US2123548A - Envelope machine - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1938. E. c. SAUERMAN 2,123,543

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Dec. '7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l fiz Jzz (072 Zivzaf 61522 tier/#2212 July 12, 1938. E. c. SAUERMAN 2,123,543

' ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Dec; 7, 1955 e Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1938. E. c. SAUERMAN ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 12, 1938. E. c. sAuERMAN ENVELOPE MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 7, 1935 saw July 12, 1938.

E. C. SAUERMAN ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lllllllnllll E. c. SAUERMAN 2,123,548.

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet s July 12, 1938.

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Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFH 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to envelope making machines and more particularly to machines composed of an assembly of mechanisms for performing certain operations upon the envelope blank, namely, feeding the blanks individually into the machine, scoring, folding and gumming. Machines of this general character have been constructed for performing the different operations in various sequences and in the machine chosen for illustration of the present invention the sealing flap of the envelope is gummed and dried before the scoring, folding and other gumming operations are performed, but it is manifest that for certain uses the sealing flap of the envelope need not be gummed.

For convenience in describing this invention, it may be said that there are two general classifications of envelopes, namely, the letter style and catalogue style, both of which are manufactured in a plurality of sizes and a wide variety of shapes of flaps and overlapping arrangements thereof. By "letter style envelope is meant envelopes of the type customarily used for correspondence and the like, and a very extensively used letter style envelope is characterized by having its side flaps folded over against the body panel with the bottom flap adhesively secured to the side flaps for completing the envelope pocket. The term catalogue style is used herein in a generic sense, and is intended to include envelopes known as open end, open side, coin, coupon, and various others used for advertising matter, data, containers, etc., and this type of envelope is characterized by having its side flaps adhesively secured together, and having the bottom flap adhesively secured to one or both of the side flaps.

Heretofore the manufacturer of the two above mentioned styles of envelopes was able to pro- 40 duce them only by the use of different and especially constructed machines, which are provided with adjustable devices for producing the respective styles of envelopes in a plurality of sizes. Manifestly, a manufacturer wishing to produce both styles of envelopes must necessarily equip himself with two different machines.

It is therefore, a primary object of my invention to produce a novel machine of the above mentioned character which is capable of producing either letter or catalogue style envelopes in a wide range of sizes. Another object is to produce an improved envelope making machine which may be quickly and easily converted for producing either letter or catalogue style .envelopes. A further object resides in the embodiment of my invention into a unitary assembly of mechanism that is capable of quick and easy assembly into cooperative relation with other mechanisms in certain commercial envelope making machines now in use so as to render said machines convertible for producing either letter or catalogue style envelopes. It is also an object of this invention to produce a unitary assembly of mechanisms that will greatly reduce the cost of equipment necessary for producing both the letter and catalogue style envelopes.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichz-Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of an intermediate portion of a commercial form of machine for producing letter style envelopes;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of an intermediate portion of an envelope making machine provided with my novel assembly of mechanisms, embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the machine, taken substantially as indicated at line 33 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a staggered longitudinal vertical section through the machine, taken as indicated at line 4-4 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the machine, taken as indicated at line 55 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing driving connections to one of the gluing mechanisms and taken as indicated at line 6-43 on Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 'l-? on Fig. 2 showing the leading end of the plow share extending downwardly into a groove of the bed plate, to initiate folding of the end flap of the envelope blank as it is fed through the machine;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the novel gluing mechanism which is adapted to be moved into and out of operative position, and is taken as indicated at line 88 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the gluing mechanism disclosed in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means for locking the adjustable gluing mechanism at either of its respective positions of adjustment and taken as indicated at line it le on Fig. 3;

Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive represent different steps of operation upon-the envelope blank, and

Figs. 18 and 19 represent two modified forms of catalogue style envelopes.

For convenienceand to insure a clear and complete understanding of both the nature and scope of my invention it is deemed desirable to illustrate and describe briefly certain portions of a commercial form of letter style envelope making machine which is capable of being quickly and easily reconstructed or reassembled with mechanisms embodying my invention.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings which discloses a portion of a commercial form of letter style envelope making machine it will be noted that the machine includes two pairs of laterally offset side frames or standards IE] and Ida respectively. For convenience in manufacture these respective pairs of frames Ill and Iila'include unitary mechanisms for performing certain operations upon the envelope blank. Supported by these respective pairs of frames are bed plates II and Na over which the envelope blank indicated at I2 travels in substantially horizontal direction, as indicated by the arrow.

In the commercial type of machine, a portion of which is disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings, there is employed mechanism for feeding envelope blanks individually in overlapping relation to form a continuous band, exposing only a portion of the sealing flaps I2a, and the exposed portion of the sealing flaps I2a. are then coated with gummed adhesive and the blanks are continuously fed by suitable conveying mechanism by or through a drying medium to insure complete drying of the adhesive that has been applied to the sealing flaps of the envelope blanks. The blanks are then fed individually onto a special conveyor, as seen in Figs. land 4 of the drawings, which includes a pair of synchronized, transversely spaced apart longitudinally extending continuous strands of chain I3 which are provided with laterally disposed lugs I3a carrying upstanding pins or projections I3b' which are aligned in pairs and are adapted to engage the rearward edge of the envelope blank for transmitting it to a scoring device indicated generally at I5. The scoring device is of a type well known in the art, and it is to be understood that it is constructed to permit adjustment to accommodate different size blanks. The device is mounted on a transversely extending rotating shaft I5 journalled in bearings of side frames Ifla, and is geared in timed relation to other mechanisms of the machine. The scoring device includes a pair of transaxially spaced apart rotary score blades I So which are adapted to score the envelope blank longitudinally with respect to the direction of travel thereof as it is fed thereunder so as to define side flaps I2b, which are subsequently folded over upon the body portion of the envelope blank. The scoring device also includes a transversely extending score blade I5?) adapted to score the blank at two longitudinally spaced apart transverse planes taken with respect to the direction of travel of the blank to define a bottom flap I20, and a sealing flap 52a of the envelope blank. Disposed below and in contactual engagement with the scoring blades, is a roller,

" H, the surface of which is of resilient material.

As the envelope blanks are fed between the scoring roll and roller I'I, they are frictionally engaged and advanced therethrough and are then engaged and advanced in the direction of the arrow by a series of friction rolls (not shown) but similar in character to those disclosed in other views of the drawings, as will presently be described. It is to be understood that the bed plate II is provided with a plurality of apertures through which protrude a portion of the periphery of the friction rolls which are positively driven through pairs of bevel gears indicated at I8 which in turn derive motion through the bevel gear drive connection I9, from the obliquely disposed shaft 20, which likewise in turn is driven by a pair of bevel gears enclosed in the housing 2I from the main drive shaft, 22.

Aligned and in contactual engagement with the portion of the periphery of the friction rolls protruding through the apertures in the bed plate I I, are sets of idler rolls, (substantially the same as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4) carried in a housing support indicated at 23. As the envelope blank is fed from the scoring device the end flaps I2b pass beneath longitudinally extending transversely spaced apart fingers, 24, the outer edges of which lie adjacent to and inside of the corresponding longitudinal score lines. End flap folding members 25, which for convenience may be termedv plow shares, are located in transverse alignment immediately outside of fingers, 24.

The leading edge of these plow share members is inclined downwardly and extends into a groovein the bed plate, I I, (see Fig. '7) to assist in initiating the raising of the side flaps I2b, preparatory to folding over upon the main body portion;

of the envelope blank. As the blank is fed forwardly by the friction rolls, the plow shares complete the folding of the side flaps I21), and the envelope blank is then picked up by the positively driven friction rolls 26 and cooperating rolls therebeneath, and advance it forwardly so that. the obliquely disposed adhesive or gum applying blades indicated at 21 carried on the rotary shaft 28 engage and apply adhesive to the two forwardmost diagonally extending edges of the foldedv over side flaps I2b. The gum applying blades are driven through suitable gearing as may be seen from Figs. 1 and 6 in the drawings, so as to engage the blank I2, in timed relation to its advancement over the bed plate, II. Through the aperture Me of the bed plate, extends a feeler member which controls the operation of the gum applying device, in response to passage of envelope blanks over said aperture, as is well understood in the art. The blank is advanced further by a resilient surfaced friction roll located' below and cooperating with the adhesive applying blades so as to move the blank to the folding mechanism indicated generally at 30, and which includes an upwardly curved plate 3| which causes the bottom or forwardmost flap I20 of the envelope blank to be deflected upwardly, and when it arrives at a predetermined position a pair of timed, spaced apart tucker fingers 32, which are carried on a rock shaft 33, engage the blank substantially at the transverse score line defining the flap I20 from the body portion of the envelope blank. move downwardly the blank is fed between-folding rolls (not shown), folding the flap I 20 onto in the art, it is deemed unnecessary to fully dis-1 close same or describe their construction in detail.

In the event of jamming of the blanks in certain mechanisms, due to any reason whatso- As these tucker fingers The envelope blank is then fed Sincethe folding mechaever, it may be desired to arrest the feeding of envelope blanks to the gumming and folding mechanisms, and therefore the idler rolls which are carried in the housing 23 together with said housing are rigidly connected to a transversely extending support 35 which is pivoted at one end to one side frame Illa. The free end of the supporting lever is provided with a pivoted latch 36 which is adapted to be swung laterally to re lease the supporting lever for raising, as may be seen in dotted position shown in Fig. 3. Said lever 36 may then be swung as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to support said lever, 35, in raised inoperative position. Manifestly when the idler rolls carried in the housing 23 are moved out of cooperative engagement with the driven friction rolls located below, the envelope blanks fed onto said rolls from the conveyor 13, are arrested, and will thus give the operator opportunity to remove any obstructions along the line. It will also be observed in this connection that the fingers 24 and plow shares 25 are also rigidly connected to the lever support 35, and are movable therewith. Thus when the plow shares are elevated the mechanism is rendered conveniently accessible for the operator to remove the obstruction.

As above mentioned, one of the objects of this invention consists in the provision of a machine of the general character above described in detail wherein it is possible to produce catalogue style envelopes as well as producing letter style envelopes. Mechanisms embodying my invention may be quickly and easily embodied in a machine of the general character disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, as will hereinafter appear in connection with the description of the remaining drawings. For purpose of illustration I will describe my improved envelope making machine in connection with the production of catalogue style envelopes. However, it will be manifest and as hereinafter will appear, the machine is so constructed that it is capable by a slight adjustment of producing the letter style envelope. The envelope blank indicated at 45 is fed onto the base plate Ila and is picked up by the projecting pins l3b of the conveyor chains 13, which feed it between the scoring roll l5, and the resilient roller IT, as seen in Fig. 4. It will be manifest that this scoring roll has its score blades 15a and l5b dimensioned so as to produce score lines of desired length, and spaced apart relation at the proper location on the envelope blank. And it will be clear that the radius, defining the circular path of travel of the score blade I51) is greater than the score blade I51) disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings, because the two transverse score lines of the envelope blank 40 are spaced a greater distance apart. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, the scoring mechanism may be of such construction that the scoring blades l5a and 15b may be adjusted so as to produce score lines on the envelope blank, for producing different size or shapes of envelopes.

In producing catalogue style envelopes it will be recognized that the closing or sealing flap 40w may or may not, be provided with a gummed or adhesive coating. As the blank is fed through the scoring device it defines side flaps 40b, bottom flap 40c, and sealing or closing flap 45a, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As the envelope blank is discharged from the scoring mechanism, it is picked up and positively advanced, in the direction of the arrow, by two staggered series of friction rolls. Each of the respective series of friction rolls are composed of sets each including a relatively small roll 45 and relatively long roll 46, the small roll having a portion of its periphery protruding through an aperture He in the bed plate Ilb relatively close to the longitudinal center line of the machine, and the relatively long roll 46 having a portion of its periphery protruding through an elongated aperture Ha. of the bed plate Ilb, on opposite sides of the center line of the machine. In this construction it will be noted that each of the representative set of rolls 45 and 36 are rigidly mounted on a transversely extending shaft ll journalled in bearings 48 of the side frames me. At one end of the roll shaft 41 of each of the respective roll units is a bevelgear 59 meshing with a cooperative bevel gear 50 carried on shaft 5|, which in turn is driven through a pair of bevel gears 52 on the shafts 5| and 53 which latter in turn derives its power through a pair of bevel gears enclosed in the housing 2! from the main shaft 22 as in the construction shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the bevel gear drive arrangement for the friction rolls is such that they all rotate in the same direction.

It will be seen that the catalogue type envelope produced by the machine herein disclosed, is of the type wherein the side flaps 40b are successively folded over one upon the other, as distinguished from the simultaneous folding over of the side or end flaps 12b of the letter style envelope blank disclosed in connection with the machine shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. To obtain this successive folding of the side flaps the fingers 24 and the plow shares 25 which are identical with those disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, are arranged in longitudinal staggered relation and each set of these members is carried on a transversely extending supporting lever 55 pivotally mounted on brackets 10d, of the side frame I51), and the free ends of said levers are provided with latch handles 56 for operation in substantially the same manner as described in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be understood that the plow shares 25, and fingers, 24, together with the sets of idler rolls are adjustable laterally on said levers, 55, so as to accommodate envelope blanks of different sizes. For this reason friction roll, 46, is of substan tial length to permit a wide range of cooperative driving adjustment therewith by said idler rollers, carried in the housings 58. Mounted for cooperation with the power driven friction rolls 45 and 55 are a plurality of pairs of idler rolls 51, enclosed in housings 58, which are secured to the respective pivoted supporting levers 55. The fingers 24, and plow shares 25 together with the supporting housings 58 carrying the idler rolls 5? are laterally adjustable on the pivoted supporting levers 55 so as to permit producing envelopes of a desired size.

When the envelope blank 55 is fed from the scoring device E5 to the friction rolls 45 and 36, and cooperating idlers, 51, the underside of the left hand side flap 5%, as determined by the direction of travel of the blank, as seen in Fig. 13 of the drawings, is coated with adhesive gum by an adhesive applying roller 55 which will hereinafter be described in detail. As the scored envelope blank is then fed forwardly by the first series of friction rolls 55- 36 and idler rolls 57 the side flap 4% which has just been coated on the under side with adhesive gum, is brought into engagement with the adjacent folding device or plow share 25, for folding said flap against the body portion of the envelope blank, as above described. This will dispose the wet gummed edge of the flap b, facing upwardly, adjacent the longitudinal center of the envelope, as seen in Fig. 14. As the blank is discharged by the first series of friction rolls, it is engaged by the second series of friction rolls, and further movement in the direction of the arrow causes the other side flap 40b to engage the other plow share 25, folding said other fiap b against the body portion of the envelope blank and bringing its outer edge into engagement with the adhesively coated surface of the already folded side fiap 491), as seen in Fig. 15. The partially folded envelope blank is then engaged by cooperating sets of friction rolls 6| and 62, which are likewise driven from the shaft 5| by bevelled gearing 4950, for adhesively securing the side flaps, 40b, together. The envelope blank is then advanced further for application of adhesive gum to the bottom flap 400 by the wiper blade 63.

' It will be noted that the wiper blade is substantially straight and parallel with the axis of the shaft 64 on which it is carried, and thus applies adhesive in a transverse band to the edge of the end flap 460 as seen in Fig. 16 of the drawings. As above mentioned the application of the adhesive gum to the blade 63, as seen in Fig. 4, is effected in a manner well known in the art, and detail description at this time is believed unnecessary. It is to be understood that the blade 63 is brought into contact with the flap 400 of the envelope blank in timed relation so as to insure applying adhesive to the proper area of the bottom flap 40c. Mounted below the adhesive applying wiper blade 63, for cooperation therewith is a resilient surfaced roller, 64a, which is also driven through a set of bevel gears, 4950, from shaft, 5|, as seen in Fig. 6. This roller with the blade 63, also serves to advance the blank forwardly. As the partially folded envelope blank continues its travel in a forward direction the bottom flap 460 is deflected upwardly by a curved plate, 3 l, and a pair of timed, rockable tucker fingers 32 engage the. blank at the score line, dividing the bottom flap 460 from the body portion of the envelope, tending to fold flap 40c upwardly, and it is then fed between folding rollers, (not shown) for causing the flap 400 to be folded down and adhesively secured to the two side flaps 461), as seen in Fig. 1'7 of the drawings. As above mentioned in connection with the machine shown in Fig. 1, continued travel of the envelope causes it to be engaged by another set of folding rolls (not shown) for folding the sealing fiap 4 3a down against the two side flaps 40b. It is apparent that the machine may be adjusted for producing different forms of catalogue envelopes, such as for example as shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

When it is desired to produce letter style envelopes by my novel machine desirably the housings 58 are adjusted along the supporting levers so that the pairs of idler rolls, 5'1, are aligned along the longitudinal center of the machine, with one of the idler rolls of each pair in registration with the small friction drive roll 45 and the other idler roller in cooperative relation with the adjacent end of the long drive roller 46, of each of the roll units. Manif'estly in making the letter style envelope on this form of machine the gumming mechanism indicated generally at 66 will be disposed in inoperative position, and a gum applying blade, for the bottom fiap, such as shown in Fig. 1, may be substituted for the straight blade 63.

The gum applying mechanism, above referred to, and indicated generally at 60, is capable of being quickly adjusted into or out of operative position when it is desired to change from one style of envelope to another. includes a transversely extending support, 65, connected to the side frames, lb, and on which is carried a reservoir 66 containing adhesive gum. Journalled in said side frames is a transversely extending shaft 61 on which is mounted a cam 68 and an adhesive pick up disc 69. As may be seen in Fig. 8 of the drawings the disc 69 is positioned so that a substantial outer portion thereof continuously travels in a bath of adhesive gum, and the periphery of this disc 69 engages the periphery of an adhesive applying roll 10 carried on shaft 41 of one of the forwardmost friction drive rolls. This shaft through gearing l2 drives the shaft 61 in definite timed relation thereto. Rigidly connected to the reservoir 66 is an upstanding bracket 14 which is formed with chamber I la. through which extends a slidable cam follower rod 15 the lower end of which is provided with a roller 16, which is in continual engagement with the periphery of the rotatable cam, 68. A coil spring 11, is disposed in the chamber 14a, and reacts against a shoulder on said rod, F5, for normally maintaining the roller E6 in engagement with the periphery of the cam. The upper end of the rod I5 carries a pivoted bracket 78, releasably secured in horizontal position, as seen in Figs. 8 and 9 and journalled in the outer end of said bracket is a double flanged roller '59 which cooperates with the gum applying roller '18. Mounted on the bed plate llb is a supporting plate 86 which is slotted to form a pair of bifurcated fingers 8| disposed on opposite sides of the adhesive applying wheel 10 and with which the flanges 19b of the roller 19 engage at timed intervals. Thus as the envelope blank, 40, is fed through the scoring device l5, adhesive is applied to the outer edge of the under surface of the adjacent flap 46b, and in order that the peripheral surface of the idler wheel 19 does not become soiled with adhesive gum, it is normally moved in timed relation by said cam 68, away from the periphery of the adhesive applying wheel '56, except when the flap of the envelope is passing therebetween. In other words, the spring ll always exerts a pressure in a downward direction on the follower rod 16, for holding the idler wheel 19 in such position as to frictionally engage the flap 40b of the envelope blank as it is being fed through the machine, but when the high area 68d of the cam engaged the roller 7-5, the flanged roller 79, is raised in spaced relation to the fingers 8!. In order that this gumrning mechanism may be adapted for producing envelopes of different widths, the entire unit including reservoir, 66, with bracket it, cam 68, roller 68, are transversely movable on support 65, and may be secured in adjusted position by clamping screw, b.

When it is desired to convert the machine for running letter style envelopes the friction roll 19 with its bracket 18 is swung upwardly about its pivot connection to the rod 15 and is withdrawn in a downward direction together with a reservoir of adhesive gum. Mounted as a transversely disposed shaft 86, journalled in bearings 65a. carried by the support 65, are a pair This mechanism of pinions in constant engagement with vertically disposed racks, 88, which are rigidly secured to the frame members lllb, as seen in Figs. 3 and 9. Thus by rotating the shaft 86 by the hand crank indicated at 81 at the outer end of the shaft, the pinions are caused to rotate and thereby elevate or lower the support 65 and the adhesive reservoir and the bracket, M, to-= gether with the idler l9 and its supporting bracket 18, to either operative or inoperative positions. To securely lock this mechanism in either its upper or lower position of adjustment I provide a threaded hand wheel 89 on shaft 83, which may be threaded tightly against the slidable bearing 65a which supports the shaft at preventing rotation thereof. Then as above mentioned, the proper size and style of adhesive applying blade or blades is substituted on shaft 64, and the fingers 24, plow shares 25 and idler rolls, 5?, are laterally adjusted, and the machine is then ready to produce letter style envelopes.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is appar ent that in its broadest aspect it is capable of modification and rearrangement Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the particular construction herein shown and described, except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an envelope making machine, single means for scoring an envelope blank to define a closing flap, a bottom flap, and side flaps, means for advancing the blank in timed, spaced apart relation, means for gumming the underside of one of the side flaps for adhesive securement to the other side flap, said gumming means including a gum applying roller for coating the edge of the side flap, a cooperating idler roller for engaging the upper surface of said side flap, and means for transaxially moving the idler roller in timed relation to the advancing means for urging said edge of the said side flap in positive contact with the peripheral surface of the gumming roller, means for first folding the gummed side flap, and then folding the other side flap thereon, means for applying gum adhesive for securement of the bottom flap to the side flaps, and means for folding the bottom flap on top of said side flaps for completing the pocket of the envelope.

2. An envelope making machine in accordance with claim 1, in which the idler roll is formed with spaced apart flanges for straddling the gum applying roller.

3. In a convertible envelope making machine for producing a plurality of diiferent style envelopes, means for scoring an envelope blank to define a closing flap, a bottom flap and side flaps, means for advancing said blank, gumming means operable at will for coating the under surface of the outer edge of one of the side flaps, for adhesive securement to the other side flap, said gumming means including a gum applying roller for engaging the side flap, a gum reservoir, means for supplying gum from the reservoir to said roller, a support for said reservoir and last mentioned means, means for moving the reservoir and supplying means to or from operative position, means for successively folding the side flaps one upon the other against the body portion of the blank, means for applying gum adhesive for securement of the bottom flap to the side means for scoring an envelope blank to define a closing flap, a bottom flap and side flaps, means for advancing the blank, means for gumming one of the side flaps for adhesive securement to the other, and separate, longitudinally spaced apart means arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, for successively folding said side flaps one upon the other, said folding means being laterally adjustable to accommodate different size blanks, said advancing means including two sets of longitudinally spaced apart driving rollers arranged in opposite relation to the respective folding means, and each set including a series of transversely disposed power driven rollers having relatively wide faces, and idler rollers mounted in peripheral contact with the power rollers for feeding the envelope blanks in a forward direction, said idler rollers being laterally adjustable, toward or away from the corresponding folding means, for engaging different surface areas of said power rollers, for accommodating different size envelope blanks.

6. An envelope making machine including means for scoring an envelope blank to define a closing flap, a bottom flap and side flaps, means for advancing the blank, means for gumming one of the side flaps for adhesive securement to the other, and separate longitudinally spaced apart means arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, for successively folding said side flaps one upon the other, said folding means being laterally adjustable to accommodate different size blanks, said advancing means including two sets of longitudinally spaced apart driving rollers arranged in opposite relation to the respective folding means, and each set including a series of small power driven rollers located on the same side of the machine as the corresponding folding means, and an aligned series of power driven rollers, having relatively wide faces, arranged on the opposite side of the machine, and two sets of idler rollers disposed in peripheral contact with said power driven rollers for feeding the blanks in a forward direction, said idler rollers being laterally adjustable for engaging different surface areas of the power driven rollers for accommodating different size envelope blanks.

7. An envelope making machine including means for scoring an envelope blank to define a closing flap, a bottom flap and side flaps, means for advancing the blank, means for gumming one of the side flaps for adhesive securement to the other, and separate longitudinally spaced apart means arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, for successively folding said side flaps one upon the other,'said folding means being laterally adjustable to accommodate different size blanks, said advancing means including two sets of longitudinally spaced apart driving rollers arranged in opposite relation to the respective folding means, and each set including a series of small power driven rollers located on the same side of the machine as the corresponding folding means, and an aligned series of power driven rollers, having relatively wide faces, arranged on the opposite side of the machine, and two sets of idler rollers disposed in peripheral contact with said power driven rollers for feeding the blanks in a forward direction, said idler rollers being laterally adjustable for engaging different surface areas of the power driven rollers for accommodating different size envelope blanks, each set of idler rollers includes a plurality of pairs, spaced apart so that 'in one position of adjustment one roller of each pair is positioned for cooperation with one of the small power driven rollers, while the other roller of each pair engages the corresponding aligned, wide face power driven roller.

8. An envelope making machine including means for scoring an envelope blank to define side flaps, means for advancing the blank and separate longitudinally spaced apart means arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, for successively folding said side flaps upon the body portion of the envelope blank, said folding means being laterally adjustable to accommodate different size blanks, said advancing means including two sets of longitudinally spaced apart driving rollers arranged in opposite relation to the respective folding means, and each set including a series of transversely disposed power driven rollers having relatively wide faces, and idler rollers mounted in peripheral contact with the power rollers for feeding the envelope blanks in a forward direction, said idler rollers being laterally adjustable, toward or away from the corresponding folding means, for engaging different surface areas of said power rollers, for accommodating different size envelope blanks.

9. An envelope making machine including means for scoring an envelope blank to define side flaps, meansfor advancing the blank and separate longitudinally spaced apart means arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, for successively folding said side flaps upon the body portion of the envelope blank,

said folding means being laterally adjustable to accommodate different size blanks, said advancing means including two sets of longitudinally spaced apart driving rollers arranged in opposite relation to the respective folding means, and each set including a series of small power driven rollers located on the same side of the machine as the corresponding folding means, and an aligned series of power driven rollers, having relatively wide faces, arranged on the opposite side of the machine, and two sets of idler rollers disposed in peripheral contact with said power driven rollers for feeding the blanks in a forward direction, said idler rollers being laterally adjustable for engaging different surface areas of the power driven rollers. for accommodating different size envelope blanks.

10. An envelope making machine including means for scoring an envelope blank to define side flaps, means for advancing the blank and separate longitudinally spaced apart means arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the machine, for successively folding said side flaps upon the body portion of the envelope blank, said folding means being laterally adjustable to accommodate different size blanks, said advancing means including two sets of longitudinally spaced apart driving rollers arranged in opposite relation to the respective folding means, and each set including a series of small power driven rollers located on the same side of the machine as the corresponding folding means, and an aligned series of power driven rollers, having relatively wide faces, arranged on the opposite side of the machine, and two sets of idler rollers disposed in peripheral contact with said power driven rollers for feeding the blanks in a forward direction, said idler rollers being laterally adjustable for engaging different surface areas of the power driven rollers for accommodating different size envelope blanks, each set of idler rollers includes a plurality of pairs, spaced apart so that in one position of adjustment one roller of each pair is positioned for cooperation with one of the small power driven rollers, while the other roller of each pair engages the corresponding aligned, wid'e face power driven roller.

ERNST C. SAUERMAN.

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