after the printing operation raise the entire carriage containing the numeral printer to its original position (Fig. 9). The downward movement of the numeral printer disengages the racks 52 from the pinions 56, the upward return movement again engages these members in identically the same position that they occupied before the printing operation occurred and before the looks it have been disengaged therefrom.

When the operator of a machine has set up the desired combinations of figures, which, in this instance, we will assume to be correct, and he desires to print a stamp, he may depress the control key 65 on the keyboard A to engage the power clutch L and thus transmit power from the electric motor R. through the several connections to the main drive shaft 62; this shaft is gear-related to a secondary gear shaft 63 which, in turn, is gear-related to the numeral printer Dby means of a drive gear wheel 6% which meshes with a second gear wheel 65. keyed to the driven shaft 66. The driven shaft 66 is supported by bearings mounted in the frames 2! and 22 and has keyed to it on one end a cam wheel 6'! which is provided on one side with a cam 68 having a cam groove 69 in which rides cam roller 70 mounted in one end of a rocking arm H keyed to the shaft :38. The rocking arm H is provided at its other end with a tension spring l2 secured to the frame 2!. The shaft 48 has keyed to it the arms 39 which operate the hammer 65.

To operate the numeral printer by a hammerlike blow the hammer 65 is associated with the cam 68 and spring tension means. The hammer blow is effected by releasing the numeral printer so that the tension of the spring 52 instantly operates the rocking arm H and through it the shaft 48 and the connected hammer 55. The means for releasing these elements for the hammer blow comprises a pin 73 fastened to one side of the rocking lever H which is contacted by a latch portion IQ of the trip lever 75; lever 15 is rockably mounted on shaft 16 secured to frame 2! and tensioned into engaged position by means of a spring 11 secured at one end to the lever 15 and at'its other end to frame 2!.

For the purpose of tripping the lever 75 out of engagement with the pin I3, a, trip pin 18 is mounted at a predetermined point upon the periphery of the cam wheel 61; upon the revolution of the cam wheel the pin 18 contacts the lever 15 and rocks it the required amount to disengage the latch H from the pin I3, thus allowing the spring-tensioned rocking lever II to rock the shaft 48 and perform a printing operation (see Figs. 6 and 7). Owing to the fact that the opposite end of the rocking lever II is provided with the cam roller I0 which rides within the cam groove 69 at all times, I have designed the shape of the walls of the cam groove 69 to permit a certain amount of free movement in one direction upon the cam 88 reaching a predetermined point in its cycle of operation, that is, at the point where the trip pin I8 is arranged to contact the lever 75, thereby providing free movement of the lever l'I in its relation to the cam r groove 69 when it is operated by means of the spring I2.

The serial numbering device 29 incorporated into the numeral printer automatically steps up one number at each operation of the printer 49 and numbers the stamps successively as they are printed. This device (see Fig. 9) is operated by shaft 66 through the cam I9 keyed to the shaft,

.cam 79 contacting a cam roller 89 mounted in one end of a bell crank lever BI fulcrumed on shaft I6; bell crank 8! is connected at its opposite end with a link 82 which operates a bell crank lever 93 fulcrumed on the printer shaft 39; a pawl 84 mounted on lever 83 is tensioned by spring E to contact the teeth of a ratchet wheel 86 secured i to one of the numeral wheels 3% of the automatic numbering device 29.

The ratchet wheel 86 is restrained against reversing by means of the ratchet dog device 3?. The bell crank lever 91 and its cam roller 39 are tensioned toward the cam 19 by spring 98; thus, upon each cycle of operation of the machine, the cam I9 rotates one complete revolution, thus roclcing the bell crank 91 and thereby actuating the serial numbering device 29 to advance one unit.

in the cycle of operation of this machine, the sequence of movements requires that the first operation to talre place in printing a stamp be the printing operation of the numeral printer; to provide for this operation in a minimum of elapsed time an inking device is designed to move with great rapidity and yet absolute efiiciency to distribute ink to the type faces of the numeral printer and to be removed therefrom prior to the printing operation without interfering with the vertical movement of the hammer and the numeral printer.

The operation of the inking mechanism (Figs. 8 and 11), originates at shaft 66 to which is keyed a cam 89 contacting a cam roller 90 mounted on a swinging lever 9|; this lever is fulcrumed at one end on pin 92 mounted in the bifurcated head of a supporting standard 93. The amount of movement originating by the travel. of the cam roller 90 in and out of the dwell 95 in cam 89 is multiplied by a series of levers mounted on a rock shaft 95, journaled in plates 2| and 22. One end of the swinging lever 9| is connected to a link 96 which is connected to and operates a lever 91 keyed to the shaft 95; also keyed to shaft 95 are multiplying levers 98, each of which is pivotally connected to a slide member 99 reciprocable in tracks I00; these slide members support the ink roller I0 I, operate it across the face of an ink pad I02, and carry it into contact with the type faces of the numeral printer and return it to its original position adjacent one edge of the ink pad I02.

The ink pad I02 comprises a reservoir I03 and a fabric surface I04 which the ink roller IOI contacts in its travel; the reservoir I03 is provided with a feed spout I03 by which it may be supplied with ink. To effect the movement of the inking device by the travel of the cam roller 90 into and out of the dwell 94, the parts are placed under a strong spring tension provided by two springs 98 secured at one end to the levers 98 and at the other end to the frames 2| and 22, respectively.

The numeral wheels of the numeral printer are set up by means of the rack bars 52; as shown in Fig. 11, each of these rack bars is provided with ratchet teeth I05 uponwhich operates a pawl I06. These ratchet teeth I05 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow for the rotation of the numeral printing wheels from one type face to the next succeeding type face by the movement of rack bar 52 a distance equivalent to the space between adjacent ratchet teeth 205. Upon a movement of the rack bar 52 following a set-up movement in the keyboard A, the pawl. 06 rests against one of the teeth in the ratchet I05 cor responding to the number of the key depressed in keyboard A. This contact is retained through out the printing operation, thus maintaining the rack bars 52 in the proper set-up position. The pawls are released from the ratchet teeth I05 .upon a clearing operation of the machine hereinafter to be described. The rack bars 52 are tensioned against the set-up portion and against the pawls it by means of spring iBl.

To provide for a positive return of the rack. bars 52 and the associated parts which actuate the meter set-up mechanism E, I. do not rely solely upon spring action, but have provided a power driven unit which will mechanically re turn these members to their original position upon 3 a completion of a printing operation. This return mechanism (best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 15) comprises a cam Hi8 on shaft 5% engaged cam roller Hi9 mounted on one side of rocking lever Illi; lever lid is fulcrumed on pin it i mounted in standard 582.

The operation of returning the rack bars requiring considerable multiplication of the movement originating at the cam I08, I have provided a multiplying lever H3 which is rockably mounted on shaft I6 and connected at its shorter end by means of link II4 with the rocking lever I I0, and also provided at its longer end with a cross rod II 5 which is mounted at its other end in a rocking lever similar to the lever H3 fulcrumed on shaft I6, but not shown. At the completion of a printing operation, the cam I08 has revolved to a point where the cam roller I09 will ride upon the cam face H6, thereby moving the rod H5 into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 15 where it has picked up the rack bars 52 in whatever position they may have been and returned them to their original position.

As my parcel post machine is designed to provide a duplicate stamp at the time the printing operation takes place, I have provided means for printing the duplicate simultaneously with the printing of the original stamp; this means comprises a ribbon feed unit U. This unit is composed of two supporting frames 1, (Fig. 5), located at either end of the unit and support the platen II8, which in turn supports the paper guide II9.

In Fig. 10 the ink ribbon I 20 is shown as wound upon the spindles I2I and I 22 and passing through the guide plate II9 which separates the paper strips one from the other, so that the ribbon I20 may pass between them; ribbon I20 is guarded against friction. and wear by means of rollers I23.

The platen H8 is provided with a center portion II8 of slightly resilient material for receiving the impact of the blow delivered by the hammer 45.

For the purpose of feeding and reversing the ribbon I20, I have provided a feeding and reversing device lZd (Fig. 2) and which is driven by a rocking lever I 25 fulcrumed on the post E26 and which has a cam roller 82? contacting the cam H28 driven by an element of the rotary printer H.

The guide He has an open receiving end 529 (Fig. 5) adjacent the rotary printer H from which the paper tapes are received; the paper tapes are divided passing through the guide M9; the ribbon ink I20 is fed through guide 8 i9 between and in a transverse direction to the travel of the paper tapes. The guide H9 ends abruptly at the front end of the numeral printer adjacent a cutting device V which comprises a stationary blade I30 and a pivotally mounted blade I3i having a lift E32 for manual operation when threading up the machine with paper tapes. For the purpose of providing a proper lateral contact between the knife blades I30 and ISL a spring 133 bears against the knife arm 53%, and is mounted by means of adjusting screw I35 on the frame 2i (Fi 6).

For operating the knife there is provided cam I36 keyed to the shaft 66; cam E36 contacts a cam. roller H31 on one end of the knife arm 53 3; the knife arm 13 3 is rockably mounted on shaft 75 and is strongly tensioned by means of spring I38 which is secured at its one end, to arm H3 and at its other end to frame 2 i.

The operation of the knife unit occurs at the completion of a printing operation cycle of the machine at which point the cam I36 will have rotated to a point where the dwell 839 is opposite the cam roller I3l which, under tension of spring H38, will drop into the dwell, thus allowing the knife blades to be closed by spring tension and sever the paper tapes.

The numeral printer D (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is closely connected in operation with several of the other elements of the machine, and is inoperative until the six numeral wheels have been properly set up by means of the keyboard A and the intervening mechanism.

The keyboard A comprises a single bank of ten keys for the setting up operation, an error key 23f for clearing the machine at the will of the operator, and a control key 6! for operating the power clutch to institute a printing operation. Thiskeyboard is provided with a series of power driven clutches the keys being merely releasing levers for the clutches, the power applied through the clutches being transmitted to the selector unit C, which constitutesthe contacting element for the numberal printer D. This keyboard and the connected clutches are the subject of a co-pending application filed October 23, 1931, Serial Number 570,622. The series of levers and bars intermediate the clutches and the selector unit C are of conventional form and need little description.

The movement originating in the keyboard is transmitted at right angles from the key bars I40 by means of connecting links t ll, (Fig. 14), and a connecting bell crank lever M2 fulcrumed at I43 on standard I44 which is supported by a cross member I45 resting upon supports I46. The bell crank I42 is provided at its opposite end with a slotted opening I41 in which rides pin I48 mounted in one side of one of the push rods I49. The push rod I49 is slidably supported at one end in a slotted guide plate 55!!) carried by the support I 55, the other end of the push rod tee riding in a slotted guide plate lei which is a part of the selector C. Each of the push rods use is provided with a stop I52 which is designed to contact one of the notches I53 in stop plate 95 5. located above the push rods and secured to the guide plate 1155.

The selector 0 is a device adapted to transmit movement originating in a keyboard to the several numeral wheels and consequently to the meter set-up mechanism E by progressive movements accomplished through the use of an escapement device which permits the lateral travel of part of the selector unit to place the contacting member successively in alignment with each of the rack bars 52 of the numeral printer D. This selector device is the subject of a co-pending application, but I will describe its connection with the numeral printer D to illustrate the method of setting up the numeral wheels within the printer.

The selector C is composed of a frame portion E55, supporting a bed plate 858 which acts as a tie between the various parts of the frame use, as a guide plate for the rack bars 55, 5'1, and 5%, as a supporting member for the guide plate 851, and as a support for the pawl E58, the roller bearings E59, and their supporting frame use; frame Edd acts as a guide plate for the selector carriage 869 which rides between and is supported by the bearings I 59, operating in the grooved tracks I62 in the carriage tel.

The carriage lei is actuated by one of the keyboard-operated push rods M9, and moves the carriage lei longitudinally whereby the selector arm I63 contacts one of the rack bars 52 and moves it in the same longitudinal direction a distance equivalent to the number represented by the particular key depressed on the keyboard A. The selector arm I63 which is secured to the slide member I6 l, is close to one side of the selector unit, that is, adjacent one of the frames I55 (Fig. 1). This position will be termed the original position of the selector; as the keyboard A is operated, the slide I66, carrying the selector arm I63, is given a step-by-step motion in accordance with the operation of the escapement, the slide traveling in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the carriage lei, thereby placing the selector arm We successively in a position to contact and move each of the rack bars 52 longitudinally in succession.

The means for providing this successive step movement consists of the pawl 158 which operates against a ratchet toothed member B65 located immediately beneath and secured to the slide see which is tensioned for escapement travel by a spring (not shown). Upon a lateral movement of the selector carriage 885 (to the left in Fig. 14) the tooth opposite the guide plate l5l, which would be held by the pawl I58, moves along the guide plate I51 and frees the pawl 158 from ratchet toothed member I65, the pawl then, by spring tension, moving toward the next tooth in line being limited in its movement to a distance of one tooth by a stop (not shown), thus allowing the tooth previously engaged, upon the return of the carriage IGI to original position, to pass by the pawl; the pawl will then engage the next succeeding tooth as it is brought toward it by slide I64 and will stop it by reason of engagement of the pawl with a stop (not showh) at a position in which the selector arm I63 is aligned with the next succeeding rack bar 52.

This successive step by step movement is shown and described in a co-pending application of George W. Lawrence, filed October 23, 1931, Serial Number 570,622.

This movement occurs upon the depression of each succeeding key on the keyboard until the selector slide I64 has been operatedsix times, when it is at the limit of its movement, (in a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 1). The operation of returning the slide to original position will be described in connection with the error mechanism and the releasing action of the pawls I06 for returning the rack bars 52 to original position.

The next step in the progression of movements from the keyboard A is the actuation of the meter set-up mechanism E. This actuation for the setting up of the mechanical equivalents of numbers within the meter set-up mechanism occurs simultaneously with the actuation of the racks 52 by means of the connecting elements 55 which terminate in the three racks 55, 51, and 58. The meter-actuation mechanism is adapted to handle only monetary values to be printed upon a stamp; in the machine herein disclosed, there are three monetary values, the cents, tens of cents, and dollars, and three corresponding operating parts of the mechanism, namely the racks 56, 51, and 58: the dollars are transferred by the rack 58, the tens of cents by the rack 57, and the cents by the rack 56.

The series of pinions, shafts, and gears I86 '(Fig. 3) transmit the keyboard movement to a series of stepped elevators I61 which are moved to a position wherein the particular step which is so positioned becomes the mechanical equivalent of the number punched in on the keyboard A and determines the degree of movement of the meter actuating mechanism (not shown). At the time a printing operation occurs, power is transmitted to the meter-actuating mechanism by means of secondary drive shaft 63 and its connections 570 to shaft I'II whereon a series of cams, (not shown), are so disposed that they will, when operated, successively actuate the elevators I61 and the associated meter actuating mechanism, beginning with the cents and progressing through the tens of cents and dollars; this is done for the purpose of allowing the meters to perform their carry-over operation from one numeral wheel to the other upon any one of the wheels reaching its ultimate amount or a ten. This form of meter is conventional and will be clearly understood by one conversant with the art, but the meters used in this machine have features of peculiar construction, necessary for the work to be done, and are clearly set forth in a co-pending application, filed October 23, 1931, Serial Number 570,621.

The meters to which this application will refer include the re-set meter F, wherein there is provided a means of setting the meter for a predetermined'amount of postage in the form of dollars and cents; means for subtracting at each printing operation the monetary value of the stamp printed; means, operable upon the exhaustion of the pre-set amount to lock the machine. The operation of this look will be more fully described hereinafter.

can be calculated.

The re-set meter F is re-set by a postofiice official for an amount of postage purchased by the consumer. The permanent total meter G is of identical construction with the re-set meter F.

As previously set forth, there is one additional element which controls the operations of the machine and, in a way, acts as a governor by requiring that a certain number of key depressions be performed in the keyboard A before a printing operation can be attained. In the form of parcel post machine herein disclosed it is necessary that there be six key-actuations in the keyboard, this control being exercised by the progressive release lock (Fig. 1). Unless the keys are properly punched in on the keyboard A to effect six key-actuations, the progressive release' lock M will not release the locking element of the power clutch L, and consequently will prohibit the release of this clutch by the control key SI (Fig. 1). This progressive release lock mechanism forms the subject of a co-pending application filed October 23, 1931, Serial Number 570,631.

A butterfly 112 (Fig. 14) is so disposed in relation to the key bars I46 that, upon the operation of a key in the keyboard its key bar I40 contacts the upper edge of the butterfly H2 and rocks it upon the rock shaft M3 to which it is secured. The rock shaft I73, mounted in supports I14, has secured to one end a lever I15 to which is connected a link I76; link H6, through intervening connections, operates a link IlEia connected to the ratchet device I'I'I of the progressive release lock M (Fig. 1).

At each depression of a key this ratchet device rotates the ratchet wheel I78 one notch, thus rotating the pins I19 until six keys key-actuations have been performed, when one of the pins I19 will have contacted and moved the lock bar I80 longitudinally to move the lock I8I and, through the bell crank I82, to throw the latch I83 out of the path of the pin 184 of power clutch L. This removal of the latch I93 allows the power clutch L to be operated by the control key 61 for printing purposes. The restoring mechanism for returning the various elements of the progressive release lock M to original position will be fully described in the description of the mechanism for clearing the machine.

Immediately adjacent the numeral printer D (Figs. 2 and 5) is a rotary printer H through which the paper tapes pass and wherein the stamp section receives an indicia imprint be fore it is passed into the numeral printer D for the printing of the date and numerals thereon. This rotary printer provides a simple but effective printer bearing an indicia plate for printing the lettering upon a stamp; its standards I85 and I86 act as shaft supports and sustain the inking device.

The drum I 81 is secured to the shaft I88 which is rotatably mounted in the standards I85 and I86 and is provided on one end with a drive gear

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