Patent GB-526727-A (GB)
Title: Stamp applying machine
IPC: B65C9/18
Filed: 1939-03-25
Abstract: 526,727. Adhesive stamp applying machines. GASCA, A. March 25, 1939, No. 9440. Convention date, March 29, 1938. [Class 73] A stamping-machine comprising means whereby, on presenting the letter &c. to be stamped, a stamp is severed from a selected strip, moistened and applied, includes a reciprocating head having pneumatic means for retaining the severed stamp and means for counting the numbers of the different stamps applied; means are also provided for preventing the operation of the machine on the exhaustion of the supply. The strips are mounted on reels 16, Fig. 6, and pass along grooves in a member 1 which is slidably mounted on transverse frame members 2 and is adjusted to present the selected strip to the reciprocating head 102 by cables passing over hand-operated drums 31, 32, a locking-member 37 engaging notches in a member 35 depending from the member 1. The locking-member 37 is operated from a lever 43, means being provided for preventing the operation of the machine unless one of the strips is correctly placed. The selected strip is fed by means of a toothed member 64 which engages the perforations between the stamps and is carried by a rocking-member 61 pivotally carried by a sliding member 58. The member 61 is operated to swing the member 64 and to reciprocate the sliding member 58 by adjustable linkage from a shaft 70 operated in turn from a cam shaft 79, the connections including a member which operates a counter for the particular strip in use. The projecting end stamp is moistened by a roller 157 which is carried on reciprocating arms and is supplied from a roller 153 in contact with a roller 151 dipping into a heated bath 145, the roller being driven from the shaft 79. The roller 153 brings the stamp into contact with the head 102 where it is retained pneumatically. On the return movement the ends of the shaft 154 of the roller 153 engage pivoted triangular members 176 to prevent smearing of the parts. The head 102 slides in vertical guides and is operated by a lever 119 actuated through a spring connection, to accommodate varying thicknesses of envelope &c. from the cam shaft 79. The stamp is severed by a cutter 106 operated by a lever 136 pivotally carried by a member 134 on the lever 119 and adapted to actuate the cutter with a snap action. The severed stamp is then applied by the descent of the head on the envelope placed on a table 181. The machine is started by placing an envelope &c. on the table thus operating one of a number of feelers 184 to actuate a shaft 42, Fig. 4, carrying a mercury switch 187 which starts the motor. The cam shaft 79 is then rotated and the machine passes through a cycle. A sleeve 189, Fig. 3, on the shaft 79, and operated therefrom by a spring 191, carries an arm 190 which engages an abutment 195 on a pawl 193. A tappet 192, keyed to the shaft, engages a pawl 196 to release the arm 190 which then strikes the arm 188 and rocks the shaft 42, on which it is mounted, thus opening the switch and returning the feelers 184 to eject the stamped envelope &c. When a stamp is applied to an envelope which already bears a stamp a longitudinal guide on the table is moved so that the envelope then operates an additional feeler and an additional counter is operated. A spring feeler 204 is provided which rests on the strip and the depression of which owing to the'absence of a strip opens the motor circuit.