US701996A - Stamp-affixer. - Google Patents

Description

No. 70|,996. n y Patented June I0,'I902.

- B. H'. ALKIN.1

STAMP AFFIXER (Applmin med sept. 24, 1900.)

2 shets-sheet 1.

(Nov Model.)

@itu/Win73 Patented lune I0, |902'.

B. H?. CALKIN.

STAMP AFFIXER. (Application. filed Sept. 24,-1900.)

2 Sheets-` Sheet 2.

(lo Model.)

,al J8 57 091'@ TME-Nonna Prns cof, PHOTO-LITHD, wAsNlNsTQN, n, c,

'UNITED STATES PATENT FIs-Icla` BENJAMIN n. OALKIN, or MONTREAL, CANADA.

STAMP-AFFIXER.

s'PEcIFicATIoN' forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,996, dated June 1o, 190e.

Application filed September 24:, 1900. Serial No.j 30,914. (No modeLl To all whom t may concern:

. Be it known that I, BENJAMIN Hovnv CAL- KIN, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing inI the city and district of Montreal, Province of Quebec, `Canada, have invented certain new and usefullinprovements in Stamp-Affiners; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of` the invention, such as will enableothers skilled'in the art' to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates 'to improvements in stamp-aftixers by which postagestamps Vmay be'easily and rapidly applied to mail-matter by the simple operation of pressing the implement upon a letter or.V the'lik'e.

One object of the invention is the provision of asimple implement.whichincludes'in its organization means for moistening a letter over the spot Wheresa stamp is to be affixed, means for cutting the stamps individually from a strip or row, such 'severance of each stamp being effected automatically dur-` ing the period of carrying ormoving it tothe aliixing position, and meansjforipressing theL severed stamp firmly upon the moistened spot on the envelop, all of said devicesbeing op erable in due order and automatically by the simple application of pressureto the' handle of the implement.

' A further objectof the invention is the provision of a stamp-gripper and an actuating device adapted 'to shift theposition thereof at the initial movement of the parts, Whereby the gripper pulls or draws the stamp positively in a downward' direction until it shall.

have been severed from the next lstamp on the strip by theiactionof a cutter mechanism. The actuating device `for the gripper positively retains the sameinits operative of one edge of the gripper 'with the letter.

Further objects of the inventionare to provide anim proved stam p-feedin g device adapt-A ed to yield automatically to the movementof the pressure-platen as the latter moves downward and to return to its normalI position in like manner,'to provide means .by which a moistening-padzmay be kept in a saturated condition so vas to beready for use, and to so arrange the severalcoperating devices that a xedcutter maybe `employedin connection with the pressure-platen.

Furtherobje'ctsand advantagesof the iny vention will appear int-he course of the subjoined description, and -th'e noveltyv in the combination of .devices and in the construction and arrangement ofpart-s will bedeflned by the claims. s y

In the drawings' heretoannexed and form inga part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation ofmyimproved stamp-affixer, illustrating the parts in their normal position-. Fig. 2 isa central vertical sectional elevation through the improvedstampgafxer. and with the parts in' a position corresponding to Fig.

vl. Fig. 3 is a similar vertical sectional view` showing the; position of the parts when the handle is partially depressed Vand with the pressurefplaten-in;such relation to the cutter as to sever one stamp fromthestrip orlength of consecutive stamps. Fig. 4 is another verticalsection through the implement of Figs. l to 3, inclusive, illustrating fthe position of the parts when the gripper isthrown-back to itsidle position and the pressurefplaten is in the act of forcing a stamp upon the moistened spot of an envelop. Fig. 5 is a front eleva -tion ofthe stamplaflixer in the position shown ".by Fig. l. Fig. 6 isa'slectional plan view, the

plane of the section being indicated by the dottedlline 6 6 onFig. 5. Fig. 7 is anotherv sectional plan view in the .plane'below' the head. of the stand. as indicated by the dotted ment.

ICO

The same numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in each of the several figu res of the drawings.

In carrying my invention into practice I employ a stand 10, which is provided with a head or top plate 11, said stand in its general construction resembling the part used in an ordinary hand-stamp. The head of the stand is provided near its side edges and adjacent to its front edge with short slots 12, and it is furthermore provided at a point between the slots 12 with the elongated stamp-feed slot 13,

the latter being at right angles to the slots 12. The sides of the stand are provided with vertical parallel slots 14,adapted to accommodate the arbor for the outside auxiliary yoke of the implement, as will presently appear, and these side plates of the stand are,furthermore, provided with the curved guide-slots15,which are arranged in substantially vertical positions for the reception of the cranks, which are connected with the stamp-gripper and are actuated by the inside main yoke, the same to be hereinafter more clearly described.

The outside yoke 1G is arranged to straddle the sides of the stand, and to the free end of this yoke is attached the slidable arbor 17, which passes through the slots 14 in the sides of the stand and has its end portions arranged to be seated upon the retracting-springs 18, the latter being of the coiled variety and contained within the tubular housings 19, as shown more clearly by Figs. 5, G, 7, and 9 of the drawings. The housings 19 are secured in any suitable way to the outside of the stand and in positions alongside of the slots 14 in the side of said stand, each housing being provided with a vertical slot 20, which is coincident with the slot let in the adjacent side ofu the stand, whereby the arbor 17 is adapted to pass through the slots of the stand and the slots of the housings, so that it will play in a perpendicular path under pressure ot' the yoke 1G.

The main inside yoke 2l lies within the outside yoke 16, as clearly shown by the several figures of the drawings and more particularly by Fig 5. The arms of this yoke 21 pass through the slots 12 in the stand-head, so that on the depression of the yoke said arms thereof will play within or between the sides of the stand 10, whereby the inside yoke is operatively disposed with relation to the pressure-platen and the gripper of the implement. The inside yoke has a tube 22 secured firmly to the head thereof, in which tube is contained a repressing-spring 23, which nds a seat at its upper end against a closed end of the tube, while the lower end of said spring is seated in a resistance-stem 2l, the latter extending at its lower end below the head of the yoke and being loosely mounted on the head of the stand. This stem may be supported loosely by any suitable means; but as one way of attaining this end I have shown the stem as provided with a reduced pintle 25, which is loosely fitted in an opening 25a roreee of the stand-head, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) and this pintle is provided at its lower extremity with a hoof 26, the latter being disposed below the stand-head and being of larger diameter than the opening 25, so as to prevent the stem 24E from moving vertically either up or down, while atthe same time said stem 2l is capable ot' a limited back-and-forth movement in a substantially horizontal direction for the purpose which will hereinafter appear. This hoof is formed at its rear side with an inclined face 27, which is adapted to bear against the upper edge of the pressure-platen when the latter is in its normal upright position, as shown by Fig. 2, and this stem 24: is drawn in a forward direction, so as to assume, with the two yokes and the handle, the upright position (indicated by Figs. 1 and 2) through the medium of the retracting-spring 28, the latter being secured at one end to the hoof 2G and at its other end to the stand-head, as shown more clearly by Figs. 3 and 4.

The implement is provided with a suitable handle 29, which is formed with an internal socket 29, which opens through the lower end of the handle and which socket is adapted for the reception of the inside yoke-tube 22 and a repressingspring 29, which is seated upon the tube 22 and which tends normally to lift the handle to a raised position and within the limits of the slots 32. The lower portion of the handle is provided with a metallic collar 30, which is held thereon by a screw 31, the inner end of which passes into the slot 32, which is formed in the tube 22 of the inside yoke, whereby the handle 29 is loosely fitted on the tube 22 -and it is capable of a slidable movement on said tube and independently thereof within the limits of the slot The two springs 23 29" dii'l'er in strength, so' that the spring 29b will tend to hold the handle in such a raised position that its collar 30 will normally be free from the IIO head of the outside yoke 16, even when the t handle is partially depressed to the position shown by Fig. 3, whereby the handle may be forced down a certain distance, as shown by Fig. 3, so as to compress the spring 23 for the depression of the inside yoke 21 Without permitting the collar of said handle to en gage with the head of the outside yoke.

It is to be observed that the two yokes are separately or independently mounted, while the handle and the parts associated with the "yokes and the handle are so disposed that one yoke may be actuated by the handle independently ot' the other yoke within certain limits; but this handle is also adapted for the operation ot said other yoke in order to complete the operation of the parts, notably with the pressure-platen, by which the stamp m ay be aftixed to apiece of mail-matter.

The pressure-platen employed in my in vention is indicated by the numeral 37, and this platen is carried by or movable with the in vertible cam-slotted plates 33 34.-, which also carry the liquid-receptacle 39. The plates 33 34 lie within and close to the sides of the stand, and they are connected by the pressure-platen 37 and the liquid-receptacle 39, so as to insure the simultaneous movement of these parts in the operation of the stamp-aflxer. Said carrier-plates are provided with the coincident cam-slots 35, having the contour shown by Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 8, through which cam-slots passes the fulcrum-pin 36, which is fixed in the sides of the stand, whereby the cam-slotted plates are adaptedto turn around said fulcrum-pin. The platen lies at the front edge of the carrier-plates in the normal position of the parts, as shown more clearly by Figs. 2 and 8, and this platen has its active or working face provided with a cushion 38, which may be in the form of a layer of rubber or other soft material that is cemented or otherwise united to the pressure-platen, so asto cover practically the whole face of the platen which is exposed to view.'

The liquid-receptacle 39 lies between and is united to the carrier-plates, said receptacle lying tothe rear of the pressure-platen. (See Figs. 2 and 8.) The receptacle is provided with an inclined top wall 40 and a perforated front wa1l41, and these parts of the receptacle are so disposed that when the`parts numbered 33 34 are in their normalraised positions the receptacle will assume the inclined relation of Figs. 2 and 8, whereby the water contained in the receptacle will fall away from the saturatable moistening-pad.

' The perforated wall 41 of the receptacle lies Vplaten and the receptacle.

ned within the yoke 42 and against the per-` forated wall 41 and the liquid-receptacle, whereby on the inversion of the plates 3334 and the platen 37 the receptacle 39 will be carried to the inverted position (shown by Figs. 3and 4) and the water will be permitted to flow from the receptacle intothe pad. This operation takes place very quickly in'order to limit the amount of water whichV will es- Y cape from the receptacle to saturate the pad,

the latter being made of sponge compressed to a suitable condition, or it may be madeof any other suitable absorbent material. lIt is evident that the pad 44 may be extended or Vcarried into the receptacle ,39 byformin'g a suitable opening in the wall 41, thus making provision for the receptionof a portion `of the saturated pad inside ot' the receptacle, whereby the necessity for a constant supply of unconfined liquid is obviated. The receptacle 39 is furthermore provided with a filling-port 45, which is adapted to be closed by a screwplug 46, 'thus making provision for renewal of the liquid-supply in the receptacle for the saturatable pad thereof.

One of the important features of my invention isthe` stamp-gripper disposed in coperative relation to the pressure-platen and havingl suitable operative connection with the inside main yoke 21, to be actuated partly by the latter and partly by suitable springs. This gripper is in the'form of a plate 47 ,which is shown in detail by Fig. 10, said plate having an angle or bend 48 at a point intermediate of its length. At one'edge the plate is` bent at an angle to form the flange 49, and

this plate is furthermore bent to provide the gripper -lip 50. Furthermore, the angular bent gripper-plate is formed with an opening or slot 51, which removes a suitable portion i This provided between` the pressure-platen, the l front wall of the receptacle 39, and the padvreceiving yoke 42, the ange 49 of said gripper-plate resting against Athelower edge of the pressure-platen, while the li'pV 50 of theV gripper-plate lies in advance of the cushion 38 on the pressure-platen. Furthermore, the inclined portion or bend 48 of the gripper-plate is adapted in the normal position-0f the parts (shown by Figs. 2 and 8) to rest against the up- IOO per'angle or corner of the receptacle 39, which is formed by the juncture of,A the Walls 40 41 of said receptacle. ",lhe operative connectionbetween the gripper and the yoke 21 is obtained by the employment of a shaft 53,

which is provided with theranks 54 54a, the arrangement of these parts being shown more clearly by Fig. 7. The shaft; 53 extends across the upper edge of the gripper-plate, so'

as to fit loosely in the eyes 52'thereof, while the cranks 54 .54 extend from the gripper- IIO plate toward the free' terminals of the yoke 21, said cranks' terminating in the studsor Vpintles 55, which looselypass through the arms of the yoke` 21and are slidably 'received in the curved guide-slotsv 15, provided Vfor their reception in the sides of thestand` 10. `As shown more clearly by Figs. Sand 9, I eniploy ltwo springs 56, arranged to bear against "the gripper-plate, each spring being attached to the lrear side of the Apressure-platen and lhaving its free end bowed toward'the 'grip- Vper-plate, so as to bearagainst one'side bar In thenor-` formed by the slot 5l therein. mal position of the handle-andthe yokes the by Figs. 2 and 8 for the pressure-platen tok occupy anuprightposition, whereas the griplper-plate4'7 occupiesa slightly-inclined po` 'sition, with its iange 50 out of contact with the cushioned face of the pressure-platen.

yThis is due tol thek fact that thecrank-shaft assumes an inclined position between the eyes 52 and the terminals of the yoke "2l, which l plates 33 34 are drawn into positionsshown permits the springs 5G to force the gripperplate in a backward direction,.so that the angle 48 of said gripper-plate is seated against the angle or corner of the receptacle 39, the latter serving to limit the repression of the gripper-plate under the action of the springs 56, so that the gripper-lip 50 is not in engagement with the pressure-platen. This arrangement of the parts provides for the reception of an edge of the stamp between the gripperlip 50 and the cushioned face of the pressureplaten, and immediately following the initial movement of the pressure-platen and the coacting parts,due to the application of pressure upon the handle 29, the crank-shaft, under iniuence of the yoke 2l, pulls the gripper-plate away from contact with the angle orcorner of the receptacle 39 and allows the springs 56 to force the gripper-plate in a rearward direction, so' as to make its lip 50 firmly grip the stamp. This firm engagement of the gripper with the' stamp is obtained during the period of inversion of the plates 33 34, the pressureplaten, and the receptacle 39, such inversion of the parts being due to the continued application of the pressure upon the handle to make the parts assume the positions shown by Figs. 3 and 4 successively. As the pressure-platen is turned downward toward the position shown by Fig. 3, the lip 50 and the platen 37 retain the stamp and draw on the strip of stamps, so as to make that stamp which is to be aiixed lie across the cushioned face of the platen, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and as the upper edge of the platen clears a knife 57 the stamp is cut or severed at the proper line, so that the severed stamp will be disposed on the under face of the platen 37. Now on the continued depression of the handle the collar 30 rides against the outside yoke, so as to depress the latter against the energy of the springs 18, thereby giving the final downward movement to the pressure-platen and making the parts assume the position shown by Fig. el.. In the cutting position of the implement (shown by Fig. 3) the gripper holds the stamp,lowing to the fact that the crank-shaft pulls on the gripper-A plate; but when the parts change position, owing to the action of thehandle on the yokes, the crank-shaft is brought to the substantially horizontal position shown by Fig. 4 and the gripper is released, so that it is free to have a limited idle movement, which permits the bent edge of the gripper to press against the piece of mail-matter and to be forced upward to the position shown by Fig. 4. as the platen 37 is forced downward to its final working position, whereby the stamp is released and pressed firmly upon the moistened spot of the envelop, while the gripper automatically disposes itself out of the path of the pressure-platen. When the hand-pressure is removed lfrom the handle, the springs 23 29 become active to force the yokes in the upward direction and return the operating parts to the position indicated by Figs. l., 2,

5, and 8, and during this upward movement of the platen and the gripper the latter assumes the position where its lip 50 is free from the cushioned face of the pressureplaten, thus enabling the free edge of another stamp to be inserted between said lip 50 and the platen.

It should be remarked that the end of the moistening-pad 4l projects below the bottom wall of the receptacle 39 and in position to sweep across the face of a piece of mail-matter at the spot where the stamp is to be affixed thereto, whereby the letter or the like is moistened on the initial movement of the iuiplement preliminary to the operation of cutting the stamp and pressing the same upon the moistened spot.

. The knife 57 is secured to the stand across the latter and adjacent to the lower termini of the guide-slots l5, said knife having an inclined portion 5S andformed with a doublyinclined cutting edge which terminates in the crest 59. The inclined portion of this knife disposes the cutting edge thereof very close to the path of the upper edge of the pressureplaten on the depression and inversion thereof, as hereinbefore described, whereby the stamp is drawn down by the gripper and the platen, so that it will be drawn across the edge of the knife and will be severed as the edge of the platen clears the edge of the knife, as shown by Fig. 3.

A strip of stamps may be coiled on a reel or led through a suitable tube at the option of the skilled constructor; but as these parts are notcontemplated by this invention it has not been considered necessary to illustrate them. The stamp-strip is presented to the platen and the gripper by a movable stampslide GO, which is arranged at the front side of the stand and is hung or pivoted at its upper edge thereto, as at l. This stamp-slide is provided on its rear side with a lug orlugs 63, arranged to ride against the side edges of the yoke 2l on the descent of the latter; but on the elevation of the yoke the stamp-slide is forced t0 aninwardly-inclined position by means of the springs 64, which are suitably mounted on the stand and press against the lugs of the stamp-slide, in which lugs is mounted a Vroller 66. The strip of stamps is adapted to pass between the stamp-slide and itsroller, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and this stamp is forced by the fingers 67 against the cushioned face of the pressureplaten. The fingers 67 are preferably at tachedto the roller 6G, so as to diverge from each other and to lie on opposite sides of the crest 59 on the cutting edge of the knife. On the descent of the inside yoke 2l the stampslide is forced outward to the position shown byFigsandfbythelugsGSridingagainst the yoke, thus making the stamp-slide self-clearing with respect to the other operating parts of theimplement. Whenthestampisseveredby the parts assuming the position shown by Fig. 3, a free edge of the stamp-strip projects be- IOO IIO

latter is returned by its springs 64 to the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the fingers 67 press theprotruding end of the stampstrip past the crest of the knife and into properfposition for engagement vby the lip of the gripper.

Although I have described the implement as a means for aftixing labels, it will be understood that it may also be used to affix any label or equivalent device preferably having one face coated with a mucilaginous ilm or other adhesive. Itis also to be understood that parts of the invention may be used without the whole. A g

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I 'employ a pivoted guide which has sometimes been referred to as the stamp-slide, said guide beingdisposed in the path of the platen and yieldable with `respect thereto. This guide or stamp-slide is provided with a feed-slot 13, through which the stamp or label is adapted to be fed. i

It is thought that the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings. y

Changes within the scope of they appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while their essen- 5 tial features are retained and the spirit of the scribed.

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a cutter, Va movable aftixingplaten, a gripper carried by the platen, means for opening the gripper as the platen is pressed to an afxing position, and a moistener having means adapted to supply moisture to a surface prior lto the application of a stamp or label, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A device of the'character described comprising a suitable frame, a platen,` a cutter disposed adjacent to the path of the platen and above the affxing position thereof, a gripper mounted on said platen to coperate therewith and adapted to travel with the same, means for opening `the gripper. at two periods of its travelwith the platen, and a moistener,

substantially as set forth.

4. A device of the character described comprising a suitable frame, aplaten, a cutter, a gripper mounted on said platen-.and movable therewith through certain parts. of the tially as described.

travel of thelatter, m'eansfor' closing the gripper as the platen approaches the cutter, means for releasing the gripper prior to the adjustment of the platen to its aftixing position, and a moistener, substantially as set forth.

5. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a suitable frame, 'a movable aiixingplaten, a cutter, means for directing or guiding a label-strip close to said cutter, a gripper movable with` the platen and occupying a closed relation thereto as it` recedes fromthe cutter, whereby the platen and grippercoperate to draw the label-strip', means for releasing the gripper prior-tothe platen assuming an aftixing position, and a moistener, substantially as set forth. y 6.- Inan aflixing implement, the combina- .means for actuating the same, of a gripper :loosely mounted on the platen andV adapted to riseand fall therewith, meansfor closing the gripper on its descent with said platen, 'Y and means to positively open the gripper onq Y the elevation of the platen, said means coperating with the gripper-closing means to posi- IOO tively hold said gripper in the closed condition during certain periods of its movement .with the platen, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an aftixing implement, the combination with a pressure-platen, and actuating means therefor, of a gripper connected with f said platen to travel therewith, 'a cranked shaftV connected with the gripper, means for `actuating said shaft, and a retractor for the gripper, substantially as described. 9. In an aftixing implement, Athe combination with a pressure-platen, and an actuating `means `theref0r,of a flanged gripper, ayoke,

a crank-shaft connected Vto said yoke and yto thegripper, and springs acting againstthe gripper, substantially as described.

10. In an affixing implement, a pressurevplaten provided with a receptacle and with a `moistening-pad, and a gripper loosely tted between saidreceptacle and. the'platen'to be `connected thereto forl inversion `with the parts, combined with a platen-actuating device arranged to invert the -platen lon 1its downward travel,- and a gripper-actuating .mechanism operable tohold the gripper operative during ksuch inversion of the platen and torelease the gripper lat the period of pressing the platen'upon the work, substan- 11. In an afxingimplement, .the combinaa tion with a 'pressure-platen, 'an actuating means therefor and a gripper, ofa stamp- Aslide pivotallymounted adjacent tothe pathv of the platen and yieldable to the movement of the latter, acutter and means for normally holding the stamp-slide in the path of the platen and in position to supply stamps or labels to the saine, substantially as described.

12. In an affixing implement, the combination with a pressure-platen and an actuating means therefor, of a hinged feed-plate provided with a guide-face and with fingers for a stamp or label, a cutter adjacent to the path of the fingers, and retractors for said feedplate, substantially as described.

13. In an affixing implement, the combination of a pressure-platen, an actuating means therefor, a gripper movable with the platen and disposed in gripping relation thereto, gripper-actuating means to hold the latter in active relation to the platen during the descent thereof and operable to release the gripper on the final period of movement of the platen, a stamp-slide normally in the path of the platen, means for yieldably holding the stamp-slide in place, and a cutting device arranged to sever one stamp or label from a strip during the period of descent of the platen and the grippel, substantially as described.

14e. In an aflixing implement, thecombination of a platen, an auxiliary yoke connected therewith, a gripper on the platen, a main yoke havinga tube, a cranked shaft between the main yoke and the gripper, a handle, a resistance-stem, and the springs, substantially as described.

l5. In an affixing device, apressure-platen, and a gripper mounted loosely and in coperating gripping relation to the platen, conibined with means for giving reciprocating movement to the platen, and gripper-actuating devices arranged to positively hold the gripper in operative relation to the platen during the descent thereof and to release the gripper from its operative position at the final period in the downward travel of the platen, as set forth.

1G. In an afxing device, the combination of a pressure-platen, a gripper movable with and in cooperating gripping relation to said platen, a platen-actuating device, and a gripper-actuating device to hold the gripper in operative relation to the platen during the descent there'of, said gripper-actuating device being operable to release the gripper at the final downward travel of the platen and thereby allowT the gripper to be thrown out of operative position by the resistance offered by the surface upon which the label or other device is to be afxed, as set forth.

17. In an afiixing device, the combination with a stand, a pressure-platen, and a handyoke connected to said platen, of a gripper cooperating with said platen, and another yoke having operative connection with the gripper, said yokes being operable with the platen and the gripper to depress the parts simultaneously and to keep the gripper closed untilrthe platen reaches its aiiixing position,

'ronces whereby the strain or pressure on the gripper is relaxed prior to the final downward thrust on the platen and said gripper is free from the stamp or label, as set forth.

18. In a stamp-affixing device, a pressureplaten, a gripper connected loosely thereto and disposed normally in cooperating relation therewith, and a retractor-spring acting against the gripper, combined with means for primarily actuating the platen, and means for actuating the gripper at the same time that the platen is made to rise and fall, said gripper-actuating means opening the` gripper at the initial period of its descent with the platen, then closing the gripper into cooperative relation to the platen as the parts continue their downward movement, and finally releasing the gripper at the final period in the descent of the platen, substantially as described.

19. In an affixing device, the combination with a pressure-platen, and means for actuating the same, of a gripper, a gripper-actuating mechanism, a pivoted stamp-slide normally disposed in the path of the platen, and a spring for yieldably holding the stamp-slide in position and permitting it to clear itself on the descent of the platen, substantially as described.

20. In an afiixing device, the combination of astand, amovable afiixing pressure-platen, a gripper, means for actuating said pressureplaten and the gripper, a cutter mounted on the stand and having a crest-formed cutting edge disposed adjacent to the path of said platen, and a stamp-slide mounted on the stand for yieldable movement relative to the path of the platen and to the cutter, substantially as described.

2l. In an aftixing device, the combination of a stand, a movable aflixing pressure-platen, a gripper, actuating devices for the platen and the gripper, a crest-formed cutter mounted on the stand adjacent to the path of the platen, a stam -slide, and retaining-fingers carried by the stamp-slide and disposed on opposite sides of the crest in the cutting edge of said cutter, substantially as described.

22. In an afiixing device, the combination of a pressure-platen, a gripper cooperatively related to the platen, yokes having separate connections with the platen and the gripper to actuate the same simultaneously as set forth, and a yieldable hoof disposed in the path of the platen and adapted to engage therewith on its return upward movement to normal position, substantially as described.

23. In an affixing device, a pressure-platen provided in rear of its working face with a receptacle having the inclined and perforated walls and arranged to normally assume an upright position wherein the liquid contents of the receptacle lies away from the perforated wall, and a pad against the perforated wall, combined with a gripper, and means for actuating the platen and the gripper, substantially as described.

In an affixing device, a pressure-platen IOO ' operate therewith in gripping the article tor having a receptacle and a pady in rear of the active surface thereof,and a gripper loosely.v vconfmedrbetween the platen and the receptacle and provided with -anelement in opposing relation to the platens' active face to cobe affixed, combined-with devices for actuating the gripper and the platen,va stamp-slide, and a cutter, substantially as described.

25. In adevice of the character described,

the combination `with a movable afiixing-y platen, and means for'actuating` the same, of a gripper movably connected to the platen and held in normal closed position by a retractor,means-arranged to guide a label-strip to the gripper and platenr in the raised position of the parts, a cutter, and devices disposed in coperative relation to the gripper for opening the same while in the raised po-y sition and for giving like movement to said gripper when depressed with the platen below said cutter.

l 261 In a device of the character described,

thecombination'with a platen, andmeansfor actuating'the same, of a yieldable guide having means actuated'by the .platen-operating-devices, whereby the guide is positively thrown out of the path of the platen during certain periods in the movement ofthe latter,

' substantially as described.

27. In a device of thecharacterdescribed, the combination with afplaten, and means for actuating the same, ofva pivoted guide disposed in coperativerelation tothe platenactuating devices andv provided with a chute through whichta'stam p or label is adapted to befed, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my n hand in the presence of two witnesses.

' y y y BENJAMIN H. GALKIN. Witnesses: i l

J. `A. MARION, i T. MYNARD.

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