US1079567A - Stamp-affixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. G. LANPHEAR.

STAMP AFPIXING MACHINE.

- APPLIOATIOI; FILED mm. 20, 1912.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Attorneys CURTIS C. LANPHEAR, OF MILES CITY, MONTANA.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 191 3.

Application filed December 20, 1912. Serial No. 737,913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CURTIS C. LANPHEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miles City, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Stamp-Affixing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to stamp afiixing machines, and aims primarily to provide a device of that character which will enable stamps to be aflixed to envelops, post-cards and the like in a facile and expeditious manner.

This invention also contemplates the production of a device of the character specified which shall be comparatively simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, as well as efficient, simple, serviceable and convenient in its use.

As a more specific object, the present invention aims to provide a stamp affixing member embodying a spring returned plunger for pressing the stamp on the envelop, post-card or the like, and a pair of feed rollers for delivering a strip of stamps over a shear blade cooperating with a shear blade carried by th-e'plunger, in connection with novel means yieldably connected to the plunger for rotating one of the feed rollers when the plunger is depressed and means for stopping the movement of the said means before the shear blades sever the stamp that is to be aflixed.

It is the object of the present invention, by the provision of the means yieldably connected to the plunger for rotating the feed rollers when the plunger is depressed and the means for stopping the movement of the said means, to permit of the adjustment of the device in order that the strip of stamps will be properly fed to the cutting mechanism and then stopped so that the shear blades will sever the stamp at the proper point.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangements of parts and in the details of construct-ion hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its the accompanying Referring specifically to the drawing, the present device embodies a frame or skeleton body, preferably cast from suitable metal,

and including a base or bed 4 on which the envelops and post-cards are designed to be placed. The forward portion 5 of the surface of the base is flat so as to be adapted to have the envelop or post card placed thereon, and at one corner of the base, the same is provided with an anvil block 6, preferably in the form of a cushion or buffer constructed of rubber or other like material.

Above the anvil block 6, the body or frame is provided with avertical plunger guide or casing 7, the lower end of which is open and the upper end of which is closed, and a water receptacle 8 is arranged on one side of the casing 7, the receptacle and easing or guide being preferably integral so as have a common wall or partition. The top of the water receptacle is provided with a hinged closure 9, thus permitting the receptacle to be filled or supplied with water from time to time, and the bottom of the receptacle slopes to a point above one edge of the anvil block 6. The water receptacle is providedwith an opening or slot 10 directly above the edge of the anvil block, and a flat moistener 11 passes through the opening 10. This moistener 11 depends slightly from the water receptacle over the free end of a leaf spring or resilient guide the ends opposite 12 secure on the base, the envelop or post I card being adapted to be inserted in under the moistener 11 and over the anvil block and the spring or guide 12 serving to assure the brushing of the letter or postcard against the moistener so as to moisten the same.

A plunger 13 is mounted for vertical re ciproc'ato-ry movements in the casing or guide 7, the plunger and easing being rectangular in cross section and of such dimensions to accommodate the standard size of postage stamp. The plunger 13 is provided with an upstanding stem lt passing through the upper end of the casing 7 and bearing a header knob 15 on its upper end, a coiled lot wire compression spring 16 being arranged on the stem between the head and the casing 7 so as to yieldably support the plunger.

The spring 16 serves to return the plunger after the plunger has been depressed, as will *more clearly-appear hereinafter.

A shear blade or cutting knife 18 is se cured to the rear side of the'plunger 13, and

cooperates with a shear blade or cutting knife 19 secured on the base adjoining the rear edge of the anvil block '6. 'Aslot or opening 20 is provided above theshearblade 19 under which a strip of stamps is adapted to be projected by a suitable'feeding mechanism 1 hereinafter described. 'When the plunger is depressed, the cutting edge of the shear blade 18 is adapted to pass the cutting edge of the shear blade 19'so as to sever the stamp, the stamp then being pressed onto the corner of the envelop or post card inserted above the anvilblock 6. It is prefplane in which the opening or slot 20 lies,

and the said rollers being loosely mounted on .the respective shafts 23 and 24. The

ameter than the latter one.

. therein.

shafts 23 and 24 are suitably supported by the frame and are journaled for rotation An idle gear 25 is mounted on the lower shaft 23 and meshes with a spur gear 26 secured on the shaft 24. The spur gears 25 and 26 are located at one end of the feed rollers, the former gear being larger in di- An arm 27 is secured to the shaft 24 at the other end of the feed roller 22 and carries a spring pressed pawl 28 which engages a ratchet wheel 29 secured to the end of the roller 22. Thus, as the shaft 24 is rotated in the op- I posite directions, the feed roller 22 will be advanced or rotated in one direction only,

as will be apparent.

A-yielding connection is provided between the idle spur gear 25 and the plunger in order that the feed roller 22 may be actuated by the depression of the plunger, this connection embodying a rack bar 30 intermeshing with the spur gear 25 and having a pair of eyes 31 loosely embracing a spindle 32 depending from the head 15 of the plunger 10. A collar 33 is secured to the spindle 32 between the eyes 31 and is adapted to normally contact with the upper eye 31 so as to support the rack bar 30, a coiled wire compression spring 34 being disposed between the collar 33 and the lower eye 31 so as to yieldably force the rack bar 30 downward with the spindle '32 when the plunger is depressed. The rack bar 30 is also provided with an elongated slot 35 through which the pin 36 engages, the pin 36 serving to guide the rack bar and limit the upward movement of the rack bar.

As a means for limiting or stopping the movement of the rack bar 30, the stop screw 37 is screw threaded upwardly through an ear 38 projecting from the base 4 directly below the rack bar 30. Thus, by adjusting the stop screw 37, the downward movement of the rack bar 30 will be stopped at the proper moment, or after the feed rollers have been rotated sufiiciently to advance the strip of stamps the length of one stamp. Accordingly, by adjusting the stop screw 37, the length'of the stamp may be regulated to a nicety, and therefore, the device may be prevented from cutting the stamps irregularly. The stop screw 37 is so disposed as to contact with the head 30 provided at the lower end of the rack bar 30 prior to the meeting of the shear blades so that the strip of stamps may be properly projected below the plunger prior to the severing or cutting action. It will also be manifest that the spring 34 will permit the plunger to descend the remainder of its downward stroke after the rack bar 30 and the feeding mechanism have been stopped so as to permit the stamp to be affixed or pressed against the envelop or post-card.

With a machine of the present character, it is preferable to provide the stamps in strips of any suiiicient length, and for this reason, there has been provided a reel 39 mounted on a removable axle or spindle 40 in rear of the feed rollers, the strips of stamps being preferably rolled on the reel 39 as indicated by the numeral 41. It will be evident that the reel may be removed when the strip of stamps has become exhausted, so as to supply the device with a new roll of stamps.

In operation, the strip of stamps is threaded from the reel 39 between the feed rollers and then into the slot 20 over the shear blade 19. Then, by placing the envelop or post card properly on the base by projecting it below the moistener 11, the corner of the envelop or post card will be dampened or moistened and will project over the anvil block 6. The plunger may then be readily depressed by striking the head or knob 15. It will be apparent, that when the head or knob 15 is depressed, the rack bar 30 will be depressed therewith so as to rotate the upper feed roller 22, thereby causing the stamp to be projected below the plunger and over the corner of the envelop or post card. When the strip of stamps has been sufliciently fed forwardly, the lower end of the rack bar 20 will strike the stop screw 37, and the motion of the strip of stamps will be retarded or arrested. The plunger, however, will continue its downwardmovement or stroke, the shear blade 18 severing the stamp so that the plunger will carry the stamp downward into position on the moistened envelop or post card. The stamp is thus affixed, and after the head or knob 15 has been released, the envelop may be removed, the plunger and rack bar returning to initial or normal position by means of the springs 16 and 34:. The upward movement of the rack bar 30 will not affect the feed rollers inasmuch as the reverse movement of the pawl or dog 28 will simply cause the same to ride or glide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 29. The feed rollers will rotate in unison in opposite directions due to the fact that the strip of stamps passes tightly therebetween, or in practice, the feed rollers will be in contact and will preferably be suitably constructed of friction material to prevent slipping. The present machine may therefore be employed for aflixing stamps to envelops, post cards and the like with ease and despatch.

The advantages of the present device will be apparent to those versed in the art, it being noted that the objects aimed at have been carried out satisfactorily, and that the present device provides a desirable one for the purposes for which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In a stamp affixing machine, a spring returned plunger, means for feeding a strip of stamps below the plunger, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a member operatively connected to the feeding means and yieldably connected to the plunger, and an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the said member.

2. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, an anvil block thereinunder, means for feeding a strip of stamps below the plunger and including a gear, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a rack bar meshing with the said gear, a connection between the plunger and rack bar for yieldably depressing the rack bar with the plunger and for raising the rack bar with the plunger, and a stop for limiting the movement of the rack bar.

3. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, an anvil block thereinunder, means for feeding a strip of stamps below the plunger and including a gear, cut ting means actuated by the plunger, a member movable with the plunger, 'a rack bar meshing with the said gear and slidably engaging the said member, means for yieldably moving the rack bar with the said member, and a stop for limiting the move ment of the rack bar.

4. In a stamp affixing machine, a spring returned plunger, means for feeding a strip of stamps below the plunger including a gear, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a spindle carried by the plunger, a rack bar meshing with the said gearand having a pair of eyes loosely embracing the spindle, a coiled wire spring compressibly disposed between the spindle and the lower eye, and a stop for limiting the downward movement of the rack bar.

5. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, a pair of feed rollers, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a rack bar yieldably connected to the plunger, an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the rack bar, a gear meshing with the rack bar, a ratchet wheel secured to one of the rollers, and a pawl actuated by the-gear and cooperating with the ratchet Wheel to advance the roller.

6. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, a pair of feed rollers, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a rack bar yieldably connected to the plunger, a pair of shafts on which the rollers are loosely mounted, a gear wheel mounted on one shaft and meshing with the rack bar, a gear secured on the other shaft and meshing with the'aforesaid gear, an arm secured to the latter shaft, a spring pressed pawl carried by the arm, a ratchet wheel secured to one of the rollers and cooperating with the pawl, and a stop for the rack bar;

7. In a stamp aflixer, a spring returned stamp affixing plunger, means for feeding a strip of stamps below the plunger, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a pair of slidably connected members, one member being movable with the plunger and the other member being operatively connected with the feeding means, a spring disposed between the said members for yieldably advancing the last mentioned member when the plunger is depressed, and a stop for limiting the movement of the last mentioned member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS C. LANPHEAR.

ESTHER BURBANK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

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