Improvements in Post-marking and Stamp-cancelling Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Post-marking and Stamp-cancelling Machines.
We, THOMAS STANSBURY CONSTANTINE, Merchant, and WILLIAM GROTH,
Mechanic, both of 40 Wall Street, New York, in the United States of America, 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 improvements in post-marking and stamp-cancelling
machines, wherein a pneumatic device is operated in a way to take up letters from
separate packages and carry them by a free over movement to and deposit them by
a vertical drop, upon an intermittently moving endless apron, at the point where
they are to receive the dating and cancelling impression. For such operation the
organization of the machine, embraces among other things, a series of compartments
for containing separate and distinct packages of letters, a stamping and cancelling
device having its impressing stamps arranged separately in registering relation to
said separate letter-containing compartments, an intermittently operating pneumatic
letter transferring device, having suction tubes in co-relative arrangement and
number with the letter containing compartments and the stamping and cancelling
devices, and an intermittently operating endless apron for conveying the letters in
separate and distinct parallel lines from the stamping and cancelling device. In
such organization it will be seen, that the capacity of the machine, for the needs of
the postal service, is determined by the number of the stamps and their co-operating
devices, which may be used.
The object of my invention is to provide for rendering the stamp or stamps of the
series as may not be supplied with a letter to receive its impression shunted out, as
to its stamping function while descending upon the apron and thus prevent it from
being carried in contact with the apron, while at the same time not interfering
with the stamping function of the stamps which may be supplied with letters in the
operation of the machine, or with the operation of the device which carries all the
stamps.
In effecting these results I provide for shunting or cutting out any one or more
of the series of stamps from action during the continuous operation of the machine
and of the continuous function of the stamp operating mechanism, whereby such
stamp or stamps as may not be supplied with letters to receive the impressions, will
be prevented from touching the apron while the stamp-carrying device is not
interrupted in its regular movement toward the apron.
apron
For effecting this operation I provide each stamp proper of the series, with a
rock-shaft-crank device, which, under the descending movement of the stamp is
caused to strike and press hard upon the immovable apron, which, not yielding
under such pressure, serves to arrest the descent of the stamp proper, so it cannot
come down on the apron when no letter has been placed under the stamp For this
purpose the apron must be at a standstill and the stamp carrier must fully descend
for the proper action of the other stamps; and as the movement of the other
is not to carry the letters to the stamps, it is therefore timed to be without
movement while the letters are being stamped and to move to carry the letters
away from the stamps after receiving their impressions. The function of this
stamp shunting cranked device therefore, depends solely upon its downward
pressure with an abutting action directly upon the apron so that the latter serves
as a fixed base to resist the downward pressure of the cranked device caused by
the descent of the stamp itself. In this way each stamp is provided with its own
shunting device, whereby to render it inoperative to prevent the inking of the

page_text: apron when the latter contains no letter to receive the impression, while the
machine, in every particular, is operating to postmark and to stamp_cancel_letters,
by stamps in which the shunting device is made inoperative. To render this
stamp shunting device inoperative, or as it were taken away from the stamp so as
to leave the latter under the free and sole control of the continuous stamp
operating mechanism, I provide each stamp proper of the series, with a plunger
device, and connect it with one of the cranks of said rock-shaft in such manner
as to shunt or turn and hold up the crank so that it can have no function and
thereby isolate or take away from the stamp, the very device which acts to arrest
its descent as stated.
This function of the plunger rod is rendered active by the descending movement
of the stamp so as to bring it down under pressure upon the letter to be stamped.
In such function of the plunger-rod the letter forms a fixed base to arrest it, and
thereby rock the crank-shaft to shunt out of action its crank arm. The office of
this plunger device therefore, is not to raise or to prevent its descent, but deriving
its function from the descent of the stamp and by striking upon the letter, serves
only and solely to shunt out of action the rock-shaft cranked device. In the
co-operation of these two stamped devices it will be seen that they both depend
primarily for their function upon the intermittent action of the endless apron to
afford an abutting element to resist the downward movements of such devices to
render their function operative or inoperative for the purpose stated. To effect
this co-operation, therefore, it is essential that the normal positions of the stamps;
the normal positions of the stamp-cranked devices; and the normal positions of the
stamp-plunger-rod must be out of the path of the movement of the mail matter,
that is to say, above or away from the letter supporting-apron in order that both of
these devices shall be subject to the control of the stamp itself in order that one of
them will be rendered inoperative by the other, to the end and sole purpose
of preventing the inking of the apron. To render the plunger-rod of any one of
the stamps inoperative, I provide the endless apron with openings, preferably by
forming separate aprons for each stamp, so as to leave spaces between them, which
register with the plunger rods to allow the latter to plunge or pass down freely
below the apron and thereby allow the crank-arm to descend upon the apron to
shunt the stamp out of action when there is no letter to receive its impression. It
will therefore be seen that an essential requirement of the action of the stamp and
for its non-action; and for the action of the stamp crank-rod, and for the action of
the stamp plunger-rod and for its non-action, is, that the movement of the endless
apron must be intermittent; that it must be without movement when the impression
is made upon the letter; that it must be without movement to render the crank-rod
operative to shunt out the action of the stamp when there is no letter in position to
receive the impression; and that it must be without movement to render the
plunger-rod operative to shunt out of action the crank-rod of the stamp. These
provisions and their mode of operation also require that the letter after being
placed to receive the impression of the stamp, must be without movement at a
standstill on its supporting bed, and that therefore, the action or non-action of the
stamp is not and cannot be effected by the movement of the letter upon the apron
with it or independent of it.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated substantially my said patented
machine and prefer to use all the features of my present invention and improvements
in said organization in total combination, as such reconstructed machine has been
found to be effective and not easy to get out of order in the expeditious work
required for the postal service.
In these drawings,
Figure 1 represents in elevation the left side of a machine for post-marking and
cancelling letters embracing my invention;
Figure 2, the opposite or right side of the machine;
Figure 3, is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, showing the pneumatic
device in the position it occupies at the moment of dropping a letter in position

page_text: upon the apron to receive the impression of the stamp, and the stamping device in
its highest position;
Figure 4 is a similar section of the upper part of the machine, showing the
pneumatic device in the position it occupies at the moment of taking up a letter,
and the stamping device in position to make the impression on a letter;
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the mechanism for operating the
inking roll and the stamp-carrier;
Figure 6 is a detail top-view of the stamp-carrier; showing its connection with
the vertical end slides;
Figure 7 is a detail vertical sectional view, showing the operating connections of
the stamp-carrier ;
Figure 8 is a top view of three of the letter supporting aprons showing the open-
spaces between them and the holes in their bed-support to allow the stamp plunger
rod to pass below the apron when its connected stamp is impressing the letter;
Figure 9 is a horizontal section of the same, showing the grooves and apron-ribs
for maintaining the separated relation of the aprons;
Figure 10 is a top view of one of the letter supplying compartments;
Figure 1 Sheet 1, is a detail view of the ratchet device for intermittently
operating the endless apron ;
Figure 1B are views of the tappet-shaft crank pin and its slotted plate connection
for operating the letter supporting followers;
Figure 2, Sheet 2, shows the valved air suction and exhaust cylinder in
section;
Figure 4 Sheet 4, is a vertical sectional detail of the ratchet device for feeding
the followers and the letters thereon to the suction take-up tubes;
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the suction take-up tube;
Figure 11 Sheet 7, is a side elevation of one of the stamping devices, showing
the stamp-box in partial section and the shunting plunger down;
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the same showing the shunting plunger up;
Figure 13 is a partial horizontal section through the type wheel of the stamp,
showing the manner of adjustably securing it to the stamp shank ;
Figure 14 shows the stamping and cancelling face of the stamp ;
Figure 15 shows in top view the slotted portion of the stamp head;
Figure 16 is a vertical cross section of the same on the line *; and
Figure 17 is a similar section on the line y of Fig. 15;
Figure 18 is a front elevation of the stamp, the type wheel being in face view,
and a section of the endless apron and its supporting-bed, showing the shunting
device in position to shunt the stamp in its descent out of action;
Figure 19 is a similar view showing the type wheel raised to clear the stamp-
head and in position to change its dates; and
Figure 20 is a rear elevation of the stamp showing the action of the plunger-rod
in shunting out of action the stamp-shunting crank-device.
These drawings show parts and devices of the said patented machine in the same
relation and which have the same function as in said patented machine, and among
which are the row of compartments 1, for supplying the letters in separate and
distinct packages, arranged at the front of a suitable frame. At the rear of the
frame a similar row of compartments 3 is provided, which register with the front
compartments for receiving the letters after having been post-marked and their
stamp cancelled; while between these parts is arranged endless aprons 4 upon
which the letters are deposited by the dropping action of the pneumatic transferring
device, to receive the impressions of the stamps and delivered into the receiving
compartments. These parts are arranged at the top of the frame in such relation
that the letters are lifted from the front part, carried to and dropped upon the
aprons, and delivered at the rear as stated.
The devices for transferring the letters singly from their supplying compartments
to the endless aprons and also for postmarking and cancelling, are arranged for
operation above the frame, and their operating mechanisms are arranged and

page_text: disposed at each end of the frame; while the power-shaft 5 is mounted above the
front part of the frame. I will now describe more particularly these separate
mechanisms.
Each of these letter supplying compartments is provided with a follower 10,
upon which the letters are placed in packages and fed upward, and each follower
has a central sustaining rod 11, which passes through a suitable guide 12 and is
raised with an intermittent feed by mechanism, shown in Figs. 3 and 4", and
operated from the power shaft 5 through the action of the tappet rock-shaft 24,
whereby the letters of the several packages are fed upward as each top letter is
removed from the package by the sucker-tubes. The device for transferring the
letters from the supplying compartments in connection with this follower feed,
consists of a bar 29 mounted upon crank arms 28, so as to have a movement in the
are of a circle. This cross-bar carries sucker-tubes 30 on its under side in
registering relation to the letter supplying compartments and the stamps, and they
are maintained in vertical positions in every part of the circular sweep of the bar,
by means of supplemental crank-arms 31, which have a parallel relation to the
crank-arins 28, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, whereby the suction tubes are caused to
descend vertically to take-up the letters by suction, and to hold them and to carry
them to the points where they are dropped, by releasing the suction, upon the
aprons. These sucker-tubes are provided with suitable valves 41, which are
opened by contact with the letters to be lifted, to render the suction active.
Suitable air-suction and exhaust devices, are employed to suck up and hold the
letters so as to close the mouths of the sucker-tubes, and to destroy the vacuum in
the latter to drop the letters at the desired points upon the aprons.
In this way
and by the means shown, while all the sucker-tubes are in communication with the
suction and exhaust devices, each one is rendered independent of the other by its
valve, and is thereby made operative in the compartments which may contain
letters.
The letter supporting endless apron 4 is mounted upon rolls 61, and at a point
above the rear roll a cross bar 62, Figs. 5 and 6, is mounted in the frame and
carries the post-marking and cancelling stamps, which are placed at distances along
the length of said bar corresponding to the positions of the letter containing
compartments, and this bar is operated vertically in guides a Fig. 6, in the end
frames to raise and to depress the stamps in unison with the letter transferring
device, and the devices for feeding the letters up in their supply compartments as
shall now state.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the rock-shaft 24 which operates
the letter supporting followers 10, provided at its left end with a short crank-
arm 44, see Figs. 1 and 1B, which stands toward the rear, and has a crank-pin 45,
which extends beyond the outer side of the end frame and into a slot 46 in a
plate 47 mounted upon a bearing upon which it oscillates at a point above the
rock-shaft. This slot 46 is concentric with the bearing of the plate and terminates
in a deflected or oblique end 49, so that the crank-pin 45 is rendered inactive by
the concentric portion 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 25, one for each follower, inward against the arms 19 of a ratchet
device 17-18, and thus release their engagement from the ratchet wheels 17, the
function of which and the toothed wheel 16, is to hold the followers, and thus allow
the followers to rise by the action of weights 22, at the moment the transferring
device is at the limit of its descent to take the letters up. In order that this
movement of the_transferring device shall be in unison with the seizing action of
the sucker-tubes, I provide the said slotted plate 47 with a short crank-arm 50 at
the pivot-bearing, which arm, by a pitman 51, connects with the front end of a
lever 52 mounted on a bearing of the frame. This end of the lever also connects
by the rod 54 with a crank-pin 53 on the face of a gear 6 mounted on a stud of
the frame. The other end of this lever 52 has a pin 53', which engages a segmental
elot 54¹ in the face of a gear wheel 55 and has an oblique relation to the axis of

page_text: said gear. Engaging with this gear 55 is a pinion 56 on the end of the crank-
arm 28, which carries the cross-bar 29 of the sucker tubes. 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 said crank-pinion 56, and
thereby control with precision and exactness the sweep of the transferring device to
take up and deposit the letters in position for post-marking and cancelling. In
this operation the upward movement of the front arm of the lever 52 operates 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.
In this movement the gear-slot 54', also serves the purpose of retarding the
movement of the transferring device at its taking up and depositing point. A
train of gear seen in Fig. 1, connects the followers, and the letter transmitting
devices with an inking roll 86 the endless apron 4 and the stamp carrying device
for conjoint operation as I will now describe.
Referring to Fig. 1, is a gear-wheel which carries the crank-pin 53, that
connects with and operates the tappet-crank shaft 24, and also connects with and
operates the pinions 56 which are on the crank-arms 28 which carry and operate
the letter transferring device. This gear-wheel b, engages a gear-wheel c which
latter engages a pinion d on the power-shaft 5, and by means of the intermediate
pinions e and f, and a gear-wheel g, which engages a pinion on the shaft of the
inking cylinder i, the latter is operated from the power shaft. A pitman-rod 79
connects the gear-wheel with a lever 30 which connects with and intermittently
operates the endless aprons by means of a ratchet device, which I will presently
describe.
The train of gear which I have described, gives a positive motion to the shaft
which carries the inking roll 89 forward beneath the stamps when the latter are
raised, and this movement is effected as follows:-The inking roll-shaft 89 is
journalled in the lower ends of hanging arms which are pivoted on the inner walls
of the end frames, so that the said roll is free to be swung backward in contact with
the inking cylinder i and frontward under and in contact with the stamps as I shall
presently describe.
The stamps are suitably mounted on and carried by a horizontal cross-bar 62
which is provided at each end with a vertical slide plate k adapted to fit and move
between the guide-ways a, secured on the inner walls of the end frames as seen in
Figs. 6 and 7, whereby a true vertical movement is given to the stamps, as I will
now state.
A rock-shaft mounted in the end frames has an arm 77 thereon, seen in Fig. 6
and in dotted lines in Fig. 7, which, by means of a crank-pin 76 thereon, stands
and works in a slot 75 in a plate-bar 73 which is fitted to slide in ways 74 on the
outer side of the right end frame. This slide 73 is connected by a rod 72 with a
crank-pin 71 on a gear 70 which engages with and is driven by a pinion d¹ on the
power driven shaft, which has the pinion d on its other end, so that the
reciprocating motion thus imparted to the slide is transmitted to the stamp-
carrying bar 62 as I will now state. On the rock-shaft which is operated by this
slotted slide-bar 73, there is an arm m at each end just on the inner side of the
end frames standing inward and connected at their inner ends to the lower ends of
links n each of which is pivoted to the slides m of the said stamp-carrying bar 62
so that the rocking movement of the said shaft will vibrate the arms m and thus
raise and lower the slidesk to operate the stamp carrying bar in the way stated.
Looking at Fig. 2 it will be seen that the slot 75 of the slide-bar 73 is somewhat
L-shaped so as to have the function of a cam, which, as the slide is caused to move
forward with the crank-pin 76 in the frontward horizontal portion of said slot the
rock-shaft will be without motion and the stamp-carrying-bar will be held in
elevated position; but the moment the crank-pin 76 enters the rear inclined or cam
part of the slot 75, the crank-arm 77 will be depressed and the shaft / rocked,

page_text: bringing down the stamp-carrying-bar to impress the letters. 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 to deposit
the letters about coincident with the time of the reverse movement of said slotted
slide, which causes the return rotation of said rock-shaft I, which brings the stamps
again to their normal elevated position out of the way of the transferring device.
It will also be understood that at the moment of depositing and at the moment of
impressing the letters, the endless aprons are without movement, and that they
have a suitable cross-bed support 85 in the line of the action of the stamps. It
will also be understood that the letters which have received the action of the
stamps, are carried rearward by the aprons and delivered into the receiving
compartments 3 in the same arrangement in which they were placed in the
supplying compartments.
have stated that the inking-roll 89 is suspended so as to be swung under and in
contact with the stamps and by referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the
inking-cylinder is mounted in the frame at the rear of the inking-roll 89 and that
the latter is mounted in spring sustained bearings or boxes fitted in guides in the
lower ends of the suspending hangers j. A horizontal rider or bearer o is fixed to
each end frame at its inner side and against the under sides of which, the inking
roll rides, and the stamp carrying-bar has at each end a depending rider or bearer o
which, in the highest position of the stamp carrying bar, are brought in registering
relation to the fixed riders as in Fig. 3, so that the two riders o, o, at each side of
the frame, form the ways on which the inking roll is carried under the series of
stamps to ink them, in a horizontal plane permitted by the yielding of its spring
sustained bearings. The mechanism for operating the inking roll consists of slotted
slides p, one fitted in a guide 9, secured to the inner side of each end frame and
connected by a slotted end g' with a pin r on each of the swinging hangers j, the
other end of slotted slide p being connected by a pin with a cam groove
the face of a gear-wheel mounted on a stud at the inner side of each frame,
which engages with a pinions on each end of the shaft of the ink cylinder i, as seen
in Fig. 5. The ink cylinder i, is operated by the pinion h, which engages with the
train of gear connecting the power shaft as seen in Fig. 1, and the movements of
the slotted slides p of the inking devices, are so timed as to carry the inking roll
under and away from the stamps while they are at rest in their highest position.
During the movements of the stamps the inking roll is swung back in contact with
the inking cylinder which, constantly revolving, rotates the inking roll to keep it
inked. The inking cylinder is covered with suitable felt for holding the ink and
the inking roll is provided with separate sleeves covered with felt for inking the
stamps, and these felted sleeves are arranged to register with said stamps.
on
The intermittent movement of the apron may be effected by any suitable means,
that shown consists of the power shaft connecting gear d-c the rod 79 and the
gear and a ratchet wheel 82 on the gear 81, which latter is mounted loosely on a
stud so that a pawl 83 on the arm 80 engaging said ratchet wheel 82, turns the
gear 81 intermittently and this turns the pinion 84 on the roll 61, intermittently
and thus, moves the aprons at the time stated. In this arrangement it is necessary
to give the proper movement to the aprons that the pawl 83 shall act on the
ratchet 82 only as allowed by a shield plate t arranged to partially cover the teeth
of the ratchet, as seen in Fig. 1^.
I will now describe the construction of the stamps and the provisions whereby
any one or more of them are shunted out of action without interrupting the action
of the others, or of the operation of the machine. The stamps are of identical
construction and the stamping part proper is composed of two parts, a horizontal
stamp-head A, which carries face letters and type, and a vertical wheel B, which
carries radial type. The stamp-head has engraved on its under face the letters
indicating the location or place of mailing, and the stamp cancelling lines, as seen
in Fig. 14; and it has two parallel slots within one of which are fitted type for
printing the month and day. The type u, Fig. 16, are of dovetail form and are

page_text: held in the dove-tail seats of the slot by a removable cap-plate v to give convenience
for removing and for changing them, which can be done quickly by removing the
said cap plate and using a pick in an inclined hole in the upper end of the type as
seen in Figs. 16 and 17. This stamp-head has a central shank C, standing at right
angles, which has its upper end fitted with a bore of the box D, and is retained
therein by a shoulder E, Fig. 11, on its upper end, which shoulder also serves to
limit the downward movement of the stamp within its box, against the force of
a spring F, inclosed within said box D, and against which spring force the
stamping device is permitted to yield in stamping the letters. A side feather w,
Fig. 20, prevents the turning of the stamp shank within the box. Within the other
head-slot operate the type arms C, of disks which indicate the time of the day;
and, to obtain the proper indication of the divisions of the time to denote any
hour or half hour, I use three independent disks H, which I call time wheels.
These disks are loosely mounted on a stud I, which is secured to the side of the
stamp shank C, between its head A, and the box B, so as to be vertically movable
for adjustment thereon. A convenient means for securing this stud I, to the
stamp shank, is shown in Fig. 13, and consists in making a dove-tail recess y on
the inner end of the stud and fitting it over a dove-tail rib or projection y³,
on a flat part of the stamp-shank C, and clamping the said stud to this dove-
tail rib by a thumb screw J, passing centrally through a threaded bore in the
stud 1, so as to bear against the stamp shank in a recess Z, Figs. 11 and 13,
to permit the stud I, to be set higher or lower for a purpose which I shall presently
state. The time-wheels H, are placed side by side on the stud between two
disks H2, which are fastened to the latter by screws, and the types are formed upon
the ends of circumferential radial arms C, of which the outer wheel has twelve
containing numbers from 1 to 12 inclusive, to indicate the hours of the day; the
inner wheel has three type arms bearing the divisions of the day, A.M., P.M.,
and M.; while the intermediate type wheel has the number 30 to indicate the half
hour. Each of these type wheels has a recess on its vertical face to receive a
pawl, and a spring bearing upon the pawl-Fig. 18; while the stud hub I,
has twelve circumferential grooves of V-shape into which the pawl of each type
wheel is held by the spring when the wheel is properly set, as in Fig. 18. This
construction allows the type wheels to be easily and quickly set for use, and when
so set as in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the type arms G, extend down through the slot x,
with their type faces on a level with the engraved letters of the stamp-head and
the stud is clamped to the stamp-shank by the hand screw, the point of which, is
conical and enters the lower one of two recesses in the dove-tail rib as seen
in dotted lines in Figs. 11 and 19. To change the type-wheels the stud I, is
unclamped and raised so that the hand-screw J, will enter the upper recess to hold
the type-wheels up free of the slot a in the stamp head to allow the wheels to be
turned to change the day, or the time, or both, as seen in Fig. 19, after which the stud
is again set down and clamped to the stamp-shank. This mounting of the type wheels
upon a sliding stud gives the advantage of conveniently handling them to make the
required changes, and provides a firm fastening to the shank of the stamp to resist
the thrust upon the type arms. The type-wheels are free to be turned upon the
stud and when so turned they are held by the engagement of the spring pawl /²
with the grooves of the stud hub. It will be seen that the cap-plate for the stamp-
head slots, has a slot corresponding with the slot or mortise, through which the
type-arnis G, pass, and the cap-plate may be locked if desired.
In the machine which I now have in use, there are six stamps arranged in
registering relation to the letter supplying compartments 1, and as.these compart-
ments may all or only some of them be in use supplying letters at the same time,
to the transferring device, I find it necessary to make the stamp independent in its
stamping function, of the movement of its carrying bar, so that although all the
stamps may be operated alike, those having the letters supplied to them will be
shunted out of action to prevent such stamps from striking the apron + and inking
it. For this purpose I provide the shank of each stamp with a shunting device as

page_text: follows A horizontal bore is made in the shank of each stamp between its stamp-
head and the end of its containing box, to receive a rock-shaft K, having on one
end a depending crank-arm L, long enough to extend below the stamp-head A, and
on the other end a shorter arm L₁ standing at about right angles and forming a
double cranked rock-shaft.
A bracket M, on the stamp head supports a vertical barrel or tube N, at that
side of the stamp shank, at which the short crank arm L' stands, and into this tube
a plunger rod P, is fitted and retained by a shoulder P, Fig. 11, which limits its
descent at a point below the stamp head. The upper end of this plunger-rod is
connected by a pin p', Figs. 11 and 20, and slot p² with the short crank arm L' and
a spring p, constantly tends to depress the plunger rod P, and the spring force so
exerted, acts through the pin p' and slotted crank arm L' to maintain the long
crank arm L, in a vertical position, as seen in Figs. 11, 18 and 19, so that this long
crank arm L, and the plunger rod P, will both stand below the face of the stamp.
The barrel or tube N. has a slot through which the pin of the plunger rod extends
to permit the vertical movement of the plunger rod to operate the rock-shaft
through its slotted arm.
I prefer to provide each stamp with a separate endless apron so as to place them
apart to leave a space 42, Fig. 8, between their edges in registering relation with
the plunger rods, so that the latter will descend without hindrance below the apron
when no letter has been supplied to receive the impression of the stamp, as seen in
Fig. 18. In this event the crank-arm L, will be brought down with the stamp and
will strike upon the apron 4 and thus arresting the further descent of the stamp C,
prevent it from coming into contact with and inking the apron. In thus arresting
the descent of this stamp, the stamp-carrier 62 however, is allowed by the spring P,
in the stamp-box, to continue its full downward movement so as not to interfere
with the stamping function of the other stamps to which letters may have been
supplied. In this way the crank-arm L, serves to shunt the stamp C, out of
action when it is descending, and in such function of the shunting crank-arm,
the apron H, serves as a fixed base or abutment. When however a letter is in
place to receive the impression of the stamp, this crank-arm L, must not be in
position to act as a shunt upon the stamp, and for this purpose I provide
means whereby this crank-arm is shunted out of action. This is effected by
the plunger rod P, which, descending with the stamp strikes directly upon the
letter Q, which latter thus arrests the further descent of the plunger, see Fig. 20,
because the letter Q, stands as a cover for the opening 42 in the apron 4, while the
stamp continuing to descend, canses the long cranked arm L, to be turned to one
side out of the way of the stamp so that it is free to act as seen in Figs. 12 and 20.
This shunting action of the plunger rod P, is produced by its pin connection pl with
the short slotted crank-arm L which is turned upward and rocking the shaft
also turns its long crank-arm L, up to raise it above the stamp. As both these
shunting devices are carried directly by the stamp they move with it and are only
brought into action by its descent upon the apron in one case, and upon the letter
in the other case, and at a time when both the apron and the letter are without
movement, otherwise both the apron and the letter would be constantly liable to be
-cut and torn.
I provide for holding the separate aprons in parallel relation by means of one or
more ribs 43 fastened on the under side of each apron and grooving the rolls to
receive these ribs, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
I also provide the cross-bed 85 which supports the apron under the action of the
stamps, with holes 4 which register with the spaces 4' between the aprons 4 to
permit the plunger rods P, to pass down between the aprons as seen in Fig. 18.
The supply compartments 1, being filled with letters, and the machine started,
the pneumatic device brings its sucker-tubes 30 down upon the letters which open
their valves 41 and are seized and held thereto by suction, then rising, the device
carries the letters over to the rear and drops them upon the endless aprons as seen
in Fig. 3, and instantly returns to repeat the seizing of letters. During this return

page_text: movement, the stamp carrying-bar is in its highest position as seen in Fig. 5 and
the inking roll 89 is caused to move forward, to ink the stamp faces and to move
back out of the way. The stamp carrying-bar 62 at once descends to effect the
required impressions of the stamps upon the letters. During the interval between
the 'deposit of the letters and the making of the impressions thereon, the endless
aprons are at rest. The letters having received the impressions of the stamps, the
latter immediately rise, and the endless aprons 4 are moved forward to carry the
letters to the receiving compartments.
The release or dropping of the letters by the sucker tubes 30 is effected by the
reverse stroke of the piston R, of the air cylinder R2 acting to destroy the vacuum
in the sucker tubes, as seen in Figs. 2 and 2°.
The suction device consists of a cylinder R2 having a piston R, and valve R³, and
connected to the sucker bar tubes 30, by a flexible hose "S, and pipe S³, which
communicate by suitable channels S, Fig. 4, with all the sucker-tubes, each one'
of which is provided with a valve 4' arranged to cut off the suction should there be
no letter" in the supply compartment. The ascent of the piston R, produces a
vacuum in the 'sucker tubes 30, when they' are brought in contact with the letters,
and' 'this vacuum is maintained while the sucker tubes are transferring the letters,
and is destroyed at the moment the transferring device reaches the point to drop
the letters, by the reverse stroke' of the piston 'R, which opens the valve 41 to adniit
the' air."
The working of the machine is expeditious, and is equally effective in handling,
long, short, and thick and thin letters without adjustment, and one person can supply
a machine having six letter supplying compartments.
As the pressure of the sucker tubes upon the letters has been found to give the
package an outward movement upon the follower, I provide the surface with rubber"
strips 10 placed in oblique relation so as to form holds for the bottom letter of the
package and thus prevent it from slipping or moving out shown in Figure 10.
Having thus described a structure embodying in preferred form all the several
features of my "invention in combination, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is : *
1. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination with
suitable yielding impressing stamp, and an intermittently operating 'endless apron,
a rock-shaft mounted in the stamp-shank, having a crank-arm on each end, and a
yielding plunger rod connected to one of said crank-arms; for operation substantially
as described
well.
1-
2. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination, with a'
suitable yielding impressing stamp, and an intermittently operating endless apron, a
rock-shaft mounted in the stamp-shank, having a'crank-arm on each end at about right
angles to each other, one of said crank-arms having a 'slot, and' a yielding" plunger
rod connected by piu in the said "slot one of said crank-arms and the plunger-rod
having a length sufficient to extend below the impressing surface, for operation
as substantially as described.
a
3. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination,' with an
impressing stamp, & carrying box therefor, and a spring, upon' said 'stamp," and 'an'
intermittently operating endless apron, a rock-shaft 'mounted in the stamp-shank,
having a crank-arm on each end, a plunger rod connected to one of said crank-
arms, a tube or barrel containing said plunger rod, 'and a spring" within "said
barrel upon said plunger-rod, for operation substantially as described.
91
4. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, an impressing stamp" having
a head containing cancelling marks, face letters and removable type indicating the
location, the month and day, and having a mortise or slot, and a type-wheel
having radial type operating within said mortise or slot, and adapted for vertical
adjustment upon the shank of said "stamp head" in the way and for the purpose
stated.

page_text: 5. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, an impressing stamp having
a head containing cancelling marks, face letters and removable type indicating
the location, the month and the day and a mortise or slot, in combination with
a type wheel having radial type, operating within said mortise, a stud or hub
having a dovetail connection with the stamp, shank and a screw centrally within
said hub or stud for adjustably clamping the type wheel upon the stamp shank in
the way and for the purpose stated.
6. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination with a
suitable yielding impressing stamp, of a rock-shaft mounted in the stamp shank,
having a crank-arm on each end, a plunger-rod connected to one of said crank-arms,
and an intermittently operating endless apron having an opening registering with
said plunger-rod, for operation in the way described.
7. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, a stamping device consisting
of a horizontal cross-bar having a series of vertically yielding impressing stamps,
each containing a horizontal rock-shaft, having a crank-arm on each end, and
a yielding plunger-rod connected to each one of said crank-arms intermittently
operating endless aprons corresponding with said stamps and having openings
registering. with said plunger rods, letter supplying compartments registering
with said aprons and stamps, an intermittently operating pneumatic letter trans-
ferring device, and suitable mechanism for operating the stamp carrying bar in
unison with the movements of the aprons and of the said transferring device,
for operation substantially as described.
8. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination with a
suitable yielding impressing stamp and an intermittently operating endless apron,
a horizontal rock-shaft mounted in bearings in the stamp shank, having a crank-
arm carried in relation to said apron to be brought into contact therewith by the
descent of the stamp to shunt the latter out of action when descending, in the way
and for the purpose described.
9. In a machine for postmarking mail-matter and cancelling the postage stamps
thereon, the combination of intermittently operating endless aprons, a series of
letter supply compartments, and an intermittently operated letter transferring
device, with a horizontal cross bar having vertically depending impressing stamps,
vertical slides connecting the ends of said bar with the end frames, a rock-shaft
having slotted arms connecting said slides, and suitable mechanism for operating
said rock-shaft, substantially as described.
10. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination of inter-
mittently operating endless aprons, a series of letter supplying compartments, and
an intermittently operated letter transferring device, with a horizontal cross bar
having vertically depending impressing stamps, vertical slides connecting said bar
with the end frames, a rock-shaft having slotted arms connecting said slides, a spring
sustained inking roll, horizontal riders or bearers for guiding the inking roll under
the stamps, and suitable mechanism for operating said inking roll, and the stamp
carrying bar, substantially as described.
11. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination of inter-
mittently operating endless aprons, a series of letter supplying compartments, and an
intermittently operated letter transferring device, with a vertically operated stamp
carrying bar, having vertical end slides, and horizontal riders or bearers registering
with horizontal riders or bearers having fixed relation to the end frames, a spring
sustained inking roll adapted to move horizontally under said riders when in
registering relation, and mechanism for operating said inking roll and the said
stamp carrying bar, substantially as described.
12. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the combination of inter-
mittently operating endless aprons, and intermittently operating letter transferring
device having a circular movement over said aprons, a vertically reciprocating
stamp carrier, a horizontally reciprocating inking roll, and suitable automatically
operated mechanism for conjointly operating them in the way described.

page_text: 13. In a postmarking and stamp cancelling machine, the compartments for con-
taining and supplying the letters to the stamping devices, provided with letter
feeding followers having surface rubber strips, for the purpose stated.
Dated this 16th day of May 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.