US2052820A

US2052820A - Envelope moistening device

Info

Publication number: US2052820A
Application number: US755040A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gommel Karl; Gommel Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-12-07
Filing date: 1934-11-27
Publication date: 1936-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1953-09-01

Description

. Sept-"'1, 1936- k. GOMMEL ETAL I 2,052,320

ENVELOPE MOISTENING DEVICE Filed NOV. 27, 1934 Patented Sept. 1, 1936 EYES F'EEN'E' FEQE ENVELOPE MOHSTENING DEVICE many Application November 27, 1934, Serial No. 755,040 In Germany December 7, 1933 8 Claims.

This invention relates to envelope moistening devices and more particularly to the type of moistening devices consisting in general of a water tank, a moistener, and a guide plate for guiding the envelope across the moistener.

One object of the invention, among others, is to provide a. simple moistening device of high efiiiciency and adapted to moisten the fiap of the envelope in a ready and easy manner simply by moving the envelope along the guide plate in one direction with the flap in normal position.

One form of a moistening device embodying the invention is illustrated in the drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a moistening device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with a portion of the guide plate broken away and the cover plate removed from the water tank.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It will be obvious, of course, that various changes may be made in the details of the moistening device illustrated in the drawing without departing from the real invention as defined in the claims.

In the embodiment illustrated, the moistening device comprises a water tank l which may be of any appropriate form and character, a moistener 2, and a guide plate 3 over which the envelope 4 is drawn across the moistener 2 with the flap 5 in normal position substantially as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2. The moistener 2 extending longitudinally of the edge 6 of the guide plate 3 is arranged at a small distance above the plane of the guide plate 3 so that a slot or space I is formed between the moistener 2 and the adjacent edge 6 of the guide plate 3 causing the fiap 5 of the envelope 4 to pass automatically into the slot 7 and downward into a space 8 between the part 9 of the guide plate 3 and the adjacent wall E0 of the Water tank I as the envelope is drawn along the guide plate 3. On further movement of the envelope in the same direction the flap 5 emerges from the slots 8 and l, and the gummed rim of the flap slides and rubs on the moistener 2 which forms the upper edge of the slot '1, the flap thus being appropriately moistened. From this construction it will be apparent that simply by drawing the envelope across the guide plate 3 in a direction towards the moistener 2 and with the flap in normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the flap will be effectively and readily moistened by first engaging in the slots 7 and 8 and then rubbing on the moistener as it emerges from the slots.

In the construction shown in the drawing, the moistener 2 consists of a capillary material, such 5 as a suitable fabric or the like, which is bent over a non-corrosive bar I l, the two ends 2 of the fabric dipping in the water of the water tank I. The bar i l is removably mounted in guiding flanges I5 of the tank I. In order to fill up the in tank i an opening i2 is provided in the water tank l which in operation of the moistening device is closed by a cover 13. The cover l3 also covers the upper side of the bar H and engages the mouth of the water tank l by means of de- 15 pending flanges 16 formed on both side edges thereof, a rib I l forming a stop.

The water tank I is of such aform that the moistening device may be used with the guide plate 3 in horizontal position, as it is shown in the draw- 2U ing, as well as with the guide plate in vertical position.

Guide plate 3 and water tank I may be made of any suitable material e. g. of metal or of pressed material such as a synthetic resin or a go phenol formaldehyde condensation product. Whereas in the illustrated embodiment the moistener is formed of a fabric bent over a bar, it is to be understood that the moistener may be otherwise formed, as for instance by a small roll 5" dipping in the moisture of the tank I, or it may be based upon capillary action.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and difierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guide plate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spaced relation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate, said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support for an envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on said lip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having the lip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, and guide flanges on the sides of the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted.

2. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guide plate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spaced relation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate, said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support for an envelope flap, said plate having a portion extending from the portion at said lip rearwardly and inclined at an obtuse angle, the tank having a wall extending from the lip in close parallel relation to the inclined portion of the guide plate to form a slot for the reception of the envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on said lip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having the lip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, and guide flanges on the sides of the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted. I

3. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guide plate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spaced relation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate, said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support for an envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on said lip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having the lip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, guide flanges on the sides f the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted, said tank being open at the top over said lip, and means detachably mounted on the tank to close the open portion thereof and cover the major portion of the lip supported part of the wick.

4. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guide plate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spaced relation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate, said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support for an envelope flap, said plate having a portion extending from the portion at said lip rearwardly and inclined at an obtuse angle, the tank having a wall extending from the lip in close parallel relation to the inclined portion of the guide plate to form a slot for the reception of the envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on said lip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, means detachably secured to the tank to hold the wick in position on said lip, said tank being open at the top over said lip, and means detachably mounted on the tank to close the open portion thereof and cover the major portion of the lip supported part of the wick.

5. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a fiat lip, a guide plate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spaced relation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate, said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support for an envelope flap, said plate having a portion extending from the portion at said lip rearwardlyand inclined at an obtuse angle, the tank having a wall extendingfrom the lip in close parallel relation to the inclined portion of the guide plate to form a slot for the reception of the envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on said lip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having the lip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, guide flanges on the sides of the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted, said tank being open at the top over said lip, and means detachably mounted on the tank to close the open portion thereof and cover the major portion of the lip supported part of the wick.

6. In an envelope moistener, a horizontal guide plate, one end of said plate being inclined downwardly, a tank carried by said downwardly inclined portion of said plate and spaced therefrom to provide a downwardly inclined slot for the reception of an envelope flap, a lip on said tank overlying a portion of said horizontal part of said plate, and a wick carried by said lip and extending forwardly thereof.

'7. The structure of claim 6 and means for maintaining said wick in position on said lip.

8. The structure of claim 6, means for maintaining said wick in position on said lip, and said means comprising a clamping bar removably carried by the sides of said tank.

KARL GOMMEL. PAUL GOMMEL.