USRE1871E - John w - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. FOSTER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CANCELlNG-STAMP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,708, dated January 3, 1865; Reissue No. 1,871, dated February 14, 1865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. FOSTER, of the city and county of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Canceling-Stamp; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved stamp. Fig. 2 is a face or end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section in the line m w. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the line y y. Fig. 5 is a detached view exhibiting in elevation the annular cutter or punch hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspmding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a canceling-stamp which is chiey designed to constitute a medium whereby postage and other stamps may be efectually defaced by being cut or punched in such a way that an attempt to detach the stamp from the envelope to which it is applied will invariably produce the separation or detachment from said stamp of the portion which has been cut out by the knife or leave an inetfaceablc mark therein. This cutting or punching of a stamp, if the latter be the object to be so cut or punched, may be effected after it has been applied to the envelope Without the latter being penetrated or its contents injured.

The invention consists in a novel manner of gaging the cutting-instrument so as to limit the depth of its penetration, as will be hereinafter fully described. Also, in a novel manner of locking type in the stamp.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be-enabled to fully understand and use the same, I

j will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a metallic casing or socket, within which is fitted an annular cutter or punch, (l. B is an adjustable gage fitted to slide longitudinally within the punch C, and pressed out-l ward by a spiral spring, I). E is a set-screw, limiting the vdistance to which the gage B may be pressed in while in use.

This stamp may be provided with a handle,

A, and operated by hand, or it ma-y be used in l a lever, steam, or other press. In using it the internal gage, B, strikes the surface of the paper first and recedes until its upper end cornes against the setscrew E. The gage then arrests the further penetration of the punch U,

and thus limits the depth to which it can cut.

By regulating the retraction of the gage B by the adjustment of the set-screw E the punch may be made to cut through one, two, or more thicknesses of paper, as desired, with the greatest accuracy, or even to produce an inei'aceable mark on the paper without penetrating a single thickness. `I t is therefore of great value in its application as a postagestamp canceler, as with a proper adjustment of the gage the punch may be made to effectually destroy the postagevstamp without a possibility of injuring the contents of the envelope or even penetrating the envelope itself.

F is a set-nut, against which the upper end of the punch C is made to bear, and which provides means for adjusting the punch itself. This nut may be used in connection with or instead of the adjustment of the gage B. The adjustment of the nut F will regulate the distance to which the ground 0 projects beyond the face a of the casing A, and thus limit the penetration ofthe' punch.

G represents an annular gum-elastic spring, which, While permitting the adjustment of the punch, constantly forces the latter upward against the set-nut F, and thus retains it in an immovable condition after adjustment. Either :mode of adjustment may be used without the other, or they may be used together. In the latter case, however, it is needful to maintain the adjustment of the gage B relatively to the punch C, and for this purpose the set-screw E of the gage is made to work in the set-nut F ofthe punch.

It is apparent that the gage B, on assuming its normal position after it has been forced upward when the lstamp is in operation, will ejectanypaper that may have lodged within the punch. The adjustment of the punch may also be made to compensate for the Wear thereof.

Any suitable lettering or device may be en- A grayed on the face a of the casing A, and mov.

able-type may be set in an annular cavity within the -face a, said type being encircled by the engraved lettering, as shown in Fig. 2. To adapt the type to be changed and a largeror smaller number of them to be inserted, as well through the wall of the casing A. The point of the screw J is conical, and the two contiguous surfaces of ihe blocks H H are so formed as to receive the point of the screw between them when they are in contact with each other. acts as a wedge and forces the blocks apart Hence when the screw J is, turned itV until they properly lock the type, which may be set up within the cavity.

I do not limit myself to any prescribed form of knife or gage, or any specific means for adjusting the one in relation to the other.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A canceling-stamp provided with an annular cutter, C, and an internal gage, B, either one or both adjustable in relation to each other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the double setscrews E F with the cutter C and gage B, for the purpose specified. A

3. The adjustable blocks H H, operated by the screw J, and employed to lock the type of the stamp, substantially as set forth.

JNO. W. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

ALEXR. A. C. KLAUGKE, EDWARD H. KNIGHT.

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