US544620A - Coin-operated machine for selling and affixing postage-stamps - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- C. M. HEUBLEIN. y YCOIN OPERATED MACHINE POR SELLING AND AEFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS.

No. 544,620. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. M. HEUBLEIN.

G01N OPERATBD MAGHINB POR SELLING AND AFFIXINSPUSTAGB STAMPS. No. 544,620. Patented Aug. 13,1895.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

o. 1v1. HEUBLBIN.

w GOIN OPERATED MACHINE EUR SELLING AND AEEIXING POSTAGE STAMPS.

No. 544,620. #Patented Aug. 13,1895.

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(No Model.) 4 sheets-"sheet 4. C. M. HEUBLBIN. COIN OPERATED MACHINE POR SELLING AND AFFIXING PSTAGB STAMPS.

Patented-Aug. 13, 1895.

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l CHARLES M. HEUBLEIN, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

COIN-OPERATED MACHINE FOR SELLING AND AFFIXING POSTAGE-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.v5,44,620, dated August 13, 1895.

Appncnion ned February 14,1895. serial No. 538,373. (NO man.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES` Ml HEUBLEIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofLouisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Coin-Operated Machines for Selling and Affixing Postage- Stamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the'same, reference being had to they ac.- companying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification. n

This invention has relation to coin-operated mechanism for the sale and d elivery'of postage-stamps, the object being to provide means of reliable charac-ter whereby-a person upon depositing the proper coins in the device may not only be supplied with the required stamps, but also by the insertion of his letter have the stamps automatically applied thereto.

With this object in View the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as'hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

The machine shown in the accompanying drawings and which will be now described is designed to supply stamps of the two-cent denomination only, and is capable-of furnish# ing and applying to a letter either one or two of such stamps, as may be desired.

Figure lis a side elevation of the invention, broken away in parts, the lowered position of the letter-chute being indicated in dotted.

lines. Fig. 2 is an elevation upon the opposite side of the mechanism removed from the box with the partition detached, broken away in parts, and the raised position of the letterchute and the connected lever shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a section on line azac, Fig. l, broken away in parts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line y y, Fig. 3, with lever 6l shown dropped in a notch of the wheel 34, both in dotted lines, the teeth of the comb in engagement with the perforations of the'stamp-sheet and the sliding plunger and presser-footdrawn up into the cylinder. Fig. 5 is a section-on line w w,'Fig. 4, through the two sleeves, gearwheels, dac. Fig. 6 is a section on line z a,

Fig. 7.` Fig. 7 is a plan view of parts relating to cylinder 40, said cylinder being in section. Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of the stamp feeding and detaching mechanism, the roller 46 being at the highest'point *of its course, and the notched disk 34 and guide-wheel 39 partly broken away. Fig. 9 shows detail views of friction-roller 17 and its rocking arms. Fig. lO shows a detail side elevation and plan of the comb and its attachments. Fig. 11 is a detail of the mutilated gear-wheel. Fig. 12 is an elevation of 'the sliding plunger and presser-foot in the direction of the arrow, Fig.

6, the parts intimately connected therewith street letter-boxes commonly used in cities.

This box isto be placed near the present letterboxes or at such other points as may be most convenient to the public. 2 is an opening or slot in the top or cover portion of the said box which communicates with theinterior of a coin-chute 3, said opening being normally closed by a cover 4, having a knob or handle 5. This cover is attached to a rocking pin 6, having a depressed arm 7 arranged when the cover is opened to contact with an arm of a pivoted latch 8 inside thebox and swing the opposite arm of the latch to one side, thereby releasing a lever 9. Said lever extends longitudinally of the box, being fulcrumed at l0, and to its shorter projecting arm is connected a link 1l which is attached to the upper portion of an inclined letter-chute 12. Said chute is fuicrumed within the box upon a shaft 13, and its upper portion extends to an opening in the right-hand end ofthe box. Attached to the chute is a spring 14, the tension of which is such as to exert a downward pull on the upper portion of the chute.

The person desiring to purchase the stamp or stamps first opens the cover 4, which exposes the chute 3, and at the same time, through the arm k'7 and latch 8, releases the lever 9, upon which the spring 14 pullsl the chute 12 into the position shown in' full lines in Fig. 2 and exposes the opening to receive lOO the envelope, which is then placed on the chute, being'first moistened where the stamp is to be placed.

As the envelope is fed down the chute it is stopped at the desired position to receive the stamp by means of the prongs or fingers 15 15, which project through slots cut in the bottom. These prongs or lingers are carried by a shaft 16 which turns in proper bearings on the under side of the chute. To this shaft is keyed a small friction-wheel 17, having an attached rocker-arm 18. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) The wheel 17 has contact with a stationary segment-arm 19, concentric with the shaft 13 of said chute. To insure goed contact between parts 17 and 19 a spring 20 is provided, tangential motion of arm 19 being prevented by pins 2l working in slots of said arm.

)Vhen the upper portion of chute 12 is lowered as above described the lower portion rises, causing the friction-wheel 17 to move on the segment 19, the friction of the Contact causing the said wheel to revolve in a clockwise direction and thereby raise the prongs 15 through the slots in the chute into position to hold the envelope while it receives the first stamp.

Adjacent to the lowerend of the coin-chute 3 are two wheels 22 23, each of which has formed in its lperiphery a series of eight regular concavities or depressions 24. The upper wheel 22 is keyed to a shaft 25, which extends transversely across the box and is journaled in the walls thereof. The lower wheel 23 is attached to and moves a shaft 26, upon which is a spur-wheel 27, which meshes With a pinion 28 on a lower stationary shaft 29.

The relative positions of wheels 22 and 23 to each other and to the chute are such that a coin coming down the chute 3 is received by the concavities or notches of said wheels in the manner more fully hereinafter described and forms a connection between the two, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1, so that upon the rotation of shaft 25 and wheel 22 wheel 23 will. also rotate. In the absence of the proper coin said wheels have no connection with each other, and the balance of the mechanism can in no way be acted upon. The shaft 25, which is the main-operating shaft of the mechanism, is extended through the front wall of the box, and is provided with a crank 25. Keyed to shaft 26 is a gear-.wheel 30, which, through an intermediate gear 31, journaled on an arm 31L of the frame, turns a gear-wheel 32, which is keyed to a sleeve 33 on shaft 26. Said sleeve turns freely on the shaft 2G and carries a notched disk 34. On the wheel 32 is a pawl 35, which acts on a ratchet-wheel 36 keyed to a sleeve 37 turning upon the sleeve The sleeve 37 carries two guide-wheels 38 and two friction-wheels 39. 31h is a pawl, which acts on the gear 3l.`

On the stationary shaft 29 and rigidly connected to the pinion 28 is a cylinder 40, both cylinder and pinion turning freely on said shaft. The relative movements of wheel 27 and pinion 28 are such that the pinion makes four revolutions to one of the wheel.

41 is a stamp-gripper which is carried by the cylinder 40, working through a slot 42 of adapted to travel on a stationary cam 47, se-

cured to the stationary shaft on which the cylinder revolves. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) Said cylinder 40 is cut away at one side, as indicated at 48, and fixed thereto upon the inside is-a cam 49, upon which bears a roller 50, which is carried by a cross-head or sliding plunger 5l, moving in guides 53. 54 is a spring, one end of which is fixed to said guides and the other end to the cross-head near said roller, for the purpose of keeping the latter in close contact with the cam. Upon the lower end of the cross-head is a pressure-foot 55, which works through the cut-away portion ofthe cylinder, and whose function is to press the stamp upon the envelope. The cam 49 has a segmental portion which is arranged to hold the presser-foot up within the cylinder during the main part of the revolution until said foot reaches a position over the envelope and stamp, when the roller 50 drops into a depression 49 of said cam and said foot is thrown out and down upon the stamp, pressing it to the envelope in the manner more fully hereinafter described. (See Fig. 2.)

56 designates the stamp-roll, whichis carried upon 'a shaft 57 in the upper portion of the box. From this roll the stamp-strip is fed down between the friction-wheels 39 39 of the sleeve 37, being guided by the wheels 38 and the small rollers 58 58, which are journaled upon arms 59, secured to a rod 60 at one side of the mechanism. Passing between said rollers and the Wheels 39, the stamps come upon the upper portion of the cylinder 40.

6l designates a pawl or lever, which is vfixed upon a rock shaft 62 and rests upon the notched wheel 34 of the sleeve (See Fig. 2.)

63 designates a comb, which is also secured to the shaft 62 by a pivot 64. Said comb extends between the sleeve 37 and the cylinder 40, being slotted at 64 64 to receive the friction-wheels 39. The inner end of said comb has a series of line oblique dependingr teeth 65, which, when the comb falls, as hereinafter described, drop through the perforations of the stamp-sheet. This comb is held in position by means of lateral studs (5G, which engage slotted bearings'of a frame (38, which is fixed to the shaft 62.

On the- ICO IIO

`The construction and arrangement of the l parts just described are clearly shown in Figs.

3 and 10. It will be understood that when the point 61a of the pawl or lever 61 drops into a notch of the disk 34, the comb 63 and frame 68 will also drop, andthat under the action of a spring 69 said comb will be pressed down upon the stamp-sheet as the latter rests on the upper portion of the cylinder 40. To impart a vibratory motion to said comb when it is pressed upon the stamp, it is provided at one of its lateral edges with a pawl-arm 70, designed to engage ratchet-teeth 71 on theinner end of the cylinder 40,l this motion being assisted by a spring 73, which is confined between a lateral edge of the comb'and an arm of the frame 68. As the comb vibrates the studs 66 play freely in the slot 67. When the perforations of the stamp reach the points of the teeth 65,these points drop through and hold the stamp while itl is torn od by the gripper 4l. lAfter the comb falls, as above described, it is desired that it remain lowered for a space of time until the perforations reach the points and the stamp is torn'off, it being at the same time necessary to keep the cylinder in motion. I attain this by cutting .out two cogs on each fourth part of the Wheel 30. (See Fig. 11.) yThe relative position of this wheel and the'intermediate-gear 31 and parts driven thereby is such that the last cog of each toothed segment of 30 moves wheel 31 and thereby the notched Wheel 34 on sleeve 37 to the point where the lever 61 will fall.

into a notch of said wheel. An untoothed portion of 30 then follows, allowing said notched wheel to remain stationary while 30 keeps in motion. Motion of 34 being again resumed, the lever 61 is raised, which also raises the comb, and the next stamp is carried forward where the gripper 41 will take it at the next revolution of the cylinder 40.

Since the stamp-feeding wheels 39 39 and rollers 58 5S are moved by the action of the pawl 35 of wheel 32 on the ratchet-wheel 36 of the sleeve 3.7, it follows that said feeding devices, together with the guidewheels 38,

are permitted to revolve freely as the gripper pulls the stamp along.

It will be observed that the wheel 30 makes one and one-fourth revolutions to one revolution of the wheel 32, making this gain by the omission of the cogs. v

74 indicates a lever, which is fulcrumed at 75 with an arm 74, extending into the lower portion of the coin chute 3 through a slot in the wall thereof in position to receive the coin as it rolls down said chute. 76 is a spring, which exerts a downward pull upon the opposite arm of said lever.

77 isa ratchet-and-pawl device, which prevents the operating-shaft 25 from being turned, except in one direction.

I will now describethe operation of thel mechanism, beginning at the time when the envelope is received in the lower portion of the chute 12 in position to receive the stamp.

The coins being placed inthe chute 3 roll down said chute in edgewise position. The crank 25' is turned, and the r'st coin is taken by the notch in wheel 22 and is carried or l pushed over the arm 74a of lever 74. The tension of the spring 76 on the opposite arm of said lever now raises or holds the coin in a better position to act upon the lower wheel 23, (see position of third coin in Fig. 1,) in a notch of which it is partially held. In this position the coin forms a driving connection between 22 and 23, and the cylinder 40, the

The second coin following mechanism to place the first stamp upon the envelope, giving the cylinder 40 a complete revolution. This movement has fed the stampsheet into position to be caught by the gripper 41, which actsv in the following manner: As the cylinder 40 commences to move the gripper is very vnearly at thev position shown in Fig. 8, the roller 46 being' at the highest point of the stationary cam 47. As the roller'. has previously traveled along the cam the bell-crank 44 was rocked to gradually open the gripper away lfrom the surface of the cylinder. During the time the first coin is acting upon the wheel 23 the roller 46 leaves the highest point of the cam, as seen, Fig. 8, and the gripper is wide open, in which position it is held by the tension of the spring 45. During the rotation ofthe cylinder to this point the line of actionof this spring has been moved by the rotation of the bellcrank across the center of the axis 43 of said crank. (Compare Figs. 2 and 8.) The roller 46 now comes in contact with a stop 46a on the frameand is rotatedclockwise by the press- `.ure thereon due to the continued rotation of the cylinder. The movement thus caused the bell-crank 44 again shifts the line of action of spring 45toward vthe axis 43 and slightly closes the gripper. As soon as the line of action of this spring has passed the axis 43 the tension of the spring pulls the Ioo IIO

roller 46 toward the center clear of thestop 46 and the gripper closes with a snap upon the stamp, where it is firmly held. IAt the sametime the comb 63 falls upon the stamp in the manner which has been described, and as soon as the perforations of the stamp come to the points of the comb, said points engage therewith and hold the stamp while the gripper in its continued rotation tears it off. The revolutioni of the cylinder now carries the stamp to the point of application to the envelope, at which time the roller 46 again comes in contact with the lower portion ofthe cam 47, throwing back the bell-crank 4 4, which opens the gripper and releases the stamp, dropping4 it upon the envelope. The presser or setter 55 IZO now flies out of thc cylinder under the action of the cam 49 and spring 54 and presses the stamp on the envelope. From the description previously given it will be seen that the stamp presser or setter is thrown out once upon every revolution of the cylinder, and the relation of movement of this presser or setter and of the gripper ll1 to the wheels 22 and 23 is such that the action of asingle coin is not suiiicient to carry the cylinder 40 to the point where the gripper opens, the stamp released, and the presser or setter thrown out. The second coin is necessary to bring about this action and to complete the revolution of the cylinder to leave the roller 4G at the highest part of the cam with the gripper open to take the next stamp. On the sleeve of said cylinder is an arm 78, which is arranged to strike the rocker-arm 18, before described in connection with the envelope-chute 12,just after the stamp setter or presser' is drawn back into said cylinder by its operating cam. Upon this contact the shaft 1G is rocked counterclockwise, which depresses the fingers 15 15, which have up to this time been holding the envelope. An arm 1Sn of the rocker 1S extends under the shaft 13 for the purpose of regulating the movement of said fingers and preventing them from falling too far. Italso keeps the friction-wheel 17 from revolving while moving'downward along the segment- 19 as the lower end of the chute 12 is being lowered at the close of the operation. The fingers 15 15 being now out of the way the envelope slides down the chute 12 into contact with stop 79, which holds it in position to receive the second stamp, if such be desired, and the third and fourth cents have been deposited. 1f thisis done, the parts repeat their movements and the second stamp is detached, carried to the envelope, and applied in exactly the same manner as the rst. Keyed to the shaft 25 is an arm 80, which is arranged to come in contact with the long arm, of the lever 9 after the wheel 23 has advanced sufficiently far to carry the fourth coin beyond its action. This arm depresses the said arm of the lever 9 and through the link 11 connected to the short arm of said lever, as described, raises the upper portion of the chute 12 to its original position and lowers the lower portion away from the stop 79, permittingthe envelope to pass out into a pan 81 provided therefor. The lever 9 having been lowered by the arm 80, the latch 8, through the action of the spring S, is pulled back to its original position over said lever., (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) and at the same time the upper end of said latch bearing against the depressed arm 7 of the pin 6 closes the cover over the coin-chute 3, where it remains until the next purchaser opens it, as hereinbefore described. The operation is the same whether or not the third and fourth coins are deposited. The position of the chtite 12 is such when in its normal position that anything deposited in the opening of the box in which the chute moves will fallout at the bottom of the box below the chute. The arrangement also requires the person purchasing stamps to open the coin-chute first, so that there will loel as little delay as possible from the time of. wetting and depositing the envelope until the stamp is placed thereon. It will be seen, further, that while the chtite 12 extends nearly the full transverse width of the box 1 to adapt itto envelopes of diiferent widths and lengths the stamping mechanismis so located with relation thereto as to apply the stamp upon the usual upper right-hand corner, provided the envelope is properly placed on the chute.

rlhe stamp-rolls are made by properly pasting together the strips torn from the sheets of the form commonly issued, and as they are rolled up a strip of oiled paper or similar inaterial of the same width is rolled with them next to the gummed surfaces. In leading the stamp-strip to the feeding devices the strip of paper will not be carried with it, but will leave the rolls, as indicated in Fig. 2 by the letter Z. i

82 is a drawer into which the coins fall after leaving the wheels 22 23.

88 is a doorwhich provides accessto the box, and S4: is the lock therefor.

l do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction and arrangement'herein shown and described, as it is obvious that the parts may be changed somewhat without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

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

1. The combination with envelope receiving and holding devices, of stamp holding and feeding mechanism, means for detaching the stamps singly and for applying them to the envelope, and coin-operated gear for actuating such mechanism and means, substantially as specified. v

2. A coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, comprising an inclosing box or case, an envelope chute and envelope holding and discharging devices, stamp holding and feeding mechanisms, a rotary gripper for de taching the stamps, means for carrying the detached stamps to the envelope, means for applying the stamp to the envelope, and coinoperated gear for controlling the operation of themachine, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with the box, of a pivoted letter receiving chute, normally out of position to receive a letter, a coin chute, means for closing said coin chute, and means whereby when the coin chute is opened, the letter chute will be moved into position to receive a letter, substantially as specified.

It. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with a pivoted letter chtite normally not in position to receive a letter, of a coin chute, a cover therefor, means operated by the opening of said cover to move said chtite into receiving position, devices for stopping and holding the IOO IIO

letter in said chute in proper position to receive the stamp, and means for retractingy said devices when the stamp is applied, substantially as specified.

5. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the-combination with a coin c chute and a cover therefor, said cover having its axis formed with adepressed arm, of an inclined, pivoted, letter chute,ra lever connected with said chute, a spring attached to said chute, and a latch device arranged to normally hold said lever against the action of said spring, and operated by contactk therewith of the said depressed arm of the coinchute cover-axis when said cover is opened, substantially as specified.

6. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the box having an opening in one end wall thereof, of a pivotal inclined -letter chute whose upper end extends to said opening, a lever which normally holds said chute ont of position to receive a letter, a spring attached to said chute, a latch-device which normally holds saidv lever, and a coin chute whose cover when opened is arrangedto operate said latch device to release said lever, and thereby move the letter chute into receiving position, substantially as specified.

7. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the pivoted letter chute, means for depressing the receiving-portion of said chute to receive a letter, holding devices for retaining the letter in the proper position on the chute to receive a stamp or stamps, andv means for releasing the letter when the stamp or stamps have been applied. f

8. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the pivoted chute 12, and devices for moving said chute into position to receive a letter, of the fingers or prongs 15, the rock shaft which carriessaid ngers or prongs, the friction wheel 17 fast to said shaft, and a stationary arm 19 with which said friction wheel makes contact, substantially as specified.- l

9. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applyin g machine, the combination with the pivoted chute 12, and means t for moving said chute into position to receive a letter, of the fingers 15 which hold the letter in the proper position to receive a stamp, the rock shaft 16 which carries said fingers, the vfriction wheel 17 on said shaft, its rocker-18, thesegment 19 with which said friction wheel makes contact, means for insuring proper contact of such wheel and segment, and means for operating said rocker to depress said fingers, substantially as specified.

10. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the-combination of the pivotal chute 12, means for moving said chute into position to receive a letter, the devices in connection with said chute which hold the letterin proper position to receive the first stamp, means for releasing said holding devices after the first stamp has been applied,

and depress the chute, of the main operating shaft having an arm arranged to contact with an arm of said lever after the stamp or stamps have been vapplied and return the chute to its normal position and permit the discharge of the letter, substantially as specified.

l 12. In acoin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with a coin chute, a`- main operating shaft, and a wheel carried by said shaft and having a series of peripheral concavities, of a second and similar wheel below the first which actuates the stamp feeding, detachin g, and applying mechanism, of a spring-actuated-lever over which the coin is forced by the first Wheel and which holds the coin in position to act on the second wheel and form a driving connection between the two, substantially as specified.

13. Ina coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the coin-actuating, and coin-actuated wheels 22 and 23, of stamp feeding mechanism driven by a gear connection with the actuated wheel 23, a rotary stamp gripper also driven from said wheel 23, and which detaches the stamps singly from the sheet, and carries them to the point of application, means for actuatingsaid gripper to open and close it at the proper time, and stamp applying devices also actu- IOO IIO

or operative revolution only upon the successive action of two coins upon said Wheel, substantially as specified. V

15. In a coin-operatedstamp selling and apfplying machine, the combination with the coin-actuated stamp feeding mechanism, of the coin-actuated cylinder 4:0, a stamp gripping device carried by said cylinder, and means for operating said gripper to causeit to take the stamp from the feeding mechan- 1 ism, andalso to release suchg stamp at the proper point, substantially as specified.

16. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the coin-actuated cylinder 40, theV gripper 41, the shaft carrying said gripper and fulcrumed in the end of the cylinder, the bell-crank connected to said-shaft,

the friction roller carried by vsaid bell crank, a stationary cam engaged by said roller, the stop 46, and a spring attached to said bellcrank and to the cylinder, substantially as specified.

17. In acoin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the coin-operated stamp feeding mechanism, and an intermittently operated comb device for engaging the perforations of the stamp sheet, of the rotary coin-actuated cylinder 40, its stamp gripper il, and means for opening and closing said gripper at the proper time, substantially as specified.

18. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the coin-actuated rotary cylinder 40, its stamp grip 4l, the grip operating devices, and the intermittently operated stamp-applying or setting device, of the letter chute, having means for holding the letter under said setting device, substantially as specified.

19. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the coin-actuated rotary cylinder, having a cutaway segment, of the cam 49, affixed to the inside of said cylinder, a guide affixed to the stationary shaft of the cylinder, a cross head arranged to slide on said guide, a spring attached thereto, a roller carried thereby which engages said cam, and a presser foot attached to said cross-head, substantially as specified.

20. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying device, the combination With the pivotal letter chute l2, fingers 15 which hold the letter in position in said chute to receive the iirst stamp, a rock-shaft which carries said fingers, and a rocker attached to said rockshaft, of the coin actuated cylinder 40, its stamp grip arranged to take the stamp and carry it to the letter, the stamp applying or setting device carried by said cylinder, and an arm attached to said cylinder and arranged to contact with an arm of the said rocker after the first stamp has been applied, whereby said fingers 16 are depressed and the letter is permitted to move into position to receive the second stamp, or to be discharged, substantially as specified.

2l. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combinationwith a stamp roll 56, and its carrying shaft 57, of the coinactuated sleeve 37 having the stamp feeding wheels 39, the guiding wheels 3S, and the feeding rollers 5S journaled adjacent to said wheels 39, substantially as specified.

22. In a coin-operated stamp selling and ap- -plying machine, a comb 63 having a series of teeth adapted to engage the perforations of said comb when lowered, substantially as,

specified.

24. In acoin-operated stamp sellingand applying machine, the combination with acomb 63, capable of a vibratory movement, and means for raising and lowering said comb at the proper intervals, of the rotary cylinder i0, its stamp gripper, arranged Vto detach the stamp While it is held by said comb, and means on said cylinder for intermittently vibrating said comb, substantially as specified.

25. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with the stamp holding comb 63, and the rock-shaft to which it is pivotally attached, of the lever 6l fixed to said shaft, and an intermittently rotated notched wheel with which the point of said lever engages, substantially as specified.

26. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination With the stamp-holding comb 63, the rock-shaft to lwhich it is pivotally attached, the lever fixed to said rock-shaft, and the spring 69, attached to said lever and to the frame of the notched wheel 34, itsy rotary sleeve, and gear Wheel, and a mutilated gear Wheel by means of which said sleeve and the Wheel 34. are intermittently rotated, substantially as specified.

27. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination with a stamp-holding comb '63, a rock-shaft to which it is pivotally attached, and means for depressing and elevating said comb at the proper intervals, of the frame 68 also attached to said shaft and to which the comb is movably attached, and means for vibrating said comb When'it is depressed upon the stamp, substantially as specified.

28. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying device, the combination of the coinactuated wheel 23, its shaft 26, gear wheel 30 keyed to said shaft, a sleeve 33 loose on said shaft, gear for intermittently rotating said sleeve from the gear wheel 30, a notched disk 34: fast with said sleeve, a sleeve 37 arranged to rotate on the sleeve 33, a ratchet Wheel 36 on said sleeve 37, a pawl 35 carried by the gear of sleeve 33, and engaging said ratchet wheel, stamp-feeding wheels and guides carried by said sleeve 37, and a rising and falling stamp-holding comb actuated by means of said notched disk 34, substantially as specified.

29. In a coin operated stamp selling and applying machine, the combination of the coinactuated wheel 23, the shaft 26 turned by said Wheel, the spur Wheel 27 also fast with said shaft, a stationary shaft 29, its loose pinion 28 meshing with Wheel 27, the cylinder 40 fixed to said pinion 2S, and stamp gripping and stamp setting mechanism carried by said cylinder, substantially as specified.

30. A coin operated stamp selling and stamp roo IIO

afxin g machine, comprising essentiallyabox or case having therein a normally closed letter chute, a coin chute, a cover therefor means whereby when said. cover is opened, said let-- ter chute is moved into position to receive a letter, means for holding the letter on said chute in position to receive the first stamp, an operating shaft, a coin receiving wheel thereon, a second wheel actuated by the passage of a coin between it and the first or receiving wheel, and which is the actuating wheel of the machine, stamp feeding mechanism, a stamp holding device which holds the stamp while it is being detached from the sheet, a rotary gripper which detaches the stamp and carries it to the envelope, a stamp setting device which appliesthe stamp to the envelope, means whereby the envelope is rec the stamped letter has'been applied, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Y CHARLES M. HEUBLEIN. Witnesses:

JAMES CAssiN,

JESSE G. SEWELL.

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