An Improved Damping or Moistening Device.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Damping or Moistening Device.
I, ULRICH BUCHENHORNER of 90 Albisstrasse, Zürich, in the Republic of Switzer-
land, Tinman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The damping
or moistening apparatuses hitherto employed have all more or less the
drawback that the water feed to the damping or moistening surface is uneven and
non-permanent, so that the degree of moisture of such surface is constantly varying,
sometimes containing too much and sometimes too little water, so that the articles
which are to be moistened or damped such as stamps, envelopes, and the like some-
times receive too much and sometimes too little moisture.
This invention has for its object to remove the above drawback and to provide an
even and permanent supply or feed of water to the damping surface, as well as an even
distribution of the same on the latter, so that the degree of moisture always remains
the same, and the adhesive surfaces which are to be moistened or damped receive an
ample but not excessive moistening. For this purpose the permanent moistening
device forming the object of the present invention has its damping surface (which is
situated above the water vessel and consists of a textile material such for instance as
felt) provided with wick-like suction cords which are connected therewith, and pass.
through the support of the same into the water vessel, so as to constantly convey the
damping or moistening liquid to the damping surface.
In the accompanying drawings two forms of construction of the device are
shown.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a form of construction in combination with a stamp.
holder;
Figure 2 a top view or plan view of the same;
Figure 3 a vertical cross section of the same on the lines of Figure 2;
Figures 4 and 5 show another form of construction in plan view and vertical section
on the line y y. of Figure 4, respectively.
Taking first the form of construction shown in Figures 1 and 3; the shape of the
same is selected with a view to suit the ordinary arrangement of the gummed surfaces
of envelopes, but the apparatus is equally applicable for damping or moistening other
articles, such for instance as stamps. The front and rear walls a a¹ of the water
vessel Á are bent at an angle and the damping surface is correspondingly formed of
an angular piece of felt B which is suitably attached to a plate C forming both a cover
of the vessel A and a support for the moistening surface. This plate is made of
aluminium in order to prevent the formation of rust and thereby the destruction of
the felt, and is provided with a number of holes c, some of which serve for giving
passage to the wick cords, whilst the others are intended to allow any surplus water
which has been drawn up to again flow back into the vessel.
The wicks D are either made, as shown in the drawings, as a looped cord, each of
their ends passing through one of the holes in question, and connected with the
damping surface i.e. the piece of felt B, or are formed as a simple cord extending
with one end into the vessel, and passing with the other end through the plate C to
the piece of felt. In any case it is advisable, in order to produce thorough contact
between the felt and the end of the wick, to separate the fibres D of the latter at the
point of connection with the felt, and to spread them out radially in such a way that
they adhere closely to the under surface of the felt B. In this way the water drawn up

page_text: by the wick is as far as possible evenly distributed over the moistening surface, and the
felt is permanently and amply saturated. The holes which remain open and through
which no wick passes, allow, as hereinbefore mentioned, any surplus water to trickle
from the moistening surface back into the vessel. A special filling nozzle E is
provided for filling the vessel but in simple forms of construction may be omitted, the
filling being then done directly through the opening of the vessel, closed by the
plate C.
F is a suitable stamp holder connected with the apparatus, which holder has several
drawers or compartments for the purpose of separating the different kinds of stamps,
and is closed by means of a suitably hinged lid Fo.
In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 the device is made more solid and
only the front side a of the same is bent in at an angle, the stamp holder being
entirely omitted, and the filling nozzle E being formed on the rear wall a' (which is
straight) of the water vessel or holder A. This form of construction has the advantage
of being more easily constructed and of providing a larger moistening surface.
It may also be mentioned that the apparatus may if desired be combined with a
suitable writing desk, ink pot, or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A permanent damping or moistening device with an upper damping or moistening
surface formed of a textile material, such for instance as felt, characterized by the
damping surface being provided with wick-like suction cords connected therewith, and
passing through a support for the damping surface and into the water holder, in such
a way that they constantly supply the moistening liquid to the damping surface,
substantially as described.
2. A damping or moistening device of the kind described, in which the support of
the damping surface is also provided with additional holes without a suction wick to
allow any surplus water to turn back into the water vessel, substantially as described.
3. A damping or moistening device such as described, in which the damping surface
is cut out in front at an angle, more particularly with the object of facilitating the
moistening of the flaps of envelopes, substantially as described."
4. A damping or moistening device such as described, in which the front wall and
the rear wall of the vessel are bent or formed angular, substantially as shown and
described with reference to Fig. 2, of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a damping device such as described of a stamp holder of
suitable form and construction.
6. The combination with a damping device such as described of a stamp holder of
a form and arrangement substantially as shown and described with reference to Fig. 2
of the accompanying drawings.
7. The improved damping device as a whole, and in detail, substantially as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of May 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.