US449406A

US449406A - Letter-marking machine

Info

Publication number: US449406A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1908-03-31

Description

(No Model.) a ShetsSheet 1.

M. J. DOLPHIN.

LETTER MARKING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 31, 1891 (No Model.)

2 u e e h S b t e e h S E N F NU IA HM mm 0H DR A, m T T H L No. 449 406. Pat ted Mar; 31, 1891 ATTORNEY 3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

M. J. DOLPHIN. LETTER MARKING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 31,1891" lllllil mu-444m WITNESSES NITED STATES PATEN 1 MATTHEWV J. DOLPHIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEl V YORK.

LETTER-MARKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,406, dated March 31, 1891. Application filed September 14, 1889. Serial No. 323,947. (No model) To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW J. DOLPHIN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Letter-Marking Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved lettermarking machine, and has for its object the production of a simple and effective feeding device for feeding the letters or other mailmatter to a marker and a separating device for preventing the feeding to the marker of more than one letter at a time; and to this end it consists, essentially, in a letter-receptacle having a belt for feeding the letters, feeding-rollers for grasping the letters and forcing them onward, separating-rollers for holding or forcing back all letters except the one engaged by the feeding-rollers, and a yielding guide for preventing the crumpling of the forced-back letter and retaining the same in position to be readily grasped by the feeding-roller when the same has fed onward the letter engaged therewith.

My invention furthermore consists in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a top plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, illustrating clearly the separating device, the trip and, the marker. Fig. 4 is a back view of the devices as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line m m, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detached elevation of the yielding guide for the letters operated upon by the separating-roller. Figs. 7 and S are respectively plan and elevation of a detail part of my machine. Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively plan and elevation of another dctail of my invention, and Fig.11 is a detail in section of the shaft for the yielding separating-rollers.

The supporting-table of my machine is of suitable size, form, and construction, and I have here illustrated only such a portion thereof as is necessary to support the parts of my invention.

Mounted above the table A and supported by brackets B is the plate or bracket O, which forms a bearing for the actuating-shafts of the feeding and separating rollers.

The marker D for marking the letter may be of any desirable form, size, and construction, but is here illustrated as that shown and described in the application of August Bertram, filed June 18, 1887, in which the marker D is normally at rest. The trip E is also of any suitable construction, but is here shown as the one described and illustrated in the application of August Bertram aforesaid, and is operatively connected to the marking-roller to engage the same with the continuouslyrot-ating shaft d immediately when said trip is contacted by the fed letter.

It will be readily understood that in order to obtain the desired results from a machine of this character it is absolutely necessary that but one letter shall be fed at a time to the trip, since if more than one is fed but one of them will be marked. Accordingly I have operatively connected to the marker and the trip an improved feeding and separating device for feeding the letters consecutively to said marker and trip and insuring the positive marking of each letter.

The letter-receptacle F, Fig. 1, may be of any desirable size and form, but is here shown as a space inclosed by side walls F and F. The wall F extends to a loose frictionally-revolved roller G, and the wall F is formed with its extremity inclined toward the wall F", so that it closely approximates the plane thereof. Beneath the feeding-receptacle F is the moving belt F which is preferably arranged at an incline, so as to move the letters toward the extremity F of the side wall F. Adjacent to the roller G and in line therewith is alike roller G, which is driven by another like roller G The roller Gr preferably iuterlaps with the roller G in order that their feeding-surfaces shall be thereby approximated. Beneath theroller G I provide a like roller G which is also beneath the roller G and further increases the feeding-surface operating upon the letter.

Oppositely arranged with the feedingrollers G and G is the yielding guide H, pivoted at h to a bracket E, upon which is mounted the trip E. The free extremity h of the guide H extends almost to the extremity F of the letter-receptacle.

Interposed between the extremity h of the guide II and the extremity F of the feedingreceptacle F is the guide-plate I, mounted .upon an arm B of one of the brackets. The guide I is preferably movable toward and away from the adjacent feeding-roller in order to force the letters against the same and insure their ready engagement and feeding by said roller. The illustrated method of rendering the guide I movable is to pivot one extremity thereof to the arm B, and thus give the other extremity an oscillating movement. Bearing against the free extremity of said guide is the bar or follower 1, against which bears a spring 1 guided in a wayb in the arm B of the bracket B.

Oppositely arranged with the rollers G and G are the separating-rollers G and G which project through slots or cut-outs H provided in the guide H. At the point where the rollers G and G project therethrough the guide H is formed of a curvature substantially like that of said rollers, and extending on either side of said curved portion is the flat guide portion against which the letters bear when being fed to the marker D.

The shaft 9 of the feed-roller G is provided with a wheel g, connected by a belt 9 to a wheel 9 mounted upon the shaft g of the separating-rollers. This belt 9 revolves the separating-rollers in an opposite direction to the direction of revolution of the feedingrollers. It will thus be seen that when more than one letter is being moved forward the separatingroller will engage the letter adjacent thereto and will hold or face the same backward, allowing the feeding-roller to move onward the letter adjacent thereto and pre venting the onward movement of the letter adjacent to the separating-roller.

It will be noticed that in order to prevent the friction of the letter held back by the separating-rollers from stopping the onward movement of the letter engaged by the feeding-rollers the separating actuating wheel or roller 9 is of greater diameter than the Wheel or roller g upon the shaft of the feedingroller.

When a letter or card is held back by the separating-rollers, there is a tendency of said letter or card to become bent or crumpled, especially if the same has but little stiffness. This is further brought about by the high rate of speed at which the parts of this machine preferably operate. However, by means of the guide 11, especially the rearwardly-extending portion, this bending or crumpling of the letters is absolutely prevented, since the same are forced against said guide by the unfed letters, and the smooth surface of said guide allows the letter to be held back, as described. Moreover, the small amount'of the separating-roller which is allowed to project beyond the guide H prevents the letter being drawn around the said separating-roller.

In order toallow of the separating-rollers to yield and accommodate themselves to the passing letter, I divide the shaft g and mount the lower portion g thereof in yielding boxes or bearings M. These boxes are guided in the arms B of one of the brackets B, and a spring N constantly forces said rollers toward the feeding-rollers.

The upper part 1 of the shaft 9 is fixed and is provided with a universal joint connecting the same to the lower part of said shaft. This joint may be of any desirable form or construction, but is here shown as a portion g of said shaft provided with the enlargements 0 and O, secured at the separate extremities thereof. These enlargements O and O are formed with oppositely-arranged pins having pivot-points 0 bearing in pivot-seats formed in a bar or plate 0 pivoted at 0 respectively, to the stationary portion g and yielding portion g of the shaft g WVhen the yielding portion 9 of the shaft g is forced backward, the enlargements O and 0 swing upon their pivot-points and vary the altitude of the connecting portion 9 of said shaft, thus preventing cramping of the separating-rollers.

The wheel g, secured upon the shaft 9 is loose thereupon. Mounted above this roller is a washer g of leather or other suitable material. Bearing thereupon is the spring 9 above which is the nut g and lock-nut g, which forces the spring g against said washer g with greater or less force. When a letter of considerable thickness forces backward the separating-rollers, considerable pressure is brought thereagainst, and consequently the excessive pressure causes the wheel g to slip around its actuating-shaft, and the separating-rollers are not operated and do not tend to force backward said extrathick letter. This does not prevent the working of said separating-rollers, since the rotation thereof is only stopped during the passage of said thick letter.

The free extremity of the guide H is adjustably secured to the lower part of the shaft g by means of suitable connections P and P. The connection P is loosely mounted upon the said shaft and is provided with the forwardly-projecting arm 19 and the laterally-extending arm 1. The connection P is secured by a screw 19 to the guide H and is provided with the rearwardly-projecting arm p and the laterally-extending arm 19 A screw 19 draws the arm 19 toward the arm 19, thus approximating these connections P and P the desired distance. After the operation of the screw 19 a screw 19 which is secured to the projection 19 of the connection P and works in a slot 19 of the projection 19 of the connection P, is then tightened, securely retaining these partsP and P in their adjusted position. By means of the connections P and P the separating-rollers are caused to project any desired distance beyond the working-face of the guide H, thus governing to any desired amount the force with which the separatingrollers shall act and rendering the operation of these parts perfect by reason of their adjustability.

In order to tension the guide H, I provide the bar R, preferably formed with a point R bearing against said guide and having its opposite extremity guided in a movable bar or rod b, secured in one of the brackets B. The extremity of said rod S, which passes through the bracket B, is provided with screw-threads, and by means of a screw-slot sis forced to the desired position in said bracket, whereupon a lock-nut T retains the same in its adjustable position.

Formed upon the rod S is a shoulder S, between which shoulder and a shoulder R provided upon the rod R, I interposethe spring U, which constantly forces said guide H to its normal position adjacent to the feeding-rollers. This adjustability of the force with which the spring R operates the guide is a feature of great advantage, since the same may be varied as desired.

In order to prevent the displacement of the forward extremity of the letter after its passage beyond the feeding'roller G I provide the guide K, which forces said letter toward the guide II and by holding its forward edge against said guide H causes the letter to operate the trip with greater force than would otherwise be possible. This guide K is preferably yielding, which result is obtained by forming the same of spring metal, and also mounting the same upon the spring L, secured upon any suitable support rising from the frame A.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing, and it will be understood that considerable change may be made in the relative construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not limit myself to its precise form and constructiou.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a feeding-roller for feeding the letters, a yielding or .moving guide movable toward said feeding-roller for forcing the letters against the same, and a separating-roller back of said yielding guide, with a portion of its face projecting beyond said guide and arranged adjacent to the feeding-roller for preventing the feeding of more than one letter at a time, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a feeding-roller, a yielding guide having a cut-out, and a separating-roller projecting through said cut-out and arranged opposite to the feeding-roller, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a feeding-roller, a

are fed to the feeding-roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a feeding-roller, a

yielding guide, a yieldingly-mounted separating-roller arranged oppositely to the feeding-roller, and a connection from the yielding guide to the said yielding separating roller, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a feeding-roller, a yielding guide, a yieldingly-mounted separating-roller oppositely arranged to the feeding-roller, and an adjustable connection between the yielding guide and said yielding separating-roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of adjacently-mounted rollers having their contiguous faces revolving in opposite directions and a yielding guide interposed between said rollers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination of a feeding-roller, a separating roller adjacent to the feedingroller, said rollers having their contiguous faces revolving in opposite directions, a yield ing guide arranged opposite to the feedingroller, and a device for adjusting said. guide toward the feeding-roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of a feeding-roller, a guide opposite to the feeding-roller and pro vided with a cut-out, a separating-roller projecting through said cut-out beyond the yielding guide, and an adjusting device for governing the amount of projection of the separating-roller beyond the said yielding guide, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The combination of interlapping feedin g-rollers, a yielding separator-roller, and an oscillating guide for preventing the crumpling of the restrained letters, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The combination of feeding-rollers, a separating-roller, an oscillating guide for the letters, a spring for adjusting the separatingroller, and a regulating device for varying the tension of the spring, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a feeding-roller, a yielding guide movable toward said feedingroller for forcing the letters against the same, and a second yielding guide for forcing the letter toward the former guide, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination of a letter-receptacle having a discharge-opening, a belt for feeding the letters toward said dischargeopening, feeding-rollers for feeding the letter, a separating-roller adjacent to the feed-roller for preventing the feeding of more than one letter at a time, and a guide for preventing the crnmpling of the letters restrained by the separating-roller, substantially as specified.

14. The combination of a feeding-roller for feeding the letters, a yielding guide oppositely arranged to said feeding-roller and movable toward the same, cut-outs in the upper and lower portion of said guide, and sepa -rating-rollers back of said guide, with a portion of their face projecting through said cutouts for preventing the feeding of more than one letter at a time, substantially as dc-' scribed.

15. The combination of a feeding-roller for feeding the letters, a yielding guide oppo sitely arranged to said feeding-roller and movable toward the same, cut-outs in the upper and lower portion of said guide, separatingrollers back of said guide, with a portion of their face projecting through said cut-outs for preventing the feeding of more than one letter at a time, and an adjusting device for governing the amount of projection of the separating-rollers beyond the said yielding guide, substantially as specified.

16. The combination, with a pair of feedingrollers, of a pair of movable guides oppositely arranged to the respective feedingrollers and movable toward the same, and a separating-roller back of one of said guides and having a portion of its periphery projecting beyond the same and adjacent to one of the feeding-rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination of a letter-receptacle having a discharge-opening, a belt for feeding the letters toward said discharge-opening, feedingrollers for feeding the letter, a yielding guide I, oppositely arranged to one of said rollers, a separating-roller adjacent to the other of said rollers, and a yielding guide interposed between said separatingroller and latter feeding-roller, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at the city of New York,in the county of New York in the State of New York, this 29th day of August, 1889.

MAT .IIEVV J. DOLPHIN.

Witnesses:

AUGUST BERTRAM, HARRY WOLFE.