US1527366A - Postage meter - Google Patents

Description

Feb 24, I925.

-| L-. MACK POSTAGE METER File d Feb.

5 .5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb 24, m5.

L. L.. MACK STAGE Filed Feb. '26, 1923 METER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb 24, 1925.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3- Filed Feb. 26, 1923 Feb. 24, 1925. r L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Filed Feb. 26, 1923 Feb 24; 1,925. 1,527,366

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26', 1923 his Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER L. MACK, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'I O MACK HOLDING COMPANY.

POSTAGE METER Application filed February 26, 1923. Serial No. 621,396.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER L. MACK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Postage Meters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to postage meters, and the main object is to provide an improved type of small hand power machine also capable of use with an electric motor,

' set by authorized postal ofiicials and locked whereby postage impressions in lieu of stamps afiixed may be applied to mail matter of ordinary thickness, width and length, in rapid order and successively as the matter is fed through the machine.

The invention contemplates the provision of a light weight efiicientofiice appliance, which can be manufactured at a minimum cost wherebythe mailers may imprint the stamps on the mail matter direct for mail-.

ing, and embodies a meter detachably held on the machine and adapted to register the successive impressions made, and capable of removal whereby the same may be taken to the postoflice for the purpose of resetting.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character mentioned embodying a meter liavinga'stationary'housing for enclosing a rotary printing cylinder and a counting mechanism therein which is capable of being against unauthorized access during use, and adapted to automatically lock against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made and registered thereon.

Another object is to provide an improved after inder, showing the operative connection of the same with the counter actuating device. Flg. 6 1s a section of the meter on line 6-G of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section of the counting mechanism within the meter, on line 77 of Fig. 6. Flg. 8 1s a front elevation of the machine.

I Fig. 9 is 'an elevation of the separating mechanism as seen from line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Flg. 10, 1s a sectional plan of the machine on line 10.-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a face view of the printing cylinder showing the locking means therefor.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary peripheral view of the printing cylinder showing theprintmg die.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of one of the counting units.

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation on line 14- 14 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation on line 1515 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16'is a sectional elevation on line 16-16 of Fig. 14; and

Fig; 17 is a sectional elevation of the same on line 17-17 of Fig. 16. I

Now, referring to the said drawings, it will be noted that I provide a separable-base including a main member B, having a vertical front wall 1, a horizontal bed 2, a de pending apron 3, and a. rearwardly extended ood portion 4. A vertical partition member B is secured by means of a plurality of screws 5-, 5, etc., to the hood 4 of member B, said screws being extended through the partition B and secured in lugs 6, 6, etc., of member B.

A gear case B is secured to the member B by means of a plurality of screws 7, 7, etc, extending through the member B and secured in lugs 8, 8, etc., formed on the member B, and said member B" has a downwardly extending portion corresponding to and forming a continuation of the apron 3 of member B, so that the members B, B and B" will completely house the opcratin members of the machine, as hereindescribed. To the front face of thewall 1 of memher B I attach a meter which includes separable casing mbers M and M de tachably held together by means of a plural ity of screws 9 9 etc, having their heads counter-sunk in bores 10 of the member'M, and the inner ends thereof be threaded to the member M. Said meter also includes a removably held end closure M" which is adapted to closethe meter casing against unauthorized access, as hereinafter described.

The meter is removably held on the wall 1 of member B by means of a stud 11 which is threaded at its inner end 12 and screwed into a boss 13 formed on the hood portion a of member B. Said stud extends through lugs l t and 15 formed on the tops of members M and M respectively, and the outer end 16 of said stud is threaded and extended through the member M and adapted to receive a knurled thumb 17 as shown in Fig. 16.

Base member B has a flat horizontal plate 18 held on the upper surface of the bed 2 by means of a plurality of screws 19, 19, etc., so as to provide a flat surface on which the mail matter may be held, and over which the same may be advanced during the operation of the machine.

Briefly described the operating mechanism includes a pair of spaced intermittently rotatable feed rollers F and F mounted externally of the member B, a pair of continuously rotatable forwarding roll 01s It and E mounted inwardly of said feed rollers, a continuously rotatable impression roller 1, a pair of presser rollers P and P, and a separator roller S arranged for feeding the pieces of mail matter successively, one at a time in. regular order through the machine, as described in detail hereinafmr.

All of the said rollers are operably con nected together by means of a train of gears enclosed in the member B and connected together as follows. The said train of gearing is driven by means'of a drive shaft 1) rotatably held in a bearing 18 secured. in a boss 19 in the rear wall 20 of member B" and a crank C is attached to the outer end of said drive shaft and is adapted to be operated by means of a handle 21.

The inner end of drive shaft D carries a gear 22 which meshes with and is adapted to drive a smaller ear 23 carried on a driven shaft DZ Said drive shaft is journaled in a bearing 24 in the boss 19 of member B and is also journaled in the front wall 1 of member B, as hereinafter described and shown in Fig. 16. Drive shaft 1) also carries a large gear 25 which meshes with and drives a gear 26 of a diameter corresponding tothat of the impression roller land connected with said rollers as follows:

The gear 26 has a shaft 2'?" which is journaled at its rear end in a bearing 28 in wall stances 20 of member B", and at its forward end in a bushing 29 secured in the partition member B. The impression roller 1 has a shaft 27 extending therethrough which is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 30 and 31 of arms 32 and 33, which serve to. yieldably support the roller I, and the adjacent ends of the gear shaft 27 and roller shaft 27 are connected by means of a universal coupling 34.

The arms 32 and 33 which support the roller I are fixed to a horizontal shaft 35 by means of pins 36 and 36 which extend through the hubs 37 and 38 respectively, of said arms, and shaft 35 is journaled in lugs 39 and 40 which are integral with and depend from the bed 2 of member 13. The arm 32 has a rearwardly extension 11 which is connected with a tension spring 42 which serves to hold the roller 1 extended upwardly through an opening 43 in the plate 18 of bed B, as shown in Fig. 16.

The rollers R and R are mounted to the left of and in substantially the same horizontal plane as the roller I and on a horizontal shaft 4A- which is journaled in a boss 45 on an arm 46, and said arm is pivotally held on the shaft 35 which supports the arms 32 and 33. Arm 46 also has a rearwardl disposed extension 47 which is connecte with a spring 48 as shown in Fig. 14, for holding the rollers R and R normally extended above the surface of the bed plate 18, as shown in Fig. 14. v

Motion is communicated from the impression roller gear 26 to the forwarding roller gear 49 by means of a pinion 50 carried on a stud 51 held in a boss 52 in the rear wall 20 of member B, while the gear 49 has a shaft 53 which is journaled in a boss 54 of member B and also in a bushing 55 of partition member B.

The shaft 53 of gear 49 and shaft 44 of rollers R and R are connected by means of a universal coupling 56, as shown in Fig. 10. The feed rollers F and F are intermittently rotatable by means of a pinion 5? fixed to the transverse shaft 58 of said rollers, and ada ted to mesh with a vertically disposed rac 59 integrally formed with a supporting member 60 which is attached to the lowep portion of the apron 3 of the bed plate by means of a pair or more screws (51 extended through the portion 62 of member 60 and threaded into the portion 63 of the apron 3.

As shown in Fig. 8, the shaft 58 of rollers F and F is yieldably held in vertically elongated slots 64- which are forwarded in lugs 65, 65 on-the member 60, so as to. permit the alternate elevation and depression of the rollers F and F. The extended ends of the shaft 58 are held in grooves 66, 66, formed in the ends 67, 67 of arms 68 and 68 which are fixed to a horizontal and loo lid

Elli

transversely disposed shaft 69 within the ing of the shaft 69 will serve to alternately elevate and depress the shaft 58 and rollers F and F thereon, and the gear 57 connected with said rollers will be rotated by means of its engagement with the .rack 59 due to the connections shown in Figs. 2 and 3 which I will now describe.

The .shafta58 isfixed to the gear 57 or integrally formed therewith, ,and said shaft. is also fixed to the hubs 74, 74 of the rollers F and F, while the said rollers have cylindrical bosses 75, 75 bored to receive said hubs. Now, the hubs 74 have one or more recesses 76, 76 formed therein, in which rollers 77, 77, are loosely held, and the sides of said recess are formed either eceentrically provided with s aced lugs with respect to the axis of the'shaft58, or tangentially so that the rollers 77 will thus permit the rotation of the rollers F and F in a given direction on the hubs 74, but will prevent the rotation of said rollers thereon and cause the same to rotate with the hubs in an opposite direction.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 14, the arrangement of the rollers 77 and the form of the recesses 76 are such that the rollers F and F will rotate in a clock-wise direction when the outer end of the arms 68 and 68 are elevated due to the connection of the gear 57 with the rack 59, and when said arms are depressed, the rollers F and F will remain stationar while the hubs thereof rotate in an opposrtedirection.

The separator. roller S-is mounted on a transverse shaft 78 which is journaled in depending arms 79 and 79 of a yoke 80, and said yoke has a threaded and substan tially elongated stud 81 extended vertically therefrom and riveted at its lower end 82 to the yoke 80. The stud 81 extends through The separator device, including the memhers described is adjustably mounted on a bracket 87 which has a web portion 88 formed transversely ofthe machine, and is 89. and 90 in the top thereof, t rough which the stud 81 is extended and between which an adjusting nut 91 is held. Thus, it will be seen that the adjustment of the nut 85 on the stud 81 will serve to regulate the extensionof the periphery of roller S relative to the arms 86, 86, while the adjustment of nut 91 will regulate the position of the roller S and the guide member 84 with respect to the rollers R and R, and thebracket 87- is adapted to be stationarily heldby means of an extension 92 which is attached by means of screws 93, 93 to a longitudinally disposed face plate 94 held at right angles to the axisof the rollers F and F or R and I. a

It will also be noted that the bracket 87 has inwardly curved portions 95 and 95 which terminate in bosses 96 and 96 respectively. The boss 96 is adapted to hold a stud or spindle 97 which carrles inwardly of said boss a depresser roller P, while the boss 96 rotatably holds 'a' shaft 98 which carries inwardly of the boss 96 the pr'sser roller P as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, the separator roller S and the presser rollers Pand P are commonly mounted on a fixed bracket 87,. and the separator S is adjustably held on said bracket while the presser rollers P and P are fixedly held, also the separator Fig. 14, while the rollers P and P are mounted slightly to the right of the rollers Rand R.

Within the member B as shown in ig.

on a shaft 7 8' journaled in the rear wall '20 of member B and alsoin the member B, and is adapted to be connected with the shaft 78 of the separator roile'r S by means of'a universal cou ling 100.

The gear 99 is riven from the shaft 53 ear 49 by means of a pinion 101 which xed to the shaft 53 and is operatively. connectedwith the gear 99 by means of an idler pinion 102 carried on a stud 103 held on the wall 20 of member B. Thus, the separator roller S is operatively connected with the driving shaft D, and'theratio of .the said gears is such that thesp'ed' of the roller S will be substantially less than the speed of the associated rollers R and R, also the roller S instead of rotating in an opposite direction to the rollers R and R rotates in the same direction as the feed rollers.

Now, the resser roller P is ope'rably connected wit the drive shaft through the medium of a gear 104 corresponding 1a size .to said roller-and held on a shaft 105 sup ported in the member B, and said gear meshes with and is driven by the gear 49, the shaft 105 of gear 104 being suitably connected with the shaft 98 of roller P.

, The member M of-the meter housing has a boss 106 in which is held a bearing 107 adapted to be driven and fixedly held in said boss. The inner end of said bearing is bored at 108 to receive a shaft D, while the outer end of said bearing is solid and extends through a boss 109 formed on the member M. Said boss 109 and the outer end of member 107 are correspondingly bored at 111 to receive a seal Wire 112 by means of which the member M may be sealed on the front of member M for preventing unauthorized access to the meter.

The driven shaft D is alined with the shaft D and is adapted to be operatively connected therewith by means of a tongue and groove connection 112 internally of the meter member \4. The wall 1 of member B carries a bushing 113, and the rear wall 114 of member M carries a bushing 115 corresponding in size and having a bore substantially larger in diameter than the inner end of the shaft D which is extended through said bushin s.

The mom er M of the meter carries a cam 116 which is loosely held on the-shaft D and has a hub 117 bored to receive the shaft D and slidably fitting the bore of the bushin 115. Said cam is adapted to be stationarily held with respect to the shaft D by means of a pin 118 carried in the hub 117 of. said cam; and extended through an elongated slot 119 in the inner end of bushing 115, as'shown in Fig. 16. The inner portion of the shaft D carries an actuating cam 120 which has a hub 121 bored to receive the shaft D and loosely held thereon and fitting the bore of the bushing 115, while the cam 120 also has an enlarged portion 122 which overlies and is rotatably held on an extension 123 of bushing 113.

The hub 117 of cam 116 has a pair of oppositely formed diagonally disposed faces 123, 123, which are adapted to be engaged by semi-circular peripheral extensions 124, 124 formed on the adjacent end of hub 121 of cam 120, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when the earn 120 is oscillated about the axis of shaft D the cam 116 will be moved longitudinally on shaft D and to a corresponding extent for. the purposes hereinafter described.

The shaft D carries adjacent to the cam 120, another cam 125 which is fixed thereto for rotation with said shaft, and cam 125 is in the form of a disc and the major portion of the periphery thereof as at 126 is of a radius corresponding to the eripheral portion 127 of an extension 128 o cam 120, as shown in Fig. 1.7, while the minor portion 129 of the periphery of the cam 125 is of a substantially lessradius. As shown in Figs. 10, 16 and 17, the portions 126-and 127 are adapted to be engaged by a roller 130 rotatably carried on a screw 131 held on an extension 132 of the arm 33 which supports the shaft 27 of the roller I for holding said roller downwardly in normal position against the tension of spring 42, while the portion 129 of the cam 125 is adapted to be engaged by the roller 130 when the portion 128 of cam 120 is moved from behind the roller 130, as hereinafter described, for permitting the upward thrust of impression roller I. This is accomplished by means which I will now describe.

An actuator A, as shown in Figs. 8 and 14 particularly, is provided for intermittent operation in an arcuate path between the rollers R and R, and includes an arm 134 which is pivoted at its hub- 135 on a rock shaft 136 supported in the lugs 39 and 40 which hold the shaft 35. The free end e of said actuator is normally held upwardly in opposition to the passage of mail matter between the rollers R and. R, and S, P and P, as shown in Fig. 14, and said end 6 carries a small roller 135 held thereon by means of a pin 136'.

The actuator A is adapted to be retracted from the path of the mail matter once at each revolution of the driven shaft D, and to this end the shaft 136 to which the actuator A is fixed has an arm 137 also fixed to said shaft and provided with a circular knob or extension 138 on the free end thereof, which seats in a slot 139 formed in the cam 120, so that when the cam 120 is oscillated the actuator A will be rocked to a corresponding extent. The operation of the cam 120 and actuator A is accomplished by means of an arm 140 which is also fixed to the actuator shaft 136 and has an arcuate portion 141 formed on a radius from the axis of shaft D, as shown in Fig. 17.

This arcuate portion 141 of arm 140 is ada ted to be engaged once at each revolution of shaft D by a roller 142 which is carried on the cam 125, and the extent of the arcuate portion 141 is such that the actuator end 6 W111 be retracted and held away from the path of the mail matter for a short length of time so as to permit the entrance of matter between the rollers R, R, and S, P and P. The rock shaft 136 together with the actuator A, arm 137. and arm 140 are held normally in the position shown'in Fig. 17 by means of a spring 143 which is attached at one end to a lug 144 on arm 140, and at its opposite end to a lug 145 on the wall of member B.

Now, it will be observed that when the cam 120 is operated in the manner shown and described, and the actuator A. is retracted downwardly from the path of the mail matter, the arm 137 will move in a counter-clockwise direction, while the portion 128 of cam 120 will move in a clockwise direction so as to permit the arm 130 of follower 133 to ride downwardly on the reduced portion 129 of cam 125. Thus, the impression roller I will be thrust upwardly in such event until the portion 126 of cam vided no piece of matter is present to preventsuch restoration of, the actuator.

Also fixed to the shaft D, inwardly of the partition member B, I provide a camdisc 146 which carries a roller 147 adapted to engage the arcuate portion 148 of an arm 149 fixed to the rock shaft 69 which controls the operation of the said rollers F and F. The portion 148 of arm 149 is formed on andius from the axis of shaft D and is adapted to be engaged by the roller 147 for elevating the outer ends 67 of the arms 68 and 68' and thus elevating and rotating the rollers F and F, as hereinbefore described.

The rollers F and F are .normally held so thattheir peripheries will be below the upper surface of a feed plate 149 by means of the spring 150 which is attached atits opposite ends respectively, to an extension 151 of arm 149, and to a lug 152 on the. interior of member B, as shown in Fig. 17.

The rollers F and F extend through openings 153 and 153 respectively, in the feed plate 149 as shown in Fig. 1, and are adapted onceat each revolution of the drive shaft D to be elevated so that the peripheries of the rollers will project through the plates for contact with the mail matter which is adapted to be held'flatwise on the plate 149 with the edges of the pieces of matter resting against the vertical late 94.

For convenience of structure an assembly of parts'as shown and described, I support the plate 149 on the supporting member 60, and as stated, the bracket 87 is supported on a plate 94 so that the feed portion of the machine is of unitary character and may be detached from the bed plate of the machine by removing the screws 61 and also by the removal of a transverse pin 155 which extends through lugs 166,- 166 formed on member 60, and similar lugs 167 formed on the member B.

Internally of the member M of the meter I provide a printing cylinder 156which has a rim portion 157 and a hub portion 158 connected with the rim portion by a triplate of arms 1 59. 159, etc. The hub 158 is bored to receive the shaft D" and is adapted to be fixed to said shaft, and said hub also has an'annular bore 159' adapted to re ceive a coiled spring 160 which is compressible between the inner face of the cam 116 and the rear end of hub 158, as shown in Fig. 16, for holding the cam 116 normally in the position shown in Fig. 16.

The peripheral portion of the cam 156 carries an internal boss 161 which is bored at 162 to slidably receive a printing member 163 which has a die 164 out on the outer face thereof, as shown in 'Fig. 12, and the printing member 163 and die 164 are adapted to be held inwardly of the periphery of the rim 157 under normal conditions, but are adapted to be extended outwardly as shown in Fig. 5 when in printin position.

To this end a die extension mem er 165 is pivoted to one of the arms 159 on a screw 166 as shown in Figs. 5 and 11, and one arm 167 of said member is pivoted at 168 to the printing member 163 by means of a pin which is secured in the end of said arm and through a lug 169 on member 163, a roller 170 being held on said pin between the arm 167 and said lug.

By reference to Fig. 16 it will be noted that the cam 116 is normally held in a plane to the left of said roller, but when the member 120 is operated as hereinbefore described, and the cam 116 is moved to the right against the tension of spring 160, the periphery of the cam 116 will occupy the same plane as roller 170, and the periphery of said roller will engage the periphery of the cam. The cam 116 has a radially formed peripheral portion 172 and, a reduced peripheral portion 173 which are adapted to be engaged by the die roller 170 for extending and retracting the die 164, Thus, during theoperation of the shafts D and D and the printing member 156 if the restoration of the actuator A to normal position, is not prevented by the presence of a piece of matter being advanced to printing position, the cam 116 which has been pre- 'viously moved into registration with the roller 170 by the retraction of the actuator, will be restored, while the portion 173 of said cam is in registration with the roller 170, but on the other hand, if the actuator A is prevented from restoration by the contact therewith of a piece of matter, the printing member 156 will in the meantime have rotated around the cam 116 to such an extent that the portion 172 of said cam will engage the portion 170 and force the printing member 163 and die 164 outwardly into pr nting position, as shown in Fig. 5, and if the letter has been printed by contact with the die 164, and the rear portion of the' same has been advanced beyond the point of contact between rollers R and R and P and P, the actuator A will be restored and the cam 116 will also be retracted out of registration with roller 170, thereby permitting the printing member 163 to be retracted by means of a spring 175 which is attached by means of screws 176 to one of the arms 159, and has its freeend engaging an arm 177 forming a part of the member 165.

It will be understood that the several cams for effecting the operation of the feed rollers F and F, the actuator A, and the printing member 163 are all controlled by wardly the rotation of the drive shafts D and D" and when a stack of mail matter is placed fiatwise in the feed box formed by plates 94 and 149, the rollers F and F will be first actuated for advancing the lowermost piece of matter between the rollers It, and R and separator roller 5, I

The peripheralportions of the rollers F, F, R, R, I and S are of a good grade of rubber or the like, in the form of bands for providing a maximum degree of friction, and when the rollers F and F are trust up and are caused to rotate as hereinbefore described, the lowermost letter will be advanced into frictional contact with the rollers R and R and the friction of said rollers being substantially greater that the reversely acting friction of roller S, will serve to advance further the lowermost letter into the grip between the rollers'R, R and P, P, whereupon the letter will be continued on through the machine and the remainder of the letters in the said box will be retarded by the friction of the separator roller S.

The actuator A having been retracted, the letters, one at a time, are thus permitted to pass said actuator and the presence of the letters serve to prevent the restoration of the actuator so that the operation of the printing member 163 will be effected at each rotation of the shafts D" and D, also, as the letters pass between the printing member 164: and impression roller I, impression roller I having been previously released by the operation of cams 120 and 125 in contact therewith, the letters will be discharged after the printing operation into a stacker at the right hand side of the machine and composed of a vertical guide plate 180 and -a horizontal plate'181. The plate 181 has a longitudinally disposed slide 182 with a vertical extension 183 which forms a stop for the letters as they are discharged from the machine, and the letters will be stacked flatwise in the stacker.

Referring particularly now to Figs. 5, 6, 7, 11 and 13 I haveprovided within the meter two separate counting units which are operatively connected with the. printing member 156 for registering the successive impressions made by the printing die 164. These counters embody a unit U with a descending scale, and the unit U has an as cending scale, and each of the units includes a plurality of counting discs d, (1, 'etc., to which is attached a ratchet as at r, 1', etc., by means of pins 7", 1", etc, as shown in Fig. 13. I

Each of the discs ti of the units U and U have numerals from 1 to O indented on the periphery thereof in regular order, but the numerals on the periphery of the discs of the unit U are numbered in ascending order as from 1 to 0, while the discs of theme,

U are reversel numbered from 0 to 1, so that the unit U has a descending scale while the unit U has an ascending scale.

I may provide any number of the-discs d in each of the counters, but I have only shown four of such discs in each of the units in the present invention.

Referring particularly now to the unit U, it will be noted that the arrangement of said unit is such that the counters of highest and near hi hest order are arranged so as to be manual y reset to any desired point. That is,.assuming that in Fig. 13 the'disc d to the extreme left is units, the next disc to the right is tens, the next to the right hundreds, and the last disc to the right is thousands, it will be seen that the thousands disc has a tubular shaft t which extends through and is connected with the disc d and the associated ratchet r, and said shaft extends through a frame member and carries on its outer end an operating nut n by means of which the thousands disc and its associated ratchet may be turned in a resetting operatlon.

Likewise the hundreds discrd has a shaft 71 which telescopes into the shaft 26 and extends through and is fixed to the disc 03 and ratchet 1' of the hundreds counter. Said shaft is extended beyond the nut n and carries a nut n thereon by means of which the hundreds counter may be reset. The units and tens counters are commonly mounted on a spindle ju which telescopes into the shaft h and has its opposite end e journaled in another frame member 7.

A pawl swing g by means of which the several counters are operated successively in multiples of 10 has an arm g which is pivotally held on the spindle u and another arm j which is pivotally held on the shaft t. The arm g of said swing is operatively connected with a gear is which is concentrically held in the spindle u by means of which the swing is oscillated at each printing operation, as hereinafter described. This construction is typical also of a unit U, except that all of the counters of this unit are mounted on the spindle in and the telescop ing shafts t, h, and nuts n and a are omitted.

The swing 7 of each unit carries a plumet toothed pawl m pivotally held on a pin on extending across the swing and held in the arms 9' and j, and the teeth of said pawl are of different size as clearly shown in Fig. (3. so that the largest tooth will engage the unit ratchet r, the next largest tooth will engage the tens ratchet, the next tooth the hundreds ratchet, and the smallest tooth the thousands ratchet, successively, All of said ratchets are provided with deep cut grooves whereby at one point in each revolution the pawl m may follow thereinto for permitting the counter'of next highest order to be moved one-tenth of a revolution.

Hill

1,5a7,see

rection by the operation of the swing g, and

they are prevented from reverse operation by means of a plurality of detents m which are pivotally held on pins :20 held in the frame members 7' and f, and springs y serve to hold said detents in operative connection with the ratchets 1*. This construction is typical of several commercial types of num= bering machines now in vogue, and while not material to my invention I have found in practice that it evidences the most dependable means of operation of the device,

and accordingly have described its operation and structure in detail.

Now, the gears 7s, 7c of the units U and U are adapted to Joe simultaneously operated to a corresponding extent each time the printing die 164 is extended to printing position. This is accomplished by means of a member 185 which is pivoted on a shaft 186 jourualed in the frame members f and f and has sectors 187 and 188 which mesh with and serve to operate the gears of the units U and U respectively.

The shaft 186 is extended rearwardly from the frame member f and carries a rocking arm member 189 thereon which has a pair of arms 190 and 191 depending therefrom and carrying rollers 192 and 193 respectively. Said rollers, as shown in'Fig. 5, are disposed'withinrim 157 of the printing member 156 and are adapted to be engaged by an arcuate formed portion 194 of the cam arm l77 when the die 164 is extended to printing position as shown in Fig. 5.

It will beunderstood that the portion 194 of the arm 177 is formed so as to be concentric with the axisof the shaft D when it is moved inwardly, by the outward movement of the die 164. That is to say, the arms 167 and 177 are integrally formed on the member 165 so that when arm 167 moves outwardly from shaft D for extending the die,

the portion 194 of arm 197 moves inwardly,-

also when the arm177 is in its outermost position, as shown in Fig. 5, the portion 194 thereof will clear both of the rollers 192 and 193. When it is moved inwardly however by the extension of the die, the portion 194 will first engage the roller 192 and rock the shaft 186 inia clock-wise direction, and as the printing member 156 continues to revolve the portion 194 will then engage the rollerv 193 which has been swung upwardly by the depression of the roller 192 and move it inwardly into the original position as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the two counter units U and U are 0 eratively connected together for a simu taneous operation to a uniform extent by the complete-movement and restoration of shaft 186 by the means described.

It will be seen that rollers 192 and 193 successively engage the, portion 194, and said portion is so arranged that as the roller 193 begins to engage the same the roller 192 will begin to disengage and the cam portion 172 willserve to hold the die extended until the completion of the printing operation and to hold the portion 194 rigid for operating the counters.

Now, by reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the counting discs 03 of both of the units U and U are positioned just inside the member M and supported on the frame members f and f, said frame members being removably held in position by means of screws 196, 196 extended through. the bottom 197 of the meter casing M.

Longitudinal beveled openings 198, and 199 are provided in the circular wall of the meter casing opposite the counting units U and U and transparent elements such as glass or the like, as at 200, are held on the interior'of said openings and serve to cover the same. Thus, when the letters or mail matter is placed in the feed box composed of plates 194 and 199, and the crank C is turned, the printingmember 156 rotates in a counter-clock-wise direction, as seen from the front of Figs. 8 and 14, and the letters areadvanced piece by piece beneath the separator roller S and the presser rollers? and P, the operation of the feed rollers F and F being timed so as to admit the letters to the grip thereof and to retract the actuator A, and because of the fact that the actuator A cannot be restored when a letter is present beneath the rollers P and P, the cam 116 remains in its advanced position within the meter member M so that during the further rotation of the printing member 156, the roller 170 on the die will engage the portion 172 of said cam and extend the die outwardly from the rim 157 of the printing member, just prior to the time it reaches the printing point which is on the vertical cen' ter line cutting the axis of the printing member 156 and impression roller 1, and the extension of the printing die .causes a rocking of shaft 186 through the engagement of roller 192 with portion 194 of arm 177, thus actuating the counting units U and U one point and registering one impression thereon. That is to say, assuming that the counting unit/U reads 1073 through the opening 194, the first operation of the same "unit. thereafter will cause the counter to read 1072, and the operation of counter U would be the reverse and one impression would be added to those already registered thereon, as read through the opening 199.

The further rotation of the printing memher will rock the shaft 186 in a reverse direction, as previously described, and set both counters U and U in readiness for another thousand additional stamps, the postmaster or proper oflicial would turn the nut 72. and shaft t until the thousands counter was moved to indicate 1 through the opening 194, and thus the descending counter would be set for 1031, whereupon the machine could be used until this number of impressions was exhausted, in which event a locking device would be brought into action for locking the member against further use.

This mechanism includes a dog 201 pivoted on a shaft 202 journaled in the frame members f and f of the meter, and resiliently hold in engagement with the peripheries of the counting discs d of unit U by means of a spring as at 203. The said discs d each have notches 204 out in the peripheries thereof at corresponding points, which are adapted to be engaged by the dog 201 when all of said discs read zero through the opening 198.

The dog 201 has a lug 205 on the lower side thereof which is engaged by a cam 206 fixed to a locking plunger 207 which is both slidably and rotatably held in the frame members f and f, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The cam 206 is fixed to the plunger 207 by means of a pin 208 which extends outwardly at opposite ends through dia onal slots 209 formed in a sleeve 210 whie encompasses the plunger 207, and said sleeve is stationarily held in compression between the frame member f and the, cam 206, as shown in Fig. 7, so that when the dog 201 enters the notches 204 of the disc cl, the lug 205 on said dog will be removed as an obstacle to the turning of the plunger 207 in a counter.

clock-wise direction, as seen in Fig. 6, and the tensionof the spring serves to force the plunger 207 outwardly and at the same time to turn said plunger so that the end of the plunger will project substantially outwardly from the frame member f into the plane of a rib 212 which is formed on a disc 213 suitably fixed to a shaft D" on the hub 158 of the printing member 156.

This member is shown clearly in Figs. 11 and 16, and it will be noted that the rib 212 thereof is cut away at 214 so as to leave an open space of substantial length into which the plunger 207 may drop after the completion of the final printing operation, and the plunger therefor will prevent the turning of the printing member in either direction, inasmuch as the end thereof will engage the ends of the rib 212 in such event.

Now, it will be observed in connection with the meter that the operation of the dedie.

The inking rollermay be readily adjusted vice is entirely automatic, efficient and dependable, and access may not be had to the interior of the meter for any purpose, except by authorized parties, Without breaking the Government seal. While not entirely necessary I have shown a lock L attached to the meter closure M which may be suitably arranged for holding the cover in position when the seal is used, and serves as a holding means additional to the nut 17.

It is desirable that the die 164 should be extended as close to the printing position as possible and that it should remain extended fora time sufficient to cause the proper inking thereof for a subsequent operation, and I have shown an inking roller 215 pivoted at 216 on an arm 217 which is adjustably held on a stud 218 on the front wall of member B, as shown in Fig. 8. and said roller is adapted to project through a suitable opening in the meter casingM so as to permit contact of the inking roller with the die.

1t will be noted that the meter. members M and M are cut away at the lower portions thereof so as to permit the extension of the die from the casing, but due to the construction sliown, particularl in Fig. 16, it will be observed that althoug access may be had to the printing die, the structure is such that it would be impossible to actuate the same without registering on the counters and the same would apply to the opening through which the inking roller is extended into the casing for contact with the with respect to the pressure on the printing die by means of an adjustment yoke 220 formed with the arm 217 between the arms 221 and 222 of which an adjusting nut 223 is adjustably held, and a screw 224 is adjustably held in a lug 225 on the member B and is threaded into said nut. Thus, the ad- .j-ustment of nut 223 will adjust the ressure of the inking roller 215 relative tot e die.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the bottom of the members B and B may be closed by means of a sheet metal member 6 suitably attached to the lower portion of said members, so that oil used for lubricating the mechanism will not leak from the machine,-

and also this bottom serves to prevent the entrance of dirt and grit into the interior for clogging the operating mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, and a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contac with the mail matter, as described.

2. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily hel thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, and means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position.

'3. A postage meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarily held thereon, a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact 'with the mail matter, and means controlled by the advanceof the mail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printing operation.

4. A post-age'meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarilyheld thereon. a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of through the machine at each revolution of' said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contactwith the mail matter, and means normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation. 6. A postage meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarily held thereon, a.

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter I through the "machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position 5 for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supportin said printing die in retracted position, and means normally opposing the advance ofthe mail matter to printing position, and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for con trolling the operation of said die in a printing operation.

7.' A postage meter including a base, a meter. housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing, means supported on the base for advancin a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted onsaid cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, and an, actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of'the said die to printing position permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position and to be sustained in retracted position 'due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die.

8. A postage meter. including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, and an actuator normally extended acrossthe path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically. retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance'of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die.

9. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing 'stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancin a piece of mail matter through the machlne at each revolution of. said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on .said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder, for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, and means for operably connecting the same with said die.

10. A postage meter including-a base, a meter housing stationarily. held thereon, a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter. means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation'of said die in a printing operation, and means for operably connecting the same with said die.

11. A postage meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarily held thereon,- a printing cylinder rotatably supported with in said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of saidprinting cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the ad vance of the mail matter to printing position and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, and means for operably connecting said actuator with said die. 12. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing. means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a. printing the extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position "for contact with the mail matter. means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position. an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position. and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, and means for operably connecting said actuator with said die.

13. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece oi mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die exing cylinder,

tensibly mounted on said. cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and heldagainst rotation with the said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

14. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said print a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter. means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

15. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon. a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing. means supported on the,

base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printing operation. and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

16. A postage meter including a base. a meter housing stationarily held thereon. a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracting position. means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printing operation. and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

17. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the basefor advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said cylinder and tensibly mounted 'on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and adapted to .be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

18. A postage meter including abase,a meter housingstationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact withthe mail matter, means for normally opposing the advance ofthe mail matter to printing position. andadapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, and a. counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arto be extended to printing position for cont act with the mail matter, an actuator normally extended across thepath of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held'against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

20. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rot-atably supported within said housing. means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder. a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapt-l ed to be extended to printing position for contact withthe mail-matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, and an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approachof the said die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to besustaine'd in retracted'position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die. and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged foroperation eachtime said. die is rendered operative.

21. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rot-atably supported within saidhousing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted.to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder, for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, means for operably connecting the same withvsaid die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

22. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a' printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said'housing, means supported on the. base for advancing a piece of" mail matter' through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, means for operably connecting the same with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is' rendered operative.

23. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a pieceof mail matter through the machineat each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and ada ted to be extended to printing position or contact with the mail matter, an actuator normally extended acrossthe path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling'the operation of said die, means for operably connecting said actuator with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

24. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die,

5 means for operably connecting said actuator -Wlth said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed 1n said meter and held against rotation With vsaid cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative.

25. A postage meter including a housing, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended through an opening in said housing for a printing operation, means for normally supporting said die out of printing position, and means controlled by the advance of mail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printing operation.

26. A postage meter including a housing, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended through an opening in said housing for a printing operation, means for normally supporting said die out of printing position, means controlled by the advance of mail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printing operation, and counting mechanism enclosed in said housing and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative for registering the impressions made thereby.

censee 27. A postage meter including a housing, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended through an opening in said housing for a printing operation, means for normally supporting said die out of printing position, means controlled by the presence of mail matter at printing position for extending said die for a printing operation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said housing and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative for registering the impressions made thereby, said counting mechanism including a series of counters of descending order, and a separate series of counters of ascending order arranged for simultaneous operation.

28. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported with 1n said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact With the mail matter, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of desecnding order, and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

29. postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order, and a separate set of counters oi ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

30. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position for extending said diefor a printing operation, and acounting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indlcated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

31.- A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die ex-.

tensiblymounted on saidcylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printing operation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said coun'tingmechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

32. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensively mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of saiddie in a printing operation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

33. A. postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within saidhousing, means supported on the adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, an'actuator normally extended across the path of the advancin mail matter and adapted to be automatica ly retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted positiondue to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero isindicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

34. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing 'die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing osition, permittingthe advance of the mall matter to printing position, and

to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism includin a set of counters of descending order an a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by thedescending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

35. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancin a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a rinting die ex-" tensibly mounted on sai cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder, for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, means for operably connecting the same with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

36. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with, the mail matter, means normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, means normally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die in a printing operation, means for operably connecting the same with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arran ed for operation each time said die is ren ered operative, said counting mechanism includmg a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

37. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece-of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted ,to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, means for operably connecting said actuator with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

38. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact With the mail matter, means for normally supporting said printing die in re tracted position. an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the ad Vance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, means for operably connecting said actuator with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting m chanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

39. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, means for nor- -mally supporting said printing die in retracted position, an actuator normally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said 'die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, means for operably connecting said actuatonwith said die, a counting mechanism enclosed in'said meter and ar ranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters of descending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by lle'i the descending counters when zero is indicated thereon :t'orlocking said printing cylinder against further operation, and means for resetting said descending counters and thereby releasing said printing cylinder for further operation. y p

40. A postage meter including a rotatable printing cylinder, a stationary housing for enclosing'the same against unauthorized access, a die extensibly supported thereon and rotatable therewith, means for advancing successive pieces of matter to printing position, an actuator controlled by the presenceof mail matter when approaching printing position, a cam operably connected with said actuator and supported within said printing cylinder for rendering said die operative for a printing operation.

41. A postage meter including a rotatable printing cylinder, a stationary housing for enclosing the same against unauthorized access, a die extensibly supported thereon and rotatable therewith, means for advancing die, a

successive pieces of'matter to printing posi-' tion, an actuatorcontrolled by the presence of mail matter when approaching printing position, a cam operably connected with said actuator and supported within said printing cylinder for rendering said die operative for a printing operation, and means for retracting said die subsequent to a printing operation and normally holding the same retracted until again rendered operative.

4.2. A postage meter including means for advancing mail matter to and from the printing point at regular intervals, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder enclosed by said housing against unauthorized access, a die extensibly supported on said cylinder, an operating member rotatable with said cylinder and connecting with said non-rotatabl cam longitudinally movable relative to said printing cylinder when a letter approaches printing position for engagement with and extending said die to printing positiomand a counting mechanism controlled by said operating member flor registering impressions made by said 43. In a postage meter a continuously rotatable printing cylinder, a die extensibly mounted thereon, means controlledby the approach of mail matter to printing position for extending said die at each revolution thereof, a counting mechanisinfor registering the impressions made by said die, and an operating member actuated by the movement of said die for positioning the same in operative relation to"; and for actuating said counting mechanism. v

44. A postage meter including a continuously rotatable printing cylinder, a die extensibly mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, a non-rotatable cam normally supported out of engagementwith said die, an actuator controlled by the presence "of mail matter approaching printing position, an oscillatable member axially alined with said printing cylinder and operatively engaging said cam for moving the cam into operative engagement with and for extending saiddie. to printing position for registration with the mail matter to be printed.

45. A postage meter including a continuously rotatable printing cylinder, a die extensibly mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, a non-rotatable cam normally supported out of engagement with said die,

an actuator controlled by the presence of an.actuator controlled by the presence of mailmatter approaching printing position, an oscillatable meinber'axially alined with said printing cylinder and operatively engaging said cam for moving the cam into operative engagement with, and for extending said die to printing position fer registration with the, mail matter to be printed, means for rendering said cam inoperatve unless actuated when a letter approaches printing position, and means for normally supporting said die inretracted position when no mail matter is in position for printing.

47. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensibly held on said cylinder, an actuator controlled by the presence of mail matter approaching printingposition for extending said die into contact with the matter, and a rotatable impression member opposite said printing cylinder and controlled by said actuator for rendering the same operative when said die is extended to printing position. I

48. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily held thereon, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder en closedby said housing, a printing die extensibly held on said cylinder, an actuator controlled by the presence of mail matter approaching printing position for extending said die into contact with the matter, a

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