US825476A - Separating mechanism for mail-marking machines. - Google Patents

Description

No. 825,476. PTBNTED JULY 10, lQE.

5. OSBORN. SEPARATING MBHNS FOB. MAH MAEKHG MACHINES.

APLIUA'HON FILED .TUER 16, i965.

letters o UNITED STATES HOWARD USBORN, F UHIUAGO,

MARKING MACHINE COMPANY,

TRICT 0F UOLUM BlA.

)QTENT OFFICE.

'iLLl'NOI ASSIGNOR TO' TIME A GORPORATION OF THE DIS- SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR llilAlLMAFlilNGl MACHINES..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, IQQG.

Application filed June 18,1905. Serial Xo. 285,507.

nois,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separating Mechanism for Meli-Marking Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to 2the accompanying drawings, forming a srt in which correspon 'ng reference in the diii'erent figures irldica-te like parts.

VThe object of my simple, cheap, and effective mechanism for separating mail-pieces es they are fed to e mail-marking machine which shall be so constructed as to permit the advancement of but one piece at a time, while providing for the passage, Without obstruction, of piecesV of varllyi thicknesses.

o t ese ends mv invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed of this specification,

` out in the claims.

In the drawings', Figure 1 is e plan view of my im roved separator. Fig, 2 is en elevation o the same, showing a portion'of the A Shaftupon which it is mounted. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in plan of a inail-feeding mechanism, showing my improved separator or retarder combined therewith; Fig. gica plan view of a modified form of separator, and Fig. 5 is an elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and respectively, Fig. 3, represent the usual well-known 'feed-ro11s, mounted, esiscustornary, upon vertical shafts cd, su ported in bearings upon a upon which is also e115; ported the customary guidelates or shiel s e, f, and g for the nr ose o controlling the mail-pieces k. T e eed-rolls having the usual frictional surfaces are caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows therenon to feed the mail-pieces forward between the shields e andj.

, The bunch or package of Inail-pieces is placed npon the feedingtable in the 'sensi manner, with the ends a einst the curved portion'i of the shieldf. iis causes the forward end of each successive'mail ieee from that next to the feed-rolls to stan slightly in the rear ofits redecessor, as shown, and eide in initiating 51e forward movement of the one Ysnit invention is to provide a Y Y e snat ra,

next to the food-rolls, but does not insure their separation, and, as is well known, it often happens that two or more mail-pieces will be advanced together unless special means is provided to cease such separation. Forthe Y* purpose of effectue-ily accomplishing this 'rei 1 provide-a separator or retarder, 1s genereily designated by gi and conssts'jof a revoinble eement. having a hnlorportion le and* a series o? projecting ars I, formed from indie-'robber 'or other iiexible material, preferably the former. The hub portion i? is provided with a central bore adapted to receive to which it may be rlgidiy attached by means of a collar 'n and ring c, secured in the usual way. I pref :r `to make the arm l integral with the hub portion and to soorm the arms that what may be termed the` rear face p of each inal be in a radial line,n

while the forward or wor face g ma, be ohiique thereto and Yround at the en as shown ait r. The sepsratoris erre ed to rotate in the direction. indicated by t e arrow shown in Fig. 3 and is so placed oppositeto the feed-roll a. that the arms may project through an opening in the shield" in the thway of the mailpeces. The ction v se tion of the exible arms Z u on the :neil-piece in contact with the feed-o is being less than that of said rolls, notwithstandingsaid arms ere caused to move in en opposite direction, the forward mail-piece is advanced in its pathway, seid erms yielding to permit such movement in conformity to the Vrequirements of thick or thin pieces. Atthe 'sanne time the friotional action of said arms upon the remaining pieces is such as to eiectively revent their forward movement until the oremost piece is caused to be fully ad vance'ry thefeed-rols, when the next wllioe actua and so en successively, the separation in each instance being reiable and certain and lthat regerdess of the varying' thickness or length of the Inail-pieces Y In the construction described I `haine represented Vthe fscesfof the arms or proeetions esloeng arellel to the plans of the exis of the driving-s aft; but I `prefer to place such feces obiiqeiy thereto, as shown at s in the mod1- .fied construction represented in Figs. 4 and 5,

or, in other Words, to arrange them spiraily ngen the periphery of the tub portieri. `By t is construction a portion of a given arm 1s brought into Contact with the nimh-piece :it

or about the sznnctime that .-1, portion of 1hr t I 0 not Wish io he conined to the exzifft construction shown, Us it is obvious th-fit the sume may be varied` without depei ting hun the rincipie invoiv'ed.

Swing thus described my invention7 i 1. In `a separating mechanism for innii'- markin' machines, the conihiimticn of means for feeding the mail-pieces forward, of n rc- ,tardin device consisting,r of u revohlhic ele ment aving yielding: arms with frictionrtl surfaces to permit the passage of articles of varying thickness.

2. In a separating mechanism for mailmurking machines, the combination of means for feeding the mail-pieces forward, of a retarding device consisting of a revoluble cicment having yielding arms to permit the pmssage of articles of varyingthickness, said de-4 vice being arranged to act upon the opposite l malihing In side of the nzznhpimzes from that of the fwd nufvintnislrx und in a direction opposed thereto.

3, Yin :t

pmi-ting inecimnism for mailfwhinmzG the .combination with :mens for invulling; the mail-pieces forward, of it reim-dingy; drvi consisting of a` revoluhie eienwrit having' jvirhiing firms 'with frictionai sm'l'fu'os, smid :ir-nire being arranged in conti- ;fllity with mich otherF whereby at least one zum shall he brought into operative contact :ilY :di tiniesdnringlr the g'mssrtgeof :L Inail-piece.

i, in :i scimrziting mechanism for maiinmrliing nmchinfs, u retarder consisting,lr of a rcvohlhie f icnivnthevexg yielding prejections nrrnnisfcri 5| :i mliy upon the periphery of' zt central huh.

in testimony whereof I have signed this speciiicatic'm, in the presence 0f two subscribing witl'icsses7 this 111th day of' June, 1905.

HOWARD OSBORN.

iiitnesses: Y

D. li. FLETCHER, XN. B. MAnrrNnALE.

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