US606257A

US606257A - Postmarking and stam p-canceling machine

Info

Publication number: US606257A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1915-06-28

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheet Sheet 1 E. M. VAIL 85 G. POTTER. I POSTMARKING AND STAMP CANGELING MAOHINE. No. 606,257.

Patented June 28, 1898 Wifgzsszs n "runs pcvzas 00.. PHOTO-UTHQ. WA5H (No Model.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'. E. M. VAIL ,& G. POTTER. POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANQELING MACHINE- Patented June 28,1898.

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EDWARD M. VAIL AND GIDEON POTTER, or KEWANEE, mentors.

PQSTMARKING ANDSTAlVlP-CANCELING MACHINE.

SPEGIFICAT ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,257, dated June 28, 1898. Application filed December 16, 1896. Serial No. 615,910. (No model.)

Machine, of which'the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines for canceling the stamps. and post marking letters and other mail-matter, and has for its object the provision of a machine for attaining these'ends which will insure the canceling and postmarking of each letter or article as the latter-passes through the ma-' chine, the parts being so combined that the bed will not receive an impression from the postmarking or canceling type and soil the back of a letter or article when the machine is in operation.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to'the accompanying drawings and the following description.

. The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a'full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan View of a machine especially designed for attaining the ends of this invention. Fig. 2 is a viewof themachine inverted. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 4 is an end view showing the printing and impression rollers and the partsintimately associated therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in plan elevation, of the printing and impression rollers, showing the means for properly positioning a letter between them. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the relation and the mountings of a gripper. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a gripper. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the spring for preventing the rebound of a letter when struck by the stop. Fig. 9 is a detail View of a link comprising the endless conveyer.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated 11 and 12.

in the several views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The framework comprises a bed 1, supported upon legs 2 or in any way found most convenient, according to the location of the machine. A table 3 is located at one end of the bed "and receives the letters 1 or other mailmatter to be postmarked and canceled, a gage .5 being adjustably secured tothe table, so as to insure only one letter or article being fed at a time. A table 6 is located at the opposite end of thebed and receives the mail-matter after the same has been canceled and post marked, and this table is provided at one edge with a butt-piece '7, against which the ends of the letters or articles abut and are evened, said letters being supported in an upright position by a movable bracket-stopS, which slides upon the table as the bulk of matter increases. A stop 9 is located at the inner endvof the butt-piece 7 and extends over the table and is inclined at its inner edge, and the letters or other articles are received against the inclined edge of this stop as they emerge from between the printing and impression rollers. The postmarking, canceling, and feeding mechanisms are located between the tables 3 and 6 and are supported by the bed 1.

The printing-roller comprises a central portion 10 and rim or

end portions

11 and 12, whichmay be integrally formed or composed of separate parts connected together in any convenient way. The central portion 10 is provided with'the canceling and postmarking type or devices, the canceling-type consisting of a series of lines 13 and the post marking-type being fitted into a pocket 14 and held therein by a spring-plate 15 and a binding-screw 16, the latter being threaded in an opening extending from a side of the pocket through an end of the roller. printing-type extend beyond the surface of the part 10 and-terminate within the plane of the rims or

ends

11 and 12, thereby coming between the surfaces of the parts 10 and The shaft 17, upon which the print- The ing-roller is secured, is mounted at its upper,

end in a bracket 18 and at its lower end in a bearing 19, secured to the bed 1. A sprocket? Wheel 20 is secured to the shaft 17 below the printing-roller and above the plane of the shaft 17 below the bed and meshes with a corresponding spur-wheel 22, carried by a shaft 23, which bears the impression-roller, thereby causing both the printing and impression rollers to revolve together. A gripper 24 is provided for one of the rims or ends and, as shown, is applied to the rim l2 and is compressible, so as to insure a positive feed of the letter or article when the latter is caught between corresponding grippers. This gripper operates in a recess 25 in the periphery of the rim or end 12, and its shank 26 is slidingly mounted in an opening-27 and has a spring 28 mounted thereon and confined between a shoulder of the shank and the inner end of the opening 27, so as to project the gripper 24 beyond the surface of the rim or end 12. A pin 29, passing through a transverse opening at the inner end of the shank 26, limits the outward movement of the gripper 24 and operates in an opening 30, extending inward from an end of the roller parallel with the bore thereof, through which the shaft 17 passes.

The impression-roller comprises

disks

31 and 32 and a segment 33, the latter being loosely mounted upon the shaft 23, between the

disks

31 and 32, whereas the said disks are secured to the shaft, so as to rotate therewith and cooperate withthe corresponding rims or

end portions

11 and 12 of the printing-roller. The disk 32 has a gripper 24, constructed in all essential particulars and mounted precisely the same as the corresponding part herein described at length and applied to the rim 12. These grippers 24 cooperate and project beyond the surfaces of their supporting parts and are adapted to grip a letter or like article and carry the same between the printing and impression rollers.

The segment 33 is limited in its backward movement by a buffer 34, secured to a portion of the frame, and has a stop 35 at its forward end, which normally projects across the space between the printing and impression rollers, so as to properly position the letters or other matter to be marked and insure the canceling of the stamp. The stop 35 terminates short of the plane of the type-surface,

so as not to engage therewith when the ma chine is running and no letter is passing between the printing and impression rollers. A spring 36 is secured at one end to the segment and is adjustably connected at its other end with a bracket 37 by making connection with a screw-eye 38, passing loosely through a lug of the bracket and having a thumb-nut 39, mounted upon the threaded end of the screweye and bearing against the lug through which the screw-eye passes. By a proper adjustwith the succeeding letter or article and retard its movement until caught between the grippers 24. When the segment is returned to and occupies a normal position, the stop 35 projects across the space between the opposing parts of the printing and impression rollers, and the advancing letter or article, engaging with the projecting end of the stop, is properly positioned to insure the correct marking of the printing-type. This segment is faced with felt, leather, or other material which will form a soft bed and obviate injury to the printing-type with which it cooperates to hold the article or letter when being marked. Mail-matter, being of a miscellaneous character, varies in thickness. Hence provision must be made to accommodate letters and articles of different thickness, and for this purpose the shaft 23 is mounted in bearings provided at the ends of a yoke 40, the latter being capable of moving in the bracket 37 and in the bed 1. This yoke is provided with a stem 41, which passes loosely through a set-screw 2 and has its outer end reduced and threaded and receiving an adjusting-nut 43, the latter bearing against the head of the set-screw 42, so as to limit the movement of the shaft 23 toward the shaft 17, whereby the normal distance between the printing and bed rollers is regulated. The set-screw 42 is hollow and is mounted in a threaded opening in the bracket 37, and its head is milled or otherwise constructed to admit of the set-screw being turned to regulate the tension of the spring 44, mounted upon the stem 41 and confined between the yoke 40 and the inner end of the set-screw 42. The sole purpose of the set-screw 42 is to regulate the tension of the spring 44, whereby the bed-roller is held against the printing-roller with a greater or less pressure. Obviously the impression-roller, from the construction set forth, is capable of yielding to accommodate matter of varying thickness as it passes between the printing and impression rollers. By operating the adjusting-nut 43 the space between the printing and impression rollers can be varied at will.

An endless conveyer 45 is the means for carrying the letters or matter to be marked from the table 3 to the marking mechanism and consists of a sprocket-chain whose links 46 have flanges or lips 47, the latter extending at right angles from an edge of the links and forming a support for the letters or articles during their travel to the marking mechanism. This endless conveyer is supported at its rear end upon the sprocket-wheel 20 and at its front end upon a sprocket-wheel 48, secured to a shaft 49, bearing a feed-wheel 50. The feed-wheel 50 and the marking mechanism are in the same plane and are above the endless eonveyer. Afeed-roller 51 cooperates with the feed-wheel 50 to start the lettcrs or other mail-matter on their way to the marking mechanism. A feed-pulley 52 is located in advance of the gage 5 andmoves the letters one at a time from the table 3 to the feed-wheel and feed-roller 51, which latter advance the letters rapidly through the race and give them an initial impetus on their way toward the marking mechanism. The feedpulley 52 is positively driven from the shaft 49 by means of a belt 53, passing around corresponding pulleys on the shaft 49 and the shaft of the feed-pulley 52. A counter-shaft 54 is driven from any suitable source of power by means of a belt (not shown) passing around a pulley 55 on the shaft 54, and this latter shaft has a bevel gear-wheel 56, which intermeshes with a bevel-pinion 57, secured to the shaft 49. Hence motion imparted to the shaft 54 is transmitted to the shaft 49 and to the feed-pulley 52 in the manner set forth and by means of the endless conveyer 45 to the marking mechanism, as will be readily understood.

The race is formed between vertical and parallel strips 58, secured to the bed 1 by blocks 59 or in any convenient way, and the purpose of this race is to support the letters in an upright position while traveling from the table 3 to the marking mechanism. The endless conveyer 45 travels beneath the race or strips 58 and formsin substancea movable or traveling bottom to the race, so as to advance and carry the matter to the marking mechanism. Some matter is of such character as not to be fed from the table 3 by means of the feed-pulley 52 and must be fed by hand into the race,when it is advanced to the marking mechanism by the endless conveyer the same as the assorted matter. To facilitate the feedingof this class of matter to the race, a hopper is mounted thereon and consists of oppositely-inclining plates 60, which are attached at their lower edges to the strips- 58 and flare toward their upper edges. Hence any matter dropped in to the hopper will gravitate into the race and be received upon the endless conveyer and carried to the marking mechanism. The strip 58, remote from the impression-roller, is provided at its rear end with a guide 61 to cause the advancing end of the letter or article to incline toward the impression-roller, so as to insure its engagement with the stop 35, and the opposite strip has a guide 62, whose free end is toothed, so as to engage with and prevent any rebound of the letter when the latter is struck by the stop 35, due to the segment 33 returning quickly to a normal position. The printingroller is inked by means of an inking-roller 63, located in the space formed between the parts of the endless conveyer, said inkingroller being loosely mounted upon a spindle 64, so as to be detached to be charged with ink or replaced by a new one.

After the marking the letters or mail-matter is packed upon the table 6, the stop 8 moving as the pile increases. The packer consists of a reel comprising a shaft 65 and arms 66, the latter being grouped about the shaft 65 and provided in pairs, the arms of each pair alining vertically and adapted to pass above and below the stop 9 when the space.

machine is in operation. The shaft 65 projects below the bed and is provided with a sprocket-wheel which is driven from the shaft 17 by means of a sprocket-chain 67, passing around. corresponding sprockets -wheels secured upon the

respective shafts

17 and 65. The reel-arms 66 have offsets 68 intermediate of their ends, whereby the inner and outer portions are thrown out of line, and the outer ends are curved rearwardly, so as to readily disengage themselves from the letters after the latter have been moved and properly positioned upon the table 6. These arms 66 are light and capable of springing, which is of advantage in order to successfully stack the letters upon the table 6. The offsets 68 form stops to receive the outer ends of the letters and prevent them coming too near the shaft 65 and insuring their engagement with the stop 9. by this construction than would be the case if the said arms projected straight from the shaft, and the latter can be set nearer the table 6,which is of advantage in economizing A further advantage of the offsets 68 is had in enabling arms of less length being successfully used than would be required if they were straight.

The letters are assorted and faced and are placed upon the table 3 and against the gage 5, and are advanced to the feed-pulley 52 by the attendant pressing upon the pile. The letter nearest the feed-pulley 52 is movedforward between the feed-wheel 50 and the roller 51, and is advanced rapidly through the race by means of the feed-wheel 50 and theendless conveyer 45, as these parts rotate at a comparatively high rate of speed. The letter passing between the printing and impression rollers engages with the stop 35 and is subsequently caught between the grippers 24 and drawn between the said rollers, the segment 33 moving with the letter and pressing the latter against the stamp-canceling and postmarking type. The printing-roller revolves Moreover, greater clearance is had IIO continuously in the same direction, whereas the segment 33,forming the impression proper, moves forward a distance corresponding to the length of the marking mechanism, and when the latter passes beyond the segment and the latter is released it returns to a normal position by means of the spring 36, thereby bringing the stop 35 in position to engage with the next letter, so as to hold it until it is gripped between the parts 24,iwhen the operation just described is repeated. As the marked letter passes from between the printing and impression rollers it is caught by the arms of the packer-reel and moved upon the table 6. v

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a table for receiving the matter to be marked, a gage at the inner edge of the table, a marking mechanism located at same horizontal plane therewith, a race ex tending from the marking mechanism to the table and comprising vertical and parallel strips, the outer strip having an end portion projecting over the table and terminating about opposite the aforesaid gage, a feed-pulley located in frontof the extended strip for advancing the letters through the space formed between the said projecting end portion of the strip and the gage, a feed-wheel between the table and inner strip of the race and acting jointly with a roller carried by the projected end of the aforesaid outer strip to give the letters an initial impetus, and an endless conveyer disposed horizontally and wholly below the race and the feeding and marking mech anisms, and having a portion forming a traveling bottom to the race throughout its extent, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a table at one end for receiving the matter to be marked, a marking mechanism at the opposite end, a race extend" in g from the table to the marking mechanism and comprising vertical and parallel strips, a feeder for advancing the letters from the table to the race, a second feeding mechanism at the receiving end of the race for giving the letters an initial impetus, and an endless conveyer below the race and forming a traveling bottom therefor, and connecting the marking mechanism with the feeding mechanism at the receiving end of the race for transmitting motion from one to the other, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a marking mechanism com prising a printin g-roller, a sprocket-wheel on a journal of the printing-roller, a feedwheel parallel with the printing-roller and located at a distance therefrom, a sprocketwheel on a journal of the feed-wheel, vertically-disposed parallel strips forming a race between the marking mechanism and feedwheel, and a sprocket-chain connecting the sprocket-wheel of the printing-roller with the sprocket-wheel of the feed-wheel, and having horizontally-extendinglips or flanges to project across the space formed between the walls of the race to support the letters and carry them to the marking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a horizontally-disposed bed, cooperatin g printing and impression rollers arranged vertically at one end of the bed, a cooperatin g feed-wheel and feed-roller placed vertically at the opposite end of the bed, a feed-pulley in advance of the feedwheel and operatively connected therewith, vertical strips spaced apart and extending between the marking and feeding mechanisms, a sprocket-chain connecting sprocketwheels applied to journals of the printingroller and feed-wheel, and lips or flanges extending horizontally from the sprocket-chain across the space formed between the parallel strips to support and carry the letters to the marking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a marking mechanism, means for feeding the matter to be marked thereto, a table for receiving the matter after it has'been marked, a stop overhanging the table and inclined on its inner edge, a shaft, and corresponding arms extending horizontally from the shaft to pass above and below the stop, and bent between their ends to throw their outer portions in advance of their inner portions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

(3. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of the marking mechanism, means for feeding the matter to be marked thereto, a table for receiving the matter after it has been marked, a stop overhanging the table and inclined on its inner edge, and a packer comprising a shaft and arms radiating from the shaft to operate above and below the aforesaid stop,and having offsets midway of their ends providing shoulders to receive the outer ends of the letters and limit their movement in one direction, and throwing the outer ends of the arms in advance of their inner ends to give ample clearance for the letters, substantially in the manner set forth.

7. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination with the marking mechanism, of a packer comprising a shaft and arms radiating from the shaft and having offsets midway of their ends, and having their outer portions curving rearwardly, substantially as shown for the purpose specified.

8. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination with the marking mechanism, a race, and means for advancing the letters through the race to the marking mechanism, of a rebounding stop to engage with the forward end of the advancing letters and properly position them, and a spring attached at one end to a wall of the race and having its free end toothed and extending across the path of the advancing letters to engage positively therewith and prevent backward movement of the letters, and capable of yielding to permit their free forward movement, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of the marking mechanism, a rebounding stop carried by an element of the marking mechanism, means for feeding letters to the marking mechanism comprising a race, and a spring secured at one end to a wall of the race and having its free end toothed and extending across the path of the advancing letters to engage positively therewith and prevent backward movement when struck by the stop on its rebound, and capable of yielding to admit of the free forward movement of the letters, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a marking mechanism, a

race leading thereto, means for moving the matter to be marked through the race, a stop carried by an element of the marking mechanism to engage with and properly position the matter, a spring to insure the matter engaging with the said stop,and a toothed spring to prevent a rebound of the matter when engaging with the stop,substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination with a printing-roller, of a roller to cooperate therewith comprising a portion to rotate continuously in one direction and a rebounding impression surface, substantially as set forth.

12. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of printing and impression rollers having cooperating end portions, one of the rollers having its intermediate portion mounted concentrically with the end portions and adapted to rebound, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of printing and impression rollers, a rebounding stop mounted concentric with one of the rollers to properly position the matter to be marked, and a springactuated gripper to take hold of and move the matter to be marked between the rollers and against the rebounding stop, substantially as set forth.

14. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a printing-roller, an impression-roller comprising circular end portions to cooperate with corresponding parts of the printing-roller, and an intermediate rebounding portion loosely mounted and adapted to be advanced by the letters passing between the two rollers, and means for returning the intermediate portion of the impression-roller to an initial position when released from the letter, substantially as set forth.

15. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of a printing-roller having projecting end portions, an impression-roller formed of corresponding end portions and an intermediate segmental portion concentrically mounted with the end portions to 006perate with the printing-surface, and bearing a stop, and a spring for returning the said segmental portion to a normal position when released, substantially as set forth.

16. In combination, a printing-roller, an in1- pression-roller comprising a rotatable portion and a segment, means for rotating the printing-roller and rotatable portion of the impression-roller continuously in the same direction, a stop attached to the said segment, a spring for returning the segment to a normal position when released from the active portion of the printing-roller, and grippers carried by the printing and impression rollers to take hold of the matter to be marked and advance the latter against the said stop so as to turn the segment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of printing and impression rollers, a yoke having bearings at its ends in which is journaled a shaft of one of the roll-. ers and which are mounted in guides, a stem extending from the yoke and having a threaded portion, a spring mounted upon the stem for moving the yoke to hold the printing and impression rollers at the limit of their inner movement, an adj usting-nut mounted upon the threaded portion of the stem to regulate the space between the opposing portions of the said rollers, and a support for the stem adjustable between the said spring and adjusting-nut, substantially as set forth.

18. In combination, printing and bed rollers, a yoke having one of the rollers journaled thereto and provided with a stem having a threaded portion, a hollow set-screw mounted upon the stem, a spring placed upon the stemand confined between the yoke and the setscrew, and an adjusting-nut mounted upon the threaded portion. of the stem and engaging with the set-screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD M. VAIL. GIDEON POTTER. Witnesses:

R. GURNEY, LEVI NORTH.