US2555325A - Machine for applying address labels to mailing pieces - Google Patents

Description

11 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. DOANE .Fume 5, 1951 MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS To MAILING PIECES Filed Sept. e, 1949 June 5, 1951 J.,E. DOANE MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS T0 MAILING PIECES Filed sept. e, 1949 11 Smets-sheet 2 Maw /l ITO/Qu V June 5, 1951 1 E. DOANE 2,555,325

MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PIECES @Mw-M ATTORNEY `fune 5, 1951 J, E DQANE; 2,555,325

MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PIECES Filed Sept. 6, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 E1s/Tok. Bry/0721656. Doane Trae/Vey J. E. DOANE June 5, E951 MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PIECES 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 6, 1949 INVENTOR. gamescoane Mei-gaaf ATTORNEY June 5, 1951 J. E. DoANE 2,555,325

MACHINE-F OR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PIECES Filed Sept. 6, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 A I 1N V EN TOR.

dames 6. Doa/2e ATTORNEY 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR.

rroe/vfy e n M C@ e m. d

J. E. DOANE MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PQECES June 5, 1951 Filed sept. e, 1949 June 5, 15551 J, E, DOANE 2,555,325

MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PIECES Filed Sept. 6, 1949 1l Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENToR. damas cf., Doa/2e mi @M A from/Ey June 5, 1951 J. E. DOANE 2,555,325

MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS T0 MAILING PIECESI Filed Sept. 6, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN VEN TOR.

33 dames? ci Dod/ze A TTORNE Y .Fume 5, 1951 i J. E. DOANE 555,325

MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS TO MAILING PIECES Filed Sept. 6, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 v 158, 167 :X594 l l TO SOURCE H/zoe 2355975 53 TO SOURCE /33 (dfzlq f TO SOURCE En 2017 I l 201 37 16? l f w A I INVENTOR. c/ames 6. `ocZ/ze TroPNL-y Patented June 5, 1951 M MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESS LABELS T MAILING PIECES James E. Doane, Chicago,

Ill., assignor to Cheshire Mailing Machines, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,255

27 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for applying an address strip to a mailing piece and relates particularly to improvements in mailing machines for applying address strips to envelopes, small pamphlets or the like.

In the mailing of mass circulated letters or small pamphlets it has been the practice to employ coiled strips having customers or subscribers names and addresses intervally spaced thereon, each name and address being separated by a perforation, the so perforated strips being acted upon by a mailing head which intervally feeds the strip, applies paste to the reverse side thereof, severs the strip and aixes the severed strip to the magazine or paper.

leretofore in such addressing or mailing machines it has been the practice to move the mailing pieces individually by means of a conveyor chain having lugs engaging the mailing pieces. In such machines the mailing pieces were momentarily halted by disengagement of the lugs with the mailing piece, and during the momentary halt the severed and pasted label was applied to the mailing piece. A second chain conveyor having lugs thereon then engaged the addressed mailing piece for removal from the machine.

In the machines of the prior art, mechanical means have been employed to advance a proper length of mailing strip, apply paste thereto, and then sever and apply the pasted strip to the mailing piece, the operation being timed in accordance with the spacing and speed of feed of the mailing pieces. Since the mailing head incorporating such mechanical means was operated from the feeding mechanism for the mailing pieces, the flexibility thereof was necessarily limited, and it was not possible readily to adjust the position of the mailing head according to different sizes of mailing pieces or according to different places of application of the pasted and severed address label.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of the invention to enable mail pieces to be handled in a mailing machine without the necessity of employing lug bearing chain conveyors for transporting the individual mail pieces, a belt conveyor being employed for transporting the mail pieces, an intermittently operating arresting device being employed for holding the mail piece in position for the application thereto of an addressed label by a mailing head, the belt meanwhile continuing to move beneath the mail piece and thereafter removing the mail piece upon release of the arresting mechanisin from the mailing head for action by the mailing head on following mailing pieces.

Another important object is to enable the per'- forated mailing strip to be fed and measured by the action of electrical mechanism controlled by the perforations of the mailing strip and the movement of a mailing piece moving along the belt conveyor.

Still another object comprehends the provision of a circuit for controlling the operation of a mailing head for a mailing machine, and to operate electrical mechanism associated with the mailing head to feed, sever and apply a perforated label to a mailing piece which aiects the operation of the control circuit.

An auxiliary object to those mentioned above is to feed mailing pieces without the necessity of using lugs for engaging each mail piece, thereby eliminating the possibility of damaging the edges of the mailing pieces.

A further object comprehends the'provision of a mailing head which can be oriented to one of several positions according to the size of the mailing piece and the desired position of a pasted and severed label to be applied to the mailing piece.

Yet another object is the provision of a mailing head which Will operate with perforated address strips of various sizes, the mailing head being characterized by electrical means sensing the spacing of the perforations and advancing an individual address label in accordance with the distance between the perforations.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following description taken together with the drawings Which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best Inode of applying the principles thereof. While the invention is described in terms of an embodiment which it may assume in practice, it is not intended to be limited in terms of the embodiment shown, nor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an improved mailing machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of the feed table portion of the mailing machine shown in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line l-i of Figure 3, certain parts being shown in section and certain other parts being shown in side elevation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan View of the mailing head of the mailing machine shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 5 6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation View of the mailing head shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse section through the mailing head of Figure 5 along the line 8-8 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is an enlarged plan View of the paste trough of the mailing head of Figure 5 taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a partly plan and partly schematic view of a power shaft showing certain electrical control apparatus for the mailing head of Figure 5 mounted thereon;

Figure 1l is a view looking in the direction of the arrows II-I I of Figure 10 and showing certain electrical control apparatus associated therewith;

Figure 12 is a View looking in the direction of the arrow I2-I2 of Figure 10 and showing a portion of a circuit controlling the mailing head of Figure 5;

Figure 13 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows I3-I3 of Figure 10 and showing the arresting mechanism for a mailing piece;

Figure 14 is a circuit diagram for the electrical control apparatus shown in Figures 10 to 13;

Figure 15 is a schematic showing the circuit and control for the arresting mechanism of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a schematic showing the circuit and control for the severing mechanism shown in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive; and

Figure 17 is a detailed partly plan and partly sectional view of the valve operator for the suction valve shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the improved mailing machine according to the present invention includes a fiat table or bed 28 resting upon a generally rectangular frame 2I which in turn is supported upon vertical members 22 and horizontal stiifener members 23. The support structure is mounted upon casters 24 for easy portability of the machine. Generally, the mailing machine may be considered as including a feeding mechanism indicated generally at 25, a mailing head portion indicated generally at 21 and a delivery portion indicated generally at 28.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the feeding portion 26 of the mailing machine includes a motor 29, mounted upon the horizontal stiifener members 23, for supplying power through a pair of pulleys 3l and 32 to drive a power shaft 33. As seen in Figure 4, the power shaft 33 is journaled in depending brackets 34 secured to the underside of' the rectangular frame 2 I. The power shaft 33 is provided with an eccentric 36 which cooperates with an eccentric connecting rod 31 pivotally connected at 38 to a lug 39 formed on the bottom side of a shuttle table 4I. As seen in Figure 4, the shuttle table is adapted to slide in slots 42 formed on platelike members 43 secured in any convenient manner to the bed 28.

The bed 20 has affixed thereto a bracket 44 which spans the shuttle table 4 I, and which provides a support for a pair of adjustable guides 46 having flanges 41 struck out therefrom which may be adjusted and held in position by means of bolts 48 passing through slots 49 formed in the bracket 44. The table 20 also supports a pair 0f arms 5I which support a table 53 for storing mailing pieces to be fed to the machine according to the present invention As seen in Figure 3, the table 53 is formed with a boss 54 which forms a guide for a rod 56 secured in any convenient fashion to an adjustable guide 51, the arrangement being such that the guide 51 may be adjusted in position according to the size of the mailing pieces 58 to be addressed by the machine.

The bracket 44 includes a pair of arms 59 which support an adjusting screw 6I which ad- `iusts the position of a gate 62 upward or downward depending upon the thickness of each individual mailing piece 58, see also Figure 4. 'It will be seen that the guide 51, the gate 62 and the adjustable side guides 48 define a hopper for mailing pieces 58 to be fed to the mailing machine.

The shuttle table 4I is provided with a plurality of lugs 63 which are of a height less than the thickness of each mailing piece. The lugs 63 are adapted to engage the back edge of an individual mailing piece and to carry the mailing piece 58 forward upon the forward reciprocating movement of the shuttle table 4I. Each individual mailing piece is thus advanced between a pair of feed rollers 64 and 66, feed rollers 66 being fast on a shaft 61 which is driven by a pinion 68, also fast to the shaft 61, which is driven from a gear 69 fast to the power shaft 33. The feed rollers 64 are adapted to idle upon a shaft 1I which is journaled in an end bracket arm 12 and which is pivoted at 13 to the brackets 44. The pressure of the idler feed rollers 64 on the feed rollers 66 in feeding a mailing piece 58 may be varied by an adjusting screw 14 threaded into the arm 12. The adjusting screw bears against a spring 10 which is bottomed against the bed 20 and is held in position by a boss 15 protruding upward therefrom.

Each individual mailing piece which has been engaged by the feed rollers 64 and 66 is moved thereby on to a conveyor 16 consisting of a plurality of belts which are trained around a driving pulley 11 fast on a shaft 18, see particularly Figures 2 and 4. An idler gear 19 mounted upon an idler shaft 8| is adapted to mesh with the pinion 68 and to mesh with a drive pinion 82 fast on the shaft 18 to drive the pulley 11. As seen in Figure 2, the conveyor belt 16 is trained around an idler pulley 83 mounted on a shaft 84 at the delivery end of the bed 2l). A tension idler pulley is mounted on an adjusting device 85 supported by the horizontal stiffener members 23 to adjust the tension of the conveyor belts 16.

Since the machine according to the present invention is particularly adapted to place addressed labels on envelopes or small pamphlets which are lighter than the usual mass-circulated magazine, means are provided for applying suction to the underside of the bottommost mailing piece 58 held within the hopper, so that it may be positively separated from the mailing pieces lying thereabove. To this end there is provided a motor 86, see Figure 2, which drives a suction pump 81. The suction pump 51 is connected by a conduit 88 to a vacuum reservoir 89 which in turn is connected by a flexible vacuum line 9| to a valve block 92. The valve block 92 is secured to the shuttle table 4I in any convenient fashion and is adapted to move therewith. The valve block 92 has a port 93 therein which communicates with a chamber 94, the chamber 94 communicating with openings 96 of a foraminous plate 91 having a depression 95, and adapted to rest upon the valve block 92 and within an opening formed in the shuttle plate 4|. A shuttle valve 98 is adapted to slide in a bore 99 formed in the valve body 92 and is provided with a reduced annular portion I9I which at times is in register with the port 93 so that suction will be applied to the openings 916 in the `foraminous plate 91.

Referring now to Figure 17, the shuttle valve 98 has a slotted connection |02 with a bell lcrank I 83 pivotally mounted at |94 to a support |96 adapted to reciprocate with the shuttle table 4|. The bell crank |93 has an arm |91 adapted to lie between two adjustable stops |98 and |89 which are fastened to the underside of the bed 20, see also Figure 4. The shuttle valve 98 is so designed that its reduced annular portion I 9| is in register with the port 93 at the start ofthe reciprocating movement of the shuttle table 4| toward the feed rollers 64 and 65 and is closed at the eind of such forward reciprocating movement when the feed rollers 64 and 66 have engaged the individual mailing piece and are moving the mailing piece to the right, as seen in Figure 4, to be transported on the conveyor belt 16. It will be apparent from Figure 17. that the shuttle valve v98 `is closed at the forward end of the stroke; and that when the valve block 92 has moved back to the start position the bell crank |03 will be rocked in a counterclockwise position, as seen in Figure 17, to once more open the valve 98.

Means are provided for holding the individual mailing pieces against the conveyor belt 16 and to this end, see particularly Figures 1, 2 andB, a pair of hold-down straps I I I are provided which may be adjusted to move up or down' according to the thickness of each mailing piece together with the gate 62. As shown in Figure 3, the gate 62 is provided with a boss ||2 which threadably supports an arm I I3 connected to a lifting member ||4 secured to the straps I| I.

I'he mailing pieces may be additionally held down during their transport by the conveyor belt 16, by guides |I6 which extend for substantially the length of the bed 29 and may be additionally guided by side guide members ||1 which may be adjusted in or out along guide rods |I8 according to the dimension of the mailing pieces,- see Figure 1.

Referring now particularly to Figures 5 to 9 inelusive, each individual mailing piece is adapted to move past the mailing head 21 and to rbe momentarily arrested in its motion along the conveyor belt 16, by means later to be described, for the application thereto of a pasted and severed label having a mailing address thereon. The mailing head 21 includes a square base structure I9 having vertical ribs |2| and horizontally extending ianges |22, the ribs I2| being adapted to t within a pair of rails |23 which overlie the bed 29 and which are supported at each end on brackets |29 resting on the bed 29. The square base structure I9 is thusadapted to rest on the rails |23 to support the mailing head 21 above the bed 20. It will be seen that the'mailing head 21 can be oriented through 90 to any one of three positions.

The base structure |I9 supports a pair of bracket arms |24 which support .a roll of address strip IZB, each address being separated by a perforation, as may be shown in Ralph Doane application Serial No. 757,188, now abandoned led June 26, 1947, Machine and Process for Making Mailing Strips. Theperforated mailing strip |26 is lead past 'a guide roller |21" and between a slightly knurled or serrated feed roller |28 and a pressure roller |29, see Figure 9. The Ifeed roller |28 is adapted to turn within areservoir 3| for liquid paste or other suitable adhesive, supported in any convenient manner on the base structure II9. The feed rollers |28 are fast on a shaft |32 journaled in the side walls of the reservoir |3I and are driven by a plurality of miter gears |33, |34, |35 and |36 which are drivably connected to a motor |31 supported by the base structure I I9.

The amount of paste or liquid adhesive to be carried by the feed rollers |28 is regulated by a plurality of scraper fingers |38 at the end of a scraper arm |39 which may be adjusted in posi- .tion by means of the knurled adjusting nut |4|,

see also Figure 6.

The pressure roller I 29 is journaled at each end in a pair of arms |42, see Figure 5, which are connected together by an arm |43. The arm |43 is connected by a member |355 which is pin connected as at |35a to an armature |41 of a solenoid |48, see Figure 6. The position of the arms |42 may be adjusted by adjusting screws |49 tapped into the end of the bracket arm |42 remote from the pressure roller |29.

The perforated tape |26 is lead across a guide plate |5| and between the feed rollers |28 and the pressure roller |29. Since the feed rollers |28 are turning constantly, the perforated tape will be advanced only when therpressure roller |29 is brought against the feed rollers I 28 with the perforated strip |26 therebetween, the pressure rollers |29 being moved in such direction Yupon energization of the solenoid |48 upon a condition as will appear later in this description.

The feed rollers |28 and the pressure roller |29 are adapted to advance the perforated strip |26 past a knife edge |53 where the strip is severed by a combined label shearing and applying arm |54. The arm |54 is provided with a lug |56 which is connected by a pin |51 to a clevis |58 formed at the end of an arm |59. The arm is fast on a shaft |62 and is provided with an extension |63 and an adjustable stop |64. In rocking to the label applying position the adjustable stop |64 impinges against a pin |49 supported slidably by a standard |59 and urged to the right as seen in Figure 7 by a spring |45. The shaft |62 has an arm |66 extending therefrom which is connected by a link |61 to the armature |68 of a solenoid |69. It will be apparent that when the solenoid |69 is energized, the attraction of the armature |68 will rock the shaft 62 together with the arm |59 in a counterclockwise direction, as in Figure 7, to sever a label from the perforated strip which has been fed by the feed rollers |28 and the pressure roller |29, and that upon further counterclockwise movement of the arm |59 the pasted and severed label will be applied to a mailing piece which is in position beneath the mailing head 21. The spring opposes the movement of the arm |59 in moving to the label applying position under the action of the solenoid |69 and tends to lessen the impact of the arm |54 upon a mailing piece.

The mailing head 21 is formed with a frame and guard |1| which includes an arm |1|a which extends over the label applying arm |54. The arm |1|a is provided with a boss |55 which supports a pin |69 which is drilled at |65 to guide a rod |10 formed integrally with the lug |56. It will be apparent that as the arm 59 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 7, the guide rod |18 will cause the arm |54 to lie flat against a mailing piece 58 thereunderneath.

The shaft |62 is encircled by a spring |15, see Figure 5, which opposes the counterclockwise movement of the arm |59 upon energization of the solenoid |69 and provides for release of the arm and rotation thereof in a clockwise direction upon deenergization of the solenoid |69.

The mailing head is provided with means for sensing a perforation in the address strip |26 and thereupon t close a circuit including the winding of the solenoid |69 upon conditions to be described later in this specification. As seen particularly in Figures 5, 6 and 8, bracket arms |42 are spanned by a tie rod |12 journaled in supports |12a on the support frame I9. The tie rod |12 supports a mounting |13 for a thin metallic strip |14 having a plurality of sensing fingers |16 thereon. The ilexible lingers are adapted to drop into a perforation in the strip |26 and to make contact with the contact plate |52. At times when the flexible fingers |16 are contacting points between said perforations, the circuit including the contact plate |52 will be broken.

Mechanism is provided for controlling the operation of the mailing head 21 so that the arm |59 is rocked by the solenoid |69 to apply a severed and pasted label to a mailing piece. As shown with particular reference to Figures 4, and 14, the power shaft 33 is provided with a cam |18 which controls a switch |19.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 14, the bed 20 is provided with a normally closed switch |8| having a sensing finger |82 which is adapted to open the switch |8| when depressed by a mailing piece 58 being transported by the conveyor belt 16. The switches |19 and |8| are connected in parallel with respect to each other through branching leads |83 and |84 which are connected by a lead |86 through a relay |81, the circuit being completed by a lead |88 through a step-down secondary of a transformer |89 and thence by a lead |9| through the sensing ngers |16, the contact plate |52 and a lead |92. The switch |8| and the contact points |18 and Contact plate |52 are normally operable to keep the relay |81 energized. However, when a mailing piece 58 is being transported over the linger |82 by the conveyor belt 18, it depresses the linger and opens the switch |8|, thereby deenergizing the relay |81 allowing the closing of a circuit which includes a conduit |93, the solenoid |48, a lead |94 and closed contact points |96 of the relay |81, and thence to the other side of the supply line. With the relay |48 thus energized, the pressure roller |29 will be brought into contact with the feed roller |28, since the arms |42 will rock about the tie rod |12. Since the feed rollers |28 are constantly rotating, the perforated strip |26 will be advanced until a circuit is made by the sensing lingers |16 closing on the contact plate |52, and provided also if the switch |8| is closed because of the mailing piece having been transported beyond the nger |82. However, if the mailing piece 58 is of such a dimension so that the switch |8| will have remained in open condition, a parallel circuit will be closed which includes the sensing finger |16 and the contact plate |52 and the cam operated switch |19. With the contact made between the sensing finger |16 and the contact plate |52 and contact made on either switch |8| or switch |19, the relay |81 will be energized once morey thereby opening the contacts |96 and deenergizing the solenoid |48 to cause disengagement of the pressure roller |29 with the feed roller |28.

The power shaft 33 is also adapted to control the energization of the solenoid |69. As shown with particular reference to Figures 4, l0 and 12, the power shaft 33 is provided with a cam |91 which closes a switch |98 which energizes the solenoid |69 to operate the label applying arm |54 through the arm |59, the circuit being completed through the solenoid |69 by conduits |99 and 20| to a source of power.

Arresting means are provided for arresting the progress of the mailing pieces 58 on the conveyor belt 16 and to stop the mailing piece beneath the label applying arm |54 for the application thereto of a pasted and severed label, As shown with particular reference to Figures 4, 10, 13 and 15, the power shaft 33 is provided with a cam 202 which is so timed as to operate a switch 203 which energizes a solenoid 204 having a moving armature 206 which engages the forward edge of a mailing piece 58 and holds same in arrested position for the application thereto of a pasted and. severed label.

The mailing piece which has been acted upon by the mailing head 21 is then removed by the conveyor belt 16 to the delivery end 28, and on to a delivery belt 201, see particularly Figures 1 and 2. The delivery belt 201 is trained around a drive pulley 208 driven by a gear 209 which meshes with a gear 2|| driven by a motor 2|2. The delivery belt 201 is also trained around an idler pulley 2|3. An arm 2|4 is pivoted at a hub 2|6 to one of the guide rods ||8, and supports a roller 2|1 for slowing down the mailing pieces 58, and so that they may be stacked against a stop 2 I 8.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the sequence of events which have been described will be repeated for each mailing piece as it moves over the conveyor belt 18. The power shaft 33 together with its actuating cams and the sensing switch |8| determines the sequence of operation of the pressure and feed rollers |29 and |28 and the operation of the label severing and applying arm |54, and also the operation of the arresting means for each mailing piece as it is being acted upon by the mailing head 21. According to the present invention, it is possible to apply address labels to mailing pieces without the need of conveying the mailing pieces with lug bearing chains which engage and then release the mailing pieces for application thereto of a Severed and pasted strip. According to the present invention it is possible to perform the mailing operation of mailing pieces of diierent dimensions and to perform the mailing operation on pieces irrespective of their weight. As herein described, the mailing head 21 may be moved to any one of three positions so that the address labels may be applied to the mailing pieces in any desired position. By the use of the electrical com trol circuits according to the present invention the machine is extremely flexible and adapted to be employed with different sizes of mailing pieces.

While the invention has been described in terms of an embodiment which it may assume in practice, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited in terms of the embodiment shown nor otherwise than by the claims here appended.

I claim:

1. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed 76 roller, a `pressure roller cooperating with said feed 9 roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and by said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as theyare moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of said switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feedI roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

2. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, a relay adapted to be actuated upon operation of either of said switches, electrical means operable upon actuation of said relay to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

3. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a rst circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second circuit including a cam actuated switch operated by said conveying means and connected in parallel with said iirst named circuit, said cam-actuated switch being adapted to be closed before the closing of said iirst named switch, a third switch connected in series with said first switch and said cam-actuated switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations of said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of any one of said series connected switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

4. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a label which `has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second circuit including a camactuated switch operated. by said conveying means and connected in parallel with said first named circuit, said cam-actuated switch being adapted to be closed before the closing of said rst named switch, a third switch connected in series with said first switch and said cam-actuated switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations of said strip, a relay adapted to be actuated upon operation of either of said switches, electrical means operable upon actuation of said relay to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

5. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a stripl and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a paste applying feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said paste applying feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a pasted label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said paste applying feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of said switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said paste applying feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by sai' conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for applicaton of a pasted and severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuating said labels hearing and applying arm to apply a pasted and severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

6. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said rst switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of either of said switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a pasted and severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, a second cam-actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling said solenoid, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a pasted and severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said solenoid.

'7. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of either of said switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for applcation of a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, a second cam-actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling said solenoid, a solenoid actuator for said label shearing and applying arm, and a third cam-actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling the operation of said solenoid actuator.

8. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to apply a label which has been advanced by said` pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, a relay adapted to be actuated upon operation of either of said switches, electrical means operable upon actuation of said relay to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in positionfor application of a severed label thereto by y said label shearing and applying arm, a second cam actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling said solenoid, and means including a cam and switch operated by said conveying means for actuatiri'g said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said solenoid.

9. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having ifi mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said rst switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, a relay adapted to be actuated upon operation of either of said switches, electrical means operable upon actuation of said relay to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said `intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforati-ons, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, a second cam-actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling said solenoid, a solenoid actuator for said label shearing and applying arm, and a third cam-actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling the operation of said solenoid actuator.

10. In a mailing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to apply a label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second circuit including a cam-actuated switch o erated by said conveying means and connected in parallel with said rst named circuit, said cam-actuated switch being adapted to be closed before the closing of said first named switch, a third switch connected in series with said first switch and said cam-actuated switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations of said strip, a relay adapted to be actuated upon operation of said switches, electrical means operable upon actuation of said relay to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said periorations, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveying means to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, a second cam-actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling said solenoid, a solenoid actuator for said label shearing and applying arm, and a third cam actuated switch operated by said conveying means for controlling the operation of said solenoid actuator.

11. A mailing head for a mailing machine of the type in which mailing pieces are conveyed at regularly spaced intervals along a bed extending longitudinally of said mailing machine for the application by said mailing head of a pasted and severed label having a mailing address thereon to a mailing piece: a base frame having a square outline adapted to rest upon spaced rails overlying said bed and to be oriented in any one of three apart positions with respect to said bed, a reservoir for a quantity of liquid adhesive, a feedroller mounted for rotation in said reservoir and to carry a lmof said adhesive along the periphery thereof, a guide for a perforated strip having mailing addresses between the perforations thereon, a pressure roller adapted to move into contact with the feed roller with the perforated strip therebetween to coat said strip with adhesive and advance same, a shear knife over which said perforated strip is advanced, an intermittently operated solenoid for moving said pressure roller in a direction towards said feed roller to advance said strip, a label severing and applying arm for severing the strip which has been advanced by said feed roller and said pressure roller, and means for actuating said label severing and applying arm after said perforated strip has been so advanced.

12. A mailing head for a mailing machine of the type in which mailing pieces are conveyed at regularly spaced intervals along a bed extending longitudinally of said mailing machine for the application by said mailing head of a pasted and severed label having a mailing address thereon to a mailing piece: a base frame having a square outline adapted to rest upon spaced rails overlying said bed and to be oriented in any one of three 9G apart positions Vwith respect to said bed, a reservoir for a quantity of liquid adhesive, a feed roller mounted for rotation in said reservoir and to carry a lin of said adhesive along the periphery thereof, a guide for a perforated strip having mailing addresses between the perforations thereon, a pressure roller adapted to move into contact with the feed rollerv with the perforated strip therebetween to coat said strip with adhesive and advance same, a shear knife over which said perforated strip is advanced, an intermittently operated solenoid for moving said pressure roller in a direction towards said feed roller to advance said strip, a label severing and applying arm for severing the strip which has been advanced by said feed roller and said pressure roller, and a solenoid for actuating said label severing and applying arm after said perforated strip has been so advanced.

13. A mailing head for a mailing machine of the type in which mailing pieces are conveyed at regularly spaced intervals along a bed extending longitudinally of said mailing machine for the application by said mailing head of a pasted and severed label having a mailing address thereon to a mailing piece: a base frame having a square outline adapted to rest upon spaced railings overlying said bed and to be oriented in any one of three 90 apart positions with respect to said bed, a reservoir for a quantity of liquid adhesive, a feed roller mounted for rotation in said reservoir and to carry a lm of said adhesive along the periphery thereof, a guide for a perforated strip having mailing addresses between the perforations thereon, a pressure roller adapted to move into contact with the feed roller with the perforated strip therebetween to coat said strip with adhesive and advance same, a shear knife over which said perforated strip is advanced, an intermittently operated solenoid for moving said pressure roller in a direction towards said feed roller to advance said strip, a switch including a contact plate over which said perforated strip is adapted to pass and including a movable switch finger adapted to close on said contact plate when in register with one of said perforations for controlling the operation of said intermittently operating solenoid, a label severing and appling arm for severing the strip which has been advanced by said feed roller and said pressure roller, and means for actuating said label severing and applying arm after said perforated strip has been so advanced.

14. A mailing head for a mailing machine of the type in Which mailing pieces are conveyed at regularly spaced intervals along a bed extending longitudinally of said mailing machine for the application by said mailing head of a pasted and severed label having a mailing address thereon to a mailing piece: a base frame having a square outline adapted to rest upon spaced rails overlylng said bed and to be oriented in any one of three 90 apart positions with respect to said bed, a reservoir for a quantity of liquid adhesive, a feed roller mounted for rotation in said reservoir and to carry a nlm of said adhesive along the periphery thereof, a guide for a perforated strip having mailing addresses between the perforations thereon, a pressure roller adapted to move into contact with the feed roller with the perforated strip therebetween to coat said strip with adhesive and advance same, a shear knife over which said perforated strip is advanced, an intermittently operated solenoid for moving said pressure roller in a direction towards said feed roller to advance said strip, a switch including a contact plate over which said perforated strip is adapted to pass and including a movable switch ringer adapted to close on said contact plate when in register with one of said perforations for controlling the operation of said intermittently operating solenoid, a label severing and applying arm for severing the strip which has been advanced by said feed roller and said pressure roller, and a solenoid for actuating said label severing and applying arm after said perforated strip has been so advanced.

15. A mailing head for a mailing machine of the type in which mailing pieces are conveyed at regularly spaced intervals along a bed extending longitudinally of said mailing machine for the application by said mailing head of a pasted and severed label having a mailing address thereon to a mailing piece: a base frame, a reservoir for a quantity of liquid adhesive, a feed roller mounted for rotation in said reservoir and to carry a lm of said adhesive along the periphery thereof, a guide for a perforated strip having mailing addresses between the perforations thereon, a pressure roller adapted to move into contact with the feed roiler with the perforated strip therebetween to coat said strip with adhesive and advance same, a shear knife over which said perforated strip is advanced, an intermittently operated solenoid for moving said pressure roller in a direction towards said feed roller to advance said strip, a label severing and applying arm for severing the strip which has been advanced by said feed roller and said pressure roller, and means for actuating said label severing and applying arm after said perforated strip has been so advanced.

16. In a mailing machine for applying an addressed label to a mailing piece wherein mailing pieces are fed to a pair of feed rollers for movement thereby to a bed having a conveyor thereon for transport of individual mailing pieces at regularly spaced intervals: a power shaft for driving said feed rollers to move an individual mailing piece into position for transport by said conveyor; a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses between said perforations, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to apply an address label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveyor, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of thel perforations on said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of either of said switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by said cam for arresting the movement of a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveyor to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a second cam mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by said second cam for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

17. In a mailing machine for applying an addressed label tc a mailing piece wherein mailing pieces are fed to a pair of feed rollers for movement thereby to a bed having a conveyor thereon for transport of individual mailing pieces at regularly spaced intervals: a power shaft for driving said feed rollers to move an individual mailing piece into position for transport by said conveyor, a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses between said perforations, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to apply an address label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveyor, a second switch connected in series with said rst switch and operable in accordance with the spacing `of the perforations on said switch, a relay adapted to be actuated upon operation of either of said switches, electrical means operable upon actuation of said relay to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by said cam for arresting the movement of a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveyor to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, and means including a second cam mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by said cam for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by said arresting means.

18. In a mailing machine for applying an addressed label to a mailing piece wherein mailing pieces are fed to. a pair of feed rollers for movement thereby to a bed having a conveyor thereon for transport of individual mailing pieces at regularly spaced intervals: a power shaft for driving said feed rollers to move an individual mailing piece into position for transport by said conveyor, a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip thereof and applyingV the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses between said perforations, a label shearing and applying arm adapted to apply an address label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by .said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveyor, a second circuit including a second switch and a cam mounted on said power shaft for operating said switch, said second circuit being connectedin parallel with saidv first named circuit, said cam operated switch being adapted to be closed before the closing of said first named switch, a third switch connected in series with said i-lrst switch and said cam operated switch and operable in accordance 'with the spacing of the perforations of said strip, electrical means responsive to the loperation of any one of the series connected switches `.to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, means including a cam mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by said cam for arresting the movement of a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveyor to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a label thereto by said label shearingV and applying arm, and means including a second cam mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by said second carri for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply al severed label to a mailing piece which has been arrested in position by saidl arresting means;

19. In a mailing machine for applying an addressed label to a mailing piece wherein mailing pieces are fed to a pair offeed rollers for movement thereby to a bed having a conveyor thereon for transport of an individual mailing piece at regularly spaced intervals, a power shaft for driving said feed rollers to move individual mailing pieces into position for transport 'by said conveyor, a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applyingz the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, apressu-re roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses between said perforations, a label. shearing and applying arm adapted to apply a severed .address label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said. feed roller, and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveyor, a second switch connected in series with, said rst switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said strip, electrical means responsive to the operation of either 'of said switches to movel said pressure roller into engagement with said. feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween to advance said intervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveyor to hold said mailing piece in position for application of a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm, a second cam actuated switch operated by said power shaft for controlling said solenoid, and means including a second cam .mounted on said power shaft and a switch actuated by saidA cam for actuating said label shearing and applying arm to apply a severed label to .emailing `piece which ha-sk been arrested i-n pol-y sition by said arresting means.

20. In a mailing machine for applying an addressed label to a mailing piece wherein mailing .pieces are fed to a pair of feed rollers for movement thereby to a bed having a conveyor thereon for transport of an individual mailingr piece at regularly spaced intervals, a power shaft for driving said feed rollers to move individual mailing pieces into position for transport by said conveyor, a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, .a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller to advance an, intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses between said perforations, a label shearing and applying arm adaptedto apply a severed address label which has been advanced by said pressure roller and said feed roller, and circuits for controlling sairil mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable-.in accordance with the spacing of said mailing pieces along said conveyor, a second switch connected in series with said. first switch and operable in accordance with the spacing of the perforations on said switch, electrical `means responsive to the operationrof either of .said switches to move said pressure roller into engagement with said feed roller with said intervally perforated strip held therebetween `to advance saidintervally perforated strip a distance as determined by the spacing of said perforations, a solenoid having a moving armature for arresting a mailing piece being conveyed by said conveyor to hold said mailing piece in position for application ofV a severed label thereto by said label shearing and applying arm. a second cam actuated switch operated by said power shaft yfor controlling said solenoid, a solenoid actuator for said label shearing and applying arm,4 and a third cam actuated switch operated by said power shaft for controlling the operation of said solenoid actuator.

2l. In a mail-ing machine of the type wherein mailing pieces are moved by conveying means at regularly spaced intervals for application thereto of an address label: a mailing head for severing an address label from a strip and applying the same to a mailing piece comprising a feed roller, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed' roller to advance an intervally perforated strip having mailing addresses thereon, alabel shearing and applying arm adapted to sever and apply alabel which has been advanced by said pressure roller and by said feed rollen and circuits for controlling said mailing head comprising a first circuit including a switch operable by said mailing pieces as they are moved along said conveying means, a second switch connected in series with said first switch and operable in accordance with, the spacingl of the perforations on

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