US2048069A - Manufacture of envelopes and machine therefor - Google Patents

Description

[July 21, 1936. v, E HEYWOOD v 2,048,069

MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND MACHINE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1931 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 invenuon lfzncen'i 6. Heywood. (I I v d M fl iioaney Jul 21, 1936. v, E, QEYWOOD 2,048,069

MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND MACHINE'THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lmrencon Mnceni (f. Heywood.

by Hi'ionneu Patented July 21, 1936 warren STATES MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND MACHINE THEREFOR Vincent E. Heywood, Worcester,,Mas s., assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass., a. corporation of 'Maine Application September 14, 1931, Serial No. 562,695

5 Claims.

I The present invention relates to the manufacture of envelopes, and has for its object the provision of instrumentalities for making completed envelopes from previously cut blanks or sheets, at

5 a high rate of production, and with extreme uniformity and perfection in the resulting prodb not. i

The manufacture of envelopes in accordance with the present invention is particularly characterized by. folding the side flaps of a previously scored and gummed blank over forms with which the lines of scoring are accurately gaged, the forms thereafter cooperating with bottom flap folding means to complete the envelope. As a result of the correlated scoring, gaging and folding operations, envelopes of a superior quality are produced,from any grade of paper, with sharp clean edges and corners and of absolutely uniform character. vantageous features of the invention will here'- inafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one arrangement of instrumentalities for. carrying out the invention, in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of an envelope machine embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view based on Fig. 1, illustrating the gearing. for driving the mechanism shown. V I I Fig. 4is a fragmentary View of one of the side flap folding mechanisms.

tion of the parts of the bottom flap folding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the parts in a different position.

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

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the mechanism constituting the present invention is shown asv being supported between spaced side frames .I, I

45 extending longitudinally of the machine and which afiord suitable bearings for several shaftsextending between the frames. One such shaft is the main driving shaft 2, which is adapted. to be driven from any suitable source of power, not

50 shown, by means of a belt or driving chain 3,-

The above and other ad- Fig.5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a por- 2 and 6 carry cooperating scoring rolls 1' and 8 Y respectively, Fig. 1, the construction of which will be hereinafter described with relation to asso-- ciated mechanism of the machine.

The gear 4 on the drive shaft Zis in mesh with a gear 9 on a shaft I carrying aroll I I, a portion of the periphery of which is engaged by a plurality of endless belts or tapes I2, spaced from the periphery of the lower scoring roll I by guide rolls I3, see Fig. 1. From the lower portion of the roll II the tapes I2 pass around a roll I4 mounted on a shaft I that is driven through a train of gears I6, I6 fromthe gear 9 on the shaft I0. From the tape driving roll I4, the tapes I2 pass upwardly around a guide roll H, a portion :of each tape I2 being substantially horizontal between its points of tangencyto the guide roll ll and the uppermost guide roll I3. Consequently, the tapes I2, moving in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1, are adapted to convey envelope form no part of the present invention, and hence are not shown herein.

The roll I4 for driving the tapes I2 also serves to drive a' plurality of tapes 20. extending horizontally in'alinement with the horizontal portions of the'tapes I2 between the points of tangency'of the rolls II and I4. The tapes pass around a front guide roll 2I with the ends of I the tapes ZIlspaced from a pair of delivery rolls r 22. Themoving tapes 2!] are adapted to deliver an envelope'into the bight between: the rolls 22 under the control of a pairof stops 23 and gaging fingers 24 cooperating withafolding mechanism, hereinafter to be described.

As indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, each envelope blankdelivered to the tapes I2 is adapted to be arrested in its movement toward the scoring rolls] and 8 by means of the stops I8, the

gaging fingers I9 serving to register each blank 25, .as indicated in Fig. '2, before release of the blank by the stops I8, permits the envelope to 1 and 8. Simultaneous rotation of the rolls 1 and 8 in'opposite, directions'causes the blank V to be scored along the desired line of folding bebe projected into the bight between the rolls 7."

tween the flaps 25a and the body of the blank. As the scoring is completed, a guide 26 cooperating with the lower scoring roll 1 serves to direct the scored blank around the roll I into the bight between the roll I and the roll I I, and from thence to the moving tapes l2.

As the scored envelope blank 25 passes around theperiphery of the roll H in contact with the tapes l2, adhesive is applied to the extended flaps 25a of the blank in any suitable manner, as by means of a roll 2'! providing adhesive applying projections 28, the roll 21. being mounted 7 on a shaft 29 carrying one of the gears 16, see

Fig. 3. Liquid adhesive is supplied to the roll 21 from asuitable reservoir 30, in which is rotatably mounted a roll 3| having its periphery in contact with a second roll 32, which applies the adhesive to the projections 280i the roll 1...

Obviously, any other suitable mechanism may be employed for applying adhesive to the flaps 25a of the envelope bl nk 25.-

Unon leavin th periphery of the roll ll 1 with 1 theadhesive appliedto its flaps, the blank 25 travels in a substantially horizontal plan and passes from the tapes 12 t0. the tapes 20 until its movement toward the rolls 22 is arrested by the. stops 23, which asbest Shown in Fig. 2, ena e-the corn rs of th blank at the in rs c tions of the side flaps 25a with the bottom flap 25b. At thisrmoment, the blank is also acted upon by the gaging fingers 24 which operate from the other side of the blank to en e h corners thereof at theintersections of the side formsr33 by means .of folders 34 operating from. I opposite sides oftheblank, see. Fig. 4, the line of folding. ofyeach' flap corresponding exactly withthe lineof scoring on the blank. Following this, the bottom flap 25b isfolded along the line of scoring between the flap 25b and the blank body by means of 'a' folder 35, the foldingopera tion being completed by travel'of the-blank into the bight between the rolls 22, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, after release of. the blank by the stops 2:3. The-folding :of the bottom flap 25b along the line of scoring is assured by the pOSi-r. timing of the'end surfaces of the folding forms 33 in alinement with the lineof scoring between the flap 25b and the blank body, as indicated in Fig. 2, the forms 33 being'afterwards utilized to project the folded blank into the bight between H the rolls :22. 'As the folded "blan-k'passes between.

the rolls 22, theroverlapping edges of the side flaps 25a'and bottom flap 2519 are pressed closely together so as to secure the flaps tightly together, due to the adhesive therebetween. Having thus generally outlined the progress of an envelope 7 blank through the machine, and having identified the several instrumentalities operating on each blank for first accurately gaging and scoring the blank, next applying'adhesive, then again gaging the scored blank, andfinally folding its flaps exactly alo'ngthe 'lines'of the scoring to produce a .com-plete'envelope, the details of construction and operation of these instrumentalities will. now be described. I. 1

25a of the blank bythe roll 21.

blank to rest as it is moved "by the tapes l2 toward the scoring rolls I and 8, are adjustably mounted on a shaft 36 extending between the side frames l, l, the position of each stop l8 being determined by a set screw 37 cooperating with the shaft 36. The gaging fingers l9 are similarly The pair of stops l8, which serve to bring each 7 mounted on a'shaft38 extending parallel to the shaft 36, set screws 39 determining the position respective shafts. 38 and 38 in order to obtain the proper spacing therebetween to'engage' accurately with the four corners of an envelope blank 25, as indicated in Fig. 2;

The shaft 36 carrying the stops I8 is adapted to have an oscillatory movement imparted thereto by means of acrank arm 36a pivotally connected ,to a link 48 terminating at its end in a yoke portion embracing the shaft 2. As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thelink 40 .carries a roll 4| providing a yoke portion embracin -the upper.

. scoring roll shaft 6. The shaft 6 carries a cam 44 upon Whiohbearsa roll'45 carried by the link 43, so that the oscillatory movement of the shafts 36 and 38 again timed relation to the rotation so 1 of the'scoring rolls! and 8. The timing of the f cams 42'and 44is such that as an envelope blank 25 approaches the scoring rolls, the stops 18' are 3 turned downwardly into the'position shown. in

Fig. l to arrest the'movement of the blank 25 by the tapes l2. .As'the envelope blank comes. v to rest, the gaging fingers 19, are also swung.

downwardly to accurately aline the blank, so that there is a dwell in the movement of the blank toward the scoring rolls '1 and 8, during which the blank is accurately gaged, as shown in Fig. 2.

With the stops l8 and gaging fingers I9 in the position. shown in Fig. l, the upper scoring roll occupies a position in which itsscoring knives...

48 and 41 are disposed above the plane ofthe l is accompanied by an'upward movement. of

the stops l8, thereby; releasing the blank and I permitting it to be projected towards the rolls 1 and8. The movement of the blank between the rolls is accompanied by scoring ofthe'blank between its four corners by the knives 46 and "41,-the lower roll .T-being formed of somewhat yielding material if desired. The lines of scor:

ing areindicated on the blank shown at the right direct it between the lower scoring roll I and the roll H .where adhesive. is applied to the flaps with the adhesive applied .thereto' is then conveyed by the belts l2 in a'horizontal plane toward arrested by'the-stops 23. 7 7

As best shown in Fig. 2, thestops 23 arecarried'by holders 48,'each adjustably mounted ona the shaft 49. mounted thereon-an arm 54 carrying at its free in Fig. 2. 'As the scored blank passes from-be tween the rolls 1 and 8, the guide 261serves'to" The scored blank G5 "the folding mechanism where its movement is end a roll 52 bearing on the surface of a cam -53 mounted" on a shaft 54. as shownindotted-75 1' 3! in engagement with the cam 68.

lines in Fig; 1. The shaft 54 is connected by gearing 55 to a shaft 56, see Fig. 3, which in turn is driven from the shaft i5 by means of a chain 51 at the opposite side of the frame from the gearing 55, see Fig. 2. The gaging fingers 24 which cooperate with the stops 23' are mounted on a shaft 58 extending parallel to the shaft 49, and as best shown in Fig. 1, one of the fingers 24 is pivotally connected to a link 59. The link provides a yoke portion embracing the shaft l5, and carries a roll 5!! bearing on the surface of a cam 6i mounted on the shaft :15. The cam 53 controlling the stops 23, and the cam SI controlling the gaging fingers 2 3 are so timed that as a scored blank approaches the folding mechanism, the stops 23 are swung downwardly in front of the approaching blank, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby arresting the movement of the blank as it engages the forward corners thereof. As this occurs, the gaging fingers 24 are swung upwardly to engage the rear corners of the scored blank and accurately position it with reference to the rectangular edges of the then stationary foldling forms 33, as shown at the right in Fig. 2. Downward movement of the stops 23 in front of the approaching blank is accompanied by downward movement of a pair of spaced lifters 23a, also mounted to turn with the shaft 39. The lifters 23a serve to deflect the bottom flap b upwardly over the folder as the blank comes to rest against the stops 23, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The folding forms 33 are supported on a carriage slidably mounted between the side frames I, l, which carriage consists of a cross-bar 52 having its ends received in horizontal tracks 63, best shown in Fig. 1. The folder carriage is adapted to receive a reciprocatory movement between the tracks 53 from a pair of levers 64 mounted on a cross-shaft 65, each lever 56 being pivotally connected by a link 55 to one end of the cross-bar 62 of the carriage. Each lever 64 carries a roll 6'! bearing on the surface of a cam 68 mounted on the shaft l5 and springs 69 bearing on the carriage serve to maintain the rolls Since the major portions of the cam 53 are concentric about the axis of shaft E5, the folder forms 33 are held stationary in the position shown in Fig. 2 when a scored blank is arrested and gaged by the stops 23 and fingers 24. Obviously, continued rotation of the shaft i5 from the position shown in Fig. 1 will bring depressed portions of the cams 58 into engagement with the rolls Bl, thereby permitting the springs 59 to project the carriage and its folder forms 33 toward the delivery rolls 22, this action occurring after the folding operations, which will now be described.

As best shown in Fig. 4, each side flap folder 34 is pivotally mounted at E8 on a. slide ll movable at right angles to the line of travel of the envelope on a stationary support 12. A spring 13 connected at its ends between the slide H and the folder 35 serves to yieldingly maintain a roll M carried by the folder 34 in engagement with the surface of a stationary cam Z5 mounted on the slide support 12. With the parts in the position shown in full lines, each folder 34 is maintained below a side flap 25a of the envelope blank 25, as the latter is brought to rest by the stops 23 in its travel forward on the secondary tapes 25, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. In other words, the folders 36 are in an inoperative position as the scored blank is registered with the then stationary folder forms 33. 7

Each slide ll carrying a folder 34 provides a roll 16 received in a track 11 formed in a cam cylinder 78 mounted at one end of the shaft 56, which as previously pointed out, is driven from the shaft l5 through the chain 51. The tracks TI on the cam cylinders 18 are oppositely disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that rotation of the shaft 58 is adapted to cause the slide 1! to be moved simultaneously in opposite directions toward the line of travel of the envelope blank. It is apparent that as the slide H is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, the folder 34 riding on the stationary cam 75 will be swung upwardly as it advances toward the folding form 33, thereby folding a side flap 2511, along the line of scoring and over the edge of the associated folding form. This action of. the folders takes place simultaneously on the oppositely extending side flaps 25a.

After the folding of each side flap 25a takes place, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the folder 35 previously referred to is operated to cause the bottom flap 25b to be folded over into engagement with the then folded side flaps 25w. As best shown in Fig. 2, the folder 35 is U-shaped in form with a horizontal portion 35a extending beneath the inclined flap 25b of the envelope blank as it comes to rest before the folding operation, the lifters 23a serving to direct the flap 251) above the horizontal folder portion 35a. The ends of the folder 35 are received in holders 19 mounted on a cross-shaft 80, one end of which carries a crank arm 88a pivotally connected to a link 8!. The link 8| terminates in a yoke portic-n embracing the shaft 5 5 and carries a roll 82 earing on a cam 83 mounted on the shaft As previously pointed out, the shaft 5 3 also carries the cam 53 controlling the stops 23, and the cams 83 and 53 are so timed that as the folder 35 is swung to the left to fold the bottom flap 250. along its line of scoring over the end surfaces of the folder forms 33, the stops 23 will be raised, as indicated in Fig. 6.

When the stops 23 are raised, as just described, the tapes Z8 exert a force on the partially folded envelope, tending to move the envelope toward the delivery rolls 22, the lower one of which is mounted on a shaft 35 carrying a gear 85 in mesh with the gearing 55, see Fig. 3. The release of the envelope by the stops 23 is also accompanied by movement of the folder form carriage toward the delivery rolls 22, the carriage controlling cam 68 permitting the springs 59 to project the carriage toward the rolls 22 just after the stops 23 are raised. Therefore, the partially folded envelope is immediately projected into the bight between the rolls 22, as indicated in Fig. 6, the folding of the flaps being completed as they pass under the folder 35, and the adhesive between the flaps being pressed closely to cause sticking as the envelope passes between the delivery rolls 22.

The return movement of the folder plate carriage following the projection of a folded blank to the rolls 22 is preceded by a slight movement of the folder forms 33 towards each other, so as to fully clear the forms from the corners of the envelope and prevent binding. While the specific mechanism for causing the shifting of the folder forms 33 forms no part of the present invention, it is indicated in Fig. 1, and will only be described briefly. As shown, each folder form 33 is mounted on a carrier 85 shiftable on the cross bar 62 of the carriage, each carrier 86 being in threaded engagement with a shaft 81 extending parallel to the cross bar 62 and rotatably 7 arm 88 leaves the stop 89, thereby permitting a -.The folder plate carriers 86 are so mounted on the shaft 87 that with the arm 83 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the edges of the forms 33 are in exact register with the lines of scoring on an envelope blank as it is positioned beneath the plates by the stops 23 and fingers 24. However, as the carriage is projected toward the rolls 22 following the folding operations described above, the

spring 90 to turn the arm 88 into the position shown in Fig. 6. At this moment the carriage has reached the limit of its travel toward the rolls 22.in projecting the folded blank between the rolls, and the turning of the shaft 81 through the relatively small angle indicated causes the carriers 86 to be moved towards each other. This results in shifting the edges of the folding forms 33 from the lines of folding of the side flaps, so that a withdrawal of the forms 33 from the envelope is accomplished without any bindmg. 7 r 7 From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention there isprovided an improved arrangement of instrumentalities for making completed envelopes, at a high rate of production,

with extreme uniformity in the folding of the envelope blank flaps with respect to the body. As

a result of the correlated operations of gaging,

prescored blank providing extending fiaps,:means for arresting the advancement of said blank, and for gaging said blank with reference to said stationary forms, of means for folding the side flaps of said blank over said forms and means for m0v- 5 ing said forms to also cause the folding of the bottom flap over said forms. I I e v f 13. In an envelope machine, the combination with stationary forms providing parallel straight edges, and means for advancing a pre-scored blank providing extended'side flaps, a bottom flap and a seal flap, of stops for arresting the advancement of said blank and gaging members cooperating with said stops for registering the lines of scoring of said side flaps with the straight edges of said, forms by engagement with the junctions of said bottom and seal flaps with said a side flaps, and means for folding the side flaps over said forms exactly along the linesof scoring while said blank is held stationary by said reg istering means.

4. In an envelope machine, the combination with stationary forms providing parallel straight edges, and means for advancing a pre-score'd blank providing extended side flaps, a bottom 25 flap and aseal flap, of stops for arresting the advancement ofsaid blank and gaging members -cooperating with said stops for registering the scoring, gumming, r e-gaging, and folding over 7 forms along the lines of scoring, envelopes of a superior quality are produced, from any grade of paper, withsharp clean edges and corners of uniform character. 7 a

I claim: I I

1. The improvement in the manufacture of envelopes which consists in gaging a blank, scoring it between its extended flaps, gumming said flaps, regaging said blank to aline its scoring with the edges of stationary forms and folding said flaps over said forms exactly along their lines of scoring.

2. In an envelope machine, the combination with stationary forms, means for advancing a lines of scoring of said side flaps with the straight edges of said forms, means for folding the side 0 flaps over said forms exactly along their'lines of; scoring, and means for moving said forms, to-, gether with the partially folded blank-to also cause the folding of the bottom flap over said forms exactly along its lineof scoring. 35 5. The improvementfin the manufacture of envelopes, which consists in gaging 'ablank, scorin-g said blank between its extended side-flaps and bottom flap, gumming said flaps, re-gaging said" blank to aline'its scoring with the edges or sta- 'tionary forms, folding first said side flaps and then said bottom flap over said forms exactly along their lines of scoring, and finally shifting the partially folded blank to complete folding ment with said side flaps. 1 l a V VINCENT EJ I-IEYWOOD,

down of said bottom flap into adhesive engage-

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