US1676005A - Gumming machine - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1928. 1,676,005

E. CONT] eumun'e 'mipgpia File d Dec 8. 1921 '11 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY ,005 CONT] I GUMMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8. 1921' heets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN EY E. CONTI GUMMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8. 1921 11 heets-Shet a m "I'll," H I ltt 'llll II 111,1" g F \N Cf ATTORNEY July 3, 192a.

1,676,005 E. CONTI I GUMMING MACHINE 7 Filed Dec. 8. 1921 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR {D u 3 Q ETERW July 3, 1928.

E. com-l GUMMING MACHINE Filed Dec 8. 1921 ll heets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WA- I BY M M ATTORNEY July 3, l28.-

E. CONT! surname mcnma Filed Dec. 8. 1921 11' Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Wwii: BY

July 3, 1928;

E. CONTI GUMMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8. 1921 1,1 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

. BY v July 3, 1928-.- 1,676,005 E. CONT! GUMMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8; 1921 11 Sheets-$119919 v INVENTOR I BY W aw W ATTORNEY July 3,1928. I V E. CONTI GUMMING MACHINE i1 Gm INVENTQR TTORNEY July 3, 192s. I

E. CONT] GUMMING maxim;

Filed Dec. 8. 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 1-1 INVENTOR ATTORNE Fatented July 3, 1928.

uuirsn srarss PATENT QFFICF.

EUGENE GONTI, 0F CLIFFSIDE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDER HERZ, OF NEN ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

GUI/ MING MACHINE.

Application filed December 8, 1921.

This invention relates to feeding and conveying mechanism. The invention has been developedin connection with a machine for applying adhesive to sheets oi? fabricated material and for convenience will be described in connection with its application to such a machine. The description of the particular machine is illustrative merely and is not intended as defining the limits of the invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus whereby the successive sheets will. be transferred from a hopper and conveyed by positively acting means so that the sheets will not be disarranged in transit.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of apparatus of this character which will be adaptable to articles of various sizes.

Vl' hile I have stated certain of the objects of the invention, I do not consider it necessary to enumerate here all of the objects as objects other than those hereinbei ore stated will appear from the description of the invention.

I will describe the invention in connection with apparatus used for the application of adhesive to the edges of the flaps of envelopes but it is to be understood that the invention' is of wider application for it ohviously may be embodied not only in apparatus used for the application oi adhesive to various sheets of material whether the sheets be folded or unfolded and whether the material be paper or cloth or other similar material but in other relations where apparatus 'oi' the character described is desired.

In the drawings 1 have shown one embodiment or my invention, but this embodiment is selected for the purpose of conven hence of illustration, and I do not wisn to be limited to the details of construction shown therein, it is obvious that various changes may be made within the scope of the inven tion.

I In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with parts thereof broken away to more clearly disclose certain of the details;

Figure is a side elevation thereof;

Figure is a longitudinal, vertical section on line 33 in Figure 1;

Serial No. 520,837.

Figure 4 a side elevation with parts thereof broken away, viewed from the side opposite to that from which Figure 2 is viewed;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the mech anism for w' hdrawing the envelopes from the hopper, showing particularly the actuating means therefor;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail, illustrating the operation of the suction lingers;

Figure 7 is a detail of the suction fingers, illustrating the adjustability of the same to envelopes of various sizes;

F igure 8 is an enlarged detail of the means for withdrawing the envelopes from the hopper, showing particularly the means for actuating the roller which engages the successive envelopes after they have been partially withdrawn by the suction fingers;

Figure 9 is a detail of the means for partially withdrawing the envelopes from the hopper, showing particularly the mechanism for actuating the suction lingers;

Figure 10 is a detail of the means for forcing the partly withdrawn envelopes into engagement with the transfer drum;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view at the hopper end of the machine;

Figure 12 is a fragm'ental vertical scctional view looking at the transfer drum; and

Figure 13 is a detail. of the adhesive applying rolls and their actuating and adjustmg means.

The machine which as hereinbeiore stated is an illustrative embodiment of the invention consists, generally, of a hopper for a stack oi? envelopes to the end win of each oi which the adhesive is to be applied, from which hopper the envelopes are successively transferred to an endless conveyor by means which etiect a positive transfer, thus eliminating the possibility of disarrangement of the envelopes. The endless conveyor carries the successive envelopes to the adhesive applying mechanism, which consists of a plurality of adjustable rolls arranged to apply adhesive to the end wings as the envelopes successively are carried past the rolls by the conveyor. The envelopes, after the application oi the adhesive to the end wings thereof, are passed through a chamber where the lit drying of the adhesive which drying has initially been started during their travel with the conveyor, is completed. The conveyor then carries the envelopes to a receiver where they are automatically stacked for removal by the operative.

The form of the machine illustrated con-- sists of a frame, including side pieces 15 and 16 on one end of which are cheek plates 17 and 18, and on the other end of which is the drying chamber 19, the air in which is circulated by a motor-driven fan 20. A series of pulleys 22, 23 and 2a are supported on shafts which extend between the sides 15 and 16 of the frame. A. drum 25 is mounted, loosely, on a shaft 26 extending between the cheek plates 17 and 18, while a relatively larger drum 27 is mounted on a shaft 28 extending between the cheek plates 17 and 18. Sue member of the conveyor, which consists of a pair of spaced belts 32, passes around the pulleys 22, 23 and 24C, and the drums 25 and 27, being held tight by a belt tightener 30, which is pivoted at 31 on the frame. The other member of the conveyor, which consists of a pair of spaced belts 29, passes around the pulleys 22, 28 and 2st, and around a pulley 33, a tightener 3 1 and a roller 35. The reaches of the conveyor between the drum 27 and the pulley 22 and between the pulleys 22, 23, 2a and 33, are reinforced by plates 36, so that the envelopes carried by the conveyor will not become disarranged but will be held positively in their proper positions by being clamped between the two members of the conveyor.

A hopper adapted to support a stack of envelopes is mounted on the plates 17 and 18 of the frame. This hopper includes a supporting plate or table 37, which is arranged in an inclined position, and is provided with a series of upwardly extending abutments 38, which are adjustably secured to the plate 37 by means of slot and screw connections 39, so as to adapt the hopper t0 envelopes of various sizes. Additional side guides 40 are adjustably secured by slot and bolt connections 11 to the plate 37, and are adapted to engage the sides of the envelopes points spaced from those at which the side abutments 88 engage the envelopes, but rearwardly of the leading edges of the envelopes.

It will be noted that the envelopes are stacked in the hopper so that the leading ends are the closed ends and the end wings to which the adhesive is to be applied are located at the rear end of the hopper. hen the envelopes are successively withdrawn the closed ends will lead and the open end wings will follow. The plate or table 37 is pro vided with upwardly extending arms 12 which are connected by a cross bar 43, raised above the plane of the table 37, as clearly illustrated at the upper part of Figure 6. Depending from this cross bar 43 are fingers 4: 1, adapted to engage the leading edges of the envelopes to assist in maintaining the stack in position. Additional retention fingers having curved portions 46 on the ends thereof depend from the cross bar 13, and are adapted to prevent the downward movement of the forward portions of the stack of envelopes when the forward portion of the lowermost envelope of the stack is separated and partly withdrawn. Both the fingers 4i and are adjustably secured to the cross bar as by bolts 47, which are adapted to engage in any of a series of openings 48 in the cross bar (see Figure 11).

It will be noted, upon an inspection of Figure 6 of the drawings, that the abutments 38 are adjusted so that the forward portions of the envelopes overhang the forward edge of the table 37 and that the fingers 44-. and 45 are so adjusted that a space is left between them and the forward edge of the table. Thus an opening is provided through which the envelopes of the stack may successively be withdrawn.

In order that the envelopes may partly be withdrawn successively from the bottom of the stack prior to their engagement with the drum 25, I have provided pneumatic mechanism to engage the successive bottom envelopes, to draw the forward edges downwardly and partly withdraw the envelopes from the hopper. This mechanism includes a pair of slides 49, which are mounted on the cheek plates 17 and 18 and on which, at 51, a pair of rocker arms 50 are pivoted. The rocker arms are connected at their upper ends by a transverse bar 52, and carry at their opposite ends rollers 53. Adjustably mounted on the transverse bar 52 are suction fingers 5a, the adjustment being through screw and slot connections 55, which provide for the lateral adjustment of the suction lingers so as to adapt them to engage envelopes of various widths. These fingers are connected to a suitable coupling 56 by flexible tubes 57, the tubes making the lateral adjustment of the hugers possible. T he coupling 56 is connected to a suitable evacuating mechanism by a flexible tube 58, the mechanism illustrated in the drawing being a pump 59, which is actuated in a manner later to be described.

The slides 49 are moved upwardly by suitable means such as bell crank levers 60, which are pivoted at 61 and engage rollers 62 on the slides, the rollers extending through slots 63 in the cheek plates 17 and 18. These bell crank levers are provided at their other ends with rollers Gl which ride upon cams 65, so that during the rotation of the cams motion will be imparted to the bell crank levers 60 to cause the upward movement of the slides and consequently to give the suction fingers 54 their withdrawing movement. The slides are moved in the opposite direction together with the fingers 54 by springs 66 (see Figure 9).

The rocker arms 50 are moved pivotally in one direction to engage the fingers with the lowermost envelope of the stack when the slides 49 are in their lower positions by cams 67, upon which the rollers 53 slide.

' The rocker arms 50 are moved in the opposite direction to move the fingers downwardly by springs 68. Thusit will b seen that when the slides 49 are in their ower positions the suction fingers 54 will be raised to engage the lower envelope of the stack adjacent'to its leading edge, and will exert such upward pressure that the forward edge of the stack of envelopes will be raised. During the movement of the slides 49'and the suction fingers 5 1 which are carried thereby, in the opposite direction by the action of the leve-rs 60, the springs 68 will move the arms 50, and consequently the suction fingers 54;, pivotally downwardly, the cams 67 permitting such movement. This downward movement will separate the forward portion of the lower envelope of the stack from the remaining envelopes, the remaining envelopes being maintained in position by the fingers 4.4 and being prevented from following the lower envelope in its movement by the fingers 15 and the curved portions 46 thereof. Then, as the slides 49 move, the suction fingers will be withdrawn into the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 6, and the partly separated envelope will be ready to be depressed to engage the conveyor member 32 which passes around the drum 25.

The depression ofthe free ends of the successive envelopes is accomplished in the following manner: Mounted on the transversely extending shaft 69, which is supported'in the cheek plates 17 and 18, are depression fingers 7 0, which are adapted to swing from the full line positions to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so as to engage and depress the envelopes into contact with the surface of the conveyor 32 as it passes around the drum 25. These de pression fingers are given an oscillatory movement by a cam 71, which is mounted on one end of the shaft 26 on which the drum 25 is mounted loosely. A crank arm 72 is secured to the shaft 69, and connected to a lever 73, which carries a roller 74 operating on the face of the cam 71, by a link 75. Thus the cam 71 will operate to raise the depres sion fingers 70, and will permit the fingers to be moved downwardly to force the envelopes into contact with the conveyor 32 on tion of the cam 71 the depression fingers 7 0 will be drawn downward by the spring 76, and in the downward movement will engage the partly withdrawn lowermost envelope of the stack, and force its forward portion into engagement with the beforementioned conveyor 32.

Mounted on the shaft 26 for oscillation independent of the rotation of the shaft, is a pair of arms 77, carrying bearings 78 at their upper ends, which bearings are forced downward by springs 79. A roller 80 is mounted in these bearings 78 and is urged in contact with the conveyor at the upper side of the drum 25 by the springs 79. This roller 80 is oscillated about the shaft 26 as a pivot by a cam 81, which is mounted on a shaft 82, one of the arms 77 having an extension 83 on the end of which is a roller 84 operating on the cam 82. The roller 80 is moved in one direction, that is, toward the hopper, by a spring 85, this motion being permitted by the rotation of the cam 81, and is moved in the opposite direction, that is, away from the hopper, by the cam 82 against the influence of the spring. The necessity for this oscillatory movement of the roller 80 is apparent when it is considered that the path of move ment of the depression fingers intersects one position of the roller. The roller is rotated continuously by a pinion 86, which is secured to one end of the roller shaft and which meshes with a gear 87 on one end of and fast with the drum 25.

Extending partially around the drum 25 are guides 88, between which and the conroller 80. These guides 88 terminate short of the drum 27, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A second roller 89 is mounted on a shaft- 90, and is located in spaced relation to the roller 80, so that after the envelopes have been fed beneath the guides 88 by the roller 80, they will be engaged by the roller 89 and their feeding to the drum 27 continued. This roller 89 is driven by a gear 91 which meshes with the gear 87 previously described.

After the envelopes have successively been fed from the hopper on to the conveyor 5 -2 and their movement toward the drum 27 continued by the rollers 80 and 89, the envelopes pass between the rollers and the drum 27, in which position they are presented to the adhesive applying mechanism.

Motion is imparted to the drums 25 and 27 and to the conveyor in the following manner. A shaft 92 rotated in any suitable manner. as for instance by a pulley 98 which is connected to a motor 94 by a belt 95. Mounted on this shaft 92 is a pinion 96, which meshes with a gear 97 on the shaft 82, which shaft carries a disk 98 to which is eccentrically connected the plunger 99 of the pump 59. On the opposite end of the shaft 82 a pinion 100 is mounted, which pinion meshes with a gear 101 on a shaft 102. A pinion 103 is secured to the shaft 102 and meshes with a gear 104 on a shaft 105. A gear 106, small with relation to the gear 104:, is mounted on the shaft 105 and neshes with a relatively larger gear 107, mounted on a shaft 108, on which shaft a relatively smaller gear 109 is mounted. This latter gear 109 meshes with a large gear 110, which is fixed with relation to the large drum 27. This gear 110 meshes with the relatively smaller gear 87, which is fixed with relation to the smaller drum 25. Thus the drums 25 and 27 are rotated in opposite directions.

011 one end of the shaft 28 a sprocket lll'is secured around which a chain 112 passes, which chain also passes around the sprocket 113 on the shaft of the pulley 241. A second chain 114 passes around, a second sprocket on the shaft ofthe pulley 24:, and around a sprocket 115 on the shaft of the pulley A chain 116 passes around sprockets on the shafts of the pulleys 22 and 23. thus imparting movement to all of the pulleys, and consequently movement to the conveyor at various points in the conveyor, so that the slipping of the same on the drums will be obviated. As has been before stated, the suction through the tube 58, and consequently through the suction fingers 541, is destroyed at a certain point in the movement of the fingers, namely,.pract-ically simultaneously with the engagement of the partly withdrawn envelope bythe depression fingers 70.

This interrupt-ion is accomplished as follows: Interpolated in the tube 58 is a valve 58, which is controlled by a closure member 59 pivoted at 60 to the plate 17. This closure member 59 is moved to close the valve 58 by a spring 61, and is moved in the opposite direction to open the valve by a cam 62 secured to the shaft 26. The cam cooperates with a roller 63 on the extended end of the closure member. The valve 58 may be held open continuously to destroy the suction in the fingers 54 by means of a latch 6a, which is pivoted at and which may be swung into such position that the closure member 59 will be lifted from the valve 58 and the roller 63 will clear the cam 62.

In order that the adhesive may be applied to the end wings of the successive envelopes as they pass around the drum 27, I have provided a series of adhesive rolls 117. 118 and 119. The roll 118 is secured to a shaft 120, while the roll 117 is secured to a shaft 121. The shaft 121 is mounted in bearings at the upper ends of arms 122 which are pivoted on the shaft 120 and are provided with downwardly extending portions 123, against the ends of which manually actuated cams 124 are adapted to press, the arms being held in contact with the cams by springs 125. These springs 125 draw the roll 117 toward the drum 27 so that as the envelopes pass the adhesive will be applied to the end wings thereof, but the proximity of the roll 117 to the drum 27 is controlled by the adjustment of the cams 124-. When no envelopes are passing around the drum 27, the roll 117 may be withdrawn entirely from the adhesive applying position by the cams 12 1. The screws 126 are adjustable to limit the movement of the roll 117 toward the drum 27.

The roll 118 operates in the adhesive applying trough 127, and through its contact witlf the roll 117, this roll 117 is supplied with adhesive.

The roll 119 is mounted on a shaft 128, which is carried by arms 129 pivoted at 130 and is drawn normally toward the roll 118 by springs 131 being adjustable with relation to said roll, however, by means of said screws 132 so that the space between the rolls 118 and 119 may be varied.

It will thus be seen that by the manipu lation of the set screws 132 and the variation of the space between the rolls 118 and 119, the amount of the adhesive supplied to the roll 118 may be controlled. Furthermore, the application of the adhesive to the end wings of the envelopes may be controlled by the pivotal movement of the arms 122 under the influence of the cams 124.

These rolls 117, 118, and 119 are provided with gears 133, 134: and 135, the gear 134 meshing with both the gears 133 and 135. This gear 134 is driven by a pinion 130 which meshes with the gear 110 on the drum 27.

A scraper 137 is mounted on each side of the trough 127 and prevents the flowing of the adhesive from the ends of the rolls 118 and 119 by scraping the adhesive from the rolls and returning it to the trough 127.

In order that the operative may be informed when a predetermined number of envelopes have had adhesive applied thereto and stacked, I have provided a gear 138, which is actuated by a pinion 139 on the shaft 108, the relation between the pinions, the gear 138, and the gear 110, being such that the gear 138 is moved the distance of one tooth each time adhesive is applied to an envelope. This gear 138 carries an electrical contact 1&0, which engages a fixed contact 141, each time the gear 138 completes a revolution. The contacts 140 and 111 are interpolated in an electric circuit with any suitable signaling device such as a lamp which will light upon the closing of a circuit.

Summarizing the operation of the machine, the envelopes having previously been stacked in the hopper with the closed ends leading and the wings to which the adhesive is to be applied following, are withdrawn successively from the bottom of the stack by the suction fingers 54. These fingers eggage the lowermost envelope of the stack in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6, and draw the forward portion of the envelope downwardly and forwardly, moving it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6. The remaining envelopes of the stack are retained in their proper positions by the curved portions d6 of the fingers 45, so that the lowermost envelope is separated from the next adjacent envelope without disar-.

ranging the stack. During this partial withdrawal of the envelope from the bottom of the stack, the suction through the fingers 54 is continuous, the valve 58 being closed. when the lingers reach the dotted line position in Fig. 6, the valve 58 is opened and the suction destroyed, so that the partly withdrawn envelope is then released from the suction fingers. Simultaneously with the release of the envelope from the suction fingers, the depression lingers 7O engage the forward portion of the envelope and move it downward into contact with the conveyor member 32 which passes around the drum 25. During this depression of the envelope the roller 80 is in its position most remote from the hopper, such position being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. YVhen, however the envelope has been depressed the roller 80 moves toward the hopper and clamps the envelope between itself and the conveyor at which time the roller is continuously rotating. The rotation of the roller and the movement of the conveyor member 32 incident to the rotation of the drum 25, continues the withdrawal of the lowermost envelope from the stack and feeds it beneath the are then successively engaged by the roller 89 and clamped between it and the conveyor, from which roller the envelopes are fed to the drum 27, passing between the drum and the conveyor member Thus the withdrawal of the envelopes from the hopper is completed. After having been clamped between the conveyor member and the drum 27, with the side of the end flap which is to receive the adhesive arranged outwardly, the envelopes are passed over the adhesive applying roll 117, where the portions of the end wings are coated with adhesive.

After having had the adhesive applied to the end wings, the envelopes pass between both members 29 and 32 of the conveyor, around the pulley 22, downwardly through the drying chamber 19, and thence around the pulleys 23 and 24, from whence they are then carried by the lower member of the conveyor over the horizontal plate 36 and stacked as at 142 (Fig. 3), the succeeding envelopes passing beneath the previously formed stack. During the travel of the envelopes from the adhesive applying mechanism to the assembled stack the adhesive is thoroughly dried.

WVhat I claim is: i

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a hopper for a stack of sheets of fabricated material, of a conveyor, means for partly withdrawing sheets from said hopper, oscillatory means for depressing the partly withdrawn sheets into engagement with the conveyor, a roller for clamping the sheets to the conveyor in overlapped relation, and means for moving the roller out of the path of movement of the sheet depressing means during its n'iovement toward the conveyor. 2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of cooperating conveyors arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors, and means for feeding the sheets from the stack to and between the conveyors in overlapped relation, said means comprising a suction picker having an operative movement for separating one end of each sheet from the stack and a retractive movement to avoid interference with further feeding movement of the sheet. 1n apparatus of the character described, 1n combination, a pair of cooperating conveyors arranged to carry sheets in over lapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors, means for feeding the sheets from the stack to and between the conveyors in overlapped relation, said means comprising a suction picker for separating the forward edges of the sheets from the stack and means for moving the separated forward edges against one of the conveyors in overlapped relation. 4. ln apparatus of the chara'cter described, in combination, a pair of cooperating conveyors arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors, means for feeding thesheets from the stack to and between the conveyors in overlapped relation, said means comprising a suction picker and means for pressing the sheets against one conveyor in overlapped relation to cause withdrawal thereof from the stack during the forward movement of the conveyor.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of cooperating con veyors arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors, means for separating sheets from the stack and feeding the same to one of the conveyors in overlapped relation and means for clamping the sheets against that conveyor to insure withdrawal of the sheets from the stack during the forward movement of the conveyor, said means comprising a suction picker and a presser finger arranged to engage the separated forward edges of the successive sheets and press them against the 6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of cooperating conveyors arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors and means for separatii'ig sheets from the stack and feeding the same to and between conveyors in overlapped relation, said means comprising a picker mechanism arranged to separate the sheets from the stack one by one by engaging each successive sheet adjaccnt to the forward edge thereof.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of flexible cooperating conveyors arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors, means for separating sheets from the stack and feeding the same to and between conveyors in overlapped relation and a rigid reinforcing guide adjacent and lying behind a run of one of the conveyors arranged to cooperate therewith to support the conveyors and sheets carried thereby.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combinatioma pair of cooperating conveyorsarranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation therebetween, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said conveyors, a drum adjacent said stack support over which one of said conveyors runs, means for separating sheets from said stack and means for pressing the forward edges of the separated sheets against said conveyor and drum and means for clamping the forward edges of said sheets against the conveyor and drum to cause complete withdrawal of the sheets from the stack as the drum rotates.

9. In apparatus of the character described in combination, a support for a stack of sheets, a drum adjacent the stack support, a plurality of guide pulleys, a flexible conveyor passing over said drum and guidepulleys, a second flexible conveyor cooperating with said first conveyor and passing over said guide pulleys, means for separating sheets from said stack and feeding the same to the first mentioned conveyor one by one in overlapped relation comprising a suction picker and a presser member, said presser member being arranged to engage the separated edges of the sheets and press them against the conveyor while the sheets are in overlapped relation.

10. In a gunm'iing machine in combina tion, a support for a stack of envelopes, a drum rotatable at relatively low speet adjacent said stack support, a suction picker projecting beneath the, stack support and movable toward and from the stack to separatethe forward edges of the envelopes therefrom, a separator movable into engagement with successive separated envelopes to press the same against the drum, said suction picker and separator operating at relatively high speed to separate each successive envelope before the preceding envelope has been entirely withdrawn from the stack and means for clamping the envelope against the drum in overlapped relation to cause withdrawal thereof "from the stack as the drum rotates.

11. In apparatus of the character described in combination, conveyor mechanism arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation comprising a rotatable drum, a support for a stack of sheets adj accnt said drum, a picker arranged to support the for ard edges of said sheets one by one from said stack, while the supported sheets are main tained in overlapped relation, the presser member arranged to press said sheets toward the drum, a presser roll cooperating with said. drum to grip the sheets and means for moving the roll peripherally forward along said drum to permitfceding movement of a sheetagainst the drum and backward to ensaid sheet.

12. In apparatus of the character do scribed in combination, conveyor mechanism arranged to carry sheets in overlapped relation comprising a rotatable drum, a support for a stack of sheets adjacent said drum, means arranged to support the forward edges of sheets one by one from said stack while the supported sheets are maintained in overlapped relation and to brace said sheets against the drum, and a presser roll movable toward and away from position to press the forward edge of each sheet against the drum.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this first day of December, 1921.

EUGENE CONTI.

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