US1993059A

US1993059A - Machine for applying metallic fasteners to envelopes

Info

Publication number: US1993059A
Application number: US542264A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent E Heywood; George A Anderson
Original assignee: United States Envelope Co
Current assignee: United States Envelope Co
Priority date: 1931-06-05
Filing date: 1931-06-05
Publication date: 1935-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1952-03-05

Description

March 5, 1935. v. E. HE YWOCD EI'AL 1, 3, 5

. MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Original Filed June 5, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 "hm snc on s Vz'n can? 5. Fag wood w Mica-n i,

Mmh 5,1935, v. E. HEYWOOD ET m. 1,993,059

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Original Filed-June 5, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1\ m SmvanXoRS Vincent 6. l'leyzuooda 6362/4. flnder'son.

Mkonneg March 5, 1935.

V. E. HEYWOOD ET AL -MACH IN]?! FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 0 5 M mam m m m e n aufla a .Q v m m 74m Vincent 6. He

March 5, 1935. 'v. E. HEYWOOD ET AL 1,993,059

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES 8 Sheets-Shqet 4- Original Filed June 5, 1951 Flllllll HHIIH March 5, 5. v. E. HEYWQ D Em 1 1 993,059

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES 7 Original Filed June 5, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 \nvexxtons Vincent 6. Heywood 9' 62%;? Anderson 1,9,.

March 5, 1935- v. E. HEYWOOD El AL M ACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Original FiledJune 5, 1931 8 Shegts-Sheet 6 EN 07 i I 51w enmoRs I/Lnceni .6. Heywood -r Geo? 14. finderson. in, Ma ma,

-i--- Ema ll-Quid K S N g V as Q IL mm MN g .Pw Q Q- If!!! j\V\\\VIVVV/Ylllg Q 1 n \s March 5, 1935. I

v. E. HEYWOOD ET AL 1,993,059

MACHTNE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Original Filed June 5. 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet? huxenions Z/Lncerd (5. Heywood Gear 3 JQflnder's n my? ZkM March 1935- v. E. HEYWOOD ET AL 1,993,059

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS T0 ENVELQPES Original Filed June 5, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 anion: Vznceni ywood-v- Geor- .14. flnder'son.

" onmenq Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES" Macnnvr: Foa APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS T ENVELOPES Vincent E. Heywood and George A. Anderson, Worcester, Mass., assignors to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass-3 a poration of Maine cor- . Application June 5,1931. scrial'No- 542,264"

W i Renewed August 2, 1934 18 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machinefor applying metallic fasteners to envelopes, and has for its object to provide an improved machine of the above indicated character that is entirely automatic in its operation of converting a supply of. envelopes and a supply, of flatfastener blanks into completed envelopes, each provided with a fastener applied to its back wall and a reinforced flap opening for receiving the fastener. Y

Briefly stated, theinventio'n contemplates-th provision, in a single machine, of means for re; moving envelopes from a suitable supply and presenting them, one by one, in flatcondi tion to a fastener attaching station, means for removing fiat metallic fastener blanks from a magazine and for delivering them, one by one, with attaching ,prongs formed thereon to the attaching station, means for attaching a fastener to the rear wall of each envelope while forming a reinforced opening in the envelope flap; and means for withdrawing the finished envelopes from the attaching station and conveying them to a stacking device arranged in readily-distinguishable groups,

J each containing a predetermined number of tioned instrumentalities, means for automatically rendering thefastener blank feeding devices -inoperativeupon failure of the envelopes to feed properly, and. means for automatically stopping the machine should an envelope fail to be delivered to the stacking device.

The above and other advantageousfeatures. of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following desgription with refere'nce to the accompanying drawings, .in whichi- Fig. l is a view in front elevation ofa machine Fig. 5 is a, horizontal sectional view along the line 5-5 of .Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional v view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view illustrating details of the fastener blank bending mechanism shown theenvelop'e. 'I'he fasteners which are soap- Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view along the line "8-8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the parts bf Fig. -'7, on an enlarged scale.

' Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the parts of Fig. 12 in different positions. Fig. 14 is a. vertical sectional view along the line 14I4 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction ofv 1 the arrows.

Fig. 15 is afragmentary horizontal sectional view along "the line 15-45 of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, illustrating a modified form of blank feeding and bending mechanism. i

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank bending tools. I

Fig. 18 is'a vertical sectional view along the line 18--18,of Fig. 17. i

Figs. 19 and 20 are views similar to Fig. 18, showing the parts in difierent positions.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view showing a portion 'of the parts of Fig. 16 in plan.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Figs-1 and 2, the machine comprises, a frame 1 supporting a horizontally movable belt conveyor'2, the general function of which is to move envelopes 3 from a suitable support 4 at one end of the machine and to deliver them, oneb'y one, to a stacking device 5 at the opposite end of the con'veyor. V hereinafter more fully described, each envelope 3, while in transit between the support 4 and the stacking device 5, is arrested in its movement on the conveyor 2 and is shifted bodily at right angles to its previous line of travel by transfer mechanism generallygindicated bythe reference character 6, in Fig. 2. v

The envelope 3 indicatedin .full lines in Fig. 2 is shown as having been moved by the, transfer which it is operated upon by a plunger 7 carried by a reciprocatory head 8, see Fig. 1', the plunger being adapted to apply a fastener to the body of.

Aswillbe so mechanism 6 to the fastener attaching station at ported in a vertical stack by a suitable magazine 10. A delivery chutell ektends from the base of the magazine 10 to a point-below the plunger 7 at the fastener attaching station, and before entering the chutelll-each-blank'fl is operated upon by bending devices'12 which form prongs on each flat blank. During its travel through the chute 11 each pronged blank is operated uponby a feeding device 13, the function of which is to def liver the pronged fastener blanks, one by one, to between the delivery of successive envelopes to the attaching station in timed relation with the delivery of envelopes to the station by the transfer. mechanism 6.

Having described the general relation and function of the several mechanisms embodied in the-machine, it may now be stated that each complete cycle ofoperation of the machine resuits in the separate removal of an envelope 3 .from the support 4, its travel on the conveyor 2 to a point where it is operated upon by th transfer mechanism 6, to position the envelope a the fastening station, the operation of the plunger '7 upon a previously positioned fastener blank to attach it to the body of the envelope by means of its prongs, and the return of the completed envelope to the conveyor 2 by the transfer mech anism- 6, whereupon its travel is resumed to the stacking device 5. coincidentally with the delivery of a pronged fastener to the fastening Envelope feeding mechanism As best shown in Fig. 3, the envelope feeding, convey'ng and transfer mechanism is driven directly from the main shaft 14, to which power is applied from any suitable'source, as by means ofthedriven belt 15. The main shaft 14 is rotatably supported between side frames 16, and one end of the shaft 14 is connected to a counter shaft 1'! "by a chain 18 passing around gears 19 on the shafts 14 and 1'7, respectively. The shaft 17 is-rotatably supported by the horizontal frame member 1, and is connected through bevel gearing 20 to a cross shaft '21 carrying a roll 22 for driving one end of the conveyor 2, the other end of which around a roll 23. The

cross shaft 21 extends beyond the conveyor 2 and carries at its o'uter end a gear 24 in mesh with a gear 25 carried by a feed roll shaft 26 extending above and parallel to thecross shaft 21.. the gears its 3?:1 25 being indicated best shown in m a, the shaft 26 ertends across the machine above the conveyor 2 and carries spaced envelope feeding wheels 27 that are arranged to rotate above the supply of envelopes a on the support 4. Each feed wheel 27 provides its outer periphery a series of in- 'sets 28 composed of frictional material, such as rubber, which are adapted to grip the envelopes 3 and deliver them separately to the upp r surface of the moving conveyor 2 which is substana tially tangenttothefeedwheelsfl. Itwillbe' obvious. from a consideration of Fig.3 that the ratio between the chaindriven gears 19 between in dottedlines'in" the shaft 14 and 17 is such that theconveyor roll shaft 21 is driven at a greater speed than the main shaft 14, while the ratio between the

gears

24 and 25 is such that the feed roll'shaft 26 rosupported atintervals along the conveyor by plates 30. As best shown in Fig. 3, the right hand roller plate 30 is carried by a bracket 31 pivotally supported on a shaft 32, the bracket 31' being turnable with the shaft 32. The shaft 32 is adapted to be turned by a lever 33 pivotally connected at its outer end to a link 34 extending downwardly toward the main shaft 14 and carrying at its lower end a fork 35 embracing the shaft 14, The fork 35 carries a roll 36 received in a track 37a provided on a cam 37 mounted on the shaft 14, so that each revolution of theshaft 14 is adapted toimpart a rocking movement to the shaft 32 carrying the roller plate bracket 31. The purpose of this movement is to lift the plate 30 with its rollers 29 away from the surface of the conveyor 2 to permit the free removal of an envelope from the conveyor by the transfer mechanism 6. In order to cause release of the rollers 29 atthe left of the transfer mechanism 6 as viewed in Fig. 3, theleft hand roller plate 30 is pivotally 'cormected to an arm 38, carried by the right hand plate 30, and since the left hand plate 30 is pivotally supported at its opposite end on a shaft 39, see Fig. 2, the two plates 30 and their rollers 29 will be raised in unison from engagement with an envelope, in advance of the operation of transfer mechanism 6, which will next be described.

Envelope transfer mechanism with the upper surface of the conveyor 2. As

best shown in Fig. 3, the stops 40 are carried by a holder 43 adjustable on a supporting bar, 44 so that the stops can be variably positioned with respect to the\transfer mechanism for gauging envelopes of different widths. The bar 44 is carried by a slide 45 vertically movable in a guideway' 46, the slide being operatively connected to one arm of a bell crank lever, shown in dotted lines, with its other arm 47 carrying a roll 48 received in a groove 49a provided in a cam 49 on the main shaft14. The timing of the cam, 49 is such that as an envelope approaches'the transfer mechanism on the conveyor 2, the stops 40 are projected upwardly through the slots 41 in the path of the envelope, thereby bringing the envelope to rest in the dot and dash line position indicated in Fig, 2, for the transfer operation. Before thereturn of an envelope after the application. of: a fastener, as will" be hereinafter described, the cam 49 causes the stops to be lowered below the table 42, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the finished envelope resumes travel on the conveyor 2 to the stacking device 5.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 12, the envelope transfer mechanism 6 consists of a carriage 50 providing rollers 51 on which it is adapted to move between spaced parallel guides 52 extending beneath the table 42 at right angles to the line of movement of the conveyor 2. The carriage 50 is adapted to have a reciprocatory movement imparted thereto on the guides 52 by means of a lever 53 mounted on a shaft 54 rotatably supported in one of the vertical side frames 16 below the horizontal frame member 1, see Fig. 3.

The shaft 54 carries a second lever 55 provided" at its lower end with a roll 56 received in the groove 57a of a cam 5'7 mounted on the main shaft 14. The upper portion of the'operating lever 53, shown in Fig. 12, is connected to the carriage 50 by means of a rod 58 received in an opening 59a provided in a downwardly extending arm 59 forming part of the carriage 50.- The rod 58 is longitudinally adjustable within the opening 59a so as to vary the travel of the carriage 50, a set screw 60 being provided to engage the rod 58 and hold it in position on the arm 59. The cam 5'7 which controls the movement of the carriage operating lever 53 is so timed that when an envelope comes to rest against the raised stops 40, the carriage starts on its cross movement to position the envelope at the fastener attaching station, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, movement of the carriage 50 being accompanied by the operation of an envelope gripping device.

As best shown in Fig. 12, the envelope gripping device consists of an arm 61 pivotally'mounted on a shaft 62 supported by the carriage 50. the shaft 62 also carrying an arm 63 provided at its end with a roll 64. A spring connected at one end to the carriage 50 and at its other end to the arm 63, exerts a force tending to turn the gripping arm 61 about its axis into engagement with an opposed stationary gripping element 66 having an inset 66a of frictional material. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 12 in which thecarriage 50 is moving in the direction of the arrow, the roll 64 at the end of the arm 63 is bearing on the surface of a cam 6'7 slidably mounted on a plate 68, the cam 67 having reached the right hand limit of its movement in a slot 69. Therefore, further movement of the carriage 50 to the right will cause the roll 64 to pass off the cam 6'7, whereupon the spring 65 will turn the gripping arm 61 toward the gripping element 66 to seize an envelope 3. As shown in Fig. 12, the movable gripping arm 61 provides a projection 61a which is adapted to engage the end of an envelope 3 in advance of the gripping action to act as a stop, so that the end of each envelope is uniformly positioned between the gripping elements before the spring 65 pulls them together upon release of the roll 64 by the cam 6'7. This arrangement insures that the gripping elements will be open to permit an envelope to pass freely therebetween as it is gauged by the stops 40.

As best shown in Fig. 2, as each envelope reaches the dot and dash line position in engagement with the raised stops 40, its openflap 3a is engaged by a downwardly extending finger '10 carried by the left hand roller plate 30, the function of which finger '70 is to depress the 'flap 3a and direct it under a pointed horn '71 which projects over the table 42 fiom the fastener attaching station. Therefore, when the carriage 50 grips an envelope and carries it under the plunger '7 to the full line position, the pointed end of the stationary horn '71 will serve to separate the flap 3a from the rear wall, as shown in'Fig. 14, in which the rear wall extends over the horn '71 while the flap is supported by a die plate '72.

The carriage 50 under the control of cam 5'7 maintains an envelopeat the fastener attaching station long enough for the attachment of a fastener thereto by the plunger '7 and the formation of a reinforced opening in theflap 30, as will be hereinafter described, after which the carriage 50 starts its return movement. As the carriage returns, the gripping elements are held closed by the spring 65 to withdraw the envelope from the full line position of Fig. 2, the roll 64 at this time riding clear of the flat plate 69. When the returning roll engages the end of the cam 67, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13, the roll 64 will push the cam 6'7 to the left in its slot 69, without riding up its surface and as a result, the cam 6'7 will be moved to the full line position of Fig. 13 at the end of its slot 69. Therefore, the envelope gripping elements will not be separated until the roll 64 rides up the cam 6'7 in its extreme left hand position, the net result of this shifting movement of the cam 67 on the withdrawal movement of the carriage 50 being to delay the release of the completed envelope until it has been moved beyond the position in which it was originally engaged by the gripping elements. This extreme withdrawal position of the completed envelope is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 as distinguished from the dot and dash line position, and it is evident that when the completed envelope is finally released from the carriage 50 its flap 3a will be entirely clear of the horn '71. Consequently, when the conveyor 2 moves the released envelope to the stacking device 5, there is no possibility of the end of the born '71 damaging the corner of the completed envelope.- As previously pointed out, the stacking device 5 has associated therewith means for stacking the completed envelopes in readily distinguishable groups, each containing a predetermined number of envelopes, but before proceeding with a description of this mechanism, the construction and operation of the fastener blank bending and

feeding devices

12 and 13 will next be described.

Fastener blank mechanism As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the fastener blank magazine 10 comprises a pair of spaced uprights '73, each' providing a longitudinal slot 73a for receiving oppositely extending tongues '74 formed on each blank 9. The distance between the uprights '73 is such as to freely receive the flat pointed prongs '75 projecting from the body of the blank 9 on opposite sides of each tongue '74. Consequently, the magazine 10 is adapted to receive blanks 9 in flat form and maintain the body portions thereof in alinement in the magazine while permitting free vertical movement of the 'blanks inthe stack as the blanks are removed therefrom, one by one, for bending 'or forming attaching prongs on each blank, in the manner next to be described.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 11, it will be seen that the magazine 10 provides a base portion '76 in which is mounted a horizontally movable plunger '77, a portion of which is adapted to support the lowermost blank 9 in the stack. The plunger '77 provides a series of rack teeth '78 in engagement with a toothed segment 79 provided at the end of one arm of a bell crank lever 80 pivoted at 81. The other arm of the lever 80 carries a roller 82 bearing on the surface of a cam 83 mounted on a shaft 84, which as best shown in Fig. 1, extends parallel to and above the main drive shaft 14. The shaft 84 is adapted to be intermittently driven in timed relation with the main shaft 14 by means of a one revolution clutch device which will be hereinafter described, and each complete revolution of the shaft 84 imparts a reciprocatory movement to the plunger 77 between the extreme positionsshown in Figs. 8.

and 9.

As best shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the forward end of the plunger 77 provides a reduced anvil portion 85, substantially trapezoidal in crosssection, the anvil portion providing a depressed seat 86 where it joins the plunger 77. The'depth' of the seat 86 is substantially equal to the thickness of a blank 9 in the magazine 10, so that when the plunger 77 is retracted to the position of Fig. 8, the lowermost blank of the stack will be received in .the seat 86. Consequently, when the plunger 77 is moved 'by the cam 83 into the position of Fig. 9, a blank 9 will be separated from the stack and carried into the bending position where it is supported by the anvil portion 85. As a blank is carried forward by the plunger 77, it is positioned under a yieldable clamp orretainer 87.

whichQas best shown in Fig. 11, is carried at the end of a spring-pressed pin 88 slidably supported at the front of the lower end of the magazine. The lower face of the retainer 87 is rounded, as shown in Fig. 10, so that a blank 9 may readily pass thereunder, the retainer 87 serving to hold the blank firmly in the seat 86 on the anvil during the bending operation.

When'a blank 9 is positioned by the anvil portion 85 of the plunger 77 beneath the retainer 87, as shown in Fig. 10, the oppositely projecting pairs of flat prongs 75 of the blank 9 extend beneath a pair of bifurcated benders 89, the'lower ends of which are normally positioned far enough above the upper face of the blank seat 86 to permit a blank to be freely positioned beneath the retainer 87. Each bender 89 is carried by a block 90 slidably mounted in a housing 91 provided at the lower end of the magazine 10. Each bender 89 is adapted. to slide on a face 92 that is inclined from the vertical and is exactly parallel to'a side face 85a of the anvil 85. The lower end of each bender 89 is recessed to provide a face 8911 that is also parallel to the anvil face 85a although laterallydisplaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a blank 9.

Each slidable block 90 carrying abender 89 is connected by a link 90a; .indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, to'an eccentric pin 93 mounted on a shaft 94, the shafts 94 being connected together for turning in unison by gears 95, see Fig.7. One shaft 94 carries a pinion 96 that is in mesh with a toothed rack 97, the lower end of which provides a fork portion 98 embracing the shaft 84, as shown in Fig. 9. The fork portion 98 carries a roller 99, which is'received in a groove 100 provided on a cam 101 mounted on the shaft 84. With this arrangement, obviously each revolution of the shaft 84 will impart an oscillatory movement to the bender'shafts 94, which will in turn impartv a reciprocatory movement to the benders Therefore, upward movement of the rack 97 by the cam 101 will cause the benders 89 to move downwardly ifi unison to engage the. flat prongs 75 on opposite sides of the tongues 74 and bend them downwardly about the stationary anvil 85, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. In the bending of the prongs 75, the tongues 74 will be left undisturbed, since each bender 89 provides a central slot 102 for freely receiving a tongue 74 upon downward movement of a bender 89.

Upon withdrawal of the plunger 77, following bending of the prongs 75 on a blank 9, the blank is stripped from the retreating anvil 85 by reason of the fact that the downwardly projecting prongs 75 prevent the blank from being returned to the feeding device 13. As best shown in Fig. 4, the

chute 11 is inclined and contracted in width as it approaches the feeding device, so that the body of a blank 9 is disposed in a vertical plane as it comes to rest against the end of a stop 103 which projects through the wall of the chute 11. The step 103 is pivotally mounted on a pin 104, and a spring 105 serves to yieldingly maintain the stop 103, as shown, to support the body of a blank in a substantially vertical position.

After a blank has come to rest against the stop 103, it is adapted to be acted upon by a pair of spaced fingers 106, which as best shown in Fig. 6, are spaced apart substantially the same distance as are a pair of bent prongs 75 on the blank. The fingers 106 are mounted for movement in unison with a shaft 107 that is connected to the shaft 84 by bevel gears 108, so that the shaft turns in unison and at the same speed of rotation as the shaft 84. Assuming that the fingers 106 occupy the position shown in Fig. 4 at the beginning of a revolution of the shaft 84, it is' obvious that as the shaft 84 starts to turn, the fingers 106 will move downwardly to engage the prongs 75 of a fastener blank 9 then supported by the stop 103. And since. the stop 103 is yieldis stripped from the anvil 85 following bending of the prongs 75 thereon, as previously described, the stop 103 will hold this blank in position for operation upon by the fingers 106 when the shaft 84 is again turned. The functioning of the feeding device 13, as just described, therefore serves to individually deliver fastener blanks with bent prongs to the fastener attaching station, so that the blanks are positioned, one at a time, for operation upon by the plunger 7 which attaches them to the envelopes, as will now be described.

Fastener attaching mechanism As clearly shown in the eras-sectioned portion at the right of Fig. 4, the reciprocatory head 8 which carries the plunger 7 is also driven from the shaft 84 by means of a crank 109, so that for each complete revolution of the shaft 84, an

1,993,059 up and down movement is imparted to the plunger 7 in a vertical plane.."1he crank 109 is so timed that the plunger 7 is in its raised position when the fingers 106 deliver afastener blank 9 to the chute portion 11a, the curvature of which causes the blank to be positioned in'a horizontal plane at the fastener attaching station, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 4'.

Referring'now to Fig. 14, it win be seen that,

the fastener blank 9 comes to rest above an opening 110 in a guide plate 111 that is spaced from a dieplate 112 carried by the horn 71 so as to receive'the rear wall of an envelope 3 asit is positioned by the transfer mechanism 6, as'previously described. With the plunger 1 in its raised position, as shown, the fastener blank '9 is held in position above the plates 111 and 112 by means of a pair of oppositely disposed stops 113 pivot- .Each stop= 113 is yieldingly maintained in the position shown by means of a spring 116, pivotal movement'of the stock being limited by the engagement of a shoulder 117 thereon with the fixed spring holders 118. Obviously, the stops 113 are free to yield toward the spring holders 118 in response to pressure exerted on the blank!) by the plunger 7.

As previously pointed out, rotation of the shaft 84 causes the head 8 to impart downward movement to the plunger 7 after a blank 9 has been discharged into the lower chute portion 11a and has come td rest. in engagement with the stops 113, at which time the rear wall of the body of an envelope has been received between the plates 111 and 112. Therefore, as the descending plunger 7' carries the fastener blank 9 past the yieldable stops 113, the downwardly projecting prongs 75 enter the rear wall of the envelope and are turned over into clamping relation with the inside of the envelope wall by their impact with spaced anvil portions 119 formed'on a plate 120 carried by the horn 71, the anvil portions .extending into openings 112a inplate 112. This actionflrmly attaches the fastener blank to the envelope, b the turned over prongs 75.

Simultaneously with the application of a fastener blank to the envelope, as just described, a knife 121 carried by the head 8 severs a flat r inforcing patch from a strip 122 and applies it to the flap 3a of the envelope as the latter is supported by thelower die plate 72. As the patch 'is so applied to the flap, a punch 123 on which the knife 121 is adapted to telescope forms a central hole in the patch as the punch passes through an opening'72a in the plate 72. The particular form of the patch applying mechanism, together with the means forintermittently feeding the-'strip122 by the rolls 124 form no part of thepresentdnventi'on per se, such mecha-' nism being more fully shown and described in Patent No. 965,252 issued to Swift July 26, 1910.

After a fastener and a reinforcing patch have dotted lines in Fig. 2. Thecycle of operations performed by the fastener blank bending and feeding mechanism during one complete revolution or the shaft 84 takes place during a P rtion.

of the cycle of operations performed by the transfer mechanism 6 during one revolution of the main shaft 14, and there will next be described the arrangement whereby the shaft 84 is automatically caused to make just one revolution following -the delivery of each individual envelope to the transfer mechanism 6. Automatic control of fastener blank mechanism As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the drive shaft 14 isfconnected by gearing 125 to a disk 126 mounted for free rotation on a sleeve 127 surrounding the shaft 14. The plate 126 forms part.

of a Geneva motion generally designated by the reference character 128, the functioning of which serves to impart intermittent rotative movement to ashaft 129, connected by a-chain 130 to a sleeve 131 loosely mounted on the shaft 84, see Fig. 4. The ratio of the gearing 125 through which the shaft 14 drives the Geneva motion'is such that the sleeve 131 will start from rest, make one complete revolution, and stop while the ,drive shaft 14pis making only a portion of a complete revolution, and the mechanism for automatically coupling the shaft 84 to the intermittently driven sleeve 131 will now be described, with particular reference to Fig. 4. 1 I

A clutch collar 132 is slidablykeyed to the shaft 84'and provides a shoulder 132a adapted to be moved into engagement with ashoulder 131a on ,the sleeve 131 in order to effect a positive coupling between the sleeve 131 and the shaft 84. The collar 132 provides a groove 133 adapted to receive pins 134 carried by 'a fork 135 embracing the collar 132, the fork 135 being turnable with a shaft 136. As best shown in Fig. 2, each pin 134 has connected thereto one end of a spring 137, the other end of which is anchored to a bearing 138 for the shaft 84, so that the springs 137 exert a pull tending to move the collar 132 into Fig'. 4, the cam 141 is so designed as to cause'the lever 139 on the shaft 136 to hold the clutching collar 132 out of engagement with the sleeve 131 when the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 4, at which time the sleeve 131 is stationary. And it is obvious that as the cam 141 falls'away from' the roll 140, the springs 13': willlexert a force tending to move the clutching collar 132; into engagement with the sleeve 131, provided that the fork 1351s than permitted to tur'n by a latch 142 responsive to the feeding of envelopes by the wheels 27.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the latch 142 projects from a sleeve 143 that is freely. turnable on the shaft 39, and the unbalanced weight of a carrier 144 on the opposite side of the sleeve 143 tends to maintain a notch 142a in the end of the latch 142 in engagement with "anarm 145 turnable with the shaft 136 on which thefork-135- is mounted. The latch carrier 144 pivotally sup,- portsa laterally extending am 146 provided at its lower end with an envelope detecting finger 147, see Fig. 4, and when there is no envelope below the linger 147, a spring 148-connecM .1 its ends betwoen'the carrier 144andthe 14 6 R i J1 holds the arm 146 in a substantially vertical position on the carrier 144, with the finger 147 extending into a slot 149 provided in the table 42. 1 v I 150 is carried at the end of an arm 151 mounted In this position the latch 142 isadapted to receive the end of the arm 145 in the notch 142a, and as longas the latch 142 remains in this position, the springs 137 will be prevented from turning the fork to clutch the collar 132 to the sleeve 131. In other words, in the absence of the passage of an envelope along the conveyor 2, the shaft 84 will remain disconnected from the sleeve 131 in spite of the fact that the cam 141 releases the shaft 136 upon each revolution of the feed wheel shaft 26.

Assume now that rotation of the feeding wheels 27 removes an envelope 3 fromthe stack and delivers it to the conveyor 2, so that the detector finger 147 is moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. If at the momentthis occurs, the latch 142 is prevented from turning with the carrier 144 by the pressure exerted on the latch by the arm 145 under the pull of the springs 137, the arm 146 carrying the finger 147 turns independently on the carrier 144, thereby extending the spring 148. As the envelope 3 continues its passage under the displaced finger 147,

the cam 141 on the feed wheel shaft 26 will impart turning movement to the shaft 136 in a clockwise direction, thereby freeing the end of the arm 145. from the notch 142a and causing the distended spring 148 to swing the carrier 144 and the sleeve 143 withthe latch 142 to the dotted line position. With the arm 145 thus released from the latch 142, it is obvious that continued turning of the shaft 26 will permit the springs 137 to engage the collar 132 with the sleeve 131, as the surface of the cam 141 falls away from the roller 140. 'This engagement of the collar 132 with the sleeve 131 occurs just before one complete revolution is imparted to the sleeve 131 through the Geneva motion, previously referred -to, so that the whole operating cycle of the blank bending and feeding mechanism under thecontrol of shaft 84 takes place very shortly after a moving envelope has raised the detecting finger 147.

Upon passage of an envelope beneath the finger 147, the finger is free to drop into the slot 149, thereby returning the latch 142 to the position shown in full lines. Therefore, if for any reason an envelope should fail tobe fed to the conveyor during the next revolution of the feed wheels 27, the latch 142 will be in position to prevent turning of the-fork 135 by the springs 137 as the cam 141 releases the lever 139. In other words, the latch 142 will automatically prevent clutching of the shaft 84' to the sleeve 131. should an envelope fail to feed, thereby positively preventing the delivery of a fastener blank to the fastener attaching station unless an envelope is in position to receive a fastener. Nor will the plunger 7 or the strip feeding and attaching mechanismbe operated unless an'enresult'in jamming the machine, since the fastener velopes are removed byth efeed wheels 27 and pass beneath the finger 147.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a control switch on the shaft 39 which supports the left hand roller plate 30 the arm 151 being adapted to turn with a lever 152 extending in the opposite direction beneath the feed wheel shaft 26., The

end of the lever 152 carries a roller 153 in engagement with a cam 154 mounted on the shaft 26, the weight of the switch and its supporting arm 151 tending to maintain the roller 153 in engagement with the cam 154. Therefore, once during each revolution of the shaft 26 a depresof the switch housing in engagement "with a,

feeler 159 pivotally mounted on an arm 160; As best shown in Fig. 2, the switch carrying-arm 151 is so positioned that the downwardly projecting end of the feeler 159 is? adapted toenter a hole 159a in the table 42,-normally covered by an envelope during the fastener-attaching operation, the hole 159a being uncovered only upon release of a completed envelope from the carriage 50. Therefore, assuming that the machine is functioning properly, there is a short interval in the operating cycle in which the feeler 159 of the switch 150 can be moved downwardly into the hole 159a without encountering any resistance, and the depression 154a on the cam 154 is so timed as to cause downward movement of the feeler 159 at that particular moment. for any reason, improper operation prevents a finished envelope from being cleared-uponoutward movement of the carriage 50, the hole 159a will remain covered and the feeler 159 will engage an envelope on its downward movement, thereby-imparting upward movement to the plunger 158 and raising the bridging member 157 to break the circuit between the contacts 156. -This automatically stops the machine, and

prevents any further, operation until the source of trouble isremoved.

Operation of the machine In the following description of the operation of the machine, as a whole, it is convenient toconsider thatall the events of an operating cycle take place while the drive shaft 14 is turning through one complete revolution, and that the cycle is initiated by the removal of an envelope 3 from the support 4 by the rubber insets 28 on the feed wheels 27. As indicated in Fig. 1, the insets 28 are Just about to engage an envelope at the start of a cycle, and the transfer carriage .50 is in its extreme outer position with respectto the 'raised plunger 7. -At this moment also "the sleeve-131 for driving the shaft 84 is stationary, owing to the fact that the Geneva motion is not then in position to impart rotation of the drive shaft 14 to the sleeve .131.

' Just prior -to the removal of an envelopeby the feed wheels 27, the return movement of the transfer carriage 50 'carrying a completed envelope results in the release .of the envelope by will force a fastener blank past the yieldable stops stacking device. 5. That is to say, an envelope reaches the notches 161a provided on the pushers,

- of the'Geneva motion is such thatwhen the drivewithout a fastener and a completed envelope with a fastener are moving simultaneously on the conveyor 2 with a space therebetween, and it is during this moment at the start of the-cycle that the arm 151 carrying the switch 150 is moved downwardly to project the feeler 159 through the hole 159a in the table 42. And as previously set forth, if for any reason a completed envelope fails to be cleared from the carriage 50 in advance of thedownward movement of the switch, the resulting upward movement of the plunger 158 will.

operate the switch to stop the machine.

Upon the approach of an envelope 3*from the support 4, the stops v40 'are projected upwardly through the table 42 by the cam '49, so that the envelope comes to restin the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. V As an envelope reachesthisposition, the downwardly projecting end of the finger '10 depresses the open flap of the envelope beneath the pointed end of the horn '71, thereby initially separating the front and rear walls of the envelope in advance of the transfer. In order to insure that the envelope will be properlypositioned by the stops 40 and will not be slowed up or deflected by engagement with the finger 70, a pair of oscillatory pushers 161 are provided on opposite sides of the conveyor 2. As

best shown in Figs. 2.and 3, the pushers 161 are mountedfor movement in unison on a shaft 162. which also carries a rocker am 163. The free end of the arm 163 is pivotally connected to a rod 164 having a forked end embracing the shaft 26. A cam 165 on the shaft 261s engaged by a roll 1'66 carried by the rod 164 and the earn 165 is so timed that as the rear edge of anenvelope turning movement of the shaft 162 causes the pushers 161 to engage the rear edge of the envelope and carry its forward edge substantially into engagement with the stops 40. I

As an. envelope moves into engagement with the stops 40, the detecting finger 147 is raised, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4, this movement tending to release the latch 142 from the arm 145. Consequently, when rotation of the shaft 26 causes the cam Mite-release the roller 146 on the lever 139, the springs 13'? shift the collar 132 into touching engagement with the then stationary sleeve 131. This occurs while an envelope is moving into engagement with the stops 40, in advance of functioning of the Geneva motion by turning of the disk 126 through the gearing 125 connected to the drive shaft 14. The'functioning shaft 14 has completed about one-half of a revolution from the start of a cycle, the shaft. 129

driving the chain 130 will turn the sleeve 131.

through a complete revolution. Bythis'time passage of an envelope has caused the detecting finger 147 to permit the collar 132 to be clutched to the sleeve 131, so that the revolution of the sleeve 131 is imparted to the shaft-84 to operate the fastener blank feeding and attaching mechanisms in timed relation to the arrival of'anenvelope'at the blank attaching station.- a

. From'a consideration of Fig. 4, it is obvious that Tasmanian" to rotate, the flngers106 103, so that a blank will fall through the, chute portion 11a and will be positioned by the lower stops 113, as shown in Fig. 14. This occurs as an envelope is moved by the carriage into the position shown in Fig. 14, in which the horn 71 separates the front and rear walls thereof, the

carriage coming to rest in this position due to a dwell'on the cam 57. As a fastener blank is positioned by the lower stops 113 above an envelope, continued rotation of the shaft 84 causes the crank 109 to impart downward movement to the head 8 carrying the plunger '7, the major portion of this movement occurring while the carriage 50 is statig inary, following the transfer of an envelope. As the plunger 7 moves downwardly, it forces the fastener blank past the lugs 115 on the yieldable stops 113, and presses the prongs of the blank through the rear wall of the envelope into engagement with the anvil portions 119 of the plate 120, which turns the prongs over into clamping engagement. Simultaneously with the attachment of a fastener to the rear wall of the envelope, the knife 121' carried by the head 8 seversa length of strip 122, and the punch 123 makes a hole in the patch as it is applied to the flapof the envelope.

The attachment of a fastener and a patch to the envelope occurs as the shaft 84 completes substantially one-half of a revolution, afterwhich continued rotation of the shaft raises the head 8 to withdraw the plunger 7. The upward movement of the head 8 is timed to begin at about the middle of the operating cycle when the drive shaft 14 has made substantially one-half of a revolution, and the cam 57 is so timed that the" transfer carriage 50 does not start its withdrawal movement with a completed envelope until after the head 8 has been fully raised.

Referring now to Figs. '7 to 11 inclusive, it is evident that a complete revolution of the shaft 84 is accompanied by operation of the blank feeding and bending mechanism from the earns 83 and 101'. These cams are so timed that following the turning movement of the fingers 106 to deliver a blank to the lower, chute portion 11a, the plunger '77 is operated to remove the lowermost blank from the magazine 10 and carry it forward on the anvil portion 85, as shown in Fig. 9. lhe headers 89 are'then operated simultaneously to bend down the prongs '75. Following the feeding and bending of a blank, the plunger 7'7 and the benders 89 are returned to their inoperative position, thereby delivering a bent blank to the chute 11 as the shaft 84 completes its revolution and .comes to rest at about the'same time that the carriage starts on its return movement to withdraw a completed envelope from the fastener attaching station. At this point in the cycle the drive shaft has completed just about threefourths of a revolution.

During the last quarter ofthe cycle, the carriage 58 with a finished envelope held by the clamping arm 61 is moved to its extreme posi-,

tion in which the envelope is entirely clear of the horn '11, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. As

- previously Pointed out,- the envelope is not. re-

leased untilit has been withdrawn to a position which is further removed from the horn '71 than the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, in which anienvelope'is delivered to the stops 40, this result being-obtained by the functioning of the slidable cam 67 on the return stroke.

the roll 64- rides up the surface of the cam 67 and comes. to restin' the cam depression, the army 61 releases the finished envelope which then is immediately carried by the moving conveyor 2 toward the'stacking device 5.. This release of an envelope occurs just at the end of the cycle, "so

that an envelope starts t'omove toward the transfer carriage from the support 4 as a finished envelope moves away from the carriage toward the stacking devices 5. While the carriage 50 is moving on its return stroke with a "finished envelope, the cam 141 on the shaft 26 acting through the roller 140 and lever 139 causes the collar 132 to be withdrawn from clutching engagement with the sleeve 131, which at that time is stationary, so that the finger 147 is again ready for detecting the next envelope at the start of the next cycle.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the stacking device for the finished envelopes consists of spaced

uprights

167 and 168, the upright 168 being ad- .justable on a frame member 169 to vary the distance between the uprights and thereby accommodate envelopes of different widths. As shown at the right in Fig. 2, the roll 23 around which the conveyor 2 passes is also adapted to drive a number of belts 170, which move in the direction of the arrows to carry finished envelopes into the space between the uprights 167-and 168. As a finished envelope moves toward the upright 168,

-it passes over a series of lifters 171 extending between the belts 170, the lifters 171 being carried by a shaft 172 extending below the belts 170. The shaft 172 extends to a point over the drive shaft '14, and carries at its end a rocker arm 173, which as best shown in Fig. 3, is pivotally connected to a vertically movable rod-174 terminating in a fork portion 174a embracing the shaft 14. A cam 175 mounted on the end of the drive shaft 14 cooperates with a roller 176 on the fork portion 174a to impart an oscillatory movement to the shaft 172 through the rocker arm 173. The cam 175 is so timed that as a finished envelope is carried by the belts 170 into engagement with the rear upright 168, the lifters 171 are moved upwardly between the belts 170 to engage the envelope and flex one edge thereof past the peripheryof a roll 177 extending along the lower end of the upright 167. The roll 177 is of such diameter that it partially projects beyond the wall of the upright 167, so that it prevents downward movement of an envelopelupon withdrawal of the lifters 171 into normal position below the plane of the belts 170.

Obviouslyl as successive envelopes are flexed upwardly past the roll 177, a stack will be formed between the

uprights

167 and 168. from which the envelopes may be removed endwise by the operator.

As previously pointed out, the invention also contemplates an automatic counting attachment which is adapted to stack the envelopes'in readily distinguishable groups, each containing a predetermined number of finished envelopes, and this mechanism will now be described with'reference to Fig. 12. The plate 68 carrying the slidable cam 67 controlling the envelope carriage gripper is attached to a slide 178 which extends beneath the reciprocatory head 8, and carries at its end a roller 179 bearing on the surface of a cam 180. The cam 180 is freely mounted on a shaft 181 extending through a slot 182 provided in the slide 178, and a spring 183 interposed between the shaft 181 and the end of the slot 182 180 is rotatable on a disk 184 carried by the shaft 180 and a spring-pressed plunger 185 offers fricto the head 8, so that each reciprocation of the latter causes the pawl 188 to turn the ring 186 and the cam 180 through the displacement of one ratchet tooth 187. In other words, each reciprocation-of the head 8 in response to the delivery of an envelope to the transfer mechanism causes the cam 180 to be turned through an angle determined by the numberof teeth on the ring 186.

The cam 180 provides a depression 180a, and it is obviousfrom a consideration of Fig. 12 that the roll 179 will enter this depression after the. cam has'been turned through the space of one tooth 187 from the-position shown. When this occurs, the spring 183 acting on the slide 178 will shift the cam plate 68 to the left, so that on the return stroke of the carriage 50 carrying a completed envelope, the gripper arm 161 will not release the envelope until ithas been withdrawn beyond its normal dotted line position, Fig. 2. Since the cam depression 180a has an angular displacement equal to several teeth 187, it is obvious that one or more envelopes will be moved to this extreme position. However, upon. continued turning of the earn 180, the roll 179 will ride upon the circular portion of the cam surface, thereby shifting the slide 178 and cam plate 68 to the right. This results in releasing the next envelope in the dotted line position of Fig. 2, and successive nvelopes will be released in this position until the cam 180 has been stopped through a complete revolution by the ratchet and pawl mechanism. Therefore, as the finished envelopes are stacked between the

uprights

167 and 168, one or more envelopes extend beyond the stack at intervals determined by the number of envelopes which it is desired to have in each group. The number of teeth 187 on the ring 186 will positively determine the project beyond the stack and the operator can readily withdraw the envelopes in groups, each containing the same number.

Referring now to'Figs. 16 to 21 inclusive, there is shown a modification of the mechanism for bending'the attaching prongs on the flat fastener blanks 9. As shown in Fig. 16, the magazine 10a for the blanks 9 is similar in form to the magazine 10, previously described, and a reciprocatory plunger 77a is adapted to remove the lowermost blank 9 from the magazine for the prong bending. operation. The plunger 77a is connected to one end of a spring 191 having its other end-fixed, .thespring 191 serving to hold a pin 192 projecting downwardly from the plunger against an operating arm 193. As best shown in Fig. 21, the arm 193 is pivoted at 194 and carries a'roll 195 which is held in engagement with the face of a cam 196 by the pull of the spring 191. The cam 196 is mounted on the shaft 84 and each complete revolution thereof is adapted to impart a back-and-forth movement to the plunger 77a under the control of the cam 196.

As best shown in Figs. 17 and 18, the anvil portion at the end of the plunger 77a is adapted to present a fiat blank 9 for operation upon by a pair of rotary benders 197 mounted on spaced parallel shafts 198 rotatably supported above the shaft'84, see Fig. 16. Each bender 197 consists of a head providing a groove 199 for receiving the tongue '74 of a fastener blank 9,wings 200 on either side of the groove 199 serving to aline the blank on the anvil portion of the plunger prior to the bending operation, as indicated in Fig. 18. Shoulders 201 are provided by each bender 197 beyond the wings 200, so that as the benders rotate in unison in opposite directions, the shoulders 201 will engage the prongs 75, as shown in Fig. 19, and bend them downwardly about the anvil portion 85, as shown in Fig. 20. The shafts 198 carrying the benders 197 are adapted to be driven in unison in opposite direc-' tions by means of gears 202, one shaft being connected to the shaft 84 by gears 203. Consequently, each complete revolution of the shaft 84 causes one complete revolution of the-benders 197, and the cam 196 is so timed as to withdraw a bent fastener blank 9 from above the benders 197 when they occupy the position shown in Fig. 20. While the benders 197 are being turned from the position of Fig. .20 to the position of Fig. 18, the plunger 77a moves beneath the stack of blanks 9 and returns to present a blank which is alined by the wings 200 prior to the bending operation.

t From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention there is provided an improved machine that is entirely automatic in its operation of converting a supply of envelopes and a supply of flat fastener blanks into completed envelopes, each provided with a fastener clinched to its back wall, and a reinforced flap opening for the fastener, the finished envelopes being stacked in readily distinguishable groups, each containing a predetermined number of envelopes.

The operation of the various instrumentalities.

is so controlled that the fiat fastener blanks will not be fed from the magazine unless an envelope is properly delivered to the transfer carriage, and in the eventthat a completed envelope is not cleared from the transfer mechanism following the fastener attaching operation, the machine will be automatically stopped.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, a vertically movable plunger offset with respect to the line of travel of envelopes on said conveyor, and means for delivering metallic fastener blanks to a point adjacent said plunger, of a reciprocatory carriage movable at right angles to said conveyor, means on said carriage for clamping an envelope and carrying it beneath said plunger for the attachment of a fastener thereto, and means operable on the return movement of said carriage away from said plunger to release said clamping means and deposit said envelope on said conveyor at a point farther removed from said plungerthan the point where said envelope was seized by said clamping means.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, a reciprocatory carriage movable atright angles to said conveyor and a stationary horn adapted to separate the walls of an envelope, of a down-' wardly projecting finger adapted to depress one wall of an envelope beneath said horn as said envelope comes to rest over said carriage, and

for lifting saidfinger in'advance of movement of the envelope by said carriage, and means for returning said finger to its envelope depressing position in advance of the arrival of another envelope.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor with a time interval between the delivery of successive envelopes, and means for arresting movement .ofan envelope on said conveyor, shifting it laterally of the conveyor and returning it thereto for further movement, of means for automatically stopping said conveyor and said envelope delivery means upon the failure of an envelope to resume its travel on said conveyor.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor with a time interval between the delivery of succes'sive' envelopes, and means for arresting movement of an envelope on said conveyor, shifting it laterally of the conveyor and returning it thereto, for further movement, of a detector operating in the interval .between a delivery of successive envelopes to said conveyor for automatically stopping said conveyor and said envelope delivery means upon the failure of an envelope to resume its travel on said conveyor after operation upon by said transfer means. n

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, a vertically movable plunger and means for transferring envelopes from said conveyor for operation upon by said plunger, of a magazine containing a stack of flat metal fastener blanks, means for removing blanks one by one from said magazine for delivery to said plunger, and means for automatically rendering said blank'delivery means ineffective upon failure of an envelope to be delivered to said conveyor.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, a vertically movable plunger and means for transferring envelopes from said conveyor for operation upon by said plunger, of-a magazine containing a stack of flat metal fastener blanks, means for removing blanks one by one from said maga zine for delivery to said plunger, and means responsive to the delivry of each envelope to said conveyor and operating in advance of the arrival of an envelope at said transfer means for setting said blank delivery means in operation.

8. In a machine of the class described, thecombination with'a drive shaft, a conveyor and means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, said conveyor. and envelope delivery meansbeing connected to said drive shaft, of a vertically movable plunger, means for transferring envelopes from said conveyor for operation upon said plunger, means for feeding metal blanks one by one to said plunger for attachment to said envelopes, and means for autoof an envelope to said conveyor and in advance of its arrival at said transfer means.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a drive shaft, a conveyor and means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, said conveyor and envelope delivery means being connected to said drive shaft, "of a vertically movable plunger, means for transferring envelopes from said conveyor for operation upon by said plunger, means for feeding metal blanks one by one to said plunger for attachment to said envelopes, a detector responsive to movement of envelopes on said conveyor, in advance of arrival of envelopes at said transfer means and means under the control of said detector for establishing the connection of said plunger and said blank delivery means to said drive shaft.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a drive shaft, a conveyor and means for delivering envelopesone by, one to said conveyor, said conveyor and envelope delivery means being connected to said drive shaft, of a vertically movable plunger, means for feeding metal blanks one by one to said plunger for attachment to said envelopes, a rotatable element intermittently driven from said shaft, and means for automatically connecting said plunger and said blank delivery means to said element upon delivery of an envelope to said conveyor.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a vertically movable plunger, a stationary magazine containing a stack of flat metal blanks and a chute extending between said magazine and said plunger, of means for removing blanks from said magazine for the performance of a bending operation on attaching prongs of each blank in advance of entry into said chute, and means in said chute operating in timed relation with said plunger for arrestingtravel'ofbent blanks therein and for releasing said blanks one by one for delivery to said plunger. g

- 12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a vertically movable plunger, a stationary magazine containing a stack of fiat metal blanks and a chute extending between said magazine and said plunger, of. means. for re moving fiat blanks one by one from said magazine, means for bending projecting prongs on said blanks inadvance of entry into said chute, means in said chute for arresting the travel of pronged blanks, and means operating in timed relation with said plunger for releasing said blanks one by one for delivery to said plunger by said chute 13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a vertically movable plunger, a

stationary magazine containing a stack of flat metal blanks and a chute extending between said magazine and said plunger, of means for removing fiat blanks .one by one fromsaid magazine, means for bending projecting prongs "on said blanks in advance of entry into said chute, means in said chute for arresting the travel of pronged blanks, and means for releasing said blanks one by one for delivery to said plunger by said chute, the blank releasing means in said chute operating in timed relation with said plunger and in advance of the blank removing and bending means associated with said magazine.

' l4. In a machine .of the class described, the combination tvith a. moving conveyor for enneeactc veiopes, means for transferring envelopes one by one from said conveyor for the attachment of a metal fastener, and means for returning each envelope to said conveyor for further travel thereon, of a counting device associated with the transfer means for causing one or more envelopes of a predetermined number to be returned to said conveyor in a different position from the remain ing envelopes of such predetermined number.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor for envelopes, means for transferring envelopes one by one from said conveyor for the attachment of a metal fastener, and means for returning each envelope to's'aid conveyor for further travel thereon, of a stacking device for receiving envelopes from said conveyor and a counting device associated with said transfer means for causing one or more envelopes o! a predetermined number delivered to said stacking device to project from the envelope stack. 7

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes o'ne by one to said conveyor, a vertically movable plunger, and means for transferring envelopes from said conveyor for 17. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by one to said conveyor, a vertically movable plunger, and means for transferring envelopes from said conveyor for operation upon by said plunger, a supply of fiat metal fastener blanks, means for removing blanks one by one from said supply, means for forming attaching prongs on said blanks, and means for arresting the movement of a formed blank between said supply and said plunger, of means responsiveto movement of a blank on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at said transfer means for releasing a formed blank from said blank arresting means for delivery to said plunger, while the latter is in a raised position.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a moving conveyor, means for delivering envelopes one by, one to said conveyor, a vertically movable plunger, and means for transferring envelopes, from said conveyor for operation upon by said plunger, a supply of fiat metal fastener blanks, means for removing blanks one by one from said supply, means for forming attaching prongs on said blanks, and means for arresting the movement of a formed blank between said supply and said plunger, of means responsive to movement of a blank on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at said transfer meansior first causing the release of a formed blank from said arresting means for delivery to said plunger followed by the removal of a fiat blank from said supply and the formation oi attaching prongs thereon.