Improvements in Apparatus for Gumming or Moistening Labels, Postage Stamps, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Gumming or Moistening Labels,
Postage Stamps, and the like.
I, CARL WOLFFHARDT, of 88ª, Mariahilferstrasse, Vienna VII, in the Empire of
Austria, Glassware Manufacturer, 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:—
My invention relates to apparatus for spreading gum solutions over the surfaces of
papers or for moistening the gummed surfaces of papers such as labels, postage
stamps, and the like.
The object of the invention is to provide a gumming apparatus having its operative
parts, by which the gum is spread on the paper, effectually protected from becoming
incrusted with hardened gum, and likewise a moistening apparatus, in which the gum
which may remain sticking to it after use is not allowed to become dry. The
invention has also for object to restrain the afflux of water to the operative parts of the
moistener.
According to my invention I employ a bottle for containing gum or water
according to whether the apparatus is to be used for gumming or moistening
purposes such bottle being closed by a slit or slotted rubber cap, and made in such a
form that, when inverted, it can be placed like a stopper upon the mouth of a
vessel, which is partly filled with water; by the slow but constant vaporisation of
the water in this vessel the gum on the cap is kept in a moist condition.
When the apparatus is to be used for moistening gummed surfaces the slit or slotted
rubber cap of the water bottle is provided internally with a piece of sponge and is
coated externally with felt or a thick fabric.
In the accompanying drawing,-.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an apparatus constructed according to
my invention for gumming the surfaces of papers; and,
Figure 2 is a vertical section of my apparatus for moistening gummed surfaces the
lower water vessel, however, not being shewn.
Referring to Figure 1, 6 is the gum bottle, made by preference of glass, in order to
render its contents visible; its shape is similar to that of a tool handle whereby the
use of the apparatus is facilitated. Upon the mouth of the bottle b is sprung the
rubber cap c, which has its two opposite sides bevelled and provided with slits or slots d
through which the gum flows out when the tapering edge portion of the cap c is swept
over the surface of the paper like a brush. In the drawing the slits or slots d are
shewn of the form of an arc of a circle, but although slits or slots of this form are
preferred, it is obvious that straight slits or slots may be used if found desirable.
The herein before described bottle brests like a stopper upon a vessel a which
contains a small quantity of water. The rubber washer g, cemented to the bottle b
prevents the damp from escaping, whereby the cap c is kept moist and the gum
sticking to its bevelled surfaces is prevented from hardening.
The bottom of the bottle is made spherical or pointed in order to prevent users
from placing the bottle after use with its cap turned upward upon the table, and to
always compel them to insert the bottle upside down in the vessel a, wherein
incrustation is prevented.
The moistening bottle illustrated in Figure 2 is also used in combination with a
lower vessel a and is provided with a spherical or pointed bottom fin order to keep

page_text: the layer of felt or thick fabric h, which covers the bevelled surfaces of the cap c, soft
and wet. By placing the piece of sponge j in the hollow space of the cap c, the water
is prevented from flowing out too freely.
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. In apparatus for gumming the surfaces of papers the combination with a
bottle for containing liquid gum and closed by a slit or slotted rubber cap of a
vessel for receiving water, upon which water vessel the gum bottle, turned upside
down, is adapted to rest like a stopper, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
2. In apparatus for moistening gummed papers such as labels, postage stamps and
the like, the combination with a bottle for containing water and closed by a slit or
slotted rubber cap, provided internally with sponge and coated externally with felt or
a thick fabric, of a vessel upon which the said bottle when turned upside down,
is adapted to rest like a stopper, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
3. In the gumming and moistening apparatuses claimed in the preceding claiming
clauses, a rubber packing secured to the bottle and tightly closing the lower vessel,
substantially as described.
4. In the gumming and moistening apparatuses claimed in Claims 1 and 2 a rubber
cap having arc-shaped slits or slots, substantially as herein before described.
5. In the gumming and moistening apparatuses claimed in Claims 1 and 2, a bottle
having a spherical or pointed bottom, for the purpose of preventing the user from
placing the bottle after use with its mouth turned upward upon a table or the like,
substantially as set forth.
6. The improved gumming and moistening apparatuses hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 respectively of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 6th day of April 1807
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.