Improvements in and relating to Stamp-cancelling and Post-marking Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Stamp-cancelling and Post-marking
Machines.
We, WILLIAM GROTH, residing at Seattle, King County, Washington Territory,
and THOMAS STANSBURY CONSTANTINE, doing business at the corner of Fourth and
Lewis Streets in the City, County and State of New York, United States of
America, Gentlemen, 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:-
Our invention relates to machines for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage stamps thereon, and our said invention consists of certain novel parts and
combinations of parts wherein a pneumatic device operates to take up a letter from a
package and to carry it by a free upward circular movement to and deposit it by a
vertical drop at the point where it is to receive the dating and canceling impression,
as we shall now describe and particularly point out in the claims concluding this
specification.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings :-
Figure 1, represents a front elevation of a machine for post-marking and canceling
letters, embracing our invention;
Figure 2, is a rear elevation of such machine;
Figure 3, is a top plan view of such machine;
Figure 4, is an elevation of the right end thereof;
Figure 5, is an elevation of the left end of such machine;
Figure 5, represents views of the tappet shaft crank pin and its slotted plate
connection for operating the letter supporting followers;
Figure 5, is a view of the slotted gear and its lever connection for alternately
operating the pneumatic transferring device;
Figure 6, represents a vertical longitudinal section of the machine showing the
pneumatic transferring device in the position it occupies at the moment of taking up a
letter, and the stamping device in position to impress a letter ;
Figure 7, is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, showing the pneumatic
transferring device in the position it occupies at the moment of dropping the letter to
receive the impression of the stamp;
Figure 8, represents a vertical sectional detail view of the suction take-up
tubes;
Figure 9, is a sectional detail view of the impressing stamp ;
Figure 10, is a vertical sectional detail view of the ratchet device for feeding the
follower and the letters thereon to the suction take-up tubes;
Figure 11, shows the air exhausting cylinder in section ;
Figure 12, is a detail view of the ratchet device for feeding the endless apron ;
Figure 13, is a side view of the slotted slide and its crank-pin connection for
operating the stamp carrying shaft ;
Figure 14, is a longitudinal sectional view of the inking roll; and-
Figure 15, shows a letter having been post-marked and stamp-canceled by our
machine.
A suitable frame is provided for containing and supporting the several operating
parts of the machine.
At the front of the machine a series of sorting boxes 1, are arranged for con-
taining the letters in separate and distinct packages; and at the rear of the machine
a suitable box, 2, is provided with sorting compartments, 3, to receive the letters after
having been post-marked and canceled, while between these parts is arranged an
endless anron 1 unon which the lattere are deposited to be nost-marked and the

page_text: stamps canceled, and delivered sorted into the receiving boxes. These parts are
arranged at the top of the frame, the rear boxes being placed below the upper
surface of the apron.
The devices for transferring the letters singly from their containing boxes to
the endless apron, and for post-marking and canceling the letters deposited thereon,
are arranged for operation above the frame and their operating mechanisms are
suitably arranged and disposed at each end of the frame; while the power crank-
shaft, 5, is suitably mounted above the letter containing boxes. This disposition of
the parts gives a desirable compactness to the machine and brings the movements of
the operating parts within convenient combinative relation.
Referring to these separate mechanisms we will now more particularly describe
their construction in the organization of the machine.
Along the front side of the machine and between the end frames thereof is secured
a frame, 6, which is divided into a series of compartments by partitions, 7, the
tops of which are about on a level with the top of the frame, and are supported
upon a cross-bar, 8, which connects the end frame, 9. Each of these compartments
is provided with a follower, 10, upon which the letters are placed in sorted
packages and fed upward. Each follower has a central downwardly projecting
hollow guide-stem, 11, which passes through a guide-tube, 12, depending from the
bottom cross-bar, 8. The hollow guide-stem, 11, has a vertical slot, 13, (Figure, 10,)
on one side, and on the other side it has a series of holes which act as a rack, 14.
A bracket, 15, (Figure 10,) secured to the bottom cross-bar, 8, stands to the
front of the latter and rising from the top thereof, has mounted therein, on a
short stem, a toothed wheel, 16, adapted to engage the rack, 14, of the guide-
stem. A ratchet-wheel, 17, is fixed to the outer side of this toothed wheel, and
both together turn loosely upon the said bracket-stem. A pawl, 18, is pivoted to
the upper end of the bracket, 15, so as to engage the said ratchet wheel, and has
a depending arm, 19, at its outer end, the purpose of which we will presently state.
A tubular guide, 12, for the hollow stem, 11, depends from the bottom cross-bar, 8,
and has mounted in a bracket on the outerside thereof a sheave, 20, over which passes
a cord, 21, which passing through the vertical slot, 13, in the follower guide-stem, 11,
is connected to the lower end thereof; while its other end has a weight 22, which
constantly tends to raise the follower. A guide yoke, 23, for this weight depends from
the bottoin cross-bar, 8, and serves to limit the descent of the weight and thereby
limit the ascent of the follower.
A horizontal rock-shaft, 24, is mounted in bearings in the end frames just beneath
and to the front of the bottom cross-bar, 8, and is provided with a tappet or arm 25,
(Figure 10) rising in such relation to the depending arm, 19, of the ratchet pawl, 18,
as to strike and move it inward and thereby raise and release the pawl from the ratchet
wheel, 17, and thus allow the follower, 10, to be raised by the weight at the moment
the pneumatic suction tube is at the limit of its downward movement over the package
of letters and is about to take up and transfer a letter. In this way the letters of the
package are fed up as each top letter is removed from the package. The tappet or
arm, 25, is adjusted by a clamp screw, 26, to effect the release of the ratchet, 17, at
the proper moment in the movement of the transferring device. The provision for
operating this rock shaft we will presently describe in connection with the provision
for operating the transferring device, which we will now describe.
Above the top of the frame in suitable bearings in the end frames and at points
just in the rear of the package-containing compartment, are mounted short shafts 27,
standing in co-incident lines across the frame having crank arms, 28, standing in the
same plane to the ends of which the cross-bar, 29, of the transferring device is pivoted
so as to have a movement in the arc of a circle struck from the axis of said short
bearing shafts. This cross-bar, 29, carrying the pneumatic suction tubes, 30, on its
underside which must be maintained in vertical positions in every part of the circular
sweep of the bar.
For this purpose we supplement each crank arm, 28, with a second
crank arm, 31, standing in parallel relation thereto and connected to suitable pivot-
brackets at each end of the cross-bar, 29, but not in co-incident cross-lines, one

page_text: bearing being at the front side, and the other at the rear side of the said bar, 29, and
both at the same height above said bar, whereby the latter with an easy sweeping
movement, is held with its suction tubes in vertical positions so as to descend vertically
to take up the letters, to descend vertically to deposit the letters and between these
two points to hold and carry the letters in perfectly horizontal positions so as to avoid
their premature release from the suction-tubes. The cross-bar carrying the line of
suction tubes has an interior channel, 32, which communicates with all the suction
tubes by vertical passages, 33, (Figure 8,) and with an air exhausting cylinder, 34, by
means of a flexible tube, 35, extending from the top of the cross-bar. We prefer to
construct the suction tubes as follows.
Depending from the underside of the cross-bar is a flanged tubular interiorly screw-
threaded socket, 36, (Figure 8,) into which is screwed a tubular part, 37, terminating
in a flaring mouth, 38, and having a corresponding shorter sleeve part, 39, the upper
end of which abuts against the lower end of the upper socket part, 36. Between the
flaring ends of these two tubular parts is clamped the inner edge part of a rubber ring, 40,
so that the lower edge of the latter stands out from the clamp and forms a flaring,
bell-mouthed sucker-part, which is brought in contact with and is caused to take hold
of the letter at the moment the air is exhausted from the flaring mouth above the
surface of the same. For this purpose each sucker-tube is provided with an interior
plug-valve, 41, the normal position of which closes the exhaust passage, 33, as shown
in Figure 8, so that if there should be no letters in any one of the compartments the
sucker-tube, 30, corresponding therewith would have its exhaust passage, 33, closed
and thereby not interfere with the action of the other sucker tubes. Therefore, to
render the valve of each sucker-tube active it is provided with a vertical stem, 42, so
that in descending upon the package of letters, the stem will first strike upon said
package and the valve be thus automatically raised to open the exhaust. In this way,
while all the sucker-tubes are in communication with the exhaust, each one is rendered
independent of the other, and is thereby made operative in the compartments which
may contain letters. The provision for clamping the yielding sucker mouth renders
the renewal of the latter easy and convenient 50 as to always provide for a perfect
seating of a sucker-mouth. The play of the valve is limited by a top plate or cap, 43,
adapted to rest at its projecting edge upon an interior annular shoulder in the socket
part. We prefer to make the exhaust communication of the air channel in the bar
with the flaring sucker-mouth by outside branch tubes, and thereby give a quick
exhaust communication.
We will now describe the provisions whereby the letter-transferring device is
operated in unison with the means for feeding the letters thereto.
Referring now to the means whereby the packages of letters are fed upward as they
are removed one by one, it will be seen, by reference to Figures 5 and 5ª, that the
rock-shaft, 34, which operates the letter-supporting followers, 10, is provided at its
left end with a short crank-arm, 44, which stands toward the rear and has a crank-
pin, 45, (Figure 5) which extends beyond the outer side of the end frame and engages
a slot, 46, in a quadrant or plate, 47, mounted upon a bearing bracket, 48, projecting
from the end frame at a point above the said rock-shaft. This slot, 46, is concentric
with the axis of the bracket bearing and terminates in a deflector or oblique end, 49,
at the rear edge of the quadrant, so that the crank pin, 45, is rendered inactive in the
concentric portion, 46, of the slot and is caused to be depressed by the deflected
end, 49, of said slot, whereby it causes the shaft, 24, to be rocked, carrying its tappets
or arms 25, inward against the depending arms, 19, of the ratchets and thus release
their engagement from the ratchet wheels and allow the letter supporting followers
to rise at the moment the transferring device is at the limit of its descent to take up
the letters.
In order that this movement should be in unison with the seizing action of the
sucker-tubes, we provide the said slotted quadrant with a short crank arm, 50, on its
bearing sleeve, which arm by a pitman, 51, connects with the front end of a lever, 52,
mounted on a bearing bracket on the end frame about on a plane with the top thereof.
This end of said lever also connects by an eccentric strap-rod, 53, with an eccentric, 54,

page_text: on the end of the power driven shaft, 5, which is mounted in suitable bearings in
standards of the end frames above the letter containing compartments, so that the
revolution of said shaft vibrates the said lever, 52. The rear and longer end of this
lever, 52, has a pin, 53, which engages a segmental slot, 54, in the face of a gear
wheel, 55, and standing obliquely at one side to the axis of said gear. Engaging with
this gear, 55, is a pinion; 56, on the shaft of the crank arm, 28, which carries the
cross-bar, 29, of the transferring device. As the lever, 52, is vibrated' the action of
its pin, 53, within the segmental slot, 54, of the gear, causes the latter to move through
a determined portion of a revolution alternately, with a movement each way sufficient
to give a half revolution of the said crank pinion, 56, and thereby control' and
determine with precision' and exactness the sweep of the transferring device to take
up and deposit the letters in position for post-marking and' canceling.
In this operation the upward movement of the front arm of the lever, 52, operates
in the said gear slot, 54, to effect the frontward sweep of the transferring device ;
while the downward movement of the said lever operates in the said gear slot to reverse'
the gear and effect the rearward sweeping movement of the transferring device;
while the primary object of the obliquely arranged gear slot is to effect the backward
and forward movement of the transferring device, yet the slot performs the important
function of retarding the movement of the transferring device at its taking up and
depositing point and this is effected by the peculiar form of the slot and its relation
to the axis of its gear shaft. For, it will be seen' that when the pin, 53, is working
in that portion of the slot furthest from the axis of its gear the motion of said gear
will be slowest and this retarded motion is at this point communicated to the pinion, 56,
of the transferring device, and hence, the movement of the latter is controlled as
stated.
To give a regular and easy sweeping movement to the transferring device, it is
provided alike at each end with the parallel crank connected arms, while the slotted
gear wheel is mounted upon the end of a rock shaft, 57, supported in suitable bearings
in the ends of the frame and has at its other end a cog-wheel, 58, equal in diameter
to the slotted gear, which engages a pinion, 59, mounted upon the outer end of the
short shaft, 27, of the crank arm, 28, which carries that end of the transferring device.
To avoid the torsional strain on the short crank shafts due to the operation of lifting
the transferring device, we provide the outer end of the shafts of the crank arms of
such device with counter-weights, 60, placed radially in the line of the said crank
arms and standing in opposite directions thereto.
Immediately between the compartments into which the letters to be post-marked
and canceled are placed and the compartment box to receive such letters when so
canceled and post-marked is arranged the endless apron, 4, upon rolls, 61, mounted
in bearings in the end frames with its upper side in a horizontal plane. At a point
above the rear apron carrying roll is mounted a cross-shaft, 62, in suitable bearings in
standards of the end framés, and which carries the post-marking and canceling
stamps, 63, placed at distances along its length corresponding to the position of the
letter containing compartments. These stamps are mounted upon the outer end of
arms, 64, which operate with a circular sweep toward the front of the machine ;
while at their shaft connecting sleeved ends they are provided with screws, 65,
(Figure 9) by which they are adjustably mounted on the said shaft, whereby their
lateral location as well as the plane of their working faces may be regulated in relation
to the apron. Each of said stamp carrying arms has a socket, 66, at its outer end
standing at right angles, which socket receives a pin, 67, to the outer end of which
the stamp is properly clamped by a collar and screw. The inner end of the stamp
carrying pin has a head which limits its outward projection, and upon which an
interior spring, 68, bears to allow the stamp to slightly yield under its stamping
action. This gives the stamp the advantage of adapting itself to letters of different
thickness.
We will now describe the provisons by which these stamps are operated in unison
with the operation of the transferring device and the endless apron. Referring to the
means for operating the stamps, the right end of the power driven shaft, 5, is provided

page_text: with a gear wheel, 69, which engages with an equal gear wheel, 70, mounted in a
bearing in the side frame in the rear of said shaft, and which latter gear carries a
crank pin, 71, from which extends a rod, 72, whose other end connects with and
operates a horizontal slide-bar, 73, (Figure 13) mounted in guides, 74, at the rear
end of said frame and in line with stamp carrying shaft. This slide has an angular or
L-shaped slot, 75, into which travels the pin, 76, of a crank arm, 77, secured on the end
of the stamp carrying shaft at the inner side of said slotted plate. The action of this
crank pin and slot is as follows: As the slide, 73, is caused to move frontward the
horizontal portion of its slot moves over the said crank-pin without giving action to
the stamp carrying shaft, the stamps at this time being held with their arms in nearly
vertical position, but the moment the pin enters the upward standing part of the slot,
the crank pin is raised and with it its crank arm, 77, which rocks the shaft, 62, and
causes the stamps to move forward and downward and impress the letters so as to
effect their post-marking and cancellation, while the endless apron is without motion.
It will be understood that in this position of the stamps and at this instant the
transferring device is in position to seize and take up the letters and is caused to
sweep over and deposit the letters about coincident with the time of the reverse
movement of said slotted slide which causes the return rotation of said shaft which
brings the stamps again to their normal position out of the way of the transferring
device.
The provisions for operating the endless belt are arranged at the left side of the
frame and consist of a crank pin, 78, mounted on the end of the power driven shaft, 5,
from which a rod, 79, extends and connects with a crank arm, 80, loosely mounted
upon a bearing stud supported in a bracket, and upon the inner end of said stud pin
is loosely mounted a gear wheel, 81, which carries in fixed relation thereto a ratchet
wheel, 82, (Figure 12) into which a pawl, 83, carried by the crank arm, 80, engages.
This loosely mounted gear engages with a pinion, 84, on the shaft of the rear apron
carrying roll, whereby in the backward movement of the crank the ratchet pawl is
caused to ride over the ratchet wheel without turning the latter, but as the said crank
arm is moved forward by the revolution of the power driven shaft it turns the ratchet
wheel and by its connected gear operates the apron feeding roll so as to carry the letters
which have received the action of the stamps and deliver them into the receiving
compartments in the arrangement in which they were placed in the feeding com-
partments. It will be understood that at the moment of depositing and the moment
of impressing the letters, the endless apron is without movement and that it has a
suitable bed support, 85, provided with a yielding cushion in the line of the action of
the stamps.
As a means for inking the stamps we provide an inking roll, 86, suspended from
bearings in the standard of the stamp carrying shaft, by arms, 87, having their
points of suspension above and slightly in advance of the said shaft so as to maintain
the inking roll in a line on a plane with the lower ends of the stamps when the
latter are in their normal position. The object of this arrangement is three-fold, that
is to say, to cause the inking roll to pass over the stamping surfaces in their down-
ward movement; to automatically press the inking roll toward the front in such
stamp inking contact and to obtain a second stamp inking contact on the upward
movement of said stamps. The roll is mounted so as to revolve freely in bearings
in the lower ends of its suspending arms, and is caused by its weight to constantly
tend to swing toward the stamps; and we may supplement this action by means of
suitable springs, 88, which connect each end of said roll with the stamp carrying
shaft. Each end of the inking roll is provided with a wheel, 89, and each end of
the stamp carrying shaft is provided with a quadrant, 90, placed in coincident lino
with the said wheels and formed with a segmental portion, 91, and with an inwardly
curved or cam portion, 92.
The function of the cam portions of said quadrants is as they move forward, to
come in contact with the wheels, 89, and thereby continue the forward movement
of the inking roll so as to place and hold it out of the way of further movements of
the inking stamps.
"

page_text: Any suitable construction of inking roll may be employed, but we prefer to make
it hollow with suitable surface holes which are covered with the ink-supplying pads
and which are fed through said holes. The said roll is provided with a suitable inlet
for the ink, as seen in Figure 14.
Referring to the letter receiving-compartments we prefer to make the upper
surface of their followers inclined, say toward the left side, as seen in Figure 1,
the better to aid in keeping the letters in one corner of said compartment and to
assist in this action rubber fingers, 93, may be secured in the sides of the compart-
ments so as to bear upon and press the package of letters into said carrier.
primary object of this is to maintain the package of letters in position so that each
letter will be taken up by the suction tube at a point whereby it will be deposited
upon the apron in position to receive the canceling stamp upon its stamped
corners.
The
To provide for the separate and independent action of the suction tubes in the
absence of letters in any one of the compartments we provide the follower with a
hole, 94, (Figures 6 and 7,) to receive the stem, 42, of the valve, 41, of the sucker-
tube and thereby prevent the opening of such valve which would otherwise destroy
the exhaustive action of the transferring device. We prefer to arrange the air
exhausting cylinder on the right side of the frame and to operate its piston, 95, by
a pitman-rod, 96, connected to a crank-pin, 97, of the power driven shaft.
upper end of the cylinder is provided with holes, 98, and froin its lower end extends
a pipe, 99, which suitably connects with the channel, 32, of the cross-bar of the
transferring device.
The
The crank-pin of the piston-rod is so arranged relative to the movement of the
transferring device that the upward movement of the piston will commence just
before the upward movement of the transferring device commences, for the purpose
of rendering effective the take-up action of the suction-tubes; and that the piston
will continue to rise during the entire backward sweep of the transferring device.
At the limit of this movement the piston instantly reverses and its valve is thereby
opened thus breaking the exhaust and causing the letters to be released from the
suction tubes and dropped upon the apron; the said valve being for this purpose
arranged to open upward into the open end of the cylinder.
Should it happen that two or more letters may from any cause adhere in the
take-up action of the suction-tubes we provide for the separation of the under adhering
letter or letters by means of an air-jet projected laterally across the path of the
rising letter. This air-jet is supplied by a suitable bellows, a, preferably arranged
under the endless apron and connected by suitable tubes, b, with passages, c,
(Figure 7,) in the walls of the letter receiving compartment partitions, and we
prefer to operate this bellows by a pitman-rod, d, connecting a crank-arm, e,
of the moving part of the bellows with a crank-arm, f, of the apron feeding device,
(Figure 5).
It is obvious that the stamps may be varied as may be desired and that while one
or more of the series are canceling the postage stamps of and post-marking the
outgoing mail, the others of the series may be post-marking the incoming mail.
The compartments for receiving the stamped letters are connected with the surface of
the endless belt by an inclined chute-board, g, having surface strips or divisions, h,
corresponding with the partitions, i, of the compartments. The machine may be
operated by hand or other power and it will be understood that a suitable balance
wheel may be employed.
The end wheels of the inking roll may turn loose upon their bearings; but we
prefer to fix them upon their bearings so as to obtain the advantage of causing
the roll to revolve by the action of the quadrant plates of the stamp carrying
shaft, and thereby constantly present a fresh inking surface of the roll to the
stamps.
We have shown and described a bellows for supplying the lateral air jets to
separate adhering letters, but it is obvious that a blower will answer as well.
The letters being placed in packages in the front compartments, the power driven

page_text: shaft is put in motion which operates the transferring device and causes the pneumatic
tubes thereof to press upon the letters and seize and hold them by suction, then
rising, carry the letters upward and rearward in a position to release and deposit them
upon the endless apron. At this point the pneumatic device is caused to stand still
for a moment and the canceling and post-marking device is moved forward and
downward to bring the stamps upon the letters resting upon the apron. Simul-
taneously with this forward movement of the stamping device the transferring
device returns to again seize and take up letters from the packages, and while so
doing, the stamping device rises rearward out of the way of the transferring move-
ment of the pneumatic device, which again deposits the letters upon the apron. As
the stamping device rises it presents the faces of the stamps frontward to receive the
action of the inking roll which is caused to have a downward motion sufficient to pass
over the faces of the stamps. At this moment the inking roll stands between the
pneumatic device and the stamp, and as these devices again move forward simul-
taneously the stamps press against and move the inking roller frontward and thereby
cause the stamps to be inked by the two movements frontward and rearward of the
inking roll every time the stamps are caused to act upon the letters. In the position
of the stamps when in contact with the letters the inking roll is supported upon the
quadrant cams operated by the shaft upon which the stamps are mounted; and, it will
be understood that the weight of the roll in connection with its pendent relation to
the stamps constantly tend to bring and hold the roll against the faces of the stamps
when the latter are presented for that purpose.
In the described movement of the inking roll it is important to notice that just as
it is leaving the faces of the stamps the quadrant arms, by means of their cam-parts,
act upon rolls at each end of the inking roll and thus push the latter upward; a
sufficient distance to carry it free of the stamps; while the segmental parts of these
quadrants hold the roll in such position. While the letters are being stamped the
apron is without movement, but the moment the letters are impressed the stamps rise
and the endless apron moves to deliver them into the compartments provided to receive
them; and, at the moment of such delivery the movement of the apron ceases and
remains still to receive the next letters deposited from the pneumatic device.
In this operation the letters are delivered in the same assortment as that in which
they are made in the first instance; and, this advantage is obtained by the organiza-
tion of the machine which causes the stamped letters to be delivered by the apron into
separate and distinct compartments in lines longitudinally coincident with the
impressing and the front sorting compartments.
The importance of this advantage is seen in the saving of the time and labor to effect
a re-assortment of the letters after being stamped.
As the pneumatic transferring device consists of a series of suction tubes, which
correspond in positions to the location of the letters in the front compartments, and
as all these compartments may not be supplied with letters we provide each suction
tube with an independent valve, whereby to cut off the action of the exhaust in any
one of these tubes which may for the time act in a compartment that has no letters in it
and thereby provide for the independent action of all the suction tubes, so that
whether they all act or not the exhaust will be maintained in those which do act
upon the letters, by causing each valve to be opened by coming in contact with the
letters.
Another important advantage of our invention is the provision of an air jet projected
across the path of the letters as it is raised from the stack as a means of effecting
separation in case two or more letters should from any cause, stick or adhere together
on being lifted by the suction tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of an intermittently operating endless apron, a series of compartments

page_text: .
for containing the letters, arranged across the front end of said apron, an alternately
operating pneumatic letter transferring device, arranged above said apron, and a
stamping and canceling device having its impressing stamps registering with said
compartments, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
2. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of an intermittently operating endless apron, a series of compartments
for containing letters, arranged across the front end of said apron, an alternately
operating pneumatic letter transferring device, a stamping and canceling device having
its impressing stamps registering with said compartments, and a series of letter
receiving compartments, arranged at the delivery end of said apron to register with
and correspond to the letter-containing compartments and to the said stamps,
substantially as described for the purposes specified.
3. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of an intermittently operating endless apron, a series of front
compartments for containing letters arranged across the front end of said apron, an
alternately operating pneumatic letter transferring device, a stamping and canceling
device, a series of rear letter receiving compartments, and an inclined chute between
the delivery end of said apron and the said letter receiving compartments, the said
front and rear compartments and the impressing stamp arranged to register with each
other, for the purpose stated.
4 In combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage
stamps thereon, the following instrumentalities, an intermittently operating endless
apron, a series of front compartments for containing letters, an alternately operating
pneumatic letter transferring device, a stamp canceling device, a series of rear letter
receiving compartments, and an inclined chute provided with dividing strips which
register with the separating partitions of the said front and rear compartments and
with the impressing stamps, for the purpose stated.
5. In combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage-stamps thereon, an intermittently operative letter carrying apron, a series of
front compartments for containing letters, and an alternately operated pneumatic letter
transferring device with an intermittently operated rock-shaft having a series of
radially projecting arms provided with impressing stamps at their outer ends,
arranged to register with the said letter containing compartments, substantially as
described.
6. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of an intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series of front
compartments for containing letters, and an alternately operated pneumatic letter
transferring device with an intermittently operated rock-shaft, mounted above said
apron, a series of radially projecting arms upon said shaft, and impressing stamps,
yieldingly secured in the ends of said arms, arranged to register with said letter
containing compartments, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of the intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series of front
compartments for containing letters, and an alternately operated pneumatic letter
transferring device, with an intermittently operated rock-shaft, a series of radially
projecting arms upon said shaft, formed with sockets at their outer ends, impressing
stamps having stems which slide in said sockets, and springs within said sockets
bearing against the ends of said stems, substantially as described.
8. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of the intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series of front
compartments for containing letters and an alternately operated pneumatic letter
transferring device, with an intermittently operated rock-shaft, a series of radially
projecting arms upon said shaft having impressing stamps secured to their outer ends,
and an inking roller suspended above said apron to bear against the faces of said
stamps when the latter are in their raised positions substantially as described.
9. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of the intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series of front

page_text: compartments for containing letters and an alternately operated pneumatic letter
transferring device with an intermittently operated rock-shaft, a series of radially
projecting arms upon said shaft having impressing stamps secured to their outer ends,
and an inking roller suspended by arms at its ends, at points above and forward of
said rock-shaft, substantially as described for the purpose stated.
10. The combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage stamps thereon, of the intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series
of front compartments for containing letters, and an alternately operated pneumatic
letter transferring device with an intermittently operated rock-shaft, provided with
radially projecting arms having impressing stamps secured to their outer ends,
quadrants upon the ends of said rock shaft having segmental portions and cam
portions, and an inking roller, suspended by arms at its ends, and having rollers in
the planes of said quadrants, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
11. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps thereon,
the combination of the intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series of front
compartments for containing letters, and an alternately operated pneumatic letter
carrying device, with an intermittently operated rock-shaft provided with radially
projecting arms having impressing stamps secured to their outer ends, quadrants upon
the ends of said rock shaft having segmental and cain portions, and an inking roller
suspended by arms at its ends and having rollers rigidly secured upon the ends of its
shaft, in the planes of said quadrants, substantially as described, whereby the inking
roll is positively revolved to change its inking surface.
12. The combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage stamps thereon, of an intermittently operated letter carrying apron, a series
of letter containing compartments arranged transversely at the front end of said
apron, a series of letter receiving compartments arranged transversely at the delivery
end of said apron, an alternately operated oscillating transfer bar, arranged above
the said apron and provided with a series of suction tubes which correspond to and
register with said front and rear compartments, an intermittently operated rock-shaft
above the delivery end of said apron, and a series of radially projecting arms, having
impressing stamps and adjustably secured to said shaft, substantially as described.
13. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an endless letter carrying apron, and a series of letter
containing compartments at the front end of said apron, of two intermittently operated
short rock-shafts, 27, journaled above the apron and in the same cross-wise axial line,
two arms, 28, secured to the inner ends of said rock-shafts, a cross-bar, 29, pivotally
supported at its ends between the ends of said arms, 28, and provided with suction
tubes, 30, upon its underside, and two arms, 31, pivoted at their inner ends, respec-
tively at points forward and rearward of said rock shafts, 27, and to the diagonally
opposite corners of said cross-bar, 29, substantially as described, whereby the suction
tubes of said cross-bar are caused to maintain vertical positions in every part of the
sweeping movement of said bar.
14. The combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage stamps thereon, of an endless letter carrying apron and a series of letter con-
taining compartments at the front end of the saine, with two intermittently operated
short rock-shafts, 27, journaled above said apron and in the same crosswise axial line,
two arms, 28, secured to the inner ends of said rock-shafts, a cross-bar, 29, pivotally
supported at its ends between the ends of said arms and provided with suction-tubes
upon its inner sides, two weighted arms, 60, secured to the outer ends of said rock-
shafts to project diametrically opposite to said inner arms, and two arms, 31, pivoted
to their inner ends, respectively, at points forward and rearward of said rock-shaft
and to the diagonally opposite corners of said cross-bar, substantially as described.
1. In a machine for post-marking letters. and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an endless letter carrying apron and a series of letter
containing compartments at the front end of the same, of a power or drive shaft, 5,
provided with an eccentric, an eccentric strap-rod, 33, a lever, 52, having one arm
pivotally connected to said rod, 53, and having a laterally projecting stud, 53¹, upon
B

page_text: its other arm, a rock-shaft, 52, journaled parallel to said power shaft and at the
front end of said apron gear wheels, 55, upon the ends of said shaft, one of which
wheels is formed with an oblique segmental slot, 54, in its face for the engagement of
the stud, 531, upon the lever, 52, short rock-shafi, 27, journaled above said
apron and in the same crosswise axial line pinions, 56, upon said shafts and
meshing with- said gear wheels, 55, two arms, 28, secured to the inner ends of
said rock-shafts, a cross-bar, 29, pivotally supported at its ends between the ends
of said arms and provided with suction tubes upon its underside and two arms, 31,
pivoted at their inner ends, respectively, at points forward and rearward of said rock-
shafts and to the diagonally opposite corners of said cross-bar, substantially as
described.
16. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an intermittently operating letter carrying apron,
of a rock-shaft, 62, journaled above said apron and provided with a series of
radially projecting arms, 64, having impressing stamps, 63, and with a crank, 77,
at one end, a reciprocating slide, 73, having a slot, 75, formed of a horizontal
and an upward and oblique portion for engagement with the pin, 76, of said
crank, a revolving power-shaft, 5, a gear wheel, 70, connected to be revolved by said
shaft, and a connecting rod, 72, pivoted at one end to a crank pin, 71, upon said
gear wheel and at the other end to said slide, substantially as described
whereby the said impressing stamps are oscillated in unison with the feed of
the apron.
17. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an endless letter carrying apron having the shaft of
one of its rollers provided with a pinion, 84, a gear wheel 81, engaging said
pinion, a ratchet wheel, 82, secured to the face of said gear-wheel, 81, an arm, 80,
fulcrumed concentric to said gear and ratchet wheels and provided with a pawl. 83,
engaging the teeth of the latter, a power shaft, 5, having a crank-pin, 78, and a
connecting rod, 79, pivotally connected at its ends to said arm, 80, and to said
crank-pin, 78, of a rock-shaft, 62, having a series of radially projecting arms, 64,
provided with impressing stamps and means substantially such as described, for
intermittently rocking said shaft, substantially as described.
18. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination of a power or drive shaft having a crank pin, 78, upon one end
and a gear-wheel, 69, at the other end, an endless letter carrying apron, a pinion, 84,
upon the shaft of one of the rollers of the same, a gear-wheel, 81, engaging said
pinion, a ratchet-wheel, 82, secured to the face of said gear-wheel, 81, an arm, 80,
fulcrumed concentric to said gear and ratchet wheels and provided with a pawl, 83,
engaging the teeth of the latter, a connecting rod, 79, pivoted to said arm and
to the crank pin of the power-shaft, a rock-shaft, 62, journaled above said apron and
provided with a radial projecting arm, 64, having impressing stamps, and with a
crank, 77, at one end, a reciprocating slide, 73, having a slot, 75, formed with
a horizontal and an upwardly inclined portion for engaging the pin of said crank, a
gear-wheel, 70, engaging with the gear-wheel, 69, upon the power shaft and a
connecting rod, 72, pivoted at one end to a crank pin, 71, upon said gear wheel
and at the other end to said slide, substantially as described.
19. In a pneumatic letter transferring device for machines for post-marking letters
and canceling the postage stamps thereon, the combination of an internally screw-
threaded socket, 36, an inner tube, 30, having an internally threaded upper end fitting
in said threaded sockets and a flaring or bell-mouth and a correspondingly shaped
sleeve, 39, of a rubber ring, 40, having its inner edge clamped between the bell-
mouths of said sleeve and tube and having its outer edge projecting beyond the
flaring mouth of the same, substantially as described.
20. In a pneumatic letter transferring device for machines for post-marking letters
and canceling the postage stamps thereon, the combination of a bell-mouthed suction
tube having a flaring rubber ring at the edge of its mouth, an air exhaust pipe, 33,
opening through the side of said tube, and a valve, 41, sliding within said tube to

page_text: cover and uncover the opening of said pipe and provided with a stem, 42, which
projects below the mouth of said suction tube when the valve is closed, substantially
as described.
21. In a pneumatic letter transferring device for machines for post-marking and
canceling the postage stamps of said letters, the combination of a bell-mouthed
suction tube having an air exhaust opening, 33, and a valve, 41, controlling said air
exhaust opening and having a stem, 42, depending below the mouth of said snction-
tube when the valve is closed, substantially as described.
22. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with a compartment for containing the letters, provided
with a yielding follower bottom, 10, having a hole, 94, therein, of an alternately
operated letter transferring device provided with a bell-mouthed suction-tube having
an air exhaust and a valve which controls said air exhaust, and has a stem, 42,
projecting below the bell-mouth of said tube and registering with the holes in said
follower, substantially as described.
23. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with a series of letter containing compartments provided
with a yielding follower bottom, having each a hole, 94, therein, of an alternately
operated swinging letter transferring device, consisting of a cross-bar, 29, formed with
an air exhaust channel, 32, a series of bell-mouth suction tubes upon the underside
of said cross-bar and provided with air exhaust openings, 33, communicating with
said channel and valves, 41, which control said exhaust openings, and have stems, 42,
projecting below the mouths of said suction tubes and registering with the holes
in the follower bottom, substantially as described.
24. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an alternately operated swinging letter transferring
device, having a suction tube, of a letter containing compartment, formed with an
air inlet, c, in one side, a follower bottom, 10, for said compartment and a suitable
blower, a, connected to said air inlet, substantially as described, for the purpose
stated.
25. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an alternately operated swinging letter transferring
device, having a suction tube, of a letter containing compartment, a yielding follower
hottom therefor, and a rubber finger, 93, projecting above said follower in position
to bear against and push the letters upon said follower towards the opposite side of
said compartment, substantially as described for the purpose stated.
26. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination with an endless intermittently operated letter carrying
apron, an alternately operated pneumatic device for handling the letters in the way
described, and an intermittently operated stamping device with means for operating
the said letter handling device consisting of the crank-arms, 28, the pinions, 56,
thereon, the gear wheels 55, engaging said pinions having the oblique face slot, the
lever, 52, engaging said slot and suitable connections for vibrating said lever,
substantially as described.
27. In a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination of an intermittently operated endless letter carrying apron,
an alternately operated pneumatic letter transferring device, and means, substantially
such as described, for operating said apron and transferring device in unison,
substantially as described."
28. In a post-marking and canceling machine for letters, the combination, with
a compartment for containing the letters, and a pneumatic device for transferring
them therefrom, of a follower bottom for said compartment having a stem, 11,
provided with a rack, 14, a gear wheel, 16, engaging said rack, a ratchet wheel, 17,
upon said gear, a pawl, 18, a rock shaft, 24, having a tappet, 25, and mounted in
bearings below the follower, and means substantially such as described, for operating
said tappet shaft, and a cord and weight for operating said follower, for the purpose
stated.

page_text: 29. In a post-marking and canceling machine for letters, the combination with a
compartment for containing letters and a pneumatic device for taking them there-
from, cf a follower bottom having a stem, 11, provided with a rack, 14, and a cord
and weight for raising said follower a gear wheel, 16, engaging said rack, a ratchet
stop device for the gear wheel, a shaft, 24, having a tappet, 25, and a crank pin, 45,
a plate, 47, having a segmental slot, 46, formed with an oblique or deflected end, 49,
engaging said crank-pin and suitable connections with the power driven shaft for
vibrating said slotted plate, substantially as described.
30. The combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage stamps thereon, of a compartment for containing letters, and a pneumatic
device for taking them therefrom, with a follower bottom for said compartiment, a
ratchet and weight device for holding and raising said follower, a rock-shaft, 24,
having a tappet, 25, and a crank pin, 45, means for operating said rock-shaft con-
sisting of the slotted plate, 47, having a crank, 48, the lever, 52, the eccentric, 54,
and the rods, 51, and, 53, for connecting these parts, and means for operating the
pneumatic device consisting of the slotted gear, 55, engaging said lever, 52, the
crank arms, 28, carrying said pneumatic device and suitable means for operating
the eccentric, substantially as described.
31. The combination, in a machine for post-marking letters and canceling the
postage stamps thereon, of a compartment for containing the letters, a follower
bottom for said compartment, and suitable means for supporting said follower, with
a suction tube having a valve provided with a depending stem, whereby the valve
is opened to render the suction effective by contact with the letter, substantially as
described.
Dated this 7th day of January 1890
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.