Improvements in and relating to Machines or Appliances for Affixing Postage and other Stamps or Labels on to Envelopes, Parcels, Bottles, and other Articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines or Appliances for
Affixing Postage and other Stamps or Labels on to Envelopes,
Parcels, Bottles, and other Articles.
We, ALFRED YOLE, Clerk, of St. Stephens Street, and JAMES MUIRHEAD,
Merchant of Queen Street, both in the City and County of Edinburgh, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts of a stamping machine or appliance for
containing moistening and delivering or stamping and affixing postage or other
stamps or labels on to envelopes, parcels, or other papers, bottles or vessels and
which will effect same in a more expeditious, simple, and efficient manner than
heretofore.
Under one simple portable construction of hand machine for delivering one stamp
or label at a time the improved mechanism consists of a rectangular close metal
case with a removable screwed on side, and open at the bottom.
This hollow case
would have a vertical partition up the centre dividing it into two vertical chambers
or compartments. In a horizontal cylindrical casing attached to the cover of the
one chamber would be inserted a spindle carrying a roll or reel of the stamps or
labels, preferably with collars, and with separating perforations between each
stamp, and this rell or band of stamps would turn loose on the spindle with light
pacing friction and be fed through a slit in the under part of its casing and pass
down between two guide feed delivery gripping rollers preferably with india rubber
or elastic surfaces, and then pass down through a curved slit or shoot and be
delivered through a slit in the partition into the lower part of the other or stamping
chamber, the said slit in partition being fitted with a cutting edge or blade on its
under side. A vertical travelling elastic pad would reciprocate in the stamping
chamber on the lower end of an actuating hand rod or spindle projecting up through
the cover in the top of the chamber and a guide crosshead or bracket above,
preferably travelling with the rod, and with a helical spring between the lower
surface of the travelling crosshead and the top of the case, and a stronger spring
between the top surface of the travelling crosshead and the actuating or striking
handle on the upper end of the rod. One of the spindles of the stamp paper feed
rolls would pass out through one side of the case, preferably the fixed side, and
have a toothed or ratchet wheel fixed on it with a loose oscillating lever on the
outer end of the spindle carrying a loose ratchet spring pawl which would take into
the ratchet teeth of the wheel; and this ratchet lever would be connected by a
link to one arm of the travelling crosshead so that as the vertical spring rod and
crosshead was pushed down it would turn the ratchet wheel and gripping rolls to
traverse and deliver the roll of stamps to the desired distance of one stamp at each
action, which would be delivered down through the cutting slit in the vertical
partition, under the stamping pad. This stamping pad would have a cutter blade
secured on its inner side to cut off the stamp just after it was delivered under it,
and press it down on to the letter, parcel, or other object to which it was to be
attached. The surface of the envelope or object to which the stamp delivered by
the machine was to be attached, would be previously damped or gummed by a
moving damping pad lever arrangement fitted to work through a slot or opening in
the lower side of this stamping chamber, preferably opposite to the cutting slot.
This stamping pad would be made in the form of a small close box fitted on a
fulcrum spindle near the bottom, and oscillating down into the chamber, with the
damping pad on its inner and under surface, by the automatic action of a coil or

page_text: other spring attached to the spindle and some fixed point of the frame, which would
cause it to always come down and damp the upper surface of the object when freed
where the stamp was to be placed and be removed out of the way of the descending
pressing pad by the downward action of the hand rod against the pressure of the
light spring below it, by a reciprocating stem or link coming in contact with a lever
or other equivalent on the damping pad spindle against the power of the spring on
it, and so remove it out of the way before the descent of the stamping pad, after
which the descent of the strong spring and hand spindle would allow the stamping
pad to cut off and attach the stamp to the envelope or object as before described.
The damping pad box would be a close hollow box fitted with a damping sponge
and a perforated elastic surface in front, such as a porous blanket cloth or
perforated rubber surface with a spring or rubber elastic action inside to press out
the water on to the moistening porous surface or blanket which might be attached
to the front of the box by light straps at the sides clear of the damping surface;
and a screw or plug hole might be fitted in the outside of the box for the insertion
of fresh moisture, gum, or other adhesive substance when that was to be used
instead of water for being applied to the surface of the object to which the stamp
or label was to be attached, water answering for previously gummed stamps or
labels. In some cases the strip of paper stamps or labels might be so gummed or
damped on one side by having one of the feeding rollers made hollow for the
insertion of sponge or other porous material to be filled from time to time with
water or gum, which would be pressed out through the porous blanket or perforated
blanket or perforated surface of this roller as the feed rollers were rotated and fed
the paper through between them.
For attaching and damping stamps or labels on flat surfaces, the bottom of the
stamping case would be straight and so place the stamp or label square and flat on
to the object. But for attaching the stamps to bottles and other curved objects the
bottom of the case and the surface of the stamping and damping pad would all be
made segmental approximately to the shape of the surface of the bottle or object
to which the stamp or label had to be attached. And although this machine has
only been described as a single hand machine for the use and attaching of only one
kind of postage or other stamps or labels at a time, it will be obvious that it can
also be made for general stamping purposes with two, three, or more sets of
chambers and feeding and stamping appliances in rows, as general postage stamp
applying machines for being conveniently fitted on the counters of post offices or
other public places with the various priced stamps individually arranged in each to
which the letters could be applied and the instruments be worked by lever, treadle
or spring button mechanism, instead of by mere hand pushing spindles as before
described. A registering movement may be fitted to each stamping appliance with
an escapement and chain of wheels and index dial or dials to show by each action
of the stamper how many stamps have been used from each machine and reel.
Dated the 2nd February 1891
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines or Appliances for
Affixing Postage and other Stamps or Labels on to Envelopes,
Parcels, Bottles, and other Articles.
We, ALFRED YOLE, Clerk, of 5 St. Stephens Street, and JAMES MUIRHEAD,
Merchant of Queen Street, both in the City and County of Edinburgh, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction or

page_text: arrangement and combination of the parts of a stamping machine or appliance for
containing, moistening, and delivering or stamping, and affixing postage or other
stamps or labels on to envelopes, parcels, or other papers, bottles or vessels, and
which will effect same in a more expeditious simple and efficient manner than
heretofore.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a front side elevation partly in section of one construction or
arrangement of our improved machine specially suitable for affixing postage or
other stamps on to envelopes and the like.
Figure 2 is a corresponding view looking from the opposite side of the machine
with the front enclosing plate removed to show the internal mechanism more
clearly, the operating hand spindle and parts being shown in their lowest position.
Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a detached sectional side elevation of the water or liquid reservoir
and pad in position for damping the gummed surface of the envelope or object to
which the stamp is to be affixed; and
Figure 5 is an edge elevation at right angles to Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an inverted plan view looking at the bottom of the reservoir shown
in Figure 4 with the damping pad part L" removed, and
Figure 7 is a plan view looking down on the top of the reservoir Figure 4.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the stamp cutting blade and pressing pad attached to
the lower part of the actuating central spindle I, and
Figure 9 is a view of the cylinder or roll on which the paper web of stamps is
mounted or rolled.
Referring to these drawings: Under this simple portable construction of hand
machine for delivering one stamp or label at a time the improved mechanism
consists of a rectangular close metal case A, A', with a removable screwed on
side A", at the back, and having an open recess B up the centre and one side
at the bottom B. This hollow case has a vertical partition B² up the centre
dividing it into two vertical chambers or compartments B, C, the former B
being closed at the top and the latter C having a cover C₁ hinged at one side.
In the upper division of this chamber C, a bobbin or reel D, D', is mounted on
a spindle D", shown as detached in Figures 9 and 10, passing out through
slotted bearings C", under the cover C, and having collars D₁ to carry a roll
of paper stamps, preferably with separating perforations between each stamp,
and this reel or band D. D', of stamps would turn loose on its spindle D", it
might be, with light pacing friction, and be fed through a guiding slot piece E,
in the under part of its casing C, and pass down between two guide feed delivery
gripping rollers F, G, preferably with india-rubber or elastic surfaces_mounted
on their spindles in the lower part of the chamber C and then pass down and
laterally out through a curved slit or guide pieces G' G" and be delivered
through a slit in the partition B2, Figures 2 and 2, into the lower part of the
other or stamping chamber B, B, under the stamp presser H, the said slit in
partition being fitted with a portable cutting edge or blade G on its under side,
shown detached in Figure 8. A vertical travelling elastic pad H reciprocates in
the stamping chamber B, B', and is secured on the lower end of a reciprocating
hand rod or spindle I, projecting up through the top close end B, in the top
of the chamber B, and a guide crosshead or bracket J above, preferably
travelling loose on the rod I, and with a light helical spring j, mounted between
the lower surface of the travelling crosshead J and the top B of the case A,
and a stronger spring i mounted between the top surface of the travelling cross-
head J, and the lower collar nut K', of the actuating or striking handle K,
screwed and secured by an adjustable screw bush K" to the upper end of the
rod I. The spindle F of the gripping roll F, passes out through one side.

page_text: preferably the fixed side A', of the case A, and has a toothed or ratchet
wheel F, fixed on its outside with retaining spring pawl F, and with a loose
oscillating lever F³, on the outer end of the spindle F' carrying a pawl F4, which
takes into the free end of the acting spring ratchet teeth F1, of the ratchet
wheel, to turn it and the gripping roller F, at each downward stroke of the
hand spindle I. This ratchet lever F3, F4, is connected by a long link F³,
jointed above to a stud J, on to one arm of the travelling crosshead J so that
as the vertical spring rod I, and crosshead J, were pushed down, it would turn
the ratchet wheel F, in the direction of the arrows in Figures 1 and 2, and
gripping rolls F, G, to traverse and deliver the roll of stamps to the desired
distance of one stamp at each action, down through the guide and cutting
slit G', G", in the vertical partition B, under the stamping pad H, H', past
the knives G, in the side B2 of the chamber B, as shown in the detailed section
Figure 2. This stamping pad H. HA, is guided by projections H" in slots H³,
in the front and back side A', A", of the case A, and has a cutter blade G³,
screwed to the metal upper inner side H to cut off the stamp just after it was
delivered under it over the under knife G², as described, and press it down on
to the letter, parcel, or other object to which it is to be attached, at the lower
part 1 of the chamber B3 and under the pad H¹. The surface of the envelope
or object to which the stamp delivered by the machine was to be attached, would
be previously damped or gummed by a moving damping pad lever arrangement,
shown detached in Figures 4 to 7, fitted to work through a slot or opening at A³,
in the lower back side of the stamping chamber B, preferably opposite to the
cutting slot and knife G². This stamping pad is made in the form of a small
segmental close hollow box or water reservoir L, fitted on a fulcrum spindle L',
near the bottom in the two sides A', A", of the case A, and oscillates down into
the chamber B, with the damping pad L, on its inner and under surface, by
the automatic action of a coil or other spring L, attached to the square end
of the spindle L', and some fixed point L³ of the case, as shown on the back
cover A, of the case, in Figure and dotted in in Figure 1, which would
cause it to always come down and damp the upper surface of the object when
freed where the stamp was to be placed by the ascent of the spindle I, and
crosshead J, and coil of the springs i, j, and be removed out of the way of the
descending pressing pad H, H', by the downward action of the hand on the
handle K, and rod I, and crosshead J, against the pressure of the spring L,
below it, and the light spiral spring by a reciprocating rigid stem J' (or it
might be a link) connected to the opposite arm of the crosshead J to that of
the link and joint stud 11, which by a roller J³, on its lower end would come
in contact with the curved lever acting surface of the water box L, oscillating
on the damping pad spindle L', against the power of the spring L² on it, the
stem working down through a guide J" in the upper end of the case A, and
so raise it and the pad L" out of the way, and hold it there by the stem J,
entering a slot in the case L, before the descent of the stamping pad H, H',
to the mid position of its traverse in the chamber B and dotted in at H* in
Figure 2, after which the descent of the strong spring i, and hand spindle I, by
the continued pressure of the hand on the handle K, would cause the stamping
pad H, H, to cut off and attach the stamp over the previously damped part
of the envelope or object placed below the lower end A of the case A as before
described. In Figure 1 the acting spindle 1, with its pressing pad H, H', and
handle K, are shown in their highest normal positions raised automatically by
the two springs i, j, when the pressure of the hand is relieved from the handle K,
and the damping pad L, L", down in the act of damping the paper; while in
Figure 2 these parts are all shown as pressed down by hand to their lowest
position with the pad H, H¹, as pressing the gummed stamp cut off, on to the
envelope or object below the lower end A2, A² of the case.
The raising
springs i, j, are preferably enclosed and protected from the fingers of the operator
by telescopic tubes i, j, screwed at their extreme ends ", " to the crosshead J,

page_text: and to the screw socket nut K', of the handle K, and the top 13", of the chamber B.
Or these springs i, j, may be made in the form of ribbon springs, instead of
helical springs, and thus dispense with the telescopic coverings j. The damping
pad box consists of a close hollow box L, l, fitted with a damping porons elastic
substance such as layers of chamois or buff leather L", under a perforated plate or
surface L, above it, or it might be a porous blanket cloth or perforated rubber
surface with a spring or rubber elastic action inside to press out the water on to the
moistening porous surface or blanket L" which might be attached to the front of
the box by cement at the edges or light straps at the sides clear of the damping
surface; and a screw hole and plug is fitted on the outside of the box L for the
insertion of the water, or moisture, or gum, or other adhesive substance when that
was to be used instead of water, for being applied to the surface of the object to
which the stamp was to be attached, water answering for previously gummed stamps
or labels, and the plug would preferably be used with a fine conical point to open
a small hole for the admission of air sufficient to allow the water or moisture to
pass from the box L into the elastic pad L", without escaping through the air hole.
The bobbins D, D', as shown detached in Figure 10 for receiving the roll of
previously gummed and cross perforated stamps and labels, may be made of wood
or metal and are formed with collars D', D, and either with the spindles D"
attached to them, or formed separate so as to be shipped on to their spindles after
being filled with the roll of paper. The inner end of the paper is held in a
slightly flattened part of the bobbin D, by a light blade spring d, having its end
inserted in slots in the collars D¹. Although the reel D, D', with the roll of
stamps has been shown as mounted over the feeding rollers F, G, it is to be
understood that they may be placed otherwise as in the chamber C of the case A
at the back of the rollers F, G, extende.l laterally for that purpose.
For attaching and damping stamps or labels on flat surfaces the bottom A³, of
the stamping case A, would be straight, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and so place
the stamp or label square and flat on to the object. But for attaching the stamps
to bottles and other curved objects this bottom A³, of the case A, and the surface
of the stamping and damping pad H, L", would all be made segmental approxi-
mately to the shape of the surface of the bottle or object to which the stamp or
label had to be attached. And although this machine has only been described as a
single hand machine for the use and attaching of only one kind of postage or other
stamps or labels at a time, it will be obvious that it can also be made for general
stamping purposes with two, three, or more sets of chambers and feeding and
stamping appliances in rows, as general postage stamp applying machines for being
conveniently fitted on the counters of post offices or other public places with the
various priced stamps individually arranged in each, to which the letters could be
applied, and the instruments be worked by lever treadle, or spring button mechanism,
instead of by mere hand pushing spindles as before described. A registering
movement may be fitted to each stamping appliance with an escapement and train
of wheels and index dial or dials to show by each action of the stamper how many
stamps have been used from each machine and reel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
'
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of a
machine or appliances having stamp or label rolls and feed mechanism and cutting
off blades and stamping pad, and oscillating liquid reservoir and damping pad, all
enclosed in one box frame and operated by a single hand spindle automatically
returned by the recoil of springs, for affixing postage and other stamps or labels on
to envelopes, parcels, bottles, and other articles, substantially as herein described,
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In a machine for affixing stamps, labels, and the like, the construction
and use of a segmental oscillating liquid reservoir and damping pad operated or

page_text: taken out of action by a reciprocating rod and crosshead from a single hand spindle
with duplex springs, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a machine for affixing stamps, labels, and the like, the construction and
arrangement of stamp feeding rolls and guides and ratchet and delivery mechanism
and cutting off knives, operated from a re-acting duplex spring crosshead and single
spindle, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for affixing stamps, labels, and the like, the primarily
actuating of the moving mechanism by a single spindle with moving crosshead and
light and strong helical or ribbon springs below and above said crosshead, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated the 30th November 1891
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.