US445993A - Device for moistening and affixing postage-stamps - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

w. W. HAMILTON. DEVICE FOR MOISTENING AND APPIXING POSTAGE STAMPS. No. 445,993.

Patented Feb. 10,1891.

UNITED STATES \VALTER V. HAMILTON, Ol"

ATENT @rricn.

SALEM, lllASSACllUSE'lTS DEVICE FOR MOISTENING AND AFFIXlNG POSTAGE-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,993, dated February 10, 1891.

Application filed August 18,1890. Serial No. 362,262. (No model.)

To all who? it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. HAMILTON, of Salem, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Devices for Moistening and 'Affixing Postage-Stamps. of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improvement in use; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the device; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section of the same, taken on line x 00 in Fig. 2; and Fig. l, a view partly in vertical section.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to a device for attaching. postage-stamps to letters, &c.; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simple, cheap, and effective de vice of this character.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

In the drawings, A represents the body of the device, which consists of a rectangular box of a diameter slightly greater than the stamps. The box is open at its bottom I). A moisteuer B is fitted to slide vertically on one side of the box, said moistener comprising a tank provided in its top with a supply-duct d. A dauber f, of felt or similar absorbent material, projects from the bottom of the tank.

A vertically-arranged fork g is secured to one across the mouth of the box or holder, and are adapted to support the stamp D therein. An ejector or plunger-block o is fitted to slide in the holder A. (See Fig. 4.) Said block has an undercut groove w, in which two cam-blocks y are fitted to slide, the toes of said cams projectin g into the slots I., respectively, of said holder. A plunger-bar O, pro vided with a knob or handle 2, is fitted to slide vertically through the top j of the holder, and is cushioned or supported by a coiled spring 15. A plate 16 prevents the plunger from rotating in the box, and a pin 17 prevents it from being withdrawn too far. The lower or inner end of the plunger-bar is curved or cam-shaped at 18 to adapt it to be projected between the cam-blocks y, spreading said blocks and forcing them against the flat spring-holders 'm.

In the use of my improvement the stamps D are arranged in a pile and inserted in the holder A, with the gnmmed sides toward its mouth, in which they are retained by the spring-arms t, which engage the outer stamp, as shown in Fig. 3. The tank of the moistener B is filled with ivater, which moistens the pad f. Said pad is drawn across that portion of the envelope H (see Fig. 1) or other article to which it is desired to affix the stamp. The plunger-bar O is then forced downward against the pressure of the spring 15. This drives the plunger-block 1) against the pile of stamps D. At the same time the head 18 of said bar spreads the cams y, driving them into the slots t, and forcing the free ends of the springs m outward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The gummed surface of the outer stamp eomin g into contact with the moistened envelope adheres thereto. The plunger-bar being released is forced upward by the spring 15, freeing the cams 1 and permitting the springs m to fly inward, their arms '6 passing over the stamp thus attached and preventing others from falling. The device'may be rapidly operated, consecutively placing all the stamps in the holder as the plunger is operated.

Having thus explained myinvention, what I claim is p 1. A device for attaching postage-stamps, comprising a box or holder combined with a ICO plunger-block therein, cam-plates fitted to slide on said block, a spring-cushioned plunger-bar for spreading said plates, and springs actuated by said plates for releasing the stamps from said holder, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a box or holder provided with slots in its Walls, in combination with flat springs disposed in said slots and having arms projecting into the mouth of said holder, a plunger fitted to slide in the box, and cams for spreading said springs as the plunger descends, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of stamp-holder, a plunger for forcing the stamps therefrom, spring-arms detachably retaining the stamps therein, and cams on said plunger for moving said arms to release the stamps, substantially as described.

4 In a device of the character described, the slotted holder provided with the retaining-spring, in combination with a plunger provided with sliding cam-plates fitted to Work in said slots, and a spring-cushioned plunger-bar adapted to spread said plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, the holder A, provided with slots 7' and retaining-springs 7, in combination with a plunger fitted to slide in said holder, sliding cams on said plunger Working in said slots, and a plu 11- ger-bar for conjointly actuating the plunger and spreading said cams, substantially as set forth.

\VALTER XV. HAMILTON.

Vitnesses:

WALTER (J. DUNNELS, LORENZO DUNNELS.

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