GB1567758A

GB1567758A - Method and apparatus for making pocket shaped envelope-type containers

Info

Publication number: GB1567758A
Application number: GB1877/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-01-17
Filing date: 1977-01-17
Publication date: 1980-05-21

Description

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A POCKET SHAPED ENVELOPE-TYPE CONTAINER (71) I, REGINALD JAMES ALLSOP, a British Subject, of Dune Cottage, 46 Shore Road, Ainsdale, Southport PR8 2PY, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particular]y described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to making pocket shaped envelope-type containers.

It is an object of the invention to facilitate manufacture of pocket shaped envelope-type containers from container size lengths cut from stock sheet material, for example, paper, which has been folded to form a tube, as it is known in the trade, the edges of one opposite pair of sides of the folded stock sheet material being jointed either directly to each other or through the intermediary of an interposed strip, one open end of each length being closed by folded strip, attached thereto and a flap, usually gummed for sealing the envelope-type container when in use, attached to the other end of each length.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making pocket shaped envelope-type containers, which comprises as a first stage drawing off and folding sheet stock material, for example paper, so that an opposed pair of its edges are turned towards each other from spaced parallel folds, joining said edges together by adhesive either directly if they overlap or through the intermediary of an interposed web if they do not overlap, and severing the folded sheet into individual envelope size lengths; picking up the severed lengths, and subsequently placing them sideiby-side on a second stage conveyor and attaching both of a folded strip to one open end of each severed length so as to seal that end and a further strip to an edge of the opposed open end of each severed length so as to form an open flap at said opposed end, wherein different sizes of envelope-type containers are made by replacement of interchangeable rotary-acting severing elements each for severing a different envelope type container size length from the folded sheet stock material.

Such a method is advantageously carried out in a continuous, preferably essentially rotary, feed manner regardless of envelope size, for example using a gripper or suction roller to transfer severed lengths from a first conveyor system to the abovementioned second stage conveyor and, of course, using a rotary tube cutter that is readily replaceable according to severed lengths cut, say simply by replacement of one cutting roller by another of different circumference.

Preferred modes of transfer to the second stage conveyor ensure a predetermined disposition of one edge of each envelope length regardless of envelope size. A gripper roller in association with a suction type conveyor at a strip attachment station secures such operation with close accuracy.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for carry- ing out the method of the first aspect comprising a first conveyor system for withdrawing sheet stock material from a supply reel. edge adhesive applying, folding and severing means along the path of said first conveyor system for producing individual envelope lengths from the stock material with the lengths thereof determined by a particular one of interchangeable rotaryacting severing elements of the severing means, a second stage conveyor for severed envelope lengths, the second stage conveyor being associated with means for drawing off end closure and flap strips through adhesive applying or moistening means to strip severing means, and a transfer means for picking up severed envelope lengths from the first conveyor system and subsequently placing them side-by-side on the second stage conveyor.

A compact and efficient apparatus comprises a first conveyor system, such as a driven roller system, for drawing the sheet material off a supply roll and taking it generally upwards. conveniently through an edge gumming, i.e. adhesive applying, station, and then generally downwardly through folding and severing stations to a transfer mechanism to said second stage conveyor which serves to translate both closure and flap strips together with severed envelope-type container lengths through a strips cutter station to a collection or delivery station.

Clearly, the speed of a transfer gripping wheel will be synchronised with that of the sheet material feed and severed envelopetype container length production, and that of the second stage conveyor will be set to achieve a desired spacing, or substantial side-by-side contiguity, of the severed lengths. Severing of the strips is conveniently controlled by an optial gap sensing system, or even, for substantial contiguity, sensing of light when successive envelope-type container lengths are flexed transversily of the second stage conveyor, say by a coniigura- tion of that conveyor or the action of a roller engaging system, or both.

Where the edges of the folded sheet material are to be joined by an intermediate web, the apparatus will usually include a web supply reel preferably located between the paper supply reel and adhesive applying means. If it is desired to apply printed matter direct to the envelope printing means may also be located between the paper supply reel and the adhesive applying means.

Where an intermediary web is used to join the edges of the folded sheet this web may be of transparent material so as to provide a window in the completed envelope or may be as strip printed in multi-colour for advertisement purposes. The intermediary web, furthermore, may conveniently be so disposed as to lie centrally of the completed envelope particularly in the case of a window strip.

Pocket shaped envelopes made in accordance with the invention lend themselves to production by a continuous operation and one specific implementation of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the apparatus, Figure 2 represents a side elevation of that part of the apparatus where pregummed tapes are applied to the open ends of the severed tubes and Figure 3 represents a plan view of the part of the apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Sheet material 10, such as paper, is fed generally upwardly by a rotary roller conveyor system from a paper supply reel 11 to adhesive supply means 12. If printed matter is to appear on the envelope this is effected by a printing unit 13, usually with interchangeable printing cylinders corresponding to envelope sizes. In addition if any intermediary web of transparent or other plain or printed material is to be used this is fed during transit of the paper web from a supply reel 14. After adhesive has been appropriately applied at the means 12, the paper web 10, with intermediary web if used, is directed to folding means 15, typically of bladed form. The folds applied at 15 to the paper web may be such as to form an envelope with gusset sides.Between the adhesive applying means 12 and folding means 15 the direction of the feed of the paper web is changed from the upward to a generally downward direction, preferably on a slope, suitably an angle of about 45 , to cutting means 16 where the folded sheet is cut to the desired envelope length of tube.

After leaving the cutting means, the line of severed tubes, disposed end-to-end, is fed to transfer means 17 where the tubes are picked up to be laid side-by-side into a second, generally horizontal, conveyor extending transversely of the first conveyor system direction. The transfer means may suitably comprise a wheel 19, consisting of a series of grippers, e.g. spring clips or suction means, rotating in a clockwise direction which picks up the severed envelope tube lengths and lays them in a horizontal position onto a roller driven suction type conveyor belt 20 which carries the tubes to another belt conveyor 21 which conveniently is associated with spring loaded retaining rollers 22 that may serve in turn to lift a tube fractionally higher and so allow a following tube to pass underneath thus avoiding any interference in continuous production. Additionally, or alternatively, a suction type delivery cylinder 23 may perform the lifting operation. Pre-gummed tape is supplied from reels 24, 25 to the respective open ends of the severed tubes on the suction belt 20 via a roller and bath type moistening device 26, one tape providing a gummed flap for one end and the other folded strip to embrace and seal the other end. The types or strips are shown as being severed at 27 immediately prior to the tube placement position on the belt 20, but such severing could, if desired be done at a later stage of the second conveyor system, say between the belts 20 and 21 or between the belt 21 and the delivery cylinder 23.

The severing is conveniently controlled by an opto-electronic system for sensing any gap between adjacent tubes on or between the conveyor belts 20, 21. With severing at the position shown, maximum advantage may be taken of the abovementioned tube tipping and "underlapping" as light will pass between such a spaced lapping to an appropriate sensor below the belts.

Substantially exclusively roller type conveyor and transfer mechanisms are utilised and tube severing is readily adapted to dif ferent etnvelope size by simple replacement of different diameter severing roller at 16.

Accurate registration with the pre-gummed tapes is readily ensured by having the tubcs laid by the transfer cylinder 18 relative to a reference edge or lip to the left hand side of the belt 20 to which the sealing strip is led. Another, spaced guide edge is conveniently adjustable in correspondence with the available severing roller sizes, say in half inch intervals.

The construction of the envelope in accordance with the illustrated method avoids the necessity for a multiplicity of machines for subsidiary operations previously used to provide pocket envelopes of different sizes and contrasts with requirements for different reel feed machines to provide high speed production for each size of pocket envelope, where the envelopes are produced by the established method of cutting the envelope shape in one piece with requisite flaps in different positions for different sizes, or alternatively the construction of a very large and complicated single machine capable of adjustment to various sizes, which is expensive to purchase and to operate and relatively slow in production.

With illustrated design of envelope the one machine can be used for many sizes of envelopes by suitable adjustments. In addition the use of prior gummed reels of paper having a quick setting adhesive to provide the sealing flaps for the envelope ends eliminates slowness in production which occurs in established methods arising from the application and drying of gum for various sealing flaps.

By means of the illustrated embodiment many types and sizes of ipocket shaped envelopes can be produced complete in all details on one machine e.g. with gummed flap, or with tuck-in flap, with or without window, or with and without gusset sides or plain or printed envelopes.

It is further envisaged that adjustment for different envelope tube width should be exclusively at one side of the tube so as to obtain a reference position, regardless of tube width, for the left hand side of such tubes. Then, on transfer the severed tubes will be deposited on the second conveyor system in a fixed position thereby facilitating type severing, which could be done by an appropriately sized roller or wheel either equipped with a cutting blade or actuating a cutter and a linkage, again preferably immediately in front of where the tube meets the suction belt. Such a system would, of course, remove the need for opto-electric sensing at one or more positions along the second conveyor system in order to control severing.However, electronic timing for controlling the speed of the second conveyor in order to suit the width of envelope being produced is of substantial advantage.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A method of making pocket shaped envelope-type containers, which comprises as a first stage drawing off and folding sheet stock material, for example paper, so that an opposed pair of its edges are turned towards each other from spaced parallel folds, joining said edges together by adhesive either directly if they overlap or through the intermediary of an interposed web if they do not overlap, and severing the folded sheet into individual envelope size lengths; picking up the severed lengths, and subsequently placing them side-by-side on a second stage conveyor and attaching both of a folded strip to one open end of each severed length so as to seal that end and a further strip to an edge of the opposed open end of each severed length so as to form an open flap at said opposed end, wherein different sizes of envelope-type containers are made by replacement of interchangeable rotary-acting severing elements each for severing a different envelope-type container size length from the folded sheet stock material.

2. Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1, comprising a first conveyor system for withdrawing sheet stock material from a supply reel, edge adhesive applying, folding and severing means along the path of said first conveyor system for producing individual envelope lengths from the stock material with the lengths thereof determined by a particular one of interchangeable rotary-acting severing elements of the severing means, a second stage conveyor for severed envelope lengths, the second stage conveyor being associated with means for drawing off end closure and flap strips through adhesive applying or moistening means to strip severing means, and a transfer means for picking up severed envelope lengths from the first conveyor system and subsequently placing them sideby side on the second stage conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein only rotational means are included in the first conveyor system, the second stage conveyor and the transfer means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein only rotational means are included in delivery of finished envelopetype containers from the strip severing means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, further comprising printing means associated with the first conveyor system and including means for mounting alternative size cylinders.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the second stage conveyor has associated therewith adjustable means for

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ferent etnvelope size by simple replacement of different diameter severing roller at 16. Accurate registration with the pre-gummed tapes is readily ensured by having the tubcs laid by the transfer cylinder 18 relative to a reference edge or lip to the left hand side of the belt 20 to which the sealing strip is led. Another, spaced guide edge is conveniently adjustable in correspondence with the available severing roller sizes, say in half inch intervals. The construction of the envelope in accordance with the illustrated method avoids the necessity for a multiplicity of machines for subsidiary operations previously used to provide pocket envelopes of different sizes and contrasts with requirements for different reel feed machines to provide high speed production for each size of pocket envelope, where the envelopes are produced by the established method of cutting the envelope shape in one piece with requisite flaps in different positions for different sizes, or alternatively the construction of a very large and complicated single machine capable of adjustment to various sizes, which is expensive to purchase and to operate and relatively slow in production. With illustrated design of envelope the one machine can be used for many sizes of envelopes by suitable adjustments. In addition the use of prior gummed reels of paper having a quick setting adhesive to provide the sealing flaps for the envelope ends eliminates slowness in production which occurs in established methods arising from the application and drying of gum for various sealing flaps. By means of the illustrated embodiment many types and sizes of ipocket shaped envelopes can be produced complete in all details on one machine e.g. with gummed flap, or with tuck-in flap, with or without window, or with and without gusset sides or plain or printed envelopes. It is further envisaged that adjustment for different envelope tube width should be exclusively at one side of the tube so as to obtain a reference position, regardless of tube width, for the left hand side of such tubes. Then, on transfer the severed tubes will be deposited on the second conveyor system in a fixed position thereby facilitating type severing, which could be done by an appropriately sized roller or wheel either equipped with a cutting blade or actuating a cutter and a linkage, again preferably immediately in front of where the tube meets the suction belt. Such a system would, of course, remove the need for opto-electric sensing at one or more positions along the second conveyor system in order to control severing.However, electronic timing for controlling the speed of the second conveyor in order to suit the width of envelope being produced is of substantial advantage. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A method of making pocket shaped envelope-type containers, which comprises as a first stage drawing off and folding sheet stock material, for example paper, so that an opposed pair of its edges are turned towards each other from spaced parallel folds, joining said edges together by adhesive either directly if they overlap or through the intermediary of an interposed web if they do not overlap, and severing the folded sheet into individual envelope size lengths; picking up the severed lengths, and subsequently placing them side-by-side on a second stage conveyor and attaching both of a folded strip to one open end of each severed length so as to seal that end and a further strip to an edge of the opposed open end of each severed length so as to form an open flap at said opposed end, wherein different sizes of envelope-type containers are made by replacement of interchangeable rotary-acting severing elements each for severing a different envelope-type container size length from the folded sheet stock material.

one set of tube length ends and fixed register means for the other set of tube length ends.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein and transfer means comprises a gripper or suction roller.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the second stage conveyor is of a suction or gripper belt type to remove said severed envelope lengths from the transfer means and lay one series of their then open ends to a predetermined longitudinal position of the second stage conveyor.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, further comprising an envelope length edge sensor at the second stage con veyor, and strip severing means controlled thereby.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the first conveyor means has a generally upward run of the sheet material through at least said edge adhesive applying means, followed by a generally downward run to the transfer means through said folding and envelope length severing means.

11. Appraatus according to claim 10, wherein a or said printing means is operative on said upward run.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein means for supplying sheet window material as a said interposed web to be adhered to each edge of the said sheet upon folding of the latter is disposed between the supply reel and the folding means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the last-mentioned means for supplying serves for preprinted advertising sheet material as said interposed web.

14. Apparatus according to claim 10 with either claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the window or advertising material supply means is on said upward run prior to the adhesive applying means.

15. A method or apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the strips are pregummed with strong, quick drying glue or self-sealing latex.

16. Apparatus arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of making envelope-type containers substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An envelope-type container made by the methhod of claim 1 or 17, or by the apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 15.