Improvements in Machines for Attaching Postage Stamps to Envelopes, Circulars, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Attaching Postage Stamps to
Envelopes, Circulars, and the like.
CHARLES ELLIOT, of "Woodfield," Selhurst Road, South Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide means for delivering, detaching from
bulk, wetting and affixing postage stamps to letters, circulars and the like, by
mechanism contained in a suitable case, and actuated from the outside by means of
a handle, lever, or other means, so that the articles to be stamped are simply placed
in position upon a small table, attached to the case, and the handle of the machine
revolved, or lever depressed, which actuates the mechanism within for the purpose
above described.
And to carry my invention into effect 1 construct my machine as follows; I
provide a suitable case which contains a reel or spool upon which the stamps are
wound, for this purpose the postage stamps are either printed in strips of any length
required, or the stamps may be torn from the sheet in the longest length, and such
length just attached to the other by leaving a small piece of the margin and sticking
it to the end stamp of the next length, and so on until a sufficient quantity are on
one length, and the length is then wound upon the spool, the free end being carried
up or down over a plate with guides at the sides, leading to a slot through the side
of the case; above the plate over which the strip of stamps passes is affixed in
suitable bearings a segmented wheel covered with rubber or other suitable material,
the wheel being set to press upon the strip of stamps sufficiently to push them
forward when revolved, each segment being made of the exact size to push one
stamp forward, this segmented wheel is partially revolved sufficiently to deliver one
stamp through the slot in the side of the case, at each revolution of a handle outside
the case, or depression of a lever. The handle outside the case is connected to a
spindle and geared to the segmented wheel for this purpose; the spindle of the
handle also carries cams or cranks for the following purposes, one to actuate a rod
which is placed vertically in guides over the position where the stamp is projected,
this rod carries a block at the lower end about the size of a stamp and the cam or
crank is arranged to depress this rod and block and raise it once at each revolution
of the handle; another cam or crank actuates a knife which is made to work
between the front of the case and the vertical rod and block or presser, and is
arranged so that it is just in advance of the block, so as to cut off the stamp
immediately before the block or presser descends. The block or presser when at
rest is just above the opening or slot in the side of the case so that the stamp has
support while being wetted from the under side. The wetting is effected by a roller
covered with felt or other absorbent material which when at rest is within the case,
arranged under the plate over which the stamps pass, and so arranged that the
lower part is just dipping in a trough of water, the roller is actuated by a forked
lever which carries its spindle, and this forked lever is in turn worked by a third
cam or crank upon the handle spindle in such a manner that the damping roller is
projected out under the stamp delivered and wets and is drawn in again before
the knife and presser comes down. Just below the opening through which the
damper is projected is a table attached to the case, upon which the letter, or the
like to be stamped is placed. It will thus be seen that if a letter to be stamped is
placed upon the table and the handle at the side of the machine revolved once, the
following action takes place, first the stamp is projected through the slot in the side
of the case, second, the damper is brought up under the stamp and withdrawn again,

page_text: third, the knife comes down and detaches the stamp from the strip and immediately
following the presser is brought down, thus pressing the stamp upon the
envelope.
Various modifications may be made, the various operations may be carried out in
different order, or the operations may be effected by separate movements instead of
being actuated by a handle spindle and cranks or cams; a pair of rollers may be
used to project the stamps instead of the segmented wheel and any suitable materials
may be used.
Dated this 7th dox of Ton1900
CHARLES ELLIOT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Attaching Postage Stamps to
Envelopes, Circulars, and the like.
I CHARLES ELLIOT of Chesterfield, Waddon Old Road, Croydon, in the
County of Surrey, formerly of Woodfield, Selhurst Road, South Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide means for issuing, detaching from bulk,
wetting and affixing postage stamps to letters, circulars and the like by mechanism
contained in a suitable case, and actuated from the outside by means of a handle,
lever, or other means, so that the articles to be stamped are simply placed in
position upon a small table attached to the case and the outside appliance of the
machine revolved or lever depressed which actuates the mechanism within for the
purpose above described.
My invention is illustrated by the annexed drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism in its normal position.
Figure 2 a similar elevation with the mechanism in the position occupied after
the issue of a stamp and of its moistening by the wetting roller.
Figure 3 front elevation of machine showing the stamp severing appliance.
Figure 4. perspective elevation of the stamp guides and springs for preventing
the strip of stamps buckling while moving from the reel to the front slot.
To carry my invention into effect I provide a suitable case A which contains
a reel or spool B upon which the stamps are wound. For this purpose the
postage stamps are either printed in strips of any length required or the stamps
may be torn from the sheet in the longest length and such length just attached
to another by leaving a small piece of the margin and sticking it to the end
stamp of the next length and so on until a sufficient quantity are in one length,
and the length is then wound upon the spool, the free end being carried up or
down over a plate C with guides D. D, at the sides leading to a slot E through the
front of the case.
Above the plate over which the stamps pass is affixed in suitable bearings &
segmented wheel F covered with rubber or other suitable material G. the wheel
being set to press upon the strip of stamps sufficiently to force them forward in
succession when revolved, the segment being made of the exact size to push one
stamp forward only.
The handle H outside the case A is connected to a spindle I on which the
segmented wheel is fixed; the spindle of the handle also carries cams J, K, for
the following purposes, one J to actuate a rod L which moves vertically in
guides M over the position where the stamp is projected, this rod carries a block N
having its lower end about the size of a stamp and the cam or crank J is arranged
to allow this rod and block to fall and to raise it once at each revolution of the
handle; another cam or crank K actuates a knife K¹ which knife through the
intermediation of the lever K" is made to work between the front of the case and

page_text: the vertical rod and block or presser N and is arranged so that it is moved just
in advance of the block N so as to cut off the stamp immediately before the block
or presser descends. The knife is returnable by a spring K.
The block or presser when at rest is just above the opening or slot E in the
front of the case so that the stamp has a support while being wetted from the
underside.
The wetting is effected by a roller P covered with felt or other absorbent
material which when at rest is within the case arranged under the plate Cover
which the stamps pass and so arranged that the lower part is just dipping in a
trough of water, Q. The roller is actuated by a forked lever R which carries its
spindle and this forked lever is in turn worked by a third cam or crank S pressing
against the lever S', the lower end of which is slotted for actuating the lever Ⓡ
the lever S¹ being mounted in such a manner that the damping roller P is pro-
jected out under the stamp issued and wets it. The roller P is drawn in again by
the spring P' before the knife and presser comes down.
Just below the opening through which the damper is projected is a table T
attached to the case A upon which the letter or the like to be stamped is placed.
It will thus be understood that if a letter to be stamped is placed upon the table T
and the handle H at the side of the machine revolved once the following action
takes place, first the stamp is projected through the slot in the front of the case,
second the damper is brought up under the stamp and withdrawn again, third the
knife comes down and detaches the stamp from the strip and immediately following
the presser N drops for pressing the stamp upon the envelope.
To ensure the strip of stamps being issued without buckling or returning I
arrange a light spring U at the back of the plate C and from one of the guide
ribs D I carry a curved spring V. These springs have a combined action to keep
the strip firmly down upon the plate C and retard the outward movement of the
strip so that the rubber covered cam has a good purchase upon a flat surface of the
strip for moving it along.
Should it be found that the dipping of the roller E into the water trough Q
caused the roller to be overcharged a fringe of lamp cotton W or other thread may
be suspended in the trough from which the roller can take its supply.
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. The invention shown on the annexed drawings by which stamps can be pro-
jected from a reel, be damped on the gummed side by a roller, be severed by a
blade and allowed to fall on a letter or circular placed beneath and on which said
stamp can be pressed, the several parts being operated from a simple lever or
handle from outside the casing substantially as described.
2. The improvements hereinbefore referred to and consisting of a spindle with
several cams thereon for operating levers by which the successive actions of pro-
pelling damping and severing of postage stamps from a reel and pressing the same
upon an envelope or package placed directly under the pressure-block as and in the
manner set forth.
Dated this 7th day of Oct 1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said C. Elliot.