Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891

page_text: distance of about 1 millimetre from the same. The object of these strips e is to
hold the tape of stamps down, and especially to retain the stamp, after it has been
cut off, upon the first pair of rollers f
For this purpose the said strips rest upon the pair of rollers, or strictly speaking,
in the shallow grooves f³ (Fig. 8) formed in these rollers, whereby the strips e are
prevented from shifting sideways. The pair of rollers turn in bearings, which are
fixed on the springs f (Figs. 3 and 8), whereby they are pressed against the front
ends of the strips e and consequently project slightly over the upper base-
plate p, because the said strips e fit into the grooves of the roller, as mentioned
above.
The pair of rollers has the further object of feeding the strip forward and is
therefore serrated.
In the cross bar d the levers y are fixed on a revoluble axle g¹
(Figs. 1, 5 and 6).
The rods g pivoted to the levers g carry at the bottom an axle g³ sunk crosswise
into the lower face of the base-plate p, the said axle being, when the levers gare
depressed by the stamp, likewise pressed downward, and thereby pressing down the
small springs m which rest against the axle g and hold the latter up, together with
the rods and levers g.
These springs m, of which there are about 6 placed side by side on a plate m²
(Fig. 8) fixed on the lower face of the base plate p, carry at their front ends the
pins m' (Figs. 5 and 6) which project over the upper face of the plate and enter
an aperture d' contained in the lower side of the bridge d. Consequently, as soon
as a row of perforations of the tape of stamps situated underneath the said bridge d,
and drawn along under the same, reaches the needles m', the latter pass through
the perforations and prevent a further feed-motion of the tape.
The base-plate p extends only to the vicinity of the first pair of rollers, but
not to that part of the guide-piece, in which the 3 pairs of rollers are situated.
Two of the said pairs, namely the first f and the last f', have their bearings in
springs and f, applied to the lower side of the base-plate and to the cheeks of
the guide-piece, while the intermediate pair 4, which is coated with felt, is held in
supports provided with clips.
These supporting posts ¹ are movable up and down in guides (Fig. 4) formed
on the box which serves as a water basin, (Figs. 4, 5 and 6), and springs are
employed, which press the said posts constantly upward, to a given point, which may
be accurately chosen or regulated by means of adjustable nuts *, placed at the
lower ends of the posts h¹.
The water basin k is secured in the stand A and provided with tubes 1 serving
as guides. The supporting posts k² (Fig. 4) movable up and down in these guides
and constantly pressed upward by springs, carry at their upper ends a frame ?
which serves to receive the felt strip reaching into the water of the basin k, and
on these supports or spindles k² rest the angle-pieces n (Fig. 4) fixed under the
cheeks of the guide. As these spindles k, which are constantly pressed upward
by springs, also serve to support the guide and to hold it up, the springs c which
serve the same purpose, may be omitted in some cases.
Above the axle of the central pair of rolls h, the cheeks are provided with
recesses w² (Fig. 1) in such a way, that when the guide B is depressed, the said
pair of rolls continues first of all to maintain its original position, and only when
the guide is lowered still further, the frame 1, which is also depressed by the angle-
piece n, releases the said pair of rolls and so carries it along. Clamp screws
prevent the pair of rolls from turning too easily, causing the stamps to drag over
them and so become moistened.
The frame is semicircular; by which arrangement the strips of felt in so far
as they lie within it assume a similar form and so press against the felt rolls h with
the whole of their surface and moisten them. When the machinery is at rest, owing
to the position of the pair of rolls fand the raised frame, the stamps are not pressed
against the felt rolls, so that when the apparatus is not being used, the stamps are
not moistened and consequently any danger of dissolving off the gun is avoided. On

page_text: the underside of the bridge, as also on the opposite side of the bottom plate, a
number of metal strips are inserted with their edges projecting, Figs. 5, 6, 9, the
needles m pressing between them. The object of these strips is, to prevent the stamps
encountering any resistance, either under the bridge, or on the guide plate at the
edges of the grooves with which it is provided.
edg
The plates a and a which are attached to the frame A, serve for receiving the
documents, to which the stamps are to be affixed, or to which they have been
attached already.
The plates may be omitted altogether, or arranged in a different manner, as for
example near the apparatus, without being connected with it. If the stamps are to
be attached on the plate a, the said plate is provided with a substratum of felt,
indiarubber, or any other suitable material, in order to enable the die by which the
stamps are attached, to be pressed down at the spot, where the stamp is to be
attached, a guide ledge a² provided with a triangular notch is affixed to one side.
This guide ledge a², in combination with the piston projecting above the plate a¹
and raised by springs, serves to give a proper position to the document one side of
which presses against the guide ledge a², the adjoining side coming in contact with
the piston.
The recesses a in the guide piece a², the distance between which corresponds to
the size of the stamps, enable one to apply a number of stamps in the proper
position side by side quickly and with certainty. For this purpose, the plate a is
likewise divided along its front edge, the subdivisions corresponding to the width of
the stamps, and the die is so applied between the divisions, that its projecting knife
rests against the front edge of the plate a¹. The cheeks w of the guide (Fig. 7),
as also the bridge d, are internally somewhat conical, in order to facilitate the
introduction of the die. Strengthening ribs w (Fig. 9) are formed on the underside
of the bottom plate of cheeks we, the distance between them corresponding to the
width of the stamps, and the under part of the die (13) being guided between them.
Through these projections pass also the rods g, and the points, s³ of the die enter
the groove or channel in the bottom plate .
11. The die consists of a handle D and the foot-plate E, connected with it. The
opening o (Fig. 12) in the handle D is bushed and closed above by the screw o'. A.
spiral spring of is situated inside this opening or hole o and acts upon the knife r
(Fig. 14), which works in the foot plate E, and projects over the same. A sleeve
(Figs. 12 & 17) is mounted on the upward projection of the knife, and on this
sleeve presses the spring o. The object of the said sleeve is to prevent the knife
from jamming, even if the knife is lifted up unequally; the knife is provided at
the sides with two projections, which assist the guiding and enable the knife to
be lifted. These projections slide in grooves which are arranged in the sides of
the foot of the die.
The upward movement of the knife is limited by the edges of the groove or
channel, and the downward movement by the stripslet into the foot of the die.
The knife, which consists of three blades formed on a single leaf, and having a
triangular shape, engages over the strips e (Figs. 5 & 6) with the nicks situated
between every two of the blades, to which end the two grooves (Fig. 16) are
arranged in the footplate, and serves the purpose of effecting the almost complete
separation or cutting apart of the stamps from one another.
The posterior end of the footplate, which is stepped back from the stepped
back portion being of the same width as the stamps, i.e. of the same width as the
clear space between the ribs of the cheeks w-contains a casing or box s open
on both sides, and in which works a piston s provided with two pins s³, and con-
stantly pressed by a springs against the die foot wall at the inner end of the said
casing, from which, however, it is unable to pass out, as a screw (Figs. 12 & 13)
limits the action of the spring on the other side of the piston. The distance between
the points is the same, as the width of the stamps. The piston s', as also the bore
are stepped back-the spring 2 lying between the edges of these steps. The
casings is rigidly connected with the piston t' guided in the tube t, and depressed
of

page_text: by a spring acting upon the piston. By means of the pins 3 of the piston s' which
the tube carries, it catches into or engages in the perforations between two stamps,
and so moves them forward. The casings can be fixed higher or lower, by means
of the nut, which also serves to prevent it from falling out. The front end of
the footplate is provided with an inclined edge to enable it to glide over the
rollers with greater ease; the said footplate is somewhat broader than the stamps,
and may be covered with a sheet of felt or india-rubber, to facilitate the stamps
being pressed on to the document.
P
The two points, situated at this end of the footplate, where they are each held
down by a spring, are either roughened or provided with small hooks, and may be
made to project more or less by means of the nuts situated at the upper end of their
spindles or shanks. They serve the purpose of retaining on the bottom of the die the
stamps that have been almost completely separated by the knife. To permit of the
passage of the needles e, and subsequently of the knife r, through the line of perfora-
tions in the stamps, a certain clearance is left between the rollers of the first pair, in
addition to which the hook p³, which is attached to the underside of the bottom
plate (Figs. 1 & 6), and on which the stamp comes to lie, is provided on its upper
side with a nick. Consequently, the stamp, which in many cases has been completely
separated during the perforation, and adheres firmly to the underside of the die, is
carried over the moistened pair of rollers during the forward motion of the die.
This is effected by the first pair of rolls which press the stamp firmly against the
die, and also by the needles which have perforated the stamp. If it happens, that
the stamp has not been completely cut off, owing to the above peculiarity of the
knife, which takes place in the majority of cases, there accrues the advantage, that
the connection between the strips of stamps, which are thus permitted to remain
unsevered, causes them to be pulled through better than could be done by the sole
action of the points arranged in the back part of the die.
じ
This connection is severed by the third pair of rolls, which has its bearings in
the spring (Fig. 8) and lays itself with its notches closely against the projecting
die, or against the india-rubber plate.
The said pair of rolls also presses on the stamp which is held fast by the hooks
of the needles, and completely tears off the stamp (which has already been partly
severed from the strip by the knife r) from the strip, which is held fast by the
needles of the small springs m, which have entered the perforation situated
underneath the bridge d.
The stamps may, of course, be attached to the document on any other suitable
plate lined with felt, rubber or similar material, or on a table, instead of using for
this purpose the plate a¹.
A number of frames B, carrying the guides as described above, can be combined
upon a single frame with the moistening devices above mentioned, in such a way,
that a special guide and stamp roller or coil is provided for each variety of stamp,
but only one die is required for all three kinds of stamps and guides, the said guides
being placed close together and preferably parallel to each other.
The rollers, on which are wound a certain muumber of stamps from a 100 to a 1,000,
can be provided with a suitable device, by means of which a control may be
exercised at any moment, while the stamps are being used, so as to prevent
subsequent counting from being necessary, or the stamps may be numbered
consecutively.
The stamps are sold or consumed by the roll of 100, 200, 500, 1,000 or more;
and it may be remarked, that even the rolls of 1,000 stamps have a diameter of not
more than 5 cm., while single stamps may be detached from them.

page_text: and thereby withdrawing the pins m', so that they no longer project above the foot
plate p.
The stamp above mentioned is drawn forward, until the stamp edge
coincides with the front edge of the bottom plate. If now the lever g be disengaged,
the pins m pass partially through the perforations of the stamp which is situated
under the bridge, because the distance between the edge of the footplate and the
pins (which are in the middle of the bridge) is equal to the width of four stamps.
In this way, the pins holds the strip of stamps fast. The die is now introduced
between the cheeks w of the guide B in such a way, that that end which contains
the casings will be placed near the inner edge of the bridge d.
The die, which is straight on both sides underneath the ledges near the
point, and wedge-shaped at its further end, has such a position, that the pro-
jections of its knife r rest upon the cheeks w of the guide, while the levers are
situated underneath the wedge-shaped steps of the die. If the die be pressed down,
the two levers 9 are carried with it, and the pins m' are withdrawn from the
perforations of the strip. of stamps. Owing to the pressing down of the die, the
knife is drawn up into the foot of the die, or the dic pressed down over the knife,
owing to the fact, that the projections (Fig. 14) rest on the cheeks w.
?'
When the
die is pressed down, its back end rests upon the bottom plate, and its stepped or
bevelled portion is situated between the ribs wt of the checks w, its grooves r²
gliding over the strips e, while the pins, enter the groove, (Fig. 9.) in the
footplate, through the perforations situated in front and at the back of a stamp.
In the meantime, the pair of rollers are pressed down by the other end of the
die, the surface of which projects slightly above the surface of the posterior end.
By this means, the stamp situated at this place is pressed off the strip e and held
tight between the roller and the underside of the die. The wedge-shaped steps at
the posterior end of the die have been adopted, because the levers g in turning on
their axes assume an inclined position, and they have the additional purpose of
allowing a slow and gradual raising of the levers g, and the pins m, as soon as the
die is shoved forwards. When the die is depressed in this manner, the pins 5³ of
the piston s' movable in the casing & pass through the perforations at the ends of the
stamp underneath it. The foremost points e do not come into action during this
first depression, but merely enter the hooks p³, and the space between the rollers f,
since there is no stamp underneath them.
If now the die be pressed forward, until the projections of the knife or cutters ?
leave the central raised portion of the cheeks w, the result is, that the spring o²,
(the projections being freed), will drive the knife forward beyond the dic-foot
and past the front edge of the bottom plate, so as to separate the first stamp almost
completely from the strip of stamps.
The forward motion of the die is limited by the front wall of the guide B, the
feed motion of the strip of stamps is equal to the size of the stamps, but the forward
movement of the die is somewhat greater.
By the first forward movement of the dic, the first stamp, owing to the feed
motion of the strip of stamps caused by the pins and the close adhesion of the
strip of stamps between the roughened roll and the foot-plate of the die, has reached
the first pair of rolls f, so that the perforations between the first and the second
stamp are situated exactly over the front edge of p.
If now the die be brought back into the first named position, upon the elevated.
portion of the guide cheeks, then depressed and in this position shoved forward,
the first stamp which has been perforated by the points and held fast under the
die, is carried over the felt roll and is thus moistened. The wet felt roller h, the
upper surface of which has been moistened by depressing the die, occupies a
position, in which its upper surface is situated in the same plane, as those of the two
other rollers or even above it and is thus pressed by springs against the stamp. At
the end of the forward movement, the knife r cuts off the second stamp almost
completely.
The first stamp is now completely torn off from the strip, owing to the forward

page_text: movement of the die, and this takes place before the greater portion of the second
stamp has been separated, because the third roller presses the stamp tightly
against the foot of the die, and the strip is held fast by the two pins s situated upon
the pistons. The front one of these pins strikes against the end of the groove p
in such a way, that the piston s¹ is arrested in its movement and pressed outwards.
The distance between the edge of the bottom plate and the groove amounts to the
width of one stamp. The die which is now raised, carries upon the under surface
of its broad front end a moistened stamp kept in position by the two pins v.
This
stamp may now be attached at any desired place. The document, letter &c., which it
is desired to stamp, is placed upon the plate a' or is held upon the same in proper
position. If it be desired, to attach the stamp on the side next to the pin a³, the
die is inserted into the front division and pressed. During this operation, the
kuife lies against the front edge of the plate a¹, ensuring the proper position of
the die and preventing it from being moved too far forward. If, on the other hand,
the stamp is to be attached at that edge of the document which lies nearest to the
guide ledge a², the die is inserted with one of the lateral projections of the knife
into one of the triangular nicks corresponding to the position of the stamp, and then
the die pressed down, during which motion the die is guided with one of its sides
against the guide-piece, or ledge. In the same manner, several stamps may be
applied side by side, the proper distance between them being determined by the
front divisions, as well as by the triangular nicks.
The stamp can also be attached to a document lying on the table or situated in
any other convenient position, and it is possible, with some practice, to attach a
number of stamps side by side by hand without employing the guiding devices.
The attachment of the stamp takes place with perfect certainty and with about the
same speed as the stamping with colour dies. This arrangement produces the
following results and advantages:
1. Stamps can be applied to letters and other documents much quicker than by
the methods hitherto generally employed.
2. The inconveniences arising from the tedious tearing off the stamps and from
the troublesome moistening are diminished.
3. An exact method of controlling the number of stamps that have been
used up.
4. A very simple easy and convenient manipulation.
Having now particularly described the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare, that I claim :-
1. Apparatus for applying adhesive stamps and labels, comprising in its con-
struction a stationary or lower part composed of guide piece, with stamp coil or
reel, and a moistening device, and a portable or upper part composed of cutting
and carrying device, brake and pressing appliance, said apparatus being adapted to
hold a ribbon of stamps or labels wound upon a reel or roller, to feed the strip
forward at each operation for the length of one label, to retain it in the required
position, to effect a preliminary partial separation of the label which has been
seized by the stamp or die and held fast, to moisten and then completely separate
the same, and finally to apply it to any required part of the document, substantially
as described.
2. In apparatus as specified in claim 1, a strip or ribbon of stamps or labels,
wound upon a spool, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus as specified in claim 1, a pivoted guide B, held up by springs and
carrying the coil or bobbin of labels or adhesive stamps, the upper surface of the said
guide serving as a support or path for the strip of stamps situated underneath the
bridge d and the flat metal strips e, while the front end of the guide has the bottom
plate cut out, for the reception of the rollers and fl supported by springs, and
is provided with a hook p³, in combination with the bridge d serving as a fulcrum
support for the levers 9. which hold the axle g³ by means of rods 92 and serve to

page_text: depress the springs m fixed on the lower surface of B, the said springs being armed
with pins adapted to pass through the perforations between two stamps into the
recesses of the bridge, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus as specified by claim 1, a stamp moistener, comprising a water
receptacle into which dip strips of felt supported by a frame held up by springs,
and a pair of felt-covered rollers likewise held up by springs, the said rollers /
being turned during the forward motion of the hand stamp or die, and adapted to
touch the felt strips l', when the guide B is being depressed, substantially as
described.
5. In apparatus as specified by claim 1, a die or hand stamp having pins u and
a knife which is constantly pressed downward by a spring, but withdrawn into the
foot by applying pressure to the die, the said die or stamp containing also a casing s
carrying a piston armed with pins and pressed downward by a spring acting on the
piston t, the said die or hand stamp having in front a broken edge to facilitate the
forward or feed motion of the stamp, and a widened felt-covered part adapted to
apply pressure to the entire surface of the stamp (including the edges), while the
rear part is bevelled off or inclined for the purpose of acting slowly on the levers g,
substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of November 1890
ADAM GEORG DIENZ.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.