Envelope attaching machine

A. H. WELCH

3,200,719

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE

Aug. 17, 1965

Filed April 8, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US3200719A_D0001.tif" />

Aug. 17, 1965

3,200,719

A. H. WELCH

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE

Filed April 8, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3200719A_D0002.tif" />

Aug. 17, 1965

3,200,719

A. H. WELCH

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE

Filed April 8, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 3

FIG. 4

<img file="US3200719A_D0003.tif" />

FIG. 5 _____________________ )

<img file="US3200719A_D0004.tif" />

INVENTOR.

ARCHIBALD H WELCH BY

<img file="US3200719A_D0005.tif" />

A. H. WELCH

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE

Aug. 17, 1965

Filed April 8, 1963

FIG, 6

3,200,719

Sheets-Sheet 4

<img file="US3200719A_D0006.tif" />

A. H. WELCH

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE

Aug. 17, 1965

Filed April 8, 1963

3,200,719

Sheets-Sheet 5

<img file="US3200719A_D0007.tif" />

Aug. 17, 1965

3,200,719

A. H. WELCH

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE

Filed April 8, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 6

<img file="US3200719A_D0008.tif" />

INVENTOR.

ARCHIBALD H. WELCH

BY

<img file="US3200719A_D0009.tif" />

United States Patent Office _P *’^2M’⁷¹⁹

Patented Aug. 17, 1965

3,200,719

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE Archibald H. Welch, Branford, Conn., assignor to Converters, Incorporated, West Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut 5

Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 272,185

Claims. (Ci. 93—61)

This is a continuation-in-part of my earlier application entitled Envelope Attaching Machine, Serial No. 93,214 filed March 3, 1961, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to apparatus for securing envelopes in sequential and aligned order upon a web to form a combined web and envelope product for use in automatic envelope addressing and/or tabulating equip- iq ment.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel apparatus of .the type described which will automatically and rapidly attach a series or sequence of envelopes along the length of a web in accurate spaced and aligned rela- 20 tionship relative to one another and to the web.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus that is adapted for forming a combined web and envelope product of the type disclosed and claimed in the Whitman Patent No. 2,723,077 and wherein the enve- 25 lopes are provided with side flaps or ears by means of which they are adhesively secured in sequential order to a web of indeterminate length.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the type described which is 30 readily usable for securing standard or conventional envelopes not having accessory portions such as side flaps and whereby the subsequent removal of the envelopes from the web does not result in defacing or damaging the envelope. . _ . .35

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus for receiving stacked envelopes in a feed magazine, separating each envelope from the stack and individually and precisely spacing and aligning the envelopes and attaching them on a moving paper web. 40

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which may be used for envelopes and webs of varying sizes and is quickly and easily adjusted for such use.

Included in the objects of the invention is the provision 43 of such apparatus which will operate continuously and automatically at high speed and effectively over long periods of time without adjustment or parts replacement.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter. 50

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims. 55

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a machine for attaching envelopes to a paper web in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view partially in section ⁶⁰showing the feed end of the machine and including a supply roll of paper web and a stack of envelopes being fed to the machine;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the delivery θend of the machine and including a web trimmer and folder unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing the rotary suction envelope pick-up drum and valve arrangement used to feed the envelopes from 70 the magazine in timed and sequential order to the positioning means of the machine;

FIG_; 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partly in section of the feed end of the machine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partly in section of the intermediate portion of the machine;

_ FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partially in section of the delivery end of the machine;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top. view showing an envelope pusher on a portion of the endless chain drive used at the feed end of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the envelope pusher and chain shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of a composite webenvelope product produced by the machine using side flaps for securing the envelope to the web, and further show15 ing, in dotted lines, lines of adhesive useful as an alternative for securing the envelope to the web.

The composite web-envelope product 1 (FIG. 10) produced by the machine of the present invention, comprises a paper web 2 regularly perforated at exact inter20 vals along both side edges with a series of punched holes 3 and having secured thereto a line of envelopes 4 transversely disposed relative to the web 2 and disposed therealong in sequential and aligned order in close, longitudinal spaced relation. Each subsequent envelope 4 is pref25 erably disposed so that it overlies the closure flap 5 of the preceding envelope 4. Each envelope 4 is registered with a predetermined number of punched holes 3 for correlating the feed of the envelopes with the operation of the automatic equipment with which the product is to be used. 30 The composite web-envelope product is of the type disclosed in the Whitman Patent No. 2,723,077 granted November 8, 1955.

The envelopes 4 shown in FIG. 10 are provided on each side edge or end thereof with a laterally extending 35 attachment tab or wing 6 formed as a continuation of the back or front wall of each envelope 4 and separable therefrom along a perforated line 7 indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 10. The envelopes 4 may then be secured to the web 2 by the tabs 6, the tabs 6 being sprayed with 40 adhesive material for this purpose during the assembling of the product 1 in the machine. Alternatively, the envelopes 4 may be secured to the web 2 be spraying lines of adhesive material directly to the body of the envelope, as seen in dotted lines at 8 in FIG. 10, thereby eliminating 45 the need for the side tabs 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 which best show the overall relation of the components of the machine for assembling the web-envelope product 1, the envelopes 4 are supplied to the machine in stacked relationship in ⁵⁰ a magazine or hopper indicated generally at 10. The web 2 is furnished from a supply roll 12. In the operation of the machine the envelopes 4 are separated individually and sequentially from the magazine 10 and _r are then moved forwardly along the machine (to the ⁰ right as viewed in FIGS. 1—3) in a horizontal path during which they are accurately aligned and spaced and, if desired, the closure flaps 5 are turned rearwardly, following which the tabs or ears 6 or in the alternative portions of the body of the envelope are coated with ad⁶⁰ hesive. Thereafter the envelopes in aligned order are united with the web and sealed thereto, and finally the web is punched along each side edge and the composite product is folded in a zigzag fashion for convenience in storage and transportation.

⁸⁰ _ The magazine 10 is designed to hold the envelopes 4 in stacked relationship and providing a bottom opening whereby the envelopes may be removed singly from the bottom of the magazine in a forward motion relative to the magazine. Preferably the magazine will hold ⁷⁰ the envelopes in an inclined stacked relationship whereby the component of force acting on the bottom envelope due to the weight of the stack is reduced. In the

3.SOO,719 zine. This will immediately draw downwardly against the drum leading edge portion of the lowermost envelope in the magazine and cause the envelope to be pulled forwardly with the rotating periphery of the drum into the nip of the hold-down wheels 4®. As the envelope enters the nip, the fingers 46 of the throat plate 45 separate the envelope from the drum and at substantially the same time the suction chamber 27 or 27' involved will register with the relief port 35, thus releasing the envelope for travel along the top of the throat plate 45.

As the envelope is driven along the top of the throat plate 45 by the feed drum 24 in cooperation with the hold-down wheels 4®, it is next engaged between a drive roller 47 and a second pair of hold-down wheels 43. The hold-down wheels 48 are mounted on a transverse shaft 49 in the same manner as hold-down wheels 40 and thus the description of the mounting means will not be repeated. The drive roller 47 is appropriately grooved or reduced in diameter at its center portion to accommodate the throat plate 45.

After the envelope emerges from between the drive roller 47 and the hold-down wheels 48, it continues to slide along the top of the throat plate 45 until the forward end of the envelope enters between a pair of lower drive wheels 5© mounted on a drive shaft 53 and a pair of hold-down wheels 51, the latter being mounted on a shaft 52 journaled in the same manner as shafts 41 and 49. Also adjustably fixed to the shaft 53 adjacent the drive wheels 59 are a pair of sprockets 54 which carry a pair of endless chains 55 extending longitudinally of the machine on opposite sides of the throat plate 45 and which are carried at the other end by drive sprockets 56 mounted on a shaft 57. As best shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the chains 55 are provided at intervals with links having a side ear or lug 58 on which is mounted a holder block 59 which, in turn, supports a finger member 69 which is pivotally mounted on the block 59 and biased to an upright position by the spring 61. A shoulder 62 on the block 59 limits turning movement of the finger members 60 to the upright position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, but at the same time permits the finger members 60 to be pivoted rearwardly upon the application of a predetermined force. As a result of the mounting structure just described, the finger members 60 are offset from the center line of the chains 55, the chains 55 being supported intermediate the sprockets 54 and 56 by supporting plates 56'.

Accordingly, as the envelopes pass between the drive roll 50 and hold-down wheels 51, the finger members 60 will come into engagement with the trailing edge of the envelope and will serve thereafter to move the envelopes forwardly along the top of the throat plate 45. A plurality of light springs 63, or in the alternative brushes (not shown), depending from the longitudinally extending top bar 64 serve to hold the envelopes down upon the top surface of the throat plate. The longitudinal bar 64 is supported by the transverse rods 65. The finger members 60 are so spaced that as the sprockets are rotated in timed relationship to the feed drum 24 previously described, a pair of finger members 68 on the chains 55 on opposite sides of the throat plate will be positioned to engage the end of each envelope as it passes between the drive wheels 50 and the holddown wheels 51.

The lateral edges of the envelopes pass beneath a pair of hold-down strips 66 mounted on the rods 65 and extending above the plane of the envelopes, and where necessary similar supporting strips can be provided below the plane of the envelopes. The holding force of the light spring 63 and the strips 66 is relatively light so that adjusting movement of the envelopes can take place. As will be apparent, as the finger members 60 of the chains 55 move the envelopes forwardly along the throat plate, the rear edges of the envelopes will firmly abut against the finger members 60 and thus be aligned properly at specific embodiment, the magazine 10 includes a center back plate 14 and two corner angle pieces 15. The center back plate 14 is removably attached to a transverse bar 16 and the corner angle iron pieces 15 are adjustably attached to the bar 16 so that they may be 5 moved laterally to accommodate various sizes of envelopes. The bar 16 is adjustably secured to the frame members 17 which, in turn, are adjustably mounted on the main frame 18 of the machine. Also secured to the transverse bar 16 are bottom support members 19 which iq are of shorter length than the size of the envelopes so as to permit the bottom envelopes to be removed downwardly and forwardly of the magazine in sequence. The front of the magazine is formed by two rods 20 pivotally supported on a transverse bar 21 which, in turn, is sup- 15 ported on adjustable posts 22 at the sides of the frame. A center piece 23 supports a resilient retainer which engages the drum 24 and prevents all but the bottom envelope from being fed. The envelopes 4 are placed in the magazine 10 in stacked relationship as shown in 20 dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings and are oriented as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings except that the closure flaps 5 are folded under in the usual manner in which the envelopes are provided by the supplier. The magazine is adjusted so that the leading edge portion 25 of the lowermost envelope is disposed generally tangential to the feed drum 24.

The feed drum 24 is fixed to a drive shaft 25 extending transversely of the machine and is provided with two relatively shallow circumferential grooves 26. Inter- 30 nally of the drum 24 are a pair of diametrically arranged suction chambers 27 and 27', each of which communicates with the periphery of the drum by means of a pair of ports 28 and 28'. The chambers 27 and 27' are open at the lefthand face of the drum 24 as shown in 35 FIG. 4 and also as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5. Abutting the lefthand face of the drum 24, as shown in FIG. 4, is a valve member 30; the valve member 30 does not rotate with the shaft 2S but remains in stationary position by reason of the adjustable holding clamp 40 31 which embraces the transverse stationary rod 32 and thus holds the valve member 39 in adjusted rotary position. The valve member 30 which is provided with a wear plate 33 has an arcuate groove 34 located as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 and a vacuum relief port 35. 45 The arcuate groove 34 is placed under vacuum by connection with a suction line 36. The valve member 30 is held in close contact with the drum 24 by means of a spring 37 extending between it and the retainer 38 fixed to the shaft 25. 50

Mounted immediately above the feed drum 24 are a pair of hold-down wheels 40 which are supported on a floating transverse shaft 41. The transverse shaft 41 is journaled at each end in a journal box 42 supported for limited vertical movement on a pair of posts 43 and 55 biased downwardly by springs 44. The hold-down wheels 40 are preferably rubber-surfaced and by reason of the mounting just described will bear downwardly against the feed drum 24 but can yield upwardly as an envelope passes therebetween. GO

Extending longitudinally and centrally of the machine in a horizontal direction is an elongated metal throat plate 45 having a smooth upper surface of low friction. As best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the throat plate 45 is provided at the lefthand end with a pair of 05 fingers 46 which ride in the circumferential grooves 26 of the feed drum 24.

As will be apparent from an inspection of the arrangement of ports and grooves as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, as the feed drum 24 is rotated, the ends of 70 the suction chambers 27 and 27' will register periodically and in sequence upon each half revolution of the drum with the arcuate groove 34, thus placing the pair of ports 28 or 28' associated therewith under vacuum as the same are rotated to a position beneath the maga- 75

3,200j719 «3 right angles to the path of movement. At the same time the envelopes- are accurately centered'by means of a pair of adjustable guide strips 67 disposed at opposite sides of the machine and both inclined toward the longitudinal center line of the machine as to exert a centering camming action upon any of the envelopes which are not properly centered. The guide strips 67 are supported at-their ends-by rods 67' and are secured to the traveling nuts 68 which are threadably· engaged' with the elongated screw 69 having oppositely directed threads at opposite ends so that by turning the screw 69 the operator may adjust the guide strips 67 toward and away from the center of the machine.

As-the finger members 60'approach the sprockets 56 driving the envelope abutter thereon in aligned relationship on- the throat plate 45, the leading edge portion of the envelope is received' between drive rollers 70 and hold-down wheels 71_ύ the latter being mounted on a shaft 72 which is journaled in a- manner similar to that described in connection with shafts' 4'1, 49' and 52. The timing of the drive elements is such that at this point the envelopes are brought into-edge-abutting relationship and as- previously described are accurately centered and aligned relative to the direction of movement. The finger members 6® which press-the envelopes firmly forward 25 until the envelopes are engaged by rollers 70 and wheels 71 pivot rearwardly and downwardly against the bias of springs 61 and thus pass beneath and become disengaged from the rear edges of the envelopes. Laterally adjustable hold-down strips 73 supported by rods 74' so are located to overlie the lateral edges of the envelopes during the remaining travel toward the web 2; The envelopes emerging from between the drive roll 70 and hold-down wheels 71 next pass between another drive roll 75 and hold-down wheels 76 mounted on the float- 25 ing shaft 77 journaled as described in connection with shaft 41. As the envelope approaches the drive roll 75 and hold-down wheels 76, the envelope passes over an air jet represented by the perforated tube 78· which emits a jet of air against the underside of the envelope 40 which is effective as the trailing edge of the envelope approaches the jet to partially open the closure flap 5 of the envelope by blowing it downwardly away from the body of the envelope. Immediately thereafter, the closure flap 5 engages the .two L-shaped cam strips 79' which are mounted' at the front of a supporting plate 79 and which along with the tube 78, assist in completing the opening of the closure flap -5 to the extended position as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings with the closure flap underlying the body of the next' succeeding envelope. The air jet tube 78’ can be suitably covered' or the air supply thereto °' can be terminated in the event it is not desired to open the closure flaps.

The envelopes emerging from between the drive roll 75 and hold-down wheels 76 with their closure flaps 5 in _rextended· relationship, are next engaged' between' the drive rollk 80 and hold-down wheels 81 mounted on the shaft 82. Located longitudinally intermediate the drive rolls 75 and 80 are a pair of nozzles 83 which are adjustably mounted so that they may be located in alignment with the underside of the side tabs or ears 6 of the envelopes, or where the side tabs 6 are not used, located inwardly of the lateral edges of the envelope beneath' the body thereof. The nozzles 83 are supplied with a liquid adhesive under pressure and as the envelopes pass over the nozzles O'» ·&lt;..... * * · -- ' the alternative, lines of adhesive 8· are applied °to- the underside of the body of the envelope. The adhesive is preferably one which will set' rapidly when heat is applied, such as commercial polyvinyl acetate emulsion. Where the adhesive is applied to the body of the envelope, the adhesive can be thermoplastic to allow heat to be used as an agent for both securing and releasing the envelope, or one which provides for readily releasing the envelope without the application of heat.

The envelopes in' properly aligned relationship, coated with adhesive are now directed to the top of the web 2 as the web 2 passes around the roller 85 and the holddown wheels 86, the latter being mounted on a transverse shaft 87. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the web 2 is brought to the roller 85 from: the supply roll 12 via the guide rolls 88, 89 and 9# and the speed regulating roll 91.

The web 2 and envelopes 4 placed thereon in proper relationship then travel over the horizontal supporting plate 92, passing beneath the hold-down wheels 93 mounted on the floating shaft 94. As the composite product travels along the plate 92, it next passes beneath the sealing assemblies or units 95 which are mounted on a transi verse screw 96 by means of which the lateral position of the units may be adjusted. Each unit 95 is provided with a hold-down wheel 97 mounted on a pivoted arm 98 which is engaged at its upper end by a spring 99 which is retained on the threaded rod 100. The threaded: rod ¹ 100 has a handle 101 at the outer end by means of which it can be turned inwardly and outwardly to adjust the compressive force of the spring 99. Each sealing assembly or unit 95 also includes an electric heating element or shoe 102 shown somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings, each shoe being piviotally mounted on a vertically adjustable support 104 as indicated at 103. The heating elements or shoes 102 are aligned so that they will bear against the top of the tabs or ears 6 where provided or against the body of the envelope above the lines of adhesive 8 where provided as the combination web and envelope product passes therebeneath, thus sealing the envelopes to the web.

The web 2 with the envelopes 4 thereon in aligned overlapping relationship as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, then passes between the roll 105 and pressure wheels 106 for ensuring effective sealing of the envelopes to the web, to the perforator 107 which includes a bottom roll 108 and a pair of perforating wheels 109 having projections or punches 110 about the periphery thereof which engages the marginal edges of the web and form the perforations or holes 3 therein. The perforating wheels 109 are adjustably mounted on a transverse shaft 112 whereby they may be adjusted laterally to accommodate various widths of web. The composite product them travels over a supporting roll 113 (FIG. 3) which is associated with a pair of trimmers or cutting wheels 114 which are laterally adjustable on the shaft 115. The trimmers are used only in the event that the paper is too wide or in the event that the machine is set up to form a composite product having a double row of envelopes in which case the web would be slit along its center line.

The web and attached envelopes then pass over the driven steel roll 116 and beneath the hold-down wheels 117 supported on the transverse shaft 118. The steel roll 116 is driven at a peripheral speed such that it will place the web under suitable tension. The product then passes to the folder unit 120 of conventional design which folds the web in a zigzag or accordion manner as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The folder unit 120 is adjusted so that the folds occur at regular intervals with one or more envelopes located between the folds.

For simplicity and brevity of description, the drive mechanism for the various drive rolls,, etc. has not been shown. _ The drive mechanism or gear train which is of , . ·— ' —— j ---- lliuuui.t.u 111 LUCz housing 114 extending longitudinally along one side of the frame 18. The drive mechanism or gear train is preferably provided with replaceable gears whereby the relative speed of operation of the various parts of the ma70 ^ehhio may be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of envelopes.

In the operation of the machine, the envelopes 4 are accurately placed on the web 2 and are maintained in accurate alignment with respect to the web and the per75 forations 3 along the side edge thereof whereby the com10 suho ί.,ι, C - ,-, . -------.-:------^J 65 ^conventional design may be conveniently mounted in the the tabs or ears 6 are given an adhesive coating, or in 1-----— -.....3,200,719 ΰ

posite product may be used efficiently and conveniently in automatic addressing and/or tabulating .machines. The machine may be operated at relatively high speeds whereby the output is maintained at a high rate and the machine functions efficiently and effectively over long periods of usage without breakdown or requiring adjustment.

As will be apparent, the specific embodiment of the machine shown in the drawings and as described herein will be subject to variation and modification within the skill of the invention. For example, although the specific embodiment has been shown and described for simplicity as producing a single web and envelope product, it will be obvious that similar products could be provided or by duplication of parts more than one product may be formed simultaneously. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of tne invention.