provements in Apparatus for Feeding, Damping and Affixing Stamps or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1898-Accepted, 31st Dec.,
1898
PROVISIONAL DIVIFICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding, Damping and Affixing
Stamps or the like.
We, ALFRED HORATIO O'BRIEN, SYDNEY JOHN O'BRIEN, of 46, Nelson Street,
Market Harborough, in the County of Leicester, Engineers, and WILFRID FRANCI;
PIPPET, of Solihull, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to improvements in apparatus for feeding, damping and
affixing stamps or the like and consists in an arrangement of spring pressed levers
which, upon pressing a hand lever will cause the strip or strips of stamps or the
like to be fed in and separated at the perforations, placed on the damper and
pressed on the envelope or other surface, or a coin operating device may be
attached to the machine, when upon the coin of the value of the stamp being
inserted, the hand lever can be moved after the envelope has been placed in
position, and the stamp will be then affixed.
To carry out our invention we construct the said apparatus in the following
or equivalent manner. A frame is made having a back bracket with means for
securing it to a bed plate or base, and uprights with vertical and horizontal slots
in each side, in the former of which fits the lower parts of a fork attached to a
hollow cross bar in which are inserted two pins or sliding bits projecting outwards
under the influence of a coiled spring interposed between the said sliding bits,
which come against curved levers connected by a bottom bar put through the
horizontal grooves of the frame, which moves back after the feeding of the
stamps or the like by aid of two rods or fingers fixed on the inside of the uprights
having an upward movement and pass through grooves in the hollow bar to
draw the sliding bits back again and allow the curved levers to fall back into
their normal position to prepare for the next feed of the strip of stamps or the
like, the connecting bar of the curved levers come underneath the cutter at the
same time as the damper, the latter consists of a plate or holder covered with felt
or the like has a backward movement to damp that part of an envelope, card or
the like where the stamps is to be affixed. Inside the frame is a plate fixed to a
curved bracket pivoted to a bar in rear of the frame, the outer edge of said
plate is serrated with teeth which with the downward movement of the fork
severs the stamp or the like at the perforated line and the body of the plate
then presses the stamp on to the damped part of the envelope, card or the like.
Upon the top of the frame is a vertical spindle carrying an open coiled spring
supporting the fork, and a hand lever fixed in bearings from behind the frame
comes thereon, the spindle being capped to keep said spring from breaking away.
The stamps or the like are fed to the cutter by aid of a feed plate carried in a
bracket in front of the frame, the inner end of said plate is serrated the teeth
being at an angle so that when the plate is moved forward the strip is pushed
along, this movement is carried out by levers attached thereto and to the ends
of the cross bar of the curved levers and the serrated plate moves back again

page_text: without damaging the stamps or..the like upon the return of the side levers
pressed by a blade or other spring upon the curved part thereof, the feed plate
is held to its work by springs attached to it and to each side of the frame.
By pressing the hand lever down the stamp or the like is fed, cut and pressed
on to the damped part of the envelope, card or the like, and when pressure is
removed from the hand lever the fork rises and the whole apparatus returns to its
inactive or normal position. The strip of stamps or the like is carried on a reel
or roller on a spindle in a suitable bracket in front of the feed.
In order that various thicknesses of material can be successfully treated and
that the damper can be moistened at each operation of the machine, underneath
the bed is fitted a table mounted on and near the centre of a tipping plate the
inner free end of which carries a tank or holder containing any good absorbant
material such as cotton wool or the like, the water being supplied thereto by
pouring through a hole in the bed, in which is inserted a pipe. When the hand
lever is depressed a vertical pin passing through the bed is pressed down and
depresses the front end of the tipping plate and so raises the table through a hole
in the bed immediately under the envelope card or the like which has been
placed against suitable guides fitted on the bed at the same time the tank is
raised up to the damper which takes in what moisture is required for each opera-
tion of the apparatus.
When it is desired to employ coin freed mechanism that before the hand lever
can be depressed a coin of the value indicated on the machine must be used, a
balance lever with or without a pan is arranged on a joint in the bottom of which
is carried a pin which when the coin has fallen through the slot, causes the lever
to fall and the pin to be withdrawn which releases the fork when the hand lever
can be pressed down. The coin passes down a shute into a suitable receptacle,
the stamp being then affixed.
The apparatus may be employed in affixing labels, if desired.
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Applicants' Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding, Damping and Affixing
Stamps or the like.
We, ALFRED HORATIO O'BRIEN, SYDNEY JOHN O'BRIEN, both of No. 46, Nelson
Street, Market Harborough, in the County of Leicester, Engineers, and WILFRID
FRANCIS PIPPET, of Solihull, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention refers to improvements in apparatus for feeding, damping and
affixing adhesive stamps to envelopes and the like and consists in an arrangement
of spring pressed levers which upon pressing a hand lever will cause the strip
or strips of adhesive stamps or the like to be fed in and separated at the perfora-
tions or cut, placed upon the already damped corner of an envelope or other sur-
face and affixed. And a coin operating device may be attached to the machine
when upon the coin of the value of the stamp being inserted in the coin slot the
hand lever can be moved after the envelope has been put in the machine and

page_text: pressed down when upon withdrawing the envelope the stamp will be found affixed
thereto.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood drawings accom-
pany this specification and are referred to as follows:-
Figure 1, Sheet 1 is a side view of the apparatus partly in section, the cover
and coin shute being shown in dotted line. Figure 2 is an end view of same.
Figure 3 an upper plan view of the frame, cutters and feeding devices.
Figure 4 a sectional elevation showing the feeding, cutting and pressing devices,
and Figure 5 a detailed sectional view of one limb of the fork, cross bar, sliding
bit and finger G.
Figure 5 Sheet 2 is a side elevation of the smaller or mercantile machine.
Figure 6 an end view of same, and Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative means
for damping suitable for the mercantile machine.
To carry out this invention the apparatus is constructed and arranged in the
following or equivalent manner having reference to Figures 1 to 5 Sheet 1 and
Figures 5 to 8, Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings.
The stand A is made of iron, steel or the like, on back brackets a secured to
pivots B and to lugs C formed with or on the base plate of the stand A. Between
the uprights D are formed the vertical slots or guideways E for the fork F and
hollow cross bar in the latter of which are inserted sliding bits "g" see Figure 5,
Sheet 1 outwardly projecting under or by the influence of a spring g¹.
The horizontal slots or guideways H in the back brackets a carry bearings (to
which the rollers I are attached) from the sliding carriage J, to the back of
which is secured the outer ends of the damper plate L which is lined on its
under face with a piece of cloth or the like, the said carriage being held to its
initial position by the broad curved spring M. Immediately the inclines 0 go
back the damper plate and carriage moves forward to pick up moisture from the
water receptacle V3, and during such movement by influence of the inverted
Tshaped spring N the curved levers O are taken back and the sliding bits gare
withdrawn from contact with the vertical projecting fingers G. Above the
damping plate L is hinged or pivoted at the movable cutter plate K the free
end of which is provided with downwardly projecting teeth. Fitted upon the
said movable cutter plate is the guide wire K2 which holds the length of stamp,
before the two cutters meet for cutting it.
The spring Z seen in Figures 2 and 4 Sheet 1 is employed to bring the said
cutter K clear of the damper plate L upon the operator releasing the hand
lever P and upon the rising of the cross bar K³, said lever P is attached or
forms the extension to the slotted collar of which is fitted to the cap Q by the
pins fitting thereto and in the oblong slots in the collar g, the lower end of
said lever P being pivotally connected to the supporting bracket 92 attached to
the top of the frame, to this bracket is also secured as before referred to the
upper ends of the blade spring M and inverted T shaped spring N. The curved
levers and inclines 0 are pivotally connected at 0¹ to the sides of the frame, and
carry at the front on both sides connecting rods R having their outer free ends
bored to receive the cross bar S which carries the feed or presser foot T adjust-
able by aid of the screw S¹. The front of the frame carries the flat springs U
seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4 Sheet 1" which control the movement of the cross
bar S and holds it to its work in moving across the path of the strip of stamps
in pushing them forward up the carrying platform V which is made, or has an
upper surface of glass. At the outer extremity of said platform is the down-
wardly projecting pin V1 which when the front part of the machine falls comes
in contact with and depresses the front end of the lever V and causes the back
end thereof to rise to present the water receptacle V3 to the under side of the
sliding damper plate L, a sponge or the like is placed in the said water recep-
tacle with which the sliding damper comes in contact. The strip of stamps is
wound upon the reel W and carried over the rollers W thence under the feed or
"

page_text: "
presser foot T to be moved up upon each downward movement of the machine,.
In operating the machine, before proceeding to press the hand lever P the
envelope, card or the like is placed "if a cover is used in an oblong slot in the
front thereof with the address side uppermost, the corner to which the stamp
is to be affixed coming under the already moistened sliding damper plate L.
The circular bits 9 impinge upon the rounded face of the curved levers 0 moves
them with their inclines, the latter pushing the sliding carriage and damping
plate L to wipe the corner of the envelope and out of the way of the now
descending movable cutter K. At the same time bringing the feed up. The
fork Fis secured to a short spindle surmounted by the cap Q, the crossbar K
thereof pressing upon the block on the cutter K and causes the guide wire K²
to hold to stamp until the teeth of the movable cutter has engaged with and
passed between those of the stationary cutter K¹ fitted at top of the stamp
carrying platform V. The stamp is then pressed on to the already moistened
corner of the envelope, card or the like before the hand lever P is released. The
slotted parts of the hollow cross bar K³ comes into contact with the vertical
fingers G and the spring pressed bits "g" are operated upon as before described,
the 'movable cutter rises, and the other parts return to their inactive position
under the influence of their respective springs. Stops g³ are fitted to adjust the
back throw of the curved levers to determine the exact width of stamp to be cut
or severed as the case may be. The machine is held from the base plate by
springs Y in pockets Y¹.
The above described machine can be modified for commercial use and what is
called the mercantile machine is shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive in Sheet 2
where the same principle is employed for feeding, cutting and pressing the stamp-
upon the corner of the envelope or the like. To the base plate A¹ of the
machine is secured an upper part embodying the glass stamp carrying plat-
form V preferably dovetailed in the frame " see Figure 6 Sheet 2."
The lower space B¹ receives the envelope or the like and bas (see Figure 5^)
the well which carries a cloth or felt faced roller which takes up the moisture
from the well, and the corner of the envelope, or flap for fastening is passed over
it. Or by putting a piece of material for absorbing water on the under side of
the damper L' see Figures 5 and 6 Sheet 2" and pouring water through the
hole in the cap thereof, the envelope can then be placed thereunder and the
damper L pressed upon the corner thereof before being taken to the machine.
"
The handle or lever P is secured to the fork F which is pivoted by screws to
the lugs C. The pivotal movable cutter K* is mounted so when pressed by the
roller K³ on end of bracket K+ the teeth thereof pass through the teeth of the
stationary cutter K said movable cutter is mounted in lugs Kb at the end of the
base plate. Said cutter carries the guide wire K° and is held in its inoperative
position by the springs Z* secured to the end of the machine and passing between
the lugs Kb.
At the time that the hinged piece or shoe K5 held down by the spring grips
the cross bar f, the slide K is drawn forward, and within the bracket K and
fixed plate K and carries with it the presser foot T* fitting in its holder T¹ and
held to its work by the spring Te (part of Figure 5* being cut away to show this).
So soon as the lever is brought down the shoe K5 leaves the bar f and the slide K
returns by influence of the springs T³ and T fitting upon each side of the
bracket K
The stop screw 9 regulates the forward movement of the slide. Further modi-
fications of the damping devices which are used in combination with the herein-
before mentioned feeding, cutting, and pressing devices are shown in Figures 7
and 8, Sheet 2 of the drawings which consists of a roller flexibly supported in
the turned ends of two springs T5 attached to the plate To the pins of which fit
in the slot T in the extension of the fork F and slides in an holder T8 arranged
inside the bed of the machine, said plate being pressed forward by the coiled
springs T. When the hand lever is moved it takes the roller up the incline T8

page_text: and rests in the cavity under the stationary cutter K¹ in its passage it stamps
the envelope placed thereunder, and when the hand lever returns to the position
as shown in Figure 6, Sheet 2, the roller takes more water from the wet sponge T
placed in the water container T, access thereto being had from between the
lugs Kb.
When it is desired to obtain the operation of the machine only upon the inser-
tion of a coin of a relative value to the stamp, the coin is placed in the slot 6,
and passes down the angular forked shute 7 and depresses the foot 8 of the lever 9
mounted on the cross shaft 9* fitting in recesses in the cover, controlled by the
weight 10 and plate 11, the latter striking and depressing the foot of the balance
lever 12 causing the wedge or brake 13 on end of link 14 to be withdrawn from
out of the slot 15 in the fork F said lever 12 being stopped from overturning by
catching against the hook 16 on top of fork F see Figure 2-Sheet 1.' A
balance weight 17 is secured to the arm projecting from the link 14 "see Figure 1
Sheet 1." The coin shute 7 is made at two angles or steps (not shown) to prevent
extraction of the coin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
:-
1. In a postage stamp affixing machine, the employment of a suitable base or
stand, a pivotal frame supported on springs compressed upon the depression of
the hand lever, the latter swivel jointed to a bearing in the back of the frame
said lever acting upon a plunger or spindle and fork with hollow bar carrying
sliding bits in engagement with curved levers to which are connected rods
attached to cross bar carrying presser foot or feed, their inclines coming against
rollers of sliding carriage carrying damping plate, a stationary cutter, on inner
end of stamp carrying platform or feed plate, a movable cutter and guide wire,
a lever carrying a water receptacle, springs for bringing the parts to the normal
position, and operated or operating in the manner, substantially as described.
2. In combination with the before mentioned devices in Claim 1, the coin freed
device consisting of a balance lever a link carrying a wedge or brake fitting in
slot in the fork spindle and only released therefrom by a coin of the right value
being placed in the coin slot, an angular shute a coin balance having foot resting
in shute, and curved plate to engage the lower end of balance lever, all for the
purpose substantially as described, and with reference to Figure 1 of the accom-
panying drawings.
3. In an adhesive stamp affixing machine, feeding the stamps from a strip
carried upon a roll or reel, upon a glass or other plate by a presser foot or feed
delivering each to a wire guide, and a movable cutter fitted in a juxta position
to a stationary cutter, and the damping appliances arranged and operating in the
manner substantially as described, and with reference to the accompanying
drawings.