Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
Figure 5, is a Dorizontal section through the cross piece of the Caffior,
Figure 6, is a detached view of the valve, M.
A, A, are the hoppers; B, B, the carrier; C, the exhauster or pump; D, D, the
belt; E, E, racks for moving the carrier; F, marker or stamper, consisting of a
roller carrying the marking and stamping dies; G, ink roller for inking the dies of
the marker.
which
The carrier, B, B, is moved to and fro from the hoppers to the belt and vice versa,
describing a segment of a circle, by the racks, E, E, meshing with the pinions, H.
The arm, E', connected with the racks by a cross-bar, carries a tooth or stud, e,
runs in the cam shaped groove in the disk, H. A varying motion is given to the
racks by the revolving of the disk. This motion allows the tubes of the carrier,
hereinafter described, "to enter and leave the hoppers very slowly, preventing any
disarrangement of the letters etc., in the hoppers, which would happen if the motion
of the carrier was quick and abrupt.
The carrier approaches and leaves the belt, D, slowly, and remains stationary,
when over the belt, long enough, to allow the letters etc., to be deposited. The travel
of the carrier between the hoppers and the belt, (after leaving the hoppers and before
reaching the belt, and vice versa) is rapid, but the slowing up at both ends of the stroke
prevents any jar.
The exhauster or pump, C, consists of an ordinary cylinder open at, J, with a piston
working to and fro, receiving its motion directly from the shaft, K, by means of the
piston-rod, N, working in a frame, and connecting rod, P.
I, is a metal tube (projecting from the cylinder head) on which is fitted a flexible
rubber tube, L', connecting the exhauster with the tubes of the carrier. M, is a valve
automatically opening and closing by the action of the air in the exhauster. The
belt, D, D, travels in the direction shown by the arrow, and is moved by the miter
gears, a, a, and the pulleys, b, and, 61, connected by a strap. The marker, F, is
connected with the roller, c, from which it receives its motion by the band or strap, d,
running on suitable pulleys.
.
Each of the crank arms, B', B', working in the brackets, T, consists of one piece
and passes through the carrier, B, B, allowing it when describing a semi-circle to
maintain a horizontal position. The centre or cross-piece, B2, of the frame carries
four bell-shaped tubes, 62, (Figures 3, 4 and 5,) arranged in pairs, the dotted lines
in Figure 4, showing the position of the tubes when in the hoppers.
The lower ends of the tubes are open and being encircled by rubber bands, 63,
readily adapt themselves to the face of the letters. The upper ends open into the
channels, 6, (Figure 5,) in the cross-piece, B². The two channels form into one,
and are connected with the exhauster by the flexible tube, L'.

page_text: In Figures 3 and 4, the letter supporter, g, rests on the rod, h, which passes
through an opening in the bottom of the hoppers. A cord, h¹, is fastened at, l,
passes around the pulleys, t, and, t, to the shaft, j, on which it is wound several
times, and then passes downward with the weight, W, fastened to its ends.
On the shaft, j, are one or more ratchet wheels, k, engaged by a pawl, k¹, when
said pawl is released from the ratchet-wheel, the weight, W, will cause the supporter
and letters to ascend. Each hopper has an independent weight, shaft, ratchet-wheel
and pawl. y, is an extension of the hoppers, A, and acts as a support for the carrier
when over the belt, Figure 4.
The belt, D, D, is divided into an equal number of spaces by the strips, m.
A part of the miter wheel, a, is cut away causing the belt to travel the width of
both hoppers, B2, at each revolution of the actuating wheel, S, and to remain
stationary for a short time.
The belt stops when the carrier is over and within a short distance of it, and does
not move until the letters have been deposited, and the carrier has begun its
return to the hoppers.
:
A circular strip of wood, æ, faced with leather, is pressed against the head roller of
the belt by springs and acts as a brake, to prevent the belt from moving when the
miter wheels, a, and, a¹, are not meshing.
It will be seen that at each revolution of wheel, S, two empty spaces take the place
of the spaces on which the letters have been deposited, and which are carried to the
marker, F. If the apparatus had five hoppers, then the belt would travel the
distance of five spaces, at each revolution. The distance between the strips is equal
to the distance from the inner side of one hopper to the corresponding side of the
other. When the belt is stationary, the strips, m, are parallel and almost in a straight
line with the sides of the hoppers; they should come a little back of the sides, so as
not to hinder the letters etc., when brought onto the belt.
The belt and marker, F, i.e. the dies, run at the same speed, the stamping dies are
arranged to come in contact with the letters etc., a little in front of each of the
strips, m, the marker making one revolution, while the belt is travelling the distance
between two of the strips, m.
The marker can carry two or more dies if preferred, it only being necessary that
the dies and belt should travel at the same speed, and that each space of the belt
should be entered by a die and at the same relative place.
The stamping dies may be of any suitable pattern. The inker, G, consists of a
roller running in bearings and faced with several thicknesses of cloth or felt for
absorbing the ink. It is placed directly over the marker, F, which moves it a short
distance at each revolution, bringing the dies in a fresh spot.
The roller can easily be re-inked by hand without removing. Any suitable
inking apparatus however, can be used.
In Figure 2, we show a support or bed, a¹, for the letter while being stamped.
It consists simply of a thin board placed on the inside of the belt, as shown, and
mounted on springs, adapting itself to the thickness of the letters etc., stamped.
The operation of the machine is as follows:
The letters, postals etc., are placed in the corners of the hoppers, the stamps of
the letters, if they are to be cancelled, should also come in the same corner and face
upward.
The carrier, B, B, coming into the position indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 4, brings the rod, w, into contact with the pawls, k', raising them. from the
ratchet wheels. The weights, W, descending, bring the top letter of each hopper
against the tubes, 62. The pawls are forced back by springs against the ratchet
wheels, when the carrier leaves the hoppers. This causes the letters and supporter
to remain stationary and leaves the letters in the correct, position for the next trip of
the carrier. The piston of the exhauster begins the stroke, which causes the suction
in the tubes at the same time as the carrier begins to leave the hoppers. The tubes
of the carrier slowly leave, the hoppers carrying the top letters with them. and, bring

page_text: them directly over the belt, the letters almost touching the belt when the carrier is
resting on the support, y.
At this time, (when the carrier has just reached, y) the piston has not quite finished
its stroke. When it is beginning its return stroke, the letters etc., fall upon the
belt, the suction in the tubes having then ceased. The carrier then returns to
the hoppers, and the belt, when the carrier has left it, moves toward the marker
which brings the stamping dies successively into each space and upon each letter as
it passes under it.
The piston of the exhauster works to and fro continually.
The valve, M, opens by the air pressure, when the piston begins its stroke and
when the carrier is finishing its stroke to the hoppers, the letters etc., then closing the
tubes.
The carrier remains stationary when over the belt while the piston is finishing
the stroke and beginning the return stroke. The belt stops before the arrival of the
carrier at, y, and does not move until after the carrier has begun its return to the
hoppers. The marker only moves when the belt does.
The tubes, 62, Figures 3 and 4, should be arranged to enter the hoppers, bringing
their lower ends wholly within the surface of the smallest of the letters or postals
placed in the corners of the hoppers, and the machine should be so set as to throw
the hoppers at an angle preventing the letters etc., from slipping out of the corners.
The machine described stamps two letters or postals during each revolution of the
wheel, S.
Increasing the number of hoppers increases the capacity of the machine, which is
constructed and geared according to the capacity desired.
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 stamp cancelling and post marking machine, the mechanism for successively
handling the letters and other mail matter consisting of a carrier frame provided on
its under surface with open mouthed tubes, pivoted crank arms by which the carrier
frame is supported, pinions on said crank arms and reciprocating racks engaging the
pinions whereby the carrier frame is moved through an arc of a circle to bring its
tubes into contact with the letters and convey them away, a suction pump and a
flexible tube connecting it with the tubes of the carrier frame whereby the letters are
caused to adhere, substantially as herein described.
2. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, a swinging carrier frame
provided with suction tubes for causing the letters, to adhere, in combination with the
pivoted crank arms supporting the carrier frame, the pinions on the crank arms, the
racks engaging the pinions and the rotating cam connected with the racks, substan-
tially as herein described.
3. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, a hopper for containing the
letters and a travelling belt for receiving and conveying them away, in combination
with a swinging carrier frame provided with suction tubes on its under surface, and
a rotating cam and connections whereby the carrier frame is moved slowly into the
hopper and over the travelling belt, and more rapidly between, substantially as herein
described.
4. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, a hopper for containing the
letters and other mail matter and a travelling belt for receiving and conveying them
away, in combination with a swinging carrier frame provided on its under surface
with suction tubes, pivoted crank arms for supporting said carrier frame, pinions on
the crank arms, racks engaging the pinions, and a rotating cam connected with the
racks whereby the carrier frame is moved slowly into the hopper and over the
travelling belt and more rapidly between, substantially as herein described.
5. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, the swinging carrier frame by
which the letters and other articles of mail matter are successively handled, said frame
having a cross-piece with a longitudinal channel or channels in combination with the

page_text: bell mouthed tubes fitted to the under side of the cross-piece and having their upper
ends communicating with the channel or channels therein, the suction pump and the
flexible tube connecting the pump with the channel or channels of the cross-piece,
substantially as herein described.
6. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, the hopper for containing
the letters and other mail matter and a periodic travelling belt for receiving and
carrying them forward, in combination with the swinging carrier frame provided with
suction tubes whereby the letters are taken from the hopper and deposited upon the
belt, and a stamping and marking roller mounted above the belt for impressing the
letters as they are carried beneath, substantially as herein described.
7. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, a hopper for containing the
letters and other mail matter, a periodically travelling belt for receiving them and
conveying them forward, a swinging carrier having suction tubes for taking the
letters from the hopper and depositing them upon the belt, a periodically rotating
stamper and marker for impressing the letters as they are carried under by the belt,
and a suction pump connected with the tubes of the carrier, in combination with a
main drive shaft, a pitman and crank connecting said shaft with the pump piston
whereby it is operated, a cam on the shaft and connections whereby the carrier frame
is swung, mutilated gearing whereby the power of the shaft is transmitted to operate
the stamper and marker and pulleys and straps from said stamper and marker by
which the belt is caused to travel, substantially as herein described.
8. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, an endless belt on which the
letters and other mail matter are deposited and carried, and a rotating stamper and
marker by which they are impressed, in combination with a spring support or bed for
the letters while being marked and. stamped, located beneath the stamper or marker,
and under the travelling belt, substantially as herein described.
9. In a stamp cancelling and post marking machine, a hopper for containing the
letters and other mail matter and a swinging carrier having suction tubes for taking the
letters etc. from the hopper, in combination with a support for the letters etc. within
the hopper, and having a downwardly extending rod, a cord and weight for pushing
said support upwardly and elevating the letters, a pawl and ratchet for controlling
the movement of the weight, and a rod on the swinging carrier frame for auto-
matically coming in contact with and releasing the pawl, substantially as herein
described.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1880.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.