US2092524A

US2092524A - Feeding mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2092524A
Application number: US48717A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude L Post
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-11-07
Filing date: 1935-11-07
Publication date: 1937-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1954-09-07

Description

Sept. 7, 1937. c. L. POST FEEDING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 7, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. L. POST '.FEEDING MECHANISM Sept. 7, 1937',

Filed Nov. 7, 1935 Sept. 7, 1937. i L. POST 2,092,524

FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 7, 1955 s sheets-sheet s yPatented Sept. 7, 1937 N UNITED lSTATES 'ATENT OFFICE Y l 2,092,54C`v l FEEDING MECHANISM `'Claude L. Post, Chicago, `Ill.y

Application November 7, 1935, Serial No. 48,717 12 claims. (o1. 271-2) This invention relates to feeding mechanism,V mechanism for actuating the curl removing de'. and particularly toa device for feeding envelopes vlees; and i I to a machine for operating upon the envelopes as, i Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved for example, a printing machine or the like. feeding and curl removing mechanism shownfin Heretofore, considerable `climculty yhas' been exrelation to the ap of an envelope, and illustrating 5 perienced in feeding envelopes to a printing mathemannerof removing the curl therefrom. chine, for example, when thelaps of the enve In Figs. l, 2 and 4 of the drawings, the present lopes have become warped or curled, particularly invention is shown in relation to a fragment of k adjacent their ends, due to the action of the ad-4 lthe feeding mechanism of a printing press of the 1"`hesive applied to the flaps, or due to the action character shown and fully described in Patent No. 10 of atmospheric conditions on the adhesive. When 1,758,536, issued to me May 13, 1930 and having a the flaps are in such condition, the curl must be feed table indicated, as a whole, by the numeral S, removed or smoothed out, and, unless extreme associated therewith, the feed table 8 being procare is exercised, the curled portions of the iiap vided on its receiving edge adjacent its central may be folded still further under or against the portion with a plurality of fingers 9 inclined in- 15 body of the nap, thus producing an undesirable wardly and away from the body of the table, or condition of the envelope for passage through toward a magazine II adapted to contain .a plu- .a printing machine or the 11ke ralty of superposed envelopes E to be fedvto the Oneof the objects, therefore, of the present intable 8 and thence to a printing machine or 201i vention is to provide a feeding mechanism having n the like.

suitable means associated therewith for removing Positioned below the magazine II is a feeding from the iiaps any curl which may have developed mechanism indicated, as a whole, by the numeral l therein. I2, the specific details and operation of which are Another Object of the invention is to' provide fully described in Patent No. 1,730,477 issued to novel means for directing the end portions of me October 8, 1929. 25 the flaps onto the feed table of the machine and Briefly, the mechanism I2 includes a rotatable into the guides by which the envelopes areguided finger I3 adapted to engage ,the flap F of the to a printing roller, for example, in proper rela# loWermost envelope E positioned in the magazine tion thereto. II in a manner to unfold4 the flap thereof `and 730i"y A further object oft-he invention is to provide mVet Outward-ly IIO Substantial alignment With suitable driving means for the curl removing elethe body4 of the, envelope between upper feed I ments in order that they may be actuated` in rollers I4 mounted on a` shaft I5 and lower feed proper relation to other portions of .the envelope Segments IB and I'I mounted on a shaft I8, by feeding mechanism. V which the iiap F is engaged in a manner to feed i A still further object ofthe invention is to rimthe envelope from the magazine Il onto the feed 35 prove devices of the character described in suntable 8, the said rollers Ill, segments I6 and I'IV dry details hereinafter referred to and particuand the linger I3 being operated in a proper larly pointed out in the appended claims. synchronism by means of gearing I9 (Figs. land One embodiment of the `present invention ,is 2) and a drive chain 2| shown in Fig. 2, and as 40"shown for illustrative purposes in the accomclearlydescribed in said Patent N0. 1330/177. 40

panying drawings, in which:v As previously stated, the flaps of envelopes fre- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an envelope feeding quently become warped or curled adjacent theirmechanism shown in relation to a portion of the end portions due to Vthe action of the adhesive feeding mechanism of a printing machine and applied to the flap, 0r dueto the action of atmosillustrating my improved curl removing devices pheric conditions on the adhesive in which oase, 45 applied thereto;V `considerable difficulty has been experienced in Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational feeding envelopes to aprinting machine or the view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, and like, and to overcome this condition, the present taken substantially as indicated by the line 2,-2 invention. contemplates a plurality of laterally othereof; spaced elongated longitudinally movable curl re- Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view moving slide members 22 positioned'beneath andA taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 kand illustrating at opposite sides of the magazine II, the said slide the arrangement and structure of the curl remembers being mounted in ways 23 secured to V moving device shown in Figs. 1 and'2; i the bottom of the magazine II, and in substantialy- 551 Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the driving i alignment with the endv portions `of the envelope55y flap F in a manner to engage said end portions to remove the curl or warp therefrom, preferably, when the nap F is in substantial alignment with the body of the envelope as illustrated in Fig. 5, and to assist in directing the flap onto the said feed table 8.

For actuating the slide members 22 in proper relation to the feed segments i5 and I1 on the shaft I8, a pair of arms 24 are secured adjacent one of their ends to a rock shaft 25 and at their opposite ends by means of links 26 to brackets 21 secured to the underside of the respective slide members 22. For oscillating the rock shaft 25 in a manner to actuate the slides 22, an arm 28 is secured to the shaft 25 outside onegof the frame members 29 and a tension spring 3| is connected at one of its ends to the arm 28by means of a pin 32, and at its opposite end to a pin 33 mounted on the frame member in a manner to urge the arm 28 in one direction and to move the slide members 22 toward the envelope flap for removing the curl therefrom, the said movement of the slide members 22 being in advance of the segments I6 and I1 for assisting in positioning the flap F in substantial alignment with the body of the envelope and in a position tol be engaged by the feed rollers I4 and feed segments I6 and I1 as the latter are rotated to engage the envelope and advance it onto the feed table 8.

For retracting the slide members 22, the shaft I8 is provided on its outer end with a disc 34 having a roller 35 mounted thereon and radially spaced from the line of rotation of the shaft I8, and adapted to engage the arm 28 for moving the latter and rocking the shaft 25 against the action of the spring 3 I, thereby moving the slide members 22 in the opposite direction and into a position to engage the flap of the next succeeding envelope to remove the curl therefrom and assist in directing the flap onto the feed table 8.

`By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the finger I3 has moved the flap F to a vertical position where the outer ends thereof may be engaged by the slide members 22 as illustrated in Fig. 5 in a manner to remove any curl therefrom before the flap is engaged by the feed segments I6 and I1 for advancing the fiap and envelope to the feed table. Upon reaching the feed table, the envelope is engaged by a pair of

supplemental feed rollers

36 and 31 by which it is moved forwardly and longitudinally of the table 8 until the rear or following edge of the envelope is advanced sufficiently far to be engaged by lugs 38 on feed chains 39 by which the envelope is further advanced to the mechanism as, for example, a type roller and platen of a printing machine or the like.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement wherein the slide members 22 are moved in relation to the envelope in a manner to remove the curl from the end portions of the flap F in an efficient manner, and in advance of the engagement of the flap by the feed segments I6 and I1, and wherein the slide members assist in directing the nap F onto the feed table in an uncurled or flattened condition, the inclination of the fingers 9 adjacent the central forward edge portion of the feed table 8 insuring the lifting of the flap adjacent its central portion onto the central portion of the table.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be va-f riously modified, Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a plurality of cooperating feeding means engageable with the flap of an envelope, a finger for engaging said flap for unfolding and moving the flap into a position adjacent said feeding means to be engaged thereby, and means engageable with said flap and relatively movable with respect thereto for removing any curl from the outer end portions thereof.

2. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a plurality of cooperating feed rollers and feed segments, means for engaging the flap of an envelope to unfold and move said flap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged thereby, and means engageable with the outer end portions of said flap and relatively movable with respect thereto for removing any curl therefrom.

3. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a plurality of rotatable feed rollers, rotatable feed segments cooperable with said rollers, means for engaging the flap of an envelope to unfold and move said nap into substantial alignment with the body of the envelope and into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged and fed thereby, and means engageable with the inner face of said flap and relatively movable with respect thereto for removing any curl therefrom.

4. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments adjacent said magazine, means for engaging the flap of an envelope in said magazine to unfold and move said flap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged and fed thereby, and means slidably mounted on said magazine adapted to engage the outer end portions of said fiap with respect thereto for removing any curl therefrom.

5. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments adjacent the lower end of said magazine and at one side thereof, means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelope in said magazine to unfold and move said flap into substantial alignment with the body of the envelope and into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged thereby and drawn from said magazine, and slide members mounted beneath said magazine and relatively movable with respect to said lowermost envelope and engageable with the end portions of the flap thereof for removing the curl therefrom.

6. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a plurality of cooperating feed members adjacent the lower end of said magazine and at one side thereof, driving means for actuating said feed members, means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelope in said magazine for unfolding and moving said iiap into substantial alignment with the body-of said envelope and into a position between said feed members to be engaged so,l

thereby and drawn from said magazine, a pair of elongated laterally spaced longitudinally movable slide members positioned respectively in substantial alignment with the respective outer end portions of said flap and engageable therewith fo1` removing any curl therefrom, and means operatively related to said driving means for actuating said slide members.

7. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a feed table having its receiving edge adjacent said magazine, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments between the lower end of said magazine and the receiving edge of said table, means for engaging the flap of an -envelope to unfold and move said flap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged and fed thereby from said magazine onto said table, and means engageable with the outer end portions of said flap and relatively movable with respect thereto for removing any curl therefrom and for lifting the outer end portions of the flap onto said feed table.

8. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a frame, a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a feed table having a receiving edge adjacent said magazine, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted in said frame, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments mounted respectively on said shafts between the lower end of said magazine and the receiving edge of said table, means for engaging the flap of an envelope to unfold and move said iiap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged and fed thereby from said magazine onto said table, a pair of laterally spaced members engageable with the outer end portions of said flap and relatively movable with respect thereto, and means operatively related to one of said shafts for actuating said pair of members.

9. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a frame, a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted in said frame, a plurality of` rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments mounted respectively on .said shafts adjacent the lower end portion of said magazine, means for engaging the iiap of the lowermost envelope in said magazine to unfold and move the flap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged thereby for moving the envelope from said magazine, a pair of slide members engageable respectively with the outer end portions of said flap and relatively movable with respect thereto, a rockshaft rotatably mounted in said frame, actuating means connected to said rock-shaft and slide members, and means operatively related to said rock-shaft and segment shaft for oscillating the rock-shaft.

10. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a frame, a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, upper and lower feed shafts rotatably mounted in said frame, a plurality of feed rollers and feed segments mounted on said upper and lower feed shafts, respectively, adjacent the lower end portion of said magazines, means beneath said magazine for engaging the flap of an envelope to unfold and move said ap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged thereby for moving the envelope from said magazine, a pair of curl removing members engageable' respectively with the outer end portions of said ap and relatively movable with respect thereto for removing the curl therefrom, a rockshaft mounted in said frame, actuating means operatively related to said rock-shaft and curl removing members, an arm secured to said rockshaft, a radially spaced roller carried by said lower shaft and engageable with said arm for rotating said rock-shaft in one direction,v and resilient means for rotating the rock-shaft in the opposite direction.

11. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a plurality of cooperating feeding means engageable with the ap of an envelope, and a pair of laterally spaced members engageable with said flap adjacent the end portions thereof and bodily movable transversely with respect thereto for removing any curl therefrom.

l2. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a plurality of cooperating feeding means engageable with the flap of an envelope, and a pair of laterally spaced members engageable with the iiap adjacent the end portions thereof and slidably movable transversely with respect thereto for removing any curl therefrom and maintaining the flap and end portions thereof in operative position to be engaged by said feeding means.

CLAUDE L. POST.