Patent GB-190619812-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Envelope Sealing and Stamp Affixing Machines.
Inventor: PITNEY ARTHUR HILL
Filed: 1906-09-05
Granted: 1907-04-18
Abstract: 19,812. Pitney, A. H., Seger, H. G., Johnstone, T. K., Miles, J., and Rummler, E. A. Sept. 5. Damping envelopes; feeding envelopes.-Relates to a machine for damping, closing, and affixing stamps to envelopes, and counting the stamps used. Reference is made to Specification No. 21,234, A.D. 1902. The envelopes are stacked on edge on a platform 2, Fig. 1, with their opened flaps extending towards and over a wall 7. The means for feeding the envelopes singly from the stack comprises feed-rollers 8, 10 and a separator roller 11 provided with an adjustable' guard 12. The wall 9 of the platform 2 is preferably roughened or corrugated and inclined to fan out the stack. From the rollers 10, 11, the envelope is carried by pairs of rollers along platforms through the damping and closing apparatus and the stamp-affixing mechanism to a delivery platform 3. The driving- gear for the feed-rollers is enclosed in a hollow base 1. The first two pairs of feed-rollers 13, 14 are provided with ratchets 15 so that they can rotate faster than their shafts, the succeeding feedrollers being driven at a higher speed to ensure sufficient space between the successive envelopes. The flap of the envelope is directed by twisted guideplates 23, 24 to damping-apparatus, and then turned down by the plate 24 into closing position, the closing being completed by the feed-rollers in the stamp - affixing mechanism. The damping- apparatus comprises a wick or brush mounted in a holder sliding in inclined guides in a water tank connected with a fountain 18, and is adjustable for height. The guide-plate 24 is preferably hinged on the water tank and held in position by a spring 27. The stamp-affixing mechanism is enclosed in a casing 6 slotted at the ends for the passage of the envelopes. The stamp is applied to the envelope near the lower advancing corner. The envelope passes between a wall 38 and a guide 41, Fig. 3, and is damped by a wick 46 projecting through the walls 38. The wick 46 dips in a tank 47 connected with a fountain, and is carried by an arm 48 loose on a shaft 40 carrying an envelope feeler 39. Stops are provided on the parts 48, 39, so that an adjustable spring connected with the part 48 holds both parts in normal position, but movement of the part 48 by the envelope does not affect the part 39, whereas movement of the part 39 by the envelope effects withdrawal of the part 48 and determines the extent of damping. The movement of the feeler 39 by the envelope determines the starting of a drum 56 of the stamp-affixing mechanism for half a revolution, through connexions 75, 69, 70, Fig. 8, with arms 67, 68 normally holding out a spring-pressed clutch member 62. The arms 67, 68 terminate in inclines and stops for co-operation with lugs 66 on the member 62, and the arm 68 is provided with a latch 84 to prevent recoil. When the feeler 39 is depressed, the arms 67, 68 are swung outwards against the action of a spring. The link 75 is notched at 76 for engagement with a pin 77 on an arm 74 on the shaft 73 of the yoke 69, and is tapered at the end 81 for engagement with a lug 82, so that after a certain movement of the finger 39 the link 75 moves clear of the pin 77, and the arms 67, 68 are returned by the spring into position to throw out the clutch. The drum 56, Figs. 3 and 13, carries a pair of idlers 59 normally in feeding position, and a pair of stamp-applying springs 57 normally retracted in guides 58. In Fig. 13, an envelope 129 is shown in the stamp-receiving position, and the spring 57 is on the point of release. The stamp is fed up from a web or strip and cut off by a shear blade 121. A spring 128 prevents deflexion of the envelope by the spring 57. The ends of the springs 57 are preferably curled over to give weight, and the drum is recessed at 130 to receive the ends when passing the feed-roller 35. The shear blade 121, Figs. 3 and 4, co - operates with a fixed jaw or blade 120, and is advanced by lugs 123 on the drum 56 and withdrawn by lugs 126 and levers 124. The stamp-strip feed is shown in Fig. 4, and is driven by bevel-gearing 118 from the shaft of the drum 56. The strip 94 is fed from a roll 85 between rollers 87, 88 and along guideways 91, 92 to the cutters. Grippers 97, 98 on a reciprocating member 95 feed the strip along the guideway 91, the roller 87 being driven so as to provide a certain amount of slackness. The member 95 is operated from a crank 102 through an adjustable connecting-rod 101 connected to the gripper 98 ; a friction spring 111 and shoes 110 are provided to prevent movement of the member 95 before the gripper 98 is fully closed or opened. A clamp 112 is located in the guideway 92 and actuated by a spring 115 and a cam 116 on the crank-shaft 103. Guide-strips 132 above the way 91 prevent buckling of the stamp strip. A rider or feeler 134 is situated over an aperture 133 in the way 91, and normally rests on the stamp strip and ensures a uniform resistance to the feed. The feeler 134 is carried by a spring-retained lever 135, Figs. 3, 4, and 17. One end of the lever 135 encircles the link 75 and is shouldered at 139 for engagement with a notch in the link 75, so that the link 75 and feeler 39 are locked in retracted position in case of exhaustion, breakage, or withdrawal of the stamp strip. A counter 119, Fig. 3, is operated from the train 118 driving the strip feed, and is consequently only operated when a stamp is actually affixed. The end of the stamp strip which is attached to the spool is provided with a blank portion and an aperture for the feeler 134 at the proper distance from the last stamp to ensure use of the last stamp. The lever 135, Fig. 17, can be depressed by a cam 141 and handle to facilitate the insertion or adjustment of the stamp strip, by raising the feeler 134, releasing the clamp 112 through connexions 145, 144, and tripping the link 75 from the pin 77 by an incline 140. The delivery platform 3, Fig. 1, is provided with a sliding inclined support 150, a stacker 151, an adjustable stop 152, and a spring 154 for preventing opening of the flap of the last envelope.