Improved Means of Applying Adhesive Stamps and Labels to Envelopes and other Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Applying Adhesive Stamps and Labels to
Envelopes and other Articles.
I, CHARLES COMPTON SETON, of Heath House, Aston-on-Clun, Shropshire,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improved means of applying postage stamps and other
adhesive labels to envelopes, wrappers and the like.
According to one modification, the improved apparatus is constructed with a
horizontally disposed roller (the periphery of which may be plain, serrated or
roughened) mounted in a suitable framing so as normally to rest on a supporting
plate, but with facility of any required vertical rise and of being rotated about its
axis, on which latter is a toothed wheel engaging with a toothed rack on a guided
frame in which is supported a damping roller which normally rests in a trough of
water and can rotate about its axis on which there is a toothed wheel engaging with
a fixed rack. In consequence of this connection the insertion of the envelope to be
stamped under the firstly mentioned roller causes such roller to rotate and to raise
the damping roller, which by the fixed rack is caused to rotate about its axis so as
to raise the part of the damper which had been resting in the water from out
thereof. The continued passage of the envelope directly raises the damper roller
and disconnects it from the fixed rack which allows it to be rotated by the passage
of the envelope which causes its wet part to be applied to the part of the envelope
to be stamped. The further continued passage of the envelope brings the moistened
part thereof under the stamp applying device which may also be automatically
operated by means set in motion by such continued passage of the envelope.
The stamps or other adhesive labels may be applied to a container thereof in a
column of separated stamps with the gummed sides downwards, the column being
supported by narrow opposite projecting edges and borne upon by a presser of a
concave formation above the bottom opening between the said stamp supporting
projecting edges of the container.
By such means, when a downward pressure is exerted upon the presser, the
column of stamps is bulged outwardly and the bottom one is caused to adhere to the
moistened envelope, after which the pressure is removed from the column of stamps
and the adherence of the bottom one to the envelope causes it to be withdrawn
from the loose pile above it. The stamp-container is supported in a suitable frame
with freedom of vertical movement therein, and it or the presser or both is, are or
may be adapted with springs to cause the automatic return of the device and the
release of all pressure on the column of stamps upon the said downward pressure
being removed. Upon withdrawing the envelope it passes under both of the said
rollers and the stamp is thereby rolled onto the wet surface of the envelope.
ike operations are repeated until the last stamp is used, the presser having a like
action until the last stamp is withdrawn.
The
According to another arrangement, the stamps may be rolled in a continuous strip
end to end or side to side or doubled together so that the strip can be withdrawn a
tamp's length or width at a time and severed at the perforations and applied to the
ret surface of the envelope. The feeding of the strip a definite length and the
everance of the stamp to be applied from the strip may be effected during part of
he descent of the presser (during which part only the feeding device would be
perated), and the applying of the severed stamp to the envelope may be effected
y a continuance of the descent of the presser, the subsequent raising of the presser
which may be automatically effected, as by a spring) not being operative in

page_text: actuating the feeding mechanism which remains stationary until the next descent of
the presser.
The aforesaid operations of sufficiently moistening the part of the envelope
to which the stamp is to be applied, and of applying the stamp thereto, and after
its adherence of pressing the parts (the stamp and envelope) together equally all
over so as to ensure their adherence, may, as aforesaid, be effected automatically by
means set in operation upon the insertion into and passage through the device of
the envelope or the like.
Or, the moistening of the envelope and the application of the stamp thereto may
be effected automatically, by means set in operation by the insertion of the envelope
into the device, and the pressure of the parts together may be automatically effected
upon the withdrawal of the envelope.
Or, the moistening of the envelope and the pressing together of the adhering
stamp and envelope may be thus automatically effected and the stamp applying
apparatus may at each actuation be operated by hand.
Or, the part of the envelope to which the stamp is to be applied may be otherwise
moistened as by the tongue or a pad, and the stamp-applying device may be
separately used and operated at each actuation by hand."
Dated this 6th day of November 1890.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Applying Adhesive Stamps and Labels to
Envelopes and other Articles.
I, CHARLES COMPTON SETON, of Heath House, Aston-on-Clun, Shropshire,
Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to improved means of applying postage stamps and other
adhesive labels (hereinafter included under the general designation of "stamps "),
to envelopes, wrappers and the like, hereinafter included under the general
designation of "cnvelopes."
The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings and will be herein-
after described with reference thereto.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a modification of the
invention which will be hereinafter firstly described; and Figure 2 represents a
front elevation of the same.
Figure 3, represents a like view to Figure 1, of a second modification, and
Figure 4 represents a back clevation of the same.
.
Figures 5 and 6, respectively represent a front and a side elevation of the stamp
applying device represented in Figures 1 and 2, representing its use apart from the
other devices represented in such figures.
In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus
is constructed so as to serve the several purposes of damping the envelope ou its
insertion into the apparatus, applying the stamp thereto while inserted in the
apparatus, and rolling the stamp thereon on its withdrawal from the apparatus, in
the manner now to be described.
The means of damping the envelope and rolling the stamp thereon comprise a
horizontally disposed roller 7, (the periphery of which may be plain, serrated or
roughened) which normally rests on a table-like part 8, of the base 9, and is fitted
with a spindle 10, the projecting ends of which engage in short vertically disposed
slots 11, made in side arms 12, which are pivotted at 13, to the opposite sides of an
upright 14, rising from the base 9, and are normally maintained in the position

page_text: represented in Figure 1 by springs 15, screwed or otherwise secured to the sides of
the upright 14, and bearing the said arms against suitable stops 16.
The means of damping the envelope and rolling the stamp thereon, also comprise
a light roller 17, (the periphery of which is preferably covered with india-rubber
or with felt or other suitable absorbent material) fitted with a
spindle 18, the
projecting ends of which are supported by side arms 19, which are pivotted at 20,
to the outer sides and ends of the arms 12, and are supported (so as to normally
support the roller 17, in the position indicated in Figure 1), by resting on the
projecting ends of the spindle 10. To the end of the roller 17, is secured a
toothed wheel 21, which engages in a curved rack 22, (struck from the pivot 20, of
the adjacent arm 19, as a centre) which is secured to and depends from the
adjacent arm 12. When in its normal position (vide Fig. 1) the roller 17, rests on
a sponge wick or other suitable absorbent pad 23, suitably secured in the hollowed
base 9, which is adapted to contain water to the level of the screw-topped inlet 24,
which is below that of the roller 17, so that the latter does not descend into the
water.
The means of applying the stamp consist of a box or container 25, fitted as
hereinafter described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, and which is supported at
a convenient elevation above the level of the table 8, to permit of the insertion
between such parts of envelopes of any required thickness, by an open-topped and
bottomed frame or guides 26, screwed or otlierwise suitably secured to the upright 14,
and within which it is supported by springs 27, so as to normally occupy the position
indicated in Figure 1.
The box or container 25, (vide Figures 5 and 6), is made of wood or may be
made of metal, with a hinged or sliding opening front or side 28, to permit of the
insertion of the stamps 29, in a column of separated stamps having all the gummed
sides downwards. The container 25, is also made with narrow opposite inner
projecting ledges 30, for supporting the column of stamps at the opposite sides or
ends thereof. The container 25, is also adapted with a presser 31, which is made
of an outwardly bulged formation above the opening between the opposite
ledges 30, and is connected to a presser rod 32, which projects through a socket 33,
and is provided with an external handle 34, to which the socket acts as a stop.
The presser is caused to normally press the column of stamps downwardly against
the supporting ledges 30, and the opening between by a light spring 50, which,
however, is insufficient to support the weight of the box, so that on the raising of
the handle the spring will be slightly compressed and will release the column of
stamps from all pressure before it will support the weight of the box.
The action of such apparatus is as follows:-Upon an envelope being passed
under the roller 7, it causes the latter to rise in the slots 11, which causes the
arms 19, to rotate about their pivots 20, and to raise the damping roller 17, from
the pad 23. The roller 17, on being thus raised is, by means of the wheel 21,
and rack 22, caused to rotate in an opposite direction to that of the rotation of the
roller 7, so as to present its wetted portion towards the latter. As the envelope is
further inserted into the apparatus, it reaches and lifts the roller 17, so as to
disengage the wheel 21, and rack 22, and then, by its frictional contact with such
roller reverses its rotation so as to cause its wetted surface to roll over the part
of the envelope to which the stamp is desired to be applied, immediately before
such portion of the envelope arrives under the stamp affixing device, when the
further forward motion of the envelope is arrested by the upright 14.
Upon the plunger 34, being then depressed either by hand, or by a lever or other
suitable means set in motion by such continued insertion of the envelope, the stamp
container 25, is depressed against the resistance of its supporting springs 27, until
it reaches the envelope, when the pressure exerted upon the presser 31, in causing
the column of stamps to be bulged outwardly so that the bottom one thereof is
caused to project beyond the supporting ledges 30 and to adhere to the moistened
envelope, after which, on the plunger 34, being raised, all pressure on the column
of stamps is relieved and the springs 27, return the container to its normal position,

page_text: the adherence of the bottom stamp to the envelope causing it to be withdrawn from
the loose pile above it.
On the withdrawal of the stamped envelope, it passes under both of the
rollers 17, 7, and the stamp is thereby rolled and affixed to the envelope.
In the modification represented in Figures 3 and 4; the stamps may be rolled in
a continuous strip end to end or side to side or doubled together in a suitable
container 25, so that the stamp-strip 29, can be withdrawn a stamp's length or width
at a time and severed at the perforations and applied in the manner now to be
described.
The base 9, of the apparatus, is made of a hollowed formation and is used as a
receptacle for water as herein before described, and it supports in any convenient
manner an upright 14, carrying guides 26, supporting a plunger 34, which may be
made of a hollowed formation or as a rod and be supported by an inner coiled
spring 50, or by any other suitable arrangement of spring attached to the
support 26. The back of the plunger adapted with a rack 35, which engages
with a toothed wheel 36, loosely mounted on a spindle 37, supported in brackets 38,
projecting from the upright 14, the wheel carrying a pawl 39, which engages with
a ratchet-wheel 40, fast on the spindle 37, so as to cause the latter to rotate only
on and during a part of the downward stroke of the plunger and not to be actuated
on the return stroke thereof. On one end of the spindle 37, is made fast a toothed
wheel 41, which when the spindle is operated by the descent of the plunger,
communicates motion to two rollers 42, 43 of a like diameter, by means of gearing
toothed wheels 44, 45, respectively secured to such rollers, and so causes the stamp
strip 29, to be projected from the container 25, a stamp's length or width, the
length of the rack 35, being just sufficient to actuate the rollers to such extent,
after which, the rollers 42, 43, will be unaffected by the continued descent of the
plunger. The projecting stamp-strip emerges from a horizontal slot 46, in the
upright 14, the lower edge of which slot is provided with a knife edge 47, which
causes the projecting stamp to be cut off when the plunger on being thrust down is
passing such slot.
The stamp may be wetted as it is drawn from the container by being caused to
pass over an adjustable wick 48, rising in a wick-tube 49, adapted to the bottom
end of the upright 14, and kept damp by its dipping into the water in the hollowed
base 9, so that upon the depression of the plunger the stamp will be projected from
the container 25, damped by the wick 48, severed from the strip 29, and effectively
applied and affixed to the envelope by the plunger, which, when released, is
returned automatically to its normal position without actuating the stamp feeding
device, which remains stationary until the next descent of the plunger.
Or the same or a like form of damping and rolling apparatus as or to that
herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, may be applied to the
stamp applying device described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
The stamp applying device represented in Figures 5 and 6 may be separately
used apart from the envelope wetting and rolling device described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2, the part of the envelope to which the stamp is to be affixed being
otherwise moistened as by the tongue or a pad.
Any of such device may be provided with suitable locking details to prevent its
unauthorized use.
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 :-
The improved means of applying postage stamps and other adhesive labels to
envelopes, wrappers and the like herein before described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6.
The improved means of applying postage stamps and other adhesive labels to
envelopes, wrappers and the like hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4.

page_text: 3. The improved means of applying postage stamps and other adhesive labels
to envelopes, wrappers and the like hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 5 and 6.
4. In apparatus used for the purpose of the invention, the use, in combination,
of means for damping the envelope on its insertion into the apparatus, applying the
stamp thereto while inserted in the apparatus, and rolling the stamp thereon on its
withdrawal from the apparatus, when arranged and operating in the manner herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6.
5. In apparatus used for the purpose of the invention, the use, in combination,
of the rollers 7, 17, and their supporting and actuating details for damping the
envelope on the insertion thereof, and rolling the stamp applied thereto on the
withdrawal thereof.
6. In apparatus used for the purpose of the invention, the use, in combination,
of the plunger 34, the connected rollers 42, 43, operating in feeding a stamp-strip
forward a definite length at each actuation by the plunger, and the knife edge 47,
for severing such projected stamp on the passing of the plunger, as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Dated this 25th day of August 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.