A New or Improved Apparatus for Moistening and Affixing Postage Stamps, Labels, and similar Gum or Cement Coated Articles or Surfaces, or for Coating Surfaces with Gum, Color, or other Fluid Material.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
SUMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Moistening and Affixing Postage
Stamps, Labels, and similar Gum or Cement Coated Articles
or Surfaces, or for Coating Surfaces with Gum, Color, or other
Fluid Material.
I THOMAS H. HATHAWAY of New Bedford. in the State of Massachusetts in the
United States of America 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 invention relates to an instrument which can be used for affixing postage
stamps to envelopes, for moistening the flaps and closing the envelopes, for affixing
labels to boxes and other receptacles and in general for the moistening and affixing
of gum or cement coated surfaces.
In the accompanying drawing forming part of this Specification in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of the new apparatus.
Figure 2. is a plan thereof.
Figure 3. is a perspective view showing the apparatus in the act of moistening
part of an envelope in readiness to receive a postage stamp.
Figure 4. is a perspective view showing the apparatus in the act of pressing a
postage stamp upon the moistened envelope.
Figure 5. is a side elevation representing a modification in which the apparatus
assumes a simpler form than that shown in the previous figures.
The apparatus consists mainly of a roller the surface of which is kept moist
with water supplied from a reservoir by pneumatic pressure, of a second but dry
roller and of a suitable frame combining these parts in one apparatus.
This
Upon a frame a of any suitable material is mounted by cementing or by soldering
or by any other means answering the purpose a vessel containing a quantity of
liquid. The drawing shows as an example glass bottle but the vessel may be
made of sheet metal, porcelain or other material. The vessel is formed at its top
with an opening or mouth which is closed by a perforated cork c or other stoppering
means. Into the perforation is inserted a narrow continuation or neck of an India-
rubber ball d. Through a second opening in the top of the vessel ba sinall rubber
pipe or hose e is inserted and carried down nearly to the bottom of the vessel b.
The other or free end of the pipe e passes through the eye of a guide g carried by
the frame a and descends very nearly to the surface of the wet roller w.
roller w consists of a cylindrical core of wood or other material covered with any
suitable absorbent material i such as felt leather or the like, and turns in bearings
formed in the forked ends k of the frame a. The second or dry roller is situated
under the frame a and turns in legs or brackets m attached to the frame a. It is
made of wood and may be covered with rubber or any elastic material. The frame a
is furnished with a handle n by which it may be manipulated. The roller should
be placed in such position that if the apparatus is left to itself its centre of gravity
is situated between the said roller and the handle n. By these means the apparatus
when out of.
fuse will rest upon the handlen and the roller whilst the wet roller w
will assume an elevated position clear of the surface upon which the instrument is
placed.
To bring the apparatus into working condition the stopper c is removed the
vessel partly filled with water and the stopper inserted again. By compressing the
rubber ball d a little water is forced by the air pressure exerted upon the surface
thereof through the pipe e upon the roller w wetting or moistening its cover i. Upon
removing pressure from the ball d air enters through the pipe e into the vessel b and
takes the place of the wator forced out.

page_text: Should it be required to affix a postage stamp to an envelope the apparatus is brought
down with the wet roller w upon the envelope at the proper place and rolled across
the latter as represented at Figure 3. The stamp is then placed with the gummed
side on to the wet surface and pressed evenly upon the envelope by running across
it with suitable pressure the dry roller of the apparatus.
If an envelope is to be closed the wet roller w of the apparatus is carried over the
gummed surface of the flap moistening it, the latter is turned over on the envelope,
and then pressed down by the dry roller l.
From the foregoing description it will be readily understood in what manner the
apparatus should be used for affixing labels to boxes, bottles, trunks and other
objects.
I would also have it understood by substituting glue mucilage colour or other fluid
material for water in the reservoir the apparatus may be employed for applying the
same to any desired surface.
In the modification represented at Figure 5, the apparatus is constructed in a
simpler and cheaper form. The vessel 6 serves as a handle and the frame a supporting
the wet roller w and the dry roller is fixed to the narrow end of the vessel. which
ou its upper side is provided with an opening to receive a cork c with two perforations
one for fixing therein the rubber ball d the other for inserting the rubber pipe e. The
method of using this apparatus is similar to that of the more expensive one herein before
described.
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. An apparatus for moistening and affixing articles having cement coated surfaces
or for coating surfaces consisting of a vessel containing the required fluid a roller
adapted to absorb a quantity of the fluid supplied by pneumatic pressure through a
pipe from the vessel dry roller and a framework uniting the various parts the
whole forming one convenient instrument substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In an apparatus for moistening and affixing articles having cement coated
surfaces or for coating surfaces the combination of a vessel b containing the required
fluid, with an absorbent roller w, a pipe e, a pneumatic air compressing device d and
a dry roller all arranged and operating substantially as explained and for the
purposes specified.
'
3. In an apparatus of the character herein before described a wet roller w consisting
of a core of wood, rubber or other suitable material covered with a fluid absorbent
material such as felt blotting paper or other similar substance substantially as
described and for the purposes explained.
Dated the 2nd day of October 1889.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.