AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING STAMPS OR LABELS TO LETTERS, ENVELOPES, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, AND FOR SEPARATING AND EMBOSSING STAMPS AND LABELS
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Leopold Beral Bertram at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th October 1870.
I, LEOPOLD BERAL BERTRAM, of High Street, Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING STAMPS OR LABELS TO LETTERS,
ENVELOPES, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, AND FOR SEPARATING AND EMBOSSING STAMPS
AND LABELS," to be as follows:-
My said Invention is designed to produce an efficient and convenient
apparatus whereby postage stamps, receipt stamps, labels, trade marks,
and the like may be properly placed and adhesively fixed upon letters,
envelopes, or other papers or documents, and whereby embossed stamps
and trade marks may be embossed either upon the document itself or
upon a separate strip or piece of paper and affixed adhesively to such
document. By the use of my Invention the unpleasant and injurious
effects incurred by applying the tongue to adhesive stamps and labels
are entirely obviated as the apparatus damps, separates, and fixes the
stamps or labels mechanically. The said apparatus is constructed with
a plate or shelf upon which the letter or other document to be stamped

page_text: is placed. Over this shelf is arranged a vertically moving rod or plunger
which is fitted to work in a socket and is raised by a spring. When the
apparatus is used for applying adhesive stamps to any surface this
plunger is provided with a soft pad to press the stamp upon the said
surface, but when it is used for embossing stamps it is provided with a
suitable die. A pair of feed rollers is arranged at one side of the afore-
said plate or shelf to carry the stamps, labels, or other articles forward
to the required position under the plunger. When adhesive stamps or
labels are being used the lower roller is covered with felt, flannel, or
other suitable substance and runs in water contained in a small tank
attached to the frame. When the apparatus is being used simply for
forming embossed stamps or for merely separating or dividing stamps,
labels, trade marks, or the like, the rollers will both run dry. Across
the path of the strip or sheet of stamps or labels as they advance from
the feed rollers to the stamper or plunger I place a knife or blade,
another knife or blade is attached to the plunger, and the two blades
act like scizzors and separate each stamp or label from the strip as the
plunger descends, its separation and fixing being thus effected simul-
taneously. If desired a single blade may be used.
It is obviously very important in using stamps, labels, or tickets,
which are formed in sheets or strips that the feed rollers should move
accurately and uniformly the same distance at each stroke of the
plunger, otherwise the division or separation of some of the stamps or
other articles would be frequently across the stamp or label instead of
on the proper line of division between them. To insure this desired
regularity and accuracy of the feed I employ the following devices :-
A small bracket is formed or fixed on one side of the plunger socket.
In this bracket I fit a short driving spindle on whose end I place a
wheel or pulley from which I extend a light chain to a wheel or pulley
on the lower feed roller. Motion is imparted to the driving spindle from ;
the plunger at each upward stroke of the same by means of a spring
tappet which is attached to the plunger and acts upon a tappet wheel
on the driving shaft. The said tappet is so arranged that it passes down
without acting on the tappet wheel, so that at the moment when the
stamping is accomplished the feeding action is suspended, but as the a
plunger rises the tappet catches a tooth of the wheel and turns the
driving shaft. A spring pawl arrests the tappet wheel in the proper
position after each action of the tappet. The driving shaft through the

page_text: chain operates the feed rollers and moves the strip of stamps or labels
forward, just so much as will bring the line of separation or division
between the knives. If desired I may construct the apparatus with a
guide, groove, or channel in front of the feed rollers. The upper feed
roller is fitted adjustably in its bearings so that the distance between
the two rollers will increase or diminish to suit the thickness of the
stamps or labels. The said upper roller is pressed down by suitably
arranged springs.
I prefer to have a tappet and tappet wheel on each side of the plunger,
the two tappets being so formed that one will produce a longer feed
than the other. This arrangement allows me to divide the stamps or
labels either lengthwise or crosswise. I also provide a number of tappet
wheels of different pitch, which can be readily removed from or put on
the driving spindle to vary the feed according to the size of the stamps
or labels being used.
I prefer as above described to use chains for driving the feed rollers
and to have toothed wheels for them to pass over so that the motion of
the feed rollers will be positive, but if desired I may use grooved pulleys
and belts or bands of leather or suitable material.
The shelf or bed on which the envelopes or letters are placed to
receive the stamp is preferably provided with a vertical flange at one
side; one edge of the envelope is placed against this flange, and I
thereby ensure the fixing of the stamps in the desired position on the
envelope.