Improved Apparatus for Classing Letters, Invoices, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 31st Aug.. 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Classing Letters, Invoices, and the like.
I, EMILE MARIE CYPRIEN CHARDON, Hardware Dealer, of 58 Rue Saint-
Aubin, Angers, Maine et Loire, France, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus which I have improved belongs to that class of apparatus which
are used in offices and other places for classing letters, bills, receipts and other
similar papers together.
My apparatus comprises, like other apparatus of the same kind, a cover usually
made of thick cardboard and composed of two main pieces which are flexibly
connected together by means of a third piece, the width of which determines the.
maximum thickness of the letters or invoices laid collectively inside the cover.
Within the cover is arranged and secured a contrivance for holding the letters or
invoices laid in the apparatus. Besides the said contrivance, the cover also
contains a device for punching holes in the letters or invoices to be filed away in the
cover.
My improved apparatus thus comprises three main parts, viz. the cover, a
contrivance for holding the letters or invoices and a device for punching holes.
The letter-holding contrivance is formed of two vertical wires at a distance apart
of about two inches and about one eighth of an inch in diameter; the wires, with
their free ends upward, are secured to an angular metallic plate fastened within the
cover. Over the free ends of the wires are slipped the letters or invoices which
are previously perforated by means of the punching device. When the letters or
invoices are in place, another pair of hinged wires is moved over the vertical wires
and prevents the letters or invoices from leaving the apparatus.
The device for punching holes comprises a plate which is fastened to the cover
and which is provided with a spring one end of which is rivetted to the plate, whilst
the other end is free to move and is provided with a hole through which can pass a
stationary punch also secured to the plate. The letter or invoice to be perforated
is laid between the punch and the spring, and the latter being depressed, punches a
hole in the letter. By doubling the letter, two holes can be punched simulta-
neously through the letter so as to fit the two vertical wires herein before
referred.to.
Within the cover and held by the letter holder is an index formed of as many
loose sheets of paper as there are letters in the alphabet, each sheet having a
different letter. All letters or invoices received from parties whose name
commences with a particular letter are classed together under the corresponding
loose sheet bearing the same letter.
Dated this 16th day of December 1892.
E. M. C. CHARDON,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Classing Letters, Invoices, and the like.
I, EMILE MARIE CYPRIEN CHARDON, Hardware Dealer, of 58 Rue Saint-
Aubin, Angers, Maine & Loire, France, 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 :-
The apparatus which I have improved belongs to that class of apparatus which
IPad

page_text: are used in offices, and other places for classing letters, bills, receipts and other
similar papers together.
My apparatus comprises, like other apparatus of the same kind, a cover usually
made of thick cardboard and composed of two main pieces which are flexibly
connected together by means of a third piece, the width of which determines the
maximum thickness of the letters or invoices laid collectively inside the cover.
Within the cover is arranged and secured a contrivance for holding the letters or
invoices laid in the apparatus. Besides the said contrivance, the cover also
contains a device for punching holes in the letters or invoices to be filed away in
the cover.
Within the cover and held by the letter-holder is an index formed of as many
loose sheets of paper as there are letters in the alphabet, each sheet having a
different letter. All letters or invoices received from parties whose name
commences with a particular letter are classed together under the corresponding
loose sheet bearing the same letter.
In the annexed drawing,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the letter-holder, open.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the holder, partly broken away;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 ;
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a modification.
a, bare the two main pieces of the cover and c is an intermediate piece flexibly
connected thereto in the usual way. d, d' are tivo vertical tubes rivetted at their
lower end to an angular plate e which is rivetted or otherwise fastened to the
pieces and c. f is a solid wire which is so bent as to be held in a clip or hinge g,
of the angular plate e, whereby it can be moved and be made to occupy either the
position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, or the position shown in dotted lines in the
same figure. The two ends of the wire are curved so as to be able to engage
the hollow wires d, d'..
2
The device for punching holes in paper comprises a plate which is rivetted or 3
fastened to the piece 6 of the cover; in the drawing, the plate h is shown as being
placed under the angular plate e, a rivet i connecting the parts h, 6 & e together.
To the said plate his secured a stationary punch co-operating with a spring
blade secured to the plate h by means of rivets 1, 1 and having a hole m
corresponding to the punch j. The apparatus is used as follows: the letter, invoice 3
or other paper to be classed first requires to be punched with two holes to fit the
tubes d, d. For this purpose, the letter is doubled, after which it is placed
between the punch and the spring k, Fig. 2; on depressing abruptly the spring k,
the letter is perforated. In this respect, it may be remarked that the distance at
which the punching device is placed from the vertical intermediate piece e, 4
see Fig. 3, will determine the distance apart between the two holes punched in a
sheet of paper doubled. After the letter has been punched, it is laid out flat and,
the movable wire f being in the raised position shown in Fig. 3, the letter is slipped
with its holes through the vertical tubes d, d'; the wire fis then brought down so
as to cause its ends to engage the tubes d, d¹ and the letter is thus classed.
Fig. 5 is a modification in which the pieces b & c, instead of being rigidly
connected at right angles, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4, are flexibly connected, and in
which the angular plate e, instead of being one single piece as in the said figures,
is formed of two parts e¹, e hinged together at e. Furthermore, the tubes d, d'
and the wire fare curved and engage each other, as shown. The remainder of the
apparatus, as well as the punching device, are the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The hereinbefore described improved apparatus comprising stationary
tubes d, d, a hinged wire and an angular metal plate e secured to a cover

page_text: of any suitable kind, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and shown in Figs. 1, 2,
3 & 4.
2. The modification shown and described with reference to Fig. 5.
3. The combination, with an apparatus of the class hereinbefore described, of a
punching device comprising a plate h, a stationary punch ; and a spring blade k,
substantially as set forth and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Dated this 21st dor of Av 1892
E. M. C. CHARDON,
By L. W., per F. B.