US367714A - William h - Google Patents

Description

(No Model) W. H. JOHNSON.

REGISTERING POST OFFICE STAMP.

No. 367,714, Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

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' XVILLIAM H. JOHNSON, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO JOHN V. EMMlTT, OF SAME PLACE.

REGISTERING POST-OFFICE STAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,714, dated Augustz, 1887.

Application tiled July 20, WFG. Serial No. 2022.563. .(No model.)

T @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known thatI, WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Sterling, in the county ot' Vhiteside and State ot' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsi'n Post-Office Stamps and Reg isters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and` exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in Io the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom* panying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ot' this specification. I5 My invention has reference to a postoftice stamp and register, and has particular reference to those oltices in which it is necessary to count the letters as the stamps thereon are canceled; and the object of my invention is to automatically enumerate such letters in the operation of stamping them.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly iu section, ot` a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a vertical section in a line perpendicular to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail ofthe means for rotating the dials.

A is the main stem, provided on its lower face with two stamps, one to cancel the postage-stamp, and the other to print the usual impress ol' name of post-ottice and date. rlhe upper portion,`A, of the stem A is a hollow cylinder, and near the lower end of said stem is journaled therein transversely the roller B, and near the upper end of said stem A is in like manner journaled a corresponding roller, O. Inside ot" the hollow stem A, and carried on the rollers D O, is the endless metallic ribbon D. Upon the latter areindicated degrees a, at equal intervals and extending entirely around its outer surface and aggregating one hundred. rlhese degrees can be marked nnmcrically, or each fifth one can be marked in an arithmetical progression of tive.

The roller O is providcdwith peripheral spurs or sprockets c, and in the edge of the ribbon D are holes or recesses d, in which the sprockets c engage, and thus secure the progression ofthe ribbon D coincidently with the rotation of the roller C. The roller Chas also 5o rigidly attached thereto,within the stem A, a ratchet-wheel, E, of such size, and having ratchcts of such frequency,that the movement ot' each ratchet to the position of the next preceding one will advance the ribbon D one of the degrees thereon. On the upper end, A', of the stem Ais formed integral therewith the top A2, the neck A, and the .head A".

F is a sleeve or shell which incloses and is adapted to reciprocate on the upper portion,y 4 A', ofthe stem A. The lowerend ot' the shell 60 F is open,while its upper end or tlange, F', enA circles the neck A3 and plays between the top A2 and head A" ot the stem A. The shell F extends entirely around the stem A, has a smooth exterior, is adapted to be grasped by the hand ot' the operator, and when the stamp is brought down upon the letter, in the process of stamping the letter, the sleeve F slips down the exterior ot' the stem A between the top A and head A", the latter two points acting as stops for said shell.`

Acoiled spring,G, is placed around the neck Abetween the top A? and head A, and operates to carry the shell F when the stamp is raised from the letter up against the under side of the head A". A pawl, H, is pivoted to the inner side ot the shell F, with its point upward and in such .relation to the ratchet E as that the upward throw of the shell F causes said pawl to engage and rotate the ratchet E the width ot' one ot' the ratchets thereon. A spring, H, attached to the shell F and pressing against. the back of the pawl H, holds the latter in position to engage the ratchet E. Sufficient ofthe side ot the stem A is cut ont to allow of the protrusion and movement of the pawl H and spring` H. Each upward movement ofthe pawl H through the medium ot' the ratchet E and roller C advances the ribbon D one degree. 9o

It is obvious that the pawl H can be placed at the opposite side of the ratchet E and be made to actuate said ratchet on the downward movement of the shell F. A dog, J, seated in the stem A opposite and reversely to the pawl H, engages the ratchet E and prevents its retrogression.

K and L are two dials seated pivotally on the front of the stem A, as follows:

rEhe front half of the stem A is eut out at 10o the location ot said dials, and cross-braces M fastened across said stem.

The dials are seated in such eut-away places and journaled in said braces by projecting` their respective axles K and L outwardly through such braces. 0n the outerend ofthe shaft of theupper dial, K, is formed the knob K2, for convenience in setting the dials. Fach dial is divided into ten equal degrees, marked progressively near its periphery from one to ten, inclusive. One-half ot' the crossbraees M is formed quite narrow and serves as an indicator over each dial.

A trip, D', is formed on the ribbon D above the one hundredth degree, which engages at each complete revolution of the said ribbon one ofthe ten spurs li, formed equidistant in. a. circular series on the back ofthe dial l, and thereby rotates the latter the distance between the figures on its face. The spurs li are ar ranged eircnlarly, and the trip D is placed near enough to the edge of the ribbon D and made so narrow as to engage only that spur 1li which extends nearest to the side of the stem A.

On the back of the dial L is formed around near its periphery a circular series of eogs, Li', and on the edge ol' thedial K is formed a spur, K, which at each complete revolution otthe dial l( engages one ol.' the eopgs L" and rotates the dial L one-ot' the latters degrees.

The dial l( is placed the thickness of the dial L farther into the stem A, so that the spur li, proieeted on the plane ofthe dial l, shall be on the plane of the eogs L.

N .is an indicator fastened on the inner side ofthe front wall ol the stem A at a suitable distance above the dial lli. The front wall of the stem A and that of the shell F are cnt away at the point of said indicator, so as to create an opening in said stem and shell eq ual to tive or more of the degrees a, marked, as aforesaid, ou the ribbon D, whereby it maybe readily seen at any time which ofthe degrees on said ribbon is under said indicator; or, in other words, such opening;` in the stem A and shell F renders it feasible at all times to perceive the position and progress of said ribbon relative to said inditaitor. The reference-letter A2 denotes thc top or llange,whieh is bent `in beneath the head A.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The o perator grasps the instrument around the shell F and brings it down upon the letter. This causes the downward movement of said shell, slipping' on th stem- A, and withdraws the pawl Yll from the ratchet lil. the

spring` ll then throws said pawl inward sufficient to engage the next ratchet, when, the stamp being` raised, the spring` (l throws the shell F up again, (or the stem A down,) and in this upward movement the pawl lt engages the said next ratehetetooth on the ratchet 1li),

and rotates the latter sufficient to progress the ribbon D one degree. W'hen said ribbon has made one entire reii'olutiomthc trip D engages one of the spurs li on the reverse of the dial IK, and moves the latter one degree. vWhen the dial Vl( has made one entire revolu.- tion, its spur K engages one of the cogs L on the dial L, and rotates the latter one degree. rlhe -ribbon D, therefore, at the indicator N, denotes the number ot' letters stamped as to fractions of a hundred, the dial l( the nnniber of hundreds, and the dial L the number of thousands up to ten thousands, when the instrument begins again. lt is obvious that each of thc said registers must be set to begin at one. A n outside button, l, on the roller B affords the means of setting' the instrument.

Vhat i claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

l. lhe combination of the stem A, shell F, adapted to slide on said stem, rollers I3 and (l, ribbon D,earried on said rollers,the ratchet E, attached to one of saidrollers, and pawl VIl, attached to said shell F and adapted to intermittingly rotate said ratchet, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the stem A, the shell F, adapted to close upon said stein, rollers l and @,ionrnaled in said stem, ribbon l), earried on said rollers, ratchet lil, attached to one of said rollers, pawl ll, adapted to engage said ratchet, and spring- (l, substantially as described, and for the purposementioned.

Si. The combination, in a hand-stamp, of a. main stem, A, `rollers ll and (tjournaled in said stem, said roller (l beine` provided with ratchet ld, ribbon l), carried on said rollers and marked in degrees, as stated, shell F. adapted to be reeiprocated on said stem A. and provided with pawl Vll, and mechanism, substantially as shown, for indicating the pro- `gross and position of said ribbon, for the purpose described.

4t. The combination, in a bruid-stamp, of a. main stem, A, and rollers lli t), said roller U being provided with the ratchet E, the ribbon l), provided with trip D and marked substantially as indicated herein, a shell, F, adapted to close on the. stein A and provided with means for actuating said ratchet, crossbraees M, dial l, provided with spurs K" and K, and dial L, provided with eoes L, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

ln testimony whereof l aftix'my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VlLLl'.-\ll[ ll'. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses:

Anltu' Satira, ,ltoswtmt (um Meios.

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