Improvements in Stamp Affixing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1897
Complate Cinifination Laft 12th Anr 1808 Accented 20th May 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stamp Affixing Machines.
We, SINCLAIR TOUSEY (Physician), of 151, West 76th Street, New York, in the
County and State of New York, United States of America, and ELLA FINNEY DE
LONG (Gentlewoman), of 57, West 39th Street, New York, in the County and State
of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of our inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a machine especially adapted for affixing stamps on
envelopes, or packages of any description, and it has for its object to construct such
a machine providing for the envelope being moistened where the stamp is to be
an automatic
affixed, and also providing a receptacle for the stamps and
mechanism for drawing a stamp from the receptacle to a plunger, which by one
movement of the hand is so operated as to place a stamp on the moistened surface
of the envelope or package. A further object of the invention is to construct a
machine, in which by one movement of the hand the surface to receive the stamp
will be moistened and the stamp fed to the plunger and the plunger or follower
operated to affix the said stamp. A further object of the invention is to provide
stamp-receiving receptacles which may be introduced at will into the machine,
thereby providing for a supply of stamps of different denominations, which may be
employed at will.
The invention consists in a novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.
The body portion of the machine is provided with a chamber at or near its for-
ward end, extending through the bottom portion of the body; and the latter is
connected at its rear end with a base by an upright section so as to provide a space
between the under face of the body and the upper face of the base.
A tubular extension is located over the chamber in communication with the same,
and having a recess made in its inner face at the top. A tubular plunger provided
with a knob is mounted to slide in the tubular extension and a spring surrounds
the exterior of the tubular plunger having a bearing on the base or bottom wall
of the recess in the tubular extension.
A follower is located in the chamber in the body, which chamber and also the
The follower is attached to
follower are preferably polygonal in general contour.
a rod, which is passed loosely up through the bottom of the follower of the tubular
chamber and has a head formed at its upper end, and is provided with a. spring,
which is coiled around the rod and has bearing against the head and the bottom
of the follower. A chamber is made in the body of the machine frame near the
back, which extends from the top to the bottom, and is normally closed by a cover,
which may be secured by means of a button entering the undercut portions of the
top of the aforesaid body; and a spring is secured to the under face of the cover
attached at its lower end to a compression plate of less dimensions than the cross
sectional dimensions of the chamber.
A receptacle adapted to receive stamps is fitted into the chamber which recep-

page_text: tacle is open at the top and forward side and receives within it the compression
plate above mentioned; and at the front of the receptacle at the bottom a hori-
zontal opening is made, which communicates with the slots in the bottom of the
receptacle. A plate is secured upon the bottom of the body of the machine frame
which extends across the stamp receptacle substantially flush with the rear vertical
wall of the plunger chamber, said plate being provided with longitudinal openings
in registry with the openings in the stamp receptacle. The bottom of the plunger
chamber is normally closed with two doors hinged to the bottom side surfaces of
the body and held closed through the medium of springs or their equivalents; and
each door is provided with a slot forming a continuation of the slots or openings
in the plate.
A horizontal channel is made in the body of the machine frame, establishing
communication between the bottom portion of the stamp receptacle and the bottom
of the plunger chamber, so that the stamps taken from the receptacle located in
the stamp chamber may be carried between the bottom of the plunger and the doors
closing the bottom of the plunger chamber. A slide-way is formed at each side
of the bottom of the body of the machine in each of which a cheek piece or hanger
is mounted to slide, the hangers being connected at the rear by a rod, and a second
rod is passed from one hanger to the other near the forward end of the hangers,
the said rod having a limited vertical movement in curved slots in the said hangers.
Grippers are attached to the said movable rod fulcrumed upon the rear fixed
hanger rod said grippers consisting of plates which are preferably somewhat con-
vexed at their rear and at the top, which is provided with teeth; a gripper being
placed beneath each of the slots in the bottom plate of the stamp receptacle before
mentioned, and being likewise adapted to travel in the extensions of the aforesaid
slots. The throw of these grippers is controlled through the medium of set screws
which are preferably screwed into extensions from the inner faces of the rear
portions of the hangers, and adapted for engagement with the rear edges of the
grippers. The toothed surfaces of the grippers are adapted to engage with the
lowermost stamp in the stamp receptacle, entering the receptacle through the
openings therein, and when the grippers are carried forward they will carry the
stamp with them, depositing said stamp below the plunger. The movement
of the grippers may be produced by elbow levers pivotted upon the sides of the
machine frame preferably by a pin. The lower member of each lever is provided
with a slot which receives the outer end of the movable hanger rod, and the upper
member of each lever has a longitudinal slot made therein, receiving the end of
a rod, which rods extend upward along the tubular portion of the body, through
guides and are attached to trunnions secured to the bottom portion of the tubular
plunger and extend outward beyond the tubular extension of the body
through slots in the sides of the same. When the plunger is in its
normal position, the grippers will be beneath the follower and in engage-
ment with the stamp; when the plunger however is forced downward, the grippers
will be carried in a downward direction, and will be moved rearward to such point
as will enable them to enter the slots in the stamp receptacle; and when the
plunger is released, the spring will carry said plunger upward, and the grippers
in engagement with the stamp will be carried upward, taking the stamp with
them and depositing said stamp between the doors and the follower. When
plunger is first carried downward the rearward movement of the grippers will be
accomplished, and each of the grippers will have reached its rearmost position
before the cap of the plunger will engage with the head of the follower rod. When
such an engagement occurs the further downward movement of the plunger will
carry the rod with it and force the follower downward, carrying the stamp with it
and opening the doors and the downward movement of the follower is continued
until it has deposited the stamp upon the surface of the envelope or wrapper pre-
pared to receive it.
The mechanism employed for moistening the surface of the envelope or wrapper
that is to receive the stamp may consist of brackets secured to the front of the

page_text: frame and extending downward therefrom a predetermined distance in direction
of the base, and of side brackets, attached to and projecting upward from the
base, both sets of brackets being so disposed as not to interfere in the least
with the movement of the grippers or the hangers carrying the same.
A side bar is secured to the front and to the side brackets said side bars being
parallel and extending transversely across the base, and each being provided with
a longitudinal slot and each connected at the rear by a rod upon which a friction
roller is mounted. The slots of the side bars accommodate the ends of a carriage
preferably of rectangular construction, in which is journalled a moistening roller.
The carriage is attached to rear ends of springs, and these springs are secured at
the forward end of the base and serving to normally hold the moistening roller
over a moistened pad contained in a recess in the base the pad being cut away
ordinarily at opposite sides to form pockets in which the moistening material is
placed, water for example.
A cord is attached to the central rear portion of the carriage of the moistening
roller and carried rearward over a friction roller and upward over a second friction
roller, journaled upon the tubular extension of the frame of the machine; and
from this roller the cord is passed to an engagement with the trunnion of the
plunger, so that when the plunger is forced downward, and prior to the plunger
operating the follower, the said plunger will cause a rearward movement of the
carriage, carrying the moistening roller over that portion of the envelope placed
upon the base and adapted to receive the stamp, the moistening of the envelope
taking place simultaneously with the rearward and preparatory movement of the
grippers, and after the stamp is affixed to the envelope through the medium of the
follower, the upward movement of the plunger, carrying with it the follower, will
permit the moistening roller to be drawn to its normal position over the moistening
pad, by the springs, at the same time that the stamp is taken from the stamp
receptacle by the grippers and placed in position to be affixed to the envelope at
the next downward movement of the plunger.
At the rearward movement of the moistening roller it is necessary that the roller
should travel over the surface of the envelope upon which the stamp is to be affixed
but upon the return movement of the said roller it should not contact with said
envelope. This result may be accomplished by forming upon the bed near its
forward end preferably, two inclined planes, the inclination being upwardly and
in a forward direction; and at that point on the bed which the moistening roller
reaches at the termination of its rearward movement, ordinarily one inclined plane
is formed on the base, the inclination of which plane is upward and rearward.
Either upon the carriage, or on the axis of the moistening roller at both ends of
the latter, a lever is fulcrumed, which levers extend downwardly in direction of the
base and are provided with branch arms having a forward direction, each branch
arm carrying a friction wheel, the rear face of each lever at its lower extremity
being curved or inclined, and a stop pin being placed upon the carriage adjacent
to the rear surface or pivotal point of each lever. The levers at each side are
moved simultaneously, and if one lever is moved the other lever will be given the
same movement. The springs connected with the carriage are given a downward
inclination.
In the normal position of the carriage the levers will have a downward and rear-
ward inclination, their lower beveled or rounded edges being in connection with
the rising portions of the forward inclined planes, and the rollers will rest upon
the machine bed, holding the moistening roller at an elevation above the aforesaid
bed, the slot in the frame, in which the moistening roller travels being of such
width as to admit of a downward and upward movement on the part of the aforesaid
roller. As the carriage for the moistening roller is drawn rearward, the levers,
which are limited in their rearward movement, will be given a forward and down-
ward inclination lowering the roller to a contact with the base or bed and enabling
it to travel over the moistening pad and the surface of the envelope that is to be
moistened,

page_text: When the carriage has reached its furthermost rearward point, the friction roller
of a lever at one side of the carriage will ride up the rear inclined plane and the
lever will be restored to its normal position, that is, it will be given a rearward
and downward inclination, thereby raising the moistening roller from the bed,
and as the carriage is drawn forward by the spring, the moistening roller will retain
its elevated position, and will not engage with the base or the envelope placed
thereon.
Improvements in Stamp Affixing Machines.
We, SINCLAIR TOUSEY (Physician), of 151, West 76th Street, and ELLA FINNEY
DE LONG (Gentlewoman), of 57, West 39th Street, both of New York City, in the
County and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
Our invention relates to a machine especially adapted for affixing stamps on
envelopes, or packages of any description, and it has for its object to construct
such a machine in an exceedingly simple, durable and economic manner, providing
for the envelope being moistened where the stamp is to be affixed, and also pro-
viding a receptacle for the stamps and an automatic mechanism for drawing a
stamp from the receptacle to a plunger, which by one movement of the hand is so
operated as to place a stamp on the moistened surface of the envelope or package.
A further object of the invention is to construct a machine, in which by one move-
ment of the hand the surface to receive the stamp will be moistened and the stamp
fed to the plunger and the plunger or follower operated to affix said stamp. A.
further object of the invention is to provide stamp-receiving receptacles which
may be introduced at will into the machine, thereby providing for a supply of
stamps of different denominations, which may be employed at will.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, a part of the top being broken away
and a portion of the base being in section;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine, the parts of the
same being in their normal position;
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the carriage adapted to convey the
stamps from the receptacle in which they are placed to the plunger that is adapted
to affix them;
Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of
Figure 1
and
Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the reservoirs or receptacles in
which the stamps are placed;
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the moistening device, the roller being
in its normal position and parts of the device being broken away; and

page_text: Figure 9 is a partial side elevation and broken view of the moistening
mechanism, showing the position of the moistening roller when commencing its
return movement.
In carrying out the invention, the body portion A of the machine is made of any
suitable material and is provided with a chamber A¹ at or near its forward end,
the said chamber extending through the bottom portion of the body; and the
aforesaid body A. is connected with a base A2 by means of an upright section at its
rear end, providing a space As between the under face of the body and the upper
face of the base, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
A tubular extension A' of the body is located over the chamber A¹ and is in
communication with the same, the tubular extension A* having a recess 13 made in
its inner face at the top. A tubular plunger 10 is mounted to slide in the tubular
extension A' of the body, the said tubular plunger being provided with a knob 11
at its upper or outer end, or the equivalent of a knob, and a spring 12 surrounds
the exterior of the tubular plunger, the said spring having a bearing on the base
or bottom wall of the recess 13 in the tubular extension of the body of the machine
frame, as is best shown in Figure 4.
A follower 14 is located in the chamber A¹ of the body, and this chamber and also
the said follower are preferably polygonal in general contour. The follower 14
is attached to a rod 15, which rod 15 is passed loosely up through the bottom of
the follower 10, and the said rod has a head 16 formed at its upper end, and is
provided with a spring 17, which is coiled around the rod and has bearing
against the head 16 and the bottom of the follower, as is best shown in
Figure 4. A chamber 18 is made in the body near the back, and this chamber
extends through from the top to the bottom, and is normally closed by a cover 19,
which may be secured in position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, by means of a
button 20 entering the undercut portions 21 of the top of the aforesaid body;
and a spring 22 is secured to the under face of the cover, being attached at its lower
end to a compression plate 23 of less dimensions than the cross sectional dimen-
sions of the chamber 18.
A receptacle 24, adapted to receive stamps placed one on the other is fitted into
the chamber 18, which may be termed a stamp receiving chamber, and this
receptacle as illustrated in Figure 7, is open at the top and forward side and
receives within it the compression plate 23; and at the front of the receptacle 24
at the bottom, a horizontal opening 25 is made, while in the bottom of this recep-
tacle slots 26 are produced, which communicate with the aforesaid opening 25.
A plate 27 is secured upon the bottom of the body A, and this plate extends across
the stamp receptacle 24, substantially flush with the rear vertical wall of the
plunger chamber A¹. As shown in Figure 6, the said plate 27 is provided with
longitudinal openings 28 made therein, in registry with the openings 20 in the
stamp receptacle 24. The bottom of the plunger chamber A¹ is normally closed
by two doors 29 and 29° hinged to the bottom side surfaces of the body, as shown
in Figure 6, and held closed through the medium of springs or their equivalents;
and each door is provided with a slot 30, forming a continuation of the slots or
openings 28 in the plate 27.
A horizontal channel 31 is made in the body, establishing communication
between the bottom portion of the stamp receptacle or chamber 18 and the bottom
of the plunger chamber A¹, so that the stamps taken from the receptacle 24 located
in the stamp chamber may be carried between the bottom of the plunger 14 and the
doors 29 and 29 closing the bottom of the plunger chamber. At each side of the
bottom of the body A of the machine a slide-way 32 is formed, and in each slide-
way a cheek piece or a hanger 33 is mounted to slide, the two hangers being con-
'nected at the rear by a rod 34°, and a second rod 35 is passed from one hanger 33
to the other near the forward end of the hangers, the said rod 35 having movement
in curved slots 36 produced in the said hangers in direction of their top and bottom
edges, so that the rod 35 will have a limited vertical movement in the aforesaid
hangers. Grippers 34 are attached to the movable rod 35, being fulcrumed upon

page_text: the fixed rod 34°, and these grippers consist of plates which are preferably somewhat
convexed at their rear and at the top, the top being provided with teeth; and a
gripper is placed beneath each of the slots 28 in the bottom plate 27, and are like-
wise adapted to travel in the extensions 30 of the aforesaid slots 28, as shown in
Figures 2 and 5.
The throw of these grippers is controlled through the medium of set screws 36ª,
which may be and preferably are screwed into extensions from the inner faces of
the rear portions of the hangers, as illustrated in Figure 5, being adapted for
engagement with the rear edges of the grippers. The toothed surfaces of the
grippers are adapted to engage with the lowermost stamp in the stamp receptacle,
entering the receptacle through the openings 26 therein, and when the grippers
are carried forward they will carry the stamp with them, depositing said stamp
below the plunger 14. One manner in which the movement of the grippers is
accomplished is shown in Figures 1 and 5, in which it will be observed that elbow
levers 37 are pivoted at the junction of their members upon the side surfaces of the
body. The lower member of each lever is provided with a slot 38 which receives
the outer end of the movable rod 35, and the upper member of each lever has a
longitudinal slot 39 made therein, receiving the end of a rod 40, which rods are
extended upward along the tubular portion A* of the body, being passed through
guides 41, and are attached to trunnions 42, which are secured to the bottom
portion of the tubular plunger 10 and extend outward beyond the tubular exten-
sion A of the body through slots 42" made in the sides of the same, as illustrated
in Figure 1. When the plunger 10 is in its normal position, the grippers 34 will
be beneath the follower 14 and in engagement with the stamp; when the plunger,
however, is forced downward, the grippers will be carried in a downwardly direc-
tion, occupying the position shown in Figure 5, and will be moved rearward to such
point as will enable them to enter the slots 26 in the stamp receptacle; and when
the plunger is released, the spring 12 will carry said plunger upward, and the
grippers in engagement with the stamp will be carried upward, taking the stamp
with them and depositing said stamp between the doors 29 and 29ª and the
follower 14. When the plunger is first carried downward the rearward move-
ment of the grippers will be accomplished, and each of the grippers will have
reached its rearmost position before the cap of the plunger will engage with the
head 16 of the rod 15. When such an engagement occurs, the further downward
movement of the plunger will carry the rod 15 with it and force the follower 14
downward, carrying the stamp with it and opening the doors 29 and 29ª, and the
downward movement of the follower is continued until it has deposited the stamp
upon the surface of the envelope or wrapper prepared to receive it. The levers 37
are preferably both fulcrumed on the body by means of a pin 37.
The mechanism employed for moistening the surface of the envelope or wrapper
that is to receive the stamp may consist, as shown in the drawings, of brackets 43,
which are secured to the front of the body, extending downward therefrom a pre-
determined distance in direction of the base, and side brackets 44, attached to and
projecting upward from the base, both sets of brackets being so disposed as not to
interfere in the least with the movement of the grippers or the carriage, namely,
the hangers 33 carrying the same.
A side bar 45 is secured to the front brackets 43 and to the side brackets 44.
These side bars are parallel and extend transversely across the base. Each side bar
is provided with a longitudinal slot 46, and both side bars are connected at the
rear by a rod 47, upon which rod a friction roller 48 is mounted, and the slots of
the side bars accommodate the ends of a carriage 49, which carriage, as shown in
Figure 3, is preferably of rectangular construction although it may be otherwise
formed, and in which is journalled a roller 50, adapted for moistening purposes."
The carriage 49 is attached to the rear ends of springs 51, and these springs are
secured to uprights 52 or their equivalents, secured at the forward end of the base,
as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The springs serve to normally hold the moistening
roller 50 over a moistened pad 55, contained in a recess or a chamber formed in the
4

page_text: base, and this pad is cut away ordinarily at opposite sides, forming pockets 56 in
which the moistening material is placed, water for example.
A cable or a cord 53 is attached to the central rear portion of the carriage 49,
and this cable is carried rearward over the roller 48 and upward over a second
friction roller 54, journaled upon the tubular extension of the body of the machine,
as best shown in Figures 1 and 2; and from this roller 54 the cord is passed to an
engagement with the trunnion 42 of the plunger 10, so that when the plunger
is forced downward, and prior to the plunger operating the follower 14, the said
plunger will cause a rearward movement of the carriage 49, carrying the moisten-
ing roller over that portion of the envelope placed upon the base and adapted to
receive the stamp, the moistening of the envelope taking place simultaneously
with the rearward and preparatory movement of the grippers; and after the stamp
is affixed to the envelope through the medium of the follower 14, the upward move-
ment of the plunger, carrying with it the follower 14, will permit the moistening
roller to be drawn to its normal position over the moistening pad, by the springs 51,
at the same time that the stamp is taken from the stamp receptacle by the grippers
and placed in position to be affixed to the envelope at the next downward movement
of the plunger.
At the rearward movement of the moistening roller it is necessary that the roller
should travel over the surface of the envelope upon which the stamp is to be affixed,
but upon the return movement of the said roller it should not contact with said
envelope. This result may be accomplished by the method shown in Figures 8
and 9, namely, by forming upon the bed near its forward end preferably, two
inclined planes 55, the inclination being upwardly and in a forward direction, as
shown particularly in Figure 8; and at that point on the bed which the moistening
roller reaches at the termination of its rearward movement, ordinarily one inclined
plane 56 is formed on the base, as shown in Figure 9, the inclination of which plane
is upwardly and rearwardly. Either upon the carriage 49, or on the axis of the
moistening roller at both ends of the latter, a lever 57 is fulcrumed, and these
levers extend downwardly in direction of the base and are provided with branch
arms having a forward direction, each branch arm carrying a friction wheel 58,
and the rear face of each lever at its lower extremity is curved or is inclined, and
a stop pin 59 is placed upon the carriage 49 adjacent to the rear surface or pivotal
point of each lever. The levers at each side are moved simultaneously, and if one
lever is moved the other lever will be given the same movement. The springs 51
connected with the carriage 49 are given a downward inclination, as is especially
shown in Figure 8.
In the normal position of the carriage the levers 57 will have a downward and
rearward inclination, their lower beveled or rounded edges being in connection with
the rising portions of the forward inclined planes 55, and the rollers 58 will rest
upon the bed A2, holding the moistening roller at an elevation above the aforesaid
bed, and the slot 46 in the frame, in which the moistening roller travels, is of such
width as to admit of a downward and an upward movement on the part of the
aforesaid roller. As the carriage for the moistening roller is drawn rearward, the
levers, which are limited in their rearward movement by the pins 59, will be given
a forward and downward inclination the reverse of that shown in Figure 8, lowering
the roller to a contact with the base or bed and enabling it to travel over the
moistening pad and the surface of the envelope that is to be moistened.
When the carriage has reached its furthest rearward point, the friction roller 58
of a lever at one side of the carriage will ride up the rear inclined plane 56, as
shown in Figure 9, and the lever will be restored to its normal position, that is,
it will be given a rearward and downward inclination, thereby raising the moisten-
ing roller from the bed, as shown in the said Figure 9, and as the carriage is drawn
forward by the spring 51, the moistening roller will retain its elevated position,
and will not engage with the base A² or the envelope placed thereon.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a stamp affixing machine, or a machine of like character, a base adapted
to receive an envelope, having inclined planes placed at predetermined distances
apart, their inclinations being in opposite directions, a carriage adapted to travel
over the base and provided with a moistening roller, levers fulcrumed upon the said
carriage and provided with surfaces adapted to travel on the base, and surfaces
adapted for engagement with the aforesaid inclined planes, the arrangement of
the inclined planes being such that when the levers strike the forward inclined
planes the moistening roller will be dropped to an engagement with the base, and
when such levers engage with a rear inclined plane the roller will be lifted from
the base, and means, substantially as described, for drawing the carriage rear-
ward and returning it to its forward position, as set forth.
2. The combination with a body portion having a stamp receptacle, of a plunger,
a follower operated thereby and independently movable thereof, a gripper-carriage
movable between the plunger and the stamp receptacle, a bell crank lever ful-
crumed on the body portion and having loose connection with the gripper carriage,
and a connection between the bell crank lever and the plunger, substantially as
described.
3. The combination with a body portion having a stamp receptacle, of a plunger
movable in the body portion, a rod movable independently of and actuated by the
plunger, a follower carried by the rod, a gripper-carriage movable between the
stamp receptacle and the follower, a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the body portion
and having slotted connection with the gripper-carriage, and a connection between
the plunger and the bell crank lever, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a body portion having a slideway, of a carriage movable
on the slideway, a gripping plate pivotally mounted in the carriage, a rod fixed
to the gripping plate, a bell crank lever having one arm slotted to receive the rod,
the bell crank lever being capable of movement to in unison rock the gripping
plate and to slide the carriage, and means for actuating the bell crank lever, sub-
stantially as described.
5. The combination with a body portion having a slideway, of two hangers
forming a carriage, the hangers being connected with each other to move in unison
and having transversely aligned arc-shaped slots, a gripping plate pivoted between
the hangers, a rod fixed to the gripping plate and projected and movable through
the slots in the hangers, a bell crank lever, one arm of which is slotted to receive
the rod, the bell crank lever being capable of movement to in unison rock the
gripping plate and to slide the carriage, and means for actuating the bell crank
lever, substantially as described.
6. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a body portion, of a
follower, a plunger operating the follower, a sliding gripper carriage movable
toward and from the follower, a pivoted gripping plate supported by the carriage,
a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the body portion and having pivotal and sliding
connection with the gripping plate, whereby the carriage may be reciprocated and
the gripping plate rocked to engage the stamps, and a connection between the
plunger and the bell crank, substantially as described.
7. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a body portion, of a
plunger, a follower, the plunger operating the follower, two hangers forming a
gripper-carriage and slidable in unison on the body portion, each hanger having
an arc-shaped slot, a gripping plate pivotally mounted between the hangers, a rod
fixed to the gripping plate and movable through the slots of the hangers, a bell
crank lever slotted to receive the rod, and a connection between the bell crank
lever and the plunger, substantially as described.
8. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a body portion having
two side bars, of a frame movable longitudinally in the side bars and capable also

page_text: of slight vertical movement, a roller carried by the frame, an arm having limited
pivotal movement on the frame, a roller carried by the arm and running on the
body portion, and a detent rigid with the body portions and in the path of the arm,
substantially as described.
9. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a body portion having two
slotted side bars, of a frame capable of longitudinal and vertical movement within
the slots of the side bars, a roller carried by the frame and capable of engaging a
part of the body portion, an arm having limited pivotal movement on the frame,
and a detent plate carried by the body portion, substantially as described.
10. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a body portion having a
detent, of a frame having sliding and vibratory movement on the body portion,
an arm carried by the frame and having limited movement thereon, the arm
running on the body portion and supporting the frame raised above the body
portion when the arm is in one position and the arm being tripped by the detent to
lower the frame into engagement with the body portion, substantially as described.
11. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a body portion having
two detents, of a frame reciprocal past the detents, means for reciprocating the
frame, and an arm carried by the frame and having limited movement thereon,
the position of the arm being changed upon engagement with each detent and the
arm in one position supporting the frame raised from engagement with the body
portion and in the second position permitting the frame to be lowered into engage-
ment with the body portion, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of April 1898
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.