US1203932A - Stamp-affixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

B. D. STRAIGHT.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27,1909. LQQQQ. I Patented'Nov. 7', 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

B. D. STRAIGHT.

STAMP AFHXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.27. 1909.

1 03,932 Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- B. D. STRAIGHT.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE. APPLlCATlnN FIYLED 05c. 2711909.

1,203,932. 'PatentediNov. 7,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 34 snip safar s rarsnr caries.

BENNETT D. STRAIGHT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MAIL-OM-ETER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Application filed December 27, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENNETT D. STRAIGHT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp- Affixing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the, accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to stamp 'aflixing machines of that type in which the stamps are fed in continuous strip, and are successively severed from the strip and aiiixed to the envelop or other surface to which they are to be applied.

The invention consists in the means employed for feeding the stamps, the means for severing the stamps, means whereby the severing operation also applies the same,

means for moistening the surface to whichthe stamps are applied, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through ,an end-operated stamp aflixer constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a differ'entposition of adjustment; Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view illustrating the feeding device; Fig. 4: is a vertical central section through the feeder; and Figs. .5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views of a portion of Fig. 2 illustrating the operation.

One diiiiculty encountered in the construction of stamp or label-aihxing mechanism is the variation; in width of the diiferent stamps or labels due to the expansion and contraction of the paper, and to other causes. Thus, where the severing of the stamps is effected by a blade, it is necessary to provide a complex feed mechanism to correctly po- .ition the successive stamps for severing, and even where this is done, it is difficult to obtain a perfect registration, and often the cutting is at one side of the exact lineof division. lVith my invention, this diiliculty is overcome by tearing the stamps from the strip which dispenses with the necessity of absolute uniformity in registration; further,

by eifecting the tearing by clamping the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Serial No. 535,113.

labels, which are preferably in the form of a roll engaging a pin D.

E is a guide-way for the stamps extending downward from the holder D, and F is a feeder actuated by theplunger B and operated to advance the stamp strip along the guide E. The feeder F may be of any suitable construction so long as it feeds the stamps at the proper timeto the separating and applying mechanism her inafter described. The construction of feeding mechanism which I have herein shown comprises a slide-block F engaging guide-ways E on the opposite sides of'the stamp-guide E, this stamp guide being located so that the stamps will feed from the roll vertically down beside the plunger. The stamps are preferably prcssed against the stamp guide by springs E.

The stamps are fed downward by a friction-pawl Gr, pivoted to the slide-block F at G and having a friction surface, such as leather or rubber, as shown at a. The slideblock F is connected by links H H with the plunger B, the location of the pivots of the connection being such that as the plunger moves downward it will rock the pawl G upon its pivot and throw the friction-face a into contact with the stamp-strip and feed the same downward; but, in the upward movement ofthe plunger, the friction-face will be rocked away'from contact with the strip and move upwardly free therefrom;

In addition to the friction-pawl Gr for moving the stamp-strip downward at each downward movement of the plunger, I provide a series of pointed pawls I, yieldingly pressed by springs I against the paper strip, the points being so constructed that they will engage with the perforations between adjacent stamps when registered therewith. These pawls, are pivoted at the lower ends at 6 upon the slide-block F andat their upper ends project over a cross-bar J on the rocking frame J.which is likewise pivoted upon the pivot Z). This r0cking frame has lateral extensions J which project into contact with the guides E which are provided with the cams E these came moving the pointed pawls into and pivoted thereto at M.

out of engagement with the stamp-strip as the plunger moves the slide-block up and down.

The w iole organization of the feed mechanism is such that in the downward movement of the plunger the friction-pawl will engage and feed the stamp strip downward but be held out of contact therewith during the upward movement.

Near the upper end of the upward movement of the slide-block the lateral extensions J will ride down the cam-ways E when the pawls I, through the medium of the pawls and the cross-bar, will be forced into contact with the stamp strip, engaging the perforations as shown in Fig. 3, and move the stamp-strip upward or downward to a definite position. Thus the position of the strip is corrected in case there is any difference inthe size of the stamps or in case there should be a minute slippage of the pawl in feeding the stamp-strip down, so that upon each succeeding operation the friction-pawl will engage with a properly registered strip and advance it to a distance equal to the width of one stamp.

The stamp strip is directed by the guide E to the lower end of the frame A, and at that point a curve E in the guide will project the free end of the strip in a horizontal direction and only slightly above the plane of the envelop or surface to which the stamp is to be aflixed. At this point, the end stamp is severed and applied by mechanism of the following construction: K is a foot which is depressed by the movement of the plunger B and which is adapted to clamp the outer end portion of the strip against the surface to which it is to be applied and also clamp the strip to the curved portion of the guide above the weakened line of division of the stamp to be severed. The foot is further provided with a severing section for rupturing the strip along the weakened line intermediate the portions at which the stamp is clamped, the foot being so constructed and arranged relative to the plunger B that in the downward movement of the latter the severing portion of the foot will not be actuated until the strip has first been clamped upon opposite sides of the weakened line. As shown, the foot comprises an open centered frame K within which is arranged the rupturing member M K are links arranged upon opposite sides of'the frame K each of. which has its opposite ends secured to the pivot M and to the frame A respectively. The foot is yieldably attached'to the plunger by a spring L pivotally secured at one end to the plunger and having its opposite end slidably engaging an eye L upon the upper face of the member M. This spring will draw the foot upwardwhen the plunger is retracted, but in the downward movement of the plunger the foot will not Fig. 5) by means of springs M and these springs are of sufficient tension to prevent depression of the rupturing member during the initial depression of the foot. When the member K has reached the limit of its downward movement the portion of the member M adjacent its pivotal connection clamps the outer end of the strip to the article to be stamped, and the end M of the frame K engages the strip beyond the weakened line of severance and clamps the same to the curved portion of the guide. A further downward movement of the plunger will depress the inner end of the member M independent of the frame K this will rupture the strip along the weakened line intermediate the portions at which the strip is clamped.

The moistening of the gummed surface of the stamp is preferably effected by drawing a moistened pad over the surface of the envelop just in advance of the feeding of the stamp, and the severing and application of the same. For this purpose, the machine is provided with a moistening pad N, which is mounted upon a rockable and slidable bearing 0. The member 0 is provided with trunnions O, which engage horizontal guide slots 0 in the frame A.

P is a swinging link fulcrumed to the frame at its upper end, and at its lower end connected through the intermediate link P with the member 0.

Q is a link connected at one end to the plunger B, and at its opposite end tothe link P intermediate its fulcrum and the point of connection with the linkP.

The construction is such that, in normal position of the parts, where the plunger is raised, the pad N will occupy a position slightly above the envelop, and at a point where the stamp is to be applied. When the plunger is depressed, the link Q, will swing the link P, and through the medium of the link P will carry the member 0 and pad N rearward, but, before this movement is imparted to the pad, the member 0 will be tilted by. the action of the links, so that the moistened surface of the pad will contact with the paper. Thus, during the rearward movement, the surface of the paper will be moistened by the pad, and, when the stamp 15 subsequently pressed in contact with this moistened surface, it will adhere thereto.

Upon the return movement of thelinks Q, l

P and P, their initial action will be to tilt the member 0, so as to withdraw the pad from contact with the surface, and avoid wetting it a second time.

My machine is preferably provided with bell-crank lever S attached to bolt.

various specific features for facilitating the operation of the same. One of these, is the means employed for disengaging the stamp guide to permit of threading a stamp strip therewith. For this purpose, the holder D is pivotally attached at D to the frame A, and the link which attaches the slide F to the plunger B is formed of the normally folded sections H H. Thus, the holder D may be swung outward upon its pivot D straightening out the folded sections H H and bringing the guide E into a position where it is accessible for the insertion of the stamp strip.

Another specific feature of my machine is the means employed for stopping the feeding of the strip during the severing operation, while still actuating both devices from the plunger B. This consists of a collar R upon the plunger B, to which the link H is connected, and a latch bolt S for coupling said collar to the plunger. The latch bolt S is normally held in engagement with the plunger by a spring S operating upon a The outer end of this bell-crank lever has an eye loosely engaging a rod T upon the frame, while at the lower end of said rod is a head or collar T for tripping the bell-crank lever at a certain point in the movement of the plunger. This tripping is effected at the completion of the feeding of the stamp strip, and, as soon as the collar is disengaged, the plunger is free to travel farther to complete its operation without further actuating the feeder F.

Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a stamp or label afiixing device, the combination of a reciprocatory plunger, a feeder for the strip of stamps or labels actuated by said plunger, a foot carried by said plunger for clamping said strip at the termination of the feeding movement thereof, said foot having a movable section for pressing on said strip subsequent to the clamping thereof, and means for automatically uncoupling said feeder and foot from said plunger to permit the further movement of the latter and the actuation of said independently movable foot section thereby.

2. In a stamp and label affixing device, the combination with a frame, a reciprocatory plunger mounted therein, a member having a latch-coupling engagement with said plunger, a feeder and a clamp actuated from said plunger through the medium of said member thereon, means operating at the completion of the feeding movement for unlatching said coupling, said clamp having a portion subsequently operated directly by said plunger for rupturing the stamp strip and pressing the same against the surface to be stamped.

3. In a stamp or label affixing device, a plunger for controlling the stamp afiixing the stamp-strip in the ing, stamp strip feeding and stamp severing means actuated by the forward movement of the plunger, means for disconnecting the stamp feed before the plunger completes its forward movement, and a clamp for the stamp strip applied during the forward movement of the plunger while the stamp feed is disconnected.

i. In a stamp or label aflixing device, the combination of a stamp holder, a vertical guide from the holder for the stamp strip, a reciprocatory plunger beside the guide for controlling the stamp affixing, a strip feed carried by the plunger engaging the strip in the vertical guide, and feeding it forward in the downward movement of the plunger, and means for disconnecting the strip feed before the plunger reaches the limit of its motion.

5. In a stamp or label aflixing machine, the combination of a strip holder, a vertical guide leading therefrom, a reciprocatory plunger for controlling the stamp aflixing arranged beside the guide, and a series of fingers carried by the plunger adapted to engage perforations in the strip in its down ward movement to feed the strip forward.

6. The combination with a reciprocating plunger for controlling the stamp aflixing and a stamp feed actuated in the inward movement thereof, of means actuated by the plunger for engaging the stamp strip perforations before the end of the upward move ment, to move such perforations to a fixed point at each operation.

7. The combination in a machine for feed ing a stamp-strip and severing and applying a stamp, of a reciprocating plunger for controlling the stamp affixing, a stamp feed actuated by the plunger in its inward movement to feed the stamp-strip forward, means for disengaging the stamp-feed from the plunger before the end of inward movement thereof, and means for engaging the perforations of the stamp-strip before the end of the return movement of the plunger, to move such perforations to a fixed point at each operation.

8. The combination with a reciprocatory plunger for controlling the stamp aflixin of a stamp feed actuated thereby comprising means for automatically engaging and movdownward movement of the plunger and being released and moving free therefrom in the upward movement, and means for engaging the stampstrip perforations before the end of the upward movement to move such perforations to a fixed point at each operation.

9. In a stamp aflixer, the combination with a frame, of a plunger, an aflixing member actuated thereby, a reciprocatory stamp feeding mechanism, a collar carried by said plunger for moving the feeding mechanism with said plunger, and means for rendering said collar loose upon the plunger, at a cer tain point of its downward motion, and retaining it against participation in the further downward movement of the plunger.

10. In a stamp aflixer, the combination with a frame, of a plunger mounted in said frame, a stamp affixing member having a swinging connection with the frame and with the plunger and actuated by the latter, and a stamp feeding mechanism actuated by the plunger.

11. The combination with a strip-feeding BENNETT :o. STRAIGHT.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. IRWIN, VERNER NOBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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