USRE12505E - Reissued july - Google Patents

Description

REISSUE jJ JULY 17, 1905.

POSTMA-EKIN G" AN STAMP GANOEL'ING'I'MAOHIIXSB.

5 SHEETS -QIEET 4.

. 6 3x as S'VLMMOZ .5 7/ @515 RE-ISSUED JllLY'17, 1906.

. J.'H.BA,RR. "POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE.-

5 shun-sum 5.,

APPLIUATIQN FILED SEPT, 30,1897.

m mn STATE$ rn'ranr oFFIoE.

JOHN H. BARR, OF KANSAS (LITY, KANSAS, ASSlGrNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BARR-FYKE JACKSON OOUN'lY,liilSSOURl.

MACHINE COMPANY, or

Specification of Reissu ed Letters Patent.

Reissued July -1 '7, 19L 6.

Original No. 573,1 ZS, dated December 15, 1896. Application for reissue filed leptember 30. 1897- Serial No. 653 656.

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that LJoi'IN H. BARR, a citizen of the United States, residing at City, inthe county of W'yandotte, State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Machine for Postm arking and Stamp-C anceling Letters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to postinarking and stampcanceling machines.

The object of the invention is to produce machine of this character whereby postal cards or letters may be canceled, postmarked, and-dated with much greater rapidity and accuracy than can be accomplished in the ordinary manner, and consequently in order to facilitate and render the distribution of'mail more reliable.

'A further object is to produce a machine of this character which is simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive of manufacture and. entirely antimiatic in action.

with these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in appended claims.

in order that the invcntioi'i may be fully understood, I will proccciil to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which--- F igure 1 represents a plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section taken on'thc line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a plan view, on an enlarged scale, ofpart of the machine. Fig. 4 represents a plan view of a stainping-cylinder, part oi the same boing'oinittcd. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 ol Fig. 4, in which said omitted part of Fig. 4 appears- F ig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6 6 ol" Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. F ig. 7 is a rear iacc view of a spring-actuated guidc-rollcr-carrying plate. Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8 8 oi" Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the slot ol Fig. 1. Fig. 1.0 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the inking-roller for the stamping-cylinder. Fig. 11 is a vertical section oi the entire framework of the machine, taken. on the line 11 11 of Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a top plan view or such framework.

Like numerals refer to corresponding parts in all the drawings.

in the said drawings, 1 designates a horizontal table or platform, which preferably is mounted upon supporting-legs 2 of any suitable or preferred configuration that the 1nachine as a whole may be conveniently portable. The end legs of the machine are preferably connected by brace-rods 3 and said bars near their rear ends are connected by a rod 4. The front legs about midway their height are also connected by a rectangular bar 5, the object of which will be hereinafter referred to.

6 designates a guide-plate, which is about one-third the length of the table and extends parallel with the front and rear margins thereof, but much nearer the latter, preferably. It is also disposed with its ends about equal. distances from the adjacent ends.

of the table, and extending forwardly atright angles from the same are the parallel guidearms 7 and 8, 7 extending about half-way to the front margin and 8 flush with said margin. Said arms are provided with lugs or ears 9, through which screws or other securing devices engage the table, and thereby hold said guide-plate and guidearms securely in position. Extending parallel with and about midway between the arm 8 and the adjacent end of the table and of about the same length as the former is the guide-slot 10 of the table, and the opposite edges of said slot are grooved, as shown at 11, in order to M ccive and retain from accidental displacement the flanges 12 of the casting 13. Said casting is secured to the outer side of and carries the follow r-board let, which in length about equals the distance between the guide arm 8 and the adjacent edge of the table for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

J ournaled below the table at the rear end of the slot in any suitable manner is a guidepulley 15, and guided around said roller is a belt or cord 16, which is attached at one end to the casting 13 and at its opposite end to a retractile spring 17, said spring being at tached at its lower end to the rod 4 of the frame work or at'any other suitable or convenient point. Thus'it will be seen from the foregoing that the tendency of said spring is to move the follower from the front toward the rear end of the table and that said follower may I as spring.

be moved outwardly only by tensioning said 18 designates a fixed guard-board, which extends parallel with the follower and has its inner end adjacent to but slightly rearward of the plane represented by the guide-plate 6. At the opposite end of the table is arranged a second guard-board 19, which extends in longitudinal alineinent with the plate 6 and has its inner end beveled rcarwardly in order to deflect any mail-matter which may come in contact with, it toward the front, as hereinafter more particularly referred to.

I will now describe the delivery-table construction or that upon which the stamped, postmarked, and dated letters are deposited automatically by the machine and ready for the distributing-clerk Said table is preferablyin two sections and is arranged at the outer side of the arm 7 and above the table 1, its relative position to which may be changed at any time desired. The inner section 21 has its rear end curved downwardly, as at 22," through a slot in the table which extends parallel with but slightly forward of the guard 19 and is hinged or pivoted, as at 23, below the table. The inner edge of said table is ad jaeent to the arm 7, while the outer edge is provided with a vertical flange 24, against which the letters will be automatically stacked by the machine. The outer section 25 is hingedto the inner section, as shown at 26, and at its outer edge is provided also with aflange 27. Theinclination of both sections relative to the table 1 may be varied by means of the inclined brace 28, which is pivoted to the outer section and is provided with a series of teeth 29, one or the other of which may engage the rectangular bar 5, hereinbefore described. Said brace is provided. at a suitable point with a lug 30, and extending adjacent thereto is a second inclined brace 31, which is provided with a series of apertures and is pivoted at its upper end to the outer section near its hinge-point. By causing one'of said apertures to register with an aperture (not shown) in said lug and fitting therein a pin 32 the inclination of said sections relative to each other may be varied. It is obvious, of course, that other means than these braces may be used to adjust said sections relative to each other and to the table 1 33 designates an end board which is hinged, as shown at 34, to the end of the table adjacent to the slot 10, and 35 designates hinges which connect said. end board with a cover 36,whichis adapted when the machine is notin operation to inelose all of the operative parts, and thereby prevent the entrance of dust to the same. At its rear edge and at its outer edge it is provided with depending flanges 3.) and 40, respectively, which aremlaptml to rest upon the, table, and said flange 40 is notched, as shown at 4-], to lit over the lar wheel 57.

guard-board l0 iirorder that the cover may fit snugly down upon the guide-plate 6 and arms 7 and 8 and that its flanges may rest squarely upon the table. the end board 33 is vertical, and the supporting-legs 37 of said cover, which are hinged to the same, as shown at 38, rest upon the up per side of the same, as illustrated in Fig. 2. They are hinged in such manner that when the cover is swung open they assume naturally a vertical position and support it.

Arranged about centrally of the deliverytable hereinbefore described and a suitable distance rearward of the plane represented by the plate 6 and projecting vertically up through the table 1 is a longitudinal bearingsleeve 42, provided with a flange 43, which is secured by screws 44 to the under side of the table, and journaled rotatably in said sleeve is a shaft 45, which projects some distance above the upper end of said sleeve. The upper portion of said shaft is bored out, so as to form the chamber46, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained, and is provided just below the upper end of said sleeve with one or more apertures 47, which communicate with said chamber 46.

.48 designates a hollow wheel, Whichis pe-' ripherally grooved, as shown at 49, and is provided above and below said grooves with the peripheral flanges 50. The upper end of said wheel is closed by a head 51, and depending from the same is a hub 52, which embraces the upper end of the shaft and is secured rigidly thereon by the set-screw 53. The upper end of the hollow portion of the shaft is closed by a screw-plug 54. When it is necessary or desirable to lubricate the j our nal of said shaft, the said screw-plug is re moved and the lubricating material, of such consistency as to prevent its rapid escape, is poured into the hollow portion of said shaft, whence it escapes slowly by wayof the aperture or apertures 47 to the journal. The upper end of the shaft is then reclosed by the screw-plug. The lower end of said shaft projects below the sleeve 42 and has secured rigidly thereon the miter gear-wheel by means of the set-screw 56., Arranged near theopposite end of the table, about centrally of the space between such end and the guidearm 8 and the same distance from the rear margin of the table as'the wheel 48,is a simi- This wheel is of precisely the same construction and arrangement as the wlnel above described, eX- ept that the peripheral grooves are not so deep. The upper end of its shaft, which is also similar in all respects to the shaft above described, except that it. carries no gear-wheel upon its lower end, is closed by a similar screw-plug 58, where'g y lubricating material may be conveniently inserted, and said. wheels are connected by the traction or friction belts 59, preferably of rubber or of equivalent material, said belts in thicl'uiess being prelerably When thus closed,

, of'deflecting arms 60, whichprojectfrom the'.

flange'sjaO in the direction oppositetothe 110 tatibiiiiiifthe wheel, and in order that said fl'aifges'may pass the guard-arrrislt without 1 contactwithout necessitating that such arm shall "b ef remote fr'om'the periphery of the wheel it is provided with a series of" notches 199i, ustrated cleaIlyinFigIZ. Thefrontl POfhlOIfOfithG-bflltS 59am arranged adj aeent; to:,tlie rear'face of the guide-plate 6-, and,

.forine'd in 'said guide-plate is an opening 61,11

preferably rectangular, as shown, which o'peiii'ngfrom top to bottom is about equal to 3 the "distance between the upper margin of the; top belt and the lower margin of the bottom,

2pn belt, and fitting in such opening is a presser-.

foot 62,'w'h'ich is secured, as shown at 63-, Fig.

3, upon the free end of a short lever 64, pivot-.-

ed to a' fixed point of the framework, as shown.- -at 65; Said lever is provided with an opening, through which loosely projects the threaded post 66, and screwed upon its outer; end is a head or enlargement 67. Adjust ably mounted upon said threaded post inward of said head is a nut 68, and spirally encircling' the post and bearing at its opposite,

ends against'said nut and the outer end off said lever is an expansion-spring 69, the function and'tendency of which are to hold the presser-foot rearward with. a firm yet yield-- ,ing pressure] The presser-foot is furnished preferably at its rear side, with a pad of rubber or equivalent material, and at its right-ha-nrl'end when viewed from the front of the machine is beveled forwardly that the: corresponding end of such pad may present an inclined surface towardthe advancing mail-I matter, which will be referred to more par ticularly in the description of the operation of the machine.

To the left of the opening 61 the guide plate 6 is provided with a second opening 72,

and projecting into said opening to about the plane of the rear side of said plate is the stamping-cylinder 73. Said cylinder 73 is provided peripherally for a suitable distance with a series of canceling-bars 74, which preferably extend horizontally, so as to print in straight parallel lines and rearward of said bars with respect to the rotation of the cylin der with a series of horizontally-aimed and preferably integrally-formed type 75, which. type are adapted to postmark themed-matter passing through the machine-i. (5., to print upon said matter the name of the station where the machine is located-such, for instance, as Kansas City, Missouri. Above said type are formed a corresponding series of radial recesses, in which fit a second series of type 76, and. to prevent the accidental disarrangement or displacement of said type Etheyare provided with dowel-pins 76, engagingrecesses in the cylinder, and are held. reliably in such "position by means of the plate 77, which is dovetailed vertically into the cylinder, as shown at 78. and is secured in such position by means of the set-screw 7 9, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 5. By this construction it is apparent that the date may be changed in a few n1oments"- time, it being ,only necessary to remove a single set-screw and elevate the plate 77 bodily from position iin order to remove the type 76 and replace same with others. The plate 77 can be resecured with as little difficulty and in a mollnents time, Said cylinder is secured rigidly lby the set-screw-SOupon the vertical shaft %81, jou-rnaled rotatably in the bearingslceve i532, secured to the tableby means of the un- ,derlying flange 83 and-the screwsorequivallent devices 84. Mounted upon' the lower end of said shaftis a miter geanwheel 85 of the same dial'neteras the miter-gear 55, hereinbefore describe d, and 86 designates a set screw for securing said wheel rigidly in posi- ;tion upon the shaft. 1 Thesetescrew 87 is apiplied to secure rigidly upon the upper end of said shaft, which projects some distance above the printing-eylind er, the arm-8S, and depending from the outer end of said'arm is a lscrew bolt89, upon which is mounted rotata- ,bly the antifriction-roller 90. The upperend of the shaft 81, like'the shaft 45, is hollow,

and it is providedelso with an aperture or apertures 81 to conduct the lubricating ma e," terial to the journal. 'Itsupper end is also Closed by a screw-plug 9'1, as shown.

92 designates a leycr which is pivotally' mounted at one end. coincidently with the Tpivoted end-of the lever 64, as at 65. it is arranged rearward of the shaft 8]. and projects to the opposite side of the same a slight :idistance. At its pivoted end it is bifurcated pr forked, as shown at 93, in order to permit .of the independent adjustment of the presserfoot mechanism and of adjustment independent of such mechanism. it occupies a plane a, suitable distanccabove the stamping-cylinder, and its upper margin at its free end projects a suitable distance above the lower end of the antifrir-l ion tripping-roller 90, and such projepting portion or sln lllilvr is beveled. at its inner side, as shown at 2);] in dottcdilines, Fig. 3. In order, however, that antifri'ction-roller may come in contact w' -l the in ner side of said lever, and thereby operate the same periodically, it is providvd with a i'iotch 95 in its upper side and inward of said shoulder, through which a roller may pass freely oncein eaci com plete evolution of the stamping-cylinden Outward of ti in free end of the presses-foot mechanism the post 96 projects forwardly and loosely through an opening in the trip-lever 92, and screwed upon the front end of the same is the head or enlargement ,97 Adjustably mounted upon the threaded ends against the nut 98' andsaid lever is the portion ofs aid post is the nut 98, and spirally encircling the post and bearing at its opposite expansive coil-spring 99, the function and tendency of which are to hold the trip-lever rearwardly with a yielding pressure. To limit the rearward movement of said lever, due to the action of said spring, the lever carries adjustably the set-screw 100, which is adaptedto come into contact with the front face of the guide-plate. Outward of said setscrew the lever is also provided with. the rearwardly-projecting plate or arm 101, which under the action of said lever is alternately projected through an opening 102 in said guide-plate and withdrawn from the same.

The function of the spring 99, as hereinbefore obsei cd, is to move the lever rearward, and thereby project the plate or arm 101 through said opening 102, While the function of the roller-carrying arm 88 is at regular intervals of time to move said lover outward, and. consequently withdraw said plate or arm, hereinafter termed the time-stop, from said opening. Said time-stop is employed to check the advance of each letter or card passing through the machine until such time as the stamping-cylinder has assumedits proper relative position to the ame that is, until such time asthc canceling-bars shall be in position to engage the front or stamped end of the letter or card-as it advances through the machine. It is'neccssary, therefore, as will be readily understood, that the letter or other mail-matter be placed in the machine with their stamped ends advanced in the direction which they are to travel, and it is also as the machine is constructed necessary that they be inverted in order tiaat the canceling-bars shall contact with them at theproper point, as it will be noticed that the stamping-cylinder is disposed only a slight distance above the table by rcfercnce particularly to Figs. 2 and 5. 'l;;is arrangcmcnt of the stampingcylindcr of course may be varied as occasion or the matter to be acted upon may demand. Arranged forwardly of the stamping-cylin dcr and projecting upwardly through tne table from a plate 103, secured to t e under Slil: of the same, is a cylindrical stud 104, the diameter of wnicnis somewhat lcss than tcc diameter of the openingthrough wiiica itprojccis. A plate 105 is srcurcd by the same screw-bolts 100 which srcurc tnc plate- 103 in position upon the upper side of the table and isprovid; d with a circular op; ning'wnicn registers with the opening in the tailliand surrounds the stud 104.

107 dcsignatcs a tubular shaft, which is mounted rotatably upon the stud 104 and plojccts downwardly into. the openings formed by the table and the plate 105 in ordcr to maintain it more efi'ectually in such vertical position. Said tubular shaft is provided with an internal liquid-tight partition 108, which rests rotatably upon said stud 104, and above said partition said shaft .is perforated, as shown at 109. 110 designates a hollow cylinder which is mounted rigidly upon said shaft and entirely surrounds the perforated portion of the same. It is made iollow, so as to provide practically an ink well or chamber 111, which communicates with the hollow shaft by way of. the apertures 109. Said cylinder is also provided with apertures 112 in its vertical wall and is peripherally grooved to receive the ink-absorbmg and ink-transferring material 113. To supply this well, the ink is poured into the shaft in suitable quantity, and then the 11 per end of said shaft isclosed by the screwliig 107*. The ink employed as it thickens liy reason of evaporation or any other cause must be caused by pressure occasionally increased to pass to the surface of the ink-distributing material 113, and in order to accomplish this I have proxdded the adjustable set-screw 107, which as it is screwed farther down into the shaft exerts a pressure upon the ink contained in the cylinder, which, having an outlet via the absorbent material only, will keep the latter in proper condition for inking the printing-surfaces of the stamping-cylinder, with which it is )eriodicallyin contact, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1.

As it is necessary to oppose the positive pressure exerted by the presser-foot and by the stamping-cylinder with a firm yet vielding pressure and at the same time to hold the front or mail-carrying ortion of the endless belts 59 approximate y parallel with the plate 6, I provide mechanism constructed as follows: 114 csignatcs a number of angleplatesthree in this instancethe central one of which is located opposite the time-stop 101 and the others opposite the ends of the 'plate 6. All of them are located, preferably, )etwccnthe parallel strands of the belts, as illustrated in Fig. 1. They are each provided in their horizontal portions with longitudinal slots 115, which are engaged by screws 116,

whereby they may be clam ed at any point within their adjustment. his is done in order to accommodate mail-matter of varying thickness; Projecting horizontally and rearwardly from the vertical arms of the two end bracluits are the cylindrical guide-posts 117,

which are screw-threaded at their rear ends, and mounted slidingly upon said posts is the plate 1 18, which plate extends parallel to the plate 6. Said plate is provided with one or more set-screws 110. which project through thesame and bycontact with the vertical arm of the middle or third angle-bracket limit the forward movement of said plate, as illustrated clearly in Figs. 1 and 8. The plate 110 is provided at points opposite the b'cvclcd end of the presser-foot and opposite the stamping-cylindcr with rectangular openings 120, and journaled in' lugs 121, projecting from said plate, are the spindles or rollers 122, which occupy the openings 120. rollers are of such diameter that their peripheral faces are in the same plane with themner sides of the front portions of the belts 59,

as also shown clearly in Fig. 1; but centrally they are provided with the eripheral flanges 123, which are about equal in depth to said belts and projecting forwardly between thorn, so as to cause the bearing-surfaces of the mail-matter to resist in. a suitable degree the pressure of the presser-ioot and of the stamping-cylinder. i A

124; designates nuts which are suitably mounted upon the threaded posts 117, and rearward of the same are screwed upon said posts the heads or enlargements 126. Forward of the same and spirally encircling said posts are the coil-springs 125, which bear against said nuts and against said plate 118, so to hold the rollers 122 advanced with a pressure which is firm and yet will yield to an overcoming pressure, such. as is applied by the passage of a more or less bulky letter or by the positive pressure of the stamping-cyl inder. Bolted to the under side of the table,

as shown or in any other suitable manner, is

the bearing 127, in which is journaled the shaft 128, and mounted rigidly upon said shaft are the miter gear wheels 12-9 and 139, which mesh, respectively, with the miter gear-wheels and 85, and thereby rotate the belt-Wheel 48 and the stamping-cylinder at a corresponding speed, and as said wheel and cylinder are of equal diameter the belts travel also at a corresponding speed with the rotatable movement of said cylinder, the belts being driven by traction or frictional engagement upon said wheel. The shaft 128 is also preferably ui'iiversally jointed, as

shown at 131, to the shaft 132, which shaft is against the guide-arm 5%.

journaled in the pendent bearing 133 and also may ind a hearing at any other convenient point. This shaft is driven at a prede termined speed by any suitable motive power desired, "such as electric motor. (Not In practical operation after the operative parts of the machine are arranged shown in Fig. 1 and set in motion the letters 34, inverted and with their stamped c-nds advanced as hereinbefore explained, are stocked edgewisc upon the right-hanrl end of the table They are interposed between the correspomling end of the front portion of the bolts and the spring-actuated iollower 14, which. has been witl1- drawn for this purpose and then released, so that the spring exerts a continuous but yield ing pressure in the direction indicated by the arrow (1 Fig. 1. lnu'nediately such pressure makes itself felt the traction of the belts trzweling in the direction indicated by the arrows l1, same figure, causes all of the letters termined, of course, by the width of the space between said plate and the belts) to advance and assume substantially the relative positions shown in Fig. B that is, they will be overlapped in a greater or less degree, and this overlapping and separating oi the letters or cards is accomplished more ectually by reason of the be veling of the face of the plate 6, as shown at 6, so that in practice only abouttwo letters, the -first and the second, will be in contact simultaneously with the nresser-loot, and one of them, or the second, by coming in. contact with the beveled end of such loot will be positively and reliably held from further advance movement until the rear end of the other has completely cleared or passed in advance of the advanced end of such letter held stationary. The pressure between the presser-foot and the belts is gaged to admit of the passa e of only one letter or card at a time, and il such letter be of unusual bulk orthickness the spring-actuforwardly, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the letter continues forward until 1t comes 1n con' tact with the time-stop 101, which at this in stant 'niay be projecting through the opening 102. Such time-stop iolds it stationary for an instant (or, in fact, seems in practice only to check its speed, withsuch rapidity'will the machine operate) until the depending roller or arm 88 of the shaft of the rotating stamping-cylinderpasses through the notch 95 and engaging the free end of the lever 92 moves the same outwardly and trips the time-stop atthe same instant that the canceling-bars upon said cylinder are disposed op osite the end of the latter, which immediate T continues on its journe and as it passes between said stamping-0y inder and the second roller of the plate 118 the stamp receives theimpression of said canceling-bars, and the body of the letter inward of the stamp receives the postmarloi'mpression and the date-impres sion from the series of type 75 and 7'6, re-- spoctively, as will be readily understood. Of course as said canceling-bars and type project beyond. the periphery of thwheel the )ositivepressure exerted by thei n upon the etter will cause the opposing roller, togetlu-ir with its carrying-plate, to yield rearwardly and again advance immediately such disconnection takes place, so that the belts will continuously exert frictional. pressure against the letters which pass successively through the machine. By this arrangement of the timeetop n'lcchanism it is obvipus that it is in'n'naterial whether the letters be of the same or of varying lengths, as the canceling, postmark, and date impressions will always be made at proper points upon the letters, provided they be inserted properly in the machine.

It is Obvious, of course, that the circumference of the stamping-cylinder should exceed the length -of the longest letter to be acted upon, because if all the letters were of equal length with the circumference of the stain ing-c'ylinder the time-stop mechanism wou d not be necessary. I prefer,.however, to employ it, as the action of. the machine will thereby be made more positive and reliable, andfit will positively insure that each letter wi l receive the impression at the proper point. The machine may be made to print at a certain point upon the letter adjusting the crank-arm 88 of the stamping-cylinder shaft or by rotating the disk of the shaft, as will be readily understood. Each letter as it successively emerges from between the stamping-cylinder and the opposing oller engages the periphery of the flanges 50 or is engaged by one of the deflecting-arms projecting from such flanges. In either case the free end of the letter is bent forwardly, so that it cannot by any possibility follow the belt, and is forced-upon the inner section 21 of the delivery-table, which is inclined, as shown, in order that the letters may continue in a substantially vertical position or edgewise. The arms upon said wheel .are principally for the purpose of moving each letter bodily a sufficient distance forward to revent the succeeding letter interfering with it before it has assumed its proper relative osition to those that have gone before. The ettcrs will maintain substantially a vertical position, because they are fed wit-h great rapidity upon the table, and each succeeding one supports the preceding one and is supported in turn by those that follow after, so that as each additional letter is added to the stack the preceding ones are fed bodily forward until the whole delivery-table may be filled. The table is made as illustrated in order that it may be inclined more or less, according to the rapidity with which the machine operates, and also of large capacity in order to give the operator time, while the letters are accumulating thereon, to recharge the following board with unstamped letters or postal cards, as the case may be. Thus it will be seen that one person can attend successfully to the machine and keep it in constant operation as long as the supply of letters or cards holds out and also that I have produced a machine which will greatly facilitate the distribution of mail and at the same time make it practically impossible for uncanceled letters to issue from the office.

While I have described and illustrated a particular construction, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in such construction and in the arrangement of the parts without departing from the essential spirit and scope orsacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

It will be seen that the present machine differs essentially from each and all of the machines heretofore made or proposed for this purpose. The earlier ones have each been of one or the other of the following classes: The first class comprises those each of which has had an intermittingly'-acting de-' vice for initially starting the letter in its travel toward the printing mechanism, such intermittingly-acting device being either rotary and of the nature of a cam or'being reciprocatingthat is, moving back and forth on straight lines or moving forward and back over the same path. The second class includesthosein which use has been made of a series of separated pairs of feeding-rolls either arranged on one line or arranged in pairs, or both, each roll having a gap or open spacebetween it and the next one in series. The third class comprises those in each of which use has been made of an endless feeding-belt, sometimes so arranged that the letter rested facewise on the belt and sometimes so that it rested with its edge thereon; but I am not aware of any instance prior to my invention in which use was made of a belt having a substantially smooth unbroken continuous surface adapted to bebrought into contact and firm engagement with one of the flat faces of the letter over it. entire lengthand press the letter against an abutment or wall, the endless traveling surface being so disposed with respect to adjacent parts that a powerful friction-grip could be exerted by its unbroken surface and the belt being so arranged that an ingoing pack of letters could be pushed directly toward its active surface, any part of the latter being adapted to instantly engage with the innermost letter of the pack and carrv it away from those behind it and advance it to the stop and past the printer.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. A mail-stamping machine, comprising a suitable table structure, a guide-plate fixed thereon, an endless traveling belt arranged opposite to and projectin beyond each end of said plate, a follower forcing letters stacked. edgewise successively into frictional contact with said belt at one end of said plate, which v convoys them through the passage formed between the same and the plate, means to force them forwardly and away from said belt after they have emerged from said passage,

and a delivery-table superposed relative to the first-named table and inclined upwardly and forwardly to receive said letters as they are forced forward and maintain them in a substantially upright position, substantially as set forth.

.In a mail-stamping machine, the corn" hinetion 01 e pair of superposed table struc- -t ures,'.tl1e upper one being arranged at an an-"f' gle to the lower and at its reerend extending ough a slot in and pivoted below said firstnarned table, substantially as set forth. in a mail-stamping machine, the comhinetion of a pair of superposed table strnctures, the upper one being arranged at an angle to the lower and at its rear end extending through a slot in and pivoted below said first- ;narned table; said table being; formed in two sections hinged together, a brace pivoted to- .theouter section and. provided with teeth to engage a part of the firstmamed tahle struc rum, and a brace extending at an angle to 'the same whereby said sections may be dis posed; at an angle to each other, substantially as set forthf' j 4.1A niaihstamping machine, comprising a suitable table structure, a plate fixed-there on, an endless traveling belt mounted 'edja-, cent to and opposite said plate and held with a yielding pressure adjacent to and o posite said plate in orderthet it may, by li'iction convey mail successively past the face of said plate, a lever pivotedupon the framework and provided with e time-stop arm, and with a notch outward of the same, n-spring to hold f said time-stop arm normally projectedthrongh an openingin said guide-plate to check the passage of the mail, a rotating stemping-cylinder.to make the rec uired nil-,1 pression upon cachlctter, and e r'ollencsrrvarnrprojecting from the shaft" of said cylinder slider-ranged to pass through-sold notch endlt rip sa id ti inc-stop by operating the lcver'at a prcdotcrniinod time in each revohn: tion, substantially. as set forth. 5. 'A nniil-stannping machine, comprising a suitable tablestructure, a plate fixed tlier on, an endless traveling bolt mounted adja'- cent to and opposite said plate and held with avoiding pressure adjacent to and opposite said--plate-in order that-it may by friction convey mail successively past the face of said plate, a leverp'ivoted to the framework and provided with e'tirne stop arm, and with e notch outward ol the some, a s )ring to hold- -.said time-stop arm normallyprojected. through an opening in said guide-plate to check the passage of the mail, a rotating stsniping-cylilnlcr to make the required iniprcssion upon each lctlcr, a rollcr-rarrying arm projecting from the shaft ol said c flin .dcr and arranged to pass through'said notch and trip said ti|ncstop by operating the lever at at predetermined time in each revolution, and an. adjustable set-screw to limit the spring-actuated movement of said lever.

6. A Inail-sta mpiin: machine, comprising a suitable table structure, a guide-platc fixed thereon, belt whecls mounted thereon, a pair of bolts rennin-ting, the same and vhaving their front portions extending adiacent to,

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wand opposing said'guideplate, e s ring-settl ieterl plate, rollers carried by sai plate and heering against the-rear sides of said front portions of the belts a presser-foot and a stumping-cylinder projecting through said iplete and opposing said rollers and the lIlllQTrj Iposed portions of thebelts', and means to oanse the rotation of the stamping-cylinder and. one of said belt-wheels, and consequently lthe operation of said belts, substentially es jset forth. I I t 7. A mail-sta1npingmachine, comprising a? jsuitehle table structure, a guideplate fixed, :thereon, belt-wheels IHOUIllJSZl-dllBIQOH, a pair gof belts connecting the same and having Etheir front portions extending. adjacent to land opposing said. guide-plate, a spring-acm ieted plate, rollers carried by said plate and ibeering against the rear sides of said front;-

lportions of the belts, set-screws to limit the 3R forward movement of i said roller-carrying plete, a 'presser-foot, and a stamping-cylinder; lprojeeting through said plate and opposing: fsaid rollers and interposed portions ofthe Ebelts, and means to cause therotat'i'on of the, jSttlfll'flIlg-GYllllh-EI, one of seidi belt-wheels; ,and conse uently'the operation ofsaid belts,

snbstanti-e ly as set forth. 1 8. A mail-stamping machine, comprisingg, suitable table structure, a guide-plate Ise- 5 icured thereon, a pair of belt-wheels eech pro" lvided with two periphernl grooves, belts con-j l nesting said o heels and engaging said grooves ,1 jangle-platessecured to the table between the yiront end rearpor-tionsof said belts, guide; posts projecting rearwsrdly from the vertical portions of the san1e,a plateinounted loosely iupon said posts, springs holding sold plate yieldingly advanced, s set crew to limit the ladvsnce movementof said plate, rollers; I ljournaled in said plate and projecti'fig ,through the same and, provided centrally with peripheral flanges which project be. tween the front portions Of--'S).tl(l belts,- e swing-actuated. presser-foot 'projectin through the openingin said guiderpleteiin iopposing one of said rollers,'and a steinplngvi lcylinder projecting through another opening in said p ate, and opposing the other roller, substantially asset forth. Q. A n'niil-stainping machine, comprising asuitable table strncti'ire, a gnide-plete fixed. thereon, liclt-wheels arranged at opposite ends of said guide-plate, endless bolts 0011- nor-ting said wheels, one of which is provided with peripheral flanges which project outwardly l)c \ond said belts, Wherehy the mail-- matter, as it successively emerges from be tween said bells and said guille-pletgis de-K llectod forwardly and away from theface of 12'' the belts, substantially as set forth. f

10. A mailsnnnpingr machine, comprising a suitable table structure, a guide-plate thereon, a pair of bolt-pulleys. belts connecting; ithc same and adapted to convey inailpuslsfifigp min the face of said plate,.flanges upon one of within the openings of the table and saidplate, and a cylinder mounted rigidly upon said shaft and provided peripherally with an ink-absorbent pad, substantially as set forth.

12. in a mail-stain ping machine, the combinatioi'i with a suitable framework and a stub-shaft projecting therefrom, of a hollow shaft jouri'ialed upon said stud. and perfo' rated above the same, a lirpiid-fight partition within said shaft below said perforations. a cylinder mo untcd rigidly upon said shaft and peripherally grooved and perforated, and an absorbent pad fitting in said groove and coinmunicating by way of the aforesaid apertures with the ink contained ithin the perforated shaft and cylinder,substantially as set forth.

13. To a mail-stamping machine, the comv bination with a suitable fIELHEGWOI'k, and a stub-shaf t proiectiin; therefrom, of a hollow shaft journaled upon said stud, and perforated above the some, a liquid-tight partition within said shaft below said perforations, a cylinder mounted rigidly upon said shaft and peripherally grooved and perforated, and an absorbent pad fitting in said groove and com municating by way of the aforesaid apertures with the ink' contained within the perforated shaft and cylinder, and an adjustal'ile plug closing the upper end of the perforated sh aft, by which the ink may be forced through the apertures of the shaft and the cylinder, thus providing a presse'r-feed, substantiallyset forth.

14. In a mail-stamping machine, the combination with a suitable table structure, a bearing-sleeve secured thereto, a shaft journaled in said sleeve and provided with. a chamber in its upper portion and with an aperture connecting said chamber with thejournal, and a screw-plug closing the upper end of said shaft, sulrstantially as set forth.

15. In a mail-stamping machine, a stamping-cylindor provided peripherally with integra l. cancelingbars and posti'narkingtype, date-stamping type fitting in recesses in said cylinder and provided withdowel pins engaging recesses in the, cylinder, a plate dovetailed upon the cylinder and overlapping said date-ty 'ie, and a set-screw securing said plattc firmly in position, substantially as setort i.

16. In a machine for stamp-canceling and postmarking letters, the combination of the endless belt having a smooth, substantially continuous, surface adapted to engage with.

one-of the faces of each letter, a printing- 7o couple, a lctter-sto". for arresting each letter, and a wall or holc er for engaging with the face of the letter opposite to the bolt, the belt being arranged to press the letters facewise against said well while it is carrying them past the printer, substantially as set forth.-

17. The combination of the drivingiiulley,

the driven pulley, the endless feeder-belt to increase the pressure upon the letter, a 0

printing-couple adjacent to the opposing or abutting surface, a belt-driving pulley engaging with the feeding-belt, and a supplemental belt-guiding pulley at the other end of the active portion of the belt, one of said pulleys being of larger diameter than the other and adapted to engage with and pack the outgoing canceled letters, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of the endless feederbelt having a substantially smooth or unobstructed active surfacegan abutting surface acting in opposition to the active surface of the belt, said belt and abutting surface being adapted to grip the letters by pressure against the faces thereof, a letter separator, a timestop between the ends of the active part of the abutting surface, and a printing-couple between the said ends of said surface, said separator, stop and printing-couple being situated in that part of the path-of the letter where it is gripped by the belt, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of the printing-couple, the time-stop in advance of the printing couple, the letter-separator in advance of thetime-stop, the stacker for the outgoing canccled letters and the abutment orletter-pressing wall, and the traveling letter-carrying device having the endless substantially smooth or unobstructed letter-pressing active surface traveling continuously from the separator to the stacker past the time-stop and the printing-couple, substantially as set forth.

21. In apostmarking and stamp-canceling machine, the combinationof a printing-couple, a letter-stop in advance of the printmgcouple, an initial lctter-feedway in advanceof the letter-stop, and adapted to receive a pack of letters and. to guide said pack on less traveling letter-feeding device, havingasubstantially continuous or unbroken letterpressing surface, traveling continuously from the initial feedway to the stacker, past the stop and the printing-couple, and adapted to engage with the exposed face of the foremost letter of the pack in the said feedway, and move such letter from the feedway to the stacker without releasing its grip, substantially as set forth. 1

22. In a postmarking anl stamp-caneelii'ig machine, the combination of a printing-couple, consisting of two members, a letter-stop at one side of said,printing-couple, a lcttcr-.

pressing abutment or wall adjacent to the printing-couple, and a traveling cn-illess letter-feedin g device ha ving a substantially continuous or unbroken letter-pressing surface arranged to move across the vertical lines of the stops between the members of the printing-couple, and ai'iapted to engage with the stops with the exposed face of a letter opposite the face pressed by the aforesaid lllllltr nicnt and to move such letter past the stop and bctwccn the members of the printingcou'plc, substantially as set forth.

28. 'lhc combination of the stationary wall having an abutting surface parallel to the let tor-pal h and adapted to have the letters prcsscil faccwisc against said surface, a timestop intcrmitlinglv projecting across the letl'erpath a printing-couple between the ends of the said abutting surfacc, and an endless feeding-bell having a substantially smooth or imobstrm-lcd acl ivc surface arranged to press the letters against lhchforcsaid abutting surface and propel the letters while in contact with the abutting surface against said stop, and then the sail printing-couplc, substantially as set forth 24. The combination of the printing-emiple, the rccciving-way' on one side of the printing-conplc, lhc letter-feeding way on the opposilc sire of the n'inting-cimple, a letlcr p.-issagc-wa v from the inner end of the fccding-way to thc receiving-way and an endlcss fccdingbclt having a substantially snloolli or unobstructed active surface arranged to travel across more or less of the inncr cu l of [he fccding-wav and across the a u transvcrsc planes ol the )rrnfang-couple, the

feeding-way being arranged substantially as set forlh lo have a pack of scvcal letters pressed forward in the planes of travel of the belt, whcrcby their inner faces can be successively prcsscd. in parallelism with and against the active surface of the belt to start their travel successively transversely through the printing passage-way, substantially as set forth.

- 25. The combination of the printing-eduple, the receiving-way, the letter-feedway on the opposite side of the printing-couple, and the endless feeding belt having a substantially smooth or unobstructed active surface situated to have more or less thereof exposed at the inner en-i Ol the receiving-way lirectly to the end letter of the pack of outgoing letters, sub tantially as forth.

26. The combination of the supporting-table having three sections consisting of a feedway-section with a vertical wallalong its inner sidc, areeeiving-way section with a vertical wall along itsinner side, and an inter-. mediate section between the two said inner side walls, and having an inner end wall, a

printing couple having its active devices. adapted to move across the vertical lanes of said inner end Wall, a time-stop in advance of the printing-couple adapted to project across the lOiHT-Piltll, both said time-stop and printing-couple being between the ends of said inner end wall, a separator for feeding thelet tcrs singly allowing but one letter to pass at a time, and a lctter-feeding mechanism having an endless lctterpressing substantially continuous surface arranged to press the letters against said inner end wall and to travel continuousl in one direction to advance the letters to the time-stop and past the printingcouple, substantially as set forth.

27. The combination of a support for a pack of let lcrs upon which the bottom edges of the letters rest having a feci'ling-way with a horizontal surface, for the ingoing letters, a receiving-way with a .horizon'uil surface for the outgoing canceled letters, and a cross passage-way between the feeding-way and thc receiving-way, having a horizontal sur face, the said three surfaces being in substantially the same horizontal plane, a printingcouple, a time-stop in advance of the printingcouple for arresting each letter in series prior to reaching the printing-couple, and an endless belt extending past and having snpport ing means beyond said printing-couple, said belt having constant frictional engagement with the [lat face of thc leltcrs in series while they are moving to, and are arrested by said sto 1, while they are moving past the said stop an the )rinting-couplc and after they have passed t 10 printing-couplc, substantially as set forlhv 38. The combination of the letter-support for the bottom edges of lhe lctters having three-sections substantially as described, consisting of a fccdway-scction, a receiving-way section and an intern'icdiatc rclalivclv wide section, an inner wall for the intcrmcdia-te tion, and a letter-propelling feed device beyond or inside of said inner wall of the intermediate section and having a letter-passage between said inner wall and the feed device, 5 and having an endless substantially continuous letter-pressing surface whereby the letters are first separated into a series, and are then while pressed against said inner wall arrested seriatim, and are then propel-led ser'iati'm [0 past the printing-couple, substantially as set forth.

29. The combination of a printing mechanism, a transverse letter passage-way extending past the printing mechanism, a re- I 5 ceiving-way extending at right angles to the letter passage-way, and along which the letters are pushed in a pack on straight lines,

. and an endless belt having its active surface- 1 exposed at the inner end of the receivingz'b way to exert pressure on the face of the end JOHN H. BARR.

pack, substantially as Witnesses:

ARTHUR NOTEMAN, EMMETT L. SNIDER.

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