IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AFFIXING CERTAIN LABELS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HAUGHTON, of Liverpool; in the County of Lancaster, Clerk, Master of Arts,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Nineteenth day of June, in the fourth year of Her reign, did give and
grant unto me, the said John Haughton, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John
Haughton, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
John Haughton, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during. the term
of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AFFIXING CERTAIN LABELS;"
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that I, the said.
John Haughton, shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully; and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Haughton, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following instrument in writing (reference being
had to the letters and figures herein contained, and to the Drawings here-
unto annexed):
:-
My Invention has reference to the penny and twopenny postage labels,
which are printed in sheets, and the essential peculiarity of my Invention,
independantly of the method of cutting up sheets of labels, as described below,
is this: the placing a letter in a machine which contains a liquid for damping,
and the communicating such a motion to a part of the machine that the liquid
shall be brought into contact with the letter, so as to damp the precise fitting
portion, and so placing labels and a letter respectively in a machine as to be
able to communicate such a motion, that a label shall be brought into contact
with the letter and be affixed to the exact position of it previously damped.
This distinctive principle of my Invention may manifestly be variously carried
out, but I apply it in manner following.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent the four sides of the machine for damping,
and also of the stamper, the external appearance of both being the same,
excepting the frame C of the damper, vide Figure 1, which the stamper, vide
Figure 5, has not.
Figure 5 represents the same view as Figure 1, only the slide K being with-
drawn, a letter L is placed in the machine, and the plunger G is partly
depressed.
Figure 6 represents the same view as Figure 2, with a letter inserted, but
in a different stage of the operation from that represented in Figure 5, the
plunger being entirely depressed.
Figures 7 and 8 are sections of the machine for damping, and Figures 9 and
10 are sections of the stamper.
Figure 11 represents a letter as it is placed either in the damper or the
stamper in order to be operated on. (It may be here observed, that whenever
in this Specification I speak of a letter being damped, &c., as the case may
be, I mean the envelope or cover, or outside of such letter.
A is a solid rectangular block of wood, about five-eighths of an inch in
height, having its four vertical sides entirely cased with thin brass, having its
upper horizontal surface very slightly larger than a postage label, including
one half of the margin between it and the labels on its four sides, as formed in
the middle of a sheet of post-office labels, enclosing in the manner shown. This
four-sided block is fitted a box or case B, of brass, which brass is about one-
sixteenth of an inch in thickness, which box has four vertical sides, which are

page_text: upper
about half an inch in height, but has no bottom or top. Underneath the two
short sides of this box steel springs P, Figures 7 and 8, hardened and tempered,
are fitted, so that this box rests on these springs, and when they are not pressed
down, its sides stands about three-eighths of an inch above the level of the
surface of A. On the top of the four sides of this box B a four-sided brass
frame C is fitted, the frame being of the same thickness as the brass plate of
which the box is made, having its sides also one-sixteenth of an inch in height;
thus this frame is in form what it would have been if it had been one-sixteenth
of an inch sawed off from the top of the four sides of the box B, and when this
frame is fastened by pins to the top of the sides of the box it appears to be, and
is, in fact, one-sixteenth of an inch added to the height of the box. A bag made
of thin silk, rendered waterproof by caoutchouc in solution, as prepared by
Macintosh, is so fixed inside the brass box B that the top edges of the sides of
the said bag are placed on the top of the sides of the box B, and the brass frame
being placed on the top of the edges of the sides of the bag, and being fastened
by pins to the top of the sides of the box, the edges of the bag are closely
pressed, so that no moisture can pass between the frame and the box B; the
bag a thus fastened within the box is of a depth to rest on the upper surface
of the block A. Outside this box B is fitted an outer case D, between which
and the block the box B works vertically, nearly air-tight; the block A is fixed
by a screw to the bottom of the box D, and two of the sides rand s of this box
D stand about a quarter of an inch below the level of the top of the said frame,
when the springs under box B are not depressed, in order, as will be seen, to
allow a letter, when its corner is-placed resting on two sides of the frames of box
B, as shewn in the Figure 11, to be sufficiently depressed, while the other two
sides p, q, of the box D are continued upward, and connect the upper and lower
parts of the machine, as shewn in the Drawings. The construction of the upper
part of this machine is as follows:-A rectangular block of wood E, having a flat
piece of caoutchouc e covering its lower horizontal side, is encased on its four
_vertical sides with thin brass; the top and bottom of this block are each equal in
area to the lower block A, together with the thickness of the sides of the box
B; this block E is enclosed and works vertically in a box or case, which is in
fact the upper part of the same box or case D. The block. E has in the centre of
its upper surface a circular bore descending vertically, as shown, within which
the plunger G is fixed, by a pin H at its lower end passing through it into, the
wood at both sides; around this plunger is placed a spiral spring, fastened at
at its lower extremity to the block E, and at its upper.extremity to the short
tube or pipe u, which forms part of the upper part of D, which spring is of
sufficient length when extended to admit of the caoutchouc e being forced down-

page_text: ward to the level of the lower edge of the opening in the outer box or case D,
marked t, Figures 7 and 8, so that when the plunger is depressed by the hand,
Figure 8, the spiral spring is extended and the block thrust down; when the
pressure ceases, the block is drawn up, Figure 7, by the contraction of the said
spring. The two sides r and s of the outer case D are open for about three-
eighths of an inch above the level of the top of the frame C when the springs
under box B are not depressed, which opening is made to admit of a letter
being placed, as shewn in Figure 11, before the plunger is depressed. Within
the caoutchouc bag is placed a piece of sponge, not necessary to be shewn in the
Drawings, which fills the bag, and has its upper surface perfectly even and
slightly below the level of the top of the frame; when the springs of box B are
not depressed this sponge is moistened with water, hence it will be plain that
when the plunger is depressed, the block E being forced down, as shewn in
Figure 8, the letter will be pressed against the top of the frame C, and the
pressure being continued, the block E, by acting on the frame C, begins to
depress the box B, the springs of which are contracted till the plunger is pre-
vented from further descent by its flat circular top coming in contact with the
top of the pipe u, Figure 8, the length of the plunger being regulated so that
the caoutchouc e shall not be able to descend below the point marked V; thus,
the sponge being compressed, that part of the lower side of the letter which is
within the frame C is damped, and the pressure on the plunger ceasing, the
letter is to be removed. The upper part of the stamper, the machine for
affixing labels to damped letters, is similar to that of the damper, and in its
lower part is a block A 1, of the same length and breadth as the lower block in
the damping machine, encased with brass, having a piece of caoutchouc a¹
covering its upper side, similar to that which covers the lower side of the upper
block. Around this lower block is fitted a brass box B 1, similar to the box
which encloses the bag, as above described, and similarly working vertically by
means of similar springs, but having no frame fitting in its top, as in the
former instance. A sheet of postage labels being evenly cut up, that is, each
label having its due share of margin, the labels are laid in succession flatly
with their gummed sides upwards on the top of the caoutchouc which covers the
block A1 (the situation of these labels is indicated in Figures 9 and 10 by the
space coloured green); the letter to be stamped is then placed in this machine
as it was placed in the former machine in order to be damped, the damped
corner of the letter being placed within the machine with the damped side
downward, as shewn in Figure 11; the plunger is then depressed by the hand,
till the caoutchouc e, which is at the bottom of the upper block, comes in contact
with the; letter, and the plunger continuing to be depressed, the box B1 is

page_text: .
depressed, and the damped part of the letter is brought into contact with and
pressed against the gummed side of the uppermost label, sufficient pressure
being employed to cause the label firmly to adhere to the letter; when the
pressure is discontinued, the upper block springs up into its original place, and
the letter is then to be removed, the operation being completed. It is scarcely
necessary to observe, that the labels should be so laid on the caoutchouc within
the box B, that the head of the Queen engraved on the label should be found
in its right place after the letter has been stamped, and that the label should
be perfectly smooth and without wrinkle when thus laid. It has also to be
observed, that the letter, when placed both in the damper and stamper, should
be so held that the edges of the corner of the letter shall touch the sides p, q,
of the damper and stamper respectively, as shewn in Figure 11. In order that
the letter may be damped and stamped in the right place, a sliding lid or
cover K is fitted to each of these machines, so as to preserve the sponge in
the case of the damping machine, and the labels in the case of the stamping
machine, from falling out when the machines are carried about, which sliding
lid K must be drawn out previously to either of these machines being used.
This sliding lid K is a flat piece of brass covering the spaces in which the
sponge and the labels in the two machines respectively are contained, vide
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 11, in which latter Figure the end of the slide is shown for
convenience, although the slide must be removed before a letter is placed in
the position there shown. The slide is put in and drawn out at the back or
side g of these machines, as seen in Figure 4, and is kept in its place by working
in a horizontal groove made in the inside of the side p of the box or case D,
and is so fitted that the springs of the box B of the damper, and B of the
stamper, respectively, cause the frame C and the top of the box of the stamper
respectively to press against it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE LABELLER (THAT IS) THE MACHINE FOR BOTH DAMPING
AND STAMPING.
Figures: 12, 13, 14, and 15 represent the four sides, which are designated
sides,,,and, respectively, the plunger being not depressed.
Figures 16 and 17 represent the plunger depressed, so as to press the
letter without forcing down the box d.
Figures 18 and 19 represent the plunger fully depressed, the letter being
with the boxes d'and 6 brought as low as they can descend.
Figures 20 and 21, represent two upright sections of the labeller, Figure 20
corresponding with Figure 12, and Figure 21 with Figure 17, only in
Figure 2 the plunger is shown fully depressed, as at Figure 19.

page_text: Figure 22 gives a horizontal section just above the box d, showing the
position in which a letter is to be placed in the labeller.
The upper part of this machine has a brass-bound block E2, with a piece
of caoutchouc e2, covering its lower side, and a plunger G2, with its spiral
spring, similar to those forming the upper part of the damper and stamper.
Working similarly in the lower part of this machine is also a brass-bound
wooden block A2, which is fastened by a screw to the bottom of the labeller.
This block has a caoutchouc a2 covering its upper side, and has also its box b
working vertically on springs fixed under its short sides, in a manner similarly
to the description given of the box in the lower part of the stamper, the block
and the box respectively being of the same size in their horizontal section as
the block and the box respectively in the lower part of the stamper just
referred to; on the caoutchouc covering of this block, and within the sides
of this box, labels are laid in the position coloured green, as before described, in
order to their being affixed to damped letters. The process of damping is as
follows: Round the box b, just described, is fitted another brass box or case d,
having the slots shown, the outer case D2 having in its side q1, Figure 14, a
corresponding slot, which box works vertically on springs placed under its two
long sides, similarly to the springs under box b; these boxes, as those in the
damper and stamper, should be accurately fitted, working almost air-tight.
Outside this box d is the outer case D2, between which and the box b the box d
works vertically. To the short side q1 of the outer case is affixed the bent
lever M, working in a vertical plane round the screw P, as shown, and on the
opposite short side rl of the outer case is a screw similarly placed, round
which an arm N, similar to the long arm of the bent lever, works similarly;
these two arms are .connected together at their upper ends by a horizontal
bar O. The rod Q is placed as shewn, freely working vertically within slotted
guides a, one end of which rod is connected at v with the extremity of the short
arm of the lever M, so as to admit of the action represented in Figure 14.
When the springs of the box bare not depressed the sides of the box are about
three-eighths of an inch above the surface, of the caoutchouc a2, and again
the box d has its horizontal sides about a quarter of an inch .above the top
edges of the box b; when the springs of box bare not depressed, then the
rod Q is pressed down by the finger, the lower extremity of the rod acting on
the point of the short arm of the lever M; the action of the spring Rat
that point which would tend to keep up that arm is overcome, and the point v
descends to v¹, and the. connecting bar O traverses the slot to point y,
when the pressure being withdrawn, the spring R forces back the connecting
bar to its first position, as shown in Figure 18. Now, to the part of this bar

page_text: which is enclosed within the sides of the box d is fixed a sponge, which is
kept sufficiently moistened, and is of such a size and form, that when the bar
traverses the slot, and returns, as described, it shall adequately damp the
corner of the letter in the part of the letter bounded by the four sides of the
box d, to the top edge of which the letter is pressed by the plunger. It is
needless to shew this sponge in the Drawings, and its introduction' would
cause complexity. At the back of the labeller is an opening S, both in the
outer case D2, and in the box d, sufficient to allow the sponge on the bar to
project from the back of the machine, so as to admit of the sponge being
moistened when necessary; the two short sides of the box d have also attached
to them the parts marked d", which have vertical slots, which are connected
with the slot y, as shewn, and are so formed as to allow the box d to be
depressed without hindrance from the sponge bar, provided the lever arms
M, N, which it connects, be in the position shown in Figures 16 and 18; also
in the back of the outer case D2 are openings S', to allow the parts d* of the
box' d to move freely vertically, Figures 15 and 19. Now, a letter in order to
be damped is held with the right hand in the position shown in Figures 16,
17, and 22, the plunger G is then depressed with a finger of the left hand till
the caoutchouc of the upper block E2, presses lightly the letter; this action
is seen in Figures 16 and 17; the plunger is retained in this position, while
with another finger of the left hand the rod Q is depressed till its lower
extremity, which is at v, Figure 14, is brought into the position ¹, when
the sponge bar O will have reached the extremity y' of the slot y which
are in the box d. The damping being then completed, the pressure on
Q is withdrawn, and the sponge bar is returned by the action of the
spring R into its first position, as shewn in Figures 12 and 18, when, no
impediment being offered to the descent of the upper block, the depression.
of the plunger being continued, the letter is forced down between the
caoutchouc of the upper block and the upper edges of the box d till it is
on a level with the top edges of the box b, and the depression being continued,
the sides of the box 6 descend, together with the sides of the box d, till the
danped part of the letter is forced against the gummed side of the label,
which lies uppermost, with a sufficient pressure to cause the label to adhere,
when the pressure on the plunger being withdrawn, the sides of the two
boxes rise to their full height, and the upper block continuing to ascend, the
letter is left free to be removed, the operation being completed.. The position
of the labels in the box is shewn by a green space in Figures 20 and 21.
When the sponge bar is in its first position, shown in Figure 16, the sponge is
protected from dust or other injury by an external case D3, which, being.

page_text: firmly fastened to both the upper and lower parts of the back of the outer
case of the labeller, connects them together. On the upper side of the
part of the case is a lid 7, by which access is obtained to the sponge to supply
it with moisture as often as necessary; provided this case answer the purpose
of protecting the sponge, of firmly connecting the upper and lower parts of
the outer case 2 of the labeller, and of admitting a supply of moisture to the
sponge when requisite, and this be done without clogging the action of the
machine, as described above; it is immaterial in what form this case be made,
and as its insertion in the Drawings would only tend to make them complex,
it is not fully represented, the dotted green line sufficiently indicatiug one
form in which it may be constructed. In order to prepare the labels for being
laid in the stamper and labeller as described, by cutting the labels of a postage
label sheet apart, so that each label shall have its due proportion of margin,
I lay part of the sheet to be divided flat, with the gummed side downwards,
on a flat piece of board; on this part of the sheet of labels I lay a flat plate of
brass T, Figure 23, which is a sixteenth of an inch thick, and is a little
wider than the width of a sheet of labels, having slits or slots t¹ wide enough
to admit of the blade of an ordinary penknife being placed within them.
These slits correspond with imaginary lines drawn from the top of the sheet
towards the bottom, through the margins between the rows of labels, at an
equal distance from the sides of the labels; hence it will be plain that this
plate of brass being accurately placed on the part of the sheet of labels before
mentioned, its slits corresponding with the imaginary lines referred to, it will
be easy, with a penknife introduced between the slots, to cut up the part of the
label sheet and strips of an equal width. These strips, being cut to equal
lengths, so as to contain an equal number of labels, leaving the due proportion
of margin at each of their extremities, are then laid evenly on the top of each
other, the gummed side being downward. W, Figures 24 and 25, is a block
of wood, the length of which is to be about two inches more than the length
of the strips required to be further cut up into separate labels, and the width
of it is about one inch and a half; at each end are fitted iron screws, by which
a piece of brass one-eighth of an inch in thickness, and of the length and nearly
the width of the block of wood just mentioned, having holes, at each extremity
corresponding with the female screw holes in the wood, which screw holes are
of iron, and are let into the wood; the strips of labels m are laid, as described,
on the wood between the two screw holes, and the brass plate V, Figures 26
and 27, is laid on the top of the uppermost strip. This brass has slits
like the former, only corresponding with imaginary lines drawn across a label
sheet, so as to preserve an equal distance from the ends of the labels as they

page_text: stand in rows on the sheet. It is obvious that the strips of labels, as described
above, being held tightly together by means of the brass plate screwed to the
wood, it is easy to separate them by cutting with a penknife between the slits
in the brass plate the strips of labels, so that the labels shall be ready to be
placed in the stamper or labeller.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I make no claim to
any of the parts separately, and it is manifest that many of the details may be
varied without departing from my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Haughton, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.