US1479637A - Envelope machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1, 1924 j 1,479,637 E. P: WATERHOUSE ET AL ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1, 1924. 1,479,631

. E. P. WATERHOUSE ET AL ENVELOPE MACHINE Fi1edJan. 2o, 1925 s sheets-sheet s Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

EZB/A P. WATERHOUSE ANDCARL HENRY LEKBERG, OF WORCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Application filed January 20, 1923. Serial No. 613,846'.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, EZRA P. WATER- HOUSE and CARL HENRY LEKBERG, citizens of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope Machines, of which the following isa specilication.

Our present invention relates to a novel construction andorganization of means for operating'the gum-distributing element or devices whereby gum or adhesive is spread upon the faces of the pickers, in an envelope machine of the picker-plunger class; aprime object of this invention being to provide a mechanism that will be satisfactory and eiiicient for action; better adapted for. operation at high speed; and to obviate some objections incident to mechanisms heretofore employed in this art.

Another object is to provide in the gumming mechanism of an envelope-macliine,a flexible cord or cable connection for the reciprocation of the gum transfer-roll by alternately directed pulling action; -thus affording a light-running, quiet, and slightly elastic mechanism.

Another object is to provide a gumming mechanism, in an envelope-machine of the class named, with a flexible cord, band or cable and cable-guiding means, arranged for reciprocatively'moving the gum-transferring element from theY gum-supply across the pickers, and viceversa, and oscillating drum or element for actuating said cable alternately in opposite directions, and means for imparting movement to said oscillating element synchronous with the action of the envelope-machine mechanism.

A further object is to provide in combination with the reciprocatingly moving gum-transferring roll, its guides, and operating cable: of means for attaching the cable to the roll-supporting carriers or slides in a manner to afford adjustability, security of connection, and elasticity of action.

These objects we attain by mechanism the nature and organization of which is eX- plained in the following detailed description; reference being therein made to the accompanying drawings (three sheets) wherein- Fig.; 1vv representsfan"elevation view of such parts of an envelope machine as will illustrate the nature of our invention,

Fig. 2 is a front view,

Fig. 3 a plan-view above the stripperplate, the picker-plunger being in section.

Fig. llis a detail side view on larger scale of the roll-carrier slide and section of thek cable attaching means.

Fig. 5a section of the cable attachingv picker-plunger, carrying'f the pickers and whereby the gum or adhesive vsubstance is placed upon the envelope blanks; and E the blank-supporting elevator or stand; all of which parts may be of well known or any suitable construction; as may also the mechanisms required for transferring and folding the envelopeyblanks, which mechanis'ms are` not herein shown,` since they form no essential part-'of our present invention; but-it will be apparent that, in-practice, our improvement is designed to beernployed in connection with a machine' of the character named; the operation will, therefore, be sufficiently understood by persons skilled 'in the art.

The numeral 10 indicates the stripperplate arranged above the stand of blank F,

and having openings therein through which the pickers descend to contact with the blank in well known manner. 12 denotes the gum-box having the gum-delivering roll 13 rotatably mounted therein and provided with means for its operation,'and means for regulating the film of gum' delivered thereby. 15 indicates the transfer-roll, its aXle journaled in orl supported' by suitable carriers or slide members 16 mounted to move on guides or rodsl 1tdispose'd horizontally above the stripper-plate 10, parallel with each other; vsaid members 16 are arranged to travel along the guides 14e-for a distance sufficient to carry the roll 15 into contact l with the gum delivery-roll 13; and back-to the position indicated in full lines on Fig.

2, said transfer-roll passing across the faces of thepickers 2 when ,B1,V .ted,for .charging said pickers with gum; also performing a dwell at or adjacent the position indicated, while the pickers descend thr'ough the stripper-plate for picking up a blank and are again elevated.

llhe employment of a reciprocally moving transfer-roll traveling from contact with the gum supply across the faces of the pickers for placing gum thereon being well-known in the art, it will be apparent that we do not claim such feature, per se, as of our invention.

ln accordance with our invention, for imparting reciprocatory back and forth movement to the transfer-roll 15, we employ a flexible beltlike connection consisting of a suitable cord or cable of wire an oscillating element or drum -6 by which said cable is operated, and means for actuating said drum synchronousy with the elevated dwell of the picker-plunger and envelope-machine action. The cable 5 is best formed about three sixteenths inch, more or less, in diameter, and may be made of any suitable material; it is preferably composed of a group of small flexible wires twisted together. This cable is arranged about a series of guide pulleys or sheaves that are rotatably supported in adjacent relation to the path of the transfer-roll 15. Most of the sheaves are mounted in overhead horizontal relation upon studs that have their support in brackets 9 attached to an upper frame number A1 of the machine; thus leaving unobstructed space beneath the cable and sheaves. The cable is arranged in such manner that two portions or reaches thereof, as 5a and 5b, will simultaneously travel in the same direction and said two portions are attached respectively to the front and rear carriers 16 in which the axles of the transfer-roll are supported.

At Va convenient position. the cable 5 is connected with an oscillating element or means for effecting longitudinal pulling' action one way and the other, said element preferably consists of a drum 6, upon the periphery of which the cable is wound from opposite sides, and to which the cable is secured at a predetermined position by a suitable stay or clamp 8. The surface of the drum is preferably spirally grooved for guiding the coils of cable thereon. l

The drum 6 may be located at any convenient position lin relation to the roll-carrier means and the cable extended thereto, direct or about guide sheaves, as may be most convenient to accommodate the machine structure in any instance. As shown the drum 6 is mounted in connection with a gear pinion 17, upon an axis stud 18 sup orted in a stationary bracket 19 near the ower part of the frame. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) A reciprocating bar or member 20 carries a rack 21 that engages with the pinion 17. Said rack-bar is arranged to be actuated by a rotating cam 28 mounted on the the drive-shaft C, or some conveniently disposed shaft in the machine, whereby the cam is revolved in unison with the stroke of the envelope forming devices. The bar 20 is provided with a stud or roll 22 that engages with the grooves of the cam 28, and said bar preferably centrally fur-cated for guiding upon the cam-shaft; `its upper and lower portions being supported to work in proper relation by guiding means fixed on the frame or table in any approved manner. A pull spring 24 is preferably connected with the rack-bar to normally keep the roll-stud y against the cam surface. rlhe cam 28 is made of suitable form and dimension for imparting through the rack and pinion, to the oscillating element or drum 6 the requisite degree of oscillative movementfor pulling the cable alternately right and left and thereby moving the roll-carrier slides 16 and roll 15 back and forth along the guides 14, the operation being a pull action .in each direction.

As illustrated the cable 5 extends from the drum 6 up to a plane slightly above the plane of the guides 14, and over a guiding sheave 26, thence horizontally toward the right and around a sheave 27 and rearward about a sheave 28; thence towards the left in rear of the picker mechanism 2 and around a sheave 29; thence towards the right to a' sheave 30 below the sheave then forward and about a sheave 81 above the sheave 27 ;thence to the left across the front and to a sheave 82 adjacent to the first mentioned sheave 26 and down to the drum 6 which it meets at the side opposite that from which it starts. rlhe cable, which is preferably continuous` is secured to the'periphery of the drum, by the fastener 8, so that as the drum is oscillated the cable will be wound onto said drum at one side while it is equally unwound from the other side, and vice versa; hence the cable is alternately pulled lengthwise in one direction and the other in unison with the oscillative movement, without material variation in the general tension of the cable. Guide sheaves 33 and 34 are provided where the cable deV vlates from a direct line between the drum and upper mechanism. At one or more positions in its length the cable 5 may be provided with a turnbuckle or means for taking up slack or adjusting its tension.

The two reaches of cable 5 respectively disposed at front and rear approximately parallel with the guides 14, and arranged to simultaneously move in the same direction, and indicated by numerals 5a and 5b, are attached to the respective slides or carrier members 16 of the transfer-roll 15, so that lll) CJI

said members together with the roll are moved with the movement of the cable; the two carriers or roll bearing members moving approximately in unison and to the same extent. The attaching means is best constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The roll-supporting slide 16 is mounted with two lugs 3 and 3X upon the guide 14, the lugs being some space apart. Between said lugs, also mounted on the guide, there is a coupling-block having jaws projecting into line with the cable and provided with a clamping member or cap 36 secured by suitable means, as a screw, or screws S. The inner yfaces of the jaws are best fitted with a recess on one part and protuberance on the other part opposite said recess. The cable extends through said jaws and the cap is firmly clamped down causing a slight bend or ofset 4 in the cable (see Fig. 4) which prevents slipping of the cable therein.

Coiled wire springs 7 are preferably arranged, at one or both sides, between the coupling-block and lug on the roll-supporting member, to prevent shock and for easing the action at the reversal of the direction of motion of the reciprocatively moving parts. Said springs may not in all nstances be required and can in some instances be omitted if so preferred.

This mode of attachment permits ready adjustment of the cable in relation to the roll: gives security of connection, and affords a slight degree of elasticity in action.

IVe claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with gumming mechanism in an envelope machine, including a reciprocally acting transfer-roll, and rollcarrier means; of a'flexible cable-form carrier-operating element, means for supporting and guiding said element, and means for imparting back and forth movement thereto, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device for the purpose described a reciprocally moving transfer-roll, a flexible cable connected with and arranged for moving said transfer-roll, and means actuated in conjunction with the envelopeproducing mechanism for alternately pulling said cable in opposite directions.

3. An envelope gumming mechanism in` cluding a reciprocating gum-transferring element, a fiexible cable means connected for reciprocally moving said gum-transtering element from the gum-supply across the pickers, and vice versa, an oscillative element actuating said cable means longitudinally in alternate directions, and means for imparting movement to said oscillative element synchronous with the action of the envelope-machine mechanism.

4. In an envelope-machine, in combination with the plunger pickers, gum supply means, gum transfer-roll, and guides for said transfer-roll; of a roll operating means comprising a flexible connection cable, a series of guide sheaves about which said cable is arranged to present two reaches that simultaneously move in the same general direction, means attaching said reaches of cable to the respective carrier members for the ends of said transfer-roll, and means for effecting alternate longitudinal back and forth pulls on said cable.

5. In an envelope-machine of the class described, comprising a gum-supply, vertically moving blank-gumming pickers and a laterally moving gum-transfer-roll traveling from the gum-supply across the faces of the pickers; the combination with the transfer-roll carriers, of a cable connected therewith for moving said roll, a series of guiding sheaves supporting and directing said cable, an oscillating drum to which said cable is connected' for winding onto and from the periphery at opposite sides, a pinion operatively connected with said drum, a reciprocating member carrying a rack engaging said pinion, and a revolving cam working with the envelope-machine mechanism and adapted for actuating said rack-carrying member.

6. In combination with the reciprocating gum-transferring roll, parallel guides therefor, roll-supporting carriers slidable on said guides, a flexible cable controlling the carriers, and means forv operating said cable; of means for the attachment of said cable to the carrier comprising a laterally projecting member united with the carrier and having a cable receiving space within which the cable is clamped.

7. In an envelope-machine, in combination with the reciprocating' picker-gumming roll, parallel guides therefor, rollsupporting carriers slidable on said guides, a pulling-cable connection and means for operating the same; of means for uniting the cable and roll-supporting carrier, comprising-a coupling-block mounted between lugs formed on the carrier and slidable on the guide, an expanding spring arranged between the coupling-block and lug, said coupling-block provided with cable-receiving jaws internally fitted with coacting offset grip-faces, and means for clamping said jaws rigidly upon the cable laid between said grip-faces. :h

EZRA P. WATERI-IOUSE, CARL HENRY LEKBERG.

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