US38222A - Samuel waed fbancis - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE..

SAMUEL WARD FRANCIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR CANCELING POSTAGE AND OTHER STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,222, dated April 2l, 1863.

' description of the same.

The object of my invention is to prevent postage or other adhesive stamps from being used more than once, by permanently defacin g them. The cancelingofstamps by writing or printing ink-1'. e., by writing or printing over them the canceling mark-has proved inefficient. Stamps so canceled may be readily removed from the envelope or paper to which they are attached, and the canceling-mark obliterated by means of chemical reagents; and my invention consists, first, in the method of canceling adhesive stamps by means of a cuttingedge or series of cutting-edges, so operated that when applied to the stamps one or more portions thereof shall be cut out and removed Without injury to the material to which the stamps are attached; second, in the combina tion and construction of a hand instrument for canceling stamps by cutting, as before referred to, so that by one downward pressure its cutters or Scrapers shall be operated and remove a portion of the stamp without injury to the paper underneath; third, in the combination, with cutters operated by a sliding handle, of a studded guard and support, so arranged that the instrument is thereby caused iirmly to grasp or to impinge upon the surface ofthe stamp to be canceled while the cutters are being operated, and to guard the cutters againstundue pressure upon the paper fourth, in the combination, with the cutters of a hand instrument for canceling stamps by cutting out cf and removingfrom the stamp one or :more portions thereof, of a spring so arranged as to bear the cutter upon the stamp with a pressure requisite to produce an incision in the paper of a depth not exceeding the thickness of stamps.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and2 represent an elevation and a longitudinal section of an instrument embodying the principle of my invention; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the same 5 and Fig. 4 a sectional elevation of another instrument constructed in accordance with my said invention, being merely a modi iioation of the former.

The instrument shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings is composed ofa handle and of a rotary cutting device. The handle M forms the sleeve to a spiral spring, K,butting against the head T of the shank F, and against a cap-piece, L, so shaped as to freely turn upon its own axis, (which is also the axis of the sleeve and the spring,) when in the operation of the instrument the tendency produced on the spring is to rotate it, and thus prevent friction and strain upon the spring. The sleeve is closed at its underside by means of a plug, G, through the central orifice of which the shank F passes, and is capable ofa reciprocating up-and-down play. The plug G is provided with a pin, H, protruding from the interior face of its orifice and tting a helical groove, cut into the surface of the shank. By this arrangement the shank is rotated within the sleeve, the latter is caused to slide on the shank, and thus impart to it a reciprocating upand-down motion.

lnstead of a pin in the sleeve and helical` groove on the shank, a twisted or helical shank may be used, of an angular, oblong, or other suitable sectional area in connection with a nut in the end of the sleeve or handle fitting the shank, so that the shank when forced up or down through the nut will thereby be rotated.

To the enlargementF ofthe lower extremity of the shank is riveted the cylinder or guard E, which contains the cutter R, and a studded spindle, A, around which the cutter revolves. The principal office of the cylinder, however, is to act as a guard to the critters so as to prevent theirbein g pressed upon or into the paper with a force greater than that due to the elasticity of the spring. The under surface ofthe enlargement F as well as the head ofthe spindleA are convex, so that there will be but little friction when the shank is rotated upon the spindle, rendered fixed or stationary by the pressure upon it of the sleeve. The cuttingedges or critters are wrought into the end of a steel ring, R, and are of such form and inclination relatively to the paper when applied thereto as to produce a shaving cut. The cutter is held in position by a pin,D, screwed into the cylinder E, and entering a slot in the cylindrical cutter, or vice versa, by a pin which is fitted in the critters, and has a limited play in a slot in the cylinder, the object being to allow the cutters to rise within the cylindrical sleeve until flush with its surface underneath. The

spindle A is held in position by an intermediate spiral spring,C, resting on top of the cuttingcylinder and butting against the flange of the head. This spring G exerts a pressure on the cutters sufficient only to allow it to penetrate paper the usual thickness of a stamp.

The operation of the instrument will be readily understood from the above description of parts and their adjustment. The instruln ent is seized by the handle, its cutters applied to the stamp to be canceled, and the handle is depressed. As soon as pressure is exerted on the handle the points or studs on the center spindle impinge upon the stamp and present and hold the paper immovably to the action of the cutters. Further downward pressure of the handle causes it to slide down along the shank, whereby the latter is rotated, but the rotation of the shank carries with it the cut ters, Whose edges, actuated by the spring, have slightly indented the paper. The rotation of the cutters therefore chips o the stamp an annular portion thereof, and thus irremediably spoil it. On releasing the pressure from off the paper the shank is pushed out by the spring, and all the parts resume the original position relatively to each other, as shown in' Fig. 2. j

Fig. t of the accompanying drawings represents a simplified instrument. The cutters in this instance remove a straight strip or strips from the stamp. They are formed on a curved edge of a bell-crank-shaped lever, the short end of which is connected with a piston-rod, A, and thereby operated when depressed, which causes the cutters to vibrate on their suspension-centers. A spring, B, restingon a rim or studs, C, automatically closes the cutters after each operation. Points or studs on the sleeve D perform the same functions as the stamps one or more portions thereof shall be cut out and removed without injury to the material to which the stamps are attached, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination and construction of a hand instrument for canceling stamps by cutting, as pefore referred to, so that by one downward pressure its cutters or scrapers shall be operated to remove a portion of the stamp Without injury to the paper underneath, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with cutters operated by a sliding handle, of a studded guard and support, so arranged that the instrument is thereby caused rmly to grasp or to impinge upon the surface of the stamp to be canceled while the cutters are being operated, also to guard the critters against undue pressure upon the paper, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the cutters .of a hand instrument for canceling stamps by cutting out of and removing from the stamp one or more portions thereof, of a spring so arranged as to bear the cutter upon the stamps with a pressure requisite to produce an incision in the paper of a depth not exceeding the thickness of stamps, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses February 16, 1863.

SAML. W. FRANCIS.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN F. SLocUM, BENJAMIN MARSH, 2d.

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