US1077954A - Stamp-affixer. - Google Patents

Description

C. J. FANGHBR.

STAMP AFFIXER.

APPLIQATION FILED nu 24, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

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LVI/ENTOR.

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C. J. FANCHER.

STAMP APPIXER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented N ov. 4, 1913.

4 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

C. J. FANGHER.

STAMP APFIXER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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A TTORNEYS",

C. J. FANCHER.

STAMP AFFIXER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

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ATTORNEYS.

UNITED sirarias- PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. FANCHER, 0F TOMPSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSAIGNOR T0 THE EXTEN- SIVE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF YORK, N. lY., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

STAMP-arrrxnn.

Patented Nov. d, 1913.

Original application led June 21, 1911, Serial No. 634,395. Divided and' this application filed May 24, 1912.

SerialNo. 699,385.

To aU 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES J.- FAN- GHER, a citizen ofV the United States of America., residing at Thompsonville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Stamp- Aiixer, (the same being a divisional part of my application for United States Letters Patent filed June 21, 1911, and serially numbered 634,395 ofwhich the following units such as stamps from a roll mounted in the machine, and of aflixing them one at a time securely `to objects such as envelops, without mutilating the units or stamps or failing to aiiix them properly; second, to provide such a machinewith accurate means for counting the objects as they are aflixed, and, third, to prevent false movements on the part of the internal mechanism as a whole of the machine, and so to protect the objects handled by such mechanism, by furnishing locking and releasing means for the plunger, whereby the latter is prevented from returning or retrograding in either direction, after being started, until the full stroke is completed. j

With thi s machine an object is moistencd, severed from the perforated strip upon being unrolled, and aiixed, at each full downward stroke of the plunger, and a'record of the Objectis made and kept at the same time by the same operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

.l preferred formof embodiment of the invention, whereby I attain the objects and secure the advantages vof theV same, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and I will proceed to describe the invention Awith relation to the lat-ter, although it is be modified without departure form ot my invention, the major portion of the front side plate being broken away and the several parts and members being normally or initially disposed; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section through said aliixer, with the mechanism disposed as in the first View, the line of cleavage being Vapproximately in the center; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section through the afiixer, taken through the verticalslots in the front and back plates thereof and just behind the mechanism that is directly loperated by the plunger and looking toward the Vfront end of the machine and toward such mechanism and the other members in the front-end portion of the case, the normal position of the parts and members shown still obtaining; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail, in partial section, showing the counter-operating arm and the releasing mechanism therefor; Fig. 5, an enlarged front-side elevation of the stamp-feed and counter-releasing mechanism, with the hanger, which affords a supl.

said jaws still further depressed and illustrating the manner in which they draw the stamp from the tray and over the moistener, preparatory to depositing it upon an envelop; Fig. 8, still another elevation similar to the first view, but here showing the parts and members' as they appear at the end of the downward stroke of the plunger for final afiiXing action; Fig. 9, an enlarged top plan of the aforesaid stamp-feed and counter-releasing mechanism; Fig. 10. an enlarged back side elevation of the aforesaid hanger and tray; Fig. 11, an enlarged front side elevation of said stamp-feed and associated mechanism, the front sides of the hanger and tray being broken away at their base lines; Fig. 12, an enlarged bottom plan ofthe hanger and parts of the mechanism supported thereby or mounted therein; Fig. 13, an enlarged top plan Aof they stamp presser; Fig. 14, an enlarged bottom plan of said presser, and, Fig. 15, an enlarged front end elevation of the tray. 1

The machine comprises a suitable support ing frame preferably in the form of a case and a plungerl which extends .above and has its active or'operative end inside ofthe same,and mechanism for feeding' and handling the stamps within such case. The aforesaid mechanism` naturally comesy under three general lheads or subdivlsions, namely,

the stamp-feed and counter-releasing devices which Aare so combined that they form practically one group of intimately relating parts,-the stamp-transfer devices, and the stamp-presserfdevicesi Included with the stamp-transfer devices is counter-operatin mechanism. The combined feedingv an counter-relasing mechanism is indirectly operated Aby the plunger, except when the stamps are 'initially introduced into such mechanism, an independent and direct manual action on the part of the operator then being required," while the transferring, counting, and. pressing mechanisms are d1- rectly operated by said plunger. The'case is equipped with means or `holding the roll of stamps and vfor conveniently lacing such roll in position, and a lock orl c eck is provided for the plunger. There is also a'suitable moistening device within the case.

Although the Vfeeding mechanism per se is not'claimed herein, since itformsthe subject matter of they application of which this is a divisional part and is therein claimed, itv will be necessary to describe somewhat in detail such mechanism in order to impart'a full and clear understanding'of the invention which forms the subject matter of the l'claims in this application.

I will now take up in detail the several organizations of the machine and the several parts and members of which such organizations are comprised, beginning with the case, butv before doing so wish to observe that, for the sake of convenience in describing the aliXer and its operation, it will be assumed that the terms front and back, or equivalentl expressions, as applied to the aiiixer longitudinally, refer respectively to the left-hand and right-hand ends of the machine as it stands in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 8, and that the same or equivalent terms or expressions as applied to said aixer transversely, refer respectively to the side of the machine which is nearer the observer in said views and to the opposite side thereof. This assumption in most cases holds in regard to the several parts 'and members of the machine as well as to the machine as a whole.

7side of the case.

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-The case,iherein illustrated, is made up of a f rontend piece 1, atop 'piece 2 and a' ar'- tition piece 3, all integral, frontend.' ack which are suitably secured to. the lateral edges of said end and top pieces, and a flanged door 6 hinged or pivoted at the top to the rear end of said top piece' 2, as shown vat 7'. v The partition 3 extends downward from the top 2 about midway between the ends thereof and curves rearwardly to'form with the back portion of said top, which curves upwardly and rearwardly, and the upper part of the door 6when said door isy closed, which upperpart curves upwardly and forwardly; andwith the side pieces 4 and 5,a' com artment orchamber 8 for the stam roll. he rest of the interior of the case`1s open and contains-practically all 'of the operating parts and members, such open space being represented at 9. The space or compartment 9 is not only in front'of the partition 3, but also extends below it and communicates. with the 'stamp-roll chamber 8 behind the bottom edge of said partition.

A counter 10, of any usual and suitable variety, is fastened -against the inside of the front end 1, and there is a slot 11, Fig. 2, in such end of suicient-size to enable vthe gures of said counter to be seen from 'outf The counter 10 has a shaft 12 for' operating the counter mechanism, as is customary in devices of this kind, and said shaft protrudes beyond the back end of said counter.

In the top 2, forward of the position of the partition 3, is a hole or opening 13 for a plunger 14 Whichextends through and operates up and down in lsaid opening. In the front wall of the opening 13 is a vertical slot 15 to admit of thevpassage of avstud, screw, or other form of projecting member, 16, set in the front of the plunger 14.

Each side piece, 4 and 5, is cut away at 17 to give access laterallyv to the lower portions of the transfer and presser mechanisms, especially when depressed, and has an inwardly-extending horizontal base piece 18 at-the bottom behind said cut-away place or opening ,17, and a lug 19 which extends inwardly from the rear edge of said opening. A water tank or reservoir 20 is received on the base pieces 18, and when slid forward thereon encounters the lugs 19, which, with the door 6 when closed, hold said reservoir against endwise movement. The reservoir 20 fits snugly between the side pieces 4 and 5.and so has no lateral movement. The base pieces 18 do not come together, consequently there is a space left between them, which makes it convenient to insertthe reservoir 2O after being filled and to Withdraw it for refilling. There is a vertical slot 21 in each side piece intermediate of the ends of the same, the two slots being .plates or side pieces` 4`and 5, respectively,

22 located in front of said slots, and with o positely-disposed studs 23 located near oppositely disposed relative to each other,

and the side pieces are provided on the inside with oppositely-disposed pins or stops t e front edges ofsaid side pieces. A rod 24, for a sprin 25, is located below the studs 23, each end of? said rod being received 1n an opening 26 in one of the side pieces. There is a short horizontal slot or elongated opening 135 in each side piece near the upper front corner thereof. Openings 27 are formed in the opposite Side edges of the front piece 1 and the topl piece 2 to receive screws 28 after passin t rough suitably located holes in the si e pieces. Said side pieces are attached to said front and top pieces by means of s a1d screws. The hanger 29 is attached to and supported between the side pieces by means of two pairs of screws which pass through said side pieces, one of such screws appearing in each of Figs. 6 and 8. The screws for the hanger 29 are in the rear of the slots21. In the upper rear portions of the side pieces are suitable side openings 31 throughwhich to view the supv of stamps.

The lower part of the partition 3 is narrow to accommodate the sides of the hanger 29.

Oiiset from the rear side piece 5 is a fixed horizontal bar 32. This bar is located at the rear end of a stud 33 and a roller 34 mounted on said stud, when the two latter are thrown up into normal position. The stud 33 -eX- tends rearwardly or inwardly from the head of a T-shaped arm 35 which has its base piv- 'oted at 36 to the front side piece 4. The

roller 34 is for a stamp roll 37, Fig. 1, which is slipped onto said roller when the arm 35 is turned down on its pivot 36. After the stamp roll 37 has been mounted on the roller 34 and the strip therefrom introduced int-o the feed mechanism, the arm 35 is turned upward onthe pivot 36 and thrown forward uptil the front end of its head comes to rest against the partition 3. The stamp roll 37 is now supported loosely on its stud 33, in the chamber 8 between the bar 32 and the head of the arm 35, in readiness for further unwinding. The arm 35 is offset inwardly from the base so as to locate the stamp roll in the center of the space between the plates 4 and 5. The bar 32 and the head of the arm 35 conne the ends of the stamp roll and cause the stamp strip to unwind evenly. A portion of the unwound strip appears at 38 in Figs. 1 and 7.

It may be noted here that the roll 37 consists of a perforated strip of stamps wound access is hadto the stamproll arm 35, and

certain other parts yet to be described become accessible, and the reservoir 20 can be removed and replaced, but when said door is closed and locked these parts and members are shut in and tampering with the stamps isv prevented.

' he reservoir 20, which is designed to hold water and has a filling-hole normally closed by a screw-cap 42, is provided at its front end with an interior moistener 43 inthe form of a wick or equivalent member, s uch moistener projecting through a slot 44 in the to of said reservoir adjacent to and parallel with the front end thereof. The Inoistener 43 extends upwardly between the sides of the reservoir and between the front end thereof and a vertical member 45 within the same through the slot 44, to project a little above the edges of the latter. The member 45 eX- tends from the top to within a short distance of the floor of the reservoir 20.

I will next describe the mechanism for feeding forward the stamp strip 38 ard that for releasing the counter for the stamps in the strip so fed which I preferto employ, the two mechanisms being so closely united or so intimately related and connected as to constitute practically a single mechanism, as previously intimated.

The hanger 29, which forms part of the mechanism now being considered, is an openended trough-like structure provided with two pairs o overhanging ears 46 and 47 that contact with the plates 4 and 5 and are secured to said plates by the screws previously mentioned (30), there being openings 48 in said ears to receive said screws, of which latter there are four, two on a slde. The ears 46 and 47 spring from the upper edges of the sides of the hanger and extend outwardly and downwardly so as to leave spaces between them and said sides. In the bottom of the hanger 29 are a central slot 49 and two parallel iianking slo-ts 50. Mounted crosswise on the hanger 29 in the side thereof are two rods or spindles 51 and 52, the latter being in advance of the former and having protruding terminals which prevent said vspindle 52 from getting out of place, owing to the near-ness of the plates 4 and 5, and also serve another purpose as will appear presently. Mounted loosely on the spindle 51 in the center thereof is a back-stop finger 53 which has a sharp lower terminal that projects through and below the hanger slot 49. The finger 53 is pressed downwardly and rearwardly by means of a spring 54 coiled around the spindle 51 and bearing at one end on the front edge of said finger and at the other end on the rear edge of a lifter 55. Loose -o-n the spindle 51 in front of the finger 53 is a counter-releasing foot-operatfoot 59 is pivoted at 60 against the back side of the arm 6'in line with the finger v 53. This counter-releasing foot has a serrated part, best shown at -61 in Figs. 4 -and12, that extends belowthe pivot 60 through-and below th slot 49, and a socket 62 at the\orward -or left-hand ..terrninal, and there is also. a'- forwardly-extended lug 63 on said footbe- -tween said pivot and saidsocket. The lifter is a horizontal-member having upwardl projecting end pieces which. are loose y mounted on the spindle 51 and one fof which;

. the front one, is extended above such spindle. to form a handle 64. The handle 64 is partly: behind the partition?) and is offset s'o as notl to interfere with the arm 35. .Thus it is seen that said handle is easily accessible when the door 6 is open. A spiral-spring 65,

vstronger than the springs 54 and 58 com; 'bined, is wound onthe spindle 51'and arranged with one end bearin beneath the slndle 52'and the other en on the `front e ge of the lifter 55, with the result that said lifter is held normally by said spring 65, in

the position shown in Fi 11, with the front .edge of the bottom'of sald lifter against the floor of the hanger 2 9. The lifter is so constructed and mounted that its rear edge clears the Hoor of the hangel` whenl said lifter is swung forward. i

Except whenotherwise supported, the arm' 56 rests,under the influence of the spring 58, 'on the pivotally-attached counter-releasing foot 59 and the latter rests `ona tray 66, as appears in Fig. 4. The arm 56 is beneath the lug 63 and the downward movement of the socket'terminal ofthe foot 59 is limited by said lug and arm.

A stamp-feed-operating member and. resetter for the counter-releasing foot 59, comprising two arms 67 which are rigidly connected at their left-hand ends by means of a rod 68, is mounted on the spindle 52, 'the'latter passing through such arms in advance or to the left of theirright-hand ends. The construction and arrangementof parts are such that the rod 68 is in operative position relative to the exposed upper end of the moistener 43. The aforesaid stamp-feedp'p erating member is forced downward by means of springs 69-69 coiled around the spindle 52 and bearing with opposite ends respectively on the upper edges of the arms 67 and beneath pins 70-7O that project inf wardly from the sides of the hanger 29. When released to the springs 69, the arms 67 retain the rod 68 on the moistener 43,

means of the protruding terminals `of the spindle 52, each of' which terminals is received into a notch 7 6 opening through the 7. rojectA laterally `from the right. .hand eildso :the arms 67, and loosely nionnted at theirrear ends. on these pins outside-.of

said arms are two generally arcuate stampfeed jaws; 72. lThe jaws 72-have linwardl directed lugs7 3-7 3 on their front'termina s 'which lugs.. extend above thearms 67-,-'and thebottomfedgesof said jaws are serrated as shown at 74. The serrated portions of the jaws 72 .extend vinto and through 'the slots `5t), andv bear on the tray 66 except atlsuch times. as they are withdrawn from such position. @The j aws 72 are forced downward and rearward opposite ends respectively on the edges of said jaws, which are directl in front and below the horizontal plane o said pins, and

ymeans of springs 75-75. Icoiled on the pins 71--7 land bearing with beneath'the coils of the spring 6 9v on the spindle 52. rThe serrations or' teeth'74 have their sharp edges directed to ythe left,v while' .the serrations or teeth 61 have their sharp edges directed to `the right, the reason for which will appear presently. The -lug 57 $0 arm 56 to be raisedby said arm 67.

extends over. the front arm 67 to enable th The tray 66, like the hanger 29,isA an ,open-ended trough, -and itis adapted with its sides to ,fit the sides of said hanger inside of the ears 46 and 47, and to be so attached to said hanger that there isa space left between the oors of the two members, as can be seen plainly in Figs.`2, 4, 5 and 11."l l`he tray 66-i's supported from the hanger '29 ,by

front -edge'of one ofv the sides of; saidtray,

and a forwardly project-.nigl1100]: 77 formed on the upper-edge of theback side of the vat 79 against the back oftherear side of the tray 66 and extendsI b otlrways, theforward part being recessed toft over the top of the ear 47 l just referred to, andthe rear part having an upward inclination to f' form. a

handle. A spring 80 iscoiled onthe pivot 79 andbears -withone 'terminal a ainstthe Ainside of the latch handle and with the other terminal on a pin 8l` which is set in the tray behind said pivot. The spring 80 normally i forces the recessed portionof the latch downward, and aipin'82 is located on the back side of the tray 66' beneath the latch hook to prevent said recessed portion from rocking downward below. a point Awhere it could not be readily forced over the ear' 47 which it engages when said tray is pushed into place. In attaching the tray to the hanger', said t-ray is brought into alinement with said han er at the .rear of the latter and pushed orward until the notched parts at 76 and the hook 77 respectivel engage the protruding ends of the spin le 52 and the ear 47 which is in engaging relation to said hook, and the latch 78; snaps over. said ear. Said ear is now in the part (83) of the latch which it lits and so revents the tray from moving longitudilnal y, and at the same time said ear supproject through the slots 49 and 50, or to remove any obstruction that may possibly get into the space between the floors-of the hanger and the tray. The tray is returned to position in-the same manner as before.

The floor of the tray 66 is turned up slightly and serrated at the front end, and this serra-ted edge is bowed so that the middle serrations are above the horizontal plane of the serrations at both sides thereof, as represented at. 84. The bowed or arcuate arrangement of the serrations 1s plainly shown in Fig.l 15. By thus serrating the front end of the tray floor and raising the serrated edge in the center, I provide unfailingmeans for catching and holding .the stamps` at the time they are torn apart. This means is certain because some of the teeth are sure'to enter the perforations between the stamps, which might not be the case 1f the serrated edge were straight.

Having special reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the shaft 12 of the counter 10 is provided on its exposed terminal with an angular operating-arm 85. This arm is rigidly secured tothe shaft 12, and the major portion of the same is behind the vertical plane of said shaft. The arm 85 at the free terminal normally rides on a roll 86 which is mounted on a stud 87 that projects inwardly from the rear arm of a pair designated by the numeral 88. Said arm 85, when free, is forced onto the roll 86 by means of a spring 89 whichA encircles the shaft 12 and has one terminal bearing against the front end l of the case and the other end on the upper edge of the arm. A hook 90 is formed at the free end of the arm 85 above thepart that isdesigned to ride on the roll 86. Mounted to rock on an inwardly-pro jecting fixed stud 91, set in the back plate 5, is a detent 92 for the arm 85. The detent 92 depends fromv the stud. or pivot 91 and has: a, hook93 at its base arranged to take posit-ion. in the path of the hook 90 when the arm 85is occupyingan approximately horiwhen occasion requires; and said detent is oii'set toward the longitudinal center of the machine and sweeps downwardly to the [rlght to have its free terminal inserted in the socket 62, a loose slip connection being thus formed. A spring 95 has one end insorted in or otherwise fastened to the stud i 9- 1,is coiled on said stud, and has its opposite end carried over the top of the tail-piece 94 at or adjacent to the junction of said tailpiece with the detent 92and behind the vertlcal-plane of said stud, and so normally retams said detent with its hook 93 in the path of the hook 90 and the counter-releasing foot 59 with its serrated part 61 in the rearward or operative position, the lug 63 then bearmg on the arm 56 and the lug 57 on the front arm 67.

The functions of the combined stamp-feed and counter-releasing mechanisms are thus on the spindle 5l, through the medium of the handle 64 and against the resiliency of the spring 65, to raise the sharp end of the finger 53 and the serrated portions of the foot 59 and the jaws 72 upward in the slots 49 and 50 and thus clear the space between the hanger and tray floors for the initial introduction ofthe stamps. The elevating of the parts. just mentioned is effected by reason of the fact thatthe fro-nt edge of the lifter 55, whenswung forward, encounters the adjacent edges of the nger 53 and the jaws 72', which swing forward and upward on the spindle 51 and the pivots 711, respectively, and against the resiliency of the springs 54 and 75, respectively, and by reason of the further fact that the front edge of said finger encounters the adjacent edge of the foot 59, which rocks on the pivot 60, against the resiliency of the spring 95, into vthe desired position. The parts, including .those the operation of which has not yet been explained, are vnow disposed as shown in Fig. 5. Upon the release of the'handle 64, the displaced parts are immediately returned to their normal positions byl their respect-ive springs, the spring being of suihcient strength to overcome the resistance offered by the springs 54 and 58. When the foot 59 is rocked into the position as represented in Fig. 5, the tail-piece 94 and the detent 92 are actuated with it, rocking on the stud 91, so that the hook 93 is'taken out of the path of the hook-90, but at this time such action has no significance, being merely incidental to the operation of the connected parts.

rIhe function of the inger'53 is to prevent backward movement on the part of the stamp strip in the tray 66', which it does provided with a long tail-piece 94 that is explained. The lifter 55 is swung forward.`

' and this without interfering A ward movement of such strip. The spring of the shape'of said linger and the situation of the 's ar end thereof m. advance of the vertical p ane of the spmdle 51,

54 serves to keep the finger 53 in operative position, but is' light enough not to cause said finger to bear with too much force on the stamps as theyadvance. j

-The jaws 72 engage with their serrated edges 74 the stamps in the tray 66 and advance them when the arms 67 are so rocked on the s indle 52 as to elevate the forward ends 'an depress the rear ends of said jaws, as when the front ends of said arms are raised, because a rolling orsliding motion forward on said tray or a stamp orstamps therein is then im arted to suchedges. The jaws A72 slide bac ard, upon the rocking of the arms 67 in the opposite-,direction or back to normal position, or the serrated ledges 74 slide backward at this time and take position in readiness `to further adv vance the stamps at the subsequent upward part 61- of the foot 59 actuates such 35 anism as a whole, including the detent 92,

tilt of the-front terminals ofsaid arms, and it is then vthat the stop nger 53 becomes effective, since said jaws necessarily drag on the stamps when returning to active position. .The s rings provide the-required amount of orce to enable thel jaws 72 to properly engage the stamps. The principal oice of the ugs 73 is to preventthe jaws 72 from dropping down too far when the tray 66 is removed .and so interfering with the repilcing ofsaid tray.

e parts are so timed in their respective Aoperations thatlthe counter-.releasing mech anism is operated but once for each stamp that passes under the foot 59,*or, to state it differently and in more general terms, a stamp is aiiixed at each complete operation vof the machine and such stamp is counted or registered. To prevent registration of the. operations of the machine when no stamps are-actually aiiiXed or delivered the detent 92 is provided, which detent must `be moved away from the arm 85 in order for the act ofregistration to be performed,- and this latter can be done only when a stamp passes forward under the foot 59 and at no other time. Theforward passage of a stamp in the tray 66 under the serrated art forward and so vrocks said foot on the p1vot 60 and throws upward the socket 62, the latter carries with it the tail-piece 94 and thus swings the detent 92,l on the stud 91 and against the resilienc .of the spring 95, rearwardly, and the hoo 93 is withdrawn from the pathv of the hook .and no longer actsy in the capacity of an obstacle or obstruction to the operation of the counter 10. The foot 59 is now out of operative position and must be reset; inj'fact t e counter-releasing mechwith the formust be reset. The resetting of the aforesaid mechanism is effected in this wayafter the foot 59 acts to release the counter the arms 67 are elevated at their forward ends, and in changing position the lug 57 is encountered and the arm 56 is rocked upward on the spindle 51 against the resiliency of the spring 58, with the result that the pivot 60 is raised high enough to enable the foot to be returned to operative position by the spring and through the medium of the tail-plece 94. At this time -the lug 63 comes to rest on the arm 56 and so limits the movement of the foot 59. The movement in the opposite direction of the arms 67 leaves the lug 57 behind and the foot bears once more in the tray 66, the spring 58, acting through the arm 56 and the pivot 60, holding down said foot. The spring 95 returns the detent 92 to operative position with its hook 93 under the hook 90, and also causes the foot 59 to be swung so that its base is in the backward operative position,

.served that the two armsy 88l are dpivotally A mounted at their upper front en on the studs 23 and are rigidly connected 'at their opposite ends by a transverse -plate 96 which projects beyond the free ends of said arms and constitutes the lower stamp-transfer or ipping jaw of the machine. In each of igs. 1, 6 and 8, although the front plate 4 has been removed, the stud 23 which is set in said plate is left and shown in sectlon for the sake of clearness in illustrating and describing the mechanism of which it forms a part. Each arm 88 has formed thereon at its free end, but somewhat'remote froml the adjacent end of the plate or jaw 96, a cam-projection 97. Associated with the jaw 9 6 is an upper stamp-transfer or gripping jaw 98 havin two arms 99 rigidly connected with the en s thereof. Thel front end of each arm 99, assuming that the parts are in their elevated, initial or starting positions, as will be assumed for the purposes of the present description, is pivoted at 100 to one of the arms 88 'inside of the same. A horizontal cross-head 101 is letinto the back side of the plunger 14 and there secured by means of a rivet 102-see Figs. 2 and 3. Having their upper ends pivotally attached at 103-103 to the sides of the cross-head 101 -are two links 104. The lower end of each link 104 is ivoted at 105 to one of the arms 99 on t e inside and above the thus guiding and steadying said plungerandtheparts connected therewith and operated thereby and preventing the plunger from turning on its axis. The jaws 96 and 98 are so constructed that their contiguous surfaces can be brought tightly together, as shown plainly in Fig. 7. The spring which is mounted on the rod 24, has a looped middle portion that extends downwardly and bears against the end 1, and has its free ends extended rearwardly and'arranged to-bear beneath the pivots 100 or beneath anti-friction rolls onsuch pivots, is. de-

^ signd to swin the arms 88 upward on their pivots-234unt1l they contact with the stops 22 which are in the paths of travel of said with all attached arts, and to retain such arms, plunger and parts thus elevated in that condition, and said spring'has sufficient power to do this. Whenthe arms 88 are in contact with the stops 22, the back edge of horizontal plane with the serrated edge 84 of the tray 66.

Alv lifter arm 109 is loosely mounted at its frontend on the front stud 23, inside of the frontvarm 88, and bears with its opposite terminal against the adjacent roll 106 from below, being held in contact with said roll by means of a spring 110 which has one end attached at 111 to the end 1 of the case near the top thereof'and the opposite end attached' to an upwardly-extending projection 112 on said arm. The spring 110 is parts still higher, through the medium of the arm 109' which bears beneath the roll 106 onone of such links and which swings upwardly on its stud or pivot'23 under the influence of said spring. As the result of the upward movement imparted to the links by the spring 110'the plunger 14 is raised, through the medium of the pivots 103 and the cross-head 101, to its highest position,

A and the upper gripping jaw `is caused to separate from the lower gripping jaw, since said links are pivoted to the arms 99 and swing the latter upward on their pivots 100. The gripping jaws are thus left wide open. Althoughv the spring 110' may assist Vthe spring 25- in the -initial raising of the parts, the real work of said rst-mentioned spring does not begin until the work ofzsaid secondmentioned spring is finished. Not only are the springs 25 and 89 able to do =the work already mentioned,but they have suiicient additional strength to actuate the stamp.- eed-operatmgme'chanism and the counteroperating arm, as' will appear from the explanation below.

The upper jaw 98 extends under the front end'of the stamp-feed-operating member consisting of the arms 67 and the rod 68 and raises such end, said arms rocking on the spindle 52 against the resiliency of the springs 69; when said jaw moves upward under the influence of the springs 25 and 110.

If the detent 92 is out of the way when the arms-88 swing downward, the arm 85 follows down on the vroll 86, Vunder the in-l {luence ofthe spring 89, and operates the counter mechanism-to register the stamp carried downV by the gripping jaws; and l when said arms 88 swing upward, under the influence of the spring 25, said arm is g rocked upward, against the resiliency of said g spring 89, into position to operate saidcouni ter mechanism at the next downward sweep of said arms8'8.l

arms, and elevate therplungerI 14, together The plunger 14 is forced=downward by ghand, and in its descent saidplunger first closes the upper jaw 98'onto the lower jaw 96, throughthe mediuml of thecross-head ,101 and the links 104, then, through the A l same medium-andby reason ofthe contact thefjaw. 96- is in approximately the same of said upper jaw with said lower jaw,

, forces said jaws downward-and forward-together, and, finally, through the medium of the rolls 106 which advance onto the camprojections -97 forces the arms 88 still farther orward and separates said jaw 96 from said jaw 98; Thev separation of the jaw 96 froml the jaw- 98 is due to the fact that, at l the time the rolls 106 contact with the camprojections 97, the links 104 have swung I forward'on their pivots 103 nearly as far as they can go, and can and do exert their force j on -said cam-projections in a manner, due to capable of llftlng the links 104 and attached the pivotal connections between said links and the arm-s 99 and the pivotal connection betweensaid arms and the arms 88, which brings about the desired separation of the jaws, the forward movement of the jaw 96 being greater than the little remaining forward movement which ma be impartedvto the jaw 98. As the jaw 96 1s forced forward to the limit of travel in that direction, the arms 99 turn slightly on theV pivots 105 as their ends which are pivoted at 100 to the arms '88 move with said last-mentioned arms, and this tilts the jaw 98 backward a little and assists in the separation of the jaws, but the principal factor in such separation is the means whiclr positively acts olr said arms 881to` force them-forward, while said arms 99 are nearly: or quite stationary or; at least have little or no forward..movement of the springs 69 followed down on the jaw 98 until said jaw passes away and leaves said rod resting on the moistener 43, and the counter-operatlng arm 85 has followed down on the roll 86, unless held up by the vdetent 92. Upon the release of the plunger 14,- the spring immediately acts on the pivots 100 toraise said. plunger with the directly and indirectly connected or associated parts, the first result of this being that the rolls- 106 pass away from the cam-projections v97 so thatthe jaws 96 and 98 close. In swinging rearwardly and upwardly the jaw98 rises beneath the rod 68 and elevatesi't with the attached parts of the arms 67, v.the arm I109 completing this part of the operation;

and at the same time the roll 86 returns. the

arm 85 to its former osition, provided said last-mentioned arm ollowed down on said roll. y y

l For a clear understanding. of the upward movement of the plunger land parts, it should be noted that-the first effect of the spring 25 is toclose the gripping jaws, by that act depressing to a still greater extent the lower terminals of lthe links 104, with the result that a rigid lifting element is produced which transmits thev force of said spring to said links through their lower-ends, and causes said links to raise the plunger, the oscillatory members swinging backward and upward with it. The spring 25 must, of course, be powerful enough to lstart and continue the operation of lifting the parts in question or restoring them to initial position, after the plunger has nished its down stroke and been released, even when not aided by the weight of the case and other inert parts at. the time, which lend their assistance when, as is usual, the machine is lifted by the protruding terminal of said plunger at the end of the aiiixing operation. A A

The plunger 14 is provided at the top with a handle 113 to aiord a convenient grip for the' hand of the operator.

A presser for the stamps, after they have been deposited on theenvelops, is provided and will now receiveattention. This device is carried at the base of the lunger 14, and

must be capable of app ying pressure throughout the entire area ofv each stamp yas deposited and so causing it to adhere firmly and securely to the envelop upon which it is deposited, and said device must also be so constructed that it can be within that it consists of two interlocking plates- 114 and 115 pivotally connected-by a pin 116. The plates thus united are cut out in romena ,the center of theirinterlocking portions to l admit thecoil of a spring 117 non the pin.

116. 1- The straight branches Vof the sprm 117 are arra'n ed. above theV plates 114 an 115 'and have t eir ends in engagement withv Ipins 118 and '119 the formerbeing heldin place parallel wit the pin 116 by two brackets 120 secured to the upper' sideV of the plate 114, and'thej latter ing received in 4two rolls `121 formed on .the back longitudinal edge of-tli'e p1ate`115, By this arrangement thespring 117 4exerts a tendency to close the presser plates upon each other.

Two arms or links' .122 have their lower ends .pivotally mounted on the pins 118 and`-119 'nsl and their upper endspivotally attached to a.;

and between twinlugs 123, whichl depend i from the bottom of theplun er 14, by means of a pin 124. The links 122 ave oppositelydirected beak-like projections 125-125 at the'topwhich are adapted to strike. againstv the bottom ofthe plunger 14 and i so llimit the amount of inward swing of said links and of closing action of the plates 114'and y.

115, produced by the spring 117 Normally the upper edgesl of the projections 125 are in contact throughout with the bottom of the plunger, this .being while the presser plates stand at an obtuse angle to each other or are in their so-called closed position or condition. When thusl contracted the presser is able to pass freely up and down between the gripping-jaw arms and Iother adjacent members.' The opening forfthe coil of the spring 117 appears at 126, and

lthere are openings 127-127 in the presser plates for the b ases of the links 122 (see Figs. 13 and 14),-but the'bottom ends of said links do not extend below the under or workingfaces of said plates.

The presser is arranged transversely .in

the machine, that is to say, the axial center ofsaid presser is parallel with the gripping jaws. When the presser is depressed by the plunger 14, its apex strikes rst, and then,

vzontal plane'upon which said apex first comes to rest. The result of this operation, when there is a stamp under the presser,lis to press said stamp rmly against the envelop through the longitudinal center of the stamp, and then to press the remaining portions of the stamp into place," at the same time sneezing the moisture on the stamp out un er the left-hand edge which 4was in the grasp of the gripping jaws and so prevented' from be moistened before. This -un'moistened portion of the .stamp is but a small fraction of an inch, not enough to the .passage-o :the j-plunger, .is\-.arrangedv ;transversely. in? theease, and .has tmnnions 13G-+130 at the fnont endsef nitsf-la-.teral 1a-edges, whichtrunniensare journaledin the .elongated openingsv y135. 1in the plates 4.and

..5 '.of. said case. :The: strstight;part-` of: the back -edge of the'clutch 128 .is beveled. -heri zontally in fboth -direetions -`to' ferm a double ..20;bearing131. .A atspringflQ isy secured ati thei ibase .to jthe ffront side.` fof; the parti- -tion 3, 'and .has .a forwardly-extending-.- an- .;gularhead 133 at the top to engage the bear- .-1ng.131. .The pin' 16 is above-an the-crosshea-d 101 below the clutch 128; andthegar- Yrangement efv parts is such thatisaid .pin en- .l-oounters -saidfelutohfrom above, just before' thegfplun'ger-arrivesvat thev end of--its down stroke, v turns said clutch downward, and .foreesl thei bearingv 131. belowv lthef head 133 .fof the'spring -132,-er below the apex of-.said headfbylthe time said .plunger completes said strokepwhichis when the presser Eplates 114 and 115 are laid at-.onthe sameplane with Ythe `bottom ofthe ease; and said crossheadencounters :sa-idfelutch from below, .just before said :plunger-arrives at the -end -of :the up stroke, turns..eaid clutch-y upward, `andmforces said bearingy above fsaidapexy .of -.40=-.the.spring, by the .timevthe plunger com- -pletes said last-.mentioned stroke. The-pin 16 travels up and vdown-zthrrxvu'glfi the vertical `slotl inwthe-4 topfbf thecase. Thetrun nions 130 turn freely in the openings y135.

,45 when the clutch isshiftedqin either direcvftionzaandthe head 133 .off-the-spring132 -retams -said-clutclnf'by reason `of the -en gagement ,of said-headwith -vone beveled fa-eeffor-'the 'other-effthe..hearing 1.31, at

f 50- ei-ther an upward :or -fadownward .inclination, excepting when overcome -by -lthe force --transmitted'through the. in 16 lor -erofsshead 101. .The .action-.o the spr-.ing 1-10 is responsible :fon the-shifting of the .clutch 55 from the Adownward to. the l"upward inclination, -or vice versapor rather. is responsible afer. retaining said cluteh. place. after .be-

fing shifted. The diameternof. thev opening 129 -is slightly :largerthan ,that .of the plun# ger 14, and the edge ofsu'ch openingis .pref- :.erably'. rounded, as .leest` shown fin .VF-ig. 2. The elongated openings 135.v a'ferd.what .little forwardand backward play .is-required #when the nlutch.is?shifted friom one apes-i# f 1654 tientotlaeether.

.'-Fmmtheiore it .islplminly to .be seen. that, when -t e. c utch '128 is arranged `.at an .upward incline,.there issufiicient .looseness of the parts,.alfor.ded by the .open- .angs v135and .the spring132, to .allow the .plunger `to travel -downward freely, .but .that the instant-.said plunger starts .to rise it 1s .vgripped'vrmly .by said clutch and checked libefore any upward movement takes place, the A frictienal .l engagementv between the clutch. 75 .--and..the.,.plunger being great enough. .to aceem-plish this. end; .and that, on the ,other hand, when said clutch is arranged 4at a .downward incline, said plunger can. travel .upward freely,but cannot be moved down,4 80 the same. causes operating in this as in the rst mstance. .'The u ward movement of the-plunger is .fixedl y thel clutch when. cramped .into .gripping relation with the plungerby .the ascending cross-head, and the ,8 5

.descending .pinv 16 vwould cause said. clutch .togripand stop said .plunger at the end .of :the .downward travel. of .the latter, if .the presser did not do so.

It is very apparent .that some. .arrange-..90

`.-mentysueh as. the lock or elutch just de- .'scri'bed, `is .needed .to prevent retrograde movement Aof the lungereand attached er Connected parts, a ter startingfrom either .endof thelr ,travel and before arriving atl 95 .they-opposite end. of their travel, because lwithoutsuch provision the stamps Would-,be torn and. the mechanism very likely would .be injured. With. .this locking device -no false movemelfit ofthemechanism .is pos-..100

Al brief explanation. .of- .the operation. .of lthe-machine as a. whole. is all thatappears --tq'ssbe y-neeessary,. inview .of .the .preceding .description of. the parts..,and `explanation .105 -of their operations, and {this-.is as follows:

.In .the firstlplacethe door 6 is unlocked .and-openedjthe arma35. is turned down,the stamp.V roll 37 is slipped onto 'the roller 34,

--andthe-loose-end of .the :stamp strip. 38 slw --ledf from `.the .top :of said .roll .to .thezfioor y.of .the .trayand .pushed along said' .ioor

.sharp .endef .the Ifinger. 53 and, .the .ser-

rated fpartsbf. the. -foot.59 and .the jaws. 725.120

from said space. l,Assoon as .the sta-mp strip gis. thusgplaeed, Ythe-ihandle. 64de released .andthe-aforesaid finger, Ffoot and jaws per- -mitted fto swing fdown `on tosaid strip, fthe engagement beingvwith the ungummed.. sur- `4|.125

face of ithe strip 4-whiyeh .is uppermost. In

order. that. the 'ungummed surfacey of .the .stamp strip shall-be uppermost in the tray 66, feare, niushbe taken .to .place .the .Stamp -rollv on theroller 3L-in such a way that the strip-.passes E e1 3 off from the top of said roll, instead of from the bottom, at 'this time. Next the arm 35 is turned back into the case. The door 6 is now closed and locked, and the machine is ready to commence operation it bein assumed that the reservoir 20ml1as been filled and placed in position, and understood that the stamp strip 42 extends downward from the stamp rol 37 and behind the base of the partition 3 to the feed mechanism. The

several mechanisms are at this time-initially disposed, as'represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and when the machine is placed in position with the axis of the plunger 14 over the point on an envelo where it is desired to deposit a stamp said plunger is forcedv said rod (see Figs. and 11); said stamp'- is drawn by said jaws, as'they continue to descend,lforward over said moistener and downward, as indicated in Fig. 7 wherein said stamp is represented at 134, and said strip moves with said stamp until the perforated portion'between the first and second stamps reaches the serrated edge 84 of the tray 66 when said first stamp is Atorn from the remainder of the strip; and the stamp thus severed from its companions is carried by said jaws beneath the descending presser, is pinned down-7 as it were, by saidpresser and at the same instant is released from the gripping jaws, and nally is compressed throughout its entire area by the spread presser plates (see Fig. 8). As the stamp 134 moves forward it actuates the foot 59,.which is resting on said stamp, to withdraw the detent 92 fromfthe path of the armr85, andthe counter is operated to register the stamp. Another action that occurs. asv one of the results of the descentof the plunger is the backward setting of the stamp-feed jaws 72 tobring them into position to further advance the strip 38, the linger 53 preventing said strip from being carried backward with said jaws at this time. After vthus aiiixing the stamp pressure Afrom above on the plunger 14 is removed and said plunger permitted to ascend or to return to initial position, the clutch 128 having shifted to release said plunger for its upward travel. While the plunger is rising the operations which previously occurred are practically reversed, that is to say, the bottom gripping jaw closes on the upper gripping jaw and remains so disposed until said bottom jaw arrives at stamp-receiving position adjacent to the moistener, vwhen said upper aw moves away 'tilts.them, with the result. that the foot 59 is reset and the detent92 swung into operative relation again to the arm 85 which is by this Vtime in its elevated position, and

with the further result that the jaws 72 are rolled or pushed forward and in turn push the second stamp which is now the leading stamp out over the jaw 96 waiting toreceive it. The clutch 128 is shifted once more, this time to release the plunger for downward movement, and all is'at last in readiness for a repetition of the stampaiiixing operation and incidentally for the feeding, counting,. and other operations which combine with the aiiixing operation proper to produce the complete operation of the machine and which may be included under the general descriptivev term stampaiiixing. s

Not only does the rod 68 hold the stamp down on the moistener, but it also takes out the curl which is frequently present, especially in the stam s that come from the inner convolutions o the roll 37. Said rod straightens the stamp by causing it to describe a reverse curve as itis drawn from the front edge of the tray under the rod by the gripping jaws.

Although the feeding jaws 72 are 'not held down by the springs 75 with suiiicient force to injure the stamps as the latter are intermittently drawn through the tray by the gripping jaws, they do hold said stamps down so as to insure the catching on the points` at 84 of the perforated'parts of the stamps or of the strip and the severing of the strip or separating of the stamps at such points.

It may-be well to note that the gripping jaws in descending sweep forward and pass under and out of the way of the presser,

which they can then do because of the contracted condition of said presser, before the latter vdescends low enough to encounter said jaws, and conversely said presserrises and contracts in time to avoid said jaws when they return to initial position.

Although this machine is especially designed and adapted for handling postage stamps, it is conceivable that a machine embodying practically j the same invention might be employed for other purposes, I do not, therefore, intend to restrict my invention to stamp afflxers.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An ailixer for flexible units from a perforated strip, comprising feeding mechanism to engage such strip and actuate it fori amsn ward, transfer mechanism for such units, a presser for such units, and' a plunger ar`` ranged and adapted; to operate both of said mechanisms and' said presser. j

2.4 An axer for iiexible units from. a perforated strip, comprising feeding mechanism toengage such strip andaetuate it forward,

. from the strip at each downward stroke of said plunger, means to alix such detached unit at the end of such downward stroke, and means to engage such strip and actuate it forward to -advance another unit to gripping position at each return stroke of said plunger.

4. The combination, in an aiiixer for flexible units from a perforated strip of adhesive-coated material with a reciprocable plunger, of means to grip and detach a unit from the strip and to count the same at each downward stroke of said plunger, means to aiiix such detached unit at the end of such downward stroke, counter-controlling means, and means toadvance another unit'to gripping position and to reset said counter-controlling means at each return stroke of said plunger.

5. An alix'er, for fieXible units from a strip, comprising a suitable frame, a plun ger mounted to reciprocate therein, a unit presser attached to the bottom of said plunger, coperating springpressed gripping jaws mounted to oscillate in said frame and operatively connected with said plunger, and stripor unit-feeding mechanism within said frame and operated by the grippingjaw mechanism.

6. An alixer, for exible units from a strip coated with adhesive material, comprising a suitable supporting frame, a plunger mounted to reciprocate thereln, cop.

erating spring-pressed gripping jaws mounted to oscillate in sald frame and operatively connected with said plunger, stripor unitfeeding mechanism within said frame and operated by the gripping-jaw mechanism, a

moistener arranged in the path of said units,

and means operated by said plunger to press the moistened units into place.

7. An aixer, for iexible units from a strip coated with adhesive material, comprising a suitable supporting frame, a plunger mounted to reciprocate therein, a unit presser attached to the bottom of said plunger, coperating spring-pressed gripping operatively connected with said pl'un er, strl'por umt-feedlng mechan1sm. w1t `rn 'jaw mechanism, and a moistener arranged iin the path. of said units. n

8. lin an aixer, of the class described, a fcase having a partition to dividesuch ease intma supplyl chamber and a compartment Efbr thel mechanism, stamp handling mechansn'r in said compartment, a moistener also in said compartment, and members arranged ffmostener to form apassageway frompsuch .chamber to said moistener fora strip of .1 units: which said mechanism is digned; to

lin rhandle, the lower end of said partition be `ingadjacent to the rear end of said passageway, and said partition serving as a guide for such strip. v

9. The combination, in an ailixer of the class described, of passageway-forming members' provided' at the outlet end of the passageway formed thereby with means to hold back an advancing perforated strip as the perforated portions of the same arrive 'A mounted to ose'llate in said and l fsaid frame and operated by the grippingf 'between the base of said partition andsaid at such end, a moistener adjacent to such holding means, spring-pressed means for forcing .the leading portions of such strip onto said moistener, and gripping jaws capable of grasping and Idrawing forward such strip, between said moistener and such ressure-applying means, and severing such eading portions, one after another, as said perforated portions become engaged by such holding means.

10. The combination, in an ailixer of the class described, with spring-pressed rocking arms and a rod connecting the front ter-V minals of said arms, and feeding jaws pivotally attached to the rear terminals of said arms', of a counter-releasing foot, means to reset said foot when said arms rise in front, and a moistener beneath said rod.

11. The combination, in an alixer of the class described, with a supporting member for a. strip, `such member being provided at the front end with a severing edge for said strip, and a moistener adjacent to such severing edge, of spring-pressed rocking arms and a rod connecting the front terminals of said arms, and gripping means for the forward end of said strip, said front terminals of such arms bein in the path of such gripping means and a apted with said rod to descend, when said gripping means passes away from them, and to cause said strip to be drawn at an angle over said severing edge and to be pressed onto said moistener. f

12. The combination, in an alixer of the class described, with a suitably-mounted reciprocable plunger, of arms pivotally attached to the base of said plunger, and

hinged plates pivotally attached to the lower 'ends of said arms andyieldinly retained normally in angular relations other.

13. The combination, in an aixerv of the class described, with a suitably-mounted recprocable plunger, of arms pivotall attached to the base of said plunger an provided with means. to limit the amount of their inward movement, and hinged lates pivotally attached to the lower ends o said arms and yieldingly retained normally in p to` each v angular relationship to each other.

14. The combination, in an aixer of the class described, with a suitable supporting frame, of areciprocableipler mounted to operate in said frame, osc tory 'pping mechanism within said frame an 0p eratlvely-connected with said plunger', and a contractible and expansible presser carried bysaid lunger at the bottom, the construction an arrangement of parts being such that such presser is not expanded until after said gripping mechanism has cleared, .the same.' L v l CHARLES J. FANCHER. .WitnFeSwAzUm I i G.. A.. Ammin.n

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