Improvements in Automatic Time-dating Stamps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
QUDIT LEIE DI POIPTUATION.
Improvements in Automatic Time-dating Stamps.
We, WARREN BUTLER MARTINDALE, Lawyer, and LYMAN MARION
BRACKETT, Banker, both of Rochester, Fulton County, State of Indiana, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained,
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to automatic time dating stamps of the class which are
operated by a motive power independent of the time regulator, and has for its
object to provide an improved method of transmitting and applying such power.
It consists in the novel combination of parts hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1, is the time regulator, showing portions of the front case cut away and
exhibiting a section of the prime motor in line 1-1 of Fig. 2.
Figure 2, is a sectional top view of the prime motor in line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Figure 3, is a sectional side elevation of my improved time stamp in line 3-3 of
Fig. 4. Figure 4, is a front elevation of the same, showing a portion of the cover
cut away and exhibiting a section of the indicating wheels.
Figure 5, is a delineation of a key shown in Figure 3, marked K.
Similar letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
D, represents the case containing the clock, to which (clock) is attached an
electric circuit closer, cc, of a common construction and also contained in the same
case, is the prime motor, consisting of an electromagnet m, having an armature a,
mounted upon a lever L, and having a spring, to retract the same. To the other
end of the lever L is connected the bellows B, the latter being supported in position
by two posts or supports e, e¹ secured to the case D. T, a metal tube connecting
the bellows with the tube R, the latter being preferably made of soft rubber.
G, is an electric battery.
The base of the stamp frame E, shown in Figure 3, is provided with an
impression pad or platen d, preferably of soft rubber. The arm A of said frame
is hinged at one end upon the base E, having at the opposite end an enlarged hollow
head, adapted to contain the stamp mechanism, and provided also with a circular
extension C, to receive the bellows b. Said head is also provided with a removable
cup or cover C, surmounted by a knob k, and carrying ribbon holders H, H' on
which are rolled the ends not in use of the ink ribbon r.
The head of the stamp frame carried on the arm A is held in an elevated
position by the stress of the spring S, said frame is also provided with a key K,
Figure 5. The purpose of said key being to prevent the said head from being
raised by the spring S too far above the platen d, when the stamp is in use or
standing at rest, but to admit of the key being removed and the arm elevated to an
upright position when it is desired to obtain access to the face of the stamp for the
purpose of setting the indicating wheels, or for any other purpose, said key consists
of a long body portion I, an inner upper projection 2, and a finger piece or handle 3.
When in position the long body portion of the key lies between the outer ends of
the arm A and stamp frame E, with the projection 2 engaging the inner face of the
said arm A, and the finger piece on the outside. To remove said key K, the arm
is pressed down to separate the joint, whereupon the key can be easily removed.
The mechanism for printing the date and time and for automatically changing
the same in synchronism with the time regulator, is a common form of pawl and
ratchet movement applied to a set of date and time indicating wheels, all contained
DQ1

page_text: in said hollow head of the arm A, and consists of the disks or wheels i, i,,, it, i³,
each having raised letters or figures on their peripheries and a ratchet wheel Q,
rigidly attached on one side thereof, all mounted loosely on the shaft g.
The said indicating wheels are held in position by the pawls p, which are pivoted
upon and form part of the cross bar J, said pawls p, being pressed against the
ratchets of the indicating wheels by the stress of the spring c, it having a separate
prong to act upon each of the pawls.
The movement of the indicating wheels is accomplished as follows: The
carriage F, having its fulcrum on the shaft g, is adapted to be swung back and
forth. To this carriage F, is pivoted the pawl P, which is divided into six prongs
adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchets on each of the six indicating wheels
designed to be changed automatically. To the other arm of the carriage F, is
pivoted one end of the lever 1, the other end. of which is connected with the
bellows b, which bellows is secured to the wall of the chamber C, and is entered
through said wall by the tube T, to admit of the ingress and egress of air, or other
fluid. The tube T, being connected by the tube R with the prime motor shown in
Figures 1 and 2. The small spring ss, holds the bellows b, extended while at rest
in the event of any leakage removing the pressure from the same.
The operation of my device is as follows: The clock revolves the circuit
closer cc, once a minute, thereby closing the electric circuit, which causes the
magnet m to attract its armature a, and carry back the lever L, opening the
bellows B, which draws the air, or other fluid, from the bellows b, causing it to
compress and retract the lever l, thereby swinging the carriage F, on its fulcrum
and carrying back the pawl P, so that it will drop in and engage the next tooth
on the ratchet Q. When the circuit is again broken by the circuit closer cc, the
armature a is released by the magnet m and retracted by the spring s, causing the
lever L to compress the bellows B, which force the air or other fluid again into
the bellows b, through the tubes T, R, and causes said bellows b, to expand, forcing
the carriage F, carrying the pawl P, back to the position of rest, thereby moving the
indicating wheels engaged by said pawl one step.
The indicating wheel pawls and ratchets are of a common construction and
operate in the usual manner as more fully described in Letters Patent No. 19173
November 25th 1890.
By placing the paper to be imprinted upon the platen d, a blow or suitable
pressure upon the knob k, will bring the face of the indicating wheels, covered by
the ink ribbon r, in contact with the paper and readily produce an imprint of the
date and time indicated thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a time stamp, the combination, with the time printing mechanism, of a
pressure chamber, adapted to be actuated by fluid impulses, and means for trans-
mitting the movements thereof to said printing mechanism.
2. In a time stamp, the combination, with the time printing mechanism, of a
pressure chamber, adapted to be actuated by fluid impulses, means for transmitting
motion from said pressure chamber to the time printing mechanism, a time regulator,
and time transmitter, consisting of a tube through which fluid is forced at intervals
governed by the time regulator, substantially as described.
3. In a time stamp, the combination, with the time printing mechanism, of a
pressure chamber adapted to be actuated by fluid impulses, means for transmitting
motion from said pressure chamber to the time printing mechanism, and a prime
motor, consisting of an electric battery, time mechanism in circuit with said battery,
and electro-magnet, also in said circuit, an armature for said magnet, a compressing
device, suitably connected with said armature, and a tube connecting said com-
pressing device with the pressure chamber, substantially as described.
4. In a time stamp, the combination with the casing D enclosing a time mechanism,

page_text: a compressing device actuated by an electro-magnet in circuit with an electric
battery, said circuit being controlled by said time mechanism, of a time printing
mechanism adapted to be operated by a pressure chamber communicating with said
compressing device and actuated by fluid impulses transmitted therethrough,
substantially as described.
5. In a printing stamp, a stamp frame E, a pivoted arm A, and a key K located
at the juncture of said stamp frame and arm and having a long body portion 1, an
inner uprising projection 2, and a finger piece or handle 3, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated thin 17th 1. Ma jour
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.