US1073515A - Postage-stamp vending and affixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. PETERS. POSTAGE STAMP VENDING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

awe/wt; Walter flpeek's 3 BHEBTS-SHEET 1.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

W. H. PETERS.

POSTAGE STAMP VENDING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

1,073,51 5. Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

3 B BETH-SHEET Z.

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W. H. PETERS. POSTAGE STAMP VENDING AND AFFIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

1 ,07 3,5 1 5. Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I IIIIH avwemtoa wanna n. Pumas, or swears. rumors. Icem n-STAM EN G a- Mau n MACHINE- gpecifloatiop of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

appllcation filed June 14, 1911. Serial No. 633,133.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, WALTER H. PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steger, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Impr vemen ts in Postage-Stamp Ven'dmg and Aliixing Machines, 'ofwhich the following is a specification.

Specifically considered the inventlon is primarily designed to provide a machine for vending postage 'stantllps and affixing said stamps to letters or o er matter to be sent through the mails. A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a machine which may be used solely for the purpose of attaching postage stamps to letters or packages or which may be used for labeling'newspapers, magazines and like periodicals to be sent through the mail to subscribers.

The invention su plies a feeding mechanism whereb the s rip is advanced, a moistening mechanism for dampening the gumrned side of the strip or the letter or package to which said strip is to be attached and a combined cutting and ai iixing' mechanism whereby the projecting portion of the strip is severed and pressed upon the moistened part of the envelop or package placed in position to receive the same. V

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and ooinbination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, and pointed out in the appen ed claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a View in elevation ofa machine of the character and forthe'purposs stated embodying the invention, the coin mechanism and the rear side ,of the casing being removed. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig; 1 having arts in section and parts broken away. ig. 3 is a horizontal section of the complete machine including the ,coi mechanism on the line biz ai of mg. 1. ign l is a'vertical transverse section on the line yy of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a detail section of the coin mechanism on the line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is atop plan "view' f the front portion of the machine.

Fig.

is a detailsec'tion on the 'line 88 of F 1g. I

Qorresponding and like parts are referred to n the following descri tion, and indi-' eated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The machine comprises a base 1 upon which is mounted a casing 2 for inclosing the reel containing the gummed strip and the operating devices. A slot 3 is provided at the front end of the machine to receive the letters, packages or other matter to be stamped or otherwise have the gummed parts aflixed thereto, such as labels, A reel 4 is rotatably mounted in the rear portion of the casing and the gummed strlp 5 is wound thereon and may consist of postage stamps, labels or addresses according to the specific use for which the machine is designed. A spring (3 exerts a lateral pressure upon the reel l to prevent its turning too freely when the strip is drawn thercover.

A pair of feed rolls 7 and 8 are located in advance of the reel 4 and the stamp or other strip 5 passes between them, said rolls having their faces covered with rubber or like material to insure a positive gripping of the stri 5 which is essential to insure a ro er feed thereof. A ratchet wheel 9 is attac ed to the feed roll 7 so as to turn therewith and two'dogs 10 and 11 engage the teeth of the ratchet' wheel to turnthe feed roll 7 and to prevent its backward rotation. The dog 11 acts as a detent to prevent backward rotation of the feed roll, whereas the dog 10 turns the feed roll'to advance the strip 5.

A partition 12 is located in the front portion of the casing 2 and provides a space in which a plunger 13 is arranged to operate vertically, the stem 14 of the plunger extending through the top of the casing and tcrmlnating in a button and receiving a helical spring 15, which is of the expansible ty e and normally serves to hold the plunger e evated. A'slot 16 is formed in the lower portion of the partition 12 for the passage of the strip 5'. A guide 17 extendsrearwardly from the partition 12 in line with the slot 16 and consists of a flattened tube through which the strip 5 passes, said guide extending across the space formed between the partitipn 12 and the feed rolls and supporting the stamp strip and preventing access being had' thereto from the outside of the machine through the slot 3. The lower face of the plunger 13 is covered'with rubber, felt or like materiahto yieldingly press the postage stamp or like part upon the letter or packf age. plunger 18 operates in guides 19 lo-' lower end is pivotally cated upon the partition 12 and extends through the top of the casing and terminates in a button and receives a helical spring 20, which normally exerts an upward pressure upon the plunger. The plunger 18 operates the feed rolls to advancethe strip. A link 21 is pivotally connected at its upper end to a lug or extension of the plunger and its connected to an arm 22, which is tpivotall 'ounted upon a journal of the eed' rol 7. The TEe ed dog 10 is mounted upon the pivot connection between the link 21 and arm 22 and is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 9 by means of a spring carried b the arm 22. When the feed plunger 18 is epressed the spring 20 is compressed and the end of the feed dog 10 is caused to ride upon a tooth of the ratchet wheel 9 and upon releasin the plunger 18 the same is moved upward y by the spring 20 and the feed dog 10 movmg upwardly with said plunger turnsthe feed roll 9 a distance to advance an end portion of the strip 5 the proper distance, which corresponds to the length of a postage stamp when the machine is adapted or delivering such articles. x

A blade 23 is pivotally connected to the plunger 13 and its cutting edge is pressed against the adjacent side of the partition 12 so as to sweep across the slot 16 and sever the projecting portion of the strip. The lower edge of the blade 23 is inclined to admit of the same cutting by a sheer action. A spring 24 attached to the plungernormally exerts an outward pressure upon the blade 23 to hold its lower edge in engagement with the partition 12 and to throw said bladeout of the way when clearing the lower end of the partition 12 so as not to interfere with the like to be stamped or labeled.

A moistener is provided for dampening the letter, package or the like to receive the postage stamp or label. The moistener is located at the front of the casing and comprises a tank 25 and a brush .26, the latter being arranged to overhang the front portion of the base 3 so that when introducing the letter, ackage or the like into the slot 3 it passes eneath the brush 26 and is moistened, thereby causing the postage stamp or label to adhere thereto upon operating the stamp plunger 13. The tank 25 contains a quantity of water and has a small opening in its bottom which is controlled by means of a valve 27 so that the water may drip from the tank upon the brush 26 and keep the latter moist .so as to dampen the letter, package or the like passing under the brush when entering the slot 3.

The strip 5 is gummed upon one side and is wound about the reel 1, 'an end portion slot 3 beneath the severedand presses the same upon I ter. The strip 5 may consist of posta e i'a casing 28 located letters, packages or theing the coin passage portion 36, whereby the coin is obstructed in I of the stri passing 7 and 8 an throu ters to be stampe the guide 17. The letare introduced into the brush 26 and rest upon the trout portion-oi the'base 1. The feed plunger 18 is now depressed, thereby bringmg the feed dog 10. in positionto turn the feed roll 11 when releasing the pressure on the plunger 18. As the plunger 18 moves upward an end portion of the strip 5 is pro- .ected through the. slot 16 the portion proected being determined Y y movement of the-feed rolls. plun war depressed and severs the projectin of the strip,

the degree, of

movement the stamp plunger 13 1s portion contact with the part of the stripl thus e letstamps, labels or addresses according to t e particular purpose for which the machine is intended. 4 v

Since, as hereinbefore stated, the machine is particularly designed for vending postage stamps a coin mechanism is used in connection therewith to admit of operating the feed mechanism age stamps are projected into proper position for delivery and attachment to the letter or other matter to coin mechanism is housed, being located in at one side of the casing 2. The casing 28 has one or more slots 29 in its top for the introduction of the predetermined coin. When the machine-is adapted for delivering one cent postage stamps the casing 28 has one slot29 only, but when the machine is designed for delivering two cent postage stamps the casing 28 has two slots 29 each adapted to receive a one cent piece. A partition 30 is locatedwithin the casing 28 and has a passage 31 therein constituting a coinway through which the coin travels after being introduced into the slot 29., The coin passage 31 is enlarged at3its receiving end, as indicated at 32. An arm 33 pivoted at 3% extends upwardly across the receiving end. of the coin passage 31 and has a part cut away at one end to form a shoulder 35 I and has a portion cut away from a side to form alateral shoulder .36, the latter forming one wall of the coin passage. 1 A spring 3'8 exerts a pressure upon the arm 33 topress the upper portion inward, thereby'tontractof the casing 281 adjacentthe casing 2 and an arm 39 projecting laterally from the feed plunger 18 is arranged to operate in the slot 38. The shouldered portion 35 of the arm between the feed rolls 7 After the feed er has reached the limit of its. up-

which drops upon the etter and j i an instant thereafter the plunger comes be stamped. The

portion of the shoulder. -36.v At vertical slot38 is formed in the inner wall as I by means of which the post:

opposite the shouldered 33 extends across the slot 38 and limits the downward movement of the arm 39 and the feed plunger, thereby preventing operation of the feed mechanism. 7

When a coin is introduced into the slot 29 it passes by the arm 39 and lodges in the contracted portion of the coinway opposite the shoulder 36 formed on the arm 33. Upon depressing the feed plunger 18 the arm 39 is carried downward and engagin the coin forces it through the contracte portion of the coinway, with the result that the upper portion of the arm 33 is moved to one side to withdraw the shoulder 35 out of the path of the arm 39, thereby admitting of the plunger 18 descending to the limit of its movement, which is essential to insure proper feed of the strip 5. As the pressure is removed from the p unger 18 it rises and at the same time turns the feed rolls 7 and 8 and when the plunger reaches the limit of its upward movement the upper portion of the arm 33 is returned to normal position by the action of the s ring 37 to prevent downward movement 0 the plunger 18 until after another coin has been placed in position. When the machine is adapted for de-- livering two cent postage stamps it is to be understood that two arms 33 and adjunctive parts are provided and it is-necessary to place a one cent piece in each slot 29 so that when depressin the plunger 18 both arms 33 are operate to withdraw their shouldered portions 35 from the path of the arm 39.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advanta es of the construction and of the method 0 operation will be readil apparent to those skilled in the art to whic the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invent-ion, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Havin thus described the invention what 60 edge shoulder, the reduced part of the arm extending into said coinway and arranged at one side thereof with the side shoulder at one ed e of the coinway to reduce the width thereoi and a part projecting from the plunger across said coinway and limited in its movement by the edge shoulder of the arm and adapted to engage a coin to push the said arm aside to cause the before mentioned side shoulder to clear the coin to admit of full 0 ration of the plunger to effect delivery of t e article.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plunger for operating a delivery mechanism having a laterally extending projection, a part having'a coinway which is enlarged at its receiving end, and a slot intersecting the coinway and receiving the projection of the plunger, and a pivoted arm having an end port-ion reduced andarranged at one side of the coinway and forming part of the wall thereof, said reduced part of the arm having an edge shoulder to limit the movement of the plunger by engaging the projection thereof, and a side shoulder to contract the width of the coinway to arrest the movement of the coin, the parts being arranged to admit of the projection of the plunger engaging a coin to move the edge shoulder out of the path of the plunger projection, whereby full operation of the delivery mechanism may be attained.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER H. PETERS.

Witnesses H. C. WEHLAN, F. W. KEELER.

Images