Improvements in Machines for the Automatic Delivery of Stamps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1851
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Automatic Delivery of Stamps.
We GEORGE NICHOLSON, of Woodhall Lane, Calverley, Leeds, Registrar of
Births and Deaths, and THOMAS KITCHIN, of Viaduct Works, Stanningly,
Machine Maker, both in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved appliances for the automatic delivery of
postage stamps, designed so as to come into operation when a coin of equivalent
value to the stamp is placed in a receptacle provided for same, and the apparatus
being of small compass may be combined with a pillar post, wall box, or placed in
other convenient, and desirable position.
According to this our said invention, carried in a bracket or bearing is a lever
one end of which is free to work in a slot or guide the other end being connected
by a wire, or rod to a second lever fixed at right angles in a cross shaft on which
is a catch or pawl which latter engages with the teeth in a ratchet wheel carried on
the axis of one of two delivery rollers, on the same axis is a pulley or drum, around
which a cord or wire is wrapped and one end of latter fixed to the drum or pulley,
the other end of the wire, or cord after passing, over a guide pulley is attached to
a weight. A pair of delivery rollers are carried in slots in brackets and above the
top delivery roller is a small roller carrying the stamps which are in one line of
continuous length, and which pass part way around and between the delivery rollers
which are grooved or fluted, and one perforated, and the other having small pins
or projections on its periphery so as to ensure a firm hold being taken of each
stamp. The nip of the delivery rollers being opposite to a mouth or slot in the
outside frame which encloses the whole appliance. When the supply of stamps is
finished the supply roller by a finger or lever slides a shutter over the slot or
receptacle for the coin, and so closes same. At the mouth or delivery slot is placed
a guide with a serrated edge, the serrations being received in the hollows of the
fluted roller so that if any of the stamps stick to the latter the guide raises
them clear.
The action is as follows:-When a penny is placed in the slot for penny stamps,
or half-penny for a stamp of that value, the coin is carried by a guide to the lever
first mentioned, and coming in contact with the latter depresses its end, and by the
connecting rod, or wire raises the second lever, and the latter gives a partial turn
to the cross shaft, which disengages the catch, or pawl from the ratchet wheel; and
the weight attached to the cord passing round the pulley on the axis of the delivery
roller, draws or turns the latter round setting the apparatus in motion, but only so
long as the coin presses on the first lever, and the delivery rollers being geared
together, by gear wheels, and as described, draw off one stamp from the supply
roller when the catch, or pawl again comes in contact with one of the teeth in the
ratchet wheel, and prevents further movement until another coin is placed in the
receptacle. The stamp drawn off the supply roller is presented at the delivery slot,
and can be torn from the succeeding one which is held by the delivery rollers, by
the purchaser.
When the weight has drawn off all the cord or wire from the drum or pulley it
is rewound on same by hand or by a spring.
Dated the 1st day of September 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Automatic Delivery of Stamps.
We GEORGE NICHOLSON, of Woodhall Lane, Calverley, Leeds, Registrar of
Births and Deaths, and THOMAS KITCHEN, of Viaduct Works, Stanningly,
Machine Maker, both in the County of York, 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 improved appliances for the automatic delivery of
postage stamps, labels or tickets designed so as to come into operation when a coin
of equivalent value to the stamp or ticket required is placed in a receptacle provided
saine, and the apparatus being of small size may be combined with a pillar post,
wall box, or placed in other convenient, and desirable position.
for
n
According to this our invention carried in a bracket or bearing is a lever one end
of which is free to work in a slot or guide the other end being connected by a wire,
or rod to a second lever on a cross shaft of which is a catch or pawl engaging with
the teeth in a ratchet wheel carried on the axis of one of two delivery rollers. On
the same axis is a toothed wheel gearing with a toothed wheel on the axis of which
is a pulley or drum, around which a cord or wire is wrapped and one end of latter
fixed to the drun or pulley, the other end of the wire, or cord after passing over a
guide pulley is attached to a weight. A pair of delivery rollers are carried in slots
in brackets and above the top delivery roller is a small roller carrying the stamps,
tickets or labels which are in one line of continuous length, and which pass part
way around and between the delivery rollers one of which is grooved or fluted, and
the other has small pins or projections on its periphery so as to ensure a firm hold
being taken of each stamp or label.
The nip of the delivery rollers is opposite to a mouth or slot in the outside frame
which encloses the whole appliance. At the month or delivery slot is placed a
guide with a serrated edge, the serrations being received in the hollows of the fluted
roller, so that if any of the stamps or labels stick to the latter the guide raises
them clear.
Such being the nature and object of our invention the following is a complete
description of same, reference being had to accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved apparatus for automatically delivering
postage stamps and the like shewing a part only of the carrying frame.
Fig. 2 is a back view in elevation of Fig. 1 parts being removed to more clearly
illustrate the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a view of the back or interior of a suitable casing for carrying our
improved apparatus for purpose aforesaid on one side showing the guide for the coin
and also one of the delivery rollers.
Fig. 4 is a detail of the delivery rollers and delivery slot drawn to enlarged
scale.
Fig. 5 is a detail.
According to this our said invention the apparatus for the automatic delivery of
stamps, labels, tickets and the like consists of a lever 1 carried by cross shaft 2 and
free to move in the brackets 3. 3 and one end of the said lever 1 is received in a
slot at the lower and open end of the guide & down which the coin passes. On
the cross shaft 2 is cast a short lever 5", and this lever is connected by rod or wira 6
to the end of the lever 7 and on the cross shaft 8, which forms the fulcrum, is a
catch or pawl 9 which engages with the teeth in the ratchet wheel 10 carried on
the axis of the lower delivery roller 11. The wheel 12 on the axis of the lower
delivery roller 11 gears with and drives the wheel 12" on the axis of which
Is carried the pulley or drum 13, around which a cord or wire 14 is wrapped, one
end of such cord or wire 14 being attached to the pulley or drum 13 and the other
end after passing over the guide pulley 15 is fixed to any convenient stationary

page_text: point such as 16. Between the guide pulley 15 and the fixed point 16 is the pulley
and weight 17.
The wheel 18 on the axis of the lower delivery roller 11 gears with and drives
the wheel 19 fast on the axis of the upper delivery rollers 20 the pair of delivery
rollers 11. 20 being carried in slots 21 formed in the frame 22 of the apparatus.
Above the delivery rollers and also carried in slots 21 is the flanged supply roller 23
for carrying the supply of stamps, tickets, or labels 24 which are in one line of
continuous length and pass part way round and between the rollers as shewn by
Fig. 4. The delivery rollers 11. 20 are grooved or fluted as at 25 and the
lower 11 has a series of pins or projections 26 on its periphery which ensure a
firm hold being taken of the stamps or labels without punching, or perforating the
latter.
The nip of the delivery rollers 11. 20 is opposite to a bell or V shaped mouth 27
(see Fig. 4) in the outer frame or casing 28 which encloses the apparatus and the
bottom lip or edge of the slot or mouth 27 is serrated as at 29 (see Sheet 3) such
serrations or teeth being received in the grooves 25 of the bottom delivery roller 11
so that in the event of any of the stamps, labels or tickets 24 sticking to the roller
the serrations will release them.
The pulley or drum 13 is loose on its axis and the wheel 12 is fast thereon the
pulley or drum 13 being prevented from rotating by means of the spring catch 30
fast to the wheel 12" and its other end engaging with the teeth in the ratchet
wheel 31 cast to the pulley or drum 13 so that the latter can only be turned in
one direction, and this will wind or wrap the cord or wire 14 around the drum when
"run down."
A key or handle is fixed to the spindle 32 for the purpose of coiling the cord or
wire 14 on the said pulley or drum.
One of the above described appliances may be placed on each side of such a
casing as shewn by Sheet 3 and one employed for the delivery of penny stamps,
and the other halfpenny stamps, labels or tickets, or checks, and the appliance
may be enclosed in any case, box, frame or stand, or may be fixed in a wall or
building.
The action is as follows:-When say a penny is placed in the slot 33 for with-
drawal of a penny stamp the coin falls by gravitation and is carried by the guide 5
to the free end of the lever 1 which is by the weight of the coin depressed and
consequently the short lever 5 is raised and by the connecting rod or wire 6 raises
the end of the lever 7 moving the latter on its fulcrum 8 lifting or disengaging the
catch or pawl 9 with the ratchet wheel 10 and the weight 17 by means of the cord
or wire 14 rotates the pulley or drum 13 and sets in motion the train of wheels 12"
12. 18 and 19 and sets the apparatus in motion, but only so long as the coin presses
on the first lever 1, and from which it falls almost immediately, only in fact
removing the catch or pawl 9 from the wheel 10 whilst the latter moves the space
of one tooth. The amount of motion is sufficient to rotate the delivery rollers 11. 20
and draw off one stamp from the supply roller 23 and present a stamp at the end of
the length to the orifice or mouth 27 from which it can be removed by the purchaser
tearing it from the following stamps which remain in the apparatus, the next
following stamp just projecting through the slot or mouth 27 but not sufficiently far
to be withdrawn without first setting the apparatus in motion by the insertion of a
coin into the machine.
When the coin falls from the lever 1 the catch or pawl engages with the teeth in
the ratchet 10 and prevents further movement until another coin is placed in the
machine, when the operation above described is repeated.
A counterbalance weight 35 is placed at the end of the lever 7 and by moving this
weight the machine may be caused to operate with coins of any predetermined
weight.
It will of course be obvious that this machine is equally applicable for the delivery
of stamps, labels, tickets, or checks, all that is required being that such checks, or

page_text: tickets are in continuous length and are to be separated by tearing through a line
of perforations.
By varying the size of the train of wheels in relation to each other a greater or
less amount of motion may be given the delivery rollers.
The coins fall into a safe, or box from the lever 1 first mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts, constituting
the improved apparatus for purpose and as herein fully described and illustrated by
drawings annexed.
GEORGE NICHOLSON.
THOMAS KITCHIN.
By their Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.
GEORGE
NICHOLSON.
THOMAS KITCHIN.
By their Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.