US1372908A - Envelop-moistener - Google Patents

Description

D. C. ROGERS.

ENVELOP MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIB, I920.

l,3?2,9 Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

DANIEL C. ROGERS, OF DE WII'T, MISSOURI.

ENVELOP-MOISTENER.

Application filed May lS, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL C. Roenns, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of De Witt, county of Carroll, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop- Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an envelop moistener.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of envelop moisteners and to provide a simple, practical and efficient device of strong and inexpensive construction, capable of enabling envelops to be rapidly moistened and sealed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an envelop moistener of this character adapted to receive a stack of envelops with their gummed flaps in extended position, and capable of automatically moistening the gummed areas of the envelops as they are successively removed from the stack, whereby the envelops may be rapidly sealed and held one upon the other so that the moistened envelops will dry and be properly and effectively sealed during the operation of removing the envelops from the machine and closing them.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelop moistener constructed .in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the moistening device being supported on an elevated position to permit a stack of envelops to be arranged upon the base; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Serial No. 382,379.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View illustrating the construction of the moistening device and the manner of slidably mounting the same.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the envelop moistener, which is designed for moistening envelops, bulletins and the like, comprises in its construction a base 1 provided at the back with a socket 2 receiving the lower end of a vertical standard 3 and preferably consisting of a plate having its terminal portions 4 secured to the rear edge of the base and provided with an intermediate substantially U-shaped portion or bend forming the socket. The standard 3 is preferably rectangular in cross section, but it may be of any other desired shape, and it forms a vertical guide for a sliding sleeve 5 of a moistening device consisting of a horizontal casing 6 and a wick 7. The sliding sleeve is rigidly connected with the casing by means of arms 8 diverging forwardly from opposite sides of the sliding sleeve and connected at its front ends to the horizontal casing 6 at opposite sides of the center thereof.

The casing 6, which has angularly related portions diverging forwardly to conform to the general configuration of the gummed portions of the flap of an envelop is composed of a top wall, side walls and end walls, and it is open at the bottom to permit the wick 7 which may be constructed of any suitable absorbent material, to extend slightly below the open bottom of the casing for engaging and moistening the flaps of the envelops. The casing constitutes a W101i holder and the envelops are designed to be placed in a pile or stack upon the base with their flaps open or extended toward the standard and in position for enabling the moistening device to rest upon the flap of the top envelop of the pile or stack. The envelops are adapted to be rapidly pulled from the top of the pile and are drawn outward to'cause the moistening device to have a wiping action on the gummed portion of the flap for moistening the adhesive material. The envelop as it is removed is closed and transferred to the left hand and the operation may be rapidly continued until a number of envelops have been moistened and sealed. The holding of the envelops in the left hand during this opera tion will permit the flaps to stick and cause the envelops to be properly and effectively sealed. It will be clear that the envelops may be moistened and closed and sealed as rapidly as they can be jerked from the stack or pile upon the base of the envelop moistener.

The wick holding casing is provided at the center with a short upwardly extending nipple or tube 9, to which is connected the lower end of a flexible tube 10 which extends upwardly to a tank or container 11 for supplying the moistening device with water.

The tank or container 11 which is provided with an inverted rectangular socket 12 to fit over the upper end of the standard, is provided at the bottom with a depending outlet tube or nipple 13 for coupling the upper end of the flexible tube to the tank orcontainer. The ends of the flexible tube are fitted over the short metal tubes of the moistening device and the tank or container and the said flexible tube is adapted to permit the moistening device to slide'upwardly and downwardly on the said vertical standard or guide. The tube 13 is preferably provided with a cock or valve 14 for controlling the feed of water from the tank or container to the moistening device and the said tank or container is preferably arranged in rear of the vertical standard 3, as illustrated in the drawings, but it may be in any other desired position, as will be readily understood. The inverted socket 12 forms a cap for the standard and is detachably fitted on the same to enable the tank or container to be readily removed ing an eye 17 at the upper end through' which passes a suitable headed pivot 18 preferably mounted on the cap or socket 12 at one side thereof. The latch hangs in a position for engaging beneath one of the horizontal connecting arms of the moistening device and it is adapted to hold the moistening device in the elevated position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. lVhen the envelops, or other articles to be moistened,

are arranged in proper position from the base, the moistening devlce is released and permitted to descend and rest upon the flap of the top envelop. The envelops are then adapted to be removed from the stack or pile, as before explained, and the moistening device will automatically descend and successively moisten the flaps of the envelops of the said pile or stack.

What is claimed is 1. An envelop moistener provided with a moistening device movable upwardly and downwardly and having angularly related portions conforming to the configuration of the tapered gummed portion of an envelop, said moistening device being provided at the bottom with a wick adapted to rest upon the flap of an envelop, and means for supplying the moistening device with water.

2; An envelop moistener including a vertically movable moistening device having angularly related side portions arranged to conform generally to the configuration of the tapered gummed area of an envelop, means for guiding the moistening device in its vertical movement, and means for supplyin the same with water.

3. n envelop moistener including a vertical standard, a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the standard, a moistening device connected with and carried by the slide and having. a wick arranged to rest upon the flaps of a stack or pile of envelops, and means for supplying the moistening device with water.

4. An envelop moistener including a vertical standard, a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the standard, a moistening device connected with and carried by the slide and having a wick arranged to rest upon the flaps of a stack or pile of envelops, a tank or container mounted upon the stand ard at the upper portion thereof, and a flexible tube connecting the tank or container with the moistening device.

5. An envelop moistener including avver tical standard, a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the standard, a moistening device connected with and carried by the slide and having a wick arranged to rest upon the flaps of a stack or pile of envelops, a tank or container provided with a cap or inverted socket fitted on the standard, and a flexible tube connected with the tank or container and with the moistening device for supplying the latter with water.

6. An envelop moistener including a vertical standard, a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the standard, a moistening device connected with and carried by the slide and having a wick arranged to rest upon the flaps of a stack or pile of envelops, and a latch located at the upper portion of the standard and arranged to support the moistening device in an elevated position.

7. An envelop moistener including a vertical standard, a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the standard, a moistening device connected with and carried by the slide and having a wick arranged to rest upon the flaps of a stack or pile ofenvelops, a tank or container having a cap or socket fitted on the upper end of the standard, a latch connected with the tank or container and extending downwardly therefrom and arranged to support the moistening device in an elevated position, and a flexible tube connecting the tank or container with the moistening device.

8. A moistening device comprising a base,

a standard arising from the base, a sleeve slidabie on the standard, a moistening device having a Wick and arranged to rest upon the flaps of a stack or pile of envelops or the like, arms connecting the moistening device with the sleeve, a superimposed tank or container, and a flexible tube connected With the tank or container and With the moistening device for supplying the latter With Water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of May, 1915.

DANIEL C. ROGERS.

Images