US945838A - Envelop-sealing and stamp-affixing machine. - Google Patents

Description

" E. J. BRASSBUR.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI 1.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 1908.

ATTORNEY -E. J. BRASSEUR. ENVBLOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1908.

Patented Jan 11, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 1 @j zaw Y ATTORNEY E. J. BRASSEUR. ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFI'IXING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 1];

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 1908.

WITNESSES:

ATTOR N EY E. J. BRASSEUR.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 190B. 945,838 Patented Jan. 11,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' ATTORNEY E. J. BRASSEUR.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP. AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.14, 1908- 945,838. Patented Jan. 11,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNSSESQ ATTORNEY I Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of f man smar PM Mm Eaimsr .nanassana, or cnrc'aeo, Immors, ias sxeuoa To an. nick COMPANY." OF

cnrcae rrrmors, a coaroaarroi ror mentors.

ceases;

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Ennns'r JQBnAssnnn, a subject of the King of Belgium, residing at Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Im roveinent in Envelop-Sealmg and xing Machines, of which the-fol Stamp-A lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for sealing envelops and aihxing stamps thereto,--

More specifically, the invention relates to. machines for this purpose of the type dise.

closed in an application filed by me March 23, 1 907, and serially numbered 364,125, One object of the invention is to provide an envelop-sealing and stamp-affixing ma chine having a provision for adjustment whereby the stamps may be affixed to the envelops in the desired position with relation to the edges of the envelope; with such anadjustment, themachine may be used to afiix stamps to envelops of different sizes and the stamps affixed in all cases at the desired distance from the upper edge of the envelop.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a machine of. this type that when I the operation of atlixing stamps to envelope is started the affixing of av stamp to the first envelop to be fed forward is assured and the forwarding of a stamp before an en-' velop is imposition to receive it is avoided.

A further object of the invention is to so improve the construction of machines of this type as to secure greater reliability and'efliciency in operation and to permit the machine to be run at comparatively high speed by an unskilled operator.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central section of the machine on line .11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a top view broken away in part; Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the machine with the side-frame broken away in part; Fig. 4

is a detail view hereinafter referred to; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of the operating mechanism; Fig. 6 is an end view 0 the machine broken away in part; Fi s. 7

8 and 9 are detail views of ortions o the stainp-afifixing mechanism, t e line of the section of F g. 8 being line 8-8 of Fig. 7

. and Fig. 10Jis a detail view showing a difi'erent' position of certain of the parts shown in Fi l.

viiivvnnor shamans am mea t me mammav ferring to these drawings the machine "Patented-Jan. 11. 1am;

.consistsof a. fib '1,"- l1p0n which are mouiit edj 'si.de-fraines' 2 and 2'5; practically all? of. the operating parts] of'z th'e machineare 10- cate'd betweenthese 1-side-ffranies-.;;andare mounted thereon; The; .iinsealed'. envelops so are placed upon atr'ay etaried by anlaugle-l piece-,4 provided with -an-, upwardly extend- ,ing arm '5' adapte d to{be-movedj vertically between guides 6 formed on; the inner side 7 of the side fra'me 2. A. sorew Tjhviiig; a 6:5

lrnurled; head extendsthrough an opening 111 the side-frame 2. anda slot'in the arm 5 to secure the 'tray'3zin any desired j o sition -ofverticaladjustments-The unsea' ed e'nvelops are moved forwardly over thetray j'o- ,3 by a pusher 8 which is actuated by. a lazy tongs consisting'of two-pairs of .-'c'rossed' levers and 1 01 The arrangement of these levers lS'SllOWIl in dotted lines'in --F.ig. 2.

The'levers 10 are pivotally connected by .175

stud l1 which extends downwardly through a slot lntray 3 and has one endof a spring 12 connected thereto, the other end of. the

spring being secured to the piece 4:. As will .be readily understood, this spring acts onto the levers 9 and 10 to draw them toward a position of parallelism, and thusforce the pusher 8 forwardly over thetra'y'B. In

order to hold the pusher in inoperative position, as when placing unsealed .envelops-" upon the tray 3, a stud 8 is fixed to the pusher and is'adapted tobe received-and held in a notch formed in a piece 12 eX-; tending upwardly from the tray3 at the q' rear edge thereof. The pusher acts to press the unsealed envelo s against a plate =13 at the forward end 0. tray 3. This plate extends buta short distance above the surface of tray 3, except at one end thereof, where it is extended, as indi ted at let, Fig. 6, tocoact with one endof -h e forward envelop on tray 3 to support t e latter in a vertical position. A second end-supportingplate 15 (Fig. 6) is adapted tc siideback and forth upon the stop-plated?) to coact with the opposite end of the forward envelop, thc provision for adjustment of this plat-opermitting coaction thereof with the ends of" envelops of different sizes.

Extending between the side-frames is a 10 rod on which are mounted two levers 16 4 having a flap-turningmember 17 pivotally recanted upon the freeends thereof, this member being acted upcn by a spring 1:8

(Fig. 6) to press its free edge against the 1 1 forward envelop on the tray 3. At one end, member 17 vcarries a'roller 19 adapted to ride on the plate, 13 and a cam 20 fixedthereto in order to ive the desired movement to the upper e ge ofthe flap-turning member 17 as the latter is reciprocated. One of the levers supporting the flap-turning member 17 is connected by a link 21 with a gear 22 mounted on a stub-shaft projecting inwardly from the side-frame 2, this gear meshing with a pinion 23 mounted on a power-shaft 24. 'lhis shaft is driven in any suitable manner, as by means of an electric motor or the hand-wheel 25 shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Gear 22 also meshes with a pinion 26 loosely mounted on a shaft 27 journaled in bearings formed on the side-frames, and this pinion meshes with a gear 28 loosely mountedon a stub-shaft projecting inwardly from the side-frame 2.. Loosely suspended from this stub-shaft and from a similar stub-shaft projecting inwardly from the side-frame 2 by means of arms 29, (Figs.

'1, 3 and 4), is a-frame 29 in which two forwarding-rollers 30 and 31 are journaled, the shaft of the roller 30'carrying a pinion 30 which. meshes with the gear 28. Each of these rollers has a plurality of circumferential grooves therein, and endless belts 31 run in the grooves of these rollers, their outer faces being flush with the faces of the rollers.

Directly opposite the roller 30, is a. forwardingroller 32 mounted in bearings formed in the side-frames, the shaft of this roller carrying a pinion 32 which meshes with an idler-pinion 33, this pinion also meshing with the gear 28. Roller 32 is also provided with circumferential grooves, for a purpose hereinafter mentioned. The pinion meshes with a gear 34 secured upon a shaft 35 mounted for rotation in bearings formed in the side- frames 2 and 2, and this shaft carries a cam 36 against which bears a roller 36 carried by links 37, 37, the link 37 being pivotally connected at one end to one of the arms 29 and the link 37 being pivotally mounted on a stud projecting inwardly from the side-frame 2. A- spring 38 secured at one end to theframe 29 and at the other to the side-frame 2, so as to hold the roller 36 against the surface of cam 36.

An upper forwarding-roller 39 is mounted for rotation in arms 39 loosely mounted on the stub-shaft which carries the gear 28 and the similar stub-shaft on the other side of themachine, and the shaft of this roller carries a gear 40 meshing with the gear 28. The arms 39 carrying this roller are connected by a barg4l, which is acted upon by a sprin 41 secured on a rod extendin between the side-frames to turn roller 39 about its pivotal axis and carry it into engagement with a second upper forwarding-roller 42, which. is mounted for rotation in stationary bearings supported on the side-frames. The

shaft of roller 42 also carries a gear 43 which I carrying the gear 28 and the other upon the similar'stub-shaft on the other side of the machine.

The pusher consists of a bar, to which the reference 44 is applied in the drawings, extending across the machlne as shown in F 1g.

6; the bar is shown in section in Fig. 1; it'

is provided with a plurality of integral fingers extendingupwardly and downwardly therefrom, as shown at 44 in Fig. 6, and the ends of the downwardly extending fingers of this pusher are adapted to lie between the sections of the forwarding-roller 42 when the pusher 44 is in the rearward position,

this position being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the pusher is turned about its pivotal support, it 1noves.the envelop which is then in front of it onto the receiving tray 45 for the sealed en'velops. The edge of this tray is provided with a plurality of slots, as shown at 46 in Fig. 2, into which the downwardly extending arms of pusher 44 may pass.

Adjacent to the edge of tray 45 are a plurality of openings, in each of which is mounted a hinged member 46, (Figs. 1 and 2) acted upon by a spring to hold it yieldingly in a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The hinges 46 lie opposite the spaces between the downwardly extending arms on the pusher 44. lVhen pusher 44 moves an envelop onto tray 45, the lower edge of the envelop engages the hinged members 46 and turns those members on their pivots until they pass mto the openings, 1n

tray 45, and as the envelop passes beyond the hinged members they spring up into the vertical position again, so that when the pusher 44 is withdrawn the envelop will be held against backward movement at its lower edge by the hinges 46. The upper edge of the envelop will be held by vertically ad-' justable, inclined stop-fingers 47, which extend between the upwardly extending fingers of the pusher 44. These fingersare carried by a bar 48, which is adapted to slide vertically on posts 49. Each of these posts has a rack 49 formed therein, with which meshes a pinion 50 carried by a rod 51 mounted for rotation in bearings formedon the bar 48. A knurled thumb-nut 52 is secured on the end of rod 51 for operating the latter, and

the rod-may have a friction wheel 52? secured thereon to hold the rod against unintended movement.

Mounted on tray is a yieldin stop 53 adapted to slide over the surface 0 the tray and to hold-the envelops in an upright posito draw them to aposition of parallelism,

and thus press the stop 53 overthe surface of tray 45 with a yielding pressure. In order to hold the stop 53 in the rearward position, to permit of more readily removing the sealed envelops, a latch 55 is secured thereon and adapted to coact with the up turned edge 55 of tray 45.

Mounted for rotation on a stationary stub shaft 56 projecting inwardly from the sideframe 2, is a gear. 57, which meshes with the gear 34 on shaft 35. Shaft 56 also carries a mutilated gear 58fixed to gear 57 and adapted to mesh with a gear 59 loosely mounted on a stub-shaft projecting inwardly from the side-frame 2. Secured to the mutilated gear 58on shaft 56, is a stop-disk 59', with which coiiperates a disk 60 secured to one face of the gear 59 and provided with a single tooth 60 adapted to lock gear 59 against rotation except when the teeth of the mutilated gear 58 are coacting with those of gear 59. A link 61 (Fig. 3) is pivotally connected to gear 59 eccentjrically, and at its other end is pivotally connected to one of the arms 45 carrying the pusher 44. This arm is also connected by a link 61 to the free end of a crank 62 (Fig. 1) secured to the shaft 27, and the other end of shaft 27 carries a similar crank 62 (Fig. 3), which is linked in a similar in: nner to the other arm 45 carrying the pushei 44, so that both ends of pusher 44 move together. v

The envelops are forwarded, fiap' foremost, vertically upward, between the lower forwarding- rollers 30 and 32, and pass up along the face of a plate 63, which is pivotally mounted on arms 63 depending from an auxiliary frame 64. To this plate is piv otally connected one end of a link 65, in the other end of which is a slot throu h which the shaft 35 passes, and a stud 65 on this link bears upon the periphery of a cam 66 -fixed on shaft 35. The lower edge of plate 63 is provided with teeth which project into the circumferential groovesin theroller 32. as indicated in Fig. 1, .and a spring 66 bears against a pin on link 65, this spring acting on the link to hold the stud 65 always in contact with the surface of cam 66. As tlle envelop moves upwardly in front of plate 63, the latter is moved by cam 66 vto the position in which it is shownin Fig. 10

and guides the flap of the envelop between two . rollers 67 and 68. The two positions of these rollers and of plate 63 are shown in Figs. 1 and 10.

Roller 67 is provided with an absorbent surface and is mounted for rotation in bearings carried by a moistener-frame 67 mounted on a cross-bar 68. This moistener consists of a receptacle for water as shown in Fig. 1 and a support for a wick 64 which feeds the water to the .moistening-roller 67. On the endof the shaft of-roller 67 is a pinion 69 (Fig. 3), which meshes with an idler-' gear 69' mounted on a stub-shaft extending inwardly from the side-frame 2" and meshing with a gear 70 on 'the end of the shaft of the lower forwarding-roller 32 opposite the end car ing'the pimon 32. The roller 68 is journa e'd 1n arms 71, which are pivot-' ally mounted upon the auxiliary frame 64, and one of these arms ispivotally connected to one end of a link'72, the other end of which is provided with a slot through which the shaft of gear 22 passes. On'this shaft is mounted a cam 73 whichcoa'cts with a pin 73 on link 72 to turn arms 71 about their pivots and thus position the roller 68. A spring 7 2 (Fig. 10) bears on one of the arms 71 and tends to turn it in the direction to hold stud 73 against the surface of .cam 73.

Roller 68 is not positively driven but isro-v tated when carried into coaction With a roller 74 mounted parallel thereto in bearings carried by the side-frames. The shaft of-this roller .carriesta gear 74 (Fig. 3) which meshes with an idler-gear 75 mounted on a stub-shaft projecting inwardly from the side-frame 2. This gear is adapted to mesh intermittently with amutilated gear 76, and a stop-plate 76 is secured to one face of mutilated gear 76 and coacts with a disk 77 provided with a single tooth and secured to oneface of gear 75 to hold the gear 75 against rotation except when the teeththereof are engaged by the teeth of mutilated gear 76. j j

An adjustment is provided for a purpose hereinafter set forth whereby the position .of

shaft 35 during the period of rest when the tooth on disk 77 is in coaction with stop plate 7 6" .may be regulated as desired. This is effected by arranging gear 76 and plate 7 6' in any suitable manner so that they may looked upon the shaft when the proper position has been determined. In the construction illustrated, the gear 76 and plate 7 6 are loose on shaft 35 and at the side of gear 76 is a disk 78 (Fig. 5,) which is secured to 25 shaft 35. On the other side of disk 78 is an arm 79 projecting from .a collar which-is .be turned on shaft 35 as desired and then this bolt enters a threaded opening in the arm 79. In the side-frame 2 is an opening located in such a position that a wrench may be inserted through this opening to en- .age the head of bolt 80, and the opening "or bolt 80 through gear 7 6 is so positioned that when the bolt is opposite this opening in the side-frame 2 the teeth of mutilated gear 76-a're notin engagement with the teeth of gear 75. Shaft 35 passes through the bearing therefor in side-frame2, and on its end carries a plate 81 provided with a plurality of scale markings as shown in Fig. 3,

these marksbeing labeled, as shown in Fig. 3, to indicate different widths of envelops, and coacting with amark on the frame.

Loosely mounted on shaft 27 is a sleeve 82 (Fig. 1), on which are a plurality of arms .83, which project inwardly of the machine and into the path of the envelops. At one end sleeve 82 isprovided with a'crank 83' I (Fig. 3) and a spring 8st secured to the sideframe 2 bears on a pin 84 fixed to crank 83 to turn-the sleeve in a direction to carry the ends of the.arms 83 downwardly upon the upper edge of an advancing envelop. Such movement of arms 83 is arrested either by a finger secured to one of the arms so carrying the. envelop-pusher 14 or by the lower end of an arm 86 depending from the bar 48 which carries the fingers 1-7.

As thus constructed, the pile of unsealed envelops is placed upon the tray 3 as above described and pressedforwardly overthe same by. the pusher 8.

The envelops are held against edgewise movementin one direction by the uptur.ned edge of tray 3, shown at- 87 in Fig. 2, and in ,the other direction by a guide 88- depending from a rod 33 extending between the side-franies of the machine and secured in any position. The fore-- upon rod 88' by a set-screw 89. most envelop of the pile is thus pressed against the plate 13 and one end of theenvelop is supported by the extension 14 and the other by plate 15, the latter having been moved to such a position on plate 13 that it coactswith the end of the envelop. The

drive-shaft 24 is then rota-ted bythe means, provided for that purpose and operates to' reciprocate the flap turning member 17 through the The drive-shatt also operates by means of gears 22 and 26 to rotate the gear 28, and I gear 22,- link 21 and arms 16.

eaasss thereof. As the flap in its turning move-- ment approaches the plane of the body portion of. the envelop, the rollers 30 and 31 have been moved away from the roller 32 by the cam 36 on shaft 35, and the flap is caught by the belts 31 which are then in inotion and which with the member 1'1 serve to turn the flap until it lies in the plane of the body portion of the envelop. Cam 36 then allows rollers 30 and 31 to be drawn by spring 38 to the left in Fig. lv until the flap of the envelop is caught between rollers 30 and 32 andxthe entire envelop .is forwarded vertically upward, flap foremost. At this time, the rotation of shaft causes cam 66 to turn the plate 63 about its pivotal axis to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 10, and cam 73' on the shaft of gear 22 turns roller 68 about its pivotal axis to the position in which it is shown in Fig.10. Plate 63 thus serves to guide the flap of the envelop between roller 68 and the roller 67 mounted on the frame of the moistener. Roller 67 is continuously rotated by means of gears 69, 69, 70, 32, 33 and 28, in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the flap of the envelop asit passes over roller 67, and as the surface of this roller is kept moistened by wick 64 the gummed portion of the flap of the envelop is thoroughly moistened. As soon as the end of the flap passes under roller 68, the latter is moved to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 by spring 72, cam 7 3 permitting this movement, and roller 68 when in this position insures goodcontact of the gummed portion of the flap with the moisteningroller 67. As roller 68 movesthus, plate 63 is moved back to its original position, as shown in Fig. 1,-by springs 66, such movement being permitted bycam 66, so that as the'body portion of the envelop is fed upwardly by rollers 30, 32, it passes along the face of plate 63 and between rollers 68 and 74, the naturaltendency of the flap to turn relatively to the body portion of the envelop, together with the relative positions of the several rollers after roller 68 has been moved to the right, insuring the passage of the body of the envelop between rollers; 68 and 74, rather than between rollers 68 and 67,

- fol-lowing the flap.

The shape of cam 73 is such that roller 68 remains in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 but a short time and is immediately movedback' to a position in which the envelop is grasped between it and roller 71. Just before the envelop is grasped between rollers 68 and T4, the ends of the fingers 33 come down upon the upper edge of the envelop .to arrest it momentarily in its passage through the machine and insure proper positioning of the envelop 1n the machine with its upper and lower edges horizontally disposech This movement of 'is loose on a shaft 99, one end of which is journaled in a bearing in the side-frame 2 and the other end of which is supported by the end of the stationary stub-shaft 56. Secured on the end of shaft 99'is a plate 99, through which extends a pin 100 on the clutch-member 98 adapted to be, engaged by a stud 101 on the face of the gear 57. A cam 102 is also formed on this face of the gear. A roller 103 is carried by the floating clutch-lever 97 and is adapted to ride on the cam 102. The loose clutch-member 98 is pressed-in the direction of the axis of shaft 99 by a spring 104 coiled on that shaft, and this spring is considerably stronger than the spring 96 which positions the stud 96. A cam 105 is secured on shaft 99 and coacts with a roller 106 carried by a link 107 which is provided with a slot through whichthe shaft 99 extends as shown in Fig. 9. The other end of link 107 is connected to a link 108 which is loose on a shaft 109, this shaft being journaled in bearings one formed in the side-frame 2 and the other in an auxiliary frame 110 secured to the side-frame The pivot connecting links 107 and 108 also carries a pawl 111 which is adapted to coact with the teeth of a ratchet 112. secured on shaft 109. This ratchetwheel 112 is provided with ten teeth extending around one half of its circumference and the other half of the wheel is smooth.

A lever 113 is pivotally mounted upon the auxiliary frame 110 and provided I with a stud 114 which enters .a cam-groove formed in a sleeve. 115 secured upon the shaft 109. The free end of lever 113 is bifurcated and the bifurcated ends extend into a circumferential groove in a. clutch-member 110 which is splined on shaft 99. This clutch-member carries a stud 117 adapted to engage a stud 118 on one face of a mutilated gear 119, the teeth of which extend around one-half of its circun'iference. This gear is adapted to mesh with a similar mutilated gear 120 secured on shaft 109, the teeth of thegears 119 and 120 coming into mesh as the pawl 111 coacts with the last of the ten teeth on the ratchet-wheel 112. The mutilated gear 119 is also-provided with bevel-gear teeth 121 on one of its faces, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

Formed on a sleeve which is integral with gear 119 and loose on shaft 99 in a ram 122 actuated by cam 122. the disk precluding movement of block 123 except at the proper time. Also mounted on shaft 99 is a sectorgear 125 and a stop-disk 126. The end of .shaft 109 extends through its bearing in frame 2 and has a disk 127 secured thereto, this disk being provided with scale markings as shown in Fig. 3 and the frame adja cent to the disk having a cooperating mark thereon.

The stamps to'be aflixed are fed from sheets consisting of ten rows of stamps and ten stamps in each row. These sheets are placed upon a tray 128 (Fig. 2) and positioned by an adjustable guide 129. A plate 130 is adapted to move over this plate and at its forward edge is provided with a plurality of projecting fingers spaced apart as shown. Pivoted on plate 130 is a plate 131 having corresponding fingers at its edge overlying the fingers of plate 130, this plate being acted on by a. spring to hold the two lines of fingers in engagement. Plate 130 is secured on a support 132 (Fig. 8) adapted to slide on a rod 133 extending between the side-frames and a link 134 is connected at one end to this support 1 nd at the other is pivoted eccentrically to the upper face of a bevel-gear 135 adapted to mesh with the mutilated bevelgear 121,,the teeth of these gears being such that one revolution of mutilated gear 121 efi'ects one revolution of gear 135.-

Mounted for rotation upon the innerside of a plate 136 (Fig. 8) secured to frame 2' are a plurality of rollers 137 shaped as shown in Fig. 8 and each having a gear 138 formed on the end thereof. Between each pair of adjacent gears 138 is an idlergear 139 meshing therewith so that all the rollers rotate in unison. The shaft of the forward-roller 137 is extended through plate 136 and carries a gear meshing with a gear 140 which meshes with a'. gear 141, and secured to this gear is a stop-disk 142 having two teeth as shown. Gear 141 is adapted to.

be engaged and rotated by mutilated gear 125 and the stop-plate coiiperates with disk 14-2 to preclude rotation of gear 141 except when it is so engaged.

Directly underlying each of the rollers 137 is a simih'irroller 143, each of these rollers being carried by a small bell-crank frame 144 pivoted on plate 130. Each of the rollers 143 has a gear formed thereon meshing with the gear 138 of the roller 137 directly overlying it. Springs 14-5 are arranged to act on the bell-cranks 144 to turn them in a direction to carry the rollers 143 into engagement with the rollers 137. The

4 downwardly extending endof each of the ---148' may be so supported as bell-cranks 144 enters a notch in a bar 146 (Figs. 7 and 8),which is secured to the sliding block'123. A

" through these grooves 0 posit'e the line of engagement of the sets 0 rollers to reclude a stamp-strip from moving latera ly and being caught in the gearing.

On the endof shaft 109 is a crank 149' (Fig. 5) connected by a link 150 to a sectorframe which supports shaft Gear 151 mes gear 151 (Fi es with a pinion 15.2 which, with a gear 153, ismounted on a stub-shaft, and gear 153 meshes with a pinion on a shaft 154 which, near the other side of the machine, carries a bevel-gear 155 meshing with a bevel-pinion 156 on a shaft 157 mounted.

for rotation in hearings in a suitable auxiliary frame as'shown in Fig. 1. Shaft 157 has a spiral groove cut therein as shown and extends through an opening 'in'a block 158, this block being provided with a stud enter- 7 ing the spiral groove so that rotation of the shaft causesmovement of the bloekraxially thereon. Block 158 has a cutting roller 159 mounted for rotation in a bearing thereon, the shaft of which carries a pinion 160 meshing with a'rack 1.61 secured to the'auxiliary upwardlyTfirom the upper end of block'158 s an arm carrying an upper cutting-roller 162 adapted to coact with roller 159.

The side-frame2 is'formed to provide a support for a removable moistener 163 Figs. 1 and 3) for the gummed surface of the stamps. This moistener comprises two rollers 164 and 165, preferably provided with rubbersurfaces, mounted for rotation iubearings in the frame of the moistener, the surfaces ofthese rollers being in contact and the roller 164 being partially immersed in water in a trough at the bottom of the moistener. Guide-rollers 165 and 166 are also mounted for rotation in bearings formed in the frame of the nioistener. These rollers are all geared to a stub-shaft 167 (Fig. 2) carrying a gear 168 (Fig. 3) and this stub-shaft is adapted to be connected to the shaft of the upper forwarding roller 42 by the clutch 169 (Fig. 2) when the moistener is slid into position. Then the moistener is in position, roller 16,5 lies directly under and coacts tion of the upper sectional forwardingroller 42 to forward a stamp and guide it downward between the moistening-roller 165 and the guide-rollers 166, a deflectorand a strip 1) pivoted on the frame 2.

157. Extending scribed.

with the end sec-- plate 170 in the moistener insuring proper movement of the stamp. The gain on the cumferential grooves, and is pressed onto an envelop-passing.between rollers-39 and 42 by the'end section of roller 42.

Mounted for rotation in suitable bearings is a shaft 1.71 (Fig. 5) on the end of which is secured a handle 172 (Fig.3) lying adjacent to the side-frame 2" Whichmay be suitably marked to indicate the three. positions of the handle and shaft; 0n the other end of shaft 171 is secured a lever 173, one end of which isadapted to coact with the end of the'stud 96 and the other end of which isadapted to engage the finger. 93. lVhen",

handle 172 is in the.

stud 96 as'sho'wn in Fig. against movement outwardly inits bearing 95. When handle 17 2' is moved -to-aniinter mediate position, lever 173is in the position shown in; Fig. 1, free of finger 93 and not obstructing the'movement of stud 96. When handle 1 72 is moved to the extreme left in Fig. 3, a projection on the lower end of lever 173 engages finger ,93 and preventsthe latter from being moved opposite the.

end of stud 96 so as to obstruct the movement of the latter. Asjgping 174 'coacts with lever 173 to holdit in t e first or'second of-the threepositions named; when in the third position the. spring is strained by the lever and as movement -'to this position strains spring 94 as. well' as soon as .it is released.

position-shown in Fig. I 3, the. end oflever l73is oppositethe end of. 5 and holds-the stud as spring 17 1, the lever will turn to the intermediate position A cyclometer register 175 is mounted on the I frame of the machine and connected in any only when a stamp is alfixe'd to an envelop. Preferably the gegister is so, inclosed within the frame of the machine that it cannot be the machine to affix stamps.

The operation of the mechanism for sealing the envelops has been above descritad.

The operation of the mechanism for affinhg the stamps to the envelops will now be de- The pile of sheets of stamps is placed upon tray 12S and the top sheet is passed forwardly until its edge is gripped, between the fingers at the edges of plates 130 and 131. The power-shaft is then rotated and the machine operated as above described. In each rotation of shaft 35, the feeler 90 will be reoiprm atcd by the cam 92, the" forward edge of the feeler either coming into engagement with the flap of an envelop or crossing the path of the envelop, its fingers passing between the belts 31.

The stopsuitable manner to the stamp-forwarding and afi'ixlng mechanlsm so as to be operated operated in-any Way otherthan by operating i the 'feeler 90 is restricted by the feeler coming into engagement with the flap of an envelop, the movement of stop finger 93 ceases before the end of the finger is opposite stud 90. Also, in the operation of the machine, the

gear 57 is continuously rotated, this gear being driven by the gear 34 on shaft During each rotation of gear 57, the roller 103 011 the floating clutch-lever 97 rides up on the cam 102 and the floating lever isthus moved about one or the other of its ends as.

a pivot.

The spring 104 on shaft-99 bearing against clutch-member 98 is considerably stronger than the spring 96 actuating the stud'96, and therefore if the stop-finger 93 is not opposite the end of stud 96 so as to limit the movement of the latter, when roller 103 rides on cam102, stud 96will 'be moved outwardly in its bearing, that is, to the right in Fig. 5, and the end of clutch-lever 97 connected to the clutch-member 98 will remain stationary. If, on the other hand, stop-finger 93 is opposite the end of stud 96, the stud will be held against movement'and cam 102 will act on lever 97 to cause the lever to move clutch-member 98 against the tension of spring 104 axially on shaft 99 to such extent that the pin 100 on clutch-member 98 will be moved out of the pathof the pin 101 on gear 57. Thus, in every case when the upward movement of fla1 )-turning member 17 does not result in the turning of the flap of an envelop and the movement of feeler 90 is not restricted by such flap, the stop-finger moves to a position opposite the end of stud.96 and cam 102 causes move mentof clutch-member 98 to carry pin 100 out of the path of pin 101, and in such case shaft 99 remainsat rest. If an envelop flap is turned, however, and the movement of feeler 90 is restricted, finger 93 permits movement of stud 96 when lever 97 is actuated by cam 102 and clutch-member 98 remains at rest, so that as gear 57 rotates, stud 101 engages stud 100, thereby locking gear 57 in driving relation to shaft 99, and shaft 99 makes one complete 1'6V0llll'lOIl f at the end of ,which the C()Illillll.lilIlQ-'()l discei'itinuance of its rotational movement will be 'overned. asbeforc bythe extent of movement of feeler 90.

Each time shaft 99 makes one revolution, the cam 105 thereon operates pawl 111 to coact with one of the teeth of ratchet-Wheel 112 and thus rotate shaft 199 one-twentieth of a revolution, such movement of shaft 109 taking place ten times in succession, so that the shaft is rotated one-half of a revolution.

gear 119 will turn with it. of shaft 109 which effects the axial move- When shaft 109 is moved thus by the coaction of pawl 111 with the last tooth of ratchet-wheel 112, the cam-groove in the sleeve 115 on shaft 109.actuates the lever 113 to move clutch-member 11G axially of shaft 99 until the stud 117 extends into the path of stud 118 on gear 119, and the next time'shaft 99 makes one complete revolution The movement ment of clutch-member 110 carries the mutilated gear 120 to such position that the teeth thereof will be engaged by the teeth of the gear 119, and therefore when gear 119 turns through one complete revolution with shaft 99, the mutilated gear 120 and the shaft 109 to which it is fixed will be turned through one-half of a revolution, thereby carrying ratchet-plate 112 around to the position in which pawl 111 may coa ct with the first of the series of teeth thereon. As gear 119 makes the one revolution above referred to, the bevel-gear teeth 121 thereon engage'the teeth of bevel-gear 135 and cause the latter to make one revolution, this move- 'ment of gear 135 operating through link 134 to move the plates 130 and 131,. between which a stamp-sheet is gripped, forwardly until the fingers at the edges of the plates lie between the rollers 137 and 143, and then back again to their original positions. Just as the rotation of gear 135 commences, .the cam 122 loose on shaft 99 and integral with gear 119 engages the block 123 and moves it and the bar 146 to which it is secured against the tension of spring 147, and bar 146 rocks each of the bell-crank levers 144 so as to carry the rollers 143 away from the rollers 137. The two lines of rollers remain separated thus until the plates 130 and 131 forward the edge of a stamp-strip between the two lines of rollers, whereupon cam 122 permits block 123 and bar 146 to be returned to their original positions by the springs 147 and 145, and rollers 143 are raised and grip the stamp-strip between them and rollers 137. Then as plates 130 and 131 are returned, the fingers thereof permitthe stampsheet to slide between them.

Preferably the mechanisn'i for operating the plates 130 and 131 is such that these plates are moved a little in excess of the amount necessary to feed the sheet the properamount and in thismovemeut the edge of the stamp-sheet engages the plate 143 and is buckled slightly thereby. When the two sets of'rollcrscome together on the end strip of the sheet, they push this excess back between the plates and smooth out the sheet, as in this way a uniform and reliable feeding of the stamp sheet is assured. lVhen block 123 is actuated by cam 122, its end is preferably carried into engagement with the periphery of disk 124 where the If desired, the bar 146 may be frictionally moved axially of shaft 99, and that shaft,

together with the entire stamp-affixing mechanism, will remain at rest. sired to operate the machine to afiix stamps to the envelops, it is important that all of the parts be brought to such positions that the first envelop to be fed through the machine will have a stamp affixed thereto and no stamp or stamps will be forwarded to the position for affixing before an envelop reaches that position. To do this, handle 172 is turned to the left in Fig. 3 tosuch position that the lower end oflever 173 on the shaft of handle 172 engages stop-finger 93 and holds it in a retracted position, so

i that the movement, of stud 96 is unobstructed. The machine is then operated, preferably atslow speed, and in each revolution of gear 57 the clutch-member 98 will be operated to connect the gear in driving relation to shaftv 99 and the shaft will rotate with the gear. In each rotation of shaft 99, shaft 109 is turned through one-twentieth of a revolution by the ratchet and pawl mechanism above described, until the disk 127 on the end of shaft 109 is brought to sucha position that the zero mark on the disk coincides with the mark on'the frame 2. adjacent to the disk. The block 158 on shaft 157 and the cutting- rollers 159 and 162 carried thereby are then at the left end of their range of movement, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. A sheet of stamps is then moved to the position in which its edge is gripped by the fingers on plates 130 and 131, a stack of envelops is placed'upon the tray 3, and operation of the machine may then be commenced.

[The first upward movement of flap-turning member 17 results in the turning of the flap of the foremost envelop, and in the first forward movement of feeler 90 the latter velop flap willhave its movement arrested by the enthis will result in the coupling of gear 57 in driving relation to shaft 99 and shaft 99 will make one complete revolumutilated-gear 119 will coact' with the mutilated gear 120,50 that shaft 109 will be turned through half a revolution. The following operations will then take placesuccessively Cam 122 will operatebar 146 to separate the two lines of rollers 137 and 143; mutilated bevel-gear 121 When it is de- 'tion and in each of movement between tinuously driven, I strip afiix it to the envelop gvlnch 1s insert the edge of the stamp-sheet between the two lines of rollers; cam l-22will-then allow-the two'lin'es of rollers to be brought together by springs145 and 147 to grip the? plates130-and 131 will/then be returiied to will move plates 130 and 13.1 forward. tef

1 end strip of'the stamp-sheet between them;

their original position," the 'hlock158 and the cutting-rollers operated by crank"' 149, .linkf150, sector- 151 and the gearin connectingthe sector to shaft 157, and t'ldecutting-rollerfl59 will-be rotated by the pinion -16 0-'a nd' rack 161, so

1592111 6162 will thenbe j '75 that the two cutting-rollers will cut the end strip of stamps from the sheet; mutilated gear 125 will engage thete'eth. ofjpinion 141, and by means of the gears .140, 139 and 138, all of the stamp-forwardingrollers 137 and 143 will be rotated a distance equal to.

the length of one stamp, and the cam-groove in sleeve115 will operate lever 113 to move clutch-member 116 to inoperative position.

The stamp fed forward in the movement of the rollers 137' and 143 will be grasped between the end-section of the upper forwardins -roller 42'and the roller 165, and as these rollers rotate continuously during. the opera-v tion of the machine, the stamp will be detached from the strip and forwarded-be tween them and. guided by deflector-plate' of which moistens the gummed surface of the stamp;-the stamp thus moistened'passes up between the two rollers l66'being guided I I until the block reaches its original position.

This return movement of the block and cut-' ting-rollers however, is effected in ten steps, since the half revolution of shaft 109 after mutilated gear-120 has passed out of engagement with gear 119 is effected in ten steps by the coaction of' pawl 111 with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 112. Each of .these ten steps is made as shaft- 99 makes one revoluthese revolutions, the sector ear 125 rotates the roller 137 and 143 su cient to 'feed the stampetrip a distancenequ'al to the length of one stamp. The

170 between rollers 166 and 165, the latter end stamp'of the strip is carried by this the roller and the end section of roller 42which, being consever the stamp. from the stamp-sheet being again automatically forwarded by plates 130 and 131 to insert the The timefwhen the rotation of this roller commences with relation to the operation left in Fig. 3 and holding it there, this mechthat movement of the stamps in the proper ofthat envelop, a wrench is inserted through l then in position between rollers-39 and 42 to receive it. When these ten stamps have been affixed, the operation is repeated, the

end strip between rollers 137 and 1A3, this strip being then severed from the sheet and fed forward by the rollers and the end s1 amp of the strip severed and. aflixed. The disk 127 marked ofi as indicated and coacting with a mark on the frame, thus serves as an indicator of the proper time for starting operations to insure the affixing of the, first stamp to the first envelop. l\ormally the feeler and parts connected thereto prevent the stamp-affixing mechanism from operating when no envelop flap is turned but by turning handle 172 to the position on the anism may be allowed to operate when no envelops are in position to coact with the flap-turning member so as to bring the first siamp to the position for starting without passing envelops through the machine; this position being indicated by the alining of the zero mark on diskl27 with the mark on the frame. Then handle l72fmay be released, the envelops positioned on tray 3 and theoperation started. The projection on the frame of the stamp-moistener which guides the stamps upwardly between the two rollers 166 preferably encircles the roller on the right in Fig. 1, the portion of the projection extending between the two rollers being disposed in one of the circumferential grooves in the roller 166 on the right, so

path is insured. 1

In machines of this t pe, it is important that a provision for a justment be made, whereby the stamps may be afiiXed to the envelops in various positions with relation to the edges thereof, so that the machine may be used to atlix stamps to envelops of various sizes and the stamps may be aihxed in every case at the same distance from the top edge of the envelop.v Such an adjustment is provided in the machine disclosed in this application by so arranging the mutilated gear 76 that it may be secured upon shaft 35 in any one of a plurality of positions. In passing through the machine the envelope pause as they are released by the lower forwardingrollers 30 and 31 and remain at rest momentarilyjn this position until the rotation of roller 74: commences.

of the other parts of the machine 15 determined by the position of mutilated ear 76 on shaft 35, since this geardrives r0 ler H.

To adjust the parts in order to vary the position at which a stamp will he attixed to an envelop with relation to the lower edge senses the opening in frame 2 when the head of bolt 80 is directly opposite that opening and the bolt is turned to loosen it. Then, without withdrawing the wrench, the powershaft 2st is operated a very slight amount, causing shaft 35 and the plate 78 secured thereto to turn while gear 76, stop-plate 76 and arm 79 remain stationary, a slot being provided in plate 78 to permit such relative movement. When these parts have been moved'relatively a sufficient amount, bolt 80 is tightened again to secure gear 76 and stop-plate 76' to plate 78 and shaft 35. this way, the time of rotation of roll 74 and the roll 68 cooperating therewith together with the envelop-sealing mechanism above those rolls may be adjusted with respect to the time of operation of the stamp-afiixing mechai'iism. In other words, the envelops in passing through the machine pause m0- mentarily while lying between the rolls 74 j and 68 and the length of this pause-may be adjusted by adjusting the time when roll 74 begins to rotate with relation tothe timeof operation of the stamp-affixing mechanism. Thus the distance between the stamp when affixed and the lower edge of the envelop may be adjusted as desired so that with envelops of diiferent sizes, the stamps may always be affixed at the same distance from the upper edges of the envelops. To facilitate such'an adjustment, plate 81 is provided on the end of shaft 35, this plate being marked off to indicate different widths of envelops. By loosening bolt 80, holding gear 76 and plate 76 stationary with a wrench coacting with bolt 80 and turning shaft 35, the mark corresponding tothe width of the envelops to be passed through the machine may be brought into alinement .with the mark on the frame and the parts may then be tightened up again. Then, on

operating the machine,- the stamps will be affixed at the proper distance from the upper edges of the envelops.

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

the envelope successively from the support,

means for forwarding the envelo'ps through the machine, means for aiiixing the-stamps.

envelops, and. meensfor' efiecting an adjustmentof the position in which the vmeans for effecting a fl adju'stment ofthe position in which the-stamp is affixed to the envelop with respect-to the'edges of the latter, substantially as described.

In a stamp-afiixing machine, means for forwarding the envelops, stamp-affixing mechanism, means for automatically controlling the operation of said mechanism, and means for effecting an adjustment of the position in which the stamp is affixed to the envelop with respect-to the edges of the envelope, substantially as described.

5. In a stamp aflixing machine, means for forwarding enevelops successively along a predetermined path, a support for a plu rality of stamps, means for feeding stamps successively from said support along a path intercepting said path for the envelops, a roller at the junction of said paths for rolling the stamps upon the envelops, and means for effecting an adjustment of the position in which the stampis affixed'to the envelop with respect to the edge thereof,

substantially as described.

6. In a combined envelop-sealing and stamp-affixing machine, means for forwarding the envelops through-the machine, a flap-moistener, means for sealing the envelop flaps, stamp-affixing mechanism, means for automatically controlling the operation of said mechanism, and means for effecting an adjustment of the position in which the stamp is ailixed to the envelop with respect to the edges of the latter, substantially as described.

7. In a combined envelop-sealing and stamp-affixing machine,.a support for a stack of envelops, a feeder for feeding the en velops successivelyfrom the stack, envelopforwarding means, a fiap-moistener, flapsealing devices. stamp-affixing mechanism ineluding a roller for rolling a stamp upon an envelop while the latter is in motion, means for automatically controlling-the operation of said mechanism, and means for effecting.

an adjustment of the position in which the stamp isafiixed to the envelop. with, respect to theflges of the latter, substantially as described.

8. In a stamp-aflixingmachine, a support for a pile of envelops, a fiap-turnlng member for turning the flaps of the envelops sue-f cessively, means for forwarding theenyelops stamp afiix-inp mechanism, means for coacting with the flapsof the en successively,

. to the time of operation of theother to adjust the po ition in which the stamp is affixed to the envelop with respect -to the edges of the latter, substantially as described.

-10. The combination of a support for a stack of envelops, a feeder for feeding the envelops successively from the support, envelop-forwarding means, means for aflixing stamps to theenvelops as they are forwarded by said forwarding means, a single means for operating the feeder, forwarding means and stamp-affixing means, and means for ef-' fecting an adjustment of the time of operation of said forwarding means with respect to the time of operation of the stamp-aifixing means, substantially as described.

11. A stamp-aiiixing-machine comprising.

means for forwarding envelops successively through the machine, each envelop pausing in its passage, means forailixing a stamp to each envelop while it is passing through the machine and after it has made said pause, and means for adjusting the length of said pause, substantially as described.

12. In a' stamp-aflixingmachine, an intermittently operated envelop forwarding roller, a stamp-aiiixing mechanism, means for operating said roller and said mechanism, and means for effecting an adjustment of the time of operation of said. roller with respect to the time of. operation of said stamp-afiixing mechanism, substantially as described.

13. The combination of means for forwarding envelops successively, means for af-' fixing stamps to the envelope so fed, means for automatically controlling the operation of the stamp-affixing means, a single means i 14. In a combined -envelop'- sealing and I successively therefrom, an intermittently-operated envelop-forwarding roller, a fla moistener, a -flap-sealenstamp-aifixing, mec

anism including a roller for rolling the tampb upon the envelops, means for auto-v fmatically controlling the'operation of the .st amp-afiixing machine, a support for a stack of envelops, a feeder for feeding envelope to the time of operation of said forwarding stamp-affixing mechanism, a single means for oplerating the forwarding roller and stampa 'xing mechanism, and means for elfecting an adjustment of the time of operation of the stamp-affixing mechanism with respect roller, substantially as described.

15. In a stamp-atlixin mechanism, port for a stack of enve lops, a flap-turning member, stamp-aflixiiig mechanism, means coacting with the flap of an envelop when turned for controlling the operation of said mechanism, envelop-forwarding means, a single means for operating said mechanism and for intermittently operating said forlength of said, pause, substantially as described.

17 A stamp-affixing machine compr1s1ng means for forwarding envelops successively,-

stamp afliiing mechanism for aflixing a stamp to each envelop so forwarded, a

power shaft, connections from said shaft to said forwarding means and said mechanism, including a shaft and a mutilated gear mounted thereon, and means foradjusting the position of said gear upon its shaft, substantially as described.

18. In a stamp-affixing machine, a powershaft, envelop-forwarding rollers connected thereto, a support for a plurality of stamps,

stamp-aflixing devices, means connected to said power-shaftfor automatically feeding stamps successively from said support to said stamp-afiixing devices, means for effecting an adjustment of the position in which the stamp is aflixed to the envelop with respect to the edge of'the envelop, and anindicator for said adjusting means, substantially as described. 1

19. The combination of means for forwarding envelops successively, means for afiixing stamps to'th'e envelops so fed, and

single means f0r operating both of said means, devices for eifecting an adjustment of the time of operation of one of said means with respect to the time of operation of the other, and an indicator for said adjusting devices, substantially as described.

20. A stamp-aflixing machine having,

means for forwarding envelops successively,

means for feeding stiamps successively and.

a supaflixing them to the envelops forwarded by said means, and means for indicating the position of the parts for starting the operation of the machine to'insure the aflixing of the first stamp fed by said stamp-feeding means to the first envelop forwarded by said envelop forwarding means, substantially as described.

21. A-stamp-aflixing machine havinga support fora plurality of envelops, means for automatically feedm the envelops from said support successivel y warding the envelops so fed through the machine, a 'support for a plurality of stamps, means for automatically feeding the stamps from said support successively and aflixing them to the envelops fed by said envelop-feeding means, and means for indieating the position of the parts for starting the operation of the machine to insure the affixing of the first stamp fed by said stamp feeding means to the first envelop fed by said envelop feeding means, substantially as described;

22. A stamp aflixing machine having a support for a plurality of envelops, means for automatically feeding the envelops from said support successively, means for forwarding the envelops so fed through the means for automatically feeding the stamps from said support successively and aflixing them to the envelops fed bysaid envelop feeding means, means for automatically controlling the operation of the stamp-feeding and affixing mechanism to preclude the operation of said mechanism when no envelop is in position to receive a stamp, and means for indicating the position of the arts for starting the operation of. the machine to insure the afiixin of the first stamp fed by said stamp-fee ing means to-the first envelop fed by said envelop-feeding means, substantially as described.

23. A stamp-afiixing machine having a support for a plurality of envelo s, means for automatically feeding the enve o s from said support successively, means or' forwarding the envelops so fed through the machine, a support for a sheet of stamps consistingof a plurality of rows of stamps and a plurality of stamps in each row, means for automatically feeding stamps-successively from the sheet on said support and afiixing the stamps to the envelops fed by said envelop-feeding means, and means for indicating the position of the parts for starting the operation of the machine to insure the afiixing of the first stamp fed by said stamp-feeding'means to the first envelop fed by said envelop-feeding means,

' substantially as described.

24. A stamp-affixing machine having a support for a lurality of envelo s, means for automatica y feeding the env ops from means for for-' machine, a support for a plurality of stamps,

the stamps to the envelops fed by said en'- velop-feeding means, and means for indicating the position of the parts for starting the operation of the machine to insure the a'ffixing of the first stamp fed by said stampfeeding means to the first envelop fed by said envelop-feeding means, substantially as described. I

25. A stamp-aflixing machine having means for forwarding envelops successively,

a support for a sheet of stamps consisting of a plurality of rows of stamps having a plurality of stamps in each row, means for antomatically feeding the stamps successively from the sheet on said support and aflixing them to the envelops forwarded by said envelop-forwarding means, andmeans for indicating the position of the parts for starting the operation of the machine to insure the affixing of the-first stamp fed by said stamp-feeding means to the first envelop forwarded by said envelop forwarding means, substantially as described.

26. he combination of means for forwardin envelops successively, a movable stop device, means for automatically reciprocating said device to carry it into coaction with the edge of each envelop forwarded by said means, and means for afiixing stamps to the envelops forwardedby said forwarding means, substantially as described.

27..fhe combination of means for forwarding envelops successively, a movable stop device, means for automatically reciprocating said device to carry it into coaction with the. edge of each envelop forwarded by said means, means for adjustingthe'range of movement of said step device, and means for affixing stamps to the envelops forwarded bysaid forwarding means, substantially as described.

28. The combination of means for for-' fora warding envelops successively, a movable stop device past which the envelops are forwarded by said means, means for reciprocating said stop device automatically to carry it into coaction with the edge of each envelpfip asthe latter is forwarded, and means tially as-described.

29. The'combin'ation of a pair of rollers betweenwh'ich"envelops are forwarded successiv'ely, a stop device, means for automatically reciprgihating said stop device to carry into engagement with one edge of each envelop as the other edge passes from between said rollers, means additional to said rollers for forwarding the envelops successively, and means for alfixing stamps to the envelops, substantially as described.

30. The combination of an envelop support, means for feeding envelops therefrom successively, a pair of forwarding rollers between which the envelops are passed, a pivotally mounted'stop' device, means for autoing stamps to the 'envelops, substanmaticall'yrocking said device to carry its 1 free Tendinto engagement with one edge of each envelop as the other edge thereof passes from between said rollers, means for adjusting the range of movement of said device, means additional to said rollers for forwarding the envelops successively, and

means for affixing stamps t0 the envelops,

substantially as described. I v

31. Ina stamp atfixing machine,.means for forwarding the envelops, a support for a plurality of stamps, means for forwarding the stamps,'means for moistening the stamps, means for rolling a stamp upon an envelop while the latter is being forwarded, and

means for effecting an adjustment of the position in which the stamp is'aiiixed to the envelop with respect to the edge of the envelop, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th'day of March, 1908.

' nnnns'r BBASSEUR.

Witnesses:

M. H. BURKART, R. R. Harlem (iron.

Images