US1457605A - Envelope moistener - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1923.

A. J. SCHAUB, SR

ENVELOPE MOI STENER Filed Oct. 28. 1921 hu avafaw firmso J. 30/405, 5.

Fatented June 5, 1923.

ALFRED J. SCHAUB, SR., 015 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ENVELOZE MOISTENER.

Application filed October 28, 1921. Serial No. 511,164.

T 0 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. SoHAUB, Sn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Envelope Moistener, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in envelope moistening devices and is designed for the purpose of facilitating the work of sealing envelopes in large quantities. A particular object of my invention is the combination of means for opening the em velope with the moisteningmeans and the means for draining surplus moisture from the envelope after the latter has passed the moistening means. A further object of my invention is to provide means of the character described which can be cheaply constructed and is economical in its use.

)Vith these objects in mind I have shown the preferred form of my device in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure represents a side elevation of my device; Figure 2 a vertical cross section through the same along line 22 of Figure 1; Figure 8 a top plan view of the same, the position of an envelope being shown in dotted lines, and Figure a an enlarged sectional detail view along line 4 4: of Figure 3.

While the drawing shows the preferred form of my invention only, it will be readily understood that slight changes or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

My device rests on the base (1) and comprises a box (2) which may be partly filled with water and which has a frame structure (3) therein provided with two axially alined bearings (4:) in which revolves the shaft (6) supporting the drum (7). The drum is covered with a layer (8) of wick fabric or similar material and is positioned in such a way that its upper part slightly projects over the cover (9) of the box, a hole (11) in the cover (9) allowing the drum to extend through the cover. The latter is secured to the box by means of the hinges (12) and is provided with an upwardly curved extension (14), a slight pressure on the latter extension being suflicient to turn the cover on its hinges so as to open the box.

To use my device the operator will take an envelope to be sealed, place the right side of the margin of the flap on the drum which has been previously moistened and then pull the envelope from left to right so that the edge portion of the flap passes over the drum and receives moisture from the same. This being the main principle of my device, I provide several auxiliary means for facilitating this operation. One of these means consists in a. simple device for opening the envelope which 1t is assumed is loosely folded. The cover (9) is provided at the end opposite its hinges with a projection (16) slightly curved downwardly as shown in Figure 1 and round ed off as shown in Figure 3. Over this projection extends the free end of a spring (17), the other end of which is secured to the box in any convenient manner. If the loosely folded envelope is inserted between the spring and the projection, approaching the same from the left hand side the projection, while passing underneath the body portion of the envelope, will engage the flap and force its way between the flap and the envelope, and as the envelope is further advanced the flap coming in contact with the edge of the projection will be slowly forced into the plane of the envelope so that the flap is now open and ready to pass over the drum to receive its moisture. It is understood that in the'ordinary envelope commonly used only the edge of the flap is provided with glue and that it is desired to confine the moisture to that portion. To accomplish this I provide a small are (18) on the near side of the drum. The are as shown in Figure 1 is slightly higher than the drum and the body portion of the envelope having to pass over this are is kept out of contact with the drum so as to remain perfectly dry.

The drum rotates with the envelope and in doing so passes through the water in the box, thus receiving a constant supply of new moisture. In many cases the flap of the envelope might receive more moisture than is necessary for the sealing of the envelope. Since this is undesirable I provide a means for draining the surplus moisture from the flap before the latter is sealed, which con sists of an inclined plate (19) secured on the cover of the box in such a manner that the flap after passing the drum has to pass over the same, and I further provide a spring (21) which extends over the top edge of the inclined plate and which is adapted to press down on the envelope flap passing over the inclined plate. The spring (21) is provided with a longitudinal slot (22) running parallel to the top edge of the inclined plate which makes it possible to position the spring somewhat lower than could be done otherwise so that the two edges (23) and (24) defining the slot are almost on a level with the top edge of the inclined plate and that the flap forced between the plate and the spring is pressed downwardly by the two edges and. (-2.4): on both sides of the top edge of the inclined plate as shown in Figure a, whereby surplus moisture. is drained from the flap in a most effective manner.

To press the flap passing the drum, firmly against the same so that it will absorb moisture I provide a weight (26) which is pivotally supported on the arm (27) pivoted in the bracket (28) secured to the side of the box in any manner desired; The weight in its active position lies on the peripheral surface of the drum and the envelope flap to be moistened has to pass between the weight and the drum and will naturally be pressed against the drum by the weight while lifting the same.

I claim:

1. An envelope moistening device comprising a rotatably mounted moistening drum, :1 self-adjusting contact maintaining member co-operating therewith, means for opening the envelope flap and means for removing surplus moisture associated therewith so as to allow of the insertion of the folded envelope and the opening, moistening and draining of the flap in one continuous operation.

An envelope moistening device comprising arotatably mounted moistening drum, an arched support for the body portion of the envelope flap mounted in operative proximity thereto, a self-adjusting contact maintaining member co-operating with the drum, means for opening the envelope flap and means for removing surplus moisture associated with the drum so as to allow of the insertion of the folded envelope and the opening, moistening and draining of the flap in one continuous operation.

3. In an envelope moistening device, a rotat-ably mounted moistening drum and a surplus moisture draining means associated therewith, said means comprising a plate member declining toward the drum having a spring member co-operating with its top,

edge for pressing the moistened envelope against the said edge.

4:. In anenvelope moistening device a rotatably mounted moistening drum and a surplus moisture draining means associated therewith, said means comprising a plate member declining toward the drum having a slotted spring; member co-operating with the top edge so .,tha-t the two edges defining the slot bend: the passing envelope around the top edge of the plate member.

5. In an envelope moistening device, a rotatably mounted moisteningdrum and an envelope opening means operatively associated therewith. said means comprising a thin projection mounted in operative proximity to the drum adapted to force itself between the flap and the body ot the envelope and a spring mounted over theprojection for holding the body portion against the projection whereby the flap is forced in the same plane with the body portion on guiding the envelope toward the drum.

ALFRED J. SCHAUB, SR.

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