US769291A - Stamp-affixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 769,291. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. J. ATKINSON. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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QT. ATKINSON. I v STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1903. NO MODEL; I '3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

No. 769,291. BATENTED SEPT. 6,1904.

J. ATKINSON. STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHBETSSHEET 3.

U ITED" STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

JACOB ATKINSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAIMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,291, dated. September 6, 1904.

Application filed April 2'7, 1903. Serial No. 154,513- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ACOB ATKINSON, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Afiixing Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it 'appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in stamp-affixing machines. The object of the invention is to provide a machine which will automatically feed and stick stamps upon en-velops, means being provided for moistening the gum upon the stamps, provision being also made whereby the gum on the flap of the envelop may also be moistened, a further object being to provide a machine of this characterwhich will be simple, strong, and practical, comparatively inexpensive of production, and well adapted to the use for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view th invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is aside view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a side view of the machine with the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical crosssectional view on the line 4: 4 of Fig. 2.. Fig.

5 is a detail horizontal section through the plunger mechanism and knife on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional View through the stamp-holder and lower end of the plunger mechanism, showing how the stamp is released and pressed on the envelop. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the means for releasing the stamp-reel. -1

In the drawings, 1 denotes the casing, which incloses the supporting-frame and operating mechanism.

v 2 denotes the base, upon which is mounted a suitable supporting-frame 3 comprising, two vertically-disposed parallel si'des, each side consisting of a main fixed plate 4:, boltedor otherwise secured to the forward portion of the base, and a movable plate 5, hinged at its lower-outer corner to the rearwardly-extending portion of the main fixed section 4:. The plates forming the two sides are suitably spaced apart and braced by cross-bars and shafts, as will be hereinafter described, the

rear section of the frame formed by the plates 5 being adapted from its hinged connection to swing rearwardly from the main section to permit access to the interior of the machine.

The front and rear sections of the frame are locked in a closed position by means of springcatches 6, fixed to the side plates 4: and adapted to engage lugs 7 formed on the plates 5. A bail 8 is arranged above and spans the side plates, the lower ends of the bail being adapted i to engage the spring-catches, so that when it is desired to release the same to open the frame the bail is pressed downwardly, disengaging the catches from the lugs and allowing-the plates 5 to swing back.

Between the side plates of the main fixed section of the frame is arranged a-verticallyreciprocating carriage consistlng of a pair of vertically-disposed plates 9, arranged between vided'with an upwardly-projecting beveled stud 12, which when the head 12 is forced downwardly is adapted to engage the arms 14: of the levers 13, thereby swinging the lower inwardly-projecting ends out from beneath the block 12, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. In the plates 9 are formed vertically-disposed slots 15, which are coin-- cid cut with similarly-disposed slots 16, formed in the side plates 4, between which the plates 9 are adapted'to slide.

1'? denotes a vertically-reciprocating horizontally-disposed plate adapted to slide between the plates 9 and having formedon its sides adjacent to the said plates bearing flanges Projecting laterally from the plate 17 and passing through the slots and 16, for-med in the plates 9 and 4, are arms 18, on one of which is formed an upwardly-projeeting slotted lug 19, in which is pivoted a hook 20, the bill of which projects inwardly. The construction of the hook and the lug 19 is such that the bill of the hook is allowed to swing downwardly and inwardly to enable it to pass any obstruction in its path of upward -n1ovement, but will engage obstructions in the pathof its downward movement, the object of which will hereinafter appear. On the lower side of the plate 17 is formed a tapering plunger-head 21, and on the upper side of the plate is formed a slotted boss 22, to which is connected a ring 23, to which is attached the lower end of a strap 24, which is adapted to be wound upon a reel or pulley 25, mounted upon a shaft 26, rotatably mounted in the upper ends of the plates 4. On the shaft 26 is also mounted a spiral spring one end of the same being connected to the said shaft and theopposite end being connected to the frame, the arrangement being such that as the strap 24 is unwound the shaft 26'will be rotated to windup the spring, the tension of which will upon releasing the strap cause a retrograde movement of the shaft and reel 25 and wind up the strap again.

27denotes a horizontally-reciprocating dog carried by the plate 17 and having a sliding engagementwith the slot in the boss 22 formed on said plate. The rearwardly-projecting end of the. dog 27 is beveled to form an engaging edge or point, while the forward end of the same isprovided with a vertically-disposed opening 28.

29 denotes a vertically-disposed bar or rod fixed at its upper and lower ends to cross rods or bars 30, connectingthe side pieces 4 of the frame. The rod 29 is adapted to pass through theropening 28 in the dog 27 and is ofiset at its lower-end, forming a bend and bringing the lower end ofthe bar in a plane in advance of the upper portion of the same.

On-the sides of the box 10, carried by the plates 9, are laterally-projecting lugs 10, which are adapted to engage guide-slots 4, formed in the plate 4, whereby the-plates9 and box 10 are guided in their vertical mo ement.

31 denotes a transversely-arranged vertically-disposed plate'fixed betweenthe side plates 4, and in-said plate is formed a horizontally-dispOsed feed slot or opening 32, whichis arranged at the level of the lower end of the block 12, and in said plate is also formed a central vertically-disposed slot 33.

34 denotes a vertically-reciprocating plate,

; on the lower end of which is formed a knife 35. The plate. 34 is adapted to slide-upon the plate 31 and to be held'in yielding engagement with the same by means of a bolt 36, fixed thereto and adapted to project through the slot 33.

On the end of the bolt 36 is screwed a nut, a spring 37 being coiled around the bolt between the said nut and the plate 31, whereby the plate 34 and knife-blade are held in close yielding engagement therewith. The upper end of the plate 34 is provided with a forwardly-projecting lug 38, and a similarly-arranged lug 39 is formed on the plate about midway between the upper and lower ends of the same,

40 denotes a stamp-reel upon which a web or strip of stamps is adapted to be wound. A strip of waxed or oiled paper 40 iswound with the stamps, the paper serving to protect the stamps from the mucilage on the same, as will be understood. The reel 40 is removably mounted in arms 41, projecting rearwardly from the plates 5, the end 41 of one of said arms having a hinged connection with the main portion thereof, said end being held in engagement with the reel by means of a strong coiled spring 42. The ends of the arms 41 are provided with inwardly-projecting pins, which are adapted to engage similarly-shaped depressions in the sides of the reel, whereby the reel is adapted to have a free rotary movement.

43, 44, and denote horizontally-disposed rolls arranged across the frame and journaled in the plates 5, and between the rolls 43 and 44 is adapted to pass the strip of stamps, with its protective strip of waxed paper. After passing between the rolls the strip of stamps is directed into a flat metal guide tube or chute 46, while the strip of waxed paper is directed around the roll 43 and between the same and the roll 45, from which it is fed into a box or receptacle for this purpose. From the tube 46 the end of the stamp strip is directed beneath the head or block 12, where the end stamp is held by the pivoted levers 13.

47 denotes a spur-gear mounted upon the shaft of the roll 43, and 48 denotes a similar gear fixed to shaft 49, rotatably mounted between the plates 5.

50 denotes a spur gear-pinion loosely mounted upon the shaft 49, and 51 denotes a ratchetwheel fixed upon the shaft 49. A pivoted spring-pressed pawl 52 is carried by the gear proper direction.

53 denotes a lever pivoted to one of the side plates 4 of the frame, and on one end of said lever is formed a segmental rack 54, which is adapted to engage the teeth on the gear 50. The opposite end of thelever 53 is in the form of an arm 55,- the outer end of which is beveled or rounded off, as shown, and'lies in the path of movement of and is adapted to be engaged by the pivoted hook 20, carried by one of the arms 18 on plate 17.

of the T-shaped ends are connected to operating-bars 56, arranged on each side of the rnachine, the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to the ends of the arms 18 of the plate 17. The opposite ends of the bars 56 are provided with longitudinally -disposed slots 56, which are adapted to have sliding engagement with studs 56, projecting from the side plates of the machine, as shown.

57 denotes curved arms or braces, one end of each of which is pivotally connected to a stud 56, and the opposite end is connected to the upper branch of one of the T-shaped ends of the operating-lever.

-57 denotes-a knob or finger-piece fixed in the forwardly-projecting loop of the operating-lever 56.

In the forward portion of the base of the machine is formed a concavity 58, in which is adapted to slide a bed piece or block 59, having an outwardly and downwardly curved flange or lip 60. The block 59 is supported in the'concavity 58 and normally held above the base by means of stiff coiled springs 61,

arranged beneath'the block, as shown.

62 denotes a water-tank arranged upon the front edges of the side plates of the frame, and in the contracted lower end of the same is arranged a strip of felt or other absorbent material 63,'the same being in contact with the water in the tank.

6 denotes a filling-opening arranged in the upper end of the tank and normally closed by a cap or stopper.

65 denotes a roller .rotatably mounted in a The lower ends of the forward portion of the plates 4: are cut away to form slots 67 above the base and block 59, whereby an envelop may be inserted below the same andonto the block 59, the springs beneath said block allowing the same to be pressed down, to accommodate bulky envelops or small; packages. The front portion of the casing ends above the base for the insertion of the envelops, as herein described.

68denotes a regulating-screw mounted in a lug 69, projecting from one of the plates 4] above the arm. 55 of the segmental lever 53,

whereby upon lengthening or shortening the ends of the screw the stroke of the lever 53 is, regulated or adjusted, which will cause the feed-rolls to be turned more or less, according to thesize of the stamps used.

The operation is as follows: The envelop to v be stamped isinserted in the slots 67 and upon the bed orblock 59, and when inserting the envelop the face of the same is brought into engagement with the wet felt strip 63 bevelop isdrawn out.

diatelybelow thereciprocating carriage carrying the stamp. The operatingeleveris now 17, one of which carries the hook 20, which ver 53. Further downward .movement of the operating-lever causes the segmental rack 54:,- formed on the opposite end of the lever 53, to rotate the pinion 50, which actuates the train of gears as hereinbefore-described to turn the rolls and feed the stamps from the reel through the tube until one stamp lies beneath the block or head of the carriage, where it is held in position by the pivoted levers carried thereby. When the stamp strip reaches this position, the hook 20 will have reached the rounded end of the arm 55 and slides from engagement with the same. ward movement of the operating-lever brings pressed, forcing down the arms 18 on plate" catches or engages with the arm 55 on the le- Further downthe point of the dog 27 into engagement with v same time the plunger-head 21 engages the beveled stud 12 -on the plate 12 and forces the same down, simultaneously opening the levers 13 and allowing the stamp to drop upon the wet portion of the envelop, theheador block 12 descending upon the same and press ing it in place, when upon releasing the operating-lever the envelop maybe withdrawn from the bed or block, and in passing beneath the roller 65 it is further rolled and pressed upon the envelop, the. roller also serving to protect the stamp from the wet felt as the en'- This action of the roller IOO I results from the factthat it isrelatively fixed l and its lower side is .lower than the wet felt of the moistening device, so that the roller acts as a stop to limit the movement of the. block 56, carried by the springs-61 toward the wet felt, and keep the blocks from con.-

tacting with the felt and from forcing the stamp against the felt. When the operatinglever is released, the spring 25, which has been wound upon the shaft 26 by the down ward movement of the parts,will unwind,

IIO

causing a retrograde movement ofthe shaft 1 and reel 25, winding up the strap 24 and returning the plate 17 and its attachedparts to their normal positions, the-upward movement of these parts engagingv the lug- .38 on the knife-plate and the segmentalxand operating levers andrestoring them to their normal positions, aswill be understood.

The pawl-and-ratchet connection between: the loosegear-pinion 50 and the shaft 49 permits the segmental rack toturn back toits normal position Without causing a retrograde movement of the shaft 49 and the parts driven thereby.

The gummed edge of the envelop-flap may be passed under the strip of felt connected to the Water-tank, and thereby moistened for sealing.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood Without requiring a moreextended explanation.

Various 1 changes in the form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction'may be 'resorted'to Withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I'claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a strip-feeder, a lever, connections operated by the initial movementthereof to'actuate the strip-feeder, a plunger actuated by the lever at alater period of the movement thereof, a movable cutter operated by the plungeryto-sever-a section from the strip, laterally-movable means to support the strip-section, and a strip-section 'aflixer subsequently operated by the plunger during the same movement thereof, to release the strip-section-support1ng means therefrom and afiix the strip-section.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a spring-supported supporting element, a relatively fixed moistener opposed thereto, and a roller having a relatively fixed axis, disposed in rear of the moistener, bearing on the supporting element and forming a stop to prevent the latter from contacting erated by the plunger during the same movement thereof, a spring to reversely move the plunger when the lever is released, and connections actuated by the reverse movement of the plunger to restore the lever, the cutter and the aflixer to their initial positions.

4:. In a device of the character described,and in combination With mechanism for feeding a strip of stamps, a reciprocating stamp-applying device, acutter for severing the individual stamps from the strips, a stamp-engaging device carried by the applying device, a movable member adapted to first actuate the stamp-feeding mechanism, then to actuate the cutter to sever a stamp and then operate the stamp-engaging. device to release the stamp as the stamp-applying device moves into applying position, substantially as described.

5. In amachine of the character described, the comblnation with a supporting-frame, of

a vertically-reciprocating carriage and stampa vertically-reciprocating carriage and stampholder, avertically-reciprocatingknife or cutter, a reciprocating plate having laterally-proectmg guide-arms and a depending plunger- .head, adapted to engage and reciprocate said carriage and stamp-holder, automatically-operated means carried by said plate for engaging and reciprocating said knife or cutter, and means for reciprocating said plate, a stampreel rotatably mounted in said frame, and having wound thereon a strip of stamps, feedrolls adapted to unwind and feed the stamps from said reel to said stamp-holder, a train of gears adapted to drive said rolls, means for actuating said train of gears to turn said rolls in one direction, means to prevent retrograde movement of said rolls, and a moistening device supported by said frame, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a vertically-reciprocating carriage and stampholder, a vertically-reciprocatingknife or cutter,-a reciprocating blade having laterally-projecting guide-arms and a depending plungerhead, adapted to engage and reciprocate said carriage and stamp-holder, a sliding dog carried by said plate and adapted to engage and reciprocate said knife or cutter, means for antomatically disengaging said dog from said cutter, a pivoted operating-lever adapted to engage said guide-arms to project said plate, and means for automatically retracting said plate, and restoring said carriage and stampholder and said cutter to their normal posi- "tion, a stamp-reel rotatably mounted in said frame and having wound thereon a strip of stamps, feed-rolls adapted to unwind and feed said stamps from said reel to said holder, a train of gears adapted to drive said rolls, a segmental lever adapted to actuate said gears to drive said rolls in one direction, and a clutch device for preventing a retrograde movement of said rolls, and means operating said segmental lever, substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a vertically-reciprocating carriage and stampholder, a vertically-reciprocating knife or out ter, a reciprocating plate having laterallyprojecting guide-arms and a depending plungerhead, adapted to engage and reciprocate said carriage and stamp-holder, a sliding dog carried by said plate and adapted to engage and reciprocate said knife or cutter, a curved rod or bar adapted tobe engaged by said sliding dog, to disengage the same from said cutter,

a pivoted operating-lever adapted to engage said guide-arms to prO ect said plate, a pul- I ley fixed to a shaft and having wound thereon a strap, one end of which is fixed to said plate, a spiral spring mounted on'said shaft and adapted to be wound up as said shaft is unwound by the movement of said plate,

whereby upon release of pressure upon said plate, said spring will unwind thereby rewinding said strap and retracting said plate which Will restore said carriageandstamp-holder to their normal position, a stamp-reel rotatably mounted in said frame and having wound thereon a strip of stamps, feed-rolls adapted to unwind and feed said stamp from said reel to said holder, a train of gears adapted to drive said rolls, a segmental lever adapted to actuv ate said gears to drive said rolls in one direct1on, and a'clutch device for preventing a retrograde movement of said rolls, a pivoted D hook carried by one of the guide-arms of said reciprocating plate, and adapted'to engage and operate said segmental lever, and means for regulating the movement of said lever, sub- JACOB ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

SAML. S.'1VICOLOSKEY, JOHN H. KIRK.

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