on Letters and for similar Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: on Letters and for similar Purposes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patents Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 chiefly relates to an automatic leiter marking machine which is
designed to receive letters delivered in post offices for mailing, in a letter hopper or
receptacle without pre-arrangement and to automatically separate and arrange the
same so that the letters are fed consecutively to the marking mechanism which selects
the proper side of the letter to be marked, and marks the same with great rapidity
and the minimum expenditure of manual labor.
To this end then, the invention consists partly of feed mechanism in which is
provided a letter hopper or receptacle and a feeding bed or trough in which letters
are separated and arranged to pass consecutively to the marking mechanism and of a
letter carrier for feeding the letters to the aforesaid marker.
It also partly consists in automatic marking mechanism, constructed and arranged
to mark the letters by rotating constantly in the same direction and having its type
die arranged on the periphery of the roller, in such relation to cams arranged on said
roller, that the registry of the mark on the letter is accurately determined by the cam,
while the letter is in transit, and without stopping the same for this purpose.
It also partly consists in providing tripping mechanism with which the marker is
set into operation with engaging fingers or feelers adapted to engage with the seale

page_text: flaps of the letter envelopes and by such engagement actuate the tripping device to
operate the marker.
It consists furthermore in various dotails of construction set forth in the
specification.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan view of an exemplification of the invention, representing the
preferable plan of embodying the same, the feed devices and marking mechanism, and
the primary actuating devices being shown in full lines, while the letter receptacle,
feed gage and chute are represented in dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the general construction and arrangement
of the parts.
Figure 3 is an enlarged plan of the letter supporting bed and marking apparatus,
arranged in operative position thereon, and showing the manner of arranging the
marking mechanism, so that the proper side of the letter is marked while passing
through the letter channel in a straight line.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the marking roller, showing the arrangement of
the cams, the stud-pins upon the frame, and the catch which yieldingly restrains the
marking roller out of the path of the moving mail matter.
Figure 5 is an enlarged view partly in section, of the marker and tripping
mechanism, and also of the selecting finger or feeler which engages with the sealed
flaps of the letter envelopes and brings the marker into action.
Liko letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A represents the hopper or letter receptacle, the said hopper being mounted, as
shown in Figure 2, upon a frame which supports a carrier belt, or apron, B, passing
over the drums D, D.
E is the feed gage, mounted upon the frame which supports the hopper A, and
pivotted at e so as to yield freely to letters of different thicknesses.
The feed gauge E is composed of two rubber faced rollers, as shown in Figure 2,
of the drawing, which serve to feed the letters forward, while a roller of smaller
diameter, also rubber faced, mounted on top of the lower rollers and held thero
yieldingly as shown in the drawings by means of a spring belt, serves to obstruct the
passage of more than one letter, since when two or more letters come to the gauge E
at the same time the undermost letter is positively fed forward by the lower rollers,
as the power of the feed of the lower rollers is sufficient to carry the letter past the
yielding upper roller. The said lower letter is fed out freely by the lower rollers of
the feed gauge E, but when more than one letter comes to the gauge the upper letter
is held back by the small yieldingly mounted roller until the undermost or lower
letter passes through the gauge, hence the gauge serves to separate the letters and
feed the same successively.
F is a letter chute, into which letters fed through the feed gauge E drops; the
said chute being curved to one side in its form, and narrowing gradually at its
bottom so as to divert letters which are thrown therein to fall either on edge or
lengthwise.
This chute is located upon the letter channel r, at the base of which a moving
carrier belt is located; said belt a passing over the drums b, Figure 2.
If the letters drop edgewise from the chute on to this belt a. thev come in contact
with the revolving wheel e which is arranged in the letter channel in position to
collide with letters carried on the belt edgewise, and the result of such collision is to
throw the letters on their longitudinal edges, which aligns them in position to pass
on to the marking mechanism.
At a suitable distance from the knock-over wheel in the letter channel .r, I place
preferably a second feed gauge, which is denoted by G, the object of which is to
prevent more than one letter passing out at a time should the feed gauge E between
the hopper and chute let through more than one at a time.
The feed gage ti, is constructed exactly like the feed gage E, and only differs from
the gage E, in the fact that the rollers of the gauge are journalled in vertical bearings

page_text: as shown in Figure 2 and in the top plan view Figure 1, while the rollers of the
gauge E are journaled in horizontal bearings.
Beyond the feod gauge G. feed rollers H, H, H. are provided, for feeding the
letters onto the marking mechanism. These rollers are arranged as best shown in
Figure 1. The said rollers have india-rubber faces and operate in connection with
oscillating friction rollers I, I, I, yieldingly restrained against the rubber faced rollers
by springs J, J, J, said yielding rollers serving to press the passing letters up to the
rubber faced rollers H, and thereby feed the same forward.
The marking mechanism consists of two sets of markers arranged reversely in
relation to each other as is best shown in figure 3.
At Figures 4 and 5 the construction of the marking roller and its cam, the tripping
mechanism and selecting devices are best illustrated, the said views being enlarged
for purposes of illustration.
R is the marking roller mounted in the oscillating frame O. The journal of the
marking roller is yieldingly sustained in the slot of the frame O, by means of the
spring S.
ין
The double cam V is secured on the dise of the marking roller as shown at figure 4,
and a stud pin is secured in the frame O and rides in contact with the cam V, in
the passage-way formed by the curve of the cam and the guide piece V1.
The office of the cam and stud-pin is two-fold: In the first place the roller R,
supported yieldingly in the frame C, has a swing on the pivot o, which allows the
roller to move in and out of the path of the mail matter, in order to permit the
marking roller to be arranged normally out of the path of the mail matter, so that
when the machine is operated and no letters are moving over the supporting bed, the
carrier devices are not smeared by the ink used with the marking die to mark the letters.
This arrangement of the roller is due to the support of the same in the oscillating
frame O.
Now in order to have the roller automatic in its movement in and out of the path
of the letter, the cams V, and stud-pin e are applied as shown and explained.
When the marking roller is tripped by mechanism (which will be presently
explained) the roller is forced towards the marking abutinent.
The mail maiter
coming in contact with the roller causes the roller to revolve on the letter, and as soon
as the roller commences to turn the stud-pin v, riding on the groove of the cam V
causes the oscillating frame O, to be forced away from the marking abutment until
the catch e takes on the hook h. When this is accomplished the pine has reached
the point of the cam marked figure 4, and the pressure of the frame O, is removed
from the can, which liberates the roller R, from the letter; the spring S then retracts
the roller to its normal position.
The second office or function of the cam and stud-pin secured to the frame O, in
connection with the roller I, is to define automatically the starting and stopping
point of the printing die, so that the letters receive the complete and perfect
registry of the marking stamp while they are in transit and without stopping for this
purpose.
This desirable result is accomplished by simply placing the marking dies on opposite
sides of the periphery of the roller, while the cam is in its neutral position as shown
at figures 4 and 5, the registry of the die being determined by the lower point p of
the can, since the roller is forced away from the marking abutment: The operation
will be readily understood upon reference to the said figure 4.
At figure 5 the marking roller R, and its frame O, is shown pivotted in a supporting
frame X. Said frame is drawn partly in section, the side plate thereof being cut
through for the purpose of showing the construction and arrangement of the tripping
mechanism and selecting devices.
Atis pivotted the lever T, provided at its lower extremity with a shoulder or
catch arranged relatively to the marking frame O, so that when R is in its normal
position the catch e' rests against the shoulder .
A spiral exerts a tension on T, restraining it against the catch c.
The tripping

page_text: device is pivoted to the plate P Figuro 5, and consists of a draw-bart fastened to the
lever T below the catch h.
A pivoted pin connects the draw-bar t, with the levers r¹, said pin t' passing
through a slot in the draw-bar t.
It is to be observed that the levers r. r, pivoted at t', have a lateral movement
like a tongs or pair of shears, and that when the free ends of said levers are drawn
together the draw bar is drawn forward carrying with it the lever t, and with-
drawing the catch h from the shoulder c' on the roller frame O, which trips the
marking roller and allows the spring S', to draw the roller R, onto the passing letter
which carries the roller R, with it and impresses the post-mark on the letter. The
mechanism for automatically selecting the side of the letter to be marked and to
transmit motion from the letter to the tripping mechanisun will now be explained.
The selecting devices which automatically select the side of the letter envelope for
the purpose of applying the mark thereto, are composed of feelers f, illustrated in the
enlarged sectional view Figure 5, the said feelers are connected to the tripping
device and extend into the letter path as shown in the enlarged sectional plan view
Figure 3 so as to engage with the flaps of the letter envelopes as the same are fed
past the feelers.
The feeler is secured to the stem e which bears against the levers r', ', and the
said feeler is held yieldingly against the letters by means of the spirals on the
opposite end of the said stem e figure 5.
The sten is guided in the cross-bars 2, 2, as shown in said figure 5.
The feeler is runner-shaped as best shown at said figure 5, and is provided with an
engaging edge which is made sufficiently sharp to adapt it to engage readily with the
sealed flap of the envelope.
The flaps of the usual envelope are generally either curving or diagonal on the
envelope, and the engagement of the feeler f, or selecting devices with such edge
causes the feeler to move laterally toward the centre of the envelope, and such move-
ment causes the stem e to press against the levers, which forces the draw-bar/
forward withdrawing the shoulder h, from the catch of the roller frame O, and a
spring S, bearing against the frame O, forces the frame O and marker R, against.
the letter, and the movement of the letter revolves the marker and causes the same to
impress the die on the letter as above described.
C
The supporting frame X, carrying the marker and tripping mechanism is provided
with rollers W, W, figure which bear against. rubber faced feed rollers W, W',
figure 3, and serve in connection with the feed rollers W', W', to feed the letters past
the marking mechanism.
In order to adapt the marking mechanism to operate on letters of different thick-
nesses, it is necessary to mount the marking apparatus so as to permit it to yield
readily away from the marking abutment to accommodate the different letters. This
result is accomplished by mounting the marking mechanism and its frame X, as is
best shown at figure 3.
Y, is a frame mounted on uprights U, U, and provided with rods u, u. To the
side of X, is secured guides', ', through which the rods u, u, pass.
An adjusting screw Y¹, enters a hub y, projecting from the frame X, and a
spring gives the necessary tension.
It will be noticed that the marker is guided at both ends by the rods 78, and
guides,, and that the yielding is permitted by the set screw Y, and spring y'.
Figure 3 also illustrates the arrangement of the marking apparatus for use in
applying what is known as the received mark or back stamp to letters when the
apparatus is arranged for the purpose of automatically applying to the desired or
pre-determined side of the letter the required mark.
It will be observed that the letter channel e, is arranged rectilineally across the
letter bed, and the marking apparatus is arranged in sets, one being upon one side
of the channel, and the other upon the reverse side as will be seen from an inspection
of figure 3.

page_text: When a letter is moved over the bed in the letter channel it exposes one si de to
the letter marking mechanism located on that side of the channel.
Now if the back stamp is to be applied the selecting feeler / operates that mechanism
to which the back of the envelope is exposed, the smooth side or face of the envelope
passing without engaging the opposite marking mechanism. It will thus be seen how
the desired result is secured.
One set of the marking apparatus can be dispensed with in case it is desired to
pre-arrange the letters in which event the feeler or selecting device, may be slightly
different in construction to adapt it to engage the advancing end of the envelope.
releasing the marker, and bringing the same into action.
The marking dies are supplied with ink through the medium of the inking roller R,
Figure 5. Said roller being journalled in the framine O.
same view.
The usual dating type are to be employed in connection with the marking
rolier R.
Power is applied to the feed rollers primarily through the crank wheel K Figures 1
and 2, and gears L, L, L transmit the motion to the belts /, /, I said belts serving to drive
the feed rollers as already described.
I do not restrict myself to the particular form and construction of the mechanism
herein illustrated which is simply the preferred plan of embodying my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. An automatic letter marking machine comprising a hopper or receptacle for
receiving the letters, a supporting bed or trough in which the letters are separated and
arranged to pass consecutively to the marking device, all substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Second. In a letter marking machine, the combination of a hopper or receptacle, a
chute communicating with said hopper, a feed gauge between the hopper and chute,
and a letter channel under the chute.
Third. In a letter marking machine, a temporarily restrained stamp or marker, a
back or abutment against which the stamp acts, and a selecting device or feeler, which
engages the envelope flaps to bring the stamp into action, all substantially as
described.
Fourth. In a letter marking machine, in combination with the stamp or marker, a
tripper for temporarily restraining the stamp, and fingers or feelers adapted to engage
the flap of the envelopes and to transmit motion to the stamp or marker to automatically
apply the stamp or marker to the mail matter by the presentation of the letter to the
front of the stamp, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a letter marking machine wherein the marker is operated automatically
by the letter envelope through intermediate mechanism, the combination with the
marker, of a yielding releasing finger or feeler and suitable connecting mechanism, the
feeler being shaped to catch or engage with the over-lapping edges of the flaps of
the envelopes whereby such engagement will release the marker and bring the same
into action.
Sixth. In a letter marking machine, the combination of a letter carrier with a
marking mechanism and a catching finger located in relation to the carrier so that
letters moving on the carrier in front of the marker engage the finger or feeler, and
bring the marker automatically into action, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with a marking roller, and a movable frame supporting
the roller, of cams and stud-pins connected respectively to the roller and frame
and in contact with each other to raise the frame automatically with the rotation
of the roller, and a spring bearing on the roller journal to force the journal off
from the marking abutment when the frame is raised as aforesaid, substantially as
described.
Eighth. In a letter marking machine, the combination of the letter supporting feed

page_text: bed, and a stamp or marker yieldingly sustained on said bed whereby the marker can
accommodate itself to allow the passage of letters of different thicknesses which are
fed over the supporting bed in front of the marker, substantially as specified.
Ninth. In a letter marking machine, a marking roller rotated continuously in
the same direction on its journal and provided with a type die and a cam, said
type die and can being arranged relatively to each other on the roller, whereby
the registry of the type die is accurately determined by said cam while the letter
to be marked is in transit.
nid thỏ. 1011 JC 1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.