Improvements in Machines for Marking Mail Matter.
Year: 1891

page_text: ate of Application, 4th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Marking Mail Matter.
I, MARTIN VAN BUREN ETHRIDGE, of Everett, in the County of Middlesex,
and State of Massachusetts, United States America, Gentleman, 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 that class of machines for marking letters and other
mail matter in which a printing roll or die cylinder is caused to rotate by the
movement of a letter toward it, the letter acting on a suitable starting device, which
indirectly causes the die cylinder to rotate at the proper time to print an
impression upon the passing letter.
The invention has for its chief object to provide means for more efficiently
operating the die cylinder than heretofore, and for causing the rotation of the die
cylinder by the action of a motor, supplied with power in any suitable way, the
motor acting to engage a driver with the die cylinder, which is thus more
positively and effectively operated than in machines of this class heretofore used,
in which the die cylinder is engaged with a driving shaft and caused to rotate by
the direct action of a trigger or starting device located in the path through which
the letters pass to the die cylinder, my improvement involving the employment of a
starting device, which acts only to release or set in operation the motor which
performs the operation of starting the die cylinder. My invention therefore
consists mainly in the combination with a die cylinder which is adapted to be
connected with and disconnected from the shaft or driver that rotates it, of a motor
adapted to establish the connection between the die cylinder and its driver, a
starting device located in the path through which the letters pass to the die
cylinder and adapted to release or start the motor, which is adapted to impart a
given movement to the driver of the die cylinder, and thus connect said driver and
cylinder, and means operated by the resulting rotation of the die cylinder, whereby
the motor is reset for its next operation. The invention also includes the provision
of means for arresting the rotation of the die cylinder after it has performed its
allotted work, and thus holding it positively in a predetermined position prepara-
tory to the next operation. The invention also includes certain combinations, and
the construction of certain elements of an organized machine embodying my
invention.-
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, that
portion of the machine which includes the die cylinder, its driver and locking or
arresting devices, being shown in section.
Figure 1 represents a part detached.
Figure 2 represents a detached view of a portion of the machine, showing the
air pump which supplies power to the motor.
Fig. 3 represents a top view of the machine.
Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4, of Figure 1, looking toward the left.
Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5, Fig. 1, looking toward the right.
Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of a portion of the machine, showing movable
bearings or holders which support the impression roll and one of the feed rolls,
hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7 7, Fig. 1, looking toward the right.
Fig. 8 represents a section on line 8 8, Fig. 1, and a plan view of the parts
below said line.
Fig. 9 represents a side elevation of parts of the machine shown in Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 represents a side view of the die cylinder.

page_text: Fig. 11 represents an end view and Fig. 12 a side view of the valve chest and the
valve operating devices.
Fig. 13 represents a perspective view of the valve.
Figs. 14 and 15 represent section on lines 14 and 15, Fig. 12.
Fig. 16 represents a perspective view of the valve, in a different position.
Figs. 17 and 18 are sections on lines 14 and 15, Figure 12, showing the valve in
the position shown in Fig. 16.
Fig. 19 represents a longitudinal section of the valve on the plane indicated by
line 19 19, Fig. 13.
Figs. 20, 21 and 22 represent modifications hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 23 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, showing an electric instead of a
mechanical motor.
Fig. 24 represents a top view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 23.
Fig. 25 represents an end view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 24.
Figs. 26, 27 and 28 represent modifications.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings-
a represents the supporting frame, having a shelf or table a¹ along which the
letters to be marked are carried by means such as a conveying belt b, and pressure
devices co-operating therewith, to the feed rolls and printing mechanism presently
described, and another table a which receives the printed letters and is provided
with a packing device, the packing table being preferably located at a lower plane
than the feeding or supply table, so that the printed letters after leaving the table a¹
descend on to the packing table. The feed table is preferably formed to
continuously support the letters, not only while they are being impelled by the
carrying belt, but also while they are under the positive control of the feed rolls
and printing and impression rolls next described.
c represents the printing roll or die cylinder, which is located above the table a¹
and is mounted on a fixed tubular journal or sleeve a³ and rotated by a continuously
rotating driver, which is composed of a shaft or spindle c¹ passing through said
journal or sleeve and a movable clutch on said shaft, the die cylinder receiving
motion from said driver only when connected therewith by the clutch, which is
caused to connect the die cylinder with the shaft by a letter approaching the die
cylinder as hereinafter described, and maintains the connection until the latter has
passed from the die cylinder, the connection being then automatically discontinued
so that the rotation of the die cylinder ceases. A clutch or locking device is
provided to arrest the die cylinder and prevent it from rotating loosely at the
moment of its disconnection from the shaft, so that the die is at all times positively
controlled.
An impression roll d co-operates with the die cylinder in printing the letters, and
the letters are positively presented to the impression roll and die cylinder by means
of feed rolls ee arranged to receive the letters from the conveyor b. The impression
roll is affixed to a shaft d', and the feed rolls e e are affixed to shafts el e. The said
shafts c' d'e¹ and e² are provided with gears fat their lower ends, and are rotated by
power communicated from a shaft g by means of a gear g' on said shaft meshing
with an independent gear g³ and a gear o affixed to the shaft e', gear y' affixed to
the independent gear and meshing with the gears on the shafts e and d', and
a gear meshing with the gears on the shafts e¹ and c', as shown in Fig. 3,
the feed rolls, die cylinder, driver and impression roll being rotated simultaneously
by said gearing and all receiving motion from the shaft g. The shafts d' and e
are journalled in bearings in yokes or frames ss, having ears 28, which are
mounted to swing on a stud (Fig. 6) affixed to the supporting frame. The
swinging movement of the frames ss enables the impression roll' and the feed roll
on the shaft e to yield to the extent required by variations in the thickness of
letters passing between the feed rolls and between the impression roll and die
cylinder. Springs, bearing on the frames s, act to normally press the rolls
carried by said frames against the parts with which they co-operate.

page_text: The letter operated mechanism that engages the die cylinder with its driver
is as follows
(Fig. 1) represents a sleeve adapted to slide on the shaft c' and connected
therewith by means of a feather or spline c on the shaft, engaging a groove (not
shown) in the sleeve, this connection causing the sleeve to rotate with the shaft,
and permitting it to slide thereon. The sleeve c² is provided with a clutch surface
or member c³, formed to engage a corresponding clutch surface or member c* on the
die cylinder c, said members being preferably formed to act as a clutch of the
frictional type, although they may be formed to act positively, if preferred.
The sleeve c is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1, to make the
clutch members inoperative, by means of a sleeve c which is mounted to slide on
the fixed bearing or sleeve a³, and is normally raised by a spring c² into contact
with the sleeve c. A spring is arranged to press the sleeve in the opposite
direction, and thus operatively connect the two clutch members, but said spring is
weaker than the spring e', hence it acts only when the spring c² and sleeve care
retracted as presently described. The clutch members ce are therefore normally
separated by the spring c leaving the die cylinder loose upon its driving shaft. The
npper end of the driver shaft c' is supported by a bearing 20 in a bracket "
(Fig. 5) affixed to the supporting frame. is a roll or drum mounted on the
shaft and having a cavity which receives the spring c³, said roll being formed to
cover the driver clutch collar c and to co-operate with one of the feed rolls in
supporting and guiding the letters. The sleeve e is prevented from rotating by
means of a pin or stud z affixed to the sleeve or bearing a³ and passing through a
slot in said sleeve. To engage the die cylinder with the driver above described,
I employ a motor which is caused to act by a starting device operated by the
movement of a letter toward the printing die and acts to forcibly retract the
sleeve and spring c³, thus permitting the driver clutch to engage and rotate
che die cylinder, said motor being reset for another action by the resulting rotation
of the die cylinder. I have here shown as the motor a cylinder h, suitably affixed
to the supporting frame, and a piston h', in said cylinder, means being provided
as presently described to introduce compressed air or other fluid under pressure
into the cylinder in such a manner as to move the piston first in one direction
and then back. The piston has a rod extending through one end of the cylinder
and enga ed with a lever ³ which is affixed to a rock shaft * mounted in fixed
bearings and provided with an arm / which bears on a stud on a lever h. One
end of said lever is pivoted at 18 to the supporting frame, and its other end
bears on a flange on the lower end of the sleeve c. When the piston and its rod
are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the arm his moved
to depress the lever, said lever being thus caused to retract the sleeve c' and
spring and permit the spring c8 to force the driver clutch into engagement
with the die cylinder. The motor cylinder h is provided with a valve chest or
casing having inlets at ho h", for the reception of the piston impelling fluid,
said inlets being connected by a suitable arrangement of pipes ¹ with a source
of supply of the impelling fluid, which source is here shown as a pump i (see
Fig. 2), the piston of which is operated by a connection with the driving shaft of
the machine as hereinafter described, said pump being connected with the con-
ducting pipe A in such a manner as to force compressed air therethrough to the
inlets ho, In the valve chest h' is a rotary cylindrical valve h¹³, affixed to a
shaft or spindle, adapted to oscillate in bearings in the valve casing, said valve
being constructed and arranged so that when said shaft is turned to the position
shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, the impelling fluid will pass to one end of the
cylinder through a passage 1, and thus impel the piston in the direction indicated
by the arrow in Fig. 1, the fluid in the opposite end of the cylinder at the same
time exhausting through a passage 18 and an exhaust port h" which is connected
therewith by the valve h¹. When the shaft is turned to its other position, shown
in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the impelling fluid is permitted to pass through the
passage into the opposite end of the cylinder, thus retracting the piston, the

page_text: fluid exhausting from the other end of the cylinder through the passage 1 and
an exhaust port", which is connected by the valve with the last named passage.
The valve is provided at one end with ports 25 26 in its lower portion which
connect alternately with the passage 18, and with a port 29 in its upper portion
which in one position of the valve connects with the exhaust port 1 (see Figs. 14
and 17). The opposite end of the valve has ports 27 28 in its lower portion
connecting alternately with the passage 18, and a port 30 in its upper portion,
which in one position of the valve connects with the exhaust port 17 (see Figs. 15
and 18).
The interior of the valve is divided by partitions 31 and 33 into
chambers, two of which are closed at the ends of the cylinder by walls 32, 32.
One of said chambers connects the exhaust ports 26 and 29 at one end of the valve
(Fig. 14), while the other chamber connects the exhaust ports 28 and 30 at the
other end of the valve (Fig. 18). The chambers containing the inlet ports 25
and 27 are open at the ends of the valve and both receive the impelling fluid.
The valve chest is longer than the valve (see Fig. 12) and contains chambers at
the ends of the valve which receive the impelling fluid from the inlet 10 h¹¹, the
valve being therefore at all times balanced so that it may be easily turned from
one position to the other by the spring / and arm ³ as next described.
The valve is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 13 14 and 15 by means
of an arm and devices co-operating therewith as hereinafter described, said arm
acting on the valve through a lever 420, pivoted at " to the supporting frame, and
provided with a gear segment 22 and a gear or pinion affixed to the shaft 1
and meshing with the segment 22. 24 represents a spring engaged at one end
with the lever and at its other end with a fixed arm or other support A, the
stress of said spring being exerted to move the lever 20 from the position in
which it is held by the arm 3 when said arm is displaced by a moving letter
as presently described, the shaft and its valve being moved by the spring to
the position required to admit the impelling fluid to the right hand end of the
cylinder, as viewed in Fig. 1, and permit the fluid to exhaust from the opposite
end of the cylinder.
j represents a finger or projection which is arranged in the path through which a
letter moves in entering between the feed rolls, said finger being preferably arranged
at about the point of nearest approach of said rolls, as shown in Fig. 8. Said
finger is formed on a yoke or frame j', which has a sliding motion on a block,
mounted loosely on the shaft e', the slot or opening in the frame j' that receives the
block being longer than said block, so that the frame j¹ and the projection j
thereon are adapted to move toward and from the path of the letter, the loose
connection of the block to the shaft e permitting said block and the frame j
to turn or oscillate on the shaft e¹. The yoke or frame is provided with an
arm, which is arranged to bear upon the lever 20, as shown in Fig. 8. When the
letter k is advancing in the direction indicated by the arrow, along the path
indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 8, and strikes the finger or projection j,
it moves the said finger and the yoke or frame and its attachments from the
position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. This movement
causes the arm to move toward the fixed support of the spring ", and thus
permits said spring to move the lever to the position required to change the
valve to the position required to give the piston its forward or clutch operating
motion. As the finger or projection is moved in the arc of a circle by the letter,
it is gradually displaced out of the path of the letter, as shown by dotted lines, so
that the letter passes over the projection on its way to the die cylinder.
A spring is connected to the arm formed on the yoke or frame j', said spring
being connected at one end with the supporting frame, and arranged so that it
normally holds the yoke or frame and its projection j in the position shown in full
lines in Fig. 8, the spring yielding to permit the displacement of the projection
and frame by the letter.
je represents a finger, which is positively connected at to the supporting frame,
and is normally held by the spring ja in position to encounter a stud" on the lower

page_text: end of the arm when the latter is moving from its full line to its dotted line
position. The swinging end of said finger has a projection which enters a segmental
slot ja on the supporting frame, and is held by the spring against one end of said
slot When the arm is moving to its dotted line position, its stud j passes over
the finger, the latter yielding and swinging downwardly until the stud passes over
it, the spring returning the finger to the position shown after the arm j has
passed to its dotted line position. When the yoke or frame j' is restored to its
normal position by the spring j, the arm strikes the under side of the
finger jo, and is caused thereby to move downwardly, thus carrying the yoke or frame j¹
and finger downwardly during the return movement of said finger, so that the
finger assumes a position at right angles to the path of the letter and is ready to
re-enter said path as soon as the passing letter has passed on, the spring pressing
the finger upwardly against the letter and raising it to its operative position after
the passage of the letter.
The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows-The letters are
presented to the belt or carrier by a clerk standing by the table a', the letters
being guided toward the belt by a diagonal guide a attached thereto (see Fig. 3).
A series of swinging arms or fingers m, pressed by springs mi toward the belt, press
the letters against the belt as they pass along, and thus ensure the frictional contact
between the letters and belt necessary for the carrying of the letter forward by the
belt. Each letter is thus delivered to the feed rolls e e, which are continuously
rotated by the means above described. The feed rolls impart a positive forward
movement to the letter and force it against the projection or finger which is dis-
placed by the letter as described, so that the lever is released by the arm j³.
The spring thereupon acts through the lever 420, segment 2, gear, and
shaft on the valve 3 and changes its position so that compressed air is
admitted through the passage to the right hand end of the cylinder. The
piston being normally at this end of the cylinder the admission of air thereto forces
the piston and its rod in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, thus moving
the lever and causing it to retract the clutch displacing sleeve. The driver
clutch is then engaged by the spring with the die cylinder clutch e, and the
die cylinder thereupon commences to rotate positively with the shaft c', the printing
characters or surfaces on the die cylinder being thus caused to act on the letter
at a given point in the forward movement thereof. The impression roll d which is
continuously rotated co-operates with the dic cylinder during the rotation thereof
in feeding the letter forward and delivering it upon the packing table a².
The die cylinder is provided with a tooth or projection el at its upper end, which
strikes an arm on the yoke or frame when the die cylinder has nearly
completed its rotation, and restores the said yoke and the finger; to their operative
position just at the completion of a full rotation of the die cylinder. This movement
of the yoke or frame causes the arm to move the lever 120 against the stress
of the spring, thus shifting the valve to the position required to retract the
piston and release the lever ', whereupon the spring craises the sleeve and
disconnects the driver clutch from the die cylinder. The sleeve is provided with
a clutch surface 2 which is brought in contact with a similar clutch surface con
the die cylinder by the upward movement of the sleeve, thus stopping the rotation
of the die cylinder. At the same time two lugs or ears c c (Fig. 1A) on the
sleeve center recesses cc (Fig. 10) in the lower end of the die cylinder and
by bearing against shoulders at the ends of said recesses determine with exactness
the position in which the die cylinder stops, so that when said cylinder is again
rotated its printing characters are exactly timed as to the point where they
commence to print the letter.
It will be seen from the foregoing that each letter on its way to the die cylinder
actuates a motor releasing or starting device, viz. the finger and arm j³, the
latter releasing the lever and permitting the spring to shift the valve, thus
causing the motor to perform the operation of connecting the die cylinder with
the driver. It will also be seen that the die cylinder in completing the resulting

page_text: rotation acts by its tooth c to restore the motor starting device to its operative
position and thus, by again changing the position of the valve, reset or prepare
the motor for its next operation.
By the employment of a motor, set in operation by a letter operated starting
device, to connect the die cylinder with its driver, I avoid imposing any excessive
and injurious duty on the moving letters, the only force or pressure required
of the letters against the finger j to shift the valve being that involved in
overcoming the slight excess of force of the spring over that of the spring h
the spring being sufficiently stronger than the spring " to enable the arm
to hold the device 420 against the force of the spring when there is no pressure
against the finger j. The motor therefore makes the machine more reliable and
positive in its operative than a machine in which the die cylinder is connected with
its driving shaft wholly by the force or pressure exerted by the moving letters
against a starting device or trigger.
I do not limit myself to the particular motor and the means for starting and
resetting the same here shown, but may employ any other suitable motor and
starting and resetting devices without departing from the spirit of my invention.
In Figs. 23 to 28, inclusive, I show an electric motor for the same purpose, said
motor being here shown as composed of an electro magnet 30, suitably affixed to
the supporting frame, and a lever pivoted at 4° to the supporting frane, and
having attached to it the armature of the electro magnet. The swinging
end of the lever ' bears on a flange on the lower end of the sleeve c*.
When
the said sleeve is in the position shown in Fig. 23, it raises the lever h' and holds
the armature, away from the poles of the electro magnet.
The electro magnet is included in an electric circuit, which also includes a
battery or other source of electricity, and a circuit closing device, which is
arranged to be operated by a letter approaching the feed rolls e e, the arrangement
being such that when the circuit is closed through the electro magnet, the
armature is attracted and gives a movement to the lever h', which causes the
retraction of the sleeve c and allows the spring of to throw the driver clutch c²
into engagement with the die cylinder, thus causing the rotation of the latter.
The circuit closing device includes a finger j, which is attached to a movable
yokej, mounted on a block 2, which is supported and adapted to oscillate upon
the feed roll shaft . Said yoke is normally held by a spring engaged with an
arm on the yoke, in the position shown in Fig. 24, the finger projecting across
the path in which a letter moves in entering between the feed rolls. The yoke j¹
is provided with another arm j", which supports a contact spring j", said spring
being insulated from the arm by a block 3 of rubber or other insulating
material. The contact spring 2 is an electrode, and is connected by a wire
with one pole of the battery 30
The circuit closing device also includes a contact spring or electrode, which
is supported by an arm or bracket 0 affixed to the supporting frame, and is insulated
from said arm by an insulating block. The electrode is connected by a wire 6
with one pole of the electro magnet. The electrodes 80, and the wires 5 and 6,
form parts of an electric circuit which includes the battery and the electro magnet,
the pole of the battery opposite to the one connected to the wire 5 being connected
to one pole of the electro magnet by a wire 7, while the other pole of the electro
magnet is connected with the electrode 10 by the wire 6, as already described.
When a letter moving forward between the feed rolls strikes the finger ;, it
displaces the said finger against the stress of the spring, thus swinging the
yokej and causing the arm to move the electrode into contact with the
electrode. This contact closes the circuit, energizes the electro magnet, and
causes said magnet to attract its armature ³, the result being the movement
of the lever h', which establishes the connection between the driver clutch and
the die cylinder, the latter being thus caused to rotate and print the advancing
letter.
The die cylinder is provided with a tooth or projection c", which is arranged to

page_text: strike an arm j¹³, on the yoke j¹ just before the die cylinder has made a complete
rotation, the contact of said tooth with the arm moving said arm and thus
restoring the yoke j¹, finger and arm to their original positions, the finger j
being thereby restored to the latter path and the electrode separated from the
electrode 10 thus breaking the circuit and causing the electro magnet 10 to
release the armature . The spring c then acts to separate the driver clutch
from the die cylinder and at the same time move the lever so as to prepare it
for the next operation of establishing the connection between the driver clutch
and the die cylinder.
It will be observed that the yoke j', carrying the electrode constitutes the
movable part or member of a circuit closer, the other member of which is the
electrode. It will also be observed that the only duty required of the said
movable circuit closer is to establish contact between the electrodes and j³,
which duty is extremely light, so that the advancing letter has to exert but a very
slight pressure upon the finger to accomplish the desired result, the force required
to establish the connection between the driver clutch and the die cylinder being
furnished by the electric motor which is energized by the closing of the circuit.
The form of electric motor here shown, comprising the electro magnet, an
armature therefor, and the lever attached to the armature, is the simplest and
most practicable form at present known to me. I do not limit myself, however,
to this particular electric motor, but may use any other suitably constructed motor
adapted when made operative by the closing of an electro circuit to furnish the
power required to establish a connection between the driver clutch and the die
cylinder.
I am aware that it has been proposed to operate a letter marking stamp by
power furnished by an electric motor included in a circuit which is closed by the
movement of a letter, the motor furnishing all the power which operates the stamp
and causes it to make an impression upon the letter. My invention is distinguished
from all previous attempts to operate a letter marking stamp or die by an electric
motor, in that the motor does not furnish the power which operates the stamp or
die, but simply furnishes the power required to establish an operative connection
between the printing device or die cylinder and a continuously operated driver,
which is impelled by the power of the machine. The advantage of my improvement,
in positiveness and reliability of operation, is obvious.
In Fig. 26 I show the lever engaged at its swinging end with two flanges on
the sleeve c, so that the lever may move the sleeve in both directions. In this
case the spring c that causes the displacement of the driver clutch and the
retraction of the armature would be attached to the lever A' and to a suitable
fixed support.
My invention is not limited to the particular construction of devices herein
shown, and said construction may be variously modified without departing from the
spirit of my invention.
is
If desired, the motor may be operated by breaking the circuit instead of closing
it, the circuit being normally closed. In Figs. 27 and 28, I show a suitable
arrangement for operating the motor by breaking the circuit. In this case, the
movable electrode is held in contact with the other electrode 80 by the frame 1
when said frame is in its normal position, and the finger; is in the letter path.
The lever is extended rearwardly beyond its pivot 8, and the armature
attached to the rear end of the lever, as shown in Fig. 28, the electro magnet 50
being correspondingly located. It will be seen that when the finger j is displaced
by the advancing letter, the circuit will be broken, thus causing the release of the
armature. The spring is thus permitted to act in connecting the driver
clutch c with the die cylinder. The circuit is closed by the action of the tooth
or projection c on the die cylinder during the latter part of the rotation thereof,
the magnet thus being caused to attract its armature and thus move the lever /
sc as to displace the driver clutch and stop the rotation of the die cylinder. The
.

page_text: lever his in this case. engaged with two flanges on the sleeve c, so that it moves
said sleeve positively in both directions. In this modification, the spring c² is
not required.
The packing table a* has an opening a' in which is located the packing screw m",
said screw is attached to a shaft m arranged at right angles with the path in
which the letters are moved forward by the feeding and printing mechanism. The
letters as they are forced upon the packing table enter the spaces between the
convolutions of the screw, and are moved by the rotation of the latter in
the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. A guard or wall a extends along
two sides of the table to prevent the letters from falling off. A finger nis
pivoted at n' to said wall and has a curved end n² arranged to be struck by the
forward end of an advancing letter, the blow of the letter causing the part n³ of
said finger to swing against the side of the letter and force it against the larger
convolutions of the screw.
o represents the driving shaft of the machine which is connected by gears o' o²
with a shaft o. One end of the shaft o³ is connected by bevel gears of with a
shaft o, which in turn is connected by gears o' o with the shaft m30 that rotates
the packing screw. The other end of the shaft o is connected by bevel
gears oo with the shaft g which operates the feed rolls, impression roll, and die
cylinder driver, as above described. The shaft g has a pulley o" which is con-
nected by a belt o¹ with a pulley o" on a shaft o" on which is a pulley o" which
drives the conveying belt b.
The air pump (Fig. 2) comprises a cylinder attached to the supporting frame,
a piston in said cylinder and spring controlled inlet and outlet valves, the
valve yielding inwardly to admit air to the cylinder when the piston is raised,
while the valve yields to permit the air to pass under pressure to the pipe
when the piston descends. The rod of the piston is connected by a rod i with
a strap on an eccentric on the driving shaft o.
The construction of various parts of the above described mechanism may be
modified in several particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention.
In Fig. 20, I show the driver clutch sleeve c² extended down to the lever h', the spring
bearing directly against the lower end of said sleeve, the sleeve e being omitted.
In Fig. 21, I show the sleeve e provided with two flanges cl and arranged
to bear on opposite sides of the lever h, so that said lever moves the sleeve c
positively in both directions, the spring 7 being omitted. In Fig. 22 I show the
arm connected by a link with the lever 2, and thus adapted to move said
lever in both directions, the spring being omitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination substantially as herein-
before set forth, of a die cylinder, a driver having a clutch which is normally
separated from the die cylinder, a motor adapted to connect the driver clutch
with the die cylinder to cause the rotation of the latter, a motor starting device
arranged in the letter path, and means for resetting the motor by the rotation of
the die cylinder.
2. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination of a die cylinder, a
driver having a clutch normally separated from the die cylinder and adapted to
be engaged therewith, a motor adapted to establish a connection between the driver
clutch and die cylinder, and a motor starting mechanism operated by an advancing
letter to give the motor its clutch operating movement, and by the resulting
rotation of the die cylinder to reset the motor for its next operation.
3. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination of a die cylinder, a
driver having a clutch normally separated from and adapted to be engaged with
the die cylinder, a motor adapted to establish a connection between the driver

page_text: clutch and die cylinder, a motor starting mechanism operated by an advancing
letter to give the motor its clutch operating movement, and by the resulting
rotation of the die cylinder to reset the motor for its next operation, and a die
cylinder locking device which is displaced by the clutch operating movement of
the motor, and made operative by the resetting movement of the motor, as set
forth.
4. In a machine for marking mail matter the combination of a die cylinder
mounted on a fixed sleeve or journal, a driver comprising a rotating shaft or
spindle, and a clutch rotating with and movable in said spindle, and adapted to
automatically engage the die cylinder, automatic, means for normally displacing
the driver clutch, a motor adapted to connect the driver clutch with the die
cylinder, a motor starting device operated by a moving letter, and means operated
by the rotation of the die cylinder for resetting the motor and permitting the
displacement of the driver clutch, as set forth.
5. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination of a die cylinder
mounted on a fixed sleeve or journal, a driver comprising a rotating shaft or spindle
and a clutch rotating with and movable on said spindle, said clutch being adapted
to automatically engage the die cylinder, a spring adapted to displace the driver
clutch, a lever adapted to retract said spring and thus permit the operation of the
driver clutch, and means substantially as described for operating said lever.
6. In a machine for marking mail matter, a die cylinder mounted on a fixed
sleeve or journal, combined with a driver comprising a rotary shaft or spindle
and a clutch rotating with and movable on said spindle, a spring adapted to
engage the driver clutch with the die cylinder, a stopping sleeve having means
for engaging and locking the die cylinder and provided with an actuating spring
which is stronger than the driver clutch spring, a motor adapted to displace the
stopping sleeve and permit the operation of the driver clutch, a motor starting
device operated by a moving letter and means operated by the rotation of the die
cylinder for resetting the motor and permitting the action of the stopping sleeve,
as set forth.
7. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination of a die cylinder
mounted on a fixed sleeve or journal, a rotating shaft or spindle passing through
said sleeve, a die cylinder driving clutch on said spindle, a spring adapted to
engage said clutch with the die cylinder, a stopping sleeve having means for
engaging and locking the die cylinder and provided with an actuating spring of
greater strength than the clutch operating spring, a lever engaged with the
stopping sleeve, a motor adapted to move said lever to displace the stopping sleeve
and its spring, and a motor starting device operated by the movement of a letter
toward the die cylinder, as set forth.
8. In a machine for marking mail matter the combination with letter feeding
mechanism and an impression roll, of a die cylinder, a driver having a clutch
adapted to engage the die cylinder and normally separated therefrom, a motor
adapted to connect the driver clutch with the die cylinder, said motor including a
cylinder, a piston, and connections between said piston and the driver clutch whereby
said clutch is made operative by a movement of the piston in one direction, a motor
starting device including a valve and a casing therefor controlling the admission and
exhaust of an impelling fluid to and from said cylinder, a finger normally in the
letter path and connections between the finger and valve, whereby the valve is
held in one position when the finger is in the letter path, and in another position
when the finger is out of the letter path, the valve being turned to its motor
starting position by the displacement of the finger from the letter path, and a
tooth or projection on the die cylinder adapted to co-operate with said motor
starting mechanism in resetting the motor during the rotation of the die cylinder,
as set forth.
9. In a machine for marking mail matter the combination with letter feeding
mechanism and an impression roll, of a die cylinder, a driver having a clutch
adapted to engage the die cylinder and normally separated therefrom, a motor

page_text: adapted to connect the driver clutch with the die cylinder, said motor including a
cylinder, a piston, and connections between said piston and driver clutch whereby
said clutch is made operative by a movement of the piston on one direction, the
motor starting mechanism including an oscillatory valve and a casing therefor
adapted to control the admission and exhaust of an impelling fluid to and from the
cylinder, a valve operating lever engaged with the shaft of said valve, a movable
yoke or frame having a finger arranged to stand in the letter path, a spring
whereby said finger is yieldingly.held in the letter path and an arm arranged to
bear on the valve operating lever, said arm holding the valve in its motor resetting
position through the operating lever when the finger is in the letter path, and
permitting the valve to assume its motor starting position when the finger is
displaced from the letter path by an advancing letter, as set forth.
10. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination with letter feeding
mechanism and an impression roll, of a die cylinder, a driver having a clutch
adapted to engage the die cylinder and normally separated therefrom, a motor
adapted to connect the driver clutch with the die cylinder, said motor including
first, a cylinder, secondly, a piston therein, thirdly, a lever adapted to establish an
operative connection between the driver clutch and die cylinder when moved in
one direction, and fourthly, connections between said lever and the piston whereby
the lever is given its clutch operating movement by the forward movement of the
piston, and motor starting mechanism operated by an advancing letter to give the
piston its forward movement and by the rotation of the die cylinder to give
the piston its backward or clutch separating movement..
11. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination with a die cylinder,
a driver having a clutch normally separated from and adapted to be engaged with
the die cylinder, and a motor adapted to establish a connection between the driver
clutch and die cylinder, said motor including a cylinder and a piston therein, of
motor starting mechanism consisting of a movable yoke or frame having a finger
yieldingly held in the letter path, an oscillatory valve and a casing therefor
adapted to control admission and escape of an impelling fluid to and from said
cylinder, a valve operating lever having a gear segment meshing with a gear in
the shaft of the valve, a spring arranged to move the valve through said lever to
position to give the motor its clutch operating movement, an arm on said yoke or
frame arranged to prevent the action of said spring when the finger is in the letter
path, the spring being permitted to act by the displacement of said finger, and a
tooth or projection on the die cylinder adapted to engage another arm on said yoke
or frame during the rotation of the die cylinder, and thereby move the yoke or
frame to its starting position, thus causing the movement of the valve to the
position for resetting the motor, as set forth.
12. The combination with a motor which includes a cylinder and a piston
therein, of a motor starting mechanism including a valve chest or casing
connected with the opposite ends of the cylinder by two passages, and provided
with two inlets for an impelling fluid, and two exhaust ports, a valve in said
casing having two pairs of ports each adapted to coincide alternately with one of
said passages, and with two exhaust ports adapted to coincide alternately with the
exhaust ports of the casing, said valve being subdivided as described so that one
part of each pair is separated from the other, a spring pressed and operating
lever engaged with the shaft of the valve and adapted to hold the valve in one of
its positions, and a spring controlled lever actuating yoke or frame having a finger
yieldingly held in the letter path, and an arm arranged to force the valve through
the operating lever to its other position against the stress of the operating lever
spring, as set forth.
13. The combination with the feed rolls, impression roll, and die cylinder, of the
yoke or frame mounted to both slide and oscillate on the shaft of one of the feed
rolls, and provided with a finger arranged to operate a motor starting valve, a
spring to yieldingly retain said yoke or frame in the position from which it is
adapted to be moved by a letter and a deflector such as arranged to yield to the

page_text: movement imparted to the yoke or frame by a letter, and to obstruct the return
movement caused by the spring, whereby the yoke or frame is retracted during its
return movement and prepared to re-enter the letter path in the proper position, as
set forth.
14. The combination with the feed rolls, impression roll, and die cylinder, of
the spring pressed pivoted frames supporting one of the feed rolls and the
impression roll, said frames being adapted to swing laterally and thus accommodate
said feed roll and impression roll to the thickness of the letters, as set forth.
15. The combination with the feed rolls, impression roll and die cylinder, of the
shafts operating said rolls and cylinder, each of said shafts having a gear f, a
driving shaft g, and gearing connecting said shaft with the gear f, as set forth.
16. The combination with the packing table and packing screw, of a pivoted
finger arranged to be moved or tilted by the advancing movement of a letter onto
the table, a portion of said finger being thereby caused to move the letter sidewise,
as set forth.
17. In a machine for marking mail matter, the combination of a die cylinder, a
driver therefor having a clutch which is normally disconnected from the die
cylinder, a motor including a cylinder and piston therein, said motor being adapted
to establish a connection between the driver clutch and die cylinder, an air pump
or compressor operated by the power of the machine to supply the motor with
compressed air, and a motor starting mechanism including a valve controlling the
admission and exhaust of the compressed air operated through the agency of an
advancing letter to give the motor its clutch operating movement, as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1891.
MARTIN VAN BUREN ETHRIDGE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.