Improvements in Machines for Affixing Postage Stamps and Gummed.
Year: 1895

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Improvements in Machines for Affixing Postage Stamps and
Gummed. Labels.
ן
I, JOHN JOSEPH MCDADE, of No. 19 Nevada Block, in the City and County
of San Francisco, State of California, United States of America, Attorney-at-Law,
do hereby declare the mature 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
:
I
My invention relates to improvements made in machines or devices that are
devised and constructed to separate n postage-stamp, or a gummed label, from a
continuous strip, or ribbon, moiston the gummed side and fix it to an envelope or
other object by pressure; and my said improvements comprise certain parts and
mechanism of novel construction and the combination and arrangement thereof in
a suitable frame and all actuated by the downward movement of a vertical plunger
or rod, as hereinafter filly explained.
My said improved machine is composed of the following elementary parts-
A spool holding a strip or ribbon of postage-stamps or gummed labels divided from
one another by cuts or perforations in the usual manner for ready separation; a
clamp holding the end of this ribbon and presenting it in position to be seized 'and
drawn from the spool; a pair of gripping jaws pivoted at one end to swing in the
are of a circle and opening and closing at the other end to seize the free end of the
ribbon by closing together apon it and then by their swinging movement to draw
said ribbon forward and downward a given distance; a reciprocating head fixed to
the lower end of a vertically movable plunger and having a 'presser-plete on its
bottom, and by its movement downward operating to close the jaws upon the ribbon
and then cause them to swing forward and downward and thereby bring the end
portion of the ribbon under the presser plate; a moistoning-device 'set in Buch
relation to the clamping-device and the gripping-jaws that the back or gudmed
side of the stamp or label on the end of the ribbon is properly moistened 'before it
is brought into position under the presser-plate; a device operating to Hetach the
said stamp or label from the ribbon after it is so, moistened, and a means on
the said reciprocating head operating to open the gripping jaws and release the
moistened and separated stamp or label just as the presser-plate is brought down
with pressure upon the stamp or the label to fix it to the envelope or 'other
object.
;
The construction of these parts and devices and the manner in which I proceed
to combine and arrange the same in producing my improved machine or device dre
fully explained and set forth in the following description in which reference is had
by figures and letters to the drawings that accompany and form part of this
Specification.
In the said Brawings':—
1
Figure 1 represents m'elevation a machine or device constructed according to my
'said invention; the parts being shown in position of rest, and the handle and its
npright guide being partly broken away;
i
.f
Figure 2 is an elevation taken from the right-hand side of Figure 1';
Figure 3 is an elevation having the handle and plunger and also the mile of the
frame broken away. This view represents the gripping-jaw in position closed upon
the end of the stamp or the label and about to swing downward and forward under
1

page_text: Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional-view of the frame, the reciprocating-head and
presser-plate and the gripping jaws, and showing the position assumed by these
parts at the time when the stamp or the label is brought under the presser-plate
and the jaws are about to open and release the end of the stamp or label.
Figure 5 is a horizontal transverse section taken through, the frame at the
line - Figure 1 ;
Figure 6 is a side-view of the slotted guide-plate that operates to hold up and
present the end of the strip or ribbon to the gripping-jaws;
Figure 7 is a front-view of the same piece taken from the left hand side of
Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a front-view of the tension-roller situated beneath the said slotted
guide.
j...
Figure 9 is a perspective-view of the reciprocating head and the parts it carries;
Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal section through the middle of the same piece
and the parts fixed to it;
Figure 11 is a view in perspective of the gripping-jaws; Figure 12.is á front
view of the water-box.
The frame containing the operative parts is constructed. of sheet metal with
parallel upright sides A A and a cross-piece A! uniting them across the top. In
the middle of this cross-piece is fixed in upright position a, tubular socket B to
form a guide for the reciprocating plunger or rod C and the actuating handle D.
A coil spring C' in such tubular socket surrounds the head of the recess D' in
the said handle and by its recoil, after being compressed in the downward move-
ment of the handle over the tubular socket, such spring acts to throw up the handle
and rod into position for action after every downstroke. The rod C is secured to
the handle D at the upper end aud the handle is fitted to slide smoothly upon the
stationary tubular socket.
A
:
On the lower end of that rod is fixed the reciprocating head E on the bottom of
which is secured the flat foot or presser-plate E' and to which also is attached by
a binge-joint or pivot Ga presser-finger G. This last-named piece is set in aud
is projected through a slot E' in the middle of the presser-plate, and is pivoted
between lugs E on the side of the head E above the top face of the presser-plate.
The function of this piece is mainly to open the gripping-jaws and release the
seized end of the stamp or the label before the presser-plate completes its down-
ward stroke; but it also serves the purpose of setting the loose end of the stamp.or
the label down against the envelope or surface under the machine.in advance of
the contact therewith of the presser-plate and as the gripping-jaws release the
other end.
The part E plays in and is guided by the slots A³ in the frame which serve to
maintain the true horizontality of the presser-plate in its movements, so that it will
press evenly upon the face of the stamp or the label at all points at the end of the
down stroke.
"
The jaws HI are constructed with straight opposing front edges hi and with
knuckles on the rear ends through which the pin K, being inserted, is fixed at
the ends in the extensions A of the frame to form the hinge of the jaws.. The
spring-bridle L on the said pin extends downward underneath and bears against
the lower jaw I from below to hold the jaws together, but the upper jaw is
attached in the upper portion of its upward stroke to the reciprocating head by the
curved tongue J fixed to one side of the upper jaw and extending upward and
forward in a curve over the presser-plate E. Thus when the said part E¹ is
moved upward the upper jaw is lifted and separated at the front end from the
lower jaw I and the two jaws are opened to admit the end of the stamp or the
label. The fixed pins mm on the inside of the frame act as stops, at such time to
prevent the lower jaw from rising higher..
"
The curved path in which the gripping edges hi of the jaws travel is struck
from the center at which the hinge-pin K is situated, and in close relation to that
curve is situated the pad P of the moistening device. That part of the machine

page_text: consists of the closed water-box P¹ fixed between the side-frames A A and a
moistening-pad P inside formed of some absorbent material, such as felt, projecting
through a horizontal slit in the front face the full width of the box and extending
from that side of the box into the curved path described by the ends of the jaws.
The slotted guide R pivoted in the posts S S on the top of the water-box has a
narrow passage corresponding in breadth to the breadth of the strip or ribbon and
from it the end of the ribbon projects sufficiently to be readily seized between the
lower and the upper jaw as those parts are closed together by the downward
movement of the head E.
The ribbon W is brought down from the spool X under the heel R' of the slotted
guide and between the bottom of the guide and a pressure-roller T that is mounted.
in a cradle T under the guide. Springs T' placed under the cradle and resting
on the top of the water-box hold up the roller with sufficient degree of pressure to
keep the ribbon W under tension, so that it will not slip out of position in the slit
of the guide. Such upward pressure of the spring roller serves also to hold the
front end of the slotted guide at proper elevation above the position occupied by
the lower jaw whereby the projecting end of the ribbon is presented over the
gripping edge of such jaw and within the line of the upper jaw standing above it.
These two parts form the clamp.
In addition to this office and function of holding and presenting the ribbon to
the jaws, this slotted guide also operates in conjunction with a standing edge or
projection U. on the top of the water-box to tear or separate the seized and
moistened stamp or label from the ribbon W at the line of perforations. Such
separation is effected by the downward pulling straiu exerted by the swinging jaws
in which the end of the stamp is gripped, and by the downward and backward
movement of the slotted guide at. the same time. Such movement of the last-
mentioned part R bringe the line of perforations of the ribbon down against the
standing ridge-back of the moistening-pad and the same is produced by the
projecting finger V on the head E outside the frame engaging with and pressing
down upon the end of the curved arm R³ on the side of the slotted guide R. Such
arm plays up and down outside the frame and is prevented from rising above its
proper position by a stop a¹ on the edge of the frame A projecting in the way of
the arm.
•
Such stop regulates the position of the slotted guide R whereby it presents the
end of the ribbon properly to the gripping-jaws.
The pivoted finger-piece G in the opening of the presser-plate E is provided
with a cam-shaped end G2 of such length beyond the pivot that it comes in contact
with an incline on the jaw J inside the. gripping edge i at the time and as often
as the presser-plate approaches the end of its downward stroke.
The finger G. at such time is thrown down into the position represented in
Figure 4 of the drawing with the point of the finger, resting on the top of the
stamp W and then as the pressure of the hand is still applied to the handle and the
presser-plate is brought down upon the stamp, the, finger G is pressed upward
into its slot in the presser-plate and the cam-shape end G2 is thereby brought
against the incline J on the jaw I with sufficient force to open the jaw and release
the stamp or label:
:
The first position of the gripping-jaws and the slotted guide is represented in
Figure 1 of the drawing where the presser-plate, is at its highest position and the
end of the ribbon is presented to the gripping jaws which are in
open position to
seize it; the lower jaw being held up against the fixed stop m and the upper being
attached to the presser-plate by the curved tongue.
.::
"
The next position when the jaws have seized the end of the ribbon of stamps and
is being carried.down by the descending presser-plate is represented in Figure 3;.
and the third position where the jaws are about to open and release the detached
and moistened stamp is shown in Figure 4. The position of the parts, after the..
jaws are opened is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1.
1
1
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page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and, in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare tliat. what
I claim, is:
1. The combination of the vertically movable presser-plate, a pair of jaws
hinged together at one end and movable in a vertical are on said hinge as a center
to swing inward and beneath, and outward and to one side of, the path of said
presser-plate; a spring acting to hold the lower jaw against the upper jaw, 'and a
stop limiting its upward movement without affecting the upper jaw; means for
holding the upper jaw in open position to be pressed down by the plunger; and a
hinged finger-piece ou the presser-plate adapted to make contact with the surface
against which the presser-plate is pressed in advance of the lower jaw, and to
open the opposing gripping edges" of the jaws, substantially as described and
shown.
1.2
2. The combination, of the stationary stamp-detaching.edge; the slotted guide
pivoted above the detaching edge; the reciprocating presser-plate; the clamping-
roller, and a spring serving to hold the roller against the said guide; the projecting
finger; the reciprocating liend; and the curved arm, on the slotted-guide located
in the path of the said finger and adapted to bring the clamp down against the
stamp-detaching edge in the downward movement of the reciprocating head,
substantially as described and shown.
3. The combination, of the vertically-reciprocating presser-plate; a pair of
hinged jaws beneath the presser-plate movable in a vertical arc and by the contact
of said presser-plate with the upper jaw adapted to close together and to be moved
to one side away from, that part in its downward movement; a spring acting to
return said jaws to position in the return movement of said presser-plate; the
standing stamp-detaching edgo; and the pivoted guide and the clamping roller
located with relation to the front end of the jaws as described; means for throwing
open said jaws at the end of their upward swing; and means. operated by the
presser-plate to bring the slotted guide. down against the said roller at the time of
such contact and separation of the stamp from the strip, substantially as described
and 'shown.
.
4. In a machine for affixing postage stamps and gummed labels, the combination,
of the reel the yielding clamp composed of the slotted and pivoted guide and the
yielding roller located beneath said guide; the vertically reciprocating presser-
plate a pair of linged jaws movable in the arc of a. circle on their hinge as a
center, and swinging forward into position under the presser-plate to seize the end
of the strip from the reel and by the backward movement in an arc to carry the
stamp into position under the pressor-plate; means for opening said jaws at the end
of their downward throw to release the stamp ; a moistening device over which the
stamp is drawn by the said jaws; means for holding the jaws open in their position
of rest before said presser-plate acts upon them; and means actuated by said
presser-plate to sever the stamp in the downward movement of that part after
the jaws have seized and closed upon the stamp, substantially as described and
shown.
.;
5. The herein described machine or device for affixing postage stamps and
gummed labels; comprising a frame; a plunger-socket; a plunger having a
presser-plate on the lower end and a haulle on the upper end; a spring actuating
said plunger in one direction; a pair of gripping-jaws hinged together at one end,
the said binge being located to one side of the line of the plunger and movable in
an arc beneath the presser-plate whereby the jaws are closed together in the down-
ward movement of the plunger; a.spring beneath the lower jaw acting to hold it
against the upper jaw; a stop on the framerto limit the upward movement of the
lower jaw means on the presser-plate for detacliably connecting the upper jaw; to
the presser-plate as that part arrives at the limit of the upward movement; and
means actuated by the presser-plate to separate the jaws at the end of the down-
ward stroke of the presser-plate; a reel carrying a strip of stamps or labels

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partially separated by lines of perforations'; a stamp-moistening device, and a
stamp-severing device actuated by or from the movement of the plunger to separate
the stamp from the strip, constructed for operation as hereinbefore described and
shown in the drawing.
Dated this 12th day of November 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,, Agents for the Applicant..