Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Applying Postage Stamps, Adhesive Labels, and the like to Envelopes or other Articles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Applying Postage Stamps,
Adhesive Labels, and the like to Envelopes or other Articles.
We, EDWARD FRANCIS EDE, law practitioner and POMPÉE DE BODINI, gentleman,
both of 26 Perchembi Pazaar, Galata of Constantinople, in the Empire of Turkey,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to apparatus whereby postage-stamps, labels, tickets
or other adhesive articles (hereinafter referred to as stamps) can be readily and
rapidly picked up, wetted, applied and caused to adhere to envelopes, newspapers;
packets, patterns, samples, boxes, or other objects without its being necessary for
this purpose to use the tongue for applying moisture. To this end a receptacle or
box is provided for holding the stamps, also a wetter or damper, and an instrument
hereinafter called the picker-up whereby the stamps can be taken one at a time
from the receptacle or box, moistened by application to the wetter or damper, and
then applied and caused to adhere to the envelope or other article as required.
The receptacle or box for stamps may be in different forms. In one form it is
made with a hopper like upper part, the lower portion being, in horizontal section,
of a shape and size appropriate to the shape and size of the stamps it is to hold.
The shape of the upper part of this receptacle or box is such as to facilitate the
insertion into it of the picker-up, as bereinafter explained. The receptacle can be
made with one or more compartments according as it is intended to hold stamps of
one or more kinds. The damper or wetter is a box, saucer, or plate in which is
placed a flat even surface, sponge or pad of any suitable substance capable of
holding water. It can be made of any size and shape and of any suitable material.
The "picker-up" comprises a handle with an internal chamber, and having around
the lower orifice of this chamber a flange or enlargement, hereinafter called the
foot or base, and which is provided with a thin pad or layer of india rubber or
other soft substance. Within the chamber is arranged a rod or plunger the outer
or lower end of which is recessed, and carries a suitable gelatinous adhesive sub-
stance that slightly projects beyond the surface of the end of the rod or plunger.
A spring within the chamber tends normally to cause the outer end of the rod or
plunger to project beyond the pad of the foot or base surrounding it and a pin or
projection is provided to limit the outward movement of the rod or plunger and
also to serve as a means of moving it inward in opposition to the spring. The

page_text: gelatinous substance employed may be such as used in the "poligraphs."
This
gelatinous substance has the property of picking up and holding when brought into
contact with it, a stamp or other light object without in any way soiling or
marking it, while at the same time such object can be easily detached from it.
A picker-up such as described is employed as follows:-The stamps to be used
being in the receptacle with their adhesive surfaces downward and the sponge of
the wetter or damper being sufficiently wet, the picker-up is inserted into the
stamp receptacle, pressed slightly on the pile of stamps and withdrawn with a
stamp adhering to the plunger. This is applied lightly to the surface of the wetter
and then to the envelope or other object upon which the stamp is to be stuck. On
now pressing the picker-up upon such envelope or other object (as in the act of
sealing) and then withdrawing it, the stamp is caused to adhere firmly to the
envelope or other object to which it is so applied.
If in consequence of such object being of a soft material such as woollen, the
stamp is found not to have adhered, the plunger of the picker up can be raised
before removing the foot or base from the object to be stamped, and in this way the
plunger will be detached from the stamp, leaving it attached to such object.
According to a modification, the picker-up is constructed with a passage entirely
through the foot or base and the part hereinabove called the handle. The plunger
is prolonged and projects through the upper part and provided with a knob or
presser plate and the lower end of the plunger is formed with an enlargement.
A spring tends normally to keep the plunger in its uppermost position. And in
connection with this arrangement a stamp receptacle or box is used that is made
with the lowest part of its upper portion considerably larger in area than that
portion intended to contain stamps, and in such a shape as to form ledges or
surfaces for the foot or base of the picker-up to rest upon whilst the plunger is
depressed, and its lower end is caused to descend within the smaller part of the
receptacle and pick-up a stamp.
In a modification of the picker-up the foot or base is made with bevelled edges
and this arrangement may be used in conjunction with a receptacle or box having
a correspondingly formed upper part.
According to a modification the receptacle is made with an adjustable bottom
that can be raised or lowered according as there is a greater or less number of
stamps in the receptacle or box.
When the picker up is constructed so that its plunger can be depressed as
described, it can be conveniently used for stamps of various sizes.
The foot or base of the picker up constructed in either of the forms above
described can be made removable so that feet or bases of different dimensions or
shapes suitable for different sizes and forms of stamps may be applied.
1
1

page_text: improvements in Apparatus for Use in Applying Postage Stamps,
Adhesive Labels, and the like to Envelopes or other Articles.
We, EDWARD FRANCIS EDE, law practitioner and POMPÉE DE BONDINI, Gentle-
man, both of 26 Perchembi Pazaar, Galata of Constantinople, in the Empire of
Turkey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our invention has reference to apparatus whereby postage stamps, labels, tickets
or other adhesive articles (hereinafter referred to as stamps) can be readily and
rapidly picked up, wetted, applied and caused to adhere to envelopes, newspapers,
packets, patterns, samples, boxes, or other objects without its being necessary for
this purpose to use the tongue for applying moisture. To this end a receptacle or
box is provided for holding the stamps, also a wetter or damper, and an instrument
hereinafter called the picker-up whereby the stamps can be taken up one at a time
from the receptacle or box, moistened by application to the wetter or damper, and
then applied and caused to adhere to the envelope or other article as required. The
receptacle or box for stamps may be in different forms.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view
and Figs. 2 and 3 vertical sections of stamp receptacles or boxes adapted to receive
picker-up instruments according to this invention. In each case the receptacle or
box is made with a hopper like upper part 1, the lower portion 2 being, in
horizontal section, of a shape and size appropriate to the shape and size of the
stamps it is to hold. The shape of the upper part of each receptacle or box is of
the form shown so as to facilitate the insertion into it of the picker-up, as herein-
after explained. The receptacle or box can be made with one or more compartments
according as it is intended to hold stamps of one or more kinds.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a damper or wetter for moistening a stamp held
by a picker-up before applying it to an envelope or other article. It consists of a
box, saucer or plate 3 in which is placed a flat even surface, sponge or pad 4 of
any suitable substance capable of holding water. It can be made of any size and
shape and of any suitable material.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view, Fig. 6 a vertical section and Fig. 7 a face view of
the base or lower end of one form of picker-up according to this invention adapted
for use with the stamp receptacle shown in fig. 2. The picker-up comprises a
handle 5 with an internal chamber 6, and having around the lower orifice of this
chamber a flange or enlargement 7, hereinafter called the foot or base, and which
is provided with a thin pad or layer 8 of india rubber or other soft substance.
Within the chamber 6 is arranged a rod or plunger 9 the outer or lower end of
which is recessed, and carries a suitable gelatinous adhesive substance 10 that
slightly projects beyond the surface of the end of the rod or plunger. A spring 11
within the chamber tends normally to cause the outer end of the rod or plunger 9
to project beyond the pad 8 of the foot or base 7. A pin or projection 12 is
provided to limit the outward movement of the rod or plunger 9 and also to serve
as a means of moving it inward in opposition to the spring 11. The gelatinous

page_text: substance 10 employed may be such as used in the polygraphs. This gelatinous
substance has the property of picking up and holding when brought into contact
with it, a stamp or other light cbject without in any way soiling or marking it,
while at the same time such object can be easily detached from it. A picker-up
such as described is employed as follows:-The stamps to be used being in the
receptacle with their adhesive surfaces downward and the sponge of the wetter or
damper being' sufficiently wet, the picker-up is inserted into the stamp receptacle,
pressed slightly on the pile of stamps and withdrawn with a stamp adhering to the
end of the plunger 9. This is applied lightly to the surface of the wetter (Fig. 4)
and then to the envelope or other object upon which the stamp is to be stuck. On
now pressing the picker-up upon such envelope or other object (as in the act of
sealing) and then withdrawing it, the stamp is caused to adhere firmly to the
envelope or other object to which it is so applied. If in consequence of such object
being of a soft material such as woollen, the stamp is found not to have adhered,
the plunger 9 of the picker-up can be raised before removing the foot or base 7
from the object to be stamped, and in this way the plunger will be detached from
the stamp, leaving it attached to such object.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section and Fig. 9 a face view of the base or lower end of a
modified form of picker-up constructed with a passage entirely through the foot or
base and the handle. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of this modified form of picker-up
and a stamp receptacle or box adapted to receive it. The plunger 9 in this
arrangement is prolonged and projects through the upper part of the handle 5 and
is provided with a knob or presser plate 13; the lower end of the plunger 9 is
formed with an enlargement 14 with adhesive substance 10 as before. A spring 15
tends normally to keep the plunger in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 8.
The stamp receptacle or box 2 used with this arrangement of picker-up is made
with the lowest portion 16 of its upper portion 1, considerably larger in area than
the portion 2 intended to contain stamps, and in such a shape as to form ledges or
surfaces 17 for the foot or base 7 of the picker-up to rest upon whilst the plunger
is depressed, and its lower end caused to descend within the smaller part of the
receptacle to pick up a stamp as indicated in fig. 10.
Fig. 11 is an elevation and Fig. 12 a face view of the base or lower end of a
picker-up constructed similar to that shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 but having its
foot or base 7 made with bevelled sides. This arrangement of picker-up may be
used in conjunction with a stamp receptacle or box having a correspondingly
formed upper part as shown in Fig. 13, which is a vertical section, the stamp
receptacle or box proper 2 being shown provided with an adjustable bottom that
can be raised or lowered according as there is a greater or less number of stamps
in the receptacle or box. The upper part 18 of the receptacle or box, which is made
funnel shaped to facilitate the insertion therein of the picker up, is provided with
a ledge 19 by which the base or foot 7 of the picker-up is supported whilst the rod
or plunger 9 is depressed to pick up a stamp. 2 is the stamp receptacle or box
having a cross section the size and shape of which corresponds with that of the
stamps to be used. 20 is the adjustable bottom of this chamber; it has attached
to it a rack 21 that engages with a pinion or toothed roller 22 by turning which,
the bottom 20 can be raised or lowered to suit the quantity of stamps for the time
being in the receptacle or box. The operation of picking up damping and applying
a stamp with the forms of picker-up shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, 12 and 13 is
similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to the picker-up shown in
Figs. 5, 6, 7, except that the rod or plunger 9 in the former arrangements is caused
to move outward or downward to pick up a stamp against the action of the
spring 15 by pressure applied to the knob or presser plate 13.
When the picker-up is constructed so that its plunger can be depressed as
described, it can be conveniently used for stamps of various sizes.
The foot or base of the picker-up constructed in either of the forms above
described can be made removable so that feet or bases of different dimensions or
shapes suitable for different sizes and forms of stamps may be applied.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for use in applying postage stamps, adhesive labels and the like
to envelopes or other articles the use of a rod or plunger provided with adhesive
substance substantially as herein before described for the purpose specified.
2. Apparatus substantially as described with reference respectively to and illus-
trated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7; in Figs. 8, 9 and 10; and in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 of the
drawings annexed, for use in applying postage stamps, adhesive labels and the like
to envelopes or other articles.