Apparatus for separating postage stamps and the like from their backings and for washing the same

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE FROM THEIR BACKINGS, A COMBINATION, COMPRISING: A TANK ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LIQUID STAMP SEPARATING MEDIUM; A TUMBLING APPARATUS INCLUDING A FRAME DISPOSED IN SAID TANK, SAID FRAME HAVING OPPOSED END FRAME MEMBERS, A SHAFT SUPPORTED AT EACH END BY ONE OF SAID END FRAME MEMBERS, A PERFORATE TUMBLER FIXEDLY AND AXIALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID SHAFT, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY COUPLING SAID SHAFT WITH SAID DRIVING MEANS, A REMOVABLE BEARING MOUNTING ONE END OF SAID SHAFT IN ONE END FRAME MEMBER, SAID SHAFT BEING LIMITED IN AXIAL MOVEMENT BY SAID REMOVABLE BEARING, SAID REMOVABLE BEARING BEING LIMITED IN MOVEMENT UPON ABUTMENT WITH SAID TANK WHEN SAID TUMBLING APPARATUS IS IN SAID TANK AND BEING FREELY REMOVABLE WHEN SAID TUMBLING MECHANISM IS REMOVED FROM SAID TANK, SAID SHAFT BEING AXIALLY SHIFTABLE TO UNCOUPLE SAID COUPLING MEANS AND TO REMOVE SAID SHAFT AND SAID TUMBLER FROM THE REMAINDER OF SAID TUMBLING MEANS WHEN SAID REMOVABLE BEARING HAS BEEN REMOVED.