US2876735A

US2876735A - Moistening device

Info

Publication number: US2876735A
Application number: US624706A
Authority: US
Inventors: Link Hilarius
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-11-27
Filing date: 1956-11-27
Publication date: 1959-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-10

Description

March 10, 1959 H. LINK MOJQISTENING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27. 1956 IN l/EN TOR ,5; g

United States Patent MOISTENING DEVICE Hilarius Link, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 7 Application November 27, 1956, Serial No. 624,706

6 Claims. (Cl. 118-266) of rubber, whereby the cup-shaped feeding pump coop-- crates with a rising pipe acting as nozzle and coupled at its upper end to a spray-nozzle-cap perforated in crosslike fashion and adjustable by means of a thread, and whereby the lower end of the rising pipe is provided with an extension for the limitation of the stroke. This known feeding contrivance is particularly intended for use as a means for feeding consecrated water to consecrated water basins, and for that reason is unsuited as a moistening contrivance in conformity with the object of the present invention. This known feeding device has the drawback that it does not convey a satisfactory quantity of water, as required for the moistening of large quantities of stamps, envelopes and gummed tape.

It has further already been proposed to employ as conveying contrivance for moistening means a feed pump devised as a rubber ball pump and which in its suction branch is provided with a check valve. However, ball pumps provided with a check valve' or simply with a valve have the drawback that after a'comparatively short lifetime the valve sticks to the branch and becomes oxidized because of the injurious effects sediments of adhesive substance.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of known devices by surroundingthe rising pipe or nozzle pipe at its upper end, where it projects fromthe moistening liquid, by a preferably funnel-shaped reservoir, which simultaneously serves as collecting basin for the impurities separating from the moisture-and below this reservoir in known manner by an elastic pump element of cuplike formation and provided on its inner surface directly above its outer rim with an inwardly projecting annular sealing part.

Another advantage of the invention resides in the feature that the bottom of the vessel containing the moistening liquid is provided with radially extending ribs of small height adapted for the enlarged rim of the cupshaped elastic pump element to rest against in its position of rest, and in addition to this with an annular recess for the annular sealing part of the elastic pump element to engage in its depressed condition, so that the moistening means enclosed in the elastic cup-shaped pump element and in the rising pipe can be pumped under pressure into the aforesaid reservoir and into the superimposed sieve element or storage pad for the moisture for the separation or extraction therefrom of moisture according to requirements.

Additional features and advantages of the invention produced by the will be understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which an embodiment of the invention has been shown by way of example. However, I wishto say that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the same reference numerals,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of the moistening device in its position of rest;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the moistening device of Fig. l, with its elastic cup-shaped pump, element in depressed condition for the feeding of the moistening means into the reservoir and onto the moistenin pad between the sieve lamellae.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the container of the liquid consists of a lower part 1 and of an upper part 2 of saucer-like formation in which the conveying device or feeding device of the moistening means is accommodated. The conveying or feeding device consistsof the elastic cup-shaped pump element 3 provided with (in known manner) an outer rim 4 of enlarged width and of slightly undulating shape. Provided on the inner surface of the pump element 3 is an inwardly bulging annular sealing part 5 projecting in inclined direction toward the center axis of a nozzle pipe 6 centrally ex tending into the interior of the pump element 3 and terminating at its projecting upper end in a nozzle 7.

The nozzle pipe 6 has its upper projecting portion located in a reservoir 8 of funnel-like shape and which at its upper end is closed up by a

screwable sieve

10, 11. Clampingly secured in a recess of the shiftable sieve support 9 are at least two sieve lamellae 10 of thin artificial material, and arranged in pre-tensioned condition between the lamellae 10 is an elastic pad 11 or som similar hygroscopic intermediate layer, consisting for ex ample of felt, spongy material or the like. Owing to the arrangement of the lenticular pad 11 between the two lamellae 10, the upper lamella is slightly curved in up-v ward-and the lower lamella in downward direction. The

outwardly projecting lower rim 12 of the sieve support 9 is sealed by means of a packing ring 13, for examplea rubber ring or the like, against the superimposed part 2 of saucer-like formation of the container 1. Provided in' the bottom of the container 1 is'an annular recess 14 in t which the annular sealingpart 5 of the cup-like pump element sealingly engages in its depressed condition. The container 1 is preferably so shaped that it terminates at itsupper end in an inwardly threaded cylindricalcollar into which the outwardly threaded cylindrical collar 17 of the saucer-like part 2 is screwed. The dropping-cuplike part 2 is devised on its inside as guide surface for the sieve support 9. Naturally, the container 1 as well as the saucer-like part 2 may also consist of one single piece of material.

The feeding device for the moistening means as disclosed in the present invention operates as follows: After at least half of the inner space of the container 1 has been filled with the moistening water, the feeding device as hereinbefore already described is introduced into it. The moistening means does then rise, via the recesses 16 in the rim 4 of the elastic pump element, in the nozzle pipe to the same level. A slight pressure exerted upon the sieve support 9 does then lower the entire feed ing device because of the elastic pump element 3, whereby the enlarged rim 4 expands and whereby the bulging sealing part 5 moves into contact with the bottom of the container 1 or engages in the annular recess 14 of the f I as /sass closed in the elastic pump element 4 and in the nozzle pipe 6 are forced via the nozzle 7 of the rising pipe 6 into the preferably funnel-shaped reservoir 8. Repeated pressures of this kind will fill up the reservoir 8, which simultaneously serves as a means in which impurities contained in the moistening liquid are deposited. The moistening means rise up to the height of the sieve lamellac 10 and to the pad 11 interposed between the lamellae 10, from which they can be taken according to requirements. The preferably lenticular pad 11 positioned between the outwardly curved sieve lamellae 10 has the capacity of absorbing the moistening means amply. Light pressure exerted upon the upper lamella 10 results in slight compression of the pad 11 and in uniform distribution of the moistening means within the pad and in uni form supply of the moistening means from the pad.

In a modified form of construction the feeding device, as hereinbefore already described, may be directly arranged in a downwardly elongated cylindrical collar 17 of the part 2, which in this case would be of entirely cylindrical formation and slidingly positioned in the upper cylindrical end portion of the container 1. The undula tions in the enlarged rim 4 of the pump element 3, mentioned in the first form of construction, may then be omitted, so that the rim 4 is then of straight-lined formation. In this modified form of construction, the bottom of the container is preferably provided with radially extending slightly projecting thin bar-like ribs 18 serving as support for the straight-lined enlarged rim 4 to rest against, so that in the position of rest enough moistening means are enabled to pass underneath the enlarged rim 4 into the cup and rising pipe.

The device of the present invention is sealed toward the outside, so that the moistening means within the device are protected against the entering of dust or impurities, as well as against evaporation. For hygienic reasons an adequate dose of means capable of destroying bacteria, for example chlorine or the like, is added to the moistening means, so that after a short period of reaction the moistening means are absolutely free from germs and fatal to all kinds of germs coming in contact with the moistening means during the use of the device.

It may further be mentioned that the aforesaid pump element 3 may preferably be formed integral with said rising pipe 6 and said reservoir 8 from elastic material of different wall thicknesses, such as rubber, artificial material or the like.

In the same way, it is possible to form also said projecting annular sealing part integral with said elastic pump element of one piece of material, or to form said sealing part separately and to arrange it in an annular recess of said elastic pump element.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a moistening device for the moistening of stamps,

bottom. The result is that the moistening means enenvelopes, gummed tape or the like, a container of suit able shape terminating at its top in an open cylindrical end portion and provided in its bottom with an annular recess and having at least half of its inner space filled with the moistening liquid; a sieve element provided with a storage member for the moistening liquid shiftably guided within and closing up said cylindrical end portion; an elastic pump element of cup-shaped formation open at its bottom and provided with an outwardly projecting enlarged annular rim and with an inwardly projecting annular sealing part adapted for engagement in said annular recess in the bottom of said container when in depressedcondition; a rising pipe having its open lower portion centrally secured in said elastic cup-shaped pump element and opening into said cup shaped element and having its upper portion terminating in a nozzle in close proximity of said sieve element; and a reservoir of funnel-shaped formation rigidly embracing at its lower end the upper por tion of said rising pipe and having its upper end rigidly secured to and closed up by said shiftably guided sieve element for sliding movement with the latter, said reservoir being adapted for storage therein of moistening liquid pumped up by said elastic pump element and serving simultaneously as collecting basin for sediments of said moistening liquid.

2. A moistening device as specified in claim 1, in which said cup-shaped pump element is formed integral with said rising pipe and with said reservoir from elastic material.

3. A moistening device as specified in claim 1, including a saucer-like part provided with a cylindrical lower portion shiftably positioned by means of said cylindrical lower portion within said open cylindrical end portion of said container and in which said sieve element and appertaining reservoir, rising pipe and pump element are shiftably guided.

4. A moistening device as specified in claim 1, in which the bottom of said container is provided with a plurality of radially extending inwardly projecting ribs adapted for the enlarged annular rim of said pump element to rest against in its position of rest.

5. A moistening device as specified in claim 1, in which said projecting annular sealing part of said elastic pump element extends in inclined direction toward the axis of said rising pipe and is formed integral with said elastic pump element from one piece of material.

. 6. A moistening device as specified in claim 1, in which said projecting annular sealing part of said elastic pump element is when said elastic pump element is in depressed References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Weaver et al Feb. 17, 1903 Metzner May 17, 1910