IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DAMPING, SEPARATING AND AFFIXING OR FOR PRINTING, GUMMING, SEPARATING AND AFFIXING, STAMPS, TICKETS LABELS AND OTHER ARTICLES AND MATERIALS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Topham of Deansgate, Manchester in the
County of Lancastor, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR DAMPING, SEPARATING AND AFFIXING OR FOR PRINTING,
GUMMING, SEPARATING AND AFFIXING, STAMPS, TICKETS LABELS AND OTHER
ARTICLES AND MATERIALS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Topham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1883.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM of Deansgato, Manchester in the County of Lancaster
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DAMPING SEPARATING AND AFFIXING
OR FOR PRINTING, GUMMING, SEPARATING AND AFFIXING, STAMPS, TICKETS, LABELS
AND OTHER ARTICLES AND MATERIALS.
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for
damping, separating and affixing or for printing, gumming, separating and affixing
stamps, tickets, labels and other articles and materials.
In carrying my Invention into effect I pass the stamps, tickets, labels or
materials in long strips between a pair of rollers which act to feed the said strips
forward a given distance for each descent of a plunger. For damping a previously
printed and gummed strip the lower roller is caused to revolve in water whilst the
upper roller is employed simply as a feeding roller but if it is desired to print and
gum a strip of material the lower roller is caused to revolve in a solution of gum
or other cement and the upper roller is provided with a suitable printing surface,
preferably of caoutchouc, which receives ink from a roller to which ink is supplied
in the usual way.
The plunger is provided with a click or driver which in its downward motion
gives partial rotation to a ratchet wheel which by suitable gearing gives motion
to the upper roller which by friction gives motion to the lower roller hereinbefore
mentioned.

page_text: The bottom of the plunger has applied thereto a cutting edge which acts in
combination with another cutting edge formed on the plate over which the strips
pass.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. On the descent of the plunger the
strip of stamps or other material is fed forward the length of a stamp or any desired
length for which the apparatus is adjusted and in such motion the strip is either
damped or it is printed and gummed, then in the continued descent of the plunger
the cutters are caused to separate a stamp or a given length of the strip of
material which on the further descent of the plunger is pressed on to the surface
or article to which it is to be affixed.
The lower roller is by preference mounted in a drawer or slide which runs in
suitable guides or ways, by which means facility is afforded for renewals, cleansing
and repairs.

page_text: fixed a toothed wheel f' which by gearing with a toothed pinion b¹ fixed on the
axis of the roller b gives motion to such roller 6 which latter by friction gives
motion to the lower roller a.
The bottom of the plunger c has applied thereto a cutting edge c³ which acts in
combination with another cutting edge g¹ formed on the plate g over which the
strips pass.
The lower roller a is by preference mounted in a drawer or slide / shown
separately at Figures 8, 9 and 10 which runs in suitable guides or ways, by which
means facility is afforded for renewals, cleansing and repairs.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. On the descent of the plunger c the
strip of stamps or other material is fed forward the length of a stamp or any
desired length for which the apparatus is adjusted and in such motion the strip is
either damped or it is printed and gummed, then in the continued descent of the
plunger c the cutters c³, g¹, are caused to separate a stamp or a given length of the
strip of material which on the further descent of the plunger c is pressed on to the
surface of the article to which it is to be affixed such article being supported for
such purpose on the table i.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is the
peculiar construction and combination of apparatus substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Topham have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.