A METHOD OP AND APPARATUS FOR EXPEDITING THE STAMPING OR MARKING OF LETTERS, PAPERS, LABELS, AND DOCUMENTS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ADDITIONS TO STAMPING AND MARKING INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS, OR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1856

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Roger George Salter at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st October
1856.
I, ROGER GEORGE SALTER, of Alphington, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A METHOD
OP AND APPARATUS FOR EXPEDITING THE STAMPING OR MARKING OF LETTERS, PAPERS,
LABELS, AND DOCUMENTS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ADDITIONS TO STAMPING AND
MARKING INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS, OR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in expediting the stamping or marking of letters,
labels, papers, and documents (especially when a number have to be marked
consecutively), by employing, in connection with the stamping or marking
instrument, certain means or contrivances for raising the letter or other article
after the marking has been performed, so as to separate it from the others,
which is effected by excluding air from or by producing a vacuum on the outer
surface thereof; or, by the employment of an adhesive agent, the letter or
other article being being released by destroying the vacuum or overcoming the
action of the adhesive agent.
And my Invention also consists in apparatus which I employ for the pur-
poses of my Invention, and in improvements in and additions to stamping
instruments, or in connection with the same.

page_text: The apparatus which I prefer is a cylinder, fitted with a piston, and con-
nected to a stamp, having a flexible ring at bottom nearly flush with the face
of the stamp, and made to descend with it on the letter or other article to be
marked. On the up stroke of the piston a vacuum will be produced, which
will be destroyed on admitting air through a valve in the cylinder. Or, I
connect to a stamping instrument a stamper or rod, provided at bottom
with a flexible pad or disc, or with an adhesive material or agent, which is
made to descend (with the stamp) on the article to be stamped, and raises it
with it until it be released by coming against stops.
Instead of fixing a stamp to a cylinder, the piston or the cylinder itself may
be engraved, or provided with a proper die or stamp, so as to serve as the
stamping instrument, and being worked by suitable contrivances will thus both
impress the desired mark and raise the article so marked, to separate it from
others.
My improved apparatus, which would be specially applicable for impressing
date marks on letters, and obliterating postage stamps for postal purposes, is
constructed as follows:-In à framework is mounted a stamp, having a
cylinder attached to the side thereof, the bottom of which is provided with a
flexible ring, flush with the face of the stamp, or nearly so. The stamp and
cylinder are so contrived that a reciprocating action may be communicated to
them by means of cranks or cams, worked by a treadle or otherwise.
A piston is fitted in the cylinder and worked by connections from the cranks
(or other contrivance) which actuate the cylinder, but independently of its
movement. A valve is formed in the side of the cylinder.
The stamp and cylinder are mounted in a convenient position with respect
to'a platform or case, which holds the letters to be marked, and which is
carried up a guide way by means of ratchet wheels and rack and pinion,
worked by cranks or levers or by other contrivances.
The platform is open on. two. sides, to admit letters of any size, and is so
formed that they present their labelled corners to the stamp. Under the
platform is a spring...
On working the treadle or otherwise, the piston is drawn down to the end of
its stroke, and the cylinder and stamp brought on to the uppermost letter (the
spring being thereby depressed) and the proper marks imprinted. On the
piston being drawn up, a vacuum or partial vacuum will be produced in the
cylinder, and on the surface of the letter.
-The letter will adhere to the cylinder, and follow it in its up stroke till it
reaches the top of the guide way, when the valve in the cylinder coming in
contact with a stop or incline will be opened, and air being admitted, the letter

page_text: will be released and fall into a receptacle. When all the letters have been
stamped the platform will be at its full height, and a projection on it comes in
contact with a pin in a lever, which lifts the ratchets out of gear with the
ratchet wheels or other connections, and the platform descends by its own
gravity, ready to receive a fresh supply of letters to be stamped.
The inking of the stamp is performed during its up stroke. An ink reser-
voir is fixed on a lever vibrating on a fixed centre; it overtakes the stamp, and
inks it by a sponge, pad, roller, or other agent, clearing it on its return stroke.
This motion may be given by cranks, cams, and connecting rods, or other-
wise.
Two or more stamps may be mounted in the same frame, and worked
simultaneously.
Instead of the cylinder and piston, other contrivances for producing a
vacuum or making an article temporarily adhere, may be employed.