US1548152A - Postage meter - Google Patents

Description

Aug.4.,1925. 1,548,152

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Filed Feb. 26 i 192.3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\7f LUTHER L. MAcmjor sourir PASADENA, cALIroRNrA, AssIGNoR To MACK HOLDING Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

earner OFFICE.

COMPAY.

POSTAGE EETER.

Application filed February 26, 1923. Serial No. 621,895.

To all 'whom it may cof/wem.'

K 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 themain` object is toprovide an improved postage meter of simple, accurate and effective character, adapted to be .manually operated forfstamping postmarks and postage stamps on cards and letters, one at a time.

Another. object is to provide a hand Astamping machine whereby postage indicia may be vapplied to mail matter, and including a meter adapted tol be set for a predetermined number of stamp impresslons and locked against unauthorized access and arranged so that When the predetermined number yof impressions has been made the stamping die Will automatically lock against further use until the meter is opened by the post-al authorities and reset.

Another object is to provide in a postage metera reciprocating stamping die and a relatively yieldable operating member therefor, together with counting mechanism includingl a set of descending y'counters and a set of ascending counters for indicating respectively, ythe available impressions in the meter and the total impressions made, and means yopeiably connecting the stampingdie with they counting mechanism for automatically locking the descending counter and the stamping die against further operation when all of the counters in the descending set indicate zero.

Numerous other-minor objects will appearI as fthe description progresses.

- I have :illustrated one `practical embodi-l ment of my invention lin the accompanying drawlngs', 1n which; i

Fig.. l is al sectional elevation on lne` y and adapted to slidably receive the stem 7 Fig. 2 isa sectional elevation of the same on .line 252 ofFig. 7.v y Fig.3 is a rear view of lthe counting unit.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan onl line 5`5 of Fig. 2.

'Fig. 6 is a sectional plan on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the assembled machine on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of the counting unit on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section of the descending counter unit on line 9 9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a face view of the stamping die.

Briefly described, my improved postage meter includes a base B having a vertical housing H on the rear side thereof, and open at the front, a meter housing M attached to the housing H and covering an opening therein, and a door D covering the front of said meter housing whereby all of the operating mechanism may be enclosed Within the members H and M against unauthorized access as will hereinafter appear.

The operating mechanism includes a reciprocating stamping mechanism S, a duplex counting unit C, and a locking mechanism L all operatively connected together for the accomplishment of the stated objects of invention.

The base B includes a substantially rectangular bed plate 1 with a flat web 2 forming the top thereof, and adapted to receive a platen 3 of semi-hard rubber or the like, and forming a backing for the matter to be marked. The platen may be attachedl to the portion 2 of the base by means of screws 4, 4, etc., which are threaded into the portion 2. and the heads of which are counter- 'sunk in the upper side of platen 3 and are covered by the meter housing M so as to beincapable of removal from thel base withof a die holder 8, and to this end the boss 5 is bored at 9 corresponding to the outer diameterof the stem 7. p A longitudinally disposed and rectangular recess 10 is provided in the bottom of housing H in communication with the bore 9 of said housing, and slidably tits the edges of the die holder 8 as shown in Fig. 2.

The stem 7 is bored at 11 to receive the lower end of an operating plunger O which extends upwardly through a bore 12 in the top of housing H and carries a knob 13 on the top thereof by means of which the plunger and die holder may be depressed in a stamping operation.

The lower face of the die holder 8 carriesv a stamping die (l of the design shown in Fig. 10, or of other design, and the lower portion oit member is bored at 13 to receive and hold a spring 14 which is adapted to compress between the lower end of bore 11 and stem 8, and the upper end of the bore 13 in member O so as to provide a yielding and resilient connection between the plunger O and the die holder 8.

The plunger O is also connected with the stem 7 of holder 8 by means of a pin 15 v which is fixed in the stem 7 and extends through a slot 16 in the plunger, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit a slight movement of the member O without affecting a movement of the holder 8 and, die (l. The stem 7 of holder 8 also carries a pair of transverse pins 17 which are fixed to the stem and project through elongated slots 18, 18 in the boss 5 thereby permitting the downward movement of holder 8 and die d until the pins 17 17 engage the lower limits of said slots.

Near the top of the housing H, I provide a plate 19 having a boss 20 on the rear side thereof which encompasses the operating plunger O, and the upper end of boss 20 is counterbored at 21 to receive a spring 22 which is adapted to compress between the lower end of the counter-bore and the lower side of the top of the housing H for normally urging the boss 20 downwardly on the plunger O. Intermediate the upper end 23 of the stem 7 and the lower end of boss 20 I provide a counter actuating member A which is fixed to the plunger O by means of a pin 24. Thus, it will be seen that the spring 14 interposed between the lower portion of plunger O and the die holder 8 serves to urge the plunger upwardly so that when the member O is depressed in a stamping operation, the member A may be carried downwardly therewith until the lower end thereof engages the upper end 23 of stem 7, whereupon the further movement of member O will urge the die holder 8 and die d downwardly into contact with the letter as at L held within the opening 29 between the bottom 30 of the meter and the platen 3 on the base.

A spring 31 is held on the boss 5 and is adapted to compress between the bottom of the housing and the pms 17, 17, w'lhich overlie the upper end of the spring, so that when the pressure-on the front plunger is released, the tension of spring 31 will restore the operating parts to norma-l position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the meter M is held on the housing Hby means of a pair or more screws 32, 32, which extend through lugs 33, 33, on member M and are adapted to be threaded into the rear wall of member H, as shown in Fig. 7, and it will be observed that the heads of the screws are. within the meter case M and are inaccessible except when the door D is unlocked and the meter opened.

The door D is provided with a lock 33 which has a cylinder 34 projecting therethrough and adapted to receive a suitable key for advancing and retracting the bolt 35 of said lock into and from position behind a depending lug 3G formed on the front side of member M.

Member M also has a pair of lugs 37, 37, at the bottom and sides thereot1 which aline with lugs 38, 38, formed on the inner side and bottom of door D, whereby hinge pins 39, 39 may be inserted through the bosses 38 and into the bosses 37 only when the door D is open, and likewise the said pins may not be removed except when the door is open. The holes provided in the bosses 37 are blind, so that the end of the pins 39 will not be visible from the sides of the meter case M.

The top of the door in the center is provided with a lug 40 with a hole 41 therein which registers with one or more lugs 42 formed on the top 43 of the meter case M. whereby when the bolt 35 is locked behind the lugs 36 of member M, a seal 44 may be attached to the lugs 40 and 41 by means of a wire 45,` so that access to the meter may not be had except by authorized otiiccrs oi the Post Office Department.

Substantially in front ot the plate 19 within the meter case M, I provide a correspondingly lformed plate 46 which may be attached to the plate 19 by means of apair of screws 47, 47 and additionall by means of a screw 48 at the top and in t e center of the plate.

Supported on and between the plates 46 and 19 I provide a pair of counting units U and U and in the arrangement shown, the unit U has a descending scale, while the unit U has an ascending scale. The unit U is designed to be set for a predetermined number of impressions and to lock when said unit registers zero on all of the counting elements, while the unit U contains a total register of the impressions made. Both the units U and U are substantially alike in all respects, but not necessarily so, and any suitable type ot' counting mechanism may be employed which is' adaptable for operative connection with the stamp mechanism described. I have shown, however, a well-known type of counting mechanism similar to that employed in consecutive numbering machines, which I will describe in connection with my invention,I and believe'would be best adapted for use in connection with a device of this character.

The units U and U are concentrically mounted about the axis of an auxiliary operating shaft O and each of said units includes a transverse shaft 48 which is held in the plates19 and 46. As shown particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, each of said units e'mbodies a plurality of counters including a units vcounter 50, a tens counter 51, a hundreds counter 52, and a thousands counter 53, or more counters of the same character as may be required, depending upon the capacity of the machine, and all of said counters being substantially identical ,except as hereinafter stated, and arranged so as to count backwardly instead of forwardly. For instance, the sequence of the numbers on the faces ofthe counters would read O, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, while the sequence of the counters on unit U would read 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 inclusive in reverse order. Counters 50, 51, 52 and 53 have ratchets 54,

A55, 56 and 57 respectively attached thereto by means of pins 58 or otherwise, as may be found desirable.

The thousands counter 53 and the associated ratchet 57 are bored to receive a hollow shaft 59 which extends through a frame member 46 and is threaded at its outer end 6() to receive a knurled nut 61 by means of which said counter may be manually operated for resetting. Likewise, the hundreds counter has a shaft 62 which extends therethrough and through the associated ratchet 56 and through the bore of shaft 59 to a point beyond the nut 61, the end 63 of which is reduced and threaded to receive a. setting nut 64. The inner end of shaft 62 is bored at 65 to receive the shaft 48 of the unit, and the rear end 66 of shaft 48 is preferably reduced and held ina bore in the-plate 19.

The pawls 67 which are adapted to engage the ratchets 54, 55, 56 and 57 is mounted on a pin 68 carried in the sides 69 and 70 of a swing 71 pivotally held in the sides v69and on the rear end 'of shaft 48, and on the hollow shaft 59, as shown in Fig. 9. As indicated in Fig. 8, said pawl is held in engagement with the ratchets by means of a suitable spring 72. In this type of counter the pawl 67 is provided with a plurality of teeth 73 of different length which correspond in number'to and are adapted to engage the teeth 74 in the ratchets, and each of said ratchets has a deepv notch 75 at one point therein so that the longest tooth on the pawl 67 may follow therethrough so as to to be held resiliently in engagement with the ratchet by means of the spring 78.

Now, it will be noted by reference to Figs. 8 and 9 that the counting mechanism of units U and U are exactly alike except as toposition of the pawl swings and detents,'and also with the exception that all ofthe counters in ratchets of 'unit U are supported on the shaft 48 and no resetting members are provided therefor.

Now, referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that the side 70 of the pawl swing v71 of unit U is provided with a sector gear 79, while the corresponding side of the pawl swing of the unit U is provided With a similar sector 8O which are adapted to engage and be operated by sectors 81 and 82 respectively, formed on a common member 83 loosely held on screw 48 between the plates 19 and 46.

The auxiliary operating shaft O which-is also carried on plates 19 and 46 carries rocking member 84 which has an arm 85 provided with a knob 86 thereon adapted to engage a correspondingly formed recess 87 in the central portion of member 83, whereby when member 84 is locked, member 83 will be correspondingly rocked for moving the pawl swings 71 of the units U and U simultaneously and to a corresponding extent. Member 84 also has an arm 88 disposed substantially at right angles to the arm 85 thereon and carrying a pin 89 which is held in a hole provided in a lug 90 and depending from the actuating member A carried on plunger O, as shown in Fig. 3.'

The leverage of the several members making the plunger O and swing 71 is compound So that a very slight movement of member A will effect the operation of the counters of units U and U to an extent of one tenth of a revolution at each operation of the stamping die, and the extent of the movement of pin 89, for instance, depends upon the er'- tent of relative movement of member O and member 8, so that the initial depression of member O will move member A into contact with the upper end of member 8 and effect a count of one on the counter.

N'ow, each of the counting wheels 54, 55, 56 and 57 of the unit U is provided with a single peripheral notch 91 which is adapted t0 be engaged for locking the unit against further operation by the portion 92 of the locking yoke 93 which is pivotally held at its hub 94 on one of the screws 47 of the counter frame,

As shown in Fig. 8 the portion 92 of said yoke is adapted to ride on theperiphery of the counters of the unit until the notches 91 in the several counters are brought into registration beneath the portion 92, whereupon the portion 92 will be forced into the notches by means of the tension of a suitable spring 95 for preventing' the further operation of the counter U until the meter case is opened and the counter reset by the proper officers.

The meter case M has beveled openings 96, 96 formed in the top thereof behind each of which is held a strip of glass 97 for rendering the counters visible therethrough, and the position of the notches 91 on the counters, assuming that the counters rotate in a clock-wise direction, would be opposite the numeral 4 when zero is readable through the glass 97, or in such other position as may be desired, depending upon the position of the portion 92 of the locking yoke.

Now, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8 particularly, it will be observed that the boss 20 of plate 19 carries a sleeve 96 which is threaded thereinto and is bored at 93 to receive an enlargement 98 of locking plunger L, and a spring 99 is held in compression between the head 98 of said plunger and the outer end of said sleeve which tends to urge the plunger L rearwardly in the housing. It will be noted in this connection that the plunger L is loosely extended through the operating member O and said plunger has an elongated slot 100 therein, whereby the plunger may move downwardly to the extent of the difference in movement of the member O and member 8 without engaging the member L.

The sleeve 96 has one or more helical slots 101 therein for receiving the ends of the pin 102 carried in the enlargement 98 whereby when the tension of the spring 99 operates to extend the plunger L rearwardly in the housing H, said plunger ,will be given a rotative motion. It will be observed that the end of the plunger L ad`acent the sleeve 96 carries an arm 103 wliich, when the spring 99 is held in tension is frictionally engaged with the portion 92 of the locking v yoke 94, and the rotation of member L is thus prevented until member 92 seats in the notches 91 of the counters. Vhen this occurs, however, the arm 103 will clear the locking bolt and will rotate in a clock-wise direction until the edge thereof comes in contact with the screw 48, whereupon it will be stopped from further motion, while the rear end of the plunger L will seat in a shallow bore 104 in the rear wall 105 of housing H.

Thus, it will be seen that when the descending counter unit registers zero, this unit will be locked against further action by means of the setting of portion 92 of the member 94 inthe notches 91, and the operation of member 94 for this purpose will permit the operation of member L so as to cause it to seatl in the bore 104 and prevent a further operation of the stamping die S and its holder 8, so that no further impressions may be made until the mechanism is reset.

The printing of the indicia by means of die S is accomplished as shown with an ink ribbon R such as is used on typewriters, adding machine-s and the like, and said ribbon operates over a pair of spools 1 and 7" which are rotatably held on transverse shafts 107 and 108 carried in supports 109 and 110 attached to the sides of the housing H. Said shafts are additionally held in lugs 111 and 112 which may be integrally caston the housing H or attached thereto, as desired. f

The rear ends of shafts 107 and 108 carry bell cranks 113 and 114 respectively, and ratchets 115 and 116, said bell cranks being loose on the shafts vand said ratchets being fixed thereto for rotating the spools r and 7*. Bell cranks 113' and 114 have arms 117 and 118 to which are pivotally attached pawls 119 and 120 held on spools 121 and 122 respectively. Said bell cranks also have arms 123 and 124 which are pivotally connected at 125 and 126 respectively, with the opposite end portions 127 and 128 of an operating bar 129, which is pivoted on a bolt 130 centrally in the housing H and on the rear side thereof.

The inner end of said bolt carries a yoke 131 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 which has an elongated inclined slot 132 adapted to be engaged by the locking plunger L 4so that each timethe member O is depressed in a stamping operation, motion will be communicated tothe spools 1 and 7" and the ribbon R by the mechanism described.

It will be noted that the ratchets 115 and 116 of spools rand r are cut for movement in opposite directions, and as indicated in Fig. 1, when the ribbon is being unwound from spool r and wound onto the spool 7" the pawl 120 of ratchet 116 will be operative,

while the pawl 119 of spool 7' will be inoperative. Vhen the ribbon is completely unwound from spool r onto spool 7" the ratchets may then bei reversed by turning pawl 119 into operative connection with ratchets 115 and by turning ratchet 120` into inoperative position relative to ratchet 116, so that the ribbon will be then unwound from the spool 7 onto the spool 1'.

The ribbon extends under the stamping die S and within the recess 10 provided for said die. In order to take up the slack of the ribbon presser rollers 133, 133 may be pivotally carried on arms 134, 134 from the ends of shafts 107 and 108, and held against the bottom of the ribbon R by means of springs 135, 135 or otherwise, and the ends of the ribbon may be attached to the spools in any suitable manner.

`While I have shown and described but one H-derstood that I may modify the saine withrocably mounted in viding a space tending said printing in the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

W'hat I claim is:

1. A postage meter embodying a base having a housing locked against unauthorized access, a platen beneath said housing, providing a space for inserting mail matter in printing position, a printing member reciprocably mounted in said housing, a plunger connected with said printing member for eX- 'tending said printing member into contact with the mail matter, and a counting mechanism connectedy with and operable by. the initial movement of said plunger for registering successive impressions made by the printingl member.

2. A postage meter embodying a base having a housing locked against unauthorized access, a platen viding a space' for inserting mail matter in printing position, a printing member recipsaid housing, a plunger connected with said printing member for extendin said printing. member into contact wit the mail matter, and a counting mechanism connected with said plunger for registering successive .impressions made by the printing member, and including separate counting units operably connected with and adapted for operation only at each initial movement of said plunger.

3. A postage meter embodying a base having a housing locked against unauthorized access, a` platen beneath said housing, profor inserting mail matter in printing position, a printing member reciprocably mounted in said housing,aplunger connected with said printing member for eX- member into contact with the mail matter, a counting mechanism connected with said plunger for registering successive impressions made by the printing member, and including a pair kof counting units operably connected with and adapted for operation only at each initial movement of said plunger, and means controlled by one of said units for locking said printing member against further" operation when a. predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

4. A postage meter embodying'a'base having a locked against unauthorized housing access, a platen beneath said housing, pro- -viding a space for inserting mail matter in printing position, a printing `member reciprocably mountedin said housing, a plunger connected with said printing member for eX- tending said printing member into contact with the mail matter, means for resiliently connecting said member whereby the thrust of the printing member may be accommodated to matter of differentY thickness, and. a eoiuiting'meehabeneath said housing, pro-l .counting mechanism,

plunger with said printing nism operably connected with and operable by the initial movement of said plunger for registering successive impressions made by the printing member.

5. A postage meter embodying a base having a housing locked against unauthorized access, a platen beneath saidhousing, providing a space for inserting mail matter in printing position, a printing member reciprocably mounted in said housing, a plunger connectedwith said printing member for eX- tending said printing member into contact with the mail matter, means for resiliently connecting said plunger with said printing member whereby the thrust of the printing member may be accommodated to matter of different thickness, a counting mechanism operably connected with and actuated at each initial movement of said plunger for registering successive impressions made by the printing member, and automatically operable means for locking the printing member against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made. y

6. A postage meter having a reciprocable printing member housed against unauthorized access, an operating member resiliently connected therewith, a counting mechanism, and means connecting said plunger and said counting mechanism whereby the initial movement of said plunger will actuate said counting mechanism.

7 A postage meter having a reciprocable printing member housed against unauthorized access, an operating member resiliently connected therewith, a counting mechanism, means connecting said plunger and said counting mechanism whereby the initial movement of said plunger will actuate said and means controlled by the counting mechanism for locking the machine against further' use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made.

8. A postage meter embodying a reciprocable printing member, a plunger yieldably connected therewith, a counting mechanism operable by the initial movement of said plunger when said plunger is actuated for rendering the printing member operative.

9. A postage meter embodying a reciprocable printing member, a plunger yieldably connected therewith, a counting mechanism operable by the initial movement of said plunger when said plunger is actuated for rendering the printing member operative, and means controlled by the counting mechanism for locking the machine against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made.

10. A postage meter having a reciprocable printing member housed against unauthorized access, an operating member resiliently connected therewith, a counting mechanism,

` the movement of the means connecting said plunger and said counting mechanism whereby the initial movement of said plunger will actuatel said counting mechanism, means controlled by the counting mechanism for locking the machine against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made, and means for manually resetting said counting mechanism when the authorized impressions have been exhausted.

11. A postage meter embodying a reciprocable printing member, a plunger yieldably connected therewith, a counting mechanism operable by the initial movement of said plunger for moving the printing member to printing position, and means for manually resetting said counting mechanism when the authorized impressions have been exhausted.

1,2. A postage meter embodying a reciprocable printing member, a plunger yieldably connected therewith, a counting mechanism operable by the initial movement of said plunger for moving the printing member downwardly, means controlled by the counting mechanism for locking the machine against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made, and means for manually resetting said counting mechanism when the authorized impressions have been exhausted.

13. A postage meter embodying a base having a platen thereon, a meter removably -held on said base, means for locking said meter against unauthorized access and removal, a printing member reciprocably held in said meter and normally spaced from vsaid platen, an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printing member, whereby the movement of the printing member may be accommodated to matter of different thickness, and a counting mechanism connected with and operable by the initial movement of said plunger. l

14. A postage meter embodying a base having a platen thereon, a meter removably held on said base, means for locking said meter against unauthorized access and removal, a printing `member reciprocably held 1n said meter and normally spaced from said platen. an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printing member, whereby printing member may be accommodated to matter of different thickness, and al counting device connected with and operable by the initial movement ot' said plunger.

1a. A postage meter embodying a base having a platen, a meter supported on said base. means for locking the meter against unauthorized access, a reciprocable printing member enclosed by said meter and normally spaced from said platen, an operating member yieldably connected with said printing member for accommodating the printing member to matter of diierent thickness, and a pair of separate counting units connected with said plunger for simultaneous operation at each initial 'movement of said plunger.

16. A postage meter embodying a base having a platen thereon, a meter removably held on said base, means for locking said meter against unauthorized access and removal, a printing member reciprocably held in said meter and normally spaced from said platen, an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printing member, whereby the movement of the printing member may be accommodated to matter of different thickness, and a pair of separate counting devices connected with said plunger for -simultaneous operation at each movement of the printing member.

17. A postage meter embodying a base having a platen thereon, a meter removably held on said base, means for locking said meter against unauthorized access and removal. a printing member reciprocably held in said meter and normally spaced from said platen, an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printing member, whereby the movement of the printing member may be accommodated tomatter of different thickness, separate counting devices of ascending and descending order connected with and simultaneously operable by said plunger, and means controlled by the counting device for locking the printing member against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made.

18. A postage meter embodying a base having a platen thereon, a meter removably held on said base, means for locking said meter against unauthorized access and remova-l, a printing member reciprocably held in said meter and normally spaced from said platen, an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printing member, whereby the movement of the printing member may be accommodated to thickness, separate counting devices of ascending and descending order Aoperably connected with-said plunger, a common operating device therefor, and means controlled by the counting device for locking the printing member against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made.

19. A postage meter .embodying a base having a platen thereon, a meter removably held on Said base, mea-ns for locking said meter against unauthorized access and removal, a printing member reciproca-bly held in said meter and normally spaced from said platen, an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printing member, whereby the movement of the printing member may be accommodated to matter of different thlckness, a pair of commatter of different.

Cil

' monly operated couaiting devices operably connected with said plunger, means controlled by the counting device for locking the printing member against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made, and means for resetting said counting mechanism and releasing the printing memberl for further use.

20'. A postage meter embodying a base having a pla.ten-thereon, a meter removably held on said base, means for locking said meter against unauthorized access and removal, a printing member reciprocably held in said meter and normally spaced from said platen, an operating plunger yieldably connected with said printingy member,

whereby the movement of the p-rinting member may be accommodated to matter of different thickness, a pair of commonly operated counting devices operably connected with said plunger and adapted to be actuated at each movement of said printing member, means controlled by the counting device for locking the printing member against'lfurther use when a predetermined number of impressions have beenmade, and mea-ns for. resetting sai-d counting mecha# nism and releasing the print-ing member for further use.

21. A postage meter having abase and a meter housing with a narrow printing slot therebetween, means for locking the meter housing against unauthorized access, a printing device in said housing including a die extensible' therefrom for contact with mail matter held in said slot, an operating plunger yieldably connected with and for operating said die, and a. counting device' operably connected with and adapted to be actuated by the initial movement of said plunger.

22. A meter housing with a narrow printing slot therebetween, mea-ns for locking the meter housing against unauthorized access, a

printing devlce in said housing including a die extensible therefrom for contact; with mail mat-ter held in said slot, an operating plunger yieldably connectedv with and for operating said die, and a counting device connected with said plu/nger whereby the initial movement of the plunger will actuate the counting device and the further movement thereof will render the printing die operative. e

23. A postage meter having a base and a meter housing with a narrow printing slot therebetween, means for locking themeter housing against unauthorized access, a-

printing device insaid housing including a die extensible therefrom for contact lwith mail matter held in said slot, an operating plunger yieldably connected with and for operating said die, a counting device connected with and operated by the initial postage meter having a base and a movement of said plunger, and a locking member controlled by the operation of said counting-device for preventing the further use of said die when a predetrmined number of impressions have been made.

24. A postage meter having a base and a meter housing with a. narrow printing slot therebetween, means for locking the meter housing against unauthorized access, a printing device in said housing including a die extensible therefrom for contact with mail matter held in said slot, an operating plunger yieldably connected with and for operating said die, a counting device operable with said plunger whereby the normal initial movementy of the plunger will actuate said counting device and the further -movement thereof will extend said die to vmeter housing against unauthorized access,

a printing device in said housing including a die extensible therefrom for contact with mail matter held in said slot, an operating plunger yieldably connected with and for operating said die,l a counting device operably connected with and operable on the initial movement" of said plunger, a locking member controlled by the operation of said counting device for preventing the further use of said die when 'a predetermined num-ber of impressions have been made, and

means for resetting said counting `device and releasing said die for further use when access is had to said meter. L

26. A postage meter having a base and a meter housing with anarrow printing slot therebetween, means for locking the meter housing against unauthorized access, a printing device in said housing including a die extensible therefrom for cont-act with mail matter held in said slot, an operating plunger yieldably connected with and for operating said die, a counting device operably connected with said plunger whereby inal movement of the plunger will extend said die to printing position, andtheL initial movement thereof will actuate said counting device, a locking member controlled by .theoperation of said counting device for preventing the `further use' of said die when a predetermined number of impressions have been made, and means for resetting said counting device and releasing said die for' further use when access is had `to said meter.

27. A printing device including a guide member, a printing die slidable therein, a plunger resiliently slidable relative to the die, a counting unit operatively connected with said plunger, and means whereby the I'inal movement of said plunger will effect the movement 'of said die to printing position and the initial movement thereof will actuate said counting unit.

28. A printing device including a guide member, a printing die slidable therein, a plunger resiliently slidable relative to the die, a counting unit operatively connected with said plunger, means whereby the final movement of said plunger will effect the movement of' said die to printing position and the initial movement thereof will actuate said counting unit, and means for locking said die against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have been made.

and' a locking device including a. dog arranged toseat in notches in the peripheries of said counters, whereby the printing member will be held inoperative when a predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

LUTHER L. MACK.

Witnesses:

W. L. CRAIG, IRENE BREEN.

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