Improvements in Postmarking and Stamp Cancelling Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by ERNEST R. MALMBORG, of 8, South Sheldon Street,
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Civil Engineer]
Improvements in Postmarking and Stamp Cancelling Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, 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.: -
My invention relates to machines for postmarking mail matter and canceling
the postage stamps, and is of the class in which the mail pieces are taken from a
miscellaneous pile and fed singly to the machine. The mechanism by a con-
tinuous series of mechanical operations postmarking the mail pieces with the
name of the post office, the month and year, day of the month, hour and minute,
A.M. or P.M. that the letter passes through, and canceling the stamps, the
marked mail pieces being delivered in an orderly stack for subsequent
distribution'.
The machine comprises a feed mechanism for carrying the mail pieces to the
marking mechanism; printing mechanism for postmarking them and canceling
the stamps, including also time mechanism for automatically changing the time
indicated by the postmark; and stacking mechanism for receiving the marked
pieces and adding them to the stack.
With reference to the present state of the art, my improvements consist in part
in providing mechanism whereby a number of persons may feed a machine at
one and the same time, and providing means for causing each separate mail piece
to arrive at the marking cylinder at the appropriate time, thus enabling the
machine to be worked to its full capacity and avoiding the necessity of running
it empty a portion of the time. Also in the novel construction of the time
printing mechanism contained in the marking cylinder, the construction of the
impression roller, and operation of the marking and impression cylinders in con-
junction with a retarding finger adapted to time the entrance of the mail piece
between said cylinders. Also in the novel construction of mechanism for receiving
and stacking the said mail pieces.
In the drawings; Figure 1 is a top view of the complete machine, showing the
general plan. Figure 2 is a plan view of the right hand end of the machine as
shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the hoppers of the feed
mechanism. Figure 4 is a plan view of the left hand end of the machine as
shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an elevation of a portion of a machine looking
in the direction of arrow 5, Figure 2. Figure 6 is an elevation looking in the
direction of arrow 6, Figure 2. Figure 7 is an elevation looking in the
direction of arrow 7, Figure 2. Figure 8 is a sectional view of parts in elevation
on the line 8-8 of Figure 4. Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9 of
Figure 3. Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 7. Figure 11
is a sectional view on the line 11-11, Figure 7. Figure 12 is a sectional view.
on the line 12-12, Figure 2. Figure 13 is a detailed view of the ball bearing

page_text: as shown in Figure 12. Figure 14 is a side elevation of the printing head.
Figure 15 is a cross section on the line 15-15 of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a
vertical section on the line 16-16 of Figure 14. Figure 17 is a detail of the
pawl for actuating the stamp mechanism. Figure 18 is a plan view of the print-
ing and impression cylinders. Figure 19 is a side elevation with parts in
section. Figure 20 is a vertical section of the stacking mechanism in line 20-20
of Figure 23. Figure 21 is a side elevation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism
of the stacker. Figure 22 is a section on the line 22-22 of Figure 21. Figure 23
is a plan view of the receiving table with a portion of the stacking mechanism
removed. Figure 24 is a side elevation of the receiving table. Figure 25 is a
view from the top of mechanism shown in Figure 24.
In carrying out the invention, A (Figures 5, 6, 7 and 12) represents a suitable
standard extending from the floor or other support, and above this are
plates A1, A2, A3, supported successively above each other by the bolts A4. On a
level with the plate A³ is an extension A5 (Fig. 8), the outer end of this plate A³
being supported by a suitable standard extending also to the floor or other support.
The operative parts of the machine are carried by the plates A', A2, A3 and A³, as
hereinafter explained.
I will first describe the marking and canceling mechanism and afterwards the
mechanism for carrying the matter to the canceling mechanism. Referring to
Figure 5, B represents a suitable driving shaft journaled in bearing B¹ extending
from the plate A¹. On this shaft B is a beveled gear 132 (Figures 7 and 11), which
meshes with the beveled gear 133 on the upright shaft B (Fig. 5), the latter
being journaled in a bearing B5, shown by dotted lines, Figure 5. On this shaft B*
is a pinion B which meshes with the pinion B7 on the shaft B8 (Fig. 10), the
latter journaled in suitable bearings B in the plates A³, A³. The upper end of
the shaft BB carries the printing head C in which is located the time printing
mechanism which I will presently describe. Referring now to Figure 10, D is
a shaft journaled in the plates A2, A3, (Fig. 6), and journaled thereon so as to have
a horizontally oscillating motion, is an arm. D₁ and journaled on the upper end
of the shaft D is another horizontally oscillating arm D2, the two arms being
connected together by a bolt D3 so that they will oscillate in unison. The opposite
ends of these arms support the shaft D³, (Figures 6 & 10), and on the upper end
of this shaft D³ is what I will term the impression roller, D, (Figures 1, 2, & 6),
as just explained, the arms D1, D2, which carry this impression roller D' oscillate
and consequently the roller can yield toward and from the printing roller C.
A spring D5 tends to normally keep the impression roller against the printing
roller C. On the shaft 1) and adapted to revolve thereon, is a pinion D6, (Fig. 10),
which meshes with a pinion D7 keyed to the shaft 13 so that a revolution of the
shaft B (which drives the printing roller C) also revolves the shaft D³ and conse-
quently the impression' roller D*.
I will now describe the construction of the printing head and will refer par-
ticularly to Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. On the standard A is a suitable clock E
of any desired construction, adapted at predetermined intervals to oscillate the
arm e. By reference to Figure 12 it will be seen that the shaft B8 is made hollow.
el is a rod, (Figures 12 & 13), pivoted to the arm of the clock and extending
upward therefrom. On its upper end it is provided with a yoke with a plate
pivoted in said yoke by the pintelse is another rod provided with the
collars d, e, located above and below the plate e³, separated therefrom by the
balis . It will be seen by the construction just described that the rod will
impart its vertically reciprocating muction to the rod, while at the same time
the rod can have a free rotary motion. Screw threaded to the lower end of
the shaft B8 and adapted to revolve therewith is a casing containing a bel-
lows E3, the rode being engaged to one end of said bellows. A tube or duct E
leads from the interior of the bellows to the bore E3 of the shaft B8;
suitable packing, being employed to make an air tight joint. It will thus be
seen that the oscillations of the arm e will be imparted to the bellows, while the
€

page_text: 1
latter is continuously rotating and the bellows will send air impulses through the
bore E up to the head C. In the head C is another bellows C¹, connected with
the bore by the tube C2, a tight joint being insured by the packing c.
On the
end of the bellows C¹ is an arm C, (Fig. 15). Pivoted thereto is a lever C4 sup-
ported from the post C in the head C. Pivoted to the opposite end of the lever C'
is a link C. C7 is a shaft pivoted in the head C and carrying a series of ratchet
wheels C and accompanying gear wheels or pinions C. On this shaft is also a
yoke made up of the arms (o (Fig. 16) and connecting strip C". In this yoke
is pivoted the pawl piece C2 (Fig. 17, also shown by dotted lines, Fig. 15).
The link C6 is pivoted to this yoke C, C so that the impulse imparted by the
bellows C¹ is transmitted through the arm C³, lever C, link C6 and yoke Co, C
to the pawl piece C¹³ The pawls c¹ on this pawl piece engage the ratchet
wheels and revolve them. A spring impelled pawl C3 being provided for each
ratchet wheel to prevent backward movement.
C14 is another shaft pivoted in
the head C, carrying a series of pinions C¹³, which mesh with the pinions C³,
and C16 is another shaft pivoted in the head C, carrying a series of gears C₁
which mesh with the gears C Engaged to each pinion C is its corresponding
wheel bearing on the periphery, the figure or other mark which it is desired to
print. It will thus be seen that through the mechanism just described the
impulses imparted by the bellows C will be transmitted to and will operate the
printing wheels C18, which project through the periphery of the head C. It will
be observed by reference to Figure 16 that the shaft C16 is journaled in the
plates C and the latter are held in place in the head by the screws (20 (Fig. 14).
Engaged to these strips C19 are plates C2 bearing the marks that are more or
less permanent, that is to say, the name of the month and the year and outside
of this is the plate C2 for holding the plates C21 in place and this latter plate C¹²²
also holds in place the circular plate C23 on which may be placed any marks
desired, such for instance, as the name of the post office where the stamping takes
place. The plate C2 is held in place by the screws C2. Thus it will be seen that
by removing the plate C2 the plates carrying the name of the place, the month,
and the year, may be removed and changed, and by loosening the screws C20 the
plates C, carrying the printing wheels, can be easily removed and cleaned with-
out interfering with the balance of the mechanism in the head. I wish at this
point to call attention to the fact that the pawl piece C12 is located at substantially
the center of the revolving head C; so that the centrifugal force due to the revolu-
tion of the head C has comparatively little effect on it; also that the pawls Ca
have their bodies substantially on a radial line drawn from the center of the
head through the pivotal point of the pawls so that centrifugal force will have
substantially no effect on these pawls; also that the yoke C, C has its body
lying in the plane of the radial line drawn from the center of the head through
the pivotal point of the yoke so the centrifugal force will have substantially no
action on this piece to move it; and that the movable end of the bellows lies in
a plane corresponding to the radius of the head so that the centrifugal force will
have substantially no effect to move it; also that the lever C has arms of equal
length so that the lever is balanced and the revolution will not tend to move it.
I will now describe the construction of the impression roller D. On the
periphery of this roller is a covering of any suitable substance, preferably soft
rubber & to provide a yielding surface, and also to properly engage and move the
letters past the printing head. At d the periphery is cut away and adjacent to
this opening is a finger din circle with the periphery of said roller. This
finger is engaged to the post d³ extending upward from the arm D2 so that when
the roller Dyields this finger will yield also. The end d of the finger
(Figure 18) is detached and held in position by the spring & and normally
pressed against the periphery of the disk W. Now as will be seen by reference
to Figure 2 (shown by dotted lines) the printing mechanism in the head C will
reach the letter just after the jaw d of the opening d¹ reaches it, or in other
words, the rubber d on the periphery of the head D' engages the letter just before

page_text: the printing mechanism comes in contact with it. The result of this is that if
a letter is fed to the rolls and reaches them before the printing mechanism has
completed its revolution and is ready to print, the letter is held back by the
end of the finger d² and being opposite the opening in the roller D* there is
nothing to move it along and consequently it remains stationary until the jaw do
of the roller reaches it, picks it up and carries it between' the two rollers as it is
printed. Thus no matter if there is a variation in the speed of the feed to the
printing rolls (and the variation is never more than the length of the opening d¹)
the stamp will always be placed on the letter the same distance from the end.
Mounted above the printing head and journaled on its casing at the center thereof
is a disk W, having its periphery (Fig. 19) flanged as at W1, between which is
placed a rubber band W extending around the disk. The end d of the finger ²
resting against the rubber band W2 and the disk W is held normally stationary
and the resistance offered to the progress of a mail piece on the feed belt is
sufficient to stop and retain it until grasped by the jaw of the impression
roller do, when the mail piece is carried between the printing and the impression
rollers, the finger de yielding with the impression roller, and the disk rotating so
as to offer no resistance to the progress of the mail piece.
I will now describe the inking mechanism. Located on the shaft B is a pulley F
(Fig. 5) and journaled on the projecting arm F¹, extending from the plate A is
another pulley F2 connected with the first by a belt F3. Integral with or con-
nected with the pulley Fa is a disk F (Fig. 2). Pivoted to the plate A³ is a
lever F and journaled therein are rollers F6, F. The pivotal point of the
lever F is underneath the roller F. The bearing for the roller Fo is slotted as shown
and the disk being loose on its shaft is held normally against the roller Fo by the
spring F. Normally the roller F is kept in contact with the printing head by
the spring F, the pressure being regulated by the stop pin F10. Thus it will
be seen that with ink spread upon the face of the disk F (the disk traveling in
the pan F which contains ink) the roller Fe will pick up the ink from the face
of the disk F+, distribute it on the roller F and the latter will distribute it on
the tyne. Of course as the disk F travels through the pan F, both faces will
be inked, and to prevent that on the face not in contact with the rollers F6 from
running down to the bearings, I provide the grooved flange F12. The roller F6
and the disk F both having movable bearings and held by spring contact will
keep all the inking devices in contact with each other. If desired the belt F³ may
be dispensed with and the inking devices revolved by the contact of the roller 17
with the printing roller.
I will now describe the mechanism for feeding the letters or other articles to
be marked or canceled to the printing head. Supported from the plate A5
(Fig. 8) by suitable standards A6 is a table A8 (Fig. 8). This table A forms what
I will term the feed table, that is to say, it is the table which supports the feed.
ing mechanism and beside which the operators stand to feed the mail pieces.
Connected with and supported by the table A8 is a series of feeding
mechanisms A, A, A", A¹² (Fig. 1) arranged alternately on each side of the
table, but as they are duplicates of each other, will describe particularly but a
single one. Journaled in bearings A in the end of the plate A3 is a pulley A¹4
over which is passed the feed belt G (Fig. 5). The opposite end of this feed belt
is supported from the pulley G₁ journaled in the end of the plate A5. This is
the main feed belt of the machine and passes directly beneath the printing and
the impression rollers C-D as shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, and 18. On the shaft
of the pulley G is another pulley G³. G³ is a belt passing over the pulley G²
and over another pulley G on the shaft B. Thus the motion of the
shaft B is transmitted to the belt G. Supported from the plate A3³ and engaged
thereto by the belt H is a bracket H' carrying bearings H2, H3 (Fig. 5). In these
bearings is a shaft H* provided on its lower end with a gear H5 and on its upper
end with a band pulley H. H7 is a band or belt passing around the pulley Ho
at one end and around the pulley H8 at the opposite end, (Fig. 4), the latter

page_text: pulley being supported from a suitable bracket on the table, A³. On this belt
at predetermined intervals are arranged what I will term stop plates H. In
order to prevent the belt H' from slipping on its pulleys H, H8, I form on the
inner face of the belt projections which enter recesses h¹ (Fig. 4) in the face
of the pulley, so that in reality there is what might be termed a sprocket engage-
ment between the pulleys and the belt. The belt H7 is driven from the gear H5
meshing with 'the gear B, the motion of the latter having been previously
described. The arrangement of gearings is such that the belt G is driven at a
faster speed than the belt H' and the stop plates H on the belt H7 are so arranged
that they will feed a letter to the printing roll substantially at each revolution.
The slight variation in the feed being compensated for as herein before explained
by the recess in the impression roller. Now it will be seen when the letters are
fed down to the belt G they strike the latter edgewise and are carried along in a
trough hereinafter explained, by the belt G. The belt G, traveling at a faster
rate than the belt H7, a letter soon overtakes one of the stop plates H and is held
back by the latter until ready for delivery to the printing roller. Sustained from
the plate A (Fig. 9) are two uprights J, J1 spaced sufficiently apart to provide a
way or trough. Grooves being provided in which the belt G may travel; a
groove being provided in which the belt H7 may travel, and a groove pre-
vided in which a projection h² on the stop plate H may travel. Sustained also
from the plate A by suitable bolts or brackets, pieces J, J3, J, J, forming a way
or boxing through which the belt H7 and the stop plates may travel on its return.
I will now particularly describe one set of mechanism (A) by which the letters
are automatically fed down to the feeding belts. Extending the entire length of:
the tables A5, As and suitably supported from bearings on the plate A³ is a shaft K
(Figures 4 & 8) provided on its outer end with a gear K' which meshes with a
gear K on the opposite side of the belt G, the latter located on a shaft K³, which
is supported in suitable bearings on the plate A Motion is given to the shaft K
through the following mechanisms; On the main shaft B is a sprocket wheel K
over which passes a sprocket chain K³ (Fig. 7) to a sprocket wheel K on the
shaft K7 supported from a standard K8 on the plate A³. Connecting the shaft K?
with the shaft K is a short shaft K (Fig. 1), the shaft K provided at each end
with universal joints K, K. Thus motion is imparted to the shafts K, K³.
Supported from the table As by suitable depending brackets M are two shafts
one on each side, but as they are duplicates of each other, I have shown only that
on the right hand side of the machine when looking in the direction of arrow X
(Fig. 1). This shaft is shown at M (Figures 3, 4, 8 & 9), it being understood
there is a corresponding shaft on the opposite side of the machine. This shaft M¹
is a rock shaft provided on its end with a crank arm M² connected by the pit-
man M3 with the crank pin M on the gear K². The gear K¹ (Fig. 4) is provided
with a corresponding crank pin M5 and pitman M6 for rocking the shaft on the
opposite side of the machine corresponding with M. Thus a revolution of the:
gear K2 rocks the shaft M. On the shaft K³ (Fig. 8) is a cam N (Fig. 8).
Pivoted to a bracket N1 on the plate A is a link N2 pivotally engaged to a rod N³,
the latter carrying on its end a plate N adapted to bear upon the cam N. This
plate N may, if desired, be faced either with leather or other suitable material.
The opposite end of the rod N3 is pivotted by a slotted engagement (to provide
adjustment) to the crank arm N on the shaft or sleeve No which surrounds and
is carried by the shaft M. It will thus be seen that by means of the cam N the:
sleeve N is given a rocking motion. On the shaft K is a corresponding cam No
which oscillates a rod N7 corresponding with the rod N³ to co-operate the mechan-
ism on the opposite side of the machine. A spring N8 connects the pusher'
plate N with the plate NP to keep them constantly against their respective cams.
On the sleeve N (Figs. 4 & 9) is a rock arm N Pivoted thereto (Fig. 9) is a
rod Nu pivoted to the rock arm N12 on the shaft N3, the latter supported in the
bearing N Pivoted to the edge of the upright J by the rod O is a finger plate 01
shown also in Figure 3. On the rock shaft N13 is an arm N15 connected with the

page_text: finger plate by a link N so that a rocking of the shaft N13 through the rod N
and sleeve No tilts the finger plate up to the position shown by dotted lines,
Figure 9. Carried by the finger plate is a rod 02 and pivoted thereon is a small
metal plate having fingers (3 which project up between the fingers on the plate 01.
Connecting this metal piece 03 to some stationary point, say for instance, the
plate A5, is a flexible band 04, the result being that as the finger piece 01 is
tilted up to the position shown by dotted lines the metal piece 03 is drawn down
so that the fingers are below the surface of the frame 01 Keyed to the shaft M'is
a plate P having on its end an upwardly turned flange of metal P¹. 12 are strips
forming the way down which the mail pieces slide. The flange P¹ normally
projects up into the path of the letter below the strips P2. Extending along the
table A8 is a strip P3 and pivoted to brackets P on the table A8 is a plate P5.
Keyed to the shaft M is an arm Pe connected with the plate P5 by a flexible
strip P7.
A spring Ps having one end engaged to the strips P³, the other end
engaged to a pin P on the plate P5, tends to normally keep the lower end of the
plate P5 against the strip 13. The operation of the mechanism. is as follows;
The operator places a letter on the plate P5. Through the gear K2 (which is
constantly revolving) the rod M³ and arm M2, the shaft M' is rocked so that at pre-
determined intervals through the strip P7 the plate 15 will be pulled downward as
shown in Figure 9 so that the letter can slide through on to the ways P2. Sliding
down it comes into contact and is stopped by the flange P¹. A continued rock-
ing of the shaft M' then throws the flange P¹ down below the surface of the way 12,
allowing the letter to slide onto the finger plate 0¹, but it is stopped on this plate
by the fingers 03. At a predetermined moment and when one of the stop plates H
is just beyond this set of feeding mechanism the cam, N, as herein before described,
throws up the finger piece 01, draws down the fingers 03 and allows the letter to
slide down into the trough formed by the uprights J, J₁ just behind one of the
stop plates H and engaging the belt G. As before explained the belt G travels
at a faster rate of speed than the stop plates H, and the letter is soon carried up
against the stop plate and held back by it until ready for delivery to the print-
ing roll. Here, as before explained, the letter is marked and is then thrown out
to the receiving mechanism which I will now describe.
On the shaft B (Fig. 10) is a disk Q (Fig. 2), carrying a crank pin Q to which
is pivoted a pitman Q, the latter pivoted to a lever Q3. This lever is pivoted to
a post Q on the adjustable arm Q5, the latter supported from the plate A³.
Pivoted to the opposite end of the lever Q³ is a link Q. Pivoted in bearings R
on the plate A³ are two upright arms R¹ R2 (Fig. 6) connected together by the.
rod R³. The link Q6 is pivoted to this rod R. Adjacent to the arms R1, R2 and
pivoted also on the rod R³ are arms R6, R7. Pivoted to the upper ends of the
arms R, R are arms R, R5. The arms R4, R5 and R6, R7 are connected together"
by the links R8. On the outer ends of the arms R, R5 and engaging them to-
gether is a plate R and engaging the outer ends of the arms R, R7 is the
plate R. The arms R, R5, having a longer throw than the arms R6, R7,
because they are pivoted to the upper ends of the levers R1, R2, will, as the
frame work just described oscillates, tend to push the upper edges of the letters
further over than the lower edges. The operation of the mechanism just de-
scribed is as follows: The lever Q3 is given an oscillating motion by the shaft B*.
This reciprocates the link Q6 and oscillates the levers R1, R2. The letter as it
leaves the printing roll is carried by the belt G to a point opposite the plates R³,
R10, when the reciprocation of the plate carries the letter laterally with its edges
still up, off from the belt onto a receiving table S; the upper edge of the letter
being tilted over by the plate R³, before explained. Behind the stack of letters
just delivered is a stop plate S¹ serving as a back plate for the stack. This
plate S is mounted on an arm S. This arm slides on the rod S³, the bearing
being sufficiently elongated to maintain the plate S in an upright position and
yet will give before the stack of letters. The arm S is pivoted to an arm S
and slotted at its lower end to embrace the rod $5. This form of back plate is
that usually employed in this class of machinery.

page_text: Referring to Figures 18, U is a guide plate with flanges at right angles to
each other, one of which is secured to the table S and extends over the feed
belt G. The upright flange being adapted to cause the mail pieces to be delivered
in a direct line with said belt G.
I will now describe certain mechanism designed to assist the above described
stacking mechanism to overcome the friction caused by the weight of the mail
pieces on the receiving table and thus insure its operation at all times.
On the end of the pivotal arm 12 carrying the impression roller D4 is a slotted
support piece t (Figure 23) in which is a sliding bearing t¹, journaled in said
bearing is the shaft 3 (Figures 21, 22, 23) of the crank arms t³, t. Said arms
are made fast at the other end to the hollow shaft t5, which forms a pivotal bear-
ing on the shaft T. Said shaft T having its bearings at one end in the support
piece to and at the other end in the support 1, (Fig. 23).
The support
pieces to, tare made fast to the plate A³, (Fig. 23). The arm has an exten-
sion carrying a crank pin to to which is pivoted the pawls to adapted to engage
the ratchet wheel T carried by the shaft T. Secured to the ratchet wheel T are
pulleys T also carried by the shaft T. The pulleys T2 carry endless belts T³,
which pass over and return under the receiving table S. At the opposite end
of said table are pulleys T4 for said belts. Mounted on the same shaft and rigidly
connected on one side with the pulleys T is a ratcheted barrel T5, (Fig. 25),
of the usual construction, adapted to wind up a spring or weight, one side
of which is rigidly mounted on the shaft while the other side is
loosely mounted in connection therewith and adapted to turn in one direction,
but is prevented from turning in the other direction by a pawl and ratchet
mechanism. The construction being old and well known is not here shown in
detail. Carried by said barrel is the weight T, (Fig. 24). And rigidly attached
to the loose side of the barrel T is the sprocket wheel T7 adapted to turn freely
in one direction when the weight T is being wound up and to turn in the other
direction only with the pulleys T. Carried by the sprocket wheel T is a link
belt Ts which is provided with a sprocket wheel T at the other end of the re-
ceiving table S. Attached to each end of the link belt Ts and forming an
integral part thereof is the arm S of the stop plate S¹.
The operation of the last described mechanism is as follows: The passage of
a mail piece between the printing and impression rollers causes the arm D³ to
be carried back a distance corresponding to the thickness of the mail piece. The
arm I carries hack with it the crank arms 3, 4, causing the pawls 10 to retract
and the ratchet T', being engaged by said pawls, is caused to rotate a correspond-
ing distance when the arm 12 returns to its normal position after the mail piece
has passed. The pulleys T2 and belts T3 are also caused to rotate a distance
corresponding to the thickness of the mail piece added to the stack. The stack
of mail pieces resting on the belts T3 is moved accordingly. The stress of the
weight T has a tendency to move said belts in the same direction and thus over-
come a portion of the friction caused by the weight on said belts. The sprocket
wheel T rotating with the pulleys T carries with it the link belt T and con-
sequently also the stop plate S¹. The weight To being wound up by moving back
to its starting point, the stop plate S¹.
Recapitulating, it is of course obvious that the distance between stop plates H
corresponds with one revolution of the printing head and it will he also under-
stood that the mechanism for feeding the letters to the stop plates H will operate
at a speed proportioned to the number of feed mechanisms provided, that is to
say, in the present machine there are four sets of feed mechanisms, A, A10, A",
Ais, the speed of each feed mechanism will therefore be one quarter that of the
printing mechanism. Now by regulating the speed of the feed mechanism so
that it will keep one man busy to supply each set of feeding mechanism, and by
speeding the printing mechanism four times as fast, the machine will have a
capacity equal to substantially four times what it would have if but a single
set of mechanism were provided.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is;
1st. In a postmarking and cancelling machine, the combination with a rotary
head, of a series of printing wheels in said head, pawl and ratchet mechanism
for revolving said wheels, and intermediate gearing between the pawl and ratchet
mechanism and printing wheels, said printing wheels being mounted on a frame
removable independently of the actuating mechanism, substantially as described.
2nd. In a postmarking and cancelling machine, the combination with a rotary
marking and cancelling head of time printing mechanism mounted therein, con-
sisting of a series of printing wheels, actuating mechanism mounted indepen-
dently of the printing wheels, said printing wheels being mounted on
frame removable independently of the actuating mechanism, substantially as
described.
a
3rd. The combination with a revolving printing head and printing wheels
located therein, of pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said wheels, said
pawl mechanism being located at substantially the center of the revolving head,
and intermediate gearing between the pawl mechanism and printing wheels,
said printing wheels being mounted on a frame removable independently of the
actuating mechanism, substantially as described.
4th. The combination with a revolving printing head and printing wheels
located therein, of pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said wheels and
pawls to prevent backward movement of said ratchet wheels, said latter pawls
having their body on substantially a radial line drawn from the center of the
head through the pivotal point of the pawl, substantially as described.
5th. The combination with a rotary printing head and printing wheels located
therein, of pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said wheels, said pawl
mechanism mounted substantially at the free end of a pivoted yoke and located
substantially at the center of the revolving head, the body of the yoke lying sub-
stantially in the plane of a radial line drawn from the center of the head through
the pivotal point of the yoke, substantially as described.
6th. The combination with a rotary printing head and printing wheels located
therein, of pawl and ratchet mechanism for revolving said wheels, intermediate
gearing between the pawl and ratchet mechanism and printing wheels, a bellows
for actuating the pawl mechanism, and a pivoted lever having two arms of sub-
stantially the same length extending from the pivotal point, one of said arms
being connected with the pawl mechanism and the other with the bellows, sub-
stantially as described.
7th. In a postmarking and cancelling machine, the combination with a rotary
printing head, of a continuously rotating impression roller yieldingly mounted
adjacent thereto, said impression roller having a portion of its periphery cut
away forming a jaw adapted to act in conjunction with the printing head in
grasping the mail piece and carrying same between said printing head and im-
pression roller in position for cancelling the stamp, and a feed mechanism having
a series of traveling stops, one for each mail piece, said traveling stops being
timed with said impression roller to deliver one mail piece into the bite of said
jaw at each revolution of the impression roller, substantially as described.
8th The combination with feed mechanism adapted to carry the articles to the
printing mechanism, of a series of traveling stops moving adjacent to the feed
mechanism and timed with the printing mechanism, and rotary printing and im-
pression cylinders, one of said cylinders having a portion of its periphery cut
away forming a jaw adapted to grasp the article being fed and carry it between
the two cylinders, substantially as described.
9th. The combination of continuously operating feed mechanism, with a series
of traveling stops timed with the printing mechanisms, a printing cylinder, and
a segmental impression cylinder adapted to time the entrance of an article
between the two cylinders, and yielding stop mechanism movable by the article

page_text: being fed and adapted to arrest said article on the feed mechanism until it is
engaged by said cylinders, substantially as specified.
10th. The combination with continuously operating feed mechanism, of a
rotary printing cylinder, a driven segmental rotary impression cylinder, yield-
ingly mounted adjacent to the printing cylinder, and a retarding finger
mounted to yield with the impression cylinder, terminating adjacent to the point
of nearest proximity between said printing and impression cylinders, substanti-
ally as described.
11th. The combination with continuously operating feed mechanism, of a
rotary printing cylinder, a driven segmental rotary impression cylinder a yielding
frame in which the impression cylinder is journaled, and a retarding finger
mounted on said frame terminating adjacent to the point of nearest proximity
between the printing and impression cylinders, substantially as described.
12th. The combination with continuously operating feed mechanism, of a
series of traveling stops timed with the printing mechanism, a rotary printing
cylinder, a driven rotary impression cylinder having a portion of its periphery
cut away forming a jaw adapted to act in conjunction with the printing cylinder
in grasping a mail piece, said impression cylinder mounted on a yielding frame
and yieldingly actuated toward said printing cylinder, and a yielding finger
extending into the path of the mail piece and moved thereby only, and adapted
to temporarily arrest its progress until it is grasped by said printing and
impression cylinders substantially as described.
13th. The combination with feed mechanism of a rotary printing cylinder, a
continuously driven segmental rotary impression cylinder, one of said cylinders
yieldingly actuated toward the other, and stop mechanism in circle with the
periphery of the impression cylinder mounted above its plane substantially in line
with its circumference, on the side from which articles are fed to said cylinders,
substantially as described.
14th. The combination of feed mechanism with a series of traveling stops
timed with the printing mechanism, rotary printing and impression cylinders,
one of said cylinders yieldingly actuated toward the other and a finger mounted
to yield with the yielding cylinder and terminating adjacent to the other cylinder,
the end of the finger being provided with a spring seated tip, substantially as
described.
15th. The combination with rotary printing and impression cylinders one of
said cylinders yieldingly actuated toward the other, a feed belt traveling beneath
said cylinders, a disk mounted above the printing cylinder adapted to rotate
independently of said cylinder, and a retarding finger co-operating with said
disk to form stop mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
16th. The combination with continuously operating feed mechanism, of a
rotary printing cylinder, a disk mounted above said cylinder adapted to turn
independently thereof, a segmental impression cylinder yieldingly mounted
adjacent to said printing cylinder and actuated toward the same, and a retarding
finger mounted to yield with the impression cylinder terminating normally in
contact with said disk, substantially as described.
17th. The combination with a revolving printing head and the time printing
mechanism located therein, of stationary time mechanism, a rod for transmitting
time impulses from said time mechanism to the time printing mechanism, and
a coupling in said rod one portion of which is adapted to revolve while the other
portion is not adapted to revolve, substantially as described.
18th. The combination with printing mechanism, of a feed mechanism adapted
to carry the articles to the printing mechanism, and a series of traveling stops
moving adjacent to the feed mechanism at a slower speed and adapted to retard
the speed of the articles being fed as they are being carried along by the feed
mechanism, substantially as described.

page_text: 19th. A feeding mechanism consisting of a continuously moving. belt adapted
to engage the articles to be fed, and an adjacent belt moving at a slower speed
than the first belt and stop plates on the slower belt adapted to retard the speed
of the articles being fed, substantially as described.
20th. In a postmarking and cancelling machine, the combination with the
printing mechanism of a feed belt and trough for carrying the matter to be fed
to the printing head, and a belt above the said feed belt having stop pieces which
travel in the trough, said pieces moving at a slower speed than the feed belt and
adapted to retard the speed of the articles being fed and to deliver them to the
printing mechanism at the desired time, substantially as described.
21st. In a postmarking and cancelling machine feed mechanism, the combi-
nation with an inclined way down which the mail pieces are fed, of additional
feed mechanism on which the mail pieces are deposited, and stop mechanism for
holding the mail piece on the inclined way until it is desired to release the
same, substantially as described.
22nd. In a postmarking and cancelling machine feed mechanism, the combi-
nation of an inclined way down which the mail pieces slide. a continuously
operating feed mechanism onto which the mail piece is thrown, stop mechanism
for holding the mail piece on the inclined way until it is desired to release it,
and an oscillating frame adapted to receive the mail piece after it is released by
the stop mechanism and deposit it onto the feed mechanism, substantially as
described.
23rd. An automatic feed for a postmarking and canceling machine consisting
of an inclined way, stop mechanism thereon for detaining the mail pieces until it
is desired to release them, an oscillating frame for receiving said mail pieces
and depositing them onto the continuous feed mechanism and additional stop
mechanism below the oscillating frame, substantially as described.
24th. An automatic feed for a postmarking and canceling machine, consisting
of the inclined way P³, the stop mechanism P¹, the oscillating frame O¹ and stop
mechanism 03, substantially as described.
25th. In a postmarking and canceling machine, the combination of rotary
printing and impression cylinders, an endless belt for carrying the mail pieces
to said cylinders, and a series of automatic mechanism for feeding said mail
pieces to the belt, substantially as described.
26th. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotary
printing head, an endless belt for carrying mail pieces to the printing head,
another belt adjacent to the first, traveling at a slower speed than the first, and
provided with stop plates and a series of automatic feed mechanism, each feeding
mechanism adapted to deliver a piece of mail just back of one of the stop plates,
substantially as described.
27th. In a postmarking and canceling machine, the combination with feed
mechanism and printing mechanism, one member of which is yielding, of a
table adapted to receive mail pieces after they have been marked, a carrier for
conveying the mail pieces along said table as the stack increases, clutch
mechanism between said carrier and the yielding member of said printing
mechanism, and a reciprocating pusher plate adapted to push the mail piece out
of the line of delivery and upon said carrier, substantially as described.
28th. The combination with the printing mechanism of a table beyond said
printing mechanism adapted to receive the mail pieces after they are marked
and two reciprocating pusher plates adjacent thereto for pushing the mail pieces 5
out of the line of delivery and upon said table, and mechanism for giving the
upper plate a greater throw than the lower one, substantially as described.
29th. The combination with the feed belt and a receiving table of two recip-
rocating plates mounted on oscillating levers, the upper plate mounted to the
upper end of said levers, and the lower plate mounted on the levers below the 5
upper plate whereby the upper plate will have the greater throw, substantially
as described.

page_text: 30th. The combination with the printing and impression cylinders, at least
one of which is yielding, and a belt for receiving the mail piece after it has been
printed, of clutch mechanism between said belt and the yielding cylinder whereby
the passage of the mail piece past the yielding cylinder moves said belt, sub-
stantially as described.
31st. The combination with the printing and impression cylinders, one of them
yielding with respect to the other and a delivery belt, of clutch mechanism
between the belt and the yielding member and connected directly to said yielding
member of the printing mechanism, whereby a movement of said yielding
member will move the belt a corresponding distance, substantially as described.
32nd. The combination with the marking and impression rollers, one of said
rollers journaled in fixed bearings and the other in a movable frame, of pawl
and ratchet mechanism connected directly to said frame and actuated by the
movement thereof, substantially as described.
33rd. The combination with the marking and impression rollers, one of said
rollers journaled in fixed bearings and the other in a movable frame, of pawl and
ratchet mechanism actuated by the movement of said frame, and a pulley
actuated by said pawl and ratchet mechanism, substantially as described.
34th. The combination with the marking and impression rollers, one of said
rollers journaled in fixed bearings and the other in a movable frame, of pawl and
ratchet mechanism actuated by the movement of the frame, a pulley rotated by
said pawl and ratchet mechanism, and an endless belt rotated by said pulley,
substantially as described.
35th. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the feed belt
and marking and impression rollers, one of said rollers being yielding, of
stacking mechanism consisting of a receiving table, a reciprocating pusher plate
adjacent thereto, pawl and ratchet mechanism connected to said yielding roller
and actuated by the passage of a mail piece between said rollers, and a series of
pulleys and endless belts actuated by said pawl and ratchet mechanism, sub-
stantially as described.
36th. The combination with a receiving table, a reciprocating pusher plate,
pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to rotate a series of carrying belts, of means
for applying power to assist said pawl and ratchet mechanism to overcome the
friction on said belts, substantially as described.
37th. In a postmarking and cancelling machine, the combination with the feed
belt and marking and impression rollers, of pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted
to be actuated by the passage of a mail piece between said rollers, a pulley
actuated by said pawl and ratchet mechanism, a belt carried by said pulley, a
second pulley for said helt and a ratcheted barrel on the same shaft with said
second pulley adapted to turn with said pulley in one direction and to turn
independently thereof in the other direction, substantially as described.
38th. The combination with the feed belt and marking and impression rollers,
of a receiving table, a reciprocating pusher plate, pawl and ratchet mechanism
adapted to be actuated by the passage of a mail piece between said rollers, a pulley
actuated by said pawl and ratchet mechanism, a belt carried by said pulley, a
second pulley for said belt, a ratcheted barrel on the same shaft with said second
pulley, a weight carried by said barrel, and a sprocket wheel rigidly connected
with the loose side of said barrel, substantially as described.
39th. The combination with the feed mechanism and marking and impression
heads of a receiving table, a reciprocating pusher plate, pawl and ratchet
mechanism adapted to be actuated by the passage of a mail piece between said
marking and impression heads, a pulley actuated by said pawl and ratchet
mechanism, a belt carried by said pulley, a second pulley for said belt, a
atcheted barrel mounted on the same shaft with said second pulley, a sprocket
wheel attached to said barrel, and a chain carried by said sprocket wheel, sub-
tantially as described.
40th. The combination with the feed mechanism and marking and impression

page_text: rollers, of pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to be actuated by the passage
of a mail piece between said rollers, a pulley actuated by said pawl and ratchet
mechanism, a belt actuated by said pulley, a second pulley actuated by said belt,
a ratchet barrel mounted on the same shaft with said second pulley, additional
means applied to said barrel for revolving it, a sprocket wheel connected with
said barrel, a chain carried by said sprocket wheel, a second sprocket wheel for
said chain, and a stop plate connected with said chain, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of November 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.