US1188747A

US1188747A - Stamp applying and affixing machine.

Info

Publication number: US1188747A
Application number: US86931514A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis Fischer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-10-29
Filing date: 1914-10-29
Publication date: 1916-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1933-06-27

Description

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 29, I914- Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET I I WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914.

Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, I914. 1 ,1 88,74? Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESSES:

IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914. 1 1 747. Patented June 27,1916.

I0 SHEETSSHEET 4- INVENTOR. maker ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES:

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914.

1,188,747. PatentedJune27, 1916. I 10 SHEETS-SHEET 5. I I I I I ,1 I: I l I I I I Q I g l w, I I

& 3 m

IIUU II INVENTOR.

A TTOR NE Y.

I IIVVENTOR.

h I f ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29.1914.

LMJM? Patented June 27,1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

WITNESSES.-

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 29. I914- Patented June 27, 1916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

} INVENTOR. l

III II I ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29.1914. 1388,??? Patented June 27,1916.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR. g; jomwficsc7aer ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914.

Y Patented June 27, 1916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9- w QQN mm QQH WITNESSES.-

A TTORNEY.

L. FISCHER. STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29.1914. 1,1 8%,?4'7. Patented June 27-, 1916.

i0 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

ma N? We wk c m 6 a W WITNESSES:

To all whom it mag/concern [Louis rrsonnn, 0F. rnILnnE LrmA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR r0 wnrenr, or DURHAM, nonrn oer-tonne.

RICHARD H.

STAMP .err'isrme AND arrrxme MACHINE.

i I Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented June 27, 1916'.

Application filed October 29, 1914. Serial No. 869,315.

\ Be it known that I, LoUIs FIsoHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stamp Applying and Afiixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for aflixing stamps, such as reve nue stamps, labels and the like, to packages or receptacles, and the primary objects are to provide a machine of this class which is capable of operating rapidly and efficiently to apply the stamps in proper position and securely on the packages and to deliver the stamped packages in convenient form for packing in boxes or cases. these ends the machine provides a conveyer having holders to receive and hold the packages while the stamps are being applied and 'afiixed thereto, the holders opening to receive the packages, then closing and remaining closed while the stamps are being applied and aflixed, and then openingto discharge the stamped packages therefrom onto another conveyer which latter is provided with brushes or equivalent devices to operate upon the stamps to secure and maintain adhesion thereof upon the packages until the paste is dry or substantially so.

The machine also provides a conveyer and coiiperative devices for stacking the stamped pac ages and advancing them to .thepoint where they are to' be packed in boxes or Furthermore, the presentinvention provldes a dev1ce of an improved constructlon whereby paste is uniformly applied to the stamps, and a guide cooperative with the gummed stamp as the latter is fed to the package, thereby insuring application of the stamps in uniformly correct position upon the packages.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations. and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel featuresv being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is an elevation of that part of the machine which aflixes the stamps to the packages; Fig. 2 1s 1n elevation of the right-hand end thereof; Flg. 3 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the conveyer and the package holders being omitted; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the conveyer which receives the packages from the stamp-affixing mechanism and coiiperating brushes which operate upon the stamps to maintain adhesion thereof during the advancement of the packages; Fig.5 isa top plan view of a portion of the device shown in Fig.4; Fig. 6 represents a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the device which stacks-the stamped packages and advances them to the point where they are removed from the machine; Fig. 8 represents a sec- To tion on the'line 88 of Fig.7 Fig. 9 represents a transverse vertical section throygh the stamp-affixing mechanism showing in elevation the devices 'for feeding, gumm'ing,

guiding and applying the stamps to the packages; Fig. 10 is a detail view showing in elevation revolving brushes for" afiixing the stamps to the packages and platens to press upon the tops of the packages and the intermediate portions of the stamps while the ends of the latter. are operated on by the brushes; Fig-11 is a top plan view of the stamp-affixing mechanism shown in Fig.

'10; Figs. 12 and 13 show in, side elevation and top plan, respectively, means for causing engagement and disengagement of the platens relatively to the tops of the packages Fig. 14 is a detail view showing in end" elevation fingers for maintaining the ends of the stamps in proper position duringthe transfer of the packages from the stampapplying to the stamp-afiixing mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 14 and as viewed from'the right-hand side thereof; Fig. 16 is a top Figs. 14

plan view of the device shown in and 15; Fig. 17 is a detail end elevation of the paste or gum-applylng device; Fig. 18 represents a section on the l1ne 18-18 of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the paste or gum-applying device as viewed from the right in Fig. 17; Figs. 20 and 21 are detail views showing in side and end elevation, respectively, a guide for directing the gummed stamps to the packages; Figs.

22, 23 and 24 are detail views of one of the package holders and its carrier chain or v conveyer, Fig. 22 representing a horizontal section, Fig. 23 a side elevation, and Fig. 24

a transverse section through the conveyer chain and cooperative parts.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The present invention provides means for automatically and expeditiously applying gummed strips, such as labels, revenue stamps and the like, to packages, it being especially adapted for use in afiixing revenue stamps to the tops of packages of tobacco.

The preferred construction is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail, but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equivalent constructions within the scope of the annexed claims may be used.

In the present instance the stamp-applying and affixing mechanism comprises a suitable base 1 having a table or bed 2 on the top thereof and which supports the operative mechanisms. According'to the present invention a traveling carrier or conveyer is provided whichlembodies a series of package holders which are adapted to open to receive the packages, then close and fold the packages while the stamps are being applied and afiixed thereto, and finally opened to permit discharge of the packages therefrom. In the present instance an endless traveling chain 3 is provided which passes over sprocket wheels 4: and 5 at or beyond the respective ends of the table or bed 2, the upper stretch of the chain passing over the bed or table 2 while the lower stretch of the chain passes beneath the bed or table. A series of package holders are mounted at suitable intervals along the chain. In the construction shown each package holder'comprises a relatively fixed body ortion 6 which has an up, standing portion? to form a relatively stationary or non-pivoted side of the package holder, and a base portion 8 which is secured by the pins or rivets 9 to the chain. A piv oted plate or member 10 forms the opposite side of the package holder, said plate or member beingtiltable about one of the pins or rivets 9 as a center and having a stop 11 adapted to coiiperate with an upstanding flange 12 rising from the base portion 8 of the holder to limit the closing movement of the plate or member 10, and a projection 13 serving as a stop to cooperate withthe adj acent portion of the base portion 8 of the holder to limit the opening movement of the plate or member 10. An arm 14 proceeds from the plate or member 10 and carries a roller or projection 15 which controls the opening and closing thereof as will hereinafter appear. In order to support the upper stretch of the conveyer and to thereby insure correct positioning of the package holders relatively to the stamp-applying and affixing devices, a pair of rails 16 are mounted on supports 17 andextend in parallelism and horizontally across the top of the table or bed 2, and the conveyer cha1n is preferablyprovided with rollers 18 which rest and ride upon said rails. A rail 19 is secured in the position in parallelism with the carrier supporting rails 16 and cooperates with the rollers 15 of the package holders while the latter are in cooperative-relation with the stampapplying and afiixing devices. Normally,

the weight of the plate or member 10 which forms a movable side of the package holder is so distributed that it will have a normal.

' and is there formed with a downwardly curved section 21 which is concentric with the axis of the sprockets 5 toward the outer sides of these sprockets and has an inwardly extending portion 22 toward the under side of these sprockets whereby the package holders will be held closed and in gripping engagement with the packages until the latter have approached an inverted position, whereupon the package holders are. caused to open to discharge the packages therefrom. The inwardly extending portion 22 of the rail permits opening of the package holders, and to render the opening of the package holders positive a rail or cam 23 is preferably provided beneath the section 22 of the main rail, the rail or cam 23 operating upon the rollers 15 of the package holders to swing the pivoted sides thereof into open position.

The packages filled with the tobacco or other material may be fed to the holders on the conveyer in any suitable way.= In the present instance 21 represents a portion of a carrier for advancing filled and closed packages, said carrier having pockets 25 in which the packages are contained, and 26 represents a reciprocatory ejector which is movable successively through the pockets 25 to push the filled and closed packages out of the pockets 25 through a guide 27 and into the package holders on the conveyer chain as .the holders are successively positioned in alinement with the guide 27. Intermittent movement of the carrier chain and the package holders thereon at properly timed intervals with respect to the corresponding movements of thecarriero24r and ejector' 26 may be secured in any suitable way, a sprocket Wheel 28 being fixed on the shaft of the spl ocket wheels 4 in the present instance,

and a chain may be used, as indicated, to impart the'intermlttent movements to the carrier chain as required. In order to insure opening of the package holders on the carrier chain at or prior to the time these holders are to receive packages from the carrier 24, a relatively fixed 'rail or cam 29 is provided and arranged in a position to cooperate with the rollers'15 of the package holders as the latter pass around to the upper side of the sprockets 4, this rail or cam 29 terminating in advance of the incline 20 of the rail 19 in order that it will not interferewith the subsequent closing of the package holders.

The first operation is to feed and apply a stamp to the top of the package, this being effected after the holder carrying the package has been advanced to the point where the, package holder has beenclosed by the engagement of its roller 15 with the rail 19. Any suitable means may be employed ,for feeding the stamps. In the present instance a stamp-feeding mechanism is shown conventionally, it embodying a magazine 30 adapted to receive a stack or pile of stamps, and a feeding pad 31 which is lifted into engagement with the lowermost stamp in the magazine, thence shifted to the right in Fig. 9 to withdraw the said stamp with its end projecting through an opening 32, in the bottom of the magazine, the feeding pad 31 being then depressed and finally shifted toward the left while depressed. Such motion is imparted to the feeding pad by a bellcrank arm 33, one end of which is pivoted at 34 on a horizontal slide 35, and said arm also has a roller or projection 36 which travels in a cam groove 37 formed in the face of a cam 38. The slide 35 is provided above the pivot 34 with a pair of stops 39 and the bell-crank arm 33 is provided above the pivot 34 with a projection 40 which is adapted to alternately engage the stops 39 s but has a limited movement between such stops. While the projection 40 is traveling between the stops 39, the arm 33 pivots about its center 34, thereby raising or lowering the feeding pad 31 as the case may be, and the further movement imparted to the arm 33 by the cam groove 37 acting. on the roller'36 causes the slide 35 to shift bodily, thereby shifting the feeding pad 31 on its feeding or return stroke. To insure the requisite pressure of the feeding pad 31 on the lowermost strip to obtain the necessary friction to withdraw the stamp, a weight 41 may be provided which is adapted to rest upon the pile of stamps in the magazine while the feeding pad 31 is operating to feed a stamp therefrom, and means is provided for relievdrawn by the feeding pad 31 and during the remaining operation of withdrawing the stamp. To this end a stem or vertical rod 42 is attached to the weight and operates at its upper end through a guide 43 and a clutch bar or member 44 cotiperates with'the stem 42 and is provided at oneend with a fulcrum or stop 45 and at its opposite end with a vertically movable operating rod 46, the latter having at its lower end a roller 47 which cobperates with a cam 48, rising of the rod 46 causing the bar 44 to grip the stem 42 and thus lift the weight and dropping of the rod 46 bringing the bar 44 into approximately horizontal position where the stop 45 rests upon a support 47 whereupon '80 the bar 44 will be unclutched from the stem 42 and the weight 41 is then free to descend and exert its pressure upon the top of the pile of stamps.

Each stamp is completely withdrawn from the magazine after being partially withdrawn by the feeding pad 31 by a gripper which comprises a pair of jaws 49 and 50 carried by a reciprocatory bar 51, said bar being preferably formed with a rack 52 at its under side which rack coiiperates with an actuating gear 53 fixed to a shaft 54. One of these jaws, preferably the jaw 49, is

in fixed relation to the bar 51, and the jaw 50 is pivoted thereto at the point 55 and is provided with an upstanding arm 56 which when the bar 51 is shifted toward the right will come against a relatively stationary projection 57 which will move the jaw 50 into open position and thereby release the stamp and when the bar 51 is moved toward the left will come against a stationary projection 58 which will operate to close the jaw 50 whereby this jaw and the companion jaw 49 will grip the projecting end of the partially removed stamp, the next movement of the bar 51 toward the right in Fig.

9 completing the withdrawal of the stamp from the magazine and carrying the stamp into a position above the package whlch is to receive it. Means is provided for yieldingly holding the jaws 49 and 50 closed during the feeding of the stamp to the package and for maintaining thejaws open until they are in a position to grip the next stamp. In the present instance the pivoted jaw 50 has an arm 59 connected thereto and 1 this arm carries a spring-pressed pawl 60 which is adapted to engage in one or. another of the notches 61 and 62, thereby retaining the gripper in open and closed condition respectively during the travel of the gripper between the

projections

57 and 58.

As each stamp is withdrawn from the magazine an adhesive is applied to the un-, der side thereof. The adhesive or gumapplying device which appears in Fig. 9 and is shown in detail in Figs. 17, 18 and 19 is mounted on a suitable standard 63 which comprises a casing 64 which is formed at one end with a reservoir 65 to contain a supply of the gum or adhesive, and the opposite end of the casing is formed with a pair of compartments 66 and 67, the bottom of the compartment 66 communicating with the reservoir 65 by the passage 68, the supplementary compartment 67 being separated from the main compartment 66 by a partition 69 but communicating with the compartment 66 at the top by the passage 70 and at the bottom by a passage 71, and the top of the supplementary compartment 67 communicating with the reservoir 65 by the passage 72. A paste roller 73 is mounted on a shaft 74; and revolves with its lower portion immersed in the paste or gum contained in the compartment 66, this roller revolving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 17, that is to say,the lower portion of the roller moves in a direction toward the supplementary compartment 67. The paste roller 73 serves to supply paste to a roller 75, the latter applying the paste or gum to the stamps. In order to enable the paste or gum to be applied throughout the length of the stamp and particularly to the end engaged by the gripper, the roller 75 is grooved circumferentially to provide a space whereby the lower jaw 50 of the gripper maypass this roller in order to grip and withdraw the stamp, the roller 75 being thus formed with a pair of circumferential gum-applying flanges 76 which apply lines of gum or paste to the stamp adjacent to the longitudinal edges thereof.

The roller 73 which supplies the gum or paste to the roller 75 is corres ondingly formed. These

rollers

73 and 5 are so placed that their peripheries are nearly in contact and they are revolved in reverse directions and preferably at the same peripheral speed whereby the gum will be transferred uniformly from-the lower roller 73 to the upper roller 75. Such movement of the rollers is accomplishedkthrough the gears 77 and 78 fixed to the shafts of the

respective rollers

73 and 75, and motion is imparted to the gum or paste-applying device from a sprocket wheel 79, a chain 80 and sprocket wheel 81, the latter being connected to revolve with a gear 82 which latter cooperates with the gear 77. The sprocket wheel 79, as well as the

cams

38 and 48, is sleeved on the shaft 54: and, is connected to a sprocket wheel 83, the latter receiving continuous motion by a chain 84 driven by a sprocket wheel 85, the latter being fixed on the main shaft 86. The shaft 54: which reciprocates the gripper is rotated alternately in-reverse directions by a vertically movable rack 87 which cotiperates with a pinion 88 fixed on the shaft 54, a guide 89 being provided to maintain the rack in cotiperative relation with the pinion, and the rack is connected to an actuating rod 90, the latter being forked at its lower end, as at 91, to straddlethe shaft 86 and is provided with a roller or projection 92 coiiperative with a cam groove 93 formed in a cam 94, the latter being fixed on the main shaft 86.

The

rollers

73 and 75 of the gumming device are revolved continuously by the driving mechanism just described in the directions indicated respectively by the arrows, the roller 75 revolving in the direction in which the stamp is fed from the magazine and thereby applying two lines of paste or gum to the longitudinal edges of the stamp, and the lower roller 73 constantly maintains a proper supply of gum or paste on the periphery of the roller 7 5. The continuous rotation of the lower roller 73 in the direction indicated by the arrow causes a circulating movement of the liquid or semi-liquid gum or paste, causing the same to flow from the compartment 66, through the upper passage 70 into the supplementary compartment 67., and from the bottom of the latter through the lower passage 71 back into the compartment 66, while the level of the paste in the compartment 66 is maintained constantby permitting surplus gum or aste to overflow from the compartment 61, through the passage 72 back into the reservoir 65, and a constant supply of gum or paste is maintained in the compartment 66 by the inflow of gum or paste from the reservoir 65 through the passage 68. A scraper 95 is preferablyprovided to remove gum or paste from the sides of the flanges of the lower roller 73, this scraper embodying a plate which is secured to the top of the compartment 67 serving as a cover therefor, and the plate is shaped to admit the peripheral flanges of the lower roller 7 3. This scraper will also strip any broken stamp from the lower roller 73.

In order to insure the proper delivery of the stamps to the packages, a guide is provided through which each stamp is drawn by the gripper, and this guide is tiltable downwardly and forwardly toward the package as the stamp approaches the limit present instanceis located between the gumming device and the package holder, it comprising an arm 96 which has a head 97 at its upper end which is formed with a central groove 98 to permit the passage of the gripper therethrough, and the head at opposite sides of the groove 98 is formed with a pair of longitudinally curved beveled edges 99 which engage the gummed side of the stamp with a. minimum surface in contact. A pair of guards 100 are provided which overlie the beveled edges 99, the stampv passing beof its feeding movement. The guide in the I the guide.

v the slide 112 is in its elevate tween the guards and said edges whereby the stamp is maintained in engagement with i The arm 96 is fixed at its lower end to a rock shaft 101, the latter being mounted in a bearing 102 formed on a bracket 103, the latter being bolted or otherwise secured to a relatively fixed part of the machine. A spring 10 1 is provided which has a normal tendency to hold the arm 96 in normal upright position, as shown in Fig. 20, the movement of the guide in this direction being limited by aprojection 105 formed on thebearing 102 and a pin 106 carried by an arm 107, the latter being fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 101. The mm 107 provides means for tilting the guide toward the right in Fig. 20 or into the position shown in Fig. 9, the reciprocatory gripper actuating bar 51 being,., provided with a pin or projection 108 which is'adapted to strike against the arm 107 as the gripper approaches the limit of its feeding movement whereby the guide is tilted forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, although the guideduring the major portion of "the feeding of the stamp occupies an upright position.

In feeding the stamps to the tops of the packages they are brought beneath a stampapplying device. This stamp-applying device in the present instance comprises a platen 109 which is carried by a vertically movable stem 110 and conforms substan-- daily in size and shape to that of the top of the package. A pair of wipers 111 are ar ranged to descend at the ends of the platen 109 for the purpose of applying the ends of the gummed stamp to the sides of the package. These wipers are-carried by a verti cally movable slide 112 which is guided to reciprocate in a guide 113. The stem 110 of the platen 109 extends loosely through the slide 112 and issupported therein bya shoulder or collar 114 at its upper end. When position the shoulder. or collar 114 will support the platen 109 also in elevated position, as shown in Fig. 9. When, however, a stamp has been fed across the top of the package and,the slide 112 is lowered, the first part of the descending movement of the slide will bring the platen 109 down upon the intermediateportion of the stamp which extends across the top of the package, and the further descent of the slide 112 will cause the wipers 111 to pass'the ends of the'platen 109 and to bend the'ends of the stamp into engagement with] the sidesof the package, this further descent of the slide occurring while the platen 10 9 remains at rest upon the top of the package and being permitted by the loose fit of the stem 110 of the platen theslide 112. Upon the return or elevating stroke of the slide 112, the platen 109 is raised by the final movement of the slide which brings the upper end thereof into the shoulder or collar 114. The slide 112 may be reciprocated at appropriate intervals by any suitable means. In the construction shown, a lever115 is provided, one end of which is operatively connected to the slide, its intermediate portion is, pivoted at 116, and a link 117 is operatively connected to its opposite end, the lower end of this linkbeing divided to form a fork 118- which straddles the shaft 86 and carries a roller or projection 119 which follows an appropriately formed groove 120 formed in a earn 121-, the latter being fixed on the shaft 86. j

A stamp is applied by the mechanism just described to each package as it is brought into a position in line with the stamp-feedingdevice and beneath the stamp-applying device. In order to insure firm contact of the stamps with the packages, means is shown for brushing the ends of the gummed stamps 'ter the. latter have been advanced from the stamp-applying position. The ,mechanism for accomplishing this is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in Figs. '10-16 inclusive. It comprises a series of pairs of revoluble brushes 122 which are arranged at opposite sid'esof the path of movement of the packages and are spaced axially a distance corresponding to'the spacing of the package holders on the conveyer chain. As shown, these brushes are mounted on

shafts

123 and 124, these shafts being mounted in

bearings

125 and 126 and are connected to revolve in engagement with,

against the sides of the packages afends of the shafts and the intermediate connecting

gears

129 and 130, the brushes re .volving in directions to brush the ends of the gummed stamps downwardly against the sides'of the packages. In order to permit advance movement of the packages without interference between 'the. brushes and the ends of the stamps on the packages, the bristles of the brushes are omitted at one side thereof and such sides of the brushes occupy positions opposite to the packages when advancing movement of the latter occurs. Motion is tervals to the brushes. from the driving shaft 131 which is driven by a sprocket wheel 132, the shaft 131 having a sprocket wheel 133 thereon which is connected ,by a chain 134 to a sprocket wheel 135 on a, shaft 136, the

latter being journaled in the bearing 126 and is provided with a gear 137 which cotiperates with the gear 127 on the brush Shaft 123. Pl

During the brushing of the stamp ends against the packagesv it is preferable to apply pressure to the intermediate portions of the stamps which extend across the tops the communicated at appropriate in-- of the packages, thereby preventing displacement of the stamps due to the brushing action. In the present instance a series of platens 138 are provided which are spaced advancing movements thereof one of the brush shafts, the brush shaft 124 in the present instance, is provided with a cam 141 which cotiperates with a roller or projection 142 on one of the platen supporting a'rms 139 whereby all the platens connected to the rock'shaft 140 will be depressed upon the tops of the stamped packages during the operation of the brushes, and when such operation has been completed the cam141 will raise the platens preparatory to the next advancing movement of the packages.

In order to prevent displacement. of the ends of the stamps relatively to the packages as the latter are transferred from the position where they receive the stamps to the first position where the brushes act thereon, a pair of arms 143 are provided which are mounted at their lower ends on a common rock shaft 144 supported in a bearing 145, these arms straddling the conveyer chain and the package holders. thereon, and their upper ends occupying positions opposite to the ends of the stamp. These arms are movable with each package as the same is transferred from the stamp-applying position to the first position where the ends of the stamp are subjected to the brushing action. In

order to rock the arms 143 so that their upper ends will move in unison with the packages, a cam 146 of appropriate form is provided which coeperates with a roller or' projection 147 on one of the arms 143. The cam 146 is mounted on a shaft 148 j ournaled in the bearing 125, this shaft being rotated in predetermined relation to the the

sprocket wheels

149 and 150 on the

shafts

148 and 124 respectively, and by a connecting chain 151. A spring 152 operates to hold the roller 147 in cooperative relation with the cam 146 and to cause the arms-.143 to move with the package as the latter is transferred from the stamp-apply-.

ing position to the position where it is first subjected to the brushing action. The main .shaft 131 is operatively connected to the cam shaft 86 by the gears 153 and 154 secured to" the respective shafts.

After the stamps have been applied and afiixed the packages are discharged from the package holders as each package holder approaches the under side of the sprocket wheels 5, as will appearfrom brushes by Fig. 1. In 1' order to insure permanent adhesion of the stamps to the packages, means is preferably provided for subjecting the ends of the stamps to a further brushing action and to the action of heat which will accelerate the drying of the gum on the stamps. Figs, 4, 5 and 6 show an apparatus for accomplishing these results. As shown, it comprises a suitable base or support 155 and an upwardly inclined table 156 on the top thereof. The table 156 provides a runway along which the stamped packages are advancedendwise and in arow. The advancing of the packages is accomplished in the construction shown by a traveling conveyer 157 which passes over pulleys or sprockets 158 and 159 and is provided with projections 160 which are adapted to come against the bottoms of the respective packages and thereby push them longitudinally up and along the table 156. The packages are deposited at appropriate intervals upon the table 156 from the package holders previously described and at the moment when the package holders approach the under side of the sprocket wheels 5, the package holders opening at this moment to so discharge the packages. It will be understood that the packages are deposited from the package holders onto the table 156 with their upper ends in ad Vance, the projections 160 engaging the bottoms of the packages. To prevent displacement of the packages while traveling along the table 156, guide rails 161 are preferably provided which extend longitudinally of the table 156 and above the line of travel of the packages, these rails being supported by cross-bars 162 the ends of which rest in brackets 163 fixed to the table' 156. The ends of the stamps on the packages are first subjected to the action of a pair of brushes provided on the table beyond the heaters whereby the stamp ends will be subjected to a further brushing action a f-ter leaving the heaters.

The packages are advanced 'step-by-step along the table 156 and in properly timed relation tothe operation of the stamp-applyin and afiixing mechanisms. To accomplish'this the conveyer'157 is driven from the shaft 131 by the'bevel gear 167 on said shaft, the bevel gear 168 on a countershaft 169, and'by sprocket wheels 17 0 and 171 on tion to feed the .walls operative wearer the shaft 169 and the shaft 172 respectively, and the connecting chain 173.

After the stamps have been permanently aflixed to the packages the latter are stacked in convenient form for packing in boxes or cases. The stacking mechanism is shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. It comprises a base or stand 17 1 which supports a trough 175, an endless belt 176 having its upper stretch arranged to travel longitudinally along the trough in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7, and the belt being supported by the pulleys 177 and 178. The stamped packages are delivered to the trough from the upper end of the table 156 and means is provided for stacking the packages in inclined overlapping relation. In the construction shown, pairs of rollers 179 and 180 are mounted in superposed relation and on parallel shafts 181 and 182 respectively, these rollers having their peripheries covered with suitable material to provide the necessary friction-a1 engagement between the rollers and the packages, and they are spaced apart a distance to'accommodate the packages between them. The space between. the rollers is in a position to receive the packages as the latter pass over the upper end of the table 156, and in the present instance the lower rollers 180 are revolved in a direcpackages through such space, the upper rollers 179 revolving idly. In order to stack the packages in overlapping inclined position, as shown in Fig. 7, the rollers 180 are revolved at a peripheral speed greater than the speed of movement of the belt 176. In the present instance the belt 176 and the rollers 180 are driven at the proper relative speeds by a chain 183 which cooperates with a shaft 185 of the sprocket wheel 159, and'this chain cooperates with a sprocket wheel 186 on the shaft 182 sprocket wheel 187 on the shaft 188 of the roller 177. The packages may be conveniently removed from the trough 175 by hand or otherwise for packing'in cases or boxes.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine for affixing stamps across the tops of packages, the

combination with a stamp applying device, of a conveyer carrying a plurality of holders for successivelX feeding the packages vthereto, each holder beingopen at-the top and at opposite of the package, the holders having opposed to clamp the packages there- 1n, and means operative below the top and through the open sides of each holder to I to the package therein. 2.

n a machine for aflixing-stainps' across the tops of compressible packages, the combinatlon of 'a conveyor carrying a plurality of package holders, eachpholder having opsprocket whee] 184 on the of the rollers 186 and a.

moving sides to expose the corresponding sides- I the combination with a posed sides operative to compress the package laterally and open at the top and sides to expose the top and opposite sides of the pac age therein, a stamp feeding device operative successively on the packages at a predetermined point in the travel of the conveyer, a platen operative through the open top of the holder to compress the intermediate portionof the stamp against the top of the package, and a plurality of stamp afiixing devices operative below the-tops and through the open sides of the holders and upon the exposed sides of the packages while the latter are compressed in the holders.

3. In a machine for afiixing stamps across the tops of packages, the combination of means for applying a stamp across the top of a package with the ends of the stamp in position to engage opposite sides thereof, and brushes having means for revolving them in reverse directions on axes located at opposite sides of the package and presentlng peripheries operative to brush the stamp ends in a direction the package downwardly respective sides thereof.

4-. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a package holder, of means for feeding a stamp horizontally across the top of a package therein, a guide for supporting the stamp during such feed ing operation and movable downwardly and toward the package, and means for applying the stamp to the package.

5. In a machine the combination with a device for feeding stamps embodying a reciprocatory gripper, of a device for applying gum to said stamps comprising a gum-applying roller having circumferential flanges to apply the gum to the stamps and an intervening circumferential groove to accommodate said gripper, and a guide for the stamphaving means for it toward the receptacle.

6. In a machine .of the class described,

from the top of and against the the combination of a conveyer for advanc-j ing packages, means for applying stamps across the tops. of the packages, and revoluble brushes presenting opposed peripheries at opposite sides of the path of movement of the packages and having means for revolving them to cause brushing action of the peripheries thereof upon the ends of the stamps to afiix the same to the sides of the respective packages.

In a machine of the class described,

conveyer for ad'- vancing packages, stamps to the packages with the ends'of the stamps arranged td engage the sides of the packages, of revoluble brushes presenting opposed peripheries at opposite sides of the path of'movement of the packages and opof the class described,

and means for applying erative upon the ends of the stamps thereon, and a pair of heaters beyond said brushes and operative to dry the ends of the stamps on the packages.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for advancing packages, and means for applying stamps to the packages, of brushes at opposite sides of the path of movement of the packages and operative upon the ends of the stamps thereon, a pair of heaters arranged on the table beyond said brushes and operative to dry the ends of the stamps'on the packages, and additional brushes located beyond the heaters and operative on the ends of the stamps on the packages after the same have passed the heaters.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for advancing an oblong package in upright position, means for applying a stamp longitudinally across the narrow top of the package With the ends of the stamp arranged to engage the narrow sides of the package, revoluble brushes having opposed peripheries arranged at opposite sides of the path of movement of the packages, and means for revolving the brushes to cause the peripheries thereof to bend the ends of the stamp downwardly and against the narrow sides of the package.

10. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of means for advancing a package in upright position, means for applying a stamp across the top of the package with the ends of the stamp arranged to engage the sides thereof, and a pair of revoluble brushes presenting opposed peripheries and having means for revolving 'them in opposite directions to cause their peripheries to brush the ends of the stamp downwardly and against the sides of the package. 11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of package advancing means, means for applying a stamp across the top with its ends arranged to engage the sides of a package therein, a platen operative to press upon that part of the stamp extending across the top of the package, and brushes operative to brush the ends of the stamp downwardly against the sides of the package.

12. In a machine of the class described,the combination of an intermittently movable conveyer carrying a plurality of package holders, means for applying stamps, successively across the tops of the packages with the ends-of the stamps engaging the sides of the packages, and a serles of pairs of revoluble brushes operative upon the ends of the stamps on a plurality of the packages to afiix the same thereto.

a machine of the class described, the

combination of an intermittently movable conveyer carrying a plurality of package ing clearance spaces at one side, and means for revolving the brushes intermittently to present the clearance spaces thereof toward the packages during each advancing movement of the latter.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an intermittently movable conveyer carrying a plurality of package holders, means for successively applying stamps across the tops of the packages with the ends of the stamps engaging the sides of the packages, a series of platens operative to press upon the tops ofthe packages and the portions of the stamps thereon between the periods of movement of the conveyer and to disengage therefrom during the movements of the conveyer, and means operative to afiix the ends of the stamps to the packages between the periods of movement of the conveyer.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a traveling conveyer carrying a package holder, means for feeding a stamp to the top of a package and engaging the ends of the stamp with the sides of the package, means operative after the package has been advanced by the conveyer to afiix the ends of the stamp to the sides of the package, and arms movable with the package as the latter is advanced to the aflixing means and operative to retain the ends of.

the stamp in operative relation to the sides of the package.

16. In a machineof the class described,-the combination of means for advancing a package, means for applying a stamp across the top of the package with the ends of the stamp engaging the sides of the package,

18. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for-feeding "a stamp longitudinally across the narrow elongated top of a package having substantially parallel opposite sides, a platen to bear on the top of the package and the intermediate portion my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witof the stamp thereon, and revoluble brushes nesses. presenting opposed peripheries to act on the LOUIS FISCHER. ends of the stamp to bend the same against WVitnesses: 5 said opposite sides of the package. G. J. FEASLER, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set A. L. POWERS.