US2104668A - Postage printing and metering - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 4, 1938. E. Pl-:RssoN POSTAGE PRINTING AND METERING M ACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 193e y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @n EN um l l Snnenk-n:

.Efnnlf Perm/on f AGttolrneg Jan. 4, v1938. E. PERssoN l POSTAGE PRINTING AND METERING MACHINEA Filed Jan. 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 hwentor nA/i' Harada/n Jan. 4, 193s. E, PERSSO 2,104,668

POSTAGE PRINTING AND METERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1956 3 Sheena-Sheet: 5

nventor Enna/ fund/01a l 'M4 Clttarneg Cul Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.104.668 y Posner: mamme AND Mamme momma Ernst Persson', Brooklyn. N. Y., asslgnor to The International Postal Supply Company. Brooklyn. N. Y., a corporation o! New York Application January 23, 1'936, Serial No. 60,493

8 Claims.

proved means for operating the machine .as a

multi-denomination postage printer. The invention further includes improvements in the coupling between the motor and the printing die,

a trip for actuating the clutch, and a parcel post attachment which permits the impression of postage indicia on a tape, the latter mechanism being so arranged on the machine as to permit its use for parcel post postage or in a raised position which will not interfere with the normal use of the machine as a printer for envelopes and@ similar mailing matter.

The invention first comprises a shiftable gear arrangement ^which, depending on the amount for which the die is set, actuates the meter through .worm gears, Athe shiftable gears being readily assembled or disassembled to permit changing gears in accordance with the various denominations found desirable. The shiftable mechanism Gil is made up of anumber of separate worm gears easily removable for individual replacement, thus avoiding the necessity for making an entirely new multi-denominational unit.

' The invention next includes a clutch mechanism which automatically stops the .printing die after a single revolution, the driving motor being constantly rotatable.

A further feature of the invention is an attachment which is designed to enable the operator to print postage in'dicia on paper tape for attachment to parcel post packages, this attachment being readily movable into or out of position with respect to the die so that other mailing matter may be run through the machine without interference from the attachment.

Other features'of the invention and its operation will be apparent' when the following descrip'- tion is considered in connection with pended drawings in which:-

Fig. l is a front view of the assembled machine with. the meterfremoved;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, themeter being shown in cooperating relation with the driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the clutch interposed between the motor and the'printing and metering mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a partial section ofthe clutch (cl. 1to1-23s) the apactuator;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the'coupling between the motor and the clutch;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of parts of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the trip mechanism Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-3 of Fig. 5; l Fig. 10 is a section taken 'on line lil-I0 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged front view of the trip mechanism; and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the printing mechanism.

In the drawings, the machine comprises a base 20 having 'an upwardlyextending gear housing 2 l, preferably cast with the base and having anges 22'forming a partial support for the meter 23. The meter housing 24 yhas formed therewithl a substantially cylindrical extension 25 providing a housing for the printing die 2,6.'

` Mounted on base 20 and lying in a plane below the vprinting die is a feed table 21 provided with a moistening disc 28 and a water well 29, whereby, as the mail matter chine, it is automatically sealed in addition to having postage indicia printed thereon.

An opening 3| permits inking roll 32 to be pressed against the die, as the latter rotates, and to 'ink the surface thereof before the indicia are printed on the mail matter. Ink roll 32 is pivoted on a slotted arm 33 which may be adis fed through the majusted with respect to the die by means of a bolt andthumb nut 34 passing through drame |01.

The preferred means for driving the machine comprises motor 36 having on its shaft a coupling 31 cooperating with pins 38v on disc 39 to rotate the latter. Disc 39 is con \ected to shaft 40 by means of an overload clut r4l which releases the connection between the shaft and the disc under abnormal conditions. Secured to shaft 40 is a cone 42' adapted to be engaged by cone housing 43 when the trip mechanism, to be described hereinafter, is actuated. Normally the `housing is spaced from the cone.

Formed integral with housing 43 is a cylindri cal enlargement 44 having interior threads 45. Housing 43 is freely rotatable on sleeve 46. the latter having a threaded enlargement 41'`v cooperating with the interior threads 45 on housing 43 and an end flange 48 to which are secured bevel gear 49 and disc 5I. As will be rseen in Fig. 5, housing 43 is connected to flange 48 b y.

a spring 52 normally to rotate the housing with respect to the ange, the latter being stationary axially with respect to shaft 40. When housing 43- is under the influence of spring 52, it moves axially'toward cone 42, due to the threaded cooperation between housing 43 and enlargement 44. Mounted on housing 43 is a stop roller 54 adapted normally to be engaged by a.rmovable abutment or roller 55 on stop lever 58. The stop lever is actuated by a control lever 51 having a tripping cam 58 thereon. Upon actuation of lever 51 by mechanism to be described later, spring 52 urges housing 43 in a direction which moves the housing toward the cone. Thus, when cone 42 engages housing 48, the entire unit comgear 49 meshes with a second bevel gear 88 on' Shaft i4.

prising housing 48, sleeve 49, and gear 49, rotates with the motor shaft. For a single revolution of the mechanism, the control lever is raised and immediately released. The unit continues to rotate until the rollers 54 and 55 again meet, whereupon'- the force of spring 52 is overcome and the housing moveda allyaway from the cone. A shoulder o' gages stop piece 62 on end ange 48.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that bevel The latter is journaled in the rear wall Vof gear housing 2| and is connected by gearing (not shown) to a shaft 1and coupling 55 journaled in the front wall of the gear-housing. Adapted to be coupled to shaft'ti is a shaft 88 in the meter housing. Keyed to shaft 55 are a plurality ofworm gears 51 assembled for movement asa unit axially of the shaft, but rotatable therewith. -Each of these gears is provided with a number of teeth corresponding to a particular denomination, one gear having but lone tooth, the next two teeth, and the others a larger number ofteeth. The printing die 26 is"sup` and descending wheels 15, 18, respectively.

Suitable locking mechanism is provided to pre.- vent unauthorized use of the meter after a predetermined amount of postage is used. This mechanism includes a key bar similar tothat shown in the patent to Mitchell and Zahn, No. 1,659,213, dated `February 14, 1928, designed to cooperate with notches in the counting wheels. When the notches are in alignment, corresponding with a combination ofthe positions of the wheels indicating substantial exhaustion of postage, the bar falls into the notches and locks themagainst further rotatim.

The'ends of the bar are held in levers 11 at each side of the counting mechanism, these levers being pivoted at 18 and being` normally urged to locking position by spring 19. 'Die carrier 88 is provided with a iiange 8| having a notch 82 therein. Designed to enter this notch at the proper timeis a linger 88 connected to one of the levers 11 by means of a link 84. The

notch is so positioned on the nane that the mechanism is locked only at a time when the printing die is-concealed within housing-25.

Geared to gear- 12 is a locking disc. 85 having ten teeth on its periphery. Connected to-flnser 88 soastomovetherewithisalockbar 88 having a finger 81 adapted to enterone of the notches in the locking disc when n nge'r 88 enters notch. 82. 'A pawl 88, normally held in engagement with .disc- 85J?!i ,spring 88, permits vrotation of theY disc in one directiom butprevents reversal of the disc and, consequently the other Seats ml-f ing part of the counting mechanism.

he housing then en- The trip mechanism for actuating the printing die is shown in Fig. 11. Pivoted to the base of the machine is a carrying arm 9| to which is pivoted a trip tongue 92. Spring 93 normally holds the arm in the position shown and spring 94 tends to maintain the tongue in raised position, that is, projecting through and above the feed table 21, as shown, to be engaged by mail matter fed to the printing die. 'I'he tongue carries pins 95`and 91 adapted to engage, re

' tongue 92 lis engaged byV a piece of mail, the

bell crank is rocked and depresses the forward end of control lever 51. of the bell crank permits it to slide past, pin |0'I which moves inwardly' and then is returned to normal position by spring |02. Bell crank 98 is returned to its normal position by spring 95. Cam 99 depresses tongue 92 to permitthe mail topass thereover and the tongue is then re- Continued movement turned to its normal position. If desired, the

tongue may be held in inoperative position by a holdingilnger |04 which is raised by turning knob |05 and in its raised position abuts pin 91 to depress the tongue. The control lever is provided with a finger'pieoe |08 to permit operation ofthe machine by hand when so desired.

Attached to the machine by'any suitable means is a mounting frame |01 on which are mounted a parcel post attachment and separator unit. Pivotally mounted on the frame is a bell crank lever |08 to which is secured a tape guide plate |09 and a spring mounting plate Pivoted to the lower end of the!- guide plate is a second guide plate ||2 which is held in the relation shown in the drawings by-any suitable yielding spring means. Lever 08 has formed therewith a boss ||8 on the end of which is a flange ||4 having two notches ||5, H5, spaced substantially 90 apart. These notches cooperate with a slidable spring pressed pin ||1 mounted on the frame and which holds the lever and tape guides either in elevated position, as shown, when ordinary mail matter is being run through the machine, or in a lowered position which Ybrings the lower. guide directly under theprinting mechanism. In the latter position, the printer impresses postage indicia directly on the tape which is then severed and ailixed to packages too bulky to pass through the machine.' A stud ||8 is secured on the frame to accommodateI a roll of gummed tape, as indicated at |9, the tape passing into .the guides and being tensioned by spring |2| thereon. Also mounted on frame |81 is aseparator unit.

The separator comprises a rubber rollerl .|22 which is held against rotation on stud |28-'but which may be turned for adjustment to compensate for wear. V'Ihe roller and stud are carried on an arm -|2 4`pivotedon a stud |25 on the frame and its position adjusted by means of arm |28. lAlso :pivotea en stud ,nl is a feed belt channel |21 in end'of which is keyed a bevel gear |84 adapted to mesh with bevel gear |85.on 'shaft 48. Gear |85 is driven by a friction piece |96 secured to shaft 40. Gear |34 is movable axially on shaft |33 and may be thrown into or out of mesh with gear |35 by means of a shift fork |31. Shift rod |39 is attached to the shift fork and extends through the front of the base, having a knob |4| on its forward end to permit shifting 4of the gear. To

prevent reversal of shaft 40 and to position it' accurately for subsequent operations after the.

shaft has come to rest, suitable ratchet means, indicated at k |40 in Fig. 10, are employed.

Envelope sealing means are provided on the machine andinclude a moistening disc 28 revolving in a water well 29. Disc 28 is rotated by means of a friction wheel |42, bearing against a universal joints |50, |50' and is driven thereby.

The impression roller thus rotates in synchronlsm with the printing mechanism.

The machine is so assembled that it seals and imprints postage rapidly, its parts are sealed against fraudulent use, and it is compact "so as to occupy little space.

Although certain parts and combinations have been described in detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made without modifying the operation of the machine. It is, therefore, intended that the claims be of such scope that they include such modifications.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Ina combined postage printing andv registering machine, rotatable printing means, driving means therefor including a shaft, a clutch comprising a pair of axially aligned clutch eley ments on said shaft, one of said elements being connected to said printing means and the other element being connected to said shaft, said 'clutch being normally disengaged, and trip means for actuating said clutch.

2. In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatable printing means, driving means therefor including a shaft, clutch elements axially 'aligned on said shaft, one of said elements being connected to said printing means andthe other element being connected to said shaft, stop means on one of said clutch ele- A ments, a trip memberengaging said stop means -normally to hold said clutch elements in spaced relation, other means normally urging said clutch elements in actuating stop mem d trip element to disengage said r and thereby operate said clutch.

3. In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatable printing means, driving means therefor, clutch elements interposed between said printing means and said driving means, stop means on one Vof said clutch elements. a trip member engaging said stop means normally to disengage said clutch elements, a drive shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, one of said clutch elements being secured to said shaftand the other element being loose operable relation, and means for on said sleeve, a gear on said sleeve connected to said printing means, said sleeve and said loose element having threaded engagement,

spring means connecting said sleeve and said.

loose element to rotate said loose element with respect to said sleeve, thereby to move the clutch elements into engaging relation, and means for actuating said trip element to operate said clutch.

4. 'In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatable printing means, driving means therefor including a shaft, clutch elements axially aligned on said shaft. one, of said elements being connected to said printing means and the other element being connected to said shaft, said clutch elements being normally disengaged, stop means on one of said elements, a trip member in the path of mail matter passing to the printing means and rockable thereby, a movable abutment normally engaging said stop means to disengage said clutch elements, means actuated by said trip member for moving said abutment out of engagement with the stop memvber,.and means for thereafter moving one of said elementsaxially to permit engagement of said clutch elements.

5. In a combined postagel printing and registering machine as claimed in claim 4, a rockable vtongue on said trip member. and cam means for moving the tongue out of the path of the mail tter after the mail matter rocks the trip mem- 6. In a'combined postage printingand registering machine as claimed in claim 4, a control lever for moving said abutment, and a movable member on thecontrol lever adapted to be engaged by the trip member during a portion of the movement of the trip member and thereafter movable out ofengagement with the trip member. v

7. In a combined postage printing and registering machine, rotatable printing means, a base therefor, a frame mounted on said base, tape carrying means on said frame, a movable tape guiding member comprising arpair of plates, one of said plates being pivotally and yieldably secured to the other of said plates, and means adapted in one position to hold said plates in spaced relation to the printing means and in another position to hold oneoi' said plates in contiguous relation to 'the' printing means, whereby the tape therefor, aframe `mounted on said base, tapecarrying meanso'n said frame, anvarm pivoted on said frame, a tape guiding member carried .by said arm and comprising a pur of plates, one

' printed.

ERNST PERssoN.

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