IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING ADHESIVE ENVELOPES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER LIKE USES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marcus Simon, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, at
present residing at the Castle and Falcon Hotel, Aldersgate Street, in the City
of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CLOSING ADHESIVE ENVELOPES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER LIKE USES."
Partly a communication from abroad by Heinrich Kessler, of Oberlahnstein-
on-the-Rhine.
Sealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 5th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marcus Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1878.
MARCUS SIMON, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, at present residing at the
"IMPROVE-
Castle and Falcon Hotel, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING ADHESIVE ENVELOPES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO
OTHER LIKE USES." [Partly a communication from abroad by Heinrich Kessler,
of Oberlahnstein-on-the-Rhine.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for closing adhesive
envelopes, applicable also to other like uses.
The apparatus consists of a handle having a passage formed through it from ond
to end, and a metal rod passes through this passage. The handle and the rod, each
at its lower end, carries a plate of a form corresponding to that of the gummed edge
of the flap of the envelope. The plates are one over the other, the upper plate
being affixed to the metal rod, and the lower one to the handle.
The connection between the handle and the lower plate is by means of a pair of
studs, and the upper plate is able to slide up and down a short distance upon the
studs which pass through it and serve to guide it.
The upper plate is armed with a number of needle points, and the lower plate is
perforated for the passage of these points. A coiled spring is concealed within the
handle which tends to press upwards the metal rod and the plate which it carries,
and when these parts are in their highest position the points do not protrude
[ Price G71

page_text: through the lower plate, but by placing the finger upon a button at the top of the
handle in which the rod terminates, the rod and its plato may be pressed down so
as to cause the points to project.
The apparatus is used in the following manner-The envelope to be closed is
laid with the flap open on a soft pad arranged for the purpose within a tray or
box, and the apparatus is placed upon the flap with the lower plate resting upon
its edge. The finger is then pressed upon the button, and the points are protruded
into the paper. The apparatus is then lifted, carrying the envelope with it, and
its flap is then dabbed for the purpose of softening the gun upon a moistened pad
which the box also contains. This done the envelope, still held by the apparatus, is
carried back to the pad, on which it is replaced, but with the gummed flap folded. The
finger is then withdrawn from the button, allowing the points to recede, and by a
firm pressure on the handle which presses the lower plate upon the envelope, the
closing made secure. The moist pad is made approximately of the same formn as
the gummed edge of the envelope flap, so that the moisture may be applied only to
the parts where it is required. The form of the plates will be varied to suit the
shape of the various sorts of envelopes or other articles in connection with which it
may have to be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Marcus Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th October
1878.
MARCUS SIMON, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, at present residing at the
Castle and Falcon Hotel, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING ADHESIVE ENVELOPES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO
OTHER LIKE USES." Partly a communication from abroad by Heinrich Kessler, of
Oberlahnstein-on-the-Rhine.
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for closing adhesive
envelopes, applicable also to other like uses.
The apparatus consists of a handle having a passage formed through it from end
to end, and a metal rod passes through this passage. The handle and the rod, each
at its lower end, carries a plate of a form corresponding to that of the gummed edgo
of the flap of the envelope. The plates are one over the other, the upper plate being
affixed to the metal rod, and the lower one to the handle.
The connection between the handle and the lower plate is by means of a pair of
studs, and the upper plate is able to slide up and down a short distance upon the
studs which pass through it and serve to guide it.
The upper plate is armed with a number of needle points, and the lower plate is
perforated for the passage of these points. A coiled spring is concealed within the
handle which tends to press upwards the metal rod and the plate which it carries,
and when these parts are in their highest position the points do not protrude

page_text: through the lower plate; but by placing the finger upon a button at the top of the
handle in which the rod terminates, the rod and its plate may be pressed down so
as to cause the points to project.
The apparatus is used in the following manner :-The envelope to be closed is
laid with the flap open on a soft pad arranged for the purpose within a tray or box,
and the apparatus is placed upon the flap with the lower plate resting upon its edge.
The finger is then pressed upon the button, and the points aro protruded into the
paper. The apparatus is then lifted, carrying the envelope with it, and its flap is
then dabbed for the purpose of softening the gum upon a moistened pad which the
box also contains. This done the envelope, still held by the apparatus, is carried
back to the pad, on which it is replaced, but with the gummed flap folded. The
finger is then withdrawn from the button, allowing the points to recede, and by a
firm pressure on the handle which presses the lower plate upon the envelope, the
closing is made secure. The form of the plates will be varied to suit the shapo of
the various sorts of envelopes or other articles in connection with which it may have
to be used.
In order that the said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an apparatus for closing adhesive
envelopes constructed according to this Invention; Figure 2 is a plan; and Figure
3 is an under side view of the same.
A and B are two plates of the form approximately of the gummed portion of the
flap of the envelope with which the apparatus is to be used. The plate A. I call
the pressure plate, as it is by the pressure of this plate upon the gummed flap that
it is caused to adhere to the other parts of the envelope. The plate B I call the
holding plate, it is armed with needle points B', B¹, and by means of these it is
able to take hold of the gummed flap of the envelope to be closed. The pressure
plate A is perforated to admit of the points B¹ passing through it.
C is a socket, into which a handle D is fitted; and C, C, are two arms on the
socket, which, at their ends, receive the two studs A', A'; these studs are fixed
into the pressure plate A; they have screw threads cut upon them at their upper
ends to receive the nuts A", and by this means the pressure plate is fixed to the
socket and handle.
The holding plato B has a stem B" fixed to it, and this stem passes through the
socket C and handle D; it has a screw cut upon it, at its upper end, and receives
the head E. Beneath the head E a recess is formed in the, handle serving as a
spring box, and the coiled spring F is placed within it. The spring F pressing
upon the head E draws the stem B and plate B upwards or away from the
pressure plate A, so that the points B' may not protrude from the under surface
of the pressure plate A until pressure applied to the head E overcomes the
spring.
In the use of the apparatus the envelope, when it has received its letter or
onclosure, is laid upon a pad with the flap open, and the gummed surface down-
wards. The apparatus is then placed on the envelope in such a position that the
pressure plate bears directly upon the gummed portion of the flap. By the
application of the thumb to the head E the needle points B' are now made to
protrude through the pressure plate, and to penetrate the flap. The apparatus
being now raised from the pad carries the envelope with it; it is taken to a
moistened pad which is ready to hand, and dabbed upon the pad, when the gum
upon the flap takes from the pad sufficient moisture to soften it. The envelope
still held by the appartus is now carried back to the first pad, upon which it is now
placed with the flap folded over so as to close the envelope. A firm pressuro is
given with the pressure plate, whilst by removing the thumb from the head E the
holding plate is permitted to rise. Thus the flap is made to adhere firmly to the

page_text: other parts of the envelope, and the envelope is then released from the apparatus.
In this way envelopes can be very rapidly closed, and the disagreeable operation of
moistening the flap with the mouth is avoided. In a precisely similar manner
apparatus may be made for attaching postage stamps or other labels, the form of
the pressure plate A and holding plate B being adapted to that of the stamp or
label with which the apparatus is intended to be used.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
The apparatus for closing adhesive envelopes, substantially as described.
I also claim like apparatus for attaching postage stamps and labels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marcus Simon, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this First day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
MARCUS SIMON. (L.S.)