US787369A - Apparatus for stamping checks. - Google Patents

Description

No. 787,369. PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

- P. WpFULLER;

APPARATUS FOR STAMPING CHECKS.

APPLIOATION PILED JULY 16.1904.

UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR STAMPING CHECKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 110- 787,369, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed July 16, 1904. Serial No. 216,852.

in the county of Suffolk and State of A l-RS837.

chusetts,have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Stamping Checks, 850., of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of apparatus particularly adapted to facilitate the work of stamping or otherwise putting a distinguishing mark on checks in a bank.

Many banking institutions now use some form of computing or adding machine to aid the clerks in adding up the face values of checks coming into the bank in the usual order of business. The clerk in charge of such work takes up one check after another from a pile face up, notes its face value, and sets the adding-machine to the corresponding amount, after which he takes up a hand-stamp and stamps the check, usually on the back, and then operates the adding-machine to cause the amount just set to be added into the sum total. This op eration is repeated for each check, and it will be seen that the clerk must pick up the stamp, operate it, and lay it down every time he takes up a check to read its value and set the adding-machine. WV hen a great many checks must be thus handled, the work is tedious and tiresome.

In my efforts to reduce the work involved I have-invented a stamping mechanism which is so constructed and arranged as to be operated by or through the operation of the adding-machine after the latter has been set for each check. By such arrangement the clerk is relieved of the duty of picking up, operating, and laying down the stamping device for each check, the work is greatly facilitated, and it is much less burdensome.

It will be understood that in many forms of computing or adding machines the same must first be set for the amount or number to be added and then operated, either by movement of a handle, lever, or other device, to cause the amount to be added to the total, so that in any event the manipulation of the adding-machine is not altered by my invention. I have, however, made the construction such that the operation of the adding-machine causes a simultaneous and automatic operation of the stamping device.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a check-stamping device embodying one form of my invention in operative connection with a counting or adding machine, the parts being shown in normal position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail of the yielding connection between the stamping or canceling device and the actuating means therefor.

A base-plate 1 has erected upon it rigid upright standards 2 and 3, in which is rotatably mounted a rock-shaft 4, having at its ri hthand end, Fig. 2, a depending arm 5 fixed upon it, a second shorter arm 6 being also secured to the shaft and projecting rearwardly therefrom.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the standard 2, is mounted directly upon the base-plate 1; but

the standard 3 is secured to the top of a box is shown as comprising a long rod 11, slidable through the opening 9 at its lower portion, and a tube 12, into which the upper portion of the rod is slidably extended, the tube sliding in the opening 8 the rod having an enlarged head 13 at the upper end of the tube. The two parts of the stamp-carrier are thus telescopically connected, a spring 14:, attached at one end to the arm 8 and at its other end to the lower part of the rod 11, acting to nor mally maintain the carrier elevated in the position shown.

A block 15 is rigidly secured to the tube 12 below the arm 8 and is slidably connected with of the topmost check and sets the addingthe guide-rod 10, the latter passing loosely through an opening 16 in the block, (see Fig. 3,) and one end of a radius-bar 17 is connected by a slot-and-pin connection 18 19 with the block, the other end of the radius-bar being .fulcrumed at 20 on the standard 3, as shown in Fig. 1. One end of a link 21 is pivoted at 22 to the radius-bar, and its other end is pivotally connected at 23 with the rocker-arm 6, so that when the shaft & is rocked the radiusbar will be swung up and down, thereby sliding the tube vertically in the arm 8.

Below the block 15 a collar 24 is adjustably secured to the rod 11 by a set-screw 25, Fig. 1, and a spring 26 is interposed between the collar and an internal shoulder 12 in the tube 12, Fig. 3, a block 27, slidably connected with the guide-rod 10, being rigidly attached to the rod 11 below the collar by a suitable set-screw 28, the detailed construction being clearly shown in Fig. 3.

At the lower end of the rod 11 below the arm 9 I. attach a stamp or canceling device S, which may be of any suitable character, and herein I have illustrated a self-inking stamp of well-known character, its construction being so familiar that no detailed description thereof is necessary.

W hen the shaft L is turned to depress the arm 6, the free end of the radius-bar 17 will be swung down and the tube 12 and rod 11 of the stamp-carrier will be lowered, the spring 26 causing them to move together, stretching the spring 11.

If a pile of checks (or other papers) to be stamped or canceled are placed upon the box 7 in the pathof the stamp S, the descent of the carrier will bring the stamp-frame into engagement with the topmost check, and as the movement of the carrier is continued the stamp proper will be impressed upon the check.

The casing of the adding-machine is indicated at (,3, Figs. 1 and 2, and as such machine 7m) at forms no part of my invention it is only necessary to state that the computation or addition is effected by swinging the arm 0* in the direction of arrow 100. Fig. 1, after the machine has been set.

As shown in Fig. 2, the usual handle (1 of the arm 0* has slipped upon it a tube or sleeve 0, rigidly secured to one end of a link 0 preferably made adjustable in the direction of its length to take up wear or adjust the parts of the apparatus, the other end of the link being pivotally connected at 0 with the rockerarm 5.

The top of the box 7 is shown in Fig. 2 as provided with a pad 30 in the path of movement of the stamp S, and upright pins 31 are arranged about the pad to form guides between which to stack up the checks.

The operator places the pile of checks before him face upward and he notes the value machine correspoi'idingly, after which he lifts the check from the pile and lays it face down on the pad 30 between the guides. He then pulls the arm 0 toward. him, actuating the adding-machine, and through the intervening connections described the front eud of the radius-bar is depressed and the stamp-carrier is moved downward to cause the stamp S to mark or stamp the checks. Release of the arm 0 permits the parts to return to normal position, the spring 14: lifting the stamp-car rier and stamp, and the described operation is repeated with the next check on the pile. As the pile of unstamped checks decreases the pile on the pad 30 increases in depth, so that the downward throw of the stamp S gradually decreases; but the spring 26 is correspondingly compressed more and more, so that the radius-bar makes its full strike every time the adding-machine is operated. Thus by the spring connection between the telescopic members 11 and 12 of the carrier the latter is enabled to perform its proper function irrespective of the thickness or depth of the pile of checks beneath it. The head 1?) on the member 11 cooperates with the upper end of the tubular member 12 to prevent the expansion of the spring 26 from drawing the upper end of the member 11 into the tube.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement of the apparatus herein shown and described nor to any particular form of adding-machine, the gist of my invention comprehending a stamping mechanism operatively connected with and actuated by or through the operation of an adding-machine to make the same stamp or impression upon one after another of a number of checks, the stamped impression having no bearing upon the summation or computation effected by the operation of the adding instrumentality.

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

1. 1n apparatus of the character specified, an adding or computing instrumentality for adding amounts represented by checks, at stamping mechanism extraneous thereto and including a stamp having a permanent impression-face to impress one check after another as the checks are manually superposed in a pile, and operating connections between the stamping mechanism and the adding instrumentality, whereby the former is operated by or through actuation of the adding instrumentality to stamp the topmost check on the pile.

2. In apparatus of the character specilied, a stamp having a permanent impression-face, a reciprocating carrier therefor, means to reciprocate the carrier, an adding or computing instrumentality having an actuating member, and operating connections between the latter each actuation of said instrumentality.

3. The combination of a stamping-machine for stamping checks having their amounts previously indicated thereon, an adding-machine for adding the amounts indicated on the checks and connecting mechanism for operating the stamping mechanism when the adding mechanism is operated.

4:. In apparatus of the character specified, a stamp, a reciprocating carrier to which it is attached, a radius-bar connected with the carrier, an adding instrumentality having an actuating member, and connections between said member and the radius-bar to swing the latter and operate the stamp-carrier when the adding instrumentality is operated.

5. In apparatus of the character specified, a stamp, a reciprocating carrier to which it is attached, an adding instrumentality having an actuating member, and connections between the latter and the stamp-carrier, said connections including means to permit uniform movement of said connections irrespective of the length of the stroke of the stamp-carrier.

6. In apparatus of the character specified, a stamp, a two-part carrier therefor, a support in which the carrier is reciprocalole, a spring connection between the parts of the carrier and permitting a relative longitudinal movement of such parts, an adding instrumentality having a manually-controlled actuating member, and operating connections between said member and the carrier to operate the latter simultaneously with actuation of said instrumentality.

7. In apparatus of the character specified, a stand having bearings one above the other and a rigid upright guide therebetween, a stamp, a longitudinally extensible carrier therefor vertically slidable in the bearings, blocks slidable on the guide and attached to the carrier, a spring connection between the parts of the latter, an adding instrumentality having a handle to actuate it, a rock-shaft connected with the handle, to be rocked when said instrumentality is actuated, and means intermediate the rock-shaft and stamp-carrier to operate the latter when the shaft is rocked.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

FRANK IV. FULLER.

I/Vitnesses:

JOHN G. EDWARDS, MARGARET A. DUNN.

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