US2111128A - Parcel post machine - Google Patents

Description

8 Sheets-Sheet l f lNVENTOR F. Q. RAST PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 March 15, 1938.,

ATTO R N EY 2,1 1 LIZS March 15, 1938. F. Q. RAST PARCEL POST MACHINE 8 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1935 March l5, 1938.

F. IRAS-l' PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheetl 3 x'NvENToR ATTORNEY F'. Q. RAST March 15, 1938..

PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 u A TTORNEYS.

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 15, 1938. F Q RAST PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 ATTORNEY March 15, 1938 F Q, RAST 2,119128 PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fla". La.

207' i "i m March l5, 11938. F. o. RAsT PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 www llllmugf INVENTOR M f w l\TTORNEY March 15, 1938. F. Q. RAST PARCEL POST MACHINE Filed July 2, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 EN NNN r N N lNvE-NTOR ATTORNEY EN QNN Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED` STATES PARCEL POST MACHINE Frederick Q. Rast, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor 'to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 2, 1935, Serial No. 29,470

6 Claims.

This case relates to a parcel post scale.

' Parcel post values depend on Weight and zone. In addition to these parcel post values, it is often necessary to add the cost of insurance, registration, C. O. D., or similar service performed by the post oilice ili connection with the package 'mailed by parcel post.

The general object of the present invention is to provide differentially settable means for selecting variable, values supplementary to the parcel post value to be charged against the package.

The object is, further, to provide an automatic, cyclical, actuator for controlling entry of either f the parcel post or the supplementary charges into a singleV value receiving device, such as a register.

Another object is to select either the scale controlled selector of parcel post charges or the supplementary service charge selector for controlling the register during a cycle of the actuator and for preventing any change in the selection intermediate a cycle. f

Another object is also to provide a sensing nger selectively engageable with the supplementary value selector as well as with the scale-controlled value selector for determining entry operation of a Value receiving device.

Still another object is to provide means for indicating absence of a scale-controlled selection of values whenever the supplementary value selector is in oper-ation.

The above object is further to cause weight and zone type wheels to be set for printing arbitrary symbols, akin to cancellation marks, Whenever the supplementary value, selector is in operation.

Other objects will be presented in the following parts of the description and will appear from the drawings. y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, section through the wei-ghing mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a detail section showing supplemem. tary value selecting controls,

Fig. 4 shows a portion of the control bar for the scale value selecting mechanism in its advanced position,

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view of the selector mechanism of the scale,

Fig: 6 is a section along line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 'lis a detail of part of the means for locking the scale in an even pound position,

Fig. 8 is a detail of the cyclical actuator re` leasing means just after operation thereof under control of the supplementary selector means, Fig. 9 is a section along line 9-9 of Fig.-2,

.r Fi-g. l0 is a plan sectional view of the portion of the machine in which the selector value reading and the value selecting means are located,

(c1. c25-5s) Fig. l1 is a detail of a portion of Fig. l0,

Fig. 12 is a detail view or Weight or zone selecting order of elements, and

Fig. 13 is asimilar View showing a postage value order of elements.`

Briefly, the machine has a Weighing section, a follow-up selector section, a settable selector control, a translating or reading section selectively controlled by either the follow-up selector control or the settable selector control, and a meter comprising a registering, recording section to which the reading section transmits the reading taken from the selector controls,

The package to be mailed by parcel post is applied to the Weighing section to set the weighing' means in a load position. The operator rst sets the :follow-up selector section according to the desired parcel post zone to which the package is to be mailed, then operates a control bar to cause the follow-up selector to be moved by power ymeans towards the load position. When the selector reaches the load position, an intercontrol between the selector and the weighing means acts to stop the selector and set it in load position.

The setting of the selector in load position releases an automatic power actuator for a cycle. The power actuator during this cycle sets the reading or-translating means under control of the follow-up selector in differential positions which represent weight-dependent values taken from the selector. The selector has a postage cost or price division, Aa zone division, and a weight division. The reading mechanism reads i each of these selector divisions and is set according to the weight of the package, the zone, and the cost of the postage which depends on weight and zone.

When the reading section is set in dilerential position, it correspondingly sets parts of a computing mechanism in the registering, recording section of the machine. The one-revolution actuator then operates other parts of the computing means in the latter section to coact with the set parts for entering the postage value into ascending and descending registers and for setting 'recording wheels to record the .entered values on a stamp blank. At the same time, the computing means sets recording wheels to record the weight and zone on the stamp blank. 1

In addition to th ordinary parcel post charge, when the package is insured, registered, sent C. 0. D. or when any other supplementary service is.to be performed in connection with the mailing, a further charge is made. 'This is done by the settable selector controls which coact with the same reading, computing, registering, and

costs taken from the weight-controlled/selector but add thereto the cost of the postage value set up by the settable selector controls. In order to indicate the fact that the stamp on which the amount is printed is not for a parcel post charge,

the weight and zone recording wheels are set by to a positive value, then seals the meter against tampering with the registers. The user of the meter is debited with the amount set up on the subtracting or descending register. The weight- 'controlled selector and the settable selector govern issue of stamps by the meter and cause the descending register to subtract the amount of the postage and the adding register to add the postage amount. It is thus evident that both the parcel post values and the settable values must be entered into the sameregisters in order that the latter give a true account of the amount of postage used up by the machine and for which the customer has beenwdeblted or for which he has prepaid the post office.

Details of the meter, stamp issuing mechanism; and other parts of the machine not necessary to an understanding vof the present invention which is concerned mainly with the selective control of the registers by the settable and weightcontrolled selectors, will not be explained herein and may be obtained by referring to my copending application, Serial No.A 5,026, led February 5, 1935.

In the description or claims, the terms selector, value selecting means, or value determining means are used to deilne either the weight-controlled or the settable mechanism, each of which has control portions representing different values. 'I'hese control portions are, in the presenty case, in the form of diil'erential steps. The terms reading or translating means are employed to describe the mechanism which engages the control portions of the selectors to be differentially set thereby in differential positions equivalent to the values represented by the control'portions. The reading means thus converts or translates the control portion representations into equivalent yvalue positions. I

'I'he term computing mechanism is applied to the mechanism which coacts with the reading means according to their value positions for entering the values into the registering, Vrecording means.

- Other suitable terms may be used without restriction byabove definitions.

vWeighing -mechanism Referring to Figs. 1 in particular, platform i8 has legs I I, one at each corner, suspended by yokes I2 from levers I3 and I4 connected by loop i5. Nose iron I8 of lever 3 isl connected through link I1 to an upperlever I8 of the rst order in turn connected' by tape I9 to cam hub 28 of shaft 22 below the lever.

Shaft 22 carries pendulum 23,y balance-adjusting weight 24, and gear sector 25. Gear sector 25 meshes with pinion 2 8 on shaft 21 to turn the latter through an angle proportional to the angle through which the pendulum rocks to reach load counterbalancing position.

Shaft 21 is journaled at opposite ends in bearings carried by spaced upright frame plates or standards 28 and 29 (see Fig. 5). Adjacent stand- 'ard 28, shaft 21 carries cup-shaped indicating chart 30, the rim of which has weight graduations, each pound graduation being marked by weight figures. 'Ihe chart is viewed through sight window 3l provided in casing 32 and is indexed=by sight line 33 (Fig. 2).

As the scale is intended for parcel post weighing, its capacity is limited to 70lbs. whichis the maximum weight at present mailable by parcel post. The application of the maximum load to the scale moves shaft 21 and chart 30 through only 270 and accordingly only 270 of the rim of the chart bears weight graduations.

Selector mechanism The selector mechanism comprises sleeve shaft 35 which surrounds but does not touch weight shaft 21. At its left end (Fig. 5), shaft 35 is journaled in bearing 35 carried by standard 31 located between standards 28 and 29. The right end of shaft 35 is journaled'in bearing 36 carried by standard 29.

Shaft 35 and its parts are not moved by the force of the load but by power means which moves Yshaft 35 in the same direction in which shaft 21 moved in response to the load.

So far as the present invention is concerned, it is sufficient to state that the power means comprises motor driven shaft 38 geared to shaft 39 driving sprocket wheel 40 which through sprocket chain 4i drives sprocket wheel 42 (see Figs. 5, 6). Sprocket wheel 42 is slidably and rotatably mounted on collar 43 surrounding but not touching sleeve shaft 35 and rigidly extending from one side of bearing 38 of shaft 35. Rigidly connected to sprocket wheel 42 is friction clutch disk 44 cooperating with friction ring 45 loosely centered on a circular shoulder of friction dutch disk is. 'f

'I'he hub of disk 48 has axially extending slots 41 coacting with the heads of screws 48 to slidably key the disk to collar 49 fastened to shaft 35 by screws 48. Carried by collar 49 are tens of lbs. stepped selector disk 58W and units of lbs. stepped selector disk 5810. Between disks 58W and 48 are coil springs 5I surrounding sockets 52 which extend from disk 4s andsiidabiy receive pins u secured to disk 50W. 'I'he pressure of springs 5I urges frictioncoupling elements 44, 45, and 48 to maintain nrm, constant engagement.

'Normally, shaft 35 is in home position and restrained from being driven by clutch disk 44. To hold shaft 35 in home position, it has a collar 54 at the left end (Fig. 5) to carry toothed disk ,55 having pin 58 projecting from its side (Fig.

6). 'I'his pin is engaged at one side by pivoted stop 51 and at the oppositeside by rebound latch 58. vWith detent 51 engaging pin 58, rotation of disk 55 and its shaft 35 in the direction in which the power drivev tends to move the shaft ('counterclockwise, Fig. 6) is prevented.

Detent 51 is freely pivoted on shaft 58 and connected by link 88 to plate 8| rigidly dependent from shaft 82. Coil 'spring 83 (see also Fig. 1) surrounding shaft 82 urges it clockwise` to cause plate 8| and link 88 to hold detent 51 inthe pathofpin58- L mounted at the left side of frame plat/e 28 (Fig.

10) by means of pins 61 and 61 extending froml the frame plate throughV horizontal slots 68 of bar 66. Intermediate its ends, bar 66 has a stud 660 for engaging the lever 66| of a toggle switch 662. .When bar 66 is advanced, stud 660 closes switch 662. The purpose of this switch, as will be later brought out, is to partially close a circuit for controlling operation of a cyclical actuator.

At its right end (as viewed in Fig. 9), bar 66 is pivotally connected to the lower arm of lever 69 by means of a pin 66a on the bar coacting with a slot 69 in the lower end of said lever. The upper arm of lever 88 is pivotally connected by a pin 1li to the left end of horizontal bar 10. The

right end of bar 18 passes through a slot at the upper end of vertical bar 1I (Figs. l, 6) and is thereby guided for horizontal/slidable movement. Adjacent its right end, bar 18 is undercut to provide a shoulder 12 which is engageable with the upper end of upright arm 13 rigidly extending from shaft 62.

When the operator depresses handle 64, lever I 65 rocks counterclockwise (Fig. 9) against resistance of spring 14 and moves control bar 66 to the right. rTo ensure a full stroke movement of these parts, lever 65 is connected to vertically slidable plate 15 having teeth 16 coacting with full stroke pawl 11 to prevent return movement of lever 65V before it has been moved completely through its forward stroke.

When bar 66 is moved forward, latch pawlY 18 pivoted to frame plate 28 is moved by spring 19 into notch 80 in the bottom of bar 66 and locks f the bar in its forward, actuated, position (as shown in Fig. 4). As bar 66 moves forward, through link 69, it moves bar 10 to the left (Figs. 6 and 9) causing shoulder 12 on the latter bar to engage arm 13 androck shaft 62 counterclockwise. `Through plate 6l and link 60, this movement of shaft 62 withdraws detent 51 from pin 56. Disk 55 and its shaft 35 are thereby released for counterclockwise rotation (Fig. 6) by friction coupling v44-45-46.

Rotation of shaft is arrested when it reaches a position corresponding to the loa'd position of weight shaft 21. Parcel postage is charged on the basis of the even pound weight of the package and accordingly shaft 35 must be set according to an even pound load. Before this can be done, weight shaft 21 must be given a secondary setting to place it in even pound position. For this reason, weight chart 38 rigidly carries notched disk 82 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7) notches 82a of which are pound distances apart. Knife edge 83 (Fig. 7) is slidably mounted in guide bracketA 84 for movement radially of disk 82. The'knife edge isgshaped similarly to notches 82a and as it moves into a notch, it cammingly coacts with the inclined side of the notch to move disk 82 in a forward, weighing direction, (counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. '1 and clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1) e When the knife edge is fully seated in a notch 82a, it locks disk 82 in even pound position and accordingly weight shaft 21 and chart 30`are set in even pound position.

' Knife edge 83 is moved towards disk 82 under control of cam disk 85 (see particularly Figs. 5, '1) which is fastened to notched disk 55. When shaft 35 is released for rotation by its friction drive, the initial angle of its rotation before it can reach the zero load positionof shaft 21 causes cam rise 85a of cam 85 to rock lever 86 counterclockwise. Lever 86 has a short, rear, arm 86a. connected by spring 81 to the tail of lever 88, the upper end of which abuts pin 89 extending from the side of knife edgel 83 through an elongated slot in the side of bracket 84. Also connected to this pin 89 is a spring 98. When lever 86 rocks counterclockwise, through spring 81 it causes lever 88 to follow and move knife edge 83 To arrest shaft 35 in this even pound load posi-` tion,-an electrical intercontrol is provided between weight shaft 21 and shaft 35. This intercontrol comprises contact plate 92 (Figs. 5, 6) set in bakelite block 93 secured to the base of chart 36. Contact plate 92 moves with chart 38 and therefore when the latter is set in a load position, the contact plate is likewise in a position corresponding to the load. For sensing the position of plate 92; notched disk 55 carries a pair of brushes 94 and 95. In home positions of contact plate 92 and brushes 94 and 95, the plate is in front of the brushes by an angle of about 45. The maximum angle of movement of the chart and, therefore, of

` plate 92, under a load of 'l0 lbs., brings the plate to the rear of but still out of contact with the brushes. Thus, during the weighing operation, brushes 94,95 do not touch contact plate 92 and therefore the supplementary, selector mechanism has no reaction on the weighing mechanism and n effect on the accuracy of the weighing operation.

Shaft 35 is behind Zero load position by the angular distance which brushes 94, 95 are to the rear of contact plate 92 when all these parts are in initial positions. Afterplate 92 is set by the load, rotation of shaft 35 is initiated and its cam 85 operates levers 86 and 88 to cause knife edge 83 to lock disk 82 and thereby to set contact plate 92 in even pound position. This action is completed before shaft 35 reaches zero load position. As rotation of shaft 35 continues, brushes 94, 95 reach Zero load position and then move through the angle previously covered by contact plate 92 before engaging the plate. When the brushes reach plate 92, shaft 35 and its parts are in even pound load position.

Brushes 94 and 95 are suitably connected through commutator 96 (Fig. 5) on collar 54 of shaft 35, into a control circuit andare serially arranged in the circuit which is open because of the normal gap between the brushes. When the brushes reach the load position, they engage contact plate 92 and are serially, conductively, connected to close the gap in the control circuit. As

a result, the circuit is completed and energizes latch magnet 91 (Fig. 6). Energization of magnet 91 rocks its armature 91a. clockwise. 'I'he upper end of the armature is slotted to receive pin 98 on the lower end of pivoted latch 99, the nose of which is shaped to t into a notch 55a of notcheddisk 55. 'Ihe latch is weighted to normally hold it in clockwise position (Fig. 6).

Notches 55a are spaced pound distances apart correspondingly to the spacing of notches 82a of weight-operated disk 82. When magnet 91 is energized, it rocks its armature clockwise (Fig. 6) which acts on pin 98 to rock latch 99 counterclockwise and move the latch nose into a notch 55a. As a result, disk 55 and its shaft 35 are arrested in load position corresponding `to that of weight shaft 21.

'I'he load setting of sleeve shaft 35 is for the purpose of setting selector disks, carried by the shaft, in load` proportional positions. The selec-l units pounds disks 50W and w, the thirty-six disks |00 (see Figs. 5, 10). Disks |00 include four distinct sets of disks, each set having nine disks, one for each of the present parcel post zones 0, 1, 2, 3 8. Readingfrom left to right in Fig. 5, the first set consists of nine zone disks |00Z; the second set consists of dollar value disks IO0D; the

third set, yof dimes value disks |00d; and the fourth, of Lcents value disks |00c. The different disks |00Z, D, d, and c having the same order in their respective sets relate to the same zone. Thus,.the second disk from the left, Fig. 5, of each of sets |00Z, D, d, and c all relate to zone l.

Disks |00 are carried by a tubular shaft |02. slidably keyed to shaft by blocks |03 movable along slots |00 of shaft 35.

Knowing the zone to which a ypackage is to be mailed, the operator before be depresses handle 00, makes a zone selection of disks |00Z, D, d, and c. To make the zone selection, the operator nrst raises handle |05 (Figs. 2, 6) to release pin |00 of the handle from notch |01 in plate |00 extending along the top of main casing 32. There are nine notches |01, one for each zone, each denoted by a zone figure'marked on plate |00 in proximity to the rear and pointed, index, end of ,Y handle |05.

thereby preventing rotational movement of arms ||5 and sleeve ||3. IArms I5 extend downwardly to shaft 35 and are forked at their lower ends to straddle but not touch shaft 35. The arms contact opposite sides of tubular shaft |02 which carries stepped disks |00.

After handle |05 is raised to release its pin |00 from a notch |01 in plate |00, the handle is rocked horizontally till its index end points to the desired zone gure on the plate. As the handle rocks, it turns shaft |09 which through gears IIO and |I2 slides sleeve ||3 and arms II5 along rods ||4 and ||0. The'armsv |I5 in turn slide tubular shaft |02 along shaft 30 to place the disks |00D,d,c,andZ corresponding to the selected zone in control positions. When the index end of handle |05 points tothe desired zone figure on plate I |00, the handle is released to drop its pin |00 into the corresponding zone notch |01 and hold handle |05 against accidental shifting. The zone selection is then complete. f' l Since the maximum load angle covered by shaft 21 and, consequently, shaft 35 is 270', only 270 of the periphery of each of selector disks 50W, w, |00Z, D, d, and c is needed to effect control .l operations. This portion of the periphery of each selector disk is formed with steps of different radial heights to represent the different values in the o rder to which the disk relates.

To represent values 9. 8,-1, 0, the. steps of value disks IO0D, d. and c uniformly decrease in radii by equal differential distances, as indicated(l @successive pair of steps (see Fig. 12). The zone y disks for 270 of their periphery are arcuate since the zone value is the same for all loads. These 2, 1 1 1,1 28 tor disks comprise in addition to stepped tens and arcuate portions of the zone disks differ in radii to represent values 0, 1-8 and each such radius is the same as the radius of a weight selector disk step having like value. For example, the zone disk of the eighth zone has its control arc along a radius equal to that of an 8 step of a weight selector disk 50 and following the plan of the latter disk, the difference in radii. between the 0 or locai zone disk and the l zone disk is twice the diil'erence between any otherpair of zone For convenience, the 270 control arc of disks. a zonedisk may hereinafter be spoken of as a l zone step.

One-revolution actuator The operation of the one revolution actuator is initiated by the locking of disk 55 and its shaft 35 in load position. Latch 99 which locks disk 55 in load position has a stud ||0 (Fig. 6) extending from one side thereof and located beneath lower spring blade I I0 carrying one of the points of contact switch |20, the other of which is carried by upper blade |2I. When latch 90 rocks counterclockwise to lock disk 55, stud ||0 moves blade I|9 upwardly to close switch |20.

Switch |20 is in the circuit oi' clutch solenoid |22 (Figs. 6, 9). this circuit, is switch 002 previously closed by advance of control bar 00, as explained before. When switch 022 was closed, it prepared the circuit for completion by closing of switch |20. Now, with switch |20 closed by arrest of disk 55 in load position, the circuit is established and energizes clutch solenoid |22.

Energization of solenoid |22 lowers its core |23 to release pivoted latch |20, against resistance of spring |25 from detent arm I 20a which is nxed to shaft |20. Spring |21 thereupon rocks shaft I 20 clockwise (Fig..9) to release detent arm I20a from the tail of clutch pawl |20 pivot-V In series withy switch |20, m .i

To translate the step differentials into ally carried by driven disk |20. Spring |30 then rocks the tooth of pawl |20 into driving enagement with the teeth of ratchet disk |3| which is rigidly carried by continuously rotating. motor driven shaft 30. Disk I 20 is thereby coupled to shaft 30 for clockwise rotation (Fig. 9).

Disk |20 has two angularly spaced studs I3 and |33. At of the revolution of disk |20, stud |32pengages horizontal arm |20b integral witharm l20a to rock shaft |20 counterclockwise (Fig. 9), thereby placing arm |204 in position to intercept clutch pawl |20. Extending oppositely to arm I20b is another horizontal and integral arm |20c which, when shaft |20 rocks counterclockwise. positively kicks latch |20 upwardly into position for holding arx'n |'20a in declutching position, shown in Fig. 9. Before studl |32 rides oi! arm |200, the following stud |33 engages the arm to continue to hold it in counterclockwise position.

Rigidly carried by shaft |20 is upright arm |35 pivotally connected to the left end (Figs. 6, 9) of horizontally extending rod |30. As shown in Fig. 6, the right endof rod |30 is formed with horizontal slot |31 receiving pin |30 at the upper end of bell crank |30 which is connected to the lower end oi' vertical bar 1|. Spring |00 con- @lilly nected to har lll yieldlngly holds the latter in lower position in which loar lll guided thereby ls eiective to engage its shoulder with ld. ln the lower position of har lll,v hell cranlr lll@ is held ln clockwise position with its pin it@ engaged with the right end oio slot lll oi' har Bar lllli also has an upright lug llil projecting from its upper edge and facing pin oi latch lllg., 6 shows the normal, initial, relationship between lug lll and pin @t and between slot l 3l and pin lStl. When shaft llt is then rocked clockwise to initiate the one-revolution cycle of disk H29, har lllli is moved to the right. At ltd" y@ ci the cycle, pin lt? on disk l2@ acts on lllllh to return shaft llt to normal position. This in turn causes rod ltt to move to the leit, hach to normal position in which its parts hear the initial relationship to pins and ld except 2@ that pin @t is now further to the right l cause of the actuated position oi latch Studs lt@ and ltd not only return shalt and har to initial positions lout coact with erro to move har beyond the latter posias tions causing lug llt and the right hand wall ot slot ltl to respectively move pins El@ and to the left. i. f Movement ci pin @t to the leit causes clochel wise rocking oi latch (Fig. 6) to dlsengage the nose ci the latch from dislr lavement oi* piu lil@ to the left rocks hell crank. ld@ raise vertical rod ll which in turn raises har lll to release shoulderlt? from arm l oi Spring t3, about shalt thereupon rocks as shaft ttl clockwise to replace detent 5l in initial position ior intercepting pin d@ oi disk Since latch has released disk El, friction drive lll-llll-tt resumes countercloclrwise rotation of shaft to. When pin 5t reaches the nose ci re 4@ hound latch 5t, it cams the latch aside and then engages detect 5l which arrests disk and shalt in homelposition. As pin 5t passed the nose or" latch 5d; spring 58 connected to the latch moved the nose behind pin 5t to prevent rebound of ollsls` lit.,

'When latch rnoved clockwise to free stud l lll oi the latch released lolade ll@ for return to initial, lower position, causing switch l2@ to open and lorealr` the circuit through sole-l nold lill. .ls a result, latch ltd controlled hy solenoid l2?? remains in upper position to continue to hold detent arm. ltto in its declutcl. position after stud ltd of dish l ceases to act on arm lllih. l

Stud lt@ releases armi ltllo at about 27 of the cycle. lBefore then, however, dislr has heen released loy latch detent has heen retiu'ned to stop position, and solenoid l 22 has heen deenerglzed so that latch ltdis in upper t@ position. When clutch pawl l2@ has made a single revolution, arm llt@ engages the of the pawl and rocks its tooth out ci engagement with ratchet disk l3l, thus uncoupling disl; l2@ iront driving shalt 38. Arm lltol also engages @d ledge H29 oi disk l2@ to stop the dish in definite home position.

As indicated in Fig. l0, disls l2@ is geared one-to-one by bevel gearing H3 to horizontally extending cam shaft |45 which in turn is geare 7i) one=toone by gearing l (Fig. 9) to cam shalt llt lournaledin trame plate 28.

l Readmg mechanism -For convenience, elements related to the dii-ler- 75 ent orders oi selector disks, 50W, w, ltlll), d, ci

and Z- rcay he denoted by surxing a common reference character hy the disk sux W, w, Z, ID, d, or c. Thus, elements related to disk Eilll may have their reference character followed bby vll; those related to disk lllllc, hy suffix c; vand o on.

The dislr reading means comprises six sensing fingers l5@ which, from left to right in ll), are ld-lll", w, Z, D, d, and c. These ngers, hy their locations, determine the control planes oi the selector disks. Selector disks lltll and w are permanently set relative to shaft 35 in their control planes. Disks lll@ are shiitahle along shaft by the previously described Zone selection, to set one dsl: llldZ, one disk lllllD, one dish llllld, and a dish llldc in their respective control planes.

Referring to Figs. 6, l2, and 13 the six reading fingers l 5@ are commonly mounted for hori- Zcntal slidalole movement by rod llil and shaft lcd. The rear end oi each linger is pivotally connected to the upper end of one ci six arms ltd rotatably mounted at their lower ends on common shaft (Figs. 6 and l2). Each arm lo@ has a companionfpaired, arm lllll pivotally with lug llo of arm lot. As a result, lug llll is then slightly in advance of lug llc. ln this inm itial position ci the parts, latch lll pivoted at lll to arm lill and urged clockwise loy spring ll@ has its tooth ll@ engaged with the bottom of lug llt, as indicated in Fig. (i.

The initial, retracted, position of arms ltd is determined by their engagement with cross rod lill] carried lay loail arms ltl secured to shaft liil. Each arm lli@ is individually connected to rod ld@ hy spring lll. ln their retracted positions, arnis lli@ hold sensing lingers loll slightly outside the path ci rotation oi the outermost points ci the selector disks so as not 'to hinder the load setting ci the dislrs.

his/:ed to the end of shaft loll, adjacent frame 28, is arm (Fig. 9) pivotally connected to the lower end ci link lll@ having a hoolishaped portion at the upper end, the hight oi which slidalcly receives shalt ld@ and is guided thereby for vertical, inclined, movement.

lllll has a follower pin llltl at its upper end and a follower pin lll@ intermediate its ends respectively engaging `the periplieries of coin-- pleinentary cams lill and lll@ fast to cam shaft lGG. The load setting ci the selector disks initiates the one-revolution cycle of shmt ldd.

D ring the first thirty degrees oi the cycle, cani ldd positively moves llnlr lfl downwardly to ll@ sufficiently to the rear to engage its lug lll' rocls shaft [169 clockwise, causing rod lll to rnove arms lit, through springs lt, in the Same direction. Movement of arms liill does not impart movement to paired arms lll@ until lingers lll@ have reached the locus of the outer or 9 value steps or the selector disks. At this point, lug llt of arm llill engages lug lllll oi paired arm l'lll and nose l'lll ci latch lll moves behind lug l'll. The relative position oi the parts is then as indicated in Fig. l2 and arms ltd and lll] are now coupled for common forward movement. When ringer lli@ engages a step of the selector disk,

forward movement of the connected arms |68 and |10 stops. Spring |82 between the arrested arm |68 and rod |80 then stretches to permit rod to continue its forward stroke.

At the end of the forward stroke of rod |80, all six pairs of arms |68 and |10 will be set in differential positions determined by the steps of the selector disks engaged by fingers |50.

Referring to Fig. 6, each arm |10 is connected at its upper end by pin to rack bar |9| guided by cross shaft |92 and rod |93. Rotatably carried by rod |93 are six notched sectors |94 each rigidly provided with a pinion |95 meshed with one of the rack bars |9|. The forward movement of an arm |10 will cause its pin |90 to move rack bar |9| to the right which through pinion |95 turns sector |94 clockwise.

Carried by shaft |92 is a bail |96 having lock bar |91 extending across all six sectors |94. Referring to Fig. 9, shaft |92 has crank arm |98 connected to vertical link |99 pivoted to one end of lever 200, the other end of which is connected to vertically slidable link 20| having a follower 202 engaging the internal groove of box cam 203 on cam shaft |45.

After rod |80 has finished its forward stroke, cam 203 depresses link 20| to rock lever 200 counterclockwise. This action of lever 200 raises vertical link |99 to rock arm |98 and its shaft |92 clockwise, as a result of which lock bar |91 (Fig. 6) moves into alined notches of sectors |94 to -lock the sectors in their differential actuated positions. With sectors |94 locked, pins |90 on the upper ends of arms |10 are also locked in their differential positions.

Further, when link |99 moves upwardly, an extension 204 thereof (Fig. 9) rocks arm 205 fast to shaft |66 counterclockwise. As indicated in Figs. 6, 10, l2, shaft |66 carries bail 206 having cross rod 201 located above latches |11. When shaft |66 rocks counterclockwise, rod 201 descends and depresses latches |11 to release their teeth |19 from lugs |15 of arms |68, thus freeing the latter arms for return movement.

Between 55 and 95 of the cycle, cam |81 on shaft |46 coacts with roller |85 of link |84 to positively retract the link, causing restoration of shaft |69 and bail rod |80. During return of rod |80, it engages arms |68 and positively restores them and connected sensing fingers |50 to initial positions. As arms |68 return, their paired arms |10 pivot about their locked pins |90 and springs |13 stretch to store up energy for returning arms |10 to initial position when pins |90 are subsequently released.

With fingers |50 withdrawn from selector disks 50 and |00, the disks are free to be returned to home position in the manner previously explained. Pins |90, however, which have been differentially set under control of the selector disks remain locked in their set positions.

Registering and printing means The registering, printing means are in meter MR (Fig. 2). The registering means registers amounts taken off the value selector disks |00D, d, c; The printing means is adapted to print the weight and zone taken off selector disks 50W, w, |00Z. Meter MR has six slides 2|0, one for each selector disk and each associated control pin |90. The outer end of each slide 2|0 related to a selector disk has a slot 2|| receiving the pin |90 controlled by the same selector disk (see Figs. 6, 12, 13). As pins |90 move to their differential positions and are locked therein, they corre- 220 and 222. The amount sectors also have lower f,

teeth 223 meshed with pinions 224 of type wheels 225 for printing 'the dollars, dimes, and cents orders of the postage.

There are three sectors 2|6 pertaining to weight disks 50 and Zone disks |00Z and these u sectors do not have upper teeth since they do not operate registers but have only lower teeth 223 to operate type wheels 225.

The dollars, dimes, and cents orders of elements will be explained first, with particular reference to Fig. 13. Notched arms 2|5D, d, c are alike, each having nine notches representing, as indicated in Fig. 13, values 9 to 1 in descending order. When pin |90D, d, or c moves to differential position, it correspondingly moves connected slide 2|0 which through coacting slot 2|3 and pin 2 |4 rocks associated arm 2|5 about pivot pin 2 I5' to a corresponding differential angular position. This places one of the notches 9 to l of the arm in the path of movement of actuating tooth 221 provided on the end of member 228 rotatably carried by stationary shaft 229. Member 228 has a follower roller 230 engaged with cam 23| fixed on shaft |46a which is an extension of one-revolution shaft |46. After pins |90 have been locked in differential positions and, therefore, after arms 2|5 have been set at equivalent angles, cams 23| rock members 228 and their teeth 221 clockwise (Figs. 12, 13) against resistance of springs 232. During the clockwise stroke of a tooth 221, it engages one of the notches 9, 8,--l, of arm 2|5, selected by the angular setting of the arm and moves the arm and its sector 2|6 till the end of the forward stroke. If the tooth engages a 9 notch, it moves the sector through nine differential steps. An 8 notch is engaged by tooth 221 one differential step later, a '7 notch is engaged two differential steps later, and so on. If arm 2|5 is set at its maximum inclination under control of a 0 selector disk step, then tooth 221 passes beneath the lowest notch of arm 2|5 and does not move sector 2|6 at all.

Sectors 2| 6D, d, c, through teeth 2|1 and pinions 2|8 and 2|9, transmit their differential movements to registers 220 and 222 to subtract the postage amount from the former and to add this same value to the latter register. Simultaneously the amount sectors, through lower teeth 223 and pinions 224 transmit their differential movement to type wheels 225 to set type lugs 225 for printing the amount of postage.

Further details of above mechanism and operation are given in my copending application, Serial No. 5,026, filed February 5, 1935.

The operation of the weight and zone elements will now be explained, with particular reference to Fig. 12. As previously stated, sectors 2|6W, w and Z are provided only with lower teeth 223 to operate only type wheels 225W, w and Z. Notched arms 2|5W, w and Z as indicated in Fig. 12 differ from arms 2|5D, d, and c in having ten notches instead of nine. The first Y of actuating tooth 221.

nine notches, in descending order correspond to values 9, 8, '1 -1. The tenth and lowest notch corresponds to arbitrary symbol which indicates that no weight or zone selecting operation has occurred.

Referring to the radial distance between a successive pair of control steps of a selector disk as the differential,` the amount selector disks |00 D, d, c have their successive steps 9, 8, 7,-0 spaced apart a single differential. 'I'he successive steps 9, 8, 7,-1 of the weight and Zone selector disks are also spaced apart a single ditl'erential. But diiering from the amount selector disks, the weight and zone disks have twice the given differential between the 0 and vl steps.

Accordingly, when sensing ngers i50W, w, or Z reads a 0 step of selector disks 50W, w or iiiZ, it moves two differentials past the l step. Correspondingly, pin connected to one of these sensing fingers, the slide 2|0 coupled to the pin, and the arm 2 5 set by the slide move the equivalent of the aforesaid two diierentials. Thus, under control of a l step ofa Weight or zone se- 1ector`disk, the associated arm 2|5 is positioned at an angle such that its 1 notch is in the path Under` control or a il step of a weight or zone selector disk, associated arm 2| 5 will be set at an angle such that tooth 221 during its clockwise stroke will pass beneath the lowest notch of the arm and will not move the arm. Thus, in moving from l to il position under control of a weight or zone se-4 lector disk, the arm 2I5W, w or Z skips its position.

The notches oi' arms 2|5W,' w, and Z are so proportioned as to cause teeth 221 during their clockwise or forward stroke to move the arms through zero to ten differential steps. The differential distance thus movedby an arm Ziv, w, or Z is smaller than the differential distance moved by an arm 2|5D, d, or o because type Wheels 225W, w, and Z have eleven type 225 instead of the ten on the amount type `Wheels and accordingly the distance moved by the type Wheel 225W, w, or Z to bring successive type to printing position is correspondingly smaller.

lIf a 9 notch of a weight or zone arm 2li? is engaged by the tooth i221, the arm, 4connected sector 2ML-and type wheel 225 will be moved ten differential steps .and the type Wheel will accordingly. bring the 9 type to printing position. Siniilarly, engagement of 8, 7,-1 notches by tooth 221 causes movement of the type wheel through 9, 8, '7,-2 steps to bring type 8, 7--1 to printing position. Engagement of notch by tooth 221 causes the type Wheel to move only l step to bring the type to printing position.

Since the weight and zone selector disks have no intermediate step ,between their 0 and 1 steps, it is evident they cannot control associated arms 2|5 to select the notches for cooperation with teeth 221. The selection of the :notches l .fected therefrom on a stamp blank.' 'The means for feedingthe stamp blanks into printing positions and the means for effecting an imprint do plication, Serial No. 5,026, filed February 5, 1935.l

Near the end of the cycle, after printing has been' completed, shaft |92 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 6), to release lock bail |91 from the notches of disks |94, thereby permitting springs |13 to relax and restore arms |10, pins |90, and connected elements, to initial positions.

Shortly after lock bail |91 releases notched disks i94, control bar 66 is released by latch 18 for automatic return by spring 14 to initial position. This is done under control of cam A233 (Fig. 9) on cam shaft H45. The cam operates a vertically slidable link 234 (see also Fig. 4) which pivotally carries, near its upper end, a vertically disposed pawl 235 having a tooth 235' and biased counterclockvvise by a spring 230.

1n the initial position of the parts, shown in mg. 9, link 23d is in lower position and a stud 231 of har t6 is engaging the side of pawl 235 to hold its tooth 235' clear of a lug 238 of latch 18. At this time, tooth 235 is in ront'oi the adjacent vertical side of lug 23d and if released would abut this vertical side. Accordingly, when bar (iii is advanced to the right, pin 231 withdraws from link and tooth 235 abuts the side ofY lug and is unable to prevent rise oi latch 'it when notch il@ oi? the bar cornes directly above the nose of the latch. Bar @i3 is then locked in advanced position, as shown in Fig. fi. At about 22il o the cycle, vcani permits spring 2t, connected 'to the upper end of link 23d to raise the link and as a result, spring 236i moves tooth of pawl directly above lug 23d oi latchl i8. The positions oi the parts are then as shown in Fig. 4. Near the very end of the cycle, cani depresses link causing tooth 235 oi pawl to engage lug of latch lil and force the nose oi the latch out of notch t@ of bar Spring 1G thereupon i'etracts bar tit and during retraction oi the bar, its stud 231 again engages pawl to release its tooth 235 from lug of latch 18. The parts are then in their initial positions, shown in Fig. 9.

The operation of the machine under control oi selector disks 5@ and Milt as" determined by the Weight and zone selectionhas been explained. The machine Amay also be selectively controlled by manually settable mechanism.

Seti'cble control mechanism 0iten, a package shipped parcel post is insured, registered, sent C. 0. D., or the like. For these services an additional charge, varying with the type or service, is made. This additional charge is independent of the weight or zone pertaining to a package. i

The settable amount mechanism controls the machine to set up type wheels 225D, d, c to print the additional charges and also enter the additional charges'into registers 220 and 222. These registers must therefore receive not only entries determined by selector disks 50 and |00 and detiti pendent on weight and zone but must also receive the additional charges which are independent of weight and zone control. The totals standing on the registers are thus the result of both types of entries, one the additional charge entries, and

- the other the Weight and zone-.controlled charges.

When the settable amount control is operated, the 'weight and zone control is disabled to avoid interference with the selection of the charges by the settable amount mechanism. Conversely, the settable amount mechanism is disabled when the weight and zone selections of the charges are made. Further, y charges bear no weight or zone relationship, the stamp bearing the settable charge must be distinguished from the parcel post stamp. Since the weight and zone type wheels 225 normally stand at 0, it is not suiiicient to merely retain these wheels in their normal position when the settable charge stamp is printed as the weight and zone type wheels would then print 0 weight and 0 zone indications on the stamp. The stamp would then appear to be a parcel post stamp for a zerol load and local zone and the amount printed would appear to be an error produced by faulty machine operation. If the weight and zone ktype wheels were prevented from printing on the stamp at all, then after issue of the stamp, it is conceivable that weight and zone iigures values might be forged on the stamp in their usual locations.

To characterize the stamp as a xed or additional charge stamp in contradistinction to a parcel post stamp, to avoid printing 0 weight and 0 zone, and to prevent forging of weight or zone values in blank weight and zone locations of the stamp, the settable amount controls when operated cause the weight and zone type wheels 225 tomcve one step to set the type lug 225' bearing legend in position to print on the stamp.

. and cents.

The additional or settable charge stamp may have a value running into dollars. Therefore, three denominational orders of settable element relating to cents, dimes and dollars, are provided. The elements related to these several denominations may be distinguished by the character D, d, or c appended to a common reference character and respectively signifying dollars, dimes',

Fig. 2 shows the location of the settable amount levers 248Dl d and c. These levers are located at the top of main casing 32 between zone selection indicating plate |88 and meter MR which contains registers 222 and 220 and printing wheels 225. Fixed to the top of casing 32 is a curved plate 24| (Figs. 2, 3, 6, 13) having slots along which levers 248 move and indications 0 to 9 alongside each lever to indicate the position to which the lever is to be set for selecting values 0 to 9 in its denominational order. Levers 248 are rotatably mounted on a common shaft 242 (see also Figs. 9, 10) which is journaled at one end in frame plate 28 and at the other end in frame 243.

Each lever 248 is formed with a sector-shaped plate portion 248', one arc of which is provided with ten interdental notches 248a (see Fig. 3), one notch for each of the ten diiierential value positions of the lever. Arranged to coact with notches 240a is stud 244 transversely projecting from the upper end of arm 245, rotatably carried by shaft |92. There is one arm 245 and stud 244 foreach lever 248 and each arm is connected to an individual spring 246. Thus, studs 244 form impositive latches coacting with notches 248a to releasably retain levers 248 in any of their selected, settable, value positions. y

At the right-hand side of eachlever 248 (as viewed in Fig. 10), also rotatably mounted on shaft 242, is a paired gear sector 241 integrally formed with an arm 241 having a stud 241e connected by spring 248 to plate V2(48 of lever' 248 (see Fig. 13). Spring 248 normally holds pin 241a of gear sector` 241 engaged with thelower edge of plate 248' of lever 248. Clockwise movement (Fig..13) of lever 248 to set it in a differential value position 1 to 9, through spring 248,

since the settable Iamount` rwas a higher value.

sector 241 in a differential position corresponding to the value selected by lever 248. While spring 248 may yield during this operation, when lever 248 stops, the spring immediately moves pin 241a against the lower edge of plate 248', thus causing sector 241 to take the same differential position as its operating lever-248.l l l Meshed with each gear -sector 241 are lrack teeth 249 of a vertical, interposer-controlbar 258 vertically slidably mounted on shafts4 |92 and |66. Bar 258 is formed along one side with steps 25W-0 to 9 progressively increasing in horizontal distance from the vertical center line of shafts |66 and |92 by a diiferential amount which is equal to the differential of the steps of the selector disks.

Similarly to the amount selector disks |8ID, d, c, the distance ybetween 0 and 1 steps 258' is a single diierential instead of a double differential as is the case with the weight and zone disks 58 `and |88. Bars 258D, d, and c are respectively at the right side (Fig. l0) of sensing fingers |58D, d, c of the amount selector disks |88D, d, c. Each amount sensing linger has at its left or rear end (Fig. 13), a lug' |58' transversely projecting into the plane of the companion bar 258 and its steps 258 (see Fig. l1).

Levers 248 are manually moved torequired value positions. The levers correspondingly rock gear sectors 241 which through teeth 249 proportionally lower bars 258, setting steps 258', which correspond to the selected values, in the paths of lugs |58 of fingers I58D, d, c. For instanceudimes order lever 248d is set at 5, lowering bar 258d to bring its step 258-5 in the path o! advance of lug |58 of sensing finger |5841.

When a bar 258 is in initial, zero, upper position, the zero step 258 is in front of lug |58 and finger |58 is permitted to move to its forward limit into engagement with any step of the amount selector disks |88.

If one of steps 258'-1 to 9 of a bar 258 and one of selector disk steps 1 to 9 were simultaneously in position to control a finger |58, then the finger would be stopped either by a step 258 or by a selector disk step depending on which step It is therefore necessary to provide for selective; non-coincident control of Afingers |58D, d, c by bars 258 and selector disks As previously explained, selector disks 58 and |08 move only 270 from zero to maximum load positions and have selectof steps along only 270 of their peripheries. The remaining 90 are of each selector disk is 'bare of steps, has no control function, and may be called the non-controlling arc. 'I'he non-controlling arc of a selector disk is along a circle having a radius equal to that of the lowest or zero step of the selector disk. When the selector disks are in home position, their non-controlling arcs are opposite sensing fingers |58 (see Fig. 6). Therefore the fingers, when moved towards the selector disks while the latter are in home position may move unimpeded to the limit of their forward stroke. Since the selector disks are held in home position by detent 51 which is releasable by operation of control bar 58 (Fig. 7), then in the absence of operation of bar 66 the selector disks will remain set in home p osition even though a load be applied to the weighing mechanism.

It is therefore necessary to hold bar 66 in re-r tracted position to in turn maintain the selector attinge lected to control ngers |50, then bars 250 must be located in their zero positions in order not to interfere with control of the lingers by the steps of the selector disks.

It is also desired during control of the ma chine by the settable mechanism, to set the weight and zone ngers I50W, w and Z in tenth differential position corresponding to symbol This tenth position requires that the weight and zone fingers be moved nine differential steps iurther than their initial 9 position'.

Since selector disks 50W, w, and lllZ are in home position when control bars 250 are ehecting control, then the non-controlling arcs of these disks are in front of their sensing ngers and therefore the disks will not interfere with the positioning of lingers |50.

A multiple part push button is provided to render stepped bars 250 elective to control the machine. This push button comprises an upper part in the form of a key 252 (Figs. 2, 9, 1i), 12) projecting above the top of casing 32 and vertically slidably carried by pins 253 and 251| secured to the side of bar 255 which comprises the lower part of the push button. Spring 256 between pin 256 of bar 255 and pin 251 of key 252 normally holds the key elevated with respect to the bar. The key pivotally carries on pin 258, a coupling pawl 259 which is also connected by spring 266 to pin 251 of the key. Spring 260 normally urges pawl 259 counterclockwise (Fig. 12) to maintain the lower tip of the pawl engaged with the side of horizontally bent lug 26| formed on bar 255 adjacent its upper end. In this position of pawl 259, its lug 26.2 is directly above lug 26l as shown in Fig. 12.

Bar 255 is vertically slidably mounted on shafts |92 and H66 (see Fig. 9) and ha-s a stud 263 passing through the slotted end of arm 264 lXeol to shaft 265 (Figs. 9, 11, 12) journaled by frame plates 28 and 243. Shaft 265 rigidly carries bail arms 266 carrying Vcross bar 261 extending above the three weight and Zone sensing fingers H50 and of such length as to span only these three 'fingers (see Fig. 11).

When bar 261 is lowered, it is located in position to intercept lugs |50 at the rear end of the weight and zone fingers |50 and stop these fingers in their position. When bar 261 is in upper position, shown in Fig. 12, it is above the path or" lugs |50' or" the weight and Zone fingers and unable to stop advance of the lingers.'

The lower end of push button bar 265 has a stud 266 seated in the slotted right hand end (Fig. 9) of the horizontal arm of bell crank 216. The vertical arm of the bell crank is connected by pivot pin 2li to the left end of horizontally disposed link 212.

Link 212 at its right end passes 'through a vertical slot formed in the upper end of vertical arm |20 of latch S24 which, as previously explained, is operated by clutch solenoid 022 upon setting of the selector disks in load position. r'fhe slot guides the link for horizontal movement and is open at the top. Normally, link 212 rests on the bottom ofv the slot. The extreme, free end or tip of the linkextends past arm l26 and is enlarged to form a shoulder 212 adapted to en gage the side of arm |24.

Fush button bar 255 has near its lower end a pin 214 seated in the slotted, left-hand end (Fig. 9) of lever 215 pivoed to frame plate 26. The

right-end of lever 216 is bent transversely to provide lug 215. Normally, lever 215 is in clockwise position with its lug 215' to the rightof and clear of an arm 216 when the latter is] also in normal position, Fig. 9. Arm 216 is rigid with sleeve 211 rotatably carried by rod |93 (see also Fig. 6). With arm 216 in normal position, rock ing of lever 215 counterclockwise raises its lug 215 into position adjacent the right side of arm 21'6 and prevents counterclockwise rocking of the arm. With lever 215 in normal position, rocking of arm 216 counterclockwise disposes its lower end above lug 215 to prevent counterclockwise rocking of lever 215.

Sleeve 211 which rigidly carries arm 216 is rigidly provided withdepending operating arm 216 (Fig. 9), slotted at its lower end to receive pin 216 oi control bar 66.

When the operator depresses key 252, lug 262 oi pawl 259 engages lug 26|] of bar 255 to transmit downward motion 'of the key to the bar. The

common descent of the key and bar is against' resistance of spring 266 connected to the bar at one end and to a sleeve on shaft 192 at the other end. As bar 255 descends, its pin 214 rocks lever 215 counterclockwise (Fig. 9), placing lug 215 in back of arm 216. Asa result, control bar 56 is prevented from advancing to operative position because arm 216 being nov/ held by lug 215 against counterclockwise motion, arm 216 is likewise incapable of counterclockwise rocking, thereby holding pin 219 of bar 66 against advance movement. vanced after key 252 is depressed, preventing in this manner concurrent operation of the key and lcontrol bar.

Depression of bar 265 also through its pin 263 rocks arm 26d counterclockwise (Fig. 12) thus turning shaft 265 in the same direction to move bail bar 261 downwardly into position to engage lugs E50 of the weight and Zone sensing ngers for stopping advance o the latter in their tenth, position.

Further, depression of bar 255 through its pin 266 rocks bell crank 216 clockwise (Fig. 9) moving link 212 to the left, causing shoulder 212 at the right end of the link to engage the side of latch arm |126 and rock latch 124 counterclockwise against resistance o spring 125. The latch thereupon releases arm |126@ for movement to the right by spring' 121, arm l26a disengages Thus, bar 66 cannot be adclutch pawl |126, and disk G29 is coupled to driving shaft 66 lor a single revolution, in the same manner as under control of solenoid E22.

Clockwise movement of detent arm l26a by spring 121 is limited by engagement of arm 126e with base plate 262. With arm l26a at its clockwise limit and latch l2@ at the counterclockwise limit-to which it is moved by link 2112, the left, free end of the latch is below lug H26 of arm M612 by a certain amount of clearance, as indicated in Fig. 8. 'Engaging the top of stud lili) of driven disk U29 is a yringer 266 rigidly depending from. link 212. if/'hen the link has completed its movement to the left, the edge of finger 264 is still on stud As disk H29 is now released for a cycle, stud G63 moves clockwise and raises finger 266 slightly. This causes link 212 to rock freely counterclcckwise on pivot pin 2li, raising shoulder 212' above the bottom of the notch in latch arm 26', thereby releasing latch l2# for clockwise rocking by spring l25. The latch moves clockwise until its free end contacts the bottom of lug G26. This movement o the latch locates the bottom-of its notch-below the enlarged tip of link 212. Stud |33 of disk |29 engages finger 284 momentarily and as soon as the stud passes the nger, link 212 drops and its enlarged tip comes to rest against the bottom of the notch.

As previously explained, at 180 of the cycle stud |32 depresses arm |26b to return detent arm |26a to declutching position. This releases lug |26 of arm |2'6a from latch |24. Spring |25 thereupon rocks latch |24 further clockwise to restore it to normal position again engaged with the front of detent |26a to retain the latter in declutching position.

The push button bar 255 has two short teeth 285 coacting with pawl 286, urged clockwise by spring 281 (Fig. 12). Half-way depression of the push button engages the top of the bottom tooth with pawl 286 to stop the button in halfway position. Full stroke depression of the button engages the top of the upper tooth with pawl 286 to stop the button in fully depressed position. 'I'he full down stroke of the push button should, for practical reasons, not be required to cause link 212 to initiate the cycle of operations of actuator |29 because to depend on the slight, final, increment of movement of the parts to initiate the cycle would entail too fine-haired an operation and adjustment of the parts. The cycle should be and is initiated by a movement of the push button just short of a full down stroke. Such movement of the push button is less than the combined length of the two teeth and if the depression of the button is not continued to the end of its stroke, the upper tooth 285 will not be engaged by pawl 286 and spring 280 will raise the push button until the lower tooth engages the pawl and causes arrest of the button in half-way position.

In the half-way position of the push button, bail bar 261 will be in operative position to coact with lugs |50 of the weight and zone fingers |50 to stop these fingers in position. Also, in the half-way position of the push button, lug 215' will be behind arm 21'6 and operative to prevent movement of control bar 66.

Thus, after the cycle of the actuator had been initiated by depression of the push button through a distance just short of its full stroke, all the other conditions required of the push button operation also Will have been satisfied. Had there been only one long tooth instead of two short teeth 285, less than full stroke depression of the push button might have initiated operation of the actuator and there would be nothing to prevent the button from then returning to normal, raised position. The bar 261 would then be in ineffective position and further control bar 66 would be free to advance. For these reasons, two short teeth 285, instead of a single long one, are provided on bar 255.

The operation of the machine under control of the settable mechanism now proceeds in the same manner4 as under Weight and zone control, initiated by advance of control bar 66. Between 0 and 30 of the cycle, cam |88 Fig. 9) on cam shaft |46, through link |84 and arm |83, rocks shaft |69 clockwise causing bail rod |88 through springs |82 to yieldingly move arms |68 clockwise (see Figs. 6, 12, 13) and thereby advane lingers |50. 'I'he three amount sensing fingers |50D, d, c advance until their lugs |50' abut steps 250 in control position (see Fig. 13). Fingers |50D, d, c are thereby arrested in differential positlons corresponding to the values selected by hand levers 240.

The three weight and zone fingers |58 advance equivalent to said values.

nine differential steps from their initial, 9, position until their lugs |50' engage cross bar 261 (see Fig. 12), causing the fingers to stop in their tenth position, corresponding to character The position of the sensing fingers determines the position of companion arms |10 and their pins |90, as previously explained. At 30 of the cycle, the differential position of each pin |90 has been determined. Between 35 and 50 of the cycle, shaft |92 is rocked clockwise to engage lock bail |91 with the alined notches of disks |94, thereby locking pins |90 in their differential positions.

Pins |90 controlled by the weight and zone lingers set stepped arms 2|5 with their tenth notches, corresponding to in position to be engaged by actuating teeth 221W, w, Z. Under control of cams 23|, elements 221 then move through their forward, down stroke (Fig. l2) during which they engage notches of the weight and zone arms 2|5 to cause their sectors 2|6 to turn type wheels 225W, w, and Z counterclockwise, bringing type lugs 225 bearing legend into printing position.

Pins |90 of amount sensing ngers |50D, d, c position their stepped arms 2 5 in accordance with the values determined by steps 250 of settable bars 250. Elements 221D, d, and `c then engage the notches of the arms 2|5D, d, and c which correspond to the settable values and move the connected sectorsv 2|6D, d, c differential distances The latter sectors, through lower teeth 223, position type wheels 225D, d, and c to print these values and through upper teeth 2|1 enter the values into descending register 220 and ascendingregister 222.

AtA about 345 `of the cycle, after the printing and registering operations have been completed, shaft |92 (Figs. 6, l2) is rocked anticlockwise to release lock bail |91 from the notches of disks |94 permitting springs |13 to restore arms |10, their pins |90, and connected elements to initial retracted positions. As indicated in Fig. 12, shaft |92 has an arm 290 pivotally carrying, at its free end, a by-pass dog 29| held by spring 292 against pin 293 of arm 290. When shaft |92 is rocked clockwiseat 35 of the cycle, to move lock bail |91 into engagement with notched sectors |94, arm 290 moves down from full line position, Fig. l2 to dotted line position. shaft |92 rocks anticlockwise to release lock bail |91 from sectors 94, arm 290 rises from dotted to full line position. During this return movement, the top of dog 29| engages the bottom of horizontal arm 294 of pawl 286 to move the pawl out of engagement with teeth 285 of push button bar 255, permitting spring 280 to restore the push button. Dog 29| holds pawl 286 in releasing position long enough to permit complete restoration of bar 255 to its normal position after which, with continuation of the rise of arm 290, the tail 295 of dog 29| engages fixed stud 296, resulting in the dog rocking clockwise with respect to arm 280. This brings the dog beyond the tip of' arm 294 ot pawl 286, permitting spring 281 to reengage the pawl with teeth 265 to hold bar 255 in its normal position, Fig. 12.

If the operator held down key 252 at the time bar 255 was released for return to raised position, he would prevent restoration of bar 255 if lug 262 ofthe key were permitted to remain engaged with lug 26| of the bar.

To effect restoration of bar 255 regardless of maintained depression of key 252, when pawl 286 is rocked counterclockwise by dog 29|, to release When at 345 of the cycle, f

antros teeth 285, the pin 286' of the pawl engages cou`= pling pawl 259 and rocks it to the left against resistance of spring 260 (Fig. 12). This results in displacing lug 262 from above lug 26l, thereby uncoupling bar 255 from key 252/ and permitting the bar to rise unhindered by the key. When the operator subsequently releases key 252, spring 25E elevates the key and spring 260 returns lug 262 or the coupling pawl to operative position above lus 26| of bar 255.

Only when push button bar 255 is in normal po sition, may operation of the machine be initiated by control bar 66. With the push button in norm mal position, lug 215 of lever 215 is in lower position and out of the Way of counterclockwise moves ment of arm 216 (Fig. 9). Accordingly, advance of control bar 66, Whichis possible only when arm 216 is free to move counterclockwise, is not prevented by lug 215'. Advance of bar 66 moves arm 216 counterclockwise to position its lower edge above lug 215' to prevent counterclockwise rocking of lever 215 and, consequently, depression of push button bar 255. Thus, when bar 66 is in operative position, it locksmthe settable control mechanism out of operation.

Since depression of the push button before cone trol bar 66 is advanced, locks the latter in retracted, inactive, position by means of engaging lug 215' with the right-side of' arm 216, it is apparent that the settable control mechanism and the weight-controlled mechanism may not operate concurrently but may only operate selectively.

Although the push button is normally automatically returned to initial position at the end of a cycle initiated thereby, the value selecting levers 240 remain locked in set positions by enz gagement of their sector notches 240er with latch arms 245. Should stepped control bars 25@ which have been set by levers 240 be permitted to remain in control positions I to 9 after the cycle, then steps 250,'-1 to9 might interfere with control, by the amount selector disks, of sensing iingers |50. Accordingly, Whenever control bar 66 is advanced to initiate weight-controlled operations, control bars 250 are automatically re turned to zero positions, without at the same time disturbing the setting of selection levers 24o. To accomplish this, control bar t6 has a stud 300, intermediate its ends, which is seated in the lower, slotted end of lever Sill ypivoted to frame plate 28 (see `Fig. 9).

Lever 30| is connected by link W2 to crank 303 fixed to the left end of shaft 242 (Figs. 9, lil) which journals selection levers 240 and connected gear sectors 241 (Fig. 13)

Rigidly carried by shaft 242 is bail Sill@ (Figs. (i, l0, 13) spanning the three settable levers dit@ and connected sectors 241. When control bar @t is advanced, its pin 300 (Fig. 9) rocks lever 8 il anticlockwise which through link 3i??? moves arm stt and shaft 242 in the same direction.. Referring to Fig. 13, such movement of shaft 24,2 engages bail 304 with the free ends of arms Qdi oi gear sectors 241 to return the sectors to their counterclockwise limits. As the sectors return, they raise stepped bars 250 to Zero position. When sectors 241 are moved counterclcc'kwise by bail 364 they tend, through springs 248, to draw levers 240 after them. But springs 2453 are much weaker than springs 246 which hold arms 24h in locking coaction with levers 240.

As a result springs 248 stretch without disturbing the selected positions of levers 24. This does away with the necessity for resetting levers 2t@ when it isdesired to operate the machine, after each oi a series oi weight-controlled operations, in accordance with the same manually selected, settable, values.

When. control bar tt returns to home position near the end of the cycle initiated thereby, bail 304 moves up and gear sectors 241 are returned by springs 248 until pins 241s contact the lower edge of sectors 246 of levers 24U. The gear sectors are thus reset in the positions selected by levers 246 and correspondingly stepped bars 259 are reset to the selected value positions.

Summary Assume a package weighing l0 lbs. l oz. is to be shipped parcel post to zone 3 and that it is to be insured; say, tor a charge of 25 cents. The package is placed on platform i0 (Figs. l., 2, 6, 9) causing levers i3, it, it to rock pendulum shaft 2t in proportion to the load or l0 lbs. l oz. Chart Bt will indicate this 'weight at'sight window 3l (Fig. 2). The operator then sets handle i105 op posite indication 3 on zone indicating plate G08, thereby shifting tubular shaft i102 to bring disks itZ, D, d, and c corresponding to zone 3 into control positions in iront of their reading fingers iiiZ, D, d, and c.

After the Zone setting, the operator depresses handle 6ft (Figs. l, 2, 9) thereby moving control bar tii to advanced position in which it is latched hy detent it (Figs. i and 9). Bar t6, when it advances, moves bar lil (Figs. i, 6, il) to engage its shoulder 12 with ari-n 13 oi shaft t2 and cause the latter to rock counterclockwise (Fig. (i) thereby releasing stop 57i from pin 56 of disk 55 which is rigidly carried by shaft 35.

The power drive including motor driven shaft itt, shaft 39, sprocket chain (ill, friction coupling dd-iS-tt thereupon is eective to rotate shaft 35 counterclocirvvise (Fig. (i). The initial angle of rotation of 535i causes cam thereon to operate lever d@ to move knife edge tt (Fig. "1) into a notch oi dish (cl2 carried by chart 3G. As a result, chart 3@ is set in even pound post tion, which, in the assumed case, is ll lbs. As shaft `35 continues its rotation brushes 94 and @ii thereon engage contact plate Q2 carried by chart till, causing the circuit of magnet 91 to be established. The magnet operates its arrna ture Silla to rock latch QQ into engagement with a notch 55a of disk tidthus arresting shaft 35 in ll lb. position. f'

l/'ihen latch Q9 arrested shaft its pin 11H8 closed switch (Fig. 6) to complete the circuit-initiated by closing of switch by bar (5G- of clutch solenoid i252. The latter V,thereupon releases latch i253 from arm |1260, 9) to permit the latter to in turn release clutch pawl Jilil for coupling dish l2@ to drive shaft Disk 29 is driven for a single revolution and actuates cam shafts M5 and Mii. Cain 03d on shaft it@ through linhi i186 operates cross rod @Sil to impositively advance paired arms it@ and il@ and reading 'fingers 55@ connected to arms tilt. The paired arms are differentially arrested by engagement of the reading ngers with disks Sill/V, w, iiitD, d, c, and Z. Pins i9@ of arms Ulti are locked in corresponding differential positions and correspondingly set connected slides titl (Figs. d, l2, 13) to roch notched arms 285 of l values taker.y from the selector disks |D, d, and c and equal to the value of the parcel postage for a weight of l1 lbs. in zone 3 into descending register 220 and ascending register 222 and at the same time position type wheels 225 to print this amount. Weight and zone sectors 2|6 set their type wheels 225 to print a. Weight of 11 lbs. and zone indication 3,

At the end of the cycle of operations, latch 18 releases control bar 66 and the latter is returned by spring 14 to normal, retracted, position.

The operator now sets variable charge selecting levers 24nd and c to positions 2 and 5, respectively, to select 25 cents to be entered into the registers 220 and 222 and to be printed. In setting levers 240, bars 250 are similarly set to control fingers |50d and c. Key 252 is now depressed to lower push button bar 255. The latter through pin 214 and lever 215 locks arm 216 and connected control bar 66 against operation. Through pin 263, bar 255 sets cross rod 261 (Fig. l2) into position in front of lugs |50' of fingers |50W, w, and Z. Through pin 268, bar 255 operates lever 210 to cause link 212 to engage arm |24' of latch |24 to release arm |26a and thereby initiate a cycle of operations of disk |29, cam shafts |45 and |46 and the parts operated thereby, as in the weight controlled operation.

Fingers |50D, d, and c advance until their lugs |50 engage steps 250 of bars 250 (Fig. 13) and fingers |50W, w, and Z advance until their lugs |50 engage rod 261.. The latter fingers are thereby arrested in positions corresponding to symbol While the amount fingers |50D, d, and c are arrested in 0, 2, and 5, positions, respectively. In the same manner as in the weight controlled operation, the amount 25 cents is entered into registers 220 and 222 and the type wheels 225D, d, and c positioned to print 0.25, while the weight and Zone type Wheels 225 are each positioned to print In this manner the insurance charge 25 cents is entered along with the parcel post charge into registers 220 and 222 and the type means upon the entry of the insurance charge set to print the insurance charge along with symbols to indicate a non-weight and non-zone selecting operation.

While the invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiment shownherein, it is to be understood that variations, changes, and departures may be made within the field of the invention and that the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In combination; an entry-receiving element, entry determining mechanism, supplementary entry determining mechanism, an automatic cyclical actuator, computing mechanism operated by the actuator during a single cycle thereof for effecting entry into aforesaid element under control of either determining mechanism, means for selectively rendering the determining mechanisms effective to control entry operations of said computing mechanism, and devices coacting with the determining mechanisms upon their being selectively rendered effective, for initiating a single cycle of operations of said actuator.

2. In combination; a register, entry selecting mechanism, supplementary entry selecting mechanism, a cyclical actuator, computing mechanism operated by the actuator during a single cycle of the latter for effecting entry into the register under control of either selecting mechanism, a device normally restraining operation of the actuator, means for selectively rendering the selecting mechanisms effective to control said computing mechanism, and means operated upon either of the selecting means becoming effective for disabling said device to thereby release the actuator for a single cycle of operations.

3. Incombination; a register, a main entry selector, a supplementary entry selector settable in differential selecting positions, a cyclically operable actuator, computing mechanism operated by the actuator, during a cycle thereof, under control of either one of said selectors for effecting entryinto the register, means for normally retaining the supplementary selector in its selected differential position after the cycle is completed, a device for rendering the main selector effective to control said computing mechanism, and mechanism operated by the device, upon its rendering the latter selector effective, for displacing the supplementary selector from its selected differential position and setting it in a position ineffective to interfere with entry control operation of the main selector.

4. In combination; variable controlled selector means for selecting variable-dependent values, type members, mechanism controlled by aforesaid selector means for setting said type members in position to print the variable-dependent values, supplementary means operable in the absence of a variable-controlled selection to control aforesaid mechanism for setting said type members in position to print supplementary values, and type means settable upon effective control operation of the supplementary means in position for printing an indication of the absence of a variablecontrolled selection.

5. In combination; a selector for selecting values dependent on a plurality of factors, a value manifesting device, an exhibiting device, mecha.- nism controlled by aforesaid selector for operating the manifesting device according to the value selected by the latter selector, means for setting the exhibiting device to exhibit a special one of the factors related to the selected value, a supplementary selector for selecting values irrespective of said factors and controlling aforesaid mechanism to operate the manifesting device according to the latter values, and means operable upon the latter operation of the manifesting device for setting the exhibiting device to exhibit an indication denoting absence of a special factor-dependent operation of said manifesting device.

6. In combination; selector means for selecting two classes of values dependent on a variable, a rst device for manifesting a first such class of values, a second device for manifesting the other such class of values, mechanism controlled by said selector means for operating said devices to manifest their assigned classes of values, a supplementary selector operable to the exclusion of the selector means for selecting supplementary values of the first class, means controlled by said selector for causing said mechanism to operate the first device according to the supplementary values, and means operated during control of said mechanism by the selector for causing the second device to manifest absence of the variable -dependent selection.

FREDERICK Q. RAST,

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