Improvements in Machines for Printing Addresses on Envelopes, Wrappers and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 9th day of September, 1897.
Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Machines for Printing Addresses on Envelopes,
Wrappers and the like.
I, JOSEPH SMITH DUNCAN, of 442 West Adams Street, Chicago, in the County
of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 manually operated printing machines
which are used for printing or stamping addresses upon envelopes, newspaper
wrappers, postal cards and for printing the headings on mimeograph letters.
The above indicate the more general uses of the machine, but machines of
this character are adapted to a great many special uses which do not require
particular enumeration. The distinguishing characteristic of my improved
machine is an endless type belt composed of hinged link plates containing the
printing characters or surfaces, which endless link belt is suspended upon a
single drum or cylinder and depends freely therefrom, said link plates being of
such construction that they may be readily articulated and as readily discon-
nected for the purpose of removing any one of the series when a name is to
be dropped from the list to be printed or for adding new names by the insertion
of another link plate. The link plates themselves are also of such construction
that the printing characters may be removed therefrom without disconnecting
the link plate from the belt. Said drum or cylinder has a step by step revolution
imparted to it by suitable mechanisms, and a locking mechanism is provided,
whereby the drum is locked during the printing action. A pivoted plate or
table on which the sheet of material which is to receive the impression is
provided, said plate having a printing opening above which a movable platen is
mounted, so that during the printing action the platen descends, strikes the
material to be impressed and which is lying upon the plate and carries such
material into contact with the printing surface, whereby the impression is made.
Said pivoted plate is provided with a sliding ink pad, which is so arranged as
to apply ink to the surface of the printing form immediately following that
which in any given action is making the impression. A second rocking ink pad
is also employed, so arranged as to apply ink to the printing forms in succession
as the operation of the machine continues. Other novel features will be herein-
after described and my invention will be pointed out in the claims.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with parts omitted and the operating
lever partly broken away.
Figure 2 is a similar view, broken sections of the operating lever added and
showing the tune helt

page_text: Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite side of the machine and in corresponding
position to that shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a rear view of the machine mounted upon a supporting table, the
type belt and some of the other features omitted.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the frame of the machine taken above the plane of
the drum, the printing lever showing in transverse section and the pivoted plate
and its operating mechanism omitted.
Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the pivoted plate showing the sliding inking
pad and a dating stamp attachment.
Figure 7 is a detail of a portion of the drum and of a duplicating mechanism
arranged adjacent thereto.
Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation of two star wheels forming a part of the
duplicating mechanism.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of two of the link plates connected.
Figure 10 is a plan view of one of said plates with a movable type holder and
movable type therein.
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively plan and transverse sectional views through
a three line holder.
Figures 13 and 14 are respectively a plan and a cross section of a link plate
with two printing bars therein and showing the means for securing the bars
within the plate.
In the drawings 15 represents the frame or head block which may have a
foot 16 adapted to rest on the top of the table and co-operating with the movable
clamp 17 to fix the machine in position for use. This frame or head 15 has two
upstanding lugs 18 and 19, in which are provided bearings for the stud shaft or
trunnion 20. Coiled about this shaft is a spring 21 and a collar 22 is secured to
the shaft, one end of the spring being made fast to the collar and the other to the
Jug 19. To this shaft is secured a three armed lever, the members whereof are
marked 23, 24 and 25. The forward extremity of the member 23 has adjustably
secured thereto, a platen 26 and is provided with a striking knob 26. The platen
may be rigidly secured to the arm 23. The arm 25 extends rearwardly of the
shaft 20 and is connected by the adjustable link 27 with a pivoted operating
lever 28. The pivot of the latter is marked 29 and it may be carried in a
bracket 30 depending from the frame 15. The lower end of the operating lever
is constructed in sections, as shown in Figure 2, the lower section being marked 31
and having in its upper end a transversely extending slightly curved slot 32,
while the member 28 has a vertical slot 33 in which a pin 34 carried by the
member 31 works. The two members 28 and 31 are clamped together by means
of a clamping bolt 35 having a nut 36. The construction above provided adapts
the machine to be adjusted to the convenience of the operator. The section 31
of the operating lever carries a foot plate or pedal 37. It will be observed that
this construction is not analogous to the ordinary foot treadle movement. The
lever 28 swings in the arc of a circle having a long radii and the movement is
therefore much easier than the operation of the ordinary foot treadle. The operator
pushes or swings the treadle away and it returns, owing to the action of the
spring 21 coiled about the shaft of the printing arm. It will further be seen
that the link 27 forms one member of a toggle, the upper rearwardly curved part
of the arm 28 forming the other member of said toggle.
During the operation this link is substantially straightened, so that the greatest
power is given at the conclusion of the stroke at which time the impression is
being made, while but little power is needed in swinging the platen down toward
the face of the type. The machine is thus very easy to operate.
At the forward extremity of the frame or head block 15 is provided a bearing
for the drum shaft 38 and upon the said shaft is mounted the drum 39. Said
drum has upon its periphery and near its opposite ends, circumferential projections
or lugs 40, spaced at distances apart corresponding to the width of the link plates
hereinafter described. The inner end of the drum extends beyond the projections

page_text: and is provided with a series of notches 41 shown in Figures 3, 5 and 7. A
driving pawl or feed dog 42 engages in said notches to feed the drum forward
step by step. Said pawl is pivotally mounted at its rear end upon the arm 24
and carries at its forward end a roller 43. Said pawl is pressed by a light
spring 44, which holds the pawl down to its work. At each actuation of the
holding lever, the point of the dog is carried backwardly during the first part
of said actuation, i.e. when the platen is descending and is thereby brought into
position to engage with fresh notch and as the platen returns to its normal position,
the dog feeds the drum. In order to arrest the drum at the proper point, so that
the dog will engage with the notches in succession and to hold said drum against
movement while the printing is being effected, I employ a locking lever 45
pivoted at 46 upon the frame and having a tooth 47 which is adapted to be engaged
by the roller 43 on the dog 42 to rock the lever on its pivot and thereby disengage
the locking tooth 47" from one of the notches of the drum. Said lever has the
arm thereof carrying the tooth 47 extended beyond the drum toward the front
of the machine in convenient position to be grasped by the attendant, for the
purpose of manually disengaging the tooth from the drum when it is desired to
unlock the latter and for the same purpose said lever is provided with an arm 48
which extends into a position where it will, when the locking lever is rocked
on its pivot, manually and to a greater extent than in the normal action of the
machine, engage the roller 43 and lift the dog 42 out of engagement with the
drum, leaving the drum free to be turned forward or back for the purpose of
inspecting any of the plates or repeating an indistinct impression.
A light
spring 49 normally holds the lever 45 in operative position. A printing plate 50
is pivoted to upstanding brackets or lugs 51, 52. Said plate may be a sheet of
metal having flanged edges in order to strengthen said plate and also to provide
ways for a sliding ink pad, as hereinafter described." Said plate has aper-
tures 53-54, the former being above the drum and of an area corresponding
approximately to the printing character beneath it. Said plate is pivoted about
mid-way of its length and carries at its rear end, a cam 55. The cam may be
formed integrally with the plate 50, but I prefer to adjustably connect it thereto.
The said cam has an acting surface bearing upon a roller or stud 56 carried by
the member 24 of the printing arm and the configuration of said cam is such
that as the platen descends and said arm 24 moves down, the roller 56 will bear
upon the cam and rock the plate upon its pivot, thereby carrying its front end
down toward the characters on the type wheel. Said pivoted plate carries an
inking mechanism whereby the ink is applied to the printing surfaces which
may be mounted in a manner now to be described.
The printing surfaces are carried by or formed upon link plates, the particular
construction of which is shown in Figures 9, 10, 13 and 14. The link plates may
be made from sheet metal, the body of the plate being marked 57, and having at
cne of its sides an upstanding inwardly curved flange 58 and at the opposite side
an upstanding straight flange 59. The free margins of these flanges are slightly
inturned so as to constitute springs and the flange 58 provides a longitudinal
groove or recess, by reason of its curvature in cross section. The flange 58 is cut
away as at 60, thus providing openings for the reception of links which are formed
out of the substance of the flange 59. These links are T-shaped, as shown, the
necks being adapted to enter the recesses 60 and the heads to take under the
These links
upstanding flange 58 resting in the longitudinal groove or recess.
may be of other form and articulated together in a different manner. The con-
struction shown is preferred because of its simplicity and economy. The essential
requirement is that said link plates shall be articulated together in such manner
as to conform to the periphery of the drum and capable of ready separation and
connection. The width of the link plates corresponds with the spacing between
the lugs 40 and the length of the link plates is a little less than the length of the
drum, thereby leaving the notches 41 uncovered. The type or printing characters
may be of any character desired. In Figure 10 I have shown a two line holder 61

page_text: in the form of a shallow tray having a longitudinal partition and in these spaces,
rubber or metal type may be set up or composed and locked in a well known
manner. Figures 11 and 12 show a three line holder having two longitudinal
partitions. The type marked 62 are movable and may be made of rubber. When
of this material they can be forced into the holders so as to maintain themselves
in place and by their use the advantage of changing the address at will is obtained
In Figures 13 and 14 I have shown what may be designated as type bars of
slugs 63.
Each bar will contain an address or line of type characters and one
or more bars may be mounted in each link plate. I have shown two such bars
mounted side by side and in order to hold them in place, the wedge 64 may be
driven between them. These type bars may be made by the linotype process or
they may be formed by stereotype. In using the type bars or slugs, no separate
trays or holders are necessary.
The printing surfaces may be formed by striking up the metal of the bodies of
the link plates themselves and each link plate thus becomes a name or address
plate.
The endless belt composed of the link plates articulated together, is slipped over
the drum, the lugs 40 engaging the ends of the holders or of the type bars or the
links themselves, as preferred, and at each actuation of the machine, the drum will
be moved the width of one plate so as to bring a fresh address into the printing
position beneath the aperture 53 in the pivoted plate 50. On the under side of
said plate is mounted a sliding ink pad 65, having a plane surface of approximately
the same area as one of the link plates, or at least as large as the area covered by
the type characters of one such plate. The front edge of said plate is bevelled as
indicated at 66. Said plate has a stem or rod 67 attached thereto and projecting
through an aperture in the rear flange of the plate. A retractile spring 68 is
connected at one end to said pad and at its other to the plate 50. The rod 67
carries a stop 69 and a lug 70. The lever 71 is pivoted to the frame or head block
and has a cam edge, against which a roller 72 journalled on the arm 24 bears, the
spring 68 holding the lever 71 in contact with said roller. As the parts attain the
position shown in Figure 1, which is the normal position, the rollers 56 and 72 are
acting upon the highest points of the cam 55 and the cam of the lever 71 respectively,
whereby the pad has been advanced beneath the aperture 53 above the type in the
holder on the top of the drum and the pad pressed down upon the type. When
the lever 28 is swung, the roller 56 passes off of the high point of the cam 55
and permits the table and the pad carried thereby to be slightly raised by
means of the spring 73, thus causing the pad to clear the face of the type so as not
to drag thereon. As the swinging movement of the lever 28 continues, the roller 56
engaging the cam 55 back of the high point, rocks the plate 50 back to the
horizontal position and simultaneously therewith, the roller 72 passing over the
high point of the cam 71, permits the spring 68 to withdraw the pad to the position
shown in Figure 2. The platen descending forces the paper or other material laid
upon the printing plate down upon the face of the type exposed through the
aperture in said plate, thus making the impression and simultaneously applying
the bevelled edge of the printing pad to the type characters of the link plate
adjacent to the printing position and when the operating lever is released, the
spring 21 returns the parts to their normal position. The step 69 is so placed
upon the rod 67 that the pad is arrested before the downward movement of the
member 24 of the printing arm is completed and that allows the upper end of
the arm 71 to clear the stud 70, so that upon the inception of the next movement
of the operating lever 28, said lever 71 does not immediately contact with the
lug 70, thereby allowing the bevelled end of the pad 66 to free itself from the type
and prevent dragging thereon.
I employ an inking device, consisting of a swinging transfer pad 74, which is
mounted upon a crank pin 75, carried by a crank arm 76 having a journal 77
carried in a tubular bearing 78 and surrounded by a coiled spring 79. A collar 80

page_text: is sleeved over the end of the journal and may be made fast thereto by the set
screw 81. Said collar has a nick 82 for a screw driver and the spring 79 has one
end made fast to the collar and at the n'her to the stud. The ink pad has a pin 83
working through an aperture in a rocking bearing 84 and normally said pad 74
has its face held in contact with the lower side of an 1k supplying reservoir 85,
which is secured upon the frame. The ink pad is actuated by roller 86 carried
upon a stud in the arm 24 which roller bears upon the edge of the crank arm 76,
thereby causing the same to rotate about the centre of the journal 77. The edge
of the crank arm 76 is of such configuration that when the printing arm is
depressed the roller, bearing upon the said crank arm, will cause the ink pad 74
to be swung until its surface is applied to the face of the type characters carried
by one of the link plates standing in a substantially vertical plane. The pin 83,
working as above-mentioned in the rocking bearing 84, acts as a guide or turning
handle to the ink pad 74 during this swinging movement, and causes the same
to turn upon the crank pin 75 in such manner as to present its ink-charged-surface
to the link plate. By this means an adequate supply of ink is furnished and
applied to the type characters of each link plate in succession, while the sliding pad
acts to evenly distribute the ink upon such printing characters.
The mechanism above described is adapted to the depression of the platen, the
rotation of the drum and the supplying of ink and said mechanism is so arranged
that the drum is fed forward one step at each actuation and a single impression
made at such actuation. It may be desired, however, to print from the same type
characters twice or thrice in succession and in some cases it may be desired to
print the same address a greater number of times. I have therefore added to the
machine a simple means, whereby the feed of the drum may be interrupted to
accomplish these desired ends. Upon the frame of the machine I mount a sliding
plate 87, movably clamped to the frame by the set screw 88 and having a down
turned end carrying the stud 89. On said stud are mounted two disks or star
wheels 90, 91. The said disks may be formed integrally, but for convenience of
manufacture, they are shown as separately formed. Each of said disks is pro-
vided with teeth which are adapted to be engaged by bed pawl 92 carried by the
feed deg 42. The disk 91 has six ratchet teeth with two deep cuts on opposite
sides of its centre, said deepened portions permitting the dog or pawl 92 to enter
to a sufficient depth, so as to permit the driving dog 42 to drop into and engage
by the notch 41 in the drum. The surface of the disk between these deep notches
is so high that the point of the dog 92 and also the point of the pawl or dog 42
is kept raised so as to prevent the feeding. It is obvious therefore that the feed
of the drum will only occur twice at each complete revolution of the disk 91, if
the said disk be interposed in the path of the dog 92. This position of the parts
is shown in Figure 7. The disc 90, as shown at Figure 8, is formed with three
deep cuts and three shallow ones so that if the sliding plate 87 be clamped in
such a position as to interpose this disk in the path of the dog 92 the drum will
be fed forward three times at every revolution of the said disc or once at every
alternate stroke of the treadle. If the sliding plate 87 be clamped, as shown in
Figure 5, both disks will be withdrawn from the path of the dog 92 and the
feeding of the drum will take place at every stroke of the treadle.
In printing addresses and bills, it is sometimes desired to append a date and in
addressing envelopes, it is sometimes desired to print a return card on the envelope.
To enable this to be done I have provided a supplementary printing device which
is detachably connected to the main frame and comprises a small metal frame 9:3
having a type holder 94 journalled therein on a stud having a square head 95.
This type holder may be adapted to hold printing characters upon its several
faces and the set screw 96 affords means, whereby it may be held in any desired
position, so as to expose the proper printing surface below the aperture 54 in the
plate 50. The printing surface thus exposed will be supplied with ink by the
sliding pad 65.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In addressing machines, an endless type-belt composed of hinged link-plates
having printing surfaces suspended upon a single drum or pulley having a step by
step revolution, and adapted by said revolution to bring the type surfaces
successively into position for printing, substantially as set forth and for the
purposes specified.
2. In machines for printing a predetermined list of addresses or other forms, an
endless type belt suspended by its own weight over a single drum or pulley and
provided with hinged link-plates with stamping or printing surfaces; a platen
capable when properly actuated, of forcing the surface to be printed into contact
with the stamping or printing surfaces and mechanism for imparting to the drum
or pulley and the type-belt a step by step revolution and bringing the link plates
successively into co-operation with the platen, all substantially as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
3. In an addressing machine, the combination with a rotatable drum, an endless
type-belt suspended thereon, a pivoted arm carrying a platen, a pivoted operating
lever adapted to be oscillated by the foot of the operator and a link connecting
said lever and said arm, said link and said lever constituting a toggle which is
straightened by the oscillation of the lever in making an impression, substantially
as described.
4. In an addressing machine, a rotatable drum, an endless type-belt suspended
thereon, a pivoted arm carrying a platen, a driving pawl actuated by said arm for
rotating the drum, an operating lever pivoted between its ends and adapted to be
oscillated on its pivot by the foot of the operator, said lever extended rearwardly
from its pivot and a relatively short link connecting the rear end of the platen
carrying arm with the rearwardly extended end of the operating lever, said link
and said extended end of the lever constituting a toggle which is straightened by
the oscillation of the arin, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In an addressing machine, the combination with a revoluble drum adapted to
support an endless type-belt, a pivoted arm carrying a platen, a pivoted operating
lever having its upper end extended rearwardly from its pivot and an adjustable
link connecting said rearward extension and the platen carrying arm, substantially
as described.
6. In an addressing machine, the combination with a revoluble drum, of an
endless type-belt mounted thereon, a stationary ink reservoir and a transferring
pad carried by a pivoted frame, a rock-shaft having a crank thereon and a stud on
which the said frame is pivoted and means for rocking said shaft upon its pivot,
whereby to move said transfer pad out of contact with the supply and into contact
with the printing face on the type-belt, substantially as described.
7. In an addressing machine, the combination with a revoluble drum, of an
endless type-belt suspended thereon, a pivoted arm having a platen, said arm
having a rigid extension, a driving pawl pivoted to said extension, an ink trans-
ferring pad mounted in a rocking frame, a rock-shaft having a crank and a stud
on which said rocking frame is mounted and a roller bearing on said crank arm,
whereby the depression of the platen effects the application of ink to the type-belt
and the rotation of the drum one step, substantially as described.
8. In an addressing machine, the combination with a revoluble drum carrying
an endless type-belt, of a driving pawl for advancing said drum step by step, said
pawl having a lateral projection or dog and ratchet disks rotatably mounted
adjacent to said pawl and having dissimilar teeth, said ratchet disks being movable
so as to bring the one or the other into operative position with reference to the
pawl, substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In an addressing machine the combination with a revoluble drum carrying an
endless type-belt, a pivoted printing arm carrying a platen, a pivoted plate to
support the material which is to receive the impression, a sliding ink pad mounted

page_text: in ways on said pivoted plate, a rocking lever adapted to bear upon said pad,
whereby to move it into position above the printing form and actuated by the
printing arm and a spring to retract said pad, substantially as described.
10. A link plate for an endless type-belt composed of a single sheet of metal
having upturned margins, one of which is curved to provide recessed sides and
with transverse notches, and the other margin whereof is provided with integral
projections adapted to enter said notches and engage in said seats, substantially
as described.
11. In an addressing machine the combination with a revoluble drum, of an
endless type-belt mounted thereon and having type forms in which addresses are
printed and a revoluble holder mounted adjacent to the drum and having two or
more of its surfaces provided with type forms for imprinting dates or other matter
on the same sheet on which the address is impressed, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.