| Affixing receipt and dispatch dates on documents is a | | | | self-inking date stamps. When the device is not being |
| standard procedure in government departments and | | | | used, the date stamp die rests on the inbuilt inkpad that |
| corporate offices. These dates are generally referred | | | | moves aside by a spring mechanism, when pressed. A |
| to as some legal procedure applicable to these | | | | plastic cover is also provided to prevent drying of ink. |
| departments and firms. Failure to produce evidence | | | | The mechanism for changing dates in self-ink stamp |
| related to these dates entails penalties and legal action. | | | | pads is similar to rubber date stamps. There are six to |
| Therefore, these organizations take utmost care to | | | | eight flat rubber bands with single digit numbers, i.e., 0 to |
| affix dates on their records and correspondence. Date | | | | 9, carved on them. These bands are loaded on |
| stamps are mechanical devices used for imprinting | | | | separate cylinders, which can be rotated. A |
| such dates. | | | | combination of numbers on these bands gives the |
| Traditional date stamps require inkpads. They are | | | | required date, month, and year. Such mechanism |
| practically useless without such additional kit. A sleeker | | | | allows representation of multiple formats of date, i.e., |
| device has recently been developed, which has inbuilt | | | | year, month and date, or date, month and year. |
| self-inking mechanism. These self-inking date stamps | | | | Other die pieces like "Confidential", "Faxed", etc., are |
| are generally made of plastics or metals, unlike | | | | also available with self-inking date stamps. These |
| traditional date stamps, which are made of wood. | | | | additional words and phrases help in tracing and |
| There is a small replaceable inkpad within these | | | | organizing the documents. |