US2046783A

US2046783A - Numbering head

Info

Publication number: US2046783A
Application number: US38092A
Authority: US
Inventors: Holland Walter
Original assignee: American Bank Note Co
Current assignee: American Bank Note Co
Priority date: 1935-08-27
Filing date: 1935-08-27
Publication date: 1936-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-07

Description

July'7, 1936. w. HOLLAND NUMBERING HEAD Filed Aug. 27, 1955 Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,046,783 NUMBERING HEAD Application August 27, 1935, Serial No. 38,092

Claims.

The invention relates to numbering heads, .and more particularly to a numbering head adapted to be used on power operated high speed numbering machines during the finishing operation upon bank notes and similar instruments.

In printing matter of the character above referred to, a number of duplicated impressions are made upon a single sheet of paper, work of this kind being designated in printers parlance, 10 on, on, or a definite number on according to the number of duplicated impressions appearing upon the sheet. All bills or other instruments printed are consecutively numbered, and it is of the greatest importance that all billsbe consecutively numbered and that the same number shall not be duplicated on any two instruments.

Before the bills are numbered, the various impressions upon each sheet are repeatedly subjected to inspection for minute defects in the lines of the imprint so that theoretically, none but perfect impressions are numbered, although with two or more on some of the impressions may be imperfect and require to be rejected. After numbering, each sheet is again inspected to detect any possible defect in, or duplication of, any of the numbers, this work being done before the sheet is out to produce separate instruments.

All of the duplicated impressions upon .a sheet are numbered with one passage of the sheet through the numbering machine, and in addition to key letters, key digits, and other safety combinations, the digits in each number will ordinarily coincide with the number of digit wheels in the numbering head.

With the progressive actuation of numbering heads, inkand ink fibers from the paper may accumulate between digit wheels and become partially dry so that with the turning of any digit wheel, a wheel of higher denomination may be accidentally turned one-tenth of a revolution more or less causing an improper numbering of many instruments or a loss of alignment resulting in many defective, completed bills.

With the above well known conditions in mind, several methods of numbering have been developed in an effort to limit possibility of error, but such have not afforded any safeguard against the accidental turning of any digit wheel, or the skipping or loss of alignment resulting from such accidental turning.

One practice above referred to, consists in limiting the run of a numbering machine to one "ieusand sheets, after which the machine is stopped and the numbering heads, as to digit wheels of denominations of one thousand and upward, are hand set before beginning the next run of one thousand sheets. The digit wheels of all denominations are set before the beginning of the initial run of one thousand sheets of the series being numbered.

Assuming that each sheet has 20 on, twenty numbering heads are properly positioned upon the numbering head cylinder of the printing machine, or upon the type bed of said machine if 'a. fiat bed numbering machine is used. Ordinarily, however, rotary machines are employed in this work. Before beginning a run of the press, the

wheels of the lowest three denominations of each numbering head are all set with corresponding digits in the printing position, the only difference in the setting of the various numbering heads being as to the thousands and tensor thousands wheels according to the number of bills on.

With this procedure, inspection of the work is simplified since the three digits of lower denom ination will, in a properly numbered sheet, all be the same, thus making detection of an improper functioning of the digit wheels simple. It is necessary, however, for the inspector to check every digit in each number in order to be assured there has been no skipping or loss of alignment of any of the digits of the wheels of higher denominations. This is true even though so-called lock bar numbering heads are used. I If so-called positive lock numbering heads be used, skipping is impossible, but with a mechanism having parts as small as many parts embodied in a numbering head, the manufacturing difficulties are so great that positive lock heads are not extensively used.

With a lock bar type of head, movement of all of the digit wheels, which are automatically turned, is permitted during each actuation of the transfer mechanism, although during inking and printing, such heads are usually effective in pre-' venting any turning movement of the digit wheels.

I use the term usually because in the event of the breakage of the spring acting upon the lock bar mechanism, this mechanism in'some types of lock bar heads becomes inoperative.

For purposes of definition, a positive lock numbering head is one in which the detent pawl operative upon each wheel of higher denomination is acted 'upon, in addition to the ordinary restoring spring, by a mechanism, theco-operat ing parts of which are carried by the pawl of a wheel of higher denomination and by a Wheel of immediately lower denomination, so that the detent pawl is held against movement at all times excepting during the transfer operation involving the turning of adjacent wheels. Under some circumstances, a pawl may be disengaged from a wheel of higher denomination during a large number of impressions, but a turning of such wheels, with the actuation of wheels of lower denomination is impossible because there will always be an interposed wheel acted upon by its detent pawl to prevent transmission of power for turning a wheel of lower denomination, to such wheels of higher denomination.

A "lock bar head is a type of head in which an oscillatory frame carries a bar co-operating with the detent pawls of all digit wheels, this bar being ordinarily spring pressed, either directly or indirectly, into engagement with all detent pawls. As the actuating plunger is depressed, the lock bar frame is oscillated, or permitted to oscillate, so that it is or may be moved out of its restraining position in relation to the detent pawls, thus permitting the turning of any digit wheel during the transfer operation, or during the printing operation in the event of variation in the make-ready of the impression cylinder.

The re-setting of a positive lock head is a troublesome operation because all of the digit wheels must be set with the digit 9 in the printing position before the wheels can be hand set, beginning with the wheel of highest denomination. With a lock bar type of head, re-setting is simple because it is merely necessary to disengage the lock bar from the detent pawls to establish a relation of parts corresponding with those of an ordinary numbering head, the only safety appliance of which consists in spring pressed detent pawls.

In the operation of numbering machines at high speeds, there is always a possibility of the breakage of the springs'acting upon the detent pawls, these springs of necessity being small and subject to rapid vibration which may crystallize the material of the springs and result in breakage thereof. While skipping, overfeeding or underfeeding of the digit wheels is not a matter of frequent occurrence, when it does occur, serious losses result, particularly when printing bank notes and similar articles, because the numbering is, almost without exception, the last step in an expensive printing operation upon high priced paper. Improper numbering not only involves the wastage of labor, ink and paper, but necessitates a final hand numbering which is an additional cost in the printing of such instruments. This is apt tobe very material because a considerable number of bills may be numbered before the error is detected.

To correct the difficulties above referred to, I have provided a numbering head embodying therein a sequence of digit wheels of different denominations, the three wheels of lower denomination only ordinarily being automatically actuated during the transfer operation, and all wheels of higher denomination, (of the thousandths denomination upward), being capable of hand setting only. The actuation of the wheels of the three lower denominations, is so frequent that there is little likelihood of the drying of ink, or ink saturated paper fibers, between the wheels in a manner to form a bond strong enough to overcome the resistance of the spring of the detent pawl operating upon any of these wheels and permit accidental turning of any such wheel. Where a wheel, however, is turned only once during a thousand or a hundred thousand operations of a numbering head, time is afforded for the formation of a sufficiently strong bond between adjacent wheels by accumulated ink or ink saturated paper fibers.

In the head of the invention, I provide means operative upon the detent pawls of the digit wheels of the thousandths denomination upward, or all wheels which are not automatically actuated by the transfer mechanism embodied in the head, which means are in operative relation to said detent pawls at all times excepting when manually moved to a position out of engaging relation with the pawl. Said means are disengaged from the detent pawls only when it is desired to hand set the wheels of higher denomination. This locking means is so constructed that it cannot be disarranged or accidentally moved out of the operative relation to the detent pawls during operation of a numbering machine or by vibration resulting from the operation of the machines at high speed. When said locking means is manually moved out of operative relation to the detent pawls, one hand of the pressman is free to turn any digit wheel. Such turning movement is resisted by the spring pressed detent pawl operative upon a wheel, said pawl ensuring a proper alignment of the digits of that wheel with digits of the other wheels of the numbering head.

In a numbering head embodying the invention,

the digit Wheels of higher denomination may be 1 rapidly re-set by hand, and during the printing operation there is no possibility whatever of the accidental turning of, or skipping by, any of the digit wheels of higher denomination.

The detailed structure is such as to be adapted to the small space available in a numbering head for such a mechanism, and the mechanism may take different forms according to the size of the numbering head in which it is embodied.

The invention consists primarily in a numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating mechanism and transfer mechanism, operative upon wheels of lower denomination only, and a manually operative stop member mounted in said frame and adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented, and when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a numbering head embodying the invention in which the stop member has a right line movement parallel with the axis of the digit wheel shaft;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a form of the invention in which the stop member has pivotal movement about an axis at ri ht angles to the digit wheel shaft;

Fig. is a side view thereof partly broken away;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing one form of the frame of a numbering head for use upon the cylinder of a numbering machine; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the comb pawl forming a part of the actuating and transfer mechanism of a numbering head, shown herein.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Numbering heads of the type to which the invention relates embody therein a frame I0, carrying a fixed shaft H and supporting a digit wheel actuating and transfer mechanism commonly consisting of a depressible plunger l2, a swing frame l3 actuated thereby and a comb pawl M pivotally mounted upon said swing frame l3 and spring pressed toward the digit wheels in the usual manner.

Idly mounted upon the shaft H is a sequence of digit wheels which, for convenience of description, will be considered as two distinct groups, a group I5 consisting of digit wheels of lower denominations, and a group I6 consisting of digit wheels of higher denominations. The digit wheels of the group 15 of lower denominations include the units wheel, the tens wheel and the hundreds wheel, while the wheels of the group i 6 of higher denominations includes wheels of the thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions and ten millions.

Each digit wheel of each group carries, at one side thereof, a ratchet wheel I1, and is identical with all other digit wheels of both groups, excepting that the units digit wheel carries a ratchet wheel ll of greater thickness than is carried by the other digit wheels. This is to withstand the greater wear to which this ratchet wheel is subjected. A thicker or wider ratchet wheel may be used with the units wheel because this is an end wheel and its ratchet wheel does not serve as a spacer.

Extending from end to end of the frame Hi is a bearing rod 18 upon which a sequence of detent pawls I9 is pivotally mounted, these pawls being pressed toward the digit wheels by a spring 20 acting upon each pawl of the series. Each ratchet wheel I! has associated therewith a spring pressed detent pawl l9.

The general construction above referred to is old and well known in numbering heads, except as to the particular construction of the comb pawl l4. In an ordinary numbering head having eight digit wheels, as shown in the drawing, the comb pawl will have six, seven or possibly eight teeth, and six or more of the digit wheels will be automatically actuated thereby upon continued operation of the head. As shown in the accompanying drawing, however, the comb pawl M has only three teeth, shown at Ma, Mb and Mo, these teeth cor-operating respectively with the ratchet whee-ls ll of the digit wheels of the low denominaticn group I5. Each of these ratchet wheels has one deep tooth, as indicated at Ila, to permit the comb pawl to function as a transfer mechanism in the well known manner. The ratchet wheels I"! of the wheels of group it of higher de- 7 nomination need not have a deep tooth since these digit wheels are not actuated by a transfer mechanism, but are capable only of being hand set. A deep tooth in the ratchet wheels, therefore, would have no function with such wheels of higher denomination.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, I employ a stop member 2|, mounted in suitable bearings at the opposite ends of the frame It, the axis of said bearings being parallel with that of the shaft II and toward the top and at one side of the numbering head. This stop member takes the form of a rod having a sequence of projections 22 with intervening spaces 23. The projections 22 are located adjacent the digit wheels of the group I6 of higher denomination, there being one projection for each wheel. The portion of the rod adjacent the digit wheels of the group B5 of lower denomination has no projections 22.

With this construction, with one position of the stop member, each projection 22 will engage a detent pawl l9 at the top thereof, and the detent pawl associated with each wheel of the group I5 will not be engaged by the stop member.

One end of the frame ID has a spring socket 24 in which is seated a spring 25 acting upon one end of the rod ill of the stop member with a normal tendency to impart a right line movement thereto parallel with the axis of the shaft ll. Turning movement of the rod 2| in its bearings is prevented by a guide pin 26 carried by the frame In and entering a keyway 21 which tapers from one end of the rod 2| toward the end of said rod engaged by the spring 25. Tapering of this keyway limits the longitudinal movement of the rod 2| by said spring.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is adapted to numbering heads of large size, approximately two-thirds the size shown in the drawing. With digit wheels of large diameter there is ample space within the normal dimen sions of a frame In to accommodate a fairly large, rigid stop member 2|. Under such conditions, said stop member may have a degree of rigidity great enough to avoid fiexure thereof to an extent to allow movement of the detent pawl cooperating with those digit wheels of the group I6 positioned toward the longitudinal center of the head, and thus permit even a partial turning of such digit wheels with a consequent loss of alignment.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, with the exception of the detailed construction of the stop member. This form of the invention is par ticularly designed for use with small numbering heads, such as type high heads, wherein the available space is not sufficiently great to permit the use of a stop member like that shown in Figs. 1 m3. In small heads, digit wheels of small diameter are used, and the detent pawls extend into close proximity to the back plate of the frame Hi. This will be readily appreciated by a comparison of Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawing.

To meet this condition and secure the same results as are secured in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, I mount upon the back plate 28 of the frame ID a wedge shaped stop member 29 adapted to engage the back of the detent pawls and the inner face of the back plate 28. This member is pivotally mounted at 30 upon the back plate, and is acted upon by a spring 3! carried by said back plate and exerting a downward pressure upon the member 29 adjacent its pivot 38 to assist in engaging the wedge shaped member 29 with the detent pawls associated with the ratchet wheels I! of the digit wheels of the group IQ of higher denomination. The wedge of the member 29 has a plane tapered surface 32 engageable with the detent pawls, and. a right line surface 33 engageable with the back plate 28 of the numbering head frame ID.

The back plate 28 is separable from the frame E0 to permit the assembly of the stop member-29 and its associated parts in relation to said frame before said plate is connected with the frame ID.

The top edge of the back plate 28 is recessed as shown at 34 to accommodate a stop tongue 35 carried by the member 29, the said tongue projecting across the top edge of the back plate 28. The stop tongue 35 is provided with an overhang 36 adjacent the slot 34 so as to permit the pick used in turning the digit wheels, to be used to move the member 29 out of engaging relation with the several detent pawls'with which it is associated. The spring 3! resists this movement, coming into action immediately that the member 29 is released, to engage the inclined surface 32' with the. detent pawls co-operating with the wheels of the group 16 of higher denominations. It will be noted that the member 29 has pivotal movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of the shaft H;

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, I have illustrated a frame IS, the lower portion of the ends of which, shown at 3l3'l, are tapered inwardly at an angle coinciding with the radii of the numbering head cylinder of a numbering machine, a construction of frame permitting numbering heads to be closely juxtaposed about said cylinder. It will be noted that this construction of frame can be used without placing any limitation upon the space available for the-installation of either form of stop mechanism shown in the accompanying drawing.

The detailed construction of theplunger mechanism l2 and the manner of transmitting movement therefrom to the swing frame 13 is not shown, and need not be described since this is old and well known-in numbering heads and may take a wide variety of different forms.

While I have described an actuating and transfer mechanism embodying a comb pawl of well The operation of a numbering head embodying the invention herein described is substantially as follows:

When preparing for a run of a thousand printed sheets in a numbering .machine using numbering heads embodying the invention, each digit wheel of the group I5 mounted upon the numbering head cylinder of the machine ishand set withthe cipher in the printing position. This applies to all numbering heads upon the cylinder. During the setting of these wheels, detent pawls I9 turn freely against the tension of the spring operative upon same, due to the camming action of the teeth of the ratchet wheel I! upon the pawl.

Ordinarily, two numbers are impressed upon each duplicated impression upon a sheet, so that with a 10 on sheet in which there are five tiers of two impressions, there will, of necessity, be twenty numbering heads on a cylinder. To simplify the description and the manner of use of the heads, it will be assumed that each duplicated impression has only one number impressed thereon, thus necessitating using only ten numbering heads upon the numbering head cylinder.

After the units, tens and hundreds digit wheels have been set, the pressma-n disengages the lock member from the detent pawls of the digit wheels of the group N5 of wheels of higher denomination. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, this is done by imparting longitudinal sliding movement to the rod 2|, thus moving the projections 22 out of their operative engagement with the detent pawls l9 and bringing the spaces 23, intermediate said projections, into alignment with said detent pawls.

When said rod has been so positioned, any of the digit wheels of higher denomination may be turned, the recesses 23 affording clearance adiacent each of the detent pawls, permitting movement. of said pawls except as restrained by the spring 20 acting thereon due to the camming action of the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon the pawl.

While all wheels of the group !5 of lower denomination have the same setting, the wheels of the group IE will have a different setting in the differentnumbering heads as to the thousands and tens of thousands wheels. In one of said heads the thousands wheel will be set at 0; in another at 1; in another at 2, or in arithmetical progression, the thousands wheel of the tenth head being set at 9 and the tens of thousands wheel being set at 0. The remaining wheels of the group It may be set with any desired digits in the printing position.

With this setting of the head, it will be noted that a thousand impressions may be made with each numbering head before any change in the setting of the wheels of the group I6 is required, and that under the conditions assumed, ten thousand bills are numbered with an automatic actuation of the wheels of the group I5 without any duplication of any of the numbers.

When a thousand sheets have been printed, however, it is necessary to stop the machine and to turn the tens of thousands wheel of each head a tenth of a revolution. necessary to re-set the head in which the thousands wheel was originally set at .0, so that upon the next run of a thousand sheets, the number printed by said head will be augmented by ten thousand. If, during the run of the first thousand-sheets, the tens of thousands wheels are set with the 0 in the printing position, upon the run of the next thousand sheets, the tens of thousands wheels must be set at 1. In all heads, the

tens of thousands wheels will have the same setting, and the thousands wheels will remain set as in the original run.

After the printing of each thousand sheets, the tens of thousands wheel must be advanced until 100,000 bills have been printed, whereupon it will be necessary to hand set the thousands and the tens of thousands wheels of each head as in the original run, and advance the hundreds of thousands wheels by one-tenth of a revolution.

It will be noted that with thisprocedure, in printing sheets with 10 on or a multiple of 10 on, the number of bills printed may run into the millions without any changing of the thousands wheels, With any other number of bills on, all thousands wheels need not be turned with each lot of one thousand sheets. Ordinarily, however, bills are printed either 10 on or 20 on. This, however, is arbitrary and determined by the size of the bills and the size of the sheets.

When printing sheets having 10 on, it is obvi- In other words, it is ous that hundreds of thousands of impressions may be made without necessitating a re-setting of the thousands wheels, so that the wheels cannot be actuated by a transfer mechanism. With infrequent turning of digit wheels, and an inking of these wheels with each actuation of the head, ink and ink saturated fibers have an opportunity to accumulate and dry between adjacent wheels, and, with the automatic turning of the hundreds Wheel, there is apt to be a turning of the thousands wheel and adjacent wheels of higher denomination to destroy the alignment of the digits or a number, or to bring a new digit to the printing position or cause skipping. In hand setting these wheels, however, any displacement of adjacent wheels will be immediately detected. Consequently, the locking member operative upon the pawls acting upon the wheels of the group i6 is an eifective safeguard against accidental turning of any of the wheels of the group I6 during the power actuation of wheels of the group I5.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4: to 6 inclusive, when originally setting or re-setting a head, the wedge shaped pivotal member 29 is moved by the finger or by a pick to disengage it from the detent pawls operative upon the digit wheels of the group 56.

The spring 3! while of light tension, will, while the numbering head is in use, prevent sufiicient movement of the wedge shaped surface 32 in relation to the detent pawls to permit movement of said pawls sufiicient to allow turning of a digit wheel.

Following any setting of the digit wheels of the iii, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, it is merely necessary for the pressman to release the rod 2i, whereupon the spring 25 will impart longitudinal movement thereto to an extent to position each projection 22 thereon in the path of movement of, and in engaging relation with, the detent pawl with which itis to'co-operate. This effectively prevents any oscillatory movement of the detent pawls operative upon the wheels of the group I6, even to an extent to permit a slight turning movement of the wheel resulting in an absence of aligmnent of the digits of a number. The tapered slot 21 and the pin 25 define the longitudinal movement of the rod 2| thus ensuring a proper positioning of the projections 22 in relation to the several detent pawls. The width of these projections is sufficiently great to allow considerable variation in the quantity of this movement. The absence of projections 22 toward that end of the rod 2t adjacent the wheels of the group l5 permits the free turning of said Wheels at all times.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, after the setting of the wheels of the group 16 the manner described, the stop member 29 is released. the tension of the spring 3! forcing the wedge portion thereof between the back plate 28 and the detent pawls with which the lock member co-operates. Hand pressure may be used to increase the pressure exerted upon the pawls by said member 29,

In both forms of the invention shown, vibration will have little or no tendency to release the detent pawls from the restraints imposed thereon by the projections 22 of the rod 2| and the member 2Q.

While the spring 3! is of light tension, it has a normal tendency to force said member 29 downwardly so as to resist any displacement of said member, due to vibration, to an extent to permit accidental turning movement, however slight, of the digit wheels of the group H5. The spring 3| has the same function as the spring 25 in maintaining the operative relation of the stop member to the detent pawls during a run of a numbering machine equipped with heads embodying the invention. Said springs also permit the disengagement of said stop member from the pawls with little effort and in a manner to leave one hand of the pressman free to turn the wheels.

form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is preferably resorted to where the dimensions of the frame are such as to permit a rod 21 and its appurtenances, of a proper size, to be readily assembled in relation to the other parts of a numbering head. With small heads, however, the dimensions of the frame of the numbering head and the parts carried thereby are not sufficiently great to permit the use of a rod 2|, so that with small heads a pivotal, wedge shaped plate, assembled upon a back plate 23 and reinforced thereby, is preferable.

In some kinds of work it is necessary to have numbering heads set more closely together than in other types of work, and when such numbering heads are used upon a numbering head cylinder, it is desirable to provide the frame Iii of the head with inclined back and front walls, as shown at SI in Fig.7. This construction does not restrict the space avilable for the inclusion of a stop member of either form shown, since said stop members and the parts appurtenant thereto are positioned adjacent the top of the numbering head above the point where the taper of the back and front walls begins.

In a numbering head embodying the invention, it is essential that the stop member, operative upon the group :6 of digit wheels of higher denominations, be manually disengaged from the detent pawls of the group I6 of wheels of higher denominations, since a manual setting of the wheels of this group is essential, and any failure of the stop mechanism might result in the accidental turning of some of the Wheels of the group.

It is obvious that with a numbering head embodying the invention and used in the manner described, no inspection of the digits printed by the wheels of the group I6 is necessary, and the inspection of the digits impressed by the wheels of the group i 5 is much simplified because the attention of the inspector may be concentrated on these digits. This inspection is further simplified by the fact that the digits impressed by the group [5 of digit wheels will be the same as to each impression made upon a sheet, thus making it easy to detect any error. With this procedure, any light impressions, misaligned digits, or skipping may be readily and quickly detected, thus avoiding likelihood of any substantial number of sheets having imperfect numbering.

The numbering head of the invention is. designed for use solely in printing methods involving succeeding runs of a numbering machine each limited to a definite number of sheets. Ordinarily, as stated, each run of the numbering machine is limited to a thousand sheets. This, however, may be varied.

The construction shovvn in the drawing is for use in making runs of one thousand sheets only,

and to provide a head capable of this use, there must be two groups of digit wheels, one including the three wheels of lower denominations automatically and progressively actuated, and a group of any desired number of wheels of higher denominations capable only of being manually turned and-provided with a stop membertopreclude any possibility of accidental turning thereof with a wheel of lower denomination.

The above characteristicsare'essential to the numbering head of the invention.

It is not my intention, however, to limit the invention to the precise details-of construction shown in the accompanying drawin'gg'it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A numbering 'head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence 'of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated-therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating mechanism and transfer 'mechansm, operative upon wheels of lower denomination-only, and a manually operative stop member mounted in said frame and adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination, whereby when said stop member is engaged withsaid detentpawls, movement of said'pawls to permit turning of said-digit wheels, is prevented, and when 'said-stopmember is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may'have movement to permit manual'turningof any digit wheel-of higher denomination.

2. A numbering head embodying therein 'a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a group of digit wheels of lower denominations, a secondgroup of digit wheels of higher denominations, each of said digit'wheels being idly mounted upon said shaft, and each having 'a' ratchetwh'eelassociated therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with the ratchet wheelsof ea'ch digit'wheel, anactuating and transfer mechanism operative upon the group of wheels of lower denominations only, and a manually operative stop member mounted in said frame and adaptedto be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the'ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent'pawls, movement'of saidipawls to permit turning of said digitwheelsjis prevented, and when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination.

3. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, 'a shaft carried thereby, a group of digit wheels of lower denominations, a second group of digit wheels of higher denominations, each of said digit wheels being idly mounted upon said shaft, and each having a ratchet wheel'associate'd therewith, a springpressed detent pawl co-operating with the ratchet wheels of .each.'digit wheel, an actuating an'd'transfer mechanismloperative upon the group of wheels of lower denominations only, a manually operative stop member mounted in said'frame and adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of'higher denomination, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented-and when said-stop member is disengaged fromsaid pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination, and-'9. spring operative upon said stop member to engage it with thepawls and permit movement of said stop member to efiect its disengagement from the at pawls.

'4. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a group of-digit wheels of lower denominations, a second group of digit wheels of higher denominations, each of 10 said digit wheels being idly mounted upon said shaft, and each having a ratchet wheel'associated therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co operating withthe ratchet wheels of each digit wheel, an actuating and transfer "mechanism operative 11S upon the group of wheels of lower denominations onlyra'manually operative stop member mounted in said frame and adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels-of the digit wheels of 20 higher denomination, whereby when said stop member'isengaged with said detent pawls, movement of: said pawlsto permit turning of saididigit wheels, is prevented, and when said stop'member is :disenga'ged from said pawls, said pawls m'ay havemovement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination, a spring operative uponi'sai'dstop member to engage it with the pawls andpermit movement of said' stop member to effect its disengagement from the pawls, and means limiting the operative effect of said spring.

5. A numbering head embodying therein a frame,a shaft carried thereby, a group of digit wheels of lower denominations, a second group'of digit wheels of higher denominations, each of said digit wheels-being idly mounted upon said shaft, and each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of said firstinamed group. having one deep tooth, a spring w pressed detent :pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a swing frame, an actuating plunger, 'a comb pawl pivotally mounted upon said swing frame and 'spring pressed toward'the ratchet wheels of the digit wheel group of lower denominations only, a manually operative stop member mounted in said'frame, and adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawlstco-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination, whereby whenisaid stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented, and when saidstop member is disengaged-from'said pawls said pawls mayhave movement to permit ?5 m'anual'turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination, and a spring operative upon'said stop member to engage it with the pawls and permit movement of said stop member to eifect itsdi'sengagement' from the pawls.

'6.-A numbering head embodying therein a frame-a shaft carried thereby, a group of digit wheels of lower denominations, a second group of -digit'wheelsof higher denominations, each of said'digit 'wheels being idly mounted upon said 65 shaft, and each having a ratchet wheel associ- -ate'dthere'With/the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of said first named group having one deep tooth, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with-eachratchet-wheel, a swing 'frame, an actu- 70 ating plunger, a comb pawl pivotally mounted upon said swing frame" and spring pressed toward the'ratchet'wheelsiof the digit wheel'group of lower denominations only, amanually operative stop member mounted in said frame'and adapted 15 to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit Wheels, is prevented, and when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to ermit manual turning of any digit wheel of hi her denomination, a spring operative upon said stop member to effect its disengagement from the pawls, and means limiting the operative effect of said spring.

7. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating mech" anism and transfer mechanism, operative upon wheels of lower denomination only, said frame having bearings parallel with said shaft, and a rod slidably mounted said bearings, said rod having a sequence of projections and intervening spaces adjacent the digit wheels of higher denominations only, no projections being present adjacent the wheels of lower denominations, said projections being adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination with axial movement of said rod, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented, when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination, and the pawls of the digit wheels of lower denominations are permitted movement at all times.

8. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating mechanism and transfer mechanism, operative upon wheels of lower denomination only, said frame having bearings parallel with said shaft, a rod slidably mounted in said bearings, said rod having a sequence of projections and intervening spaces adjacent the digit wheels of higher denominations only, no projections being present adjacent the wheels of lower denominations, said projections being adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination with axial movement of said rod, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented, when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination, and the pawls of the digit wheels of lower denominations are permitted movement at all times, a spring acting upon one end of said rod tending to impart movement thereto to engage said projections with said pawls, and means limiting the extent of movement of said rod by said spring.

9. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating mechanism and transfer mechanism, operative upon wheels of lower denomination only, said frame having bearings parallel with said shaft, a rod slidably mounted in said bearings, said rod having a sequence of projections and intervening spaces adjacent the digit wheels of higher denominations only, no projections being present adjacent the wheels of lower denominations, said projections being adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of higher denomination with axial movement of said rod, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented, when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher p;

denomination, and the pawls of the digit wheels of lower denominations are permitted movement at all times, a spring acting upon one end of said rod tending to impart movement thereto to engage said projections with said pawls, said rod 3."

having a slot therein tapered toward said spring, and a stop pin carried by said frame and entering said slot for limiting movement of said red by said spring.

10. A numbering head embodying therein a a.

frame, a shaft carried thereby, a group of digit wheels of lower denominations, a second group of digit wheels of higher. denominations, each of said digit wheels being idly mounted upon said shaft, and each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of said first named group having one deep tooth, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a swing frame, an actuating plunger, a comb pawl pivotally mounted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward the ratchet wheels of the digit wheel group of lower denominations only, said frame having bearings parallel with said shaft, a rod slidably mounted in said bearings, said rod having a sequence of projections and intervening spaces adjacent the digit wheels of higher denominations only, no projections being present adjacent the wheels of lower denominations, said projections being adapted to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit Wheels of higher denomination with axial movement of said rod, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to means limiting the extent of movement of said rod by said spring.

11. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a;

spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating and transfer mechanism operative upon wheels of lower denominations only, a pivot carried by said frame adjacent and at one side of the detent pawls cooperating with the ratchet wheels .of ihigher 1 denominations, the axis of'saidspivot being at right angles to said shaft, and antoscillatory stop'member mounted upon said pivot =and-of a length to be engaged with, or disengaged from, thedetent pawls co-operating withthe ratchet wheels of the digit wheels 'of higher denominations-only, whereby when said stop member-is engaged with said detent pawls, movement'of said pawls-to permit turning of said digit wheels; is preventedjand when said stop-member is idisengaged'from said pawls, said pawls may havemovementto permit manual turning of any :digit wheel of higher denomination.

12. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted'upon isaid shaft,:each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a spring pressed detent 'pawl co"operating with each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating and transfer mechanism operative upon the wheels of'lower denominations only, a backJpIate'fQr said frame, a pivot carried by saidback'plate adjacent-and at one side of the detent pawls co 'operating with the ratchet wheels of higherdenominations'the axis of said pivot beingatir'ightang'les to said shaft, and a wedge shapedsoscillatorystop member mounted upon said pivot andofla length to be engaged with, or disengaged fromfthe detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet'wheels of the digit wheels of higher denominations only, said member having an inclinedface presented toward said pawls and a fiat faceparallel with and adapted to engage said back =plate,-whereby when said stop member isengagedwith sai'dzr'detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit'turning ofsaid digit wheels, is preventedyand when said stop member is disengaged from said pawlsgsaid pawls may have movement to ipermitimanual turning of any digit wheel of higherdenomination.

13. A numbering head rembodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon'sai'dshaft'each having a ratchet Wheel associated therewith, a spring pressed detent 'pawl ecu-operating with each ratchet wheel, a digitwh'eel "actuating and transfer mechanism operative upon the wheels of lower denominations only, a back plate for said frame, a pivot carried by said'back plate adjacent and at one side of the detentpawls cooperating with the ratchet-wheels .of higher denominations, the axisof said pivot-being at'right angles to said shaft, a-wedge shapedoscillatory stop member mounted upon @said ,pivot and "of a length tobe engaged'with, or' disengagedfrom, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels'oflhigher denominations only, said member-having an inclined'face presented toward said pawls and a-flat face-parallel with and adapted'to-engage-said backplate, whereby when said stop member is'engaged with said detent pawls, movement'of'said pawls to permit turning of said'digitwheels,-isprevented, and when said stopmember isadisengagedfrom said pawls, said pawlsmay have -movement to permit manual turning of any digit 'wheel of higher denomination, a spring carried by said back plate and acting upon-said oscillatory stop member to engageit' with saidgpawls, and means limiting movement 'of :said stop member by said spring.

14. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sequence of digit wheels idly mounted upon said shaft, each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, a

spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with 1 each ratchet wheel, a digit wheel actuating and transfer mechanism operative upon the wheels of lower denominations only, a back plate for said frame, a pivot carried by said back plate adjacent and at one side of the detent pawls cooperating with the ratchet wheels of higher-denominations, the axis of said pivot being at right angles to said shaft, a wedge shaped oscillatory stop member mounted upon said pivot and of a length'tobe-engaged with, or'disengaged from, the detent pawls co-operating with the ratchet wheels of the digit Wheels of higher denominations only, said member having an inclined face presented toward said pawls and a fiat face parallel with and adapted to engage said back plate, 6

whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit Wheels, is prevented,

and when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination, a spring carried by said back plate and acting upon said oscillatory stop member to engage it with said pawls, said back plate having a recess at the top thereof and a tongue upon said stop member adapted to enter said recess and engage said back plate to limit the movement of said stop member by said spring, said tongue'having an overhang to facilitate manual-movement of said stop member.

15. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a group of digit wheels of lower denominations, a second group of digit wheels of higher denominations, each of said digit wheels being idly mounted upon said shaft and each having a ratchet wheel associated therewith, the ratchet Wheels of said first named group having one deep tooth, a spring pressed shaft, and a wedge shaped oscillatory stop mem- U ber mounted upon said pivot and of a length to be engaged with, or disengagedfrom, the detent pawls cooperating with the ratchet wheels of'the digit wheels of higher denominations'only, said member having an inclined face presented toward said pawls and a flat face parallel with and adapted to engage said back plate, whereby when said stop member is engaged with said detent pawls, movement of said pawls to permit turning of said digit wheels, is prevented, and when said stop member is disengaged from said pawls, said pawls may have movement to permit manual turning of any digit wheel of higher denomination.

WALTER HOLLAND.