US1645073A - Stamp-affixing machine - Google Patents

Description

w. F. SCHWEIGER STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11. 1924 INVENT0R1 SIC/[wager Patented Get. 11, 1927.

1 UNITED ares PATENT WILLIAM F. SGHWEIGER, or Roon isrnie, NEW YORK, Assienon To MfinfxtosicioiaQ- PANY, INCORPORATED, on noormsrnn, NEW YORK, neon'ronn'rlon OFNEWXOBK'.

s'rnrrr'nrrixme MAcHIn'n.

Application filed October 11,1924. Serial No. 743301 7.

The invention relates to'astamn' affixing machine, and more particularly to the class of machines involving a stamp strip in the form of a roll, strip feeding instrumentalities operated by a plunger that is depressed to successively feed the strip, sever the stamp, and afiix it to an envelope, and a counting device that is controlledthrough downward nrovement of the plunger.

The functionof the counting device is to inform the operator of the total number of stamps used, and this is accomplished'by recording the number of operations of the plunger, but the plunger may be operated after the stamp strip. is exhausted and the object ofthe invention is to afford mechanism that will automatically prevent operation of the counting device after the stamp strip is exhausted.

"A further purposeof the invention to automatically lock the strip feeding instrumentalities against movement, when the stamp strip is exhausted,thereby pre enting unnecessary wear and tear on the delicate parts of the machine, if the plunger is operated with no stamps in the machine.

Anadditional object of the improvement is to provide an arrangement. whereby the stamp strip feeding instrumentalities and the actuator for the counting device are mounted u on the plunger and movable therewith w iile the stamp strip is feeding, but are automatically locked against movement when the stamp strip is exhausted, through the instrumentality of a locking member that is held out of locking'position by the stamp strip and released when the latter is exhausted.

To these ends, the invention comprises the construction that will appear more clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,

the novel features being pointed out in the.

claims following the description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a stamp affixing machine, illustrating the ap plication of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing the parts in normal or uppermost position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the stamp strip is exhausted and the plunger has been depressed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the housing, and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4 4- of Figure 2. V

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters throughout the several views indicate the same parts, 1 indicates a housing and 2 the removable stamp roll containing chamber of- .the well known multipost machine, while 3 is a stamp strip which passes downwardly over the guide plate 4 the latter having "an opening or'recess 5 therein-for a purpose that will appear presently. l

6 designates the operating plunger having mounted thereon the usual strip feeding, stamp severing, and stamp affixing instru mentalities. The stamp strip feeding instrum'entalitiesincludes fingers 7 pivotallysupported on a carrier 8' that'is mounted upon the plunger 6 and normally movable therewith. To this end, the carrier 8' includes arms 9 which embracethe plunger 6 while 10 is ball mounted in an opening in the plunger and engaging'a recess in the carrier, the carrier being held frictionally engaged with the plunger by means of the spring 11 which holds the ball 10 in tight relationship to the carrier.

This arrangement permits a relative movement between the strip feeding instrument-alities and the plunger in order to permit the latter to move downwardly to sever and aflix the stamp, after the strip has been fed a sufiicient distance to eject a stamp. The strip feeding instrumentalities thus far described are shown in prior patents and form no part of the present invention, except in so far as they are combined with the mechanism now to be described. a

15 designates a counting device for indicating the number of stamps that are used, and including a cam plate 16. The latter is controlled by an actuator, which comprises a pin 17 mounted upon a plate 18 whlch is a part of or fixedly connected to theafore mentioned carrier 8. With this arrangement, when'the plunger 6 is depressed, car

abused. and correct counting of the stamps cannot be had.

To accomplish this, I employ means for automatically locking the strip feeding instrumentalities and actuator against movement when the stamp strip is exhausted. This can be done in different ways, and one means includes a locking member or dog 19 mounted upon the carrier preferably intermediate the feeding fingers 7, as shown in Figure 4,.and spring pressed toward the stamp strip. The locking dog 19 is held in unlocking position, as shown in Figure 1, by the stamp strip while the latter is feeding past the, locking member, but upon exhaustion of the stamp strip, downward movement of theplunger 6 brings the dog 19 opposite V to-the opening 5 in the guide plate 4, and the spring actuated dog then enters the opening,

in the manner shown in Figure 2.

This looks the carrier 8 against downward movement so that no matter how many times the plunger 6 may be thereafter operated, no

further downward movement of the carrier 8 with the strip feeding fingers'and counter actuator can be effected as long as there are no stamps in the machine and the counting device cannot register until a fresh stamp roll is inserted.

While the invention has been disclosed with reference toja particular embodiment, it is not confined to the parts herein recited, and the improvements may be adapted in bination with reciprocatory stamp' strip feeding instrumentalities, and a reclprocatory plunger controlling the same and operating to feeda stamp strip during its downward movement, a counting device,,an actuator for the countingdevice mounted on the plunger, and means carried by the plunger and acting automatically to lock the actuator against movement when the stamp strip is exhausted.

2. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a reciprocatory plunger, of a carrier mounted on the plunger, stamp strip feeding fingers pivotally arranged on the carrier and acting to feed a stamp strip during downward movement of the plunger and carrier, a counting device, an actuator for the counting device mountedon the carrier, a locking member pivoted on the carrier, and a guideplate for the stamp strip having an opening toreceive the locking member and retain the actuator against movement when the stamp strip is exhausted. V

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

. WILLIAM F. SCHWEIGER.

Images