US841828A

US841828A - Stamp-affixing machine.

Info

Publication number: US841828A
Application number: US20232604A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Van Vliet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-04-09
Filing date: 1904-04-09
Publication date: 1907-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1924-01-22

Description

PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

W. 0. VAN VLIET.

STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED APR.9.1904.

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W. 8. VAN VLIET. STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AP1L9. 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907. I

W. O. VAN VLIBT. STAMP AFPIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-9.1904.

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WILLIAM C. VAN VLIET, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1904:. Serial No. 202,326-

Patented J an. 22, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. VAN VLIET, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp- Aliixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to amachine for affixing stamps, labels, and the like to envelops, cards, wrappers, and other objects.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall be compact, soas to be adapted to be set upon an ordinary desk or table for use; and the invention consists, mainly, of a stamp-afiixing machine wherein the stamps are held flat in a space between two parts of a table and are fed forward to position of application by reciprocating feeding mechanism operating in the space between the two arts of the table, a second horizontal table eing arranged at the end of the main table with feeding mechanism operating transversely to the firstnamed feeding mechanism.

The invention also consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accom anying drawings, to which reference is ma e and which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an enlarged front elevation of my new stamp-affixing machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a plan view of the same, the table for holding the sheet of stamps being removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional. elevation on line y y of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 2 designates the main frame of the machine, held in this instance upon suitable legs 'or supports 3 3, rising from a base 4. The frame 2 is provided with a table 5, upon which the sheet of stamps or labels 6 is placed in flat condition,-

the table being provided with one or more, preferably two, ways or slots 7, through which the feed device or devices 8 operate for feeding the sheet of stamps forward. The bottom plate or floor '5 of the table is, by preference, formed of three plates of glass, as indicated in Fig. 4, the several plates being spaced to form the said ways or slots 7. A plate \or lid 9, preferably of glass, is held by the main frame 2 over or upon the sheet of stamps 6, so as to protect and confine the stamps, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the operator may see the stamps and so as to facilitate the feeding of the sheet forward by the feeding devices. At onecorner of the structure is fixed a standard 10, which sustains a plunger 12, normally held in elevated position by a spring 13.

. When the sheet 6 of stamps has been fed forward by the feeding devices, a row of stamps will be cut from the sheet by a suitable cutter, which row of stamps when thus cut from the sheet will rest upon a narrow front table 14, which is formed with a longitudinal feedway or slot 15 at right angles to the feed way or ways 7. A feeding device 16 traverses the feedway or slot 15 for feeding the row of stamps intermittently forward to the lower end or foot-piece 17 of the plunger 12, which foot-piece applies the stamps to the envelops, wrappers, or'other objects to which they are to be affixed. As each stamp is fed forward to the foot-piece of the plunger it is severed from the row of stamps by a cut.

ting device located adjacent to the inner edge of the said foot-piece.

I do not limit myself to any special means for cutting the row of stamps from the sheet 6 or for cutting the stamps singly from the row of stamps, as various cutting devices for these purposes may be employed. As here shown, the cutters act on the principle of shears. For cutting the rows of stamps from the sheets I have shown a blade. 18, fulcrumed at 19 and normally held in elevated position by a spring 20. The cutting edge of the blade 18 operates in conjunction with a lower blade 21 and is adapted to be depressed for cutting by pressing down upon the thumbpiece 22 or by pressing down upon the blade itself. For cutting the stamps transversely and singly from the row of stamps I have shown a shear-like cutter 23, the upper blade of which is de ressed by a stud 24, set in a recess in the p unger 12. The stud 24 is acted upon by a spring 25 of sufficient strength to out off the stamp and allow the stud to remain in substantially stationary position while the lunger descends to the limit of its downwar stroke.

The means for feeding the stamps forward to the cutter 23 may be variously constructed, and I do not limit myself to the means shown. As here shown, the feeding is erformed intermittently by the operation 0 the plunger 12 as the source of power, which moves forward a carriage 26, on which the ios IIO

feeding device proper, 16, is mounted. The carriage 26 is mounted on a rail 27 and is provided on one side with a pawl 28, which on the forward movement engages with the teeth of a rack-bar 29,which teeth are s aced from one another the length or the widt of a single stamp, as, the case may be. The rackbar 29 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 30 or equivalent means and is drawn forward the space of one notch by the upward movement of the plunger 12. This is by preference effected by a wire or cord 31, which is connected to the rack-bar at 32, passes around pulleys 33 34, and is connected to the plunger at 35. With each movement forward of the rack-bar 29 its notches, in conjunction with the pawl 28, move the carriage 26 forward one notch against the action of the weight 36, which operates to return the carriage to its starting osition when the last stamp 1n the row has been fed forward. In order that the weight may thus erform its function, the pawl 28 1s disengaged from the notches of the rack-bar by coming in contact with stud 37, which lifts it into the spring-catch 38, which holds the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the rack-bar during the backward movement of the carriage. At the time the carriage reaches the limit of its backward movement the pawl 28 is disengaged from the catch 38 by coming in contact with an arm 39, which puts the pawl in position to engage again with the notches of the rack-bar to repeat the operation. In order that the return power or weight 36 shall not draw back the carriage 26 with each backward movement of the rack-bar 29, the carriage is rovided on the side opposite to that to which the pawl 28 is attached with another awl 40, Fig. 3, which engages the teeth of a ed rack 41. A stud 42, like the stud 37, serves to lift the awl 40 out of engagement with the teeth. of t e rack 41 at the limit of the forward movement of the carriage, and a catch 43, like the catch 38, serves to hold the pawl elevated during the backward movement of the carriage until it is detached from the said catch at the limit of the return movement of the carriage by coming in contact with stationary arm 44.

The means for feeding the sheet of stamps forward may be variously constructed and, as here shown, consists of a carriage 45, mounted to slide on plates or bars 46 46 The feeding-fingers 8 are mounted on said carriage. Adjacent to the bar 46 is laced a rack-bar 47, having notches or teet at its upper edge spaced the width or length of a stamp and with which a pawl 48, pivoted to the carriage, engages. The said rack-bar 47 has attached to it a handle or lever 49, by which the operator moves the rack-bar and carriage forward one notch once for each row of stamps appliedthat is, each time the carriage 26 returns to its starting position the handle or lever 49 is to be drawn forward and back, which will cause the carriage to feed the sheet of' stamps forward one row of stamps. The forward movement of the carriage is against the action of a weight 50 or equivalent means, attached to the carriage by a cord 51. A spring 52 may be relied upon to return the rack-bar 47 and its handle 49 to its normal osition. When the carriage 45 has reached the limit of its forward movement, the pawl 48 comes in contact with a stud 53, which lifts it out of engagement with the notches of the rack-bar 47 and engages it with a spring-catch 54, whereupon the weight 50 returns the carriage to its starting-point ready for another 0 eration, the pawl 48 be ing detached from the catch 54 at the limit of the backward movement by coming in contact with a stationary stud or arm 55.

In order to prevent the carriage 45 from being drawn back by the weight 50 by each backward movement of the sliding rack 47, a fixed rack 56 is employed on the other side of the machine, with the teeth of which rack a pawl 57, pivoted to the carriage, engages. When the carriage reaches the limit of its forward movement, the pawl 57 comes in contact with a fixed stud 58, which lifts the pawl out of engagement with the notches of its rack and into engagement with a catch 59, thus allowing the weight 50 to draw back the carriage. At the return limit of the carriage the pawl 57 is disconnected from its catch by coming in contact with a stud or arm 60, when the carriage is again ready to repeat its operation with a new sheet of stamps put in the machine.

It remains to describe the method of moistening. As here shown, the moistening movement is arranged to apply the moisture to the envelop, wrapper, or other object to which the stamp is affixed. The article to which the stamp is to be affixed is placed upon a support 61, beneath the foot 17 of the plunger 12, and over which the moistening-pad 62 is moved. The moistening-pad 62 is drawn backward by the downward movement of the plunger 12, the pad being attached to the plunger by a wire or cord 63, passing around the pulleys 64 65, (see Fig. 2,) and the pad is returned to its moistening position by a spring 66.

67 designates by dotted lines, Fig. 1, a small casing to inclose the foot 17 of the plunger, so that the stamps or labels as they are cut off singly from the row of stamps will be guided down to the envelop or object to which they are to be applied, and so that they will not be displaced by currents of air or otherwise.

In operation the envelop or other object to which the stamps or labels are to be applied are placed upon the support 61 and shoved forward beneath the moistening-pad, which applies a primary moistening. The plunger is then depressed, which severs a single stamp ICC IIO

from the row of stamps and at the same time draws back the moistening-pad, thus giving a second moistening, and at this time thestamp is firmly and reliably afiixed by the pressure of the foot-piece of the plunger.

Having thus described my invention, wh at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stamp-affixing machine, a flat table composed of two parts separated to form a space between them to receive a sheet of stamps, means operating in said space for intermittentlyfeeding the stamps forward, an auxiliary table composed of two parts, separated to form a space parallel and in a plane with the first-named table, means operating in said space of the last-mentioned table for feeding a row of stamps forward at right angles to the movement of the stamps on the first-named table, a cutter operating between the adjacent edges of the said tables, a plunger for applying the stamps located at one end of the said auxiliary table and means for moistening the stamps, sub stantially as described.

2. In a stamp-affixing machine a flat table adapted to hold a row of stamps and com posed of two stationary parts, one above the other, one of said parts being formed with a longitudinal slot, a feeding device arranged to operate in said slot and means for operating said feeding device for intermittently feeding the row of stamps forward from end to end of said table, substantially as described.

3. In a stamp-affixing machine a flat main table, an auxiliary table parallel and in a plane withthe said main table and composed of two parts separated to form a space open at the edge adjacent to said main table to receive a row of stamps from said main table, a

feeding device located in said space and means for moving said feeding device forward step by step from end to end of said space, substantially as described.

4. In a stamp-affixing machine a table adapted to receive a row of stamps, a feedingfinger for moving the stamps forward, a carriage upon which said feeding-finger is mounted, a rack-bar, means for reciprocating said rack-bar, a pawl on said carriage adapted to engage with the teeth of the rack-bar, and means for holding the carriage in stationary position during the backward movement of the rack-bar substantially as described.

5. In a stamp-affixing machine a main flat table having one or more slots in the bottom thereof, a rack-bar, means for reciprocating said rack-bar, a carriage operated by said rack-bar, feeding devices mounted on said carriage, means for holding the carriage during the backward movement of the rack-bar in combination with an auxiliary table arranged to receive rows of stamps from a sheet of stamps on the main table and means for feeding the rows of stamps endwise on said auxiliary table, substantially as described.

6. In a stamp-afiixing machine a main flat table composed of two parts separated to form a space to receive a sheet of stamps one of. the part-s of the table being formed with one or more slots, a traveling carriage having feed-fingers entering said slots. and a reciprocating rack-bar for intermittently moving said carriage, substantially as described.

7. In a stamp-affixing machine a flat table 5 having one or more slots 7 therein, a plate 9 spaced from said table 5, a fiat table 14 parallel with the table 5 and spaced therefrom, a cutting device operating between the adjacent edges of the table 5 and table 14 and feeding devices applied to said tables and op erating horizontally and intermittently at right angles to each other substantially as described.

8. In a stamp-aflixing machine a table composed of two parts between which the stamps are held one of said parts having one or more slots therein, another table composed of two parts one of which is slotted at right angles to the slots in the first-named table, a cutting device for severing the stamps between said tables, a feeding device for each of said tables operating at right angles to each other, a plunger for applying the stamps, a cutting device for severing the stamps between the plunger and the last-mentioned table substantially as described.

9. In a machine-for aflixing stamps a table having a space in which the stamps are held flat, a plunger for applying the stamps, a reciprocating rack-bar, a carriage intermittently operated the width or length of a stamp by said rack-bar and a feeding-finger carried by said carriage, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for aiiixing stamps a rack-bar, a plunger, means connecting the plunger with the said rack-bar for moving the latter in one direction, means for moving the rack-bar in the opposite direction, a carriage provided with a pawl arranged to engage the notches of the rack-bar, feed-fingers attached to said carriage and a table having a space for holding the stamps in flat position, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for affixing stamps a rack-bar, a plunger, means connecting the plunger to said rack-bar for moving it in one direction, means for moving the rack-bar in the opposite direction, a carriage having a pawl arranged to engage with the teeth of the rack-bar, means for disengaging the pawl from the rack-bar and means for engaging the pawl with the rack-bar, means for returning the carriage to its startingpoint, feeding devices attached to said carriage, a table having a space for holding stamps in flat condition and means for preventing the carriage from moving backward with the backward IIO movement of the rack-bar substantially as rack-bar and means for preventing the cardescribed.

12. In a machine for afliXing stamps a main table having a spacefor holding stamps in fiat condition, a carriage provided With a feeding device for said stamps, a reciprocating rack-bar 47, a pawl on the carriage arranged to engage With the notches of the riage from moving backward with the back- 10 Ward movement of the rack-bar, substantially as described.

WILLIAM C. VAN VLIET.

Witnesses:

H. A. WEsT, MATTHEW BURNs.