US2516721A - Numbering machine - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1950 E. PERSSON NUMBERING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1946 July 25, 1950 E. PERssoN 2,516,721

' NUMBERING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ya 1 l/ I N VEN TOR. fen 57 PFFaSO/V suitable frictional connections, not shown,

i atented July 25:, 195G UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE Ernest iersson, New York, N. Y., assignor to The International Postal Supply Company, Brook- Lyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York -App'licatio'n March 25,1946, Serial No. 656,883

15.01aims. 1

This invention relates to a numbering machine and more particularly to a machine for printing numbers on checks, tickets, or the like, at high speed.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a simple, rugged, consecutive numbering machine which may be used for a variety of purposes such or separate objects of this kind are to be numbered, the numbering machine may be included in a suitable endorsing die preferably operated cyclically in start-stop fashion, so that an imprint is made uniformly in a predetermined position on the respective checks objects.

Other features will be found in the following description given with the aidof the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a numbering machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a feed pawl assembly and part of the actuating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 4 is a section taken through 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken through 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken through 66 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 shows a group of number wheels arranged in order, the units wheel being at the top of the figure.

The invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 together with a portion of a machine for endorsing checks or the like to illustrate the operation of a preferred embodiment thereof. Various details of a complete endorsing machine, such as the base, shaft bearings, motor, and parts of the feeding mechanism have been omitted as they form no part of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a driving motor, not shown, drives a gear 40 on a-vertical shaft 4|. Secured to shaft 4! is a clutch cup 42 which drives through a driven member 43 formed with a hollow concentric portion within which is detachably disposed an end portion of a spindle 44. The driven member 43 is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed recesses into which fit splines 45 formed on spindle 44. The clutch cup 42 rotates constantly as long as power is supplied, but the driven member 43 is normally at'rest, being restrained from rotation by a trip mechanism, to be described, which when operated releases for one revolution driven member 43 and a printing die 5| coupled 2 indicia to be printed is disposed. The die is formed into -t-wo separable sections as will be described. The upper section of the die has a shaft 46 projecting upwardly therefrom disposed concentricaliy with respect to spindle 44. Shaft 46 turns in a bearing 4'! in the bracket 48 attached to upright 32 supported by the base of the machine, not shown.

Referring to Fig. '6, immediately under bracket 48, shaft has a concentric shoulder 49 formed thereon of substantially greater'sdiameter than the shaft. A roller support 50 provided with an arm '55 has an opening therein which fits over shoulder 49. A roller disposed in recess 55 in arm :51, turns on the shank of a long screw 51 which extends through the arm .51, and through flange 53 integral with the top portion 52 ef the printing die, the screw being threaded into a suitable hole in the part 5 l, thereby securing the roller 55 and roller support50 to the assembly.

The die is stopped invariably in the same angular position :each time it is released by means of a roller 60, F'ig. '2, pivoted at one end oflever (H which turns on :pivot '62 attached to the underside of bracket 48-. The lever is operated by a check actuated trip mechanism which 'will be described in detail 'b'ellw. Roller is normally positioned in the path of roller '55 so as to stop the rotary movement of the die. When the lever 6| is actuated by the trip mechanism, the lever is turned as shown in Fig. 2 to move the roller 60 out of the path of roller 55 permitting the die to turn. In the normal position of rest when the die is in stop position, the axes of rollers -55*and 60, as well as that of lever '84, are disposed along a straight line, lever B! then restingagainst a stop pin 63. Only a slight amount of pressure is necessary on lever 5| to upset this alignment, and once this is done, the torque exerted through the clutch on the die 31 and communicated thereby to arm 51 and roller 55 turns roller 60 and lever 61 to one side until the roller'5 5 and die are free, whereupon lever Bl snaps back against stop 63 bringing roller '55 again into position to stop the die at the end of the cycle.

A spring post 65 is adjustably secured in an opening in bracket 48 by a clamping screw 65. A spring 61 is fastened between a turned over end portion of the spring post and lever 6 for the purpose of resiliently holding the lever against its stop pin '63. The tension of the-spring is adjustable as required by clamping the spring post by screw '66 in the desired position.

One end of a trip tongue link To is pivotally connected to the underside and near the end of the opposite arm of lever'fil by a screw 1 I, while the opposite end of the link it is pivotally connected by stud 12 to the trip tongue 73, the latter being a lever .having as a fulcrum a stud T4 supported by the arm 15 of a lever '16. The latter lever has offset arms, a second and upper arm 11 die continues to rotate.

3 thereof being disposed adjacent the lower surface of bracket 48. The arms are connected by a hollow shank 18 through which extends a headed pivot rod 19 which projects into an opening in a block 89 fastened to the side of bracket 48. The rod 19 is held in place by screws BI.

A spring 85 fastened at one end to arm 1! of lever 15 and at the other to bracket 48 tends to hold arm 11 against a stop 86 formed in block 89. When the lever rests against the stop, the trip tongue pivot 14 is slightly below the pivot 19 of lever 16 as shown in Fig. 2. With this arrangement checks or other matter passing through the machine will actuate trip tongue lever 13 only about its pivot 14 thus releasing the die for rotation. However, pressure on the end of lever 13 in any other direction than toward the left of the drawing, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 will rock lever 15 about its fulcrum and this movement will be taken up as rotary displacements of link about its pivots I l and 12 without imparting the thrust to lever 6| necessary to rock the same to release the die 3!. The trip tongue may be pushed back clear of the guideway when desired without causing undesired actuation of the die and the numbering mechanism therein. Guard members 81 and 88 attached to bracket 48 are disposed respectively above and below trip lever 19 to protect the same against unwanted operations and to serve in cooperation with a guide plate 53 disposed in spaced relation thereto to guide the matter being printed or endorsed.

The upper part of die 3| comprises a discshaped member indicated generally by reference character 52 attached concentrically to shaft 46. A groove 54 formed part way around the member where it is enlarged into a deep slot or recess 9|, defines the upper flange portion 58 and a lower portion 59 of member 52, the lower and upper surfaces of these members being respectively the upper and lower walls of recess 9|. The lateral dimensions of the recess are shown by the unshaded portion of Fig. 5, where the shaded portion 99 is the part of the end piece by which flange 58 is connected to the lower part 59.

Alever 92 which actuates the consecutive numbering mechanism is supported in the recess 90 on a pivot 93 eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of die 3!. An end 94 of the lever projects beyond the periphery of the endpiece 52 and engages a pin or stop 95 depending from bracket 48, Fig. l, with each rotation of the die thereby rocking the lever on its pivot. Since the pivot 99 is off center with respect to the axis of the die, it will readily disengage itself from pin 95 as the The opposite end 95 of the lever is bifurcated, and between its two arms is a pin 91 fixed to a plate 98 disposed immediately underneath the lower part 59 of the end piece and extending upward through a rather large, approximately centrally located opening 83 in the part 59 communicating with recess 9!.

Plate 98 is a part of a cage-like arrangement carrying feed pawls, which is oscillated by lever 92 about an axis, with each revolution of die 3!.

Plate 98 is attached in spaced relation to a similar plate 99 by means of shoulder pins I09 and I9], Figs. 3 and 5, the latter serving as a shaft for an assembly of number wheel actuating pawls fixed in spaced relation to a tubular member I02 which is free to turn on shaft I0 I. v

A shaft I99 having a plurality of number wheels thereon extends through plates 98 and 99 and forms the axis about which these plates are oscillated. The plates turn respectively between shoulders at opposite ends of shaft I06 and the upper and lower end walls of the space within the die, the upper end of shaft 196 turning in a bearing in the upper end piece 59, and the lower end of the shaft being disposed in a bearing in the base "ll of the die which is formed integrally with the cylindrical wall E98 of the die. Wall 498 has a longitudinal opening in the side thereof through which project the portion of the number wheels to be presently used for a printing operation. The upper and lower parts of the die, including the cylindrical wall, are fastened together by suitable dowel pins and screws, not shown.

In Fig. 7, four number Wheels H I, H2, H3 and H4 are shown arranged in order, the top wheel IH being the units wheel and the lowermost wheel H4, the thousands wheel. Each number wheel has a ratchet wheel attached thereto which is actuated by a pawl of the actuating pawl assembly. Pawl H5 actuates ratchet wheel H6 of the unit number wheel Hi; pawl H1 the ratchet wheel H8 of the tens wheel H2; pawl H9 the ratchet wheel I29 of the hundreds wheel I I3; and pawl l2l actuates the ratchet wheel I22 of the thousands wheel H4. The interior of die 3| is preferably large enough to permit the use of a greater number of number wheels, if numbering beyond the capacity of the four wheels shown is required. Furthermore, one or more manually movable wheels carrying various indicia, such as for dating purposes, or the like, can be mounted on shaft I96, space being provided for this purpose below the number wheels.

With each revolution of die 3!, as already described, lever 94 rocks the cage arrangement about shaft Hi5. Lever 99 and the cage are restored to their normal position by a spring H3, Figs. 4 and 5, disposed in a recess in the under side of end piece 59, the spring having one end attached to a spring post on the upper surface of plate 94 and the other attached to a hook (29, attached to end piece 59. The rocking movement imparted by the initial movement of lever 99 withdraws the pawls I ll l4 so that they are in position to drop behind the next tooth of the associated ratchet wheel. The spring 123 thereafter is'effective to restore the lever 99 and cage to normal thus advancing the position of the wheels engaged by the pawls by one tooth. As will be explained, lever 94 is usually effective to advance only'the units number wheel Hi, the other wheels being advanced only when a carryover operation is necessary.

In order to provide for carry-over, the noses of actuating pawls H5--l2l progressively differ in length, pawl I I5 for the units wheel having the longest nose, while pawl l2l for the thousands wheel has the shortest nose. Since all of these pawls are fixed to the tubular member I92, all are displaced away from their ratchets except pawl H5 due to the long nose of the latter, except when a carry over occurs when one or more of the other pawls will be effective to operate their ratchets, the arrangement operating as follows: When any of the wheels is in position to print a 9, the next operation of lever 94 effective to advance that wheel will turn the wheel to 0" position. In the latter position, all of the wheels except the thousands wheel have progressively greater than normal depressions between their particular pairs of ratchet teeth. From Fig. 7, it may be seen that the spaces between all teeth of the thousands wheel are uniform. Wheel I29 has a slight but noticeable depression I39 for the terc position,- while the corresponding positions. of wheels H2 and-Hi have progressively deeper depressions i3! and I32. v The *pawls ofthe actuating pawl assembly ma be urgedtoward-their ratchets by any suitable means such as by a spring I33 attached between one of the pawls and pin me. With each operapawl shaft llil in a clockwise direction whichwill be sufficient to permitthe pawl ill of the next higher wheel to be lowered enough to engage the next ratchet tooth thereof, and on the return movement of the cage assembly caused by spring i23, both the units wheel HI andthe tens wheel I12 will be advanced one step. With the next following operation, pawl H5 will be riding on the higher spot between the next ratchet teeth and also those following, andthe remain-' ing pawls remain out of engagement with the associated ratchets until wheel Hi again reaches the zero position and the carry over occurs again advancing wheel H2 another step.

.Wlien wheel H2 is at the zero position, and pawl I [5 of wheel i l I drops intothe deep depression, the pawl assembly will turn througha still greater angle about the common pawl shaft fill in a clockwise direction permitting pawl lie to engage and advance the hundredths wheel H3 one tooth. In the same manner, when the space I of wheel H3 is under pawl IE9, all pawls will turn sufficiently for pawl I21 oi the highest order wheel -l i l to drop behinda, tooth and-ash Vance the ratchet 122 one step. The wheels-are shown lined up in Fig. 7 for the latter operation, the first three wheels being each ,pcsitionedto print 937 Withv the following retraction of, the pawl assembly, .all three pawls will drop into their zero position notches, and when they. are ad they are held in spaced, relation by spacing sleeves I31. Each pawl E is pressed toward its ratchet by a spring I 38 attached to a vertical rod I39 held in openings formedin opposite ends 59 andlfl'l of die 3|.

When used with a check endorsing machine of the type-referred to, the invention operates as follows: Assume that checks or other objects are fed one at a time by any suitable means through the guideway formed by guide plate 53 and members 31 and 88, a pair of feed rollersbeing indicated by dotted lines in the plan view Fig- 2 as a part of a mechanism for this purpose. There is a space between roller 3d and the surface of the die when in position of rest. Through; this space the checks are fed and the forwardedge thereof engages trip lever 13 and rocks the same clear of the guide way thereby releasing the diewhich rotates one revolution rolling the inked endorsing or printing indicia thereon as the check passes through the guideway, the numbering wheels being effective to consecutively number the checks as they. pass. With each revolutionof the die, the number wheels are advanced by one unitas described. Any suitable device, such as an inkingr'ollentnotshown, may be iised to ink the did.

In order to insure accurate operation; the-numbering' mechanism should be cleaned frequently. The detachable coupling by which shaft id is connected' with the clutch permitsthe die to be easily removed from the machine for cleaning.

-' While but one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understoodthat numerous details: of the arrangement may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby rocking the plates on the shaft and thereby causing the pawl means to actuate the number wheels which comprises a lever supported by the member operatively connected to the plates, and a stop disposed in the path of the lever for engaging and operating the same with each revolution of the member.

' 2. In a numbering machine, a printing member supported for uni-directional, rotation about an axis, ashaftsuppQrted by the member in parallel ofB-set relation to said axis, an assembly of numbering wheels each provided with a ratchet disposed for rotation on the shaft, a lever pivotally supported, by the member having a slot formed in one, arm, a stop pin disposed in the path of a second arm of the lever effective to trip the same with each revolution of the member, a pair of platesrespectively disposed on the shaft on opp0- site sides of the numbering wheels, means for actuating the plates by the lever comprising a member fixed to the plates and extending into the slot in the lever and pawl means supported alongside the numbering wheels by the plates effective on the. actuation of the plates to advance the number wheels.

3. In an endorsing machine having a hollow die member generally cylindrical in shape with matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof and formed with a longitudinal opening in the sidethereof, the die member being supported for rotation by shafts coaxially fixed at the ends thereof, the improvement which comprises means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the member adjacent said opening in parallel off-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels disposed for rotation on the shaft and in register with the matter to be printed on the surface of the die member, a. lever supported by the die member, a stop pin disposed in the path of the lever efiective to trip the same with each revolution of the die member, pawl means for advancing the number wheels, and actuating means for the pawl means comprising a pin and slot mechanism operatively connecting the pawl means with one arm of the'lever.

4. In' an endorsing machine having a hollow die member generally cylindrical in shape with matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof and formed with a longitudinal opening in the side thereoffthe die member being supported for rotation by shafts coaxially disposed at the ends thereof, the improvement which comprises means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the member adjacent said opening in parallel off-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels each provided with a ratchet disposed for rotation on the shaft, a lever supported by the member having a slot formed in one arm, a stop pin disposed in the path of the opposite arm of the lever effective to trip the same with each revolution of the member, pawl means for the respective ratchets, a pin disposed in the slot operatively connected to the pawl means effective to actuate the pawl means to advance the number wheels with each operation of the lever by the stop pin, and a rotary platen cooperating with the die member.

5. In an endorsing machine having a hollow die member generally cylindrical in shape with matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof and formed with a longitudinal opening in the side thereof, the die member being supported for rotation :by shafts coaxially disposed at the ends thereof, means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the member adjacent said opening in parallel off-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels each provided with a ratchet disposed for rotation on the shaft, a lever pivotally supported by the member, a stop pin disposed in the path of one arm of the lever effective to trip the same with each revolution of the member, a pair of platesrespectively disposed on the shaft on opposite sides of the number wheels, actuating means for the plates comprising a slidable connection between a second arm of the lever and the plates and pawl means supported alongside the number wheels by the plates effective on the actuation of the plates to advance the number wheels. I I

r 6. In an endorsing machine having ahollow die member generally cylindrical in shapewith' matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof, and formed with a longitudinal opening in the side thereof, the die member being supported to turn about its axis, means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the member adjacent said opening in parallel off-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels eachprovided with a ratchet disposed for rotation on the shaft, a lever pivotally supported by the member, a stop pin disposed in the path of the lever effective to trip the same with each revolution of the member, a pair of plates actuated by the lever respectively disposed on the shaft on opposite sides of the number wheels, pawl means supported along: side the number wheels by the plates effective on the actuation of the plates to advance the number wheels, and a spring attached to the,

lever for restoring the same to-a position of rest and thereby effecting a corresponding displacement of the plates and also the pawls.

7. In a numbering machine,, a member supported for unidirectional rotation about an axis, a shaft supported by the member in parallel offset relation to saidaxis, an assembly of number wheels disposed for rotation on the shaft, a pair of plates respectively disposed on the shaft on opposite sides of the number wheel assembly, pawl means for, actuatin the number wheels pivotally supported by the plates, means for rocking the plates on the shaft and thereby causing the pawl means to actuate the number wheels which comprises a lever supported by the member operatively connected to the plates, a stop disposed in the path of the lever for engaging and operating .the same with each revolution of the member, and a start stop mechanism controlling the rotation of the member effective to initiate the successive tripping operations of the lever. I

8. In an endorsing machine having a hollo die member generally cylindrical in shape with matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof and formed with a longitudinal opening.

in the side thereof, the die member being supported for rotation by shafts coaxially disposed at the ends thereof, means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the member adjacent said opening in parallel off-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels disposed for rotation on the shaft and in register with the matter to be printed on the surface of the die member, a lever supported by the die member, a stop pin disposed in the path of one arm of the lever effective to trip the same with each revolution of the die member, pawl means for operating the number wheels, a rockable support for the pawl means, means including a pin and slot mechanism connecting the support .with a second arm of the lever to effect the operation of the pawl means to advance the number wheels with each tripping operation of the lever, a rotary platen cooperating with the die member, and a start-stop mechanism controlling the rotation of the die member effective to initiate the respective operations of the number wheels.

9. In an endorsing machine having a hollow die member generally cylindrical in shape with matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof and formed with a longitudinal opening in the side thereof, the die member being supported for rotation by shafts coaxially disposed at the ends thereof, means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the member adjacent said opening in parallel ofi-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels each provided with a ratchet disposed for rotation on the shaft, a lever supported by the member, a stop pin disposed in the path of one arm of the lever effective to trip the same with each' revolution of the member, pawl means for the respective ratchets, a rockable support for the pawl means, means connecting a second arm of the lever to the support effective to rock the same and actuate the pawl means to operate the number wheels .with each operation of the lever by the stop pin, a rotary platen cooperating with the die member, and a start-stop mechanism controlling the rotation of the die member effective to initiate therespective operations of the number wheels.

10. In an endorsing machine having a hollow die member generally cylindrical in shape with matter to be printed disposed on the surface thereof, and formed with a longitudinal opening in the side thereof, the die member being supported to turn about its axis, means for consecutively numbering the endorsements as printed which comprises a shaft supported within the die member adjacent said opening in parallel off-set relation to the axis of the die member, an assembly of number wheels each provided with a ratchet disposed for rotation on the shaft, a lever pivotally supported by the die member eccentrically with respect to the axis thereof, a stop pin disposed in the path of the lever effective to trip the same with each revolution of the die member, a pair of plates actuated by the lever respectively disposed on the shaft on opposite sides of the numbering wheel assembly, pawl means supported alongside the numbering wheels by the plates effective on the. actuation of the plates to advance the number wheels, a spring attached to the lever for restoring the same to a position of rest and thereby effecting a corre sponding displacement of the plates and also the pawls, and a start-stop mechanism controlling the rotation of the die member effective to initi ate the respective operations of the number wheels.

11. In a numbering mechanism adapted to be used with check endorsing apparatus and the like, a rotatable hollow cylindrical member carrying check endorsing indicia on its surface and formed with a longitudinal slot, a set of numbering wheels for consecutively numbering the endorsements supported Within the cylindrical member adjacent to the slot and partially projecting through the slot, a pair of plates pivotally supported respectively on opposite sides of the set of number wheels, a set of number wheel actuating paw-ls supported between the plates, a member formed with a recess in its edge fixed to the cylindrical member adjacent one of the plates, a pin fixed to the latter plate extending into the recess, a lever pivotally mounted in the recess having a first arm projecting beyond the surface of the cylindrical member, and a second arm engaging the pin, and a stationary pin disposed in the path of the first lever arm for engaging and rocking the same together with the plates to cause operation of the number wheels by the actuating pawls.

12. In a numbering mechanism adapted to be used with check endorsing apparatus and the like, a rotatable hollow cylindrical member carrying check endorsing indicia on its surface formed with a longitudinal slot, a shaft supported within the cylindrical member, a pair of plates secured in spaced relation to each other supported for rocking movement on the shaft, a lever pivoted to one end of the cylindrical member having one arm pivotally connected to the plates and another arm projecting beyond the surface of the cylindrical member, a fixed stop disposed in the path of the latter arm effective when engaged there by to rock the lever which in turn rocks the plates, a set of number wheels mounted on the shaft between the plates disposed to partially project outwardly through the slot and pawl means carried adjacent the number wheels by the plates effective on the rocking thereof to actuate the set of number wheels.

13. In a numbering mechanism adapted to be used with check endorsing apparatus and the like, a rotatable hollow cylindrical member formed with a longitudinal opening, a shaft supported within the cylindrical member, a pair of plates secured in spaced relation to each other supported for rocking movement on the shaft, a lever pivoted to one end of the cylindrical member having one arm formed with a slot and another arm projecting beyond the surface of the drum, a pin disposed in the slot fixed to one of the platesfor communicating rocking movement of the lever to the plates, a set of number wheels mounted on the shaft between the plates disposed to project through the longitudinal opening slightly beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical member for printing purposes, and pawl means disposed between the plates and pivotally supported thereby for actuating the number wheels on the rocking of the plates.

14. In a numbering mechanism adapted to be used with check endorsing apparatus and the like, a rotatable bi-partite printing die assembly comprising a hollow cylindrical member closed at one end and formed with a longitudinal opening and a relatively thick disc having a slot in its edge secured to and forming a closure for the opposite end of the cylindrical member, a shaft supported within the cylindrical member between the ends thereof, a pair of plates secured in spaced relation to each other supported for rocking movement on the shaft, a lever pivotally supported in the slot having one arm pivotally connected to the plates and another arm projecting beyond the surface of the cylindrical member, a fixed stop disposed in the path of the latter arm effective when engaged thereby to rock the lever 5' which in turn rocks the plates, a set of number wheels mounted on the shaft between the plates disposed to partially project outwardly through the longitudinal opening, and pawl means pivotally supported between the plates effective on the rocking thereof to actuate the set of number wheels.

15. In a numbering mechanism adapted to be used with check endorsing apparatus and the like, a rotatable bi-partite printing die assembly comprising a hollow cylindrical member closed at one end and formed with a longitudinal opening, and a relatively thick disc having a recess in its edge secured to and forming a closure for the opposite end of the cylindrical member, a shaft supported within the cylindrical member by the respective ends thereof, a pair of plates secured in spaced relation to each other supported for rocking movement on the shaft, an actuating lever for rocking the plates pivotally supported in the recess having one arm formed with a slot and a second arm projecting beyond the edge of the disc, a pin disposed in the slot fixed to one of the plates, a set of number wheels mounted on the shaft between the plates disposed to project through the longitudinal opening slightly beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical member for printing purposes, and pawl means disposed between the plates and pivotally supported thereby for actuating the number wheels on the rocking of the plates.

ERNEST PERSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 209,647 Brady Nov. 5, 1878 288,295 Barth Nov. 13, 1883 359,583 Watson Mar. 15, 1887 571,659 Grobert Nov. 17, 1896 1,234,511 Vasquez July 24, 1917 1,290,509 Chandler Jan. 7, 1919 1,488,667 Duncan Apr. 1, 1924 2,119,053 Paxton May 31, 1938 2,172,318 Ferguson Sept. 5, 1939 2,364,345 Cooper Dec. 5, 1944 2,406,040 Ryan Aug. 20, 1946'

Images