US1211499A

US1211499A - Stamp-affixing machine.

Info

Publication number: US1211499A
Application number: US13381416A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick W Storck
Original assignee: CHARLES DROUET E
Current assignee: E CHARLES DROUET; CHARLES DROUET E
Priority date: 1916-11-27
Filing date: 1916-11-27
Publication date: 1917-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1934-01-09

Description

F. W. STORCK. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE. APPucATloN man MAY1o,19H. RENewED Nov.

Patented Jan. 9,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WMA/ed F. W. STORCK.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1911. RENEwED Nov. 27, 191s.

1,21 1,499. Patented JA11.9,1917.

4 a sH Ts-snser 2.

F. W. STORCK.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l0. 19H- RENEWED NOV. 27,1916.

l 2l l 499. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"NTU STATS @PATENT @FFQFM FREDERICK W. STORCK, GF BCS'FON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR, BY MESNE ASSGN- MENTS, T0 E. CHARLES DROITET, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAMP-AFFXING MACHINE.

Application iled May 10, 1911, Serial No. 626,238.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, FREDERICK WV. S'ronoi, subject ofthe Emperor of Germany, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stamp-Aftixing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying' drawings.

rEhe inventicn relates to mechanism for feeding a stamp strip or label strip in which the stamps or labels are put up in the form of a continuous strip, and mechanism for severing the stamps or labels one by one from the strip, also to mechanism for affixing the stamps or labels to an envelop or other surface.

The invention is especially intended for use in connection with mechanism for affixing the stamps or labels to envelops, postal cards or wrappers and for that reason the invention is shown as embodied in a machine employing mechanism for thus affixing the stamps. The aflixing mechanism, however, may be omitted and the feed mechanism be employed to serve merely as a vending or delivering machine for stamps.

rlhe main features of the invention relate to the feed mechanism and to the severing mechanism.

Other features of the invention relate to the stamp aiiiXing mechanism and also to the moistening device.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and positive feed which will accommodate itself to variations in the length of the stamps and which also will overcome any tendency of the strip to lag which is sometimes occasioned when the parts become sticky by reason of the gum deposit in the feed channel after the machine has been used a considerable time, thus increasing the friction.

ln describing the machine when the terms stamp strip and stamp are used through the specification, it is to be understood that the words stamp and stamp strip are intended to broadly cover a label and label strip also wherever applicable.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917i'.

Renewed November 27, 1916. Serial No. 133,814.

and the novel features will be pointed out and clearly delined in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a machine embodying the invention showing the machine with a stamp strip running from a roll and threaded into position to be carried down and severed and affixed by a single down stroke of the plunger. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the same line as Fig. 1 but partly broken away and showing the parts in the position when the plunger has descended far enough to bring the heel of the hinged foot into engagement with the st-ampin contact with the envelop and holding t e stamp so that the toe of the foot will sever the stamp from the strip when the plunger continues its descent. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the same line as Fig. 1, parts of the machine being broken away showing the plunger at the bottom of its descent and the hinged foot pressing the severed stamp flat upon the envelop. Fig. 5 is a section on the same line as Fig. 4 showing the parts in the position when the plunger has partly completed its tip-stroke, the stamped envelop having been removed. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the plunger case, the stamp breaker lever, aportion of the feed blade and the tearing off blade. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the plunger case, hinge plate and .tearing oif blade. S is a detail view of the feed blade. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the stamp tension spring. Fig. 1() is an end view showing the inclined guide channel for the envelop. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a portion of the plunger and hinged foot and plunger case in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing how the hinged stop for the envelop is turned down on its side to allow the envelop to be moved to receive a second stamp,

envelops are fed to position to receive the stamp on a run-way 5 wh1ch 1n the form of the machine shown constitutes also a cover Vfor the water reservoir 6 which supplies moisture to the moistening wicks to meisten the envelop in its advance to the position for receiving the stamp.

A plunger 7 is vertically reciprooable in a case 8 having two parallel upper guide arms 9 and two lower parallel guide arms 10. A cross-bar 11 is secured to the two upper guide arms 9 in front of the plunger and a cross-bar 12 is secured to the two lower arms 10 in front of the plunger thereby retaining the plunger within its case. A spring 13 is inclosedl within the hollow plunger, the lower end of the spring resting upon a pin 14 which projects from the lower cross-bar 12 through the wall of the plunger and forms a seat for the plunger spring.

rlhe lower end of the plunger is formed with a reduced lower portion or neck 15 to which is hinged a foot 16 by a hinge pin 17 which passes transversely through the foot near one edge of the foot and through the neck 15, that edge of the foot which is nearer to the hinge pin being termed the toe of the foot and the free end of the foot being termed the heel. The rear lower edge of the plunger is formed with a bevel 18 against which the rearwardly extending toe portion of the foot normally engages as shown in Fig. 1 to serve as a stop and limit the downward tilt of the heel portion of the foot, the foot being normally held in said inclined position by a spring 19, one end p of which is seated in a recess in the foot and the other end of which extends up into a recess in the neck of the plunger.

The object of having the foot hinged near one edge instead of in the middle is in order to have the heel of the foot engage the advance end of the stamp and clamp it firmly to the envelop and move the envelop and stamp clamped thereto slightly toward the front as shown in Fig. 4 so as to take up the slack in the stamp as the plunger completes its descentV and tighten it sufiiciently so that the toe of the foot will sever the advance stamp from the strip. The bottom and front of the foot is provided with a rubber shoe 20.

The plunger case is formed with a beveled back face 21 extending down to an .opening through the. back. The lower back'portion of the plunger Ycasing consists of. a plate or block 39 which is formed with an upwardly sloping front face 22 there being a spacebetween the upper end of the sloping face 22 and the lower end of the sloping face`21 This plate 39 is hinged for a purpose'to be described hereinafter and is locked against turning on its hinge. A flat spring 23 is secured as by screws 24 to the back side of Vthe case above the sloping face 21 and its `30, the upper end of the spring bearing lower free end extends down through the opening in the case and bears against the sloping front face 22, the spring thus being iiexed slightly when theparts are assembled and its tension causes it to press against the front face 22. The lower end of the spring 23 is formed with a tooth 25 which normally lies in a groove 26 in the front sloping face 22. The stamp strip 4 is threaded down between the back of the spring 23 and the sloping front face 22. The pointed tooth 25 engages the strip and prevents the strip from slipping backward but does not interfere with the feed of the strip forward.

The front face of the case is formed with a wide shallow groove 27 which is wider than the stamp strip and forms a channel for the passage of the stamp strip. A thin feed blade 28 lies within said groove 27 and is slidable therein, the stamp strip lying between said feed blade and the face of the groove 27. The feed blade 28 is provided with a pin 29 which extends into an elongated slot 30 in the plunger. A spring 31 is seated upon said pin 29 within said slot against the upper end of the slot. The feed blade. 28 fills the full width of the groove 27 and is formed near its lower end with laterally extending projections 32 which extend into the widened lower portion of the groove 27 and beneath the overhanging flanges 33 which guide the feed blade in its sliding movement. K

The feed blade 28 is provided with points 34 on its lower endrwhich are adapted to Vpierce the stamp strip along thelines ofV perforations or breaking line of the stamp strip after the stamp strip has been bent as will be hereinafter described and to feed the stamp strip downward.V Y

The spring 31 is of sufiicient tension so that when the plunger ,is pressed downward the feed blade will 'also be carried down with it until the feed blade is brought to a positive stop by the Vmeansfwhich willbe described. Y Y ,Y

Secured tothe lower end of the plunger case and extending transversely across thereof is a tearing off bar 35 which extends into the path of the Vdownwardly moving feed blade. The lower endof the feed blade is formed with a plurality of short teeth 36 vwhich may be shorter and duller than the points 34, said teeth 36 being intended forV 1 Vtearing off the stamp rather than for feed- Cir pass through the stamp strip and feed it down until the feed blade reaches the stationary bar when the teeth 36 will also be pushed through the strip and as the feed blade is now brought to a stop by its engagement with the tearing oli' bar 35 the plunger will continue its descent compressing the spring 31, and the toe 38 of the foot 16 will carry down the stamp tearing it oft' along the line already weakened and penetrated by the teeth of the feed blade.

rlhe back support or guide for the stamp strip which has the sloping face :22 and the groove 26 consists of a hinged plate or block 3S) which is hinged at its lower end by pins 40 passing through the two side guides 42 in the two opposite sides of the plungercase and entering holes in the opposite sides of the hinged plate 39. rlfhe purpose of having the plate hinged in this manner is to .enable the hinged plate to be turned back on its hinge pins sol that the stamp strip may be threaded between the hinged plate and the tension spring plate 23. In order to hold the hinged plate loclred in position after itis closed a pin 44 passes through holes in the sides of the plunger case and extends trans- `fersely through the hinged plate.

rEhe hinged plate 39 is formed with a slot extending up from its lower end for some distance. A lever 46 is pivoted at 47 to a bess projecting from the baci; of the hinge plate 39 and its forward arm passes through the slot and extends beneath the hinged foot 16. A spring 48 is made fast at one end to one end of the lever 46, the other end of the spring being made fast to the frame of the machine and normally holding the said lever 46 with its free end projecting under the hinged foot 16 as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of the slot 45 serves as a stop which is engaged by the horizontal portion Z7 of the lever 46 to limit the upward move ment of the toe 49 of said lever 46. This limit should Ibe such that when the plunger is at the upper end of its stroke and the hinged foot 16 is in its normal position shown in Fig. 1, the said hinged foot will be some distance above the toe of said lever. Said lever is so located that when the plunger descends carrying the feed blade the lever will be straddled by the two feed points 34 of the feed blade. The tension of the spring 48 is such that the lever 46 will hold the stamp against the downward pressure of the plunger until the points 34 have passed through the stamp and the feed blade engages the cam shaped upper edge of the lever. Then the downward pressure of the feed blade carried by the plunger will turn the lever on its fulcrum crowding it back through the slot 45. rlhe stamps are fed, gum face down, and the tendency of the stamp is to curl or hump up. The toe of the lever 46 is formed with a concaved upper edge 50 curved in the opposite direction to the usual curl or hump of the stamp so as to counteract the opposite curl of the stamp when the plunger rises as will be hereinafter described.

The lever 46 which bends the stamp strip around the feed blade 28 may be considered a primary bending element, while the blade itself may be called a secondary bending element.

rEhe downward descent of the plunger after the stamp is severed from the strip carries the stamp down engaged by the under side of the hinged foot 16 and presses the stamp upon the envelop which has been pushed back into position on the runway 5, the envelop ha Iving been previously nioistened by the moistening levers under which the envelop is passed into position. A stop post 51 at some distance back of the rear face of the plunger serves as a bach stop for the envelop. 0n account of the tilted position of the hinged foot the heel or free end thereof will first engage the envelop and the continued descent of the plunger which brings tie said hinged foot down in horizontal position swings the free end of the foot slightly toward the left as viewed in the drawings and causes the envelop to be pushed slightly away from the stop 51. To allowv for this movement and in order that the envelop may be so positioned that the stamp will not be aiiiXed too far away from the corner of the envelop the stop 51 is preferably placed some distance away from alinement with the plunger.

1t sometimeshappens that it is desirable to a second stamp to the same envelop and in order to allow the envelop to be pushed still farther in to receive another stamp after the first one has been afliXed the stop post 51 is hinged so that it may be turned down below the level of the runway so that the envelop may slide bach over it. in the device shown in the drawings the pest 51 is mounted on a pivot pin 52 which passes loosely through the side 53 of the case and has an upturned end or handle 54 whereby the pin 52 may be turned thereby turning down the post 51 on its side so that it will be below the level of the runway 5. as shown in F ig. 12. The lower end of the said post .31 is seated upon a dat spring 55 which is secured at one end as at 56a the end on which the post 51 is seated being free so as to yield to allow the turning down of the post, the upward pressure of the spring upon the dat underside of the post normally keeping the post in irin position.

Then the advance stamp has been severed from the strip, the strip will then be lying in a vertical position against the vertical face of the hinged plate. New when the plunger rises the spring 48 will pull down the rear arm of the lever 46 to which it is connected and the toe 49 will be turned up and in so doing said toe 49 will engage the advance stamp and turn it up, bending the strip alone' the line of perforations.

A lever 57 pivoted at 5S to a suitable support has its free end eXtending beneath the hinged foot 16, its free end being adapted to engage the under side of the stamp and support the advance end of the stamp while the stamp is being carried down by the hinged foot of the plunger. The said lever 57 is formed with a tooth 59 which when the said lever is turned its full limit by the complete down stroke of the plunger will be engaged by a pawl 60 so as to hold Vthe said lever 57 from turning up again y during the rst part of the 11p-stroke of the plunger until after the toe of the lever 46 has turned up, otherwise the stamp is liable to be pinched between the two levers. lVhen the plunger has reached nearly the top of its stroke the upper side of the hinged foot 16 will engage the overhanging arm 61 of the ypawl 60 and trip the pawl out of engagement with the tooth 59 of the lever 57, thereby allowing the lever 57 to respond to the tension of the spring 62 which will throw the lever 57 up to bring the said lever againstthe under side of the stamp.

lThe moistening device consists'of one or more moistening wicks 63 clamped in levers 64-pivoted on a shaft 65 over the runway, the forward ends of the wicks extending down into contact with some suitable means for keeping the wicks moistened, as for instance by normally remaining in contact with a strip of felt or other suitable absorbent material 66 within the water reservoir 6 beneath the run-way 5, the runway serving as a cover to the reservoir and V having an aperture 68 through which the ends of the wicks extend to engage the moistening pad 66. As the envelop is shoved along the run-way to position it beneath the plunger it will engage and lift the moistening wicks which will trail over the surface of the envelop and inoisten it suiiiciently for the stamp. The levers are pivoted on the shaft off the center of gravity so that the moistening ends of the levers will normally be retained by gravity in the downward position. After the envelop is withdrawn the moistening ends of the levers will again drop into contact with the moistening pad. Sometimes, however, when the envelop is pushed in quickly and throws the levers up above the envelop gravity does not act quick enough to bring the moistening wicks down onto the envelop until the envelop has moved some distance, and thus there is a portion which should have been moistened that is not moistened. For that reason positive mechanism is employed to force the lever down again. The

mechanism provided by my invention is as follows Each lever 64 is bored out at its rear end to form a recess 69 within which isl seated a spring 7 O and seated upon said spring is a plunger pin 71 which projects backward out of the bore of the lever and engages with an overhanging arm 72. When the moistening end of the lever is lifted by the envelop it turns the lever on its pivot turn ing the heel of the lever toward the back stop 72 thereby forcing the pin or follower 71 farther into the socket 69 and compressing the spring 70. rThe moistening wick 63 may be clamped in the recessed forward end of the lever in any suitable way. It is prefv erable to have it held in such manner as to be easily removed if desired toV replace it by a new wick. rlhe means shown are as follows The forward end of the lever is formed with a slot or recess 73 extending backward from the nose. A wick holder 74, in the form of a clamp, is formed of thin spring metalY doubled into U-shape in cross section to receive the wick inserted therein, said holder being adapted to lit into the recess 73. A clamp screw 75 passes through the wall of the lever and engages with one face of the holder 74 and by setting up the screw the holder and the wick 9 will be securely clamped within the lever.

rlhe lower branch of the holder 74 and of the lever 64 is somewhat shorter than the upper branches of said holder and lever so that the wick may project beyond the lower branches and Contact with the envelop, it being preferred to have the upper branch of the lever and holder extendV more nearly to the end of the wick so as to prevent the wick from curling upward.

Preferably there are two moistening levers side by side on the same pivot, each independently movablel so that if the envelop is of uneven thickness one may be lifted higher than the otherto correspondv with the diiference in thickness of the en velop.

Vhen the envelop is moved in on the run-way the edge of the envelop bears against a side guide 76 and in order to insure that the envelop shall remain fiat on the table when passing under the moistening device so that the full width of the moistening wick will bear upon the envelop, said guide 76 is inclined as shown in Fig. 10 so as to prevent the envelop from rising. A

The operation of the machine is as follows z-Normally the plunger 7 will be in its uppermost position as shown in'Fig. 1. rlhe envelop is pushed in on the run-way under the moistening levers until its advance end strikes against the stop 51. The machine should previously be threaded up with the stamp strip until the advance stamp is in the position shown in F ig. 1, the breaking line of the advance stamp being just above the horizontal edge 77 of the lever 46, the advance end of the stamp resting upon the upper edge of the lever 57 and clamped thereto by the under side of the hinged foot 16. In this position the points 34 of the feed blade 28 will be at some distance above the break between the advance stamp and the stamp adjacent to it to allow for the variation in the length of the strip. Now when the plunger is forced downward and after it moves far enough for the points 84 to reach the breaking line in the stamp strip the continued movement will force the points through the stamp strip, said points straddling the horizontal portion 77 of the lever 46. As the plunger continues its descent the lever 46 will be turned so that the toe portion will graduallyT be swung away through the slot 45 and the lever 57 which supports the advance end of the stamp will also be turned down, said

levers

46 and 57 together supporting the stamp until the plunger has descended far enough for the heel of the hinged foot to clamp the advance end of the stamp to the envelop. By that time the short teeth of the feed blade will have entered the spaces 37 of the stationary tearing oft' blade 35 thereby partially severing the stamp strip back of it along the break. The stationary tearing olf blade 35 will prevent the feed blade from descending` ifarther, and then by the continued descent of the plunger the heel of the hinged foot will swing slightly to the left as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 on account of the hinge pin 17 moving vertically with the plunger and this movement will cause the heel of the foot which is frictionally engaged with the stamp on the envelop to carry the envelop and the stamp clamped thereto slightly to the left as viewed in Fig. 4 away from the stop 5l until `the strain on the stamp becomes sufficient to entirely sever the stamp from the strip. When the plunger reaches the full extent of its downward stroke the hinged foot will be in a horizontal position pressing flat upon the stamp and pressing it upon the envelop. By the time the plunger has reached the bottom of its stroke the lever 57 will have been turned sufliciently for the pawl 60 to engage the tooth 59 of the lever and lock the lever 57 in its downward position as shown in Fig. 4 and the next following stamp be hind the one which has just been severe from the stamp strip will lie in a vertical position between the vertical face of the hinged plate 39 and the feed blade 28. lNhen the downward pressure upon the plunger is released the spring 18 will carry the plunger back to its uppermost position. The spring 48 will contract when the feed blade rises sufficient to allow the lever 46 to turn and the spring will turn the lever 46 thereby turning up the now advance stamp of the strip, bending it along the line of perforations because that is the line of greatest weakness and then after the hinged foot has risen suiiiciently to engage the arm 61 it will thereby trip the pawl 60 from the tooth 59 and allow the free arm of the lever 57 to be carried up by its spring 62V forming a sup` port for the advance stamp as shown in l ready for the next downward movement of the plunger.

vWhat I claim iszl. ln a stamp alfixing machine, a support for envelope, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger and a feed blade attached to the plunger which feeds the strip, said plunger in its descent causing a stamp to be severed from the strip and being adapted to press the same upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

2. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger in a normally tilted position, means for guiding a stamp strip beneath said hinged foot, yielding means for supporting the free end of the stamp strip beneath the said foot, a bed beneath the plunger against which the downwardly projecting end of the hinged foot will clamp the advance end of the stamp near the end of the descent of the plunger, means for clamping the strip in a line transversely of the strip back of the path of movement of the plunger and restraining the strip from further feed movement while the plunger continues its descent, the continued descent of the plunger causing the opposite edge of the bottom of the hinged foot to tear the advance portion from the held portion of the strip.

3. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger whereby normally the foot will hang in a tilted position, means for guiding a stamp strip beneath said hinged foot, yielding means for supporting the free end of the stamp strip beneath the said foot, a bed beneath the plunger against which the downwardly projecting end of the hinged foot will clamp the advance end of the stamp near the end of the descent of the plunger, a feed blade carried by said plunger extending below the lower end of the plunger on one side thereof. between the stamp strip and the plunger, the lower edge of said feed blade being adapted to engage with the stamp strip whereby when the plunger descends said feed blade will engage and carry down the stamp strip, a stop against which said feed blade clamps said stamp strip before the plunger reaches the bottom of its descent and so located that the lower end of said hinged foot will clamp the free end of the stamp against said bed plate before the feed blade engages with said stop, a yielding connection between the said feed blade and Vsaid plunger| whereby the plunger may continue its descent after the feed blade has engaged with said stop, the continued descent of the plunger causing the hinged foot to swing into a horizontal position and foot whereby normally the foot will hang inV a tilted position, means for guiding a. stamp strip beneath said hinged foot, yielding means for supporting the free end of the stamp strip beneath the said foot, a bed beneath the plunger against which the downwardly projecting end of the hinged foot will clamp the stamp near the end of the descent of the plunger, a feed blade carried by saidplunger extending below the lower end of the plunger on one side thereof between the stamp strip and the plunger, the lower edge of said feed blade being adapted to engage with the stamp strip whereby when the plunger descends said feed blade will engage and carry down the stamp strip, a stop against which said feed blade clamps said stamp strip before the plunger reaches the Vbottom of its descent and so located that the lower end of said hinged foot will clamp the free end of the stamp against said bed plate before the feed blade engages with said stop, a yielding connection between the said feed blade and said plunger whereby the plunger may continue its descent afterthe feed blade has engaged with said stop, the continued descent of the plunger causing the hinged foot to swing into a horizontal position and to tear the advance stamp engaged thereby from the stamp strip which is held stationary by said feed blade and stop, and an elastic connection between the swinging end of the foot and the plunger.

5. A feed device for a stamp stripfhaving a reciprocable plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger whereby normally the foot will hang in a tilted position, means for guiding a stamp strip Ybeneath said hinged foot, yielding means for supporting` the free end of the stamp strip beneath the said foot, a bed beneath the plunger against which the downwardly projecting end of the hinged foot will clamp the stamp near the end of the descent of the plunger, a feed blade carried by said plunger extending below the lower end of the plunger on one side thereof between the stamp strip and the plunger, the lower edge of said feed blade being adapted to engage with the stamp strip whereby when the plunger descends said feed blade will engage and carry down the stamp strip, a stop against which said feed blade clamps said stamp strip before the plunger reachesthe bottom of its descent and so located that the lower end of said hinged foot will clamp the free end of the stamp against said bed plate and having a plurality of point-s which a pierce the stamp lstrip before the feed blade engages with said stop, a yielding connection between the said feed blade and said plunger whereby the plunger may continue its descent after the feed blade has engaged with said stop7 the continued descent of the plunger causing the hinged foot to swing into a horizontal position, andto tear the advance stamp engaged thereby from the stamp strip which is held stationary by said plunger, the lower edge of said feed bladebeing adapted to engage with the stamp strip whereby when the plunger descends said feed blade will engage and carry down the stamp strip, a stop against whichV said feed blade clamps said stamp strip before the plunger reaches the bottom of its .descent, a yielding connection between the said feed blade and said plunger whereby the plunger maycontinue its descent after the feed blade has engaged with said stop, the

continued descent of the plunger causing it to tear the advance stamp engaged thereby from the stamp strip which is held stationary by said feed blade and stop. a

7 In a stamp aflixing machine a feed'device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger, means for normally holding the foot in an inclined yielding position with relation to the plunger whereby one edge of the bottom of the foot will engage the advance stamp of the strip on said bed in advance of the opposite edge, means independent of the said foot for clamping the strip back of the ad- 'l l vance stamp during the latter part of the descent of the plunger, the continued descent of the plunger after such engagement of the foot with the stamp causing the tilted foot to turn into horizontal position and sever the advance stamp from the strip and press it upon an envelop positioned on the bed beneath the foot.

8. A feed device lfor a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger, means for normally holding the foot in an inclined yielding position whereby one edge of the bottom of the foot will engage the said bed in advance of the opposite edge, the continued descent of the plunger after such engagement causing the tilted foot to turn into horizontal position, a feed blade attached to one side of the plunger and formed with a plurality of short feed teeth and a plurality of points, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said hinged foot, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing off bar beneath said `feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, said tearing off bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth and points of said feed lade, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing-eff bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing the free end of the hinged foot to clamp the strip to the bed plate and cause the opposite edge of the hinged foot to tear the advance stamp from the strip.

9. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger, means for normally holding the foot in an inclined yielding position where-- by one edge of the bottom cf the foot will engage the said bed in advance of the opposite edge, the continued descent of the plunger after such engagement causing the tilted foot to turn into horizontal position on the bed, a feed blade attached to one side of the plunger and formed with a plurality of short feed teeth and a plurality of points, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said hinged foot, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing od bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, said tearing ofi' bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth and points of said feed blade, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing off bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing the free end of the hinged foot to clamp the strip to the bed plate and cause the opposite edge of the hinged foot to tear the advance stamp from the strip, and a spring tension plate which engages the stamp strip back of the feed blade to prevent backward slip of the strip.

l0 A feed device for stamp strip having a re-ciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger, means for normally holding the foot in an inclined yielding positicn whereby one edge of the bottom of the foot will engage the said bed in advance of the epposite edge, the continued descent of the plunger after such engagement causing the tilted foot to turn into horizontal position on the bed, a feed blade attached to one side of the plunger, and formed with a plurality of teeth, a guide te direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said hinged foot, a support for the L ee advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing 01T bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, said tearing off bar having recesses in alineinent with the teeth and peints of said feed blade, he feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted te continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing ed bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing the free end of the hinged foot to clamp the strip to the bed plate and cause the opposite edge of the hinged foot to tear the advance stamp from the strip, a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing off blade and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned bach on its fulcrum out of the path ef the feed blade and means which cause the said projecting end ef the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the stamp strip when the feed blade is retracted.

ll. ln a stamp aliiXing machine a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, means fer guiding a stamp strip beneath said plunger, yielding means for supporting the free end of the stamp strip beneath the said plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade carried by said plunger extending below the lower end of the plunger, the lower edge of said feed blade being adapted to engage with the stamp strip whereby when the plunger descends said feed blade will engage and carry down the stamp strip, a step against which said feed blade clamps said stamp strip before the plunger reaches the bottom of its descent, said feed blade having a plurality of points which pierce the stamp strip before the feed blade engages w'th said stop, a yielding connection between the said feed blade and( said plunger whereby the plunger may continue its descent after the feed blade has engaged with said stop, the continued descent of the plunger causing it to tear the advance stamp engaged thereby from the stamp strip which is held stationary by said feed blade and stop.

l2. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, foot hinged to the lower end cf the plunger, means for normally holding the foot in an inclined yielding position whereby one edge'of the bottom of the feet will engage the said bed in advance of the opposite edge, the continued descent ef the plunger after such engagement causing the lili) Cri tilted foot to turn into horizontal position on the bed, a feed blade attached to the plunger and formed with a plurality of teeth, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said hinged foot, a stationary tearing ofi' bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and Vclamp the strip when the plunger descends,

said tearing off bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth of said feed blade, a feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger, whereby the plun ger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing ofe bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing the free end of the hinged foot to clamp the strip to the bed plate and cause the opposite edge of the hinged foot to tear the advance stamp from the strip, a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing off blade and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum out of the path of the feed blade, means which cause the said projecting end of the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the stamp strip when the feed blade is retracted, a second rocking lever projecting beneath said hinged foot from the side opposite the said first rocking lever and adapted to clamp the free end of the strip to the bottom of the hinged foot, a detent for locking said second lever to keep it disengaged from said hinged foot during the first part of the ascent to disengage said detent and means for turning said lever into engaging position when the detent is tripped.

18. ln a stamp axing machine a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger and formed with a plurality of short feed teeth and a plurality of points, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said plunger, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing olf bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, said tearing off bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth and points of said feed blade, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped b v the tearing-off bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing it to tear the advance stamp from the strip.

14. ln a stamp aflixing machine, a support for envelops, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plungera feed blade attached to the plunger, means for clamping the strip before the plunger completes its descent whereby the continued descent of the plunger will sever a stamp from the strip and is adapted to press the severed stamp upon an envelop positioned beneath it.

15. In a stamp aflixing machine, a support for envelops, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom to engage the stamp strip and feed it, means whereby the continued descent of the plunger will sever a stamp from the strip and press the severed stamp upon an envelop positioned beneath it.

16. ln a stamp aiiixing machine, a support for envelops, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom and a plural .f

ity of points beyond the ends of said teeth to engage and feed the strip beneath the plunger and means for clamping the strip before the plunger completes its descent whereby the continued descent ofthe plunger will sever a stamp from the `strip and press it u non an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

17. ln a stamp aflixing machine, a support for envelops, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger having a plurality of teeth projecting from the lower end thereof, and a plurality of points projecting below the lower ends of said teeth, a stop which is engaged by the feed blade before the plunger completes its descent and a yielding connection between said feed blade and said plunger whereby the plunger may continue its descent after the feed blade has engaged with said stop.

1S. In a stamp aflixing machine a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger and formed with a plurality of short feed teeth and a plurality of points, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneathsaid feed blade and said plunger, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing off bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth and points of said feed blade, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing off bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing it to tear the advance stamp from'the strip, and a spring tension plate which engages the stampstrip back of the feed blade to prevent backward slip of the strip.

19. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger, means for normally holding the foot in an inclined yielding position Whereby one edge of the bottom of the foot will lBO engage the said bed in advance of the opposite edge, the continued descent of the plunger after such engagement causing the tilted foot to' turn into horizontal position, a feed blade attached to the plunger, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said hinged foot, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing off bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and cla-mp the strip when the plunger descends, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing oli bar.

20. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade, a stationary tearing olf bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the -strip when the plunger descends, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing off bar, .a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing olf bar and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum out of the path of the feed blade, and means which cause the said projecting end of the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the stamp strip when the feed blade is retracted.

2l. A feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger', a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger and formed with a plurality of teeth, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade, a stationary tearing off bar beieath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing olf bar, a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing olf blade and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned bach on its fulcrum out of the path of the feed blade, means which cause the said projecting end of the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the stamp strip when the feed blade is retracted, a second rocking lever projecting beneath the foot of the plunger from the side opposite the said first rocking lever and adapted to clamp the free end of the strip to the foot of the plunger, a detent for locking said second lever to keep it disengaged from said foot during the first part of the ascent of the plunger, means to disengage said detent during the latter part of the ascent of the plunger and means for turning said lever into engaging position when the detent is tripped.

ln a stamp allixing machine, a feed device for a stamp strip having a plunger, a plunger casing having a slotted back, a plate hinged in the slot in said baclr and leaving a passage for the strip over the top of said hinge plate, means for locking said hinge plate against turning on its hinge, a support for a stamp strip behind said hinge plate, a spring tension plate secured to the back of the case above said hinge plate, the lower end of said tension plate extending through the opening above said hinge plate and pressing against the front face of said hinge plate and forming a tension device for the stamp strip guided between said hinge plate and said tension plate, means actuated by the plunger to feed the strip beneath the plunger, means whereby the plunger in its descent sevcrs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

Q3. ln a stamp aflixing machine, a feed device for a stamp strip having a plunger, a plunger casing having a slotted back, a plate hinged in the slot in said back and leaving a passage for the strip over the top of said hinge plate, means for locking said hinge plate against turning on its hinge, a support for a stamp strip behind said hinge plate, a spring tension plate secured to the back of the case above said hinge plate, the lower end of said tension plate extending through the opening above said hinge plate and pressing against the front face of said hinge plate and forming a tension device for the stamp strip guided between said hinge plate and said tension plate, the lower end of said tension plate being provided with a tooth which is adapted to engage the stamp strip, means actuated by the plunger to feed the strip beneath the plunger, means whereby the plung r in its descent severs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

2a. ln a stamp alfixing machine, .a feed device for a stamp strip having a plunger', a plunger casing having a slotted back, a plate hinged in the slot in said back and leaving passage over the top of said hinge plate, means for loclring said hinge plate against turning on its hinge, a holder for a stamp strp behind said hinge plate, a spring tension plate secured to the back of the case above sait hinge plate, the lower end of said tension plate extending through the opening above said hinge plate and pressing against the front face of said hinge plate and forming a tension device for the stamp strip guided between said hinge plate and said tension plate, the lower end of said tension plate beingprovided with a tooth which is adapted to engage the stamp strip, the hinge being formed with a depression to receive said tooth, means actuated by the plunger to feed the strip beneath the plunger, means whereby the plunger in its descent severs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

25. ln a stamp aflixing machine a support for a stamp strip, a plunger, feed mechanism for the stamp strip actuated by the plunger, means forsevering a stamp from the strip actuated by the plunger, a support for an envelop beneath the plunger, a hinged stop to engage the advance end of the envelop whereby it is positioned beneath the plunger, a spring board which bears against the under side of said hinged stop, said hinged stop being polygonal and being of greater height than thickness, the said spring board seat for said block being on a level below the support for the envelop a sufficient distance whereby when said stop is turned a quarter turn on its axis the entire stop will be below the level of the supporting table for the envelop.

26. 1n a stamp ailixing machine, stamp aflixing mechanism a runway for the envelops, a moistening lever pivoted over said runway and having the moistening end projecting downwardly and normally extending to the runway, a spring seated plunger pin projecting out of the opposite end of the lever from the moistening end and a back stop which engages said projecting plunger pin and thereby gives tension to said spring when the moistening end of the lever is raised, said lever being so located that an envelop moved along said runway to position it beneath the stamp affixing mechanism will pass under and lift the meistening end of saidlever.

27. 1n a stamp aliixing machine, stamp feeding and aflixing mechanism, a runway for the envelops, a moistening lever pivoted over said runway and having the moistening end projecting downwardly and normally extending into the runway, a. spring seated pin projecting out of the opposite end of the lever from the moistening end and aback stop which engages said projecting pin and thereby gives tension to said spring when the moistening end of the lever is raised, said lever being so located that an envelop moved along said runway to position it beneath the stamp aflixing mechanism will pass under and lift the moistening end of said lever, the moistening end v of said lever being formed with a slot eX- tending laterally through the same, the upper lip being longer than the lower lip a thin spring plate U-shaped in cross section fitted into said slot, a moistening wick inserted in said spring plate holder and means for clamping said spring plate holder within the slot in said lever and also clamping the wick in said holder.

28. In a stamp aflixingl machine, a feed device for a stampA strip having a reciprocable plunger, a plunger case, a vertical slot in the side of the plunger, a vertical feed blade alongside of the plunger and having a projection which engages with said slot in the plunger, a spring in said slot whose.

upper end engages the upper end of the slot and whose lower end engages said projection whereby the movement of the plunger is adapted to carry the feed blade and a stop with which the feed blade engages before the plunger completes its full downward stroke whereby the feed blade stops its descent and the plunger is allowed to continue its descent, means actuated by the plunger to feed the strip beneath the plunger, means whereby the plunger in its descent severs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

29. 1n a stamp aliixing machine, a feed devicefor a stamp strip having a reciprocable-plunger, a yielding feed blade attached lto the plunger, a guide for a stamp strip and means for bending the stamp strip to project the advance end of the strip beneath the feed blade and plunger, means whereby the plunger yin its descent severs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

30. In a stamp afhXing machine, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a yielding feed blade attached to the plunger a guide for a stamp strip, means for bending the stamp strip to project the advance end of the stripV beneath the feed blade and plunger and a yielding support for said advance end of the stamp strip,

means whereby the plunger in its descent severs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger. f

31. 1n a stamp aiiiXing machine, a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a yielding feed blade attached kto the plunger, a guide for a stamp strip,

means for bending the stamp strip to project the advance end of the strip beneath the feed blade and plunger in such manner that the bend in the stamp strip will be in alinement with the path of movement of the feed blade, means 'whereby the plunger in its descent severs the advance stamp from the strip and presses it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

32. In a stamp aflixing machine havinga feed device for a stamp strip comprising a reciprocable plunger a foot hinged to the lower end of the plunger, the hinge line being nearer to one end of the foot than to the other end whereby the foot will normally hang in a tilted position, means for guiding a stamp strip beneath said hinged foot, a runway for the envelops located beneath the plunger against which the downwardly projecting end of the hinged foot will clamp the advance stamp near the end of the descent of the plunger, a moistening lever pivoted over said runway and having a moistening end projecting downwardly to the runway whereby the sliding of an envelop on the runway into position beneath the plunger will engage and lift the meistening end of said lever so that the envelop will move in contact with said moistening end, a spring seated plunger pin projecting from the opposite end of said lever from the moistening end and a back stop which engages said projecting plunger pin and thereby gives tension to said spring when the moistening end ofthe lever is lifted.

33. A stamp affixing machine having a reciprocable plunger adapted to sever a stamp from a strip and press the same upon an envelop, a guide for a stamp strip, a rocking lever which projects beneath the plunger and which is engaged by the plunger in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum and means which cause the rocking lever to swing and project the free end of the stamp strip beneath the plunger when the plunger is raised.

34;. In a stamp aiiiXing machine a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger, and formed with a plurality of teeth, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade andi said plunger, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing off bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, said tearing off bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth and points of said feed blade, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing olf bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing the plunger to tear the advance stamp from the strip and press it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger, a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing off bar and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum out of the path of the feed blade and means which cause the said projecting end of the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the stamp strip when the feed blade is retracted.

35. In a stamp aiiiXing machine a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the plunger, a feed blade attached to the plunger and formed with a plurality of teeth, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade and said plunger, a support for the free advance end of the strip, a stationary tearing off bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and' clamp the strip when the plunger descends, said tearing off bar having recesses in alinement with the teeth of said feed blade, the feed blade having a yielding tension connection with said plunger whereby the plunger is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing off bar, the continued descent of the plunger' causing it to tear the advance stamp from the strip and press it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger, a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing off bar and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum out of the path of the feed blade, and means which cause the said projecting end of the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the vstamp strip when the feed blade is retracted, the upper edge of said lever having a concave upper edge.

36. ln a stamp afliXing machine a feed device for a stamp strip having a reciprocable plunger, a bed beneath the a feed blade attached to the plunger, a guide to direct the stamp strip beneath said feed blade, a stationary tearing off bar beneath said feed blade against which the feed blade will feed and clamp the strip when the plunger descends, having a yielding tension connection with said plunger, whereby the plunger' is permitted to continue movement after the feed blade is stopped by the tearing off bar, the continued descent of the plunger causing it to tear the advance stamp from the strip and press it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger, a rocking lever which projects beneath the feed blade above the tearing off bar and which is engaged by the feed blade in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum out of the path of the feed blade, means which cause the said projecting end of the lever to swing up and lift the free end of the stamp strip when the feed blade is retracted, a second rocking lever projecting beneath said plunger from the side opposite the said first rocking lever and adapted to clamp the free end of the strip to the bottom of the plunger, a detent for locking said second lever to keep it disengaged from said plunger during the first part of the ascent of the plunger, means to disengage said detent during the latter part of the ascent of the plunger and means for turning said lever into engaging position when the detent is tripped.

plunger,

said feed blade 37. A stamp afiiXing machine having a reciprocable plungei adapted to sever a stamp from a strip and press the same up on an envelop, a guide for a stamp strip, a rocking lever Which projects beneath the plunger and which is engaged by the plunger in its descent and turned back on its fulcrum, means which cause the rocking lever to swing and project the free end of the stamp strip beneath the piunger when the plunger is raised, a second rocking lever projecting beneath said plunger and adapted to clamp the free end of the strip to the bottom of the strip, a detent for locking said second lever to keen it disengaged from said plunger during the first part of the ascent, means to disengage said detent during the latter part of the ascent of the plunger and means for turning said lever into engaging position when tripped. Y

38. ln a stamp aiiixing machine, means adapted to bend a stamp strip along the division line between the stamps, a reciprocable plunger and a feed blade actuated by the plunger adapted to engage with the stamp strip in the line of the bend and feed the stamp strip, said plunger in its descent causing the advance stamp to be severed from the strip and pressing it upon an envelop positioned beneath the plunger.

39. :in a machine of the class described, means for holding a series of stamps having' the form of a ribbon, means for bending the first or end stamp at an angle to said ribbon, means for retaining said stamp in said bent condition, and means for engaging said stamp anc. moving it toward and the detent is .against an envelop or the like.

4 0. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a series of stamps having the form of a ribbon, means for bending the first or end stamp at an angle to said ribbon, means for retaining said stamp in said bent condition, and means for engaging said stamp and moving it toward and against an envelop or the like, said retaining means also serving to assist in securing and maintaining a firm engagement of said engaging means With said stamp.

4.1. in a machine of the class described, a reel for holding a coil of stamps or the like having the form of a ribbon, means for holding the end p rtion of said ribbon in position to be operated upon by feeding mechanism, a secondary bending element around which the first or end stamp of said ribbon may be bent, and a primary bending element for performing the bending operation.

42. In a machine of the class described, a reel for holding a coil of stamps or the like having the form of a ribbon,.means for holding the end portion in position to be operated upon by feeding mechanism, a secondary bending element around which theY first or end stamp of said ribbon may be bent, and a primary bendingrelementfor performing the bending operation, said vsecondary element being movable and adapted to engage said ribbon at the angle of thebend and to a feeding and positioning movement of said ribbon.

in a machine of the class described, a reel for holding a coil of stamps or the like having the form of a ribbon, means for holding the end portion in position to be operated upon by feeding mechanism, a secondary bending element around which the firstor end stamp of said ribbon may be bent, primary bending element for performing the bending operation, said secondaryv element vbeing movable and adapted tol engage said 1ibbon at the angle of the bend and to effect a feeding and positioning movement of said ribbon, and means coopera-ting with said secondary bending elemet for retaining said end stamp in its bent position.

44. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a series of stamps having the form of a ribbon, a secondary bending element around which a stamp may-be bent, and a primary bending element for pressing said stamp around said secondary bending element.

41:5. in a machine of the class described, means for vholding a series of stamps having the form of a ribbon, a secondary bending element around Which a stamp may be bent, and a primary bending element for pressing said stamp around said secondary bending element, said secondary element being movable and adapted to engage'said stamp and effect a feeding and positioning movement thereof.

at. in a machine of the class described, means for holding a series of stamps having the form of a ribbon, a secondary bending element around Which a stamp maybe bent, a primary bending-element for pressing said stamp around said secondary bending element, said secondary element being movable and adapted to engage said stampV and effect a feeding and positioning move-V ment thereof, and means adapted to retain said stamp in its bent condition.

In testimony vvhereof I affix my signature, in presence of tivo Witnesses.

FREDERICK vv. s'roneir.

Witnesses:

VVILLLAM A. COPELAND, Amon H. MORRISON.

A Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, l)n GP