Improvements in and relating to Pillar, Wall, and other Postal Receiving Boxes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Mar.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pillar, Wall, and other Postal
Receiving Boxes.
I, FRANK HOOLE, of No. 57, Balham Park Road, Balham, in the County of
Surrey, Journalist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to pillar, wall
and other postal receiving boxes, operated by coin-freed apparatus, and has for
its object to guard against fraud by the use of a numbering stamp to impress
a consecutive number upon the letters as they are stamped, and a cash box
having a glass inspection tube terminating in a hopper and having a removeable
base to retain the coins of each collection in their numerical order until it has
been ascertained that no foreign substances have been used for the purpose of
freeing the stamping mechanism. Should such foreign substance have been
used, its numerical position in the glass tube will correspond with the number on
the letter, which can thus be readily identified and the fraud detected.
The invention is also designed to provide more suitable and simple mechanism,
and as constructed the letter or packet is passed through an opening in the
pillar or other box, and passing down a shoot falls on to a moveable base plate
operated by suitable levers balance weights or springs and is caused to take
up a position opposite to the stamps by means of a swinging plate forming one
side of the letter shoot. The coin is passed into a slot corresponding in value
to the stamp to be impressed, and passes down a coin shoot to a bucket, which by
the weight of the coin is depressed sufficiently to remove a supporting rod from
a sliding stop piece. A push or handle is then pressed or turned and the inner
end of the push rod bears against the face of the sliding stop piece and forces
the short arm of a lever outward and causes a stamp to come forward sharply
against the letter in the shoot. At the same time counting mechanism is
operated by a suitable cam lever and the simultaneous removal of an arm
which forms one side of the coin bucket allows the coin to fall into the hopper
and take up its position in the glass tube. The numbering stamp is carried
forward by the stamp lever and is operated thereby. The apparatus may be
constructed with two or more stamps or one only to suit local requirements.
51.1
1900
JAMES G. STOKES,
4, Danes Inn, Strand, London, W.C.,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Pillar, Wall, and other Postal
Receiving Boxes.
I, FRANK HOOLE, of No. 57, Balham Park Road, Balham, in the County of
London, Journalist, 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 has reference to improvements in and relating to pillar, wall
and other postal receiving boxes, operated by coin-freed apparatus, and has for
its object to guard against fraud by the use of a numbering stamp to impress
a consecutive number upon the letters as they are stamped, and a cash box
having a glass inspection tube terminating in a hopper and having a removable
base to retain the coins of each collection in their numerical order until it has
been ascertained that no foreign substances have been used for the purpose of
freeing the stamping mechanism. Should such foreign substance have been
used its numerical position in the glass tube will correspond with the number on
the letter, which can thus be readily identified and the fraud detected.
The invention is also designed to provide more suitable and simple mechanism,
and as constructed the letter or packet is passed through an opening in the
pillar or other box, and passing down a shoot falls on to a movable base plate
operated by suitable levers, balance weights or springs and is caused to take
up a position opposite to the stamps by means of a swinging plate forming one
side of the letter shoot. The coin is passed into a slot corresponding in value
to the stamp to be impressed, and passes down a coin shoot to a bucket, which by
the weight of the coin is depressed sufficiently to remove a supporting rod from
a sliding stop piece. A push or handle is then pressed or turned and the inner
end of the push rod bears against the face of the sliding stop piece and forces
the short arm of a lever outward and causes a stamp to come forward sharply
against the letter in the shoot. At the same time counting mechanism is
operated by a suitable cam lever and the simultaneous removal of an arm
which forms one side of the coin bucket allows the coin to fall into the hopper
and take up its position in the glass tube. The numbering stamp is carried
forward by the stamp lever and is operated thereby. The apparatus is shewn
constructed with two stamps of different values, but of course it may be constructed
with three or more, or one only to suit local requirements.
In the accompanying four sheets of drawings; Fig. 1 is an elevation of the
mechanism, as seen from the interior of a receiving box.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section of the letter shoot, at right angles to the view shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shews the top part of a pillar box with the necessary push, letter opening,
and coin slots when fitted with apparatus of this description.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew, to an enlarged scale, the forms of cam used for operating
the counting mechanism.
'
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the counting mechanism, which is the same as
that described in the specification of my Patent No. 21381 of 1898.
Fig. 9 is a section of a form of stamp suitable for use with this apparatus.
Fig. 10 is a face view of such stamp.

page_text: Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the rod and hollow spindle for operating
the cam and stamp levers.
Fig. 12 is a section shewing the push rod mechanism for operating the cam
and stamp levers through the rod and hollow spindle shewn in Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is an underneath plan of Fig. 12.
Figs. 14 and 15 are cross sections shewing the sliding-stop plates and portions
of the arms or rods attached to the coin buckets which operate same.
Fig. 16 is a section of the numbering stamp.
Fig. 17 is a face view thereof.
Figs. 18 and 19 are diagrammatic views of the numbering discs and stepped
ratchet pawl for operating the numbering stamp, as seen from the back of the
discs.
Similar numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views.
1 is the bed plate for supporting the apparatus, by means of which it is attached
to the interior of the pillar wall or other postal box. 2 are coin shoots for
conducting the coin to the buckets 3. 4 are rods attached to the buckets 3. The
bent arms of these rods pass under and support in the open position the sliding
stop plates 5 which rise and fall in slots in the upper part 6 of the lever 7. These
levers work independently of each other and are secured respectively to a rod 8
and hollow spindle 9, and through these operate the stamp levers 10 and 11. 12 is
the lever for carrying the numbering stamp 13. It works loosely on the rod or
spindle 8. The stamps 14 and 15 are carried on, and operated by, pivotted
extensions of the levers 10 and 11, the said extensions being rigidly held in
position by the sleeves 16 and 17. 18 is an inking pad, carried on the arm 19
and held in position for inking the stamps 13, 14 and 15 by a spiral spring
or other suitable means. 20 is a cross piece attached to the lever 12 causing it
to be moved forward to the stamping position by either of the levers 10 or 11
when operating the stamps 14 or 15. 21 and 22 are levers or arms attached to
the levers 7, their lower ends being cam shaped as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7 for
the purpose of depressing the loose roller 23 and rod 24 for operating the counter
25 as shewn in detail in Fig. 8. 26 and 27 are arms attached to the levers 7
and operated thereby. These arms when in the close position forms one side of
the buckets and serve to liberate the coin from the bucket when the machine is
operated. 28 is a balance weight attached to the pivotted arm. 29 of the bucket 3
to raise the latter to its highest position on the release of the coin. 30 is the letter
shoot for conveying the letter to the position for stamping. 31 is a pad of india
rubber or other material to give a seating to the letter whilst being stamped.
32 is a shutter fixed to the rod 33 which operates by means of the levers 34, 35, 36
and 37, and tumbler 38, the moveable base plate 39; 40 are anti-friction rollers
attached to the arms 41 secured to the stamps 14 and 15 for moving the inking
pad 18 out of the way into the position shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 2 on the
forward movement of either of the stamps. 42 is a spiral spring for ensuring the
return of the lever 37 carrying the tumbler 38 over the base plate 39 when the
latter has returned to the closed position. 43 is a stop piece which takes against
the outer part of the letter shoot to keep the moveable base 39 in the proper
position when it is drawn back by the action of the spiral spring 44 or other
suitable means. 45 is an arm or bracket secured to the standard 46 for supporting
the arm 19 carrying the inking pad 18. 47 is a moveable plate pivotted at 48 for
accommodating the letter shoot 30 to the various sizes of letters and ensuring
their being passed to the proper position at the bottom of the shoot for receiving
the stamp. 49 is a weighted arm attached to the plate 47 to return it to the
position for closing the side of the letter shoot 30 or pressing the letter into
position as before stated. 50 is an arm also attached to the plate 47, and 51 is
a cam on the arm 35 for operating the arm 50 and through it the plate 47
each time the shutter 32 is opened and closed. 52 is a supporting arm, through

page_text: a slot in the end of which the lever 35 works. 53 is a bracket for supporting
the pivotted ends of the levers 36 and 37. 54 and 55 are rods attached by means
of the cross head 56, to the push 57, and these rods 54 and 55 work freely through
collars or openings in the supporting bracket 58, and take into slots or holes 59,
in the head pieces 6 of the lever 7, until either of the sliding stop pieces 5, is
lowered by the descent of the bucket 3 and arm 4, when the corresponding rod
will bear against the face of the sliding stop pieces 5, and operate the lever 7,
and by means of the rod 8 or spindle 9, and the levers 10 or 11 the stamp corre-
sponding thereto. 60 is a crank carrying an arm 61, bent to clear the lever 12
when it is in its backward or outward position. 62 is a pawl pivotted at 63 to the
crank 64. The pawl 62 has at its forward end a stepped ratchet 65 for engaging
with and operating the numbering discs 66. 67 is a spring for returning the crank 64
and pawl 62 to the position necessary for the commencing of each stroke. The
forward movement of either of the stamps 14 or 15 causes the lever thereof to come
in contact with the crank arm 61 slightly before reaching the cross piece 20
attached to the arm 12 carrying the numbering stamp. This causes a forward
motion to the pawl 62 which by the stepped ratchet 65 moves the numbering
disc 66 sufficiently to cause a consecutive number to assume the printing position
When the unit disc has completed a revolution the stepped ratchet makes
contact with the disc carrying the numbers representing tens and moves it
forward once and when the latter disc completes a revolution the stepped
ratchet makes contact with the disc carrying the numbers representing hundreds
moving it forward in a like manner. 68 68 are endless bands carrying the
requisite letters and numbers, of rubber or other suitable material, to form the
stamp. These bands pass over pulleys 69 and spindles 70, which latter are
formed with recesses for receiving a key for turning the type to the desired
position, or they may be fitted with knobs or finger picces for the same purpose.
71 is a hinged face plate for the stamp, having slots 72 and 73 through which the
type on the endless bands project and are secured in position thereby. The
numbering stamp 13 is secured to the lever 12 in such a position by the screw 74
that the face of the stamp shall be parallel to the inner face of the pad or
seating 31 when the stamp strikes the letter or packet. 75 is a hopper for
receiving the coins as they fall when liberated from the buckets 3.
76 is a
glass tube leading from the hopper 75 to the collecting box 77 of the requisite
diameter for holding the largest size coins used in operating the mechanism.
78 is a transverse slot for receiving a stop piece of metal, or other suitable
material, for retaining the coins that may be passed during one collection, into
the glass tube 76, for the purpose of inspection. Instead of being horizontal,
as shewn, such stop piece may be placed at any desired angle, so as to expose a
greater portion of the coins in the tube. By drawing the stop piece from the
slot the coins are allowed to pass away to the collecting box 77 when they have
been found to be correct. 79 is the letter slot or opening through which the letter
or packet is passed into the pillar wall or other postal box.
The operation is as follows:-
The letter or packet is passed through the opening and allowed to fall on to the
moveable base plate. The coin is passed into the slot corresponding in value
to the stamp to be impressed and passed down a coin shoot to the bucket, which
by its weight, is depressed sufficiently to remove the supporting rod from beneath
the sliding stop piece. The push or handle is then pressed to its greatest extent
and the inner end of the push rod bearing against the face of the sliding stop
piece forces the short arm of the lever outward and causes the stamp to come'
forward sharply against the letter in the shoot. At the same time the counting
mechanism is operated by the cam lever and the simultaneous removal of the arm
forming the side of the bucket allows the coin to fall into the hopper, and rest in

page_text: the glass tube. The numbering stamp having been carried forward with the
dating stamp will have impressed a consecutive number upon the letter
or packet, thus enabling the corresponding letter and coin to be readily ascer-
tained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination in a postal receiving box operated by coin-freed mechanism
of a stamp indicating the time and date of posting, attached to a lever operated
by a push rod or handle, and money counter, with a numbering stamp for
impressing consecutive numbers upon the letters or packets substantially as
described and shewn.
2. The combination in a postal receiving box operated by coin-freed mechanism
of a stamp indicating the time and date of posting, attached to a lever operated
by a push rod or handle, money counter, and numbering stamp for impressing
consecutive numbers upon the letters or packets, with an inclined letter shoot
having a moveable base plate for allowing the letters or packets to pass away
into the letter box after stamping, constructed and operated as shewn in and
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination in a postal receiving box, operated by coin-freed mechanism,
of a stamp indicating the time and date of posting attached to a lever operated
by a push rod or handle, money counter, numbering stamp for impressing
consecutive numbers upon the letters or packets, inclined letter shoot and
moveable base, with a hinged shutter affixed to the mouth of the letter shoot,
for operating the moveable base by means of arms or levers substantially as
shewn and described.
4. The combination in a postal receiving box operated by coin-freed mechanism
of a stamp indicating the time and date of posting attached to a lever operated
by a push rod or handle, money counter, numbering stamp for impressing
consecutive numbers upon the letters or packets, letter shoot with moveable base,
and hinged shutter affixed to the mouth of the letter shoot, with a swinging
plate forming one side of the letter shoot, pivotted and weighted for the purpose
of ensuring the passing of letters to the proper side of the shoot for the purpose
of receiving the stamp, substantially as shewn and described.
5. The combination in a postal receiving box operated by coin freed mechanism
of a stamp indicating the time and date of posting attached to a lever operated
by a push rod or handle, money counter, numbering stamp for impressing consecu-
tive numbers upon the letters or packets, letter shoot having a moveable base,
hinged shutter affixed to the mouth of the letter shoot and swinging plate forming
one side of the said letter shoot, with sliding stop pieces operated by arms or levers
affixed to the coin buckets for making the connection between the push rod and
the stamp lever, substantially as shewn and described.
6. The combination in a postal receiving box operated by coin-freed mechanism
of a stamp indicating the time and date of posting, attached to a lever operated
by a push rod or handle, money counter, numbering stamp for impressing conse-
cutive numbers upon the letters or packets, inclined letter shoot having a moveable
base, hinged slutter affixed to the mouth of the letter shoot, swing.
ing plate forming one side of the letter shoot and sliding stop pieces
operated by arms or levers affixed to the coin buckets, with a hopper affixed to
a glass tube connected with a cash box, said glass tube being fitted with a sliding
piece at its base to retain the coins in the glass tube, substantially as shewn and
described.
7. The combination in a postal receiving box, operated by coin freed mechanism
of apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claims, with coin buckets
having a removeable side to allow the coin to fall into the hopper and take up
its position in the glass tube substantially as shewn and described.

page_text: 8. The improved coin-freed mechanism for use in postal receiving boxes sub-
stantially as shewn in and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
ש...
1.
.. Ը Tano1000
FRANK HOOLE,
James G. Stokes,
Chartered Patent Agent.
4, Danes Inn, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.