Keyboard operated automatic marking machine

Claim 1

A MARKING MACHINE COMPRISING A PAIR OF UPPER AND LOWER CHARACTER WHEELS SUPPORTED UPON AN UPRIGHT SHAFT, SAID CHARACTER WHEELS BEING SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER AND BEING PROVIDED WITH MATING CHARACTER ELEMENTS, A CARRIAGE FRAME PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR MOVING IT HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE MACHINE ON A CARRIAGE RAIL EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE MACHINE UPON WHICH THE CARRIAGE FRAME IS SLIDABLY MOUNTED, A TOOTHED HORIZONTAL RACK MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE CARRIAGE FRAME AND MOUNTED UPON IT, AND FEED PAWL MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON THE CARRIAGE RAIL ENGAGEABLE WITH THE HORIZONTAL RACK MEMBER, AND BACKSPACING MEANS FOR MOVING THE CARRIAGE FRAME TO THE RIGHT OF THE MACHINE COMPRISING A BACKSPACING KEY OPERABLE TO MOVE A BACKSPACER BAR SLIDABLY MOUNTED UPON THE CARRIAGE RAIL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HORIZONTAL RACK MEMBER AND MOVE IT A PREDETERMINED LENGTH AND A WORK PIECE HOLDER MOUNTED UPON THE CARRIAGE FRAME PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR ADVANCING A WORK PIECE TOWARD SAID CHARACTER WHEELS AND A TRAY PORTION OF THE HOLDER BETWEEN SAID CHARACTER WHEELS, SAID TRAY HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING AND CARRYING A WORKPIECE TAG HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES EXPOSED TO THE CHARACTER ELEMENTS, AND TAG RETAINING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE TRAY RELEASABLY ENGAGING THE TAG TO HOLD IT IN SAID TRAY AGAINST A TONGUE MEMBER IN BIASED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TAG, AND A HANDLE TO OPERATE SAID TAG RETAINING MEANS FROM A LOCK POSITION TO A RELEASING POSITION.