US2147541A

US2147541A - Printing attachment for envelope machines

Info

Publication number: US2147541A
Application number: US134165A
Authority: US
Inventors: John L Oberender
Original assignee: OLES ENVELOPE CORP
Current assignee: OLES ENVELOPE Corp
Priority date: 1937-03-31
Filing date: 1937-03-31
Publication date: 1939-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. J. 1.. OBERENDER PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 31, 1937 Feb. 14, 1939. J. OBERENDER PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 31, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 (jajy rwmdw= Feb. 14, 1939- J. L. OBERENDER PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 31, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 Feb. 14, 1939. J 1 QBERENDE'R 2,147,541

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 31, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 (124,; L. a e/ 46,

Feb. 14, 1939.

J. OBERENDER 2,147,541 PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed March 51, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Gum M 15 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR- ENVELOPE MACHINES John L. Oberender, Kings ville, Md, assignor to Oles Envelope Corporation, Baltimore, Md., 2. corporation of Maryland Application March 31, 1937, Serial No. 134,165

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in envelope machines, and more especially to those of the class adapted to make envelopes of the diagonally seamed type, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a printing attachment for such machines which enables one side of the envelope blanks to be printed while gum is applied simultaneously to the opposite side of the blanks for pasting the diagonally seamed flaps.

According to the present invention, the printing means is combined with said gum applying, means to form a unit in which the printing and gum applying means are synchronized, thus enabling each envelope blank to receive gum for the pasting of its diagonal seams and, simultaneously, to be printed, the synchronization of the gum applying and printing means insuring the proper application of the gum and the printing In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the gum picker shaft which carries the pickers which apply the lines of gum to one side of the envelope blanks for the diagonal seams also carries an impression roll beneath which portions of the envelope blanks pass, and a type roll is mounted opposite to the impression roll and is connected thereto to rotate at the same surface speed therewith, so that portions of the envelope blanks passing between the impression and type rolls receive printing on one side thereof while, simultaneously therewith, other portions of the blanks are passing and receiving gum for the diagonal seams from the pickers on the impression roll shaft, such gumming and printing operations being performed as each envelope is passing once through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means, controlled automatically according to the presence or absence of an envelope blank, to prevent contact of the type roll with the impression roll in the event no blank is in printing position at the moment the printing operation is timedto take place, thereby avoiding printing on the impression roll, which would be objectionable since it would smudge the envelope blanks which subsequently come into contact with it.

Another object is to provide novel and improved means for mounting the printing attachment in the machine whereby the type roll and its cooperating impression roll and ink feeding rolls may be adjusted as a unit relatively to the path of travel of the envelope blanks to print on the desired part of the envelope blanks.

to the appropriate parts of the envelope blanks;

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in the mountings and adjustments of the ink feeding elements of the printing attachment whereby more uniform feeding of ink to the type roll is attained and adjustments of these elements may be accomplished with facility. 1

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter described, the features of novelty being set forth 10 more particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings: l

Figures 1 and l collectively show diagrammatically an envelope machine to which the printing attachment according to the present invention is applied; 1

Figure 2 shows an envelope blank in position for feeding into the machine;

Figure 3 shows several ofthe envelope blanks about to receive gum or adhesive on the closing flaps;

Figure 4 shows the relation of the envelope blanks during drying of the gummed flaps thereof; 25

Figure 5 shows one of the blanks with its side flaps folded;

Figure 6 shows one of the envelope blanks turned;

Figure? shows an envelope blank after gum has been applied to the bottom flap on one side of the blank for sealing the diagonal seams and the opposite side of the blank has been printed;

Figure 8 shows the completed envelope;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the printing mechanism or attachment provided by the present invention;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the printing mechanism and the cooperative gummingmechanism; 40

Figure 11 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the right hand portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10, as viewed from the underside in said figure;

Figure 12 is a detail horizontal section, taken on the line lZ-IZ in Fig. 11;

Figure 13 is a vertical section, taken on the line l3--l3 in Fig. 11;

Figure 14 is a detail View of portions of the impression and type rolls shown in Fig. 13 but showing the type roll shifted out of printing position;

Figure 15 is a detail horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the bearing mountings shown in Fig. 12;

Figure 16 is a vertical section taken on the line l6-I6 in Fig. 15;

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken on the line I1l7 in Fig. 11;

Figure 18 is a detail vertical section taken on the line l8l8 in Fig. 13;

Figure 19 is a detail vertical section taken on the line |9l9 in Fig. 17;

Figure 20 is a detail'view of the adjustable mounting for one of the ink distributing rolls;

Figure 21 is a section taken on the line 2l2l in Fig. 20;

Figure 22 is a detail section, partly broken away, taken axially through the impression roll;

Figure 23 is a section taken on the line 23-23 in Fig. 22;

Figure 24 is a section taken on the line 2424 in Fig. 22;

Figure 25 is a vertical section taken on the line 25-25 in Fig. 17 and Figure26 is a section taken on the line 2626 in Fig. 25.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters'in the different figures.

The present invention provides an attachment for envelope machines of the class adapted to make envelopes of the form having side flaps and top and bottom flaps all foldable against the same side of the envelope, the bottom flap being united to the side flaps by diagonal gummed seams, and it enables the gum or adhesive to be'applied at one side of the envelope blankfor thediagonal seams and printingto beapplied at the same time to the opposite side of the envelope blank, so that these operations are performed during a single passage of the envelope blank through the machine, and the invention further provides improvements in printing mechanism which particularly adapts the same for use in an envelope machine. The preferred embodiment of the in vention is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail, but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction'shown since equivalent constructions are contemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

The invention is shown inthe present instance applied to an envelope machine of well-known construction, and it is therefore deemed sufiicient, for the purposes of the present invention, to show the same diagrammatically asin Figs. 1 and 1 and to describe it briefly. It comprises a plate I on which a stack of envelope blanks A rest, the blanks being positioned thereon by a pair of pins 2, a separator 3 which successively separates the lowermost blank from those above it, a pivoted suction cup 4 which successively engages a corner of the lowermost blank immediately after it has been separated from the stack and presents it to a roller 5 to be engaged beneath a split presser roller 6, the rollers 5 and 6 receiving the ends of the blanks in close'succession so'that the blanks will be in stepped relation and revolving in a direction to carry the blanks beneath a belt 1 which advances the line of blanks around the roller 5 to a belt 8, the blanks then dropping by gravity on an inclined plate 9 beneath a roller l0 around which a pair of belts ll travel, the blanks then passing around a guide-plate I2 and while passing this plate, the ends of the blanks having the closing flaps a thereon are in staggered or stepped relation and the exposed por tions of the closing flaps pass a gum applying nozzle l3 as shown in Fig. 3 which applies lines of gum or other suitable adhesive a to the exposed portions of the closing flaps. As the line of staggered or stepped blanks discharges from the belts II, it passes between a pair of rollers M which are driven at a higher surface speed than that of the belts I I so that the blanks are spread apart in the manner shown in Fig. 4, and the line of blanks then passesv between pairs of travelling belts 15 which advance the blanks over a heater l6 for drying the lines of adhesive a, this heater having a nozzle I! connected to it and through which air enters the heater and is blown under the line of blanks to assist in drying gum or adhesive on the closing flaps thereof. The line of blanks passes from the belts l5 to pairs of belts I8 and I 9, the blanks entering between these belts and being advanced by them around a roller 20 and discharging from this roller by gravity over an inclined plate 2| onto a belt 22 having pins 23 thereon which pass beneath a guide-plate 24, the belt 22 being driven at a'higher speed than that of the preceding belts so that the pins 23 will engage the trailing edges of the individual blanks and advance them toa pair of scoring rollers 25 which score the blanks on the lines on which the side flaps are to be folded. The scored blanks are then advanced between a pair of feed rolls 26, driven at a suitable speed, and from these feed rolls the blanks enter between pairs of feed belts 2! and 28 with which cooperate a pair of folding belts 29 which fold the side flaps 1) onto the upper side of the blank as shown in Fig. 5. From the feed belts 21 and 28, the blanks pass between a pair of belts 30 and 3|, the belt 30 carrying suction cups 32 and the belt 3| carrying plates 33 timed to register with the suction cups, each blank entering between a suction cup and cooperating plate and the suction cup having means for rotating it through a quarter turn whereby the blank will be turned from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6. The turned blanks are transferred from the turning means just described to the gum pickers 34 which apply the line of gum or adhesive 0' to the bottom flap 0 by a belt or chain 35 having pins 36 thereon engageable with the trailing edges of the blanks, a pair of scoring rollers 31 being located at the discharge end of the belt 35 and scoring the blanks on the lines on which the top and bottom flaps a and c are to be folded. The gum the blank'is carried whilethe blank is guided by guide rails 5| and 52. The blank is received from the gumming devices by belts 43-which continue the advance of the blank, and folder belts 44 cooperate with the belts 43 and serve to fold the gummed bottom flap 0 over and onto the folded side flaps b and to fold the top or closing flap a into closed position, as shown in Fig. 8. The closed envelope then passes between a pair of feed rollers 4-5 and then between delivery belts 46 and 41, these belts discharging the envelopes onto a belt 48 with which a pair of presser rolls 49 cooperate and between which the gummed diagonal seams between the bottom and side flaps pass to insure adhesion, the completed envelopes being discharged by the belt 48 onto a table, stacker or other suitable receiving device 50.

The printing attachment provided by the present invention cooperates as a unit with the gumming device 34, 40 which applies the gum lines 0' to the bottom flap c of the envelope blanks. In applying the present invention to an envelope machine of the general class just described, in which the gum pickers 34 are mounted on a shaft 55 journalled in bearings 56 in the respective side members 51 of the frame of the ma chine, the picker shaft 55 is utilized as the rotatable support for the impression roll 58 of the printing attachment, the latter also comprising a type roll 59 which cooperates with the impression roll, the impression and type rolls and the inking devices for the latter forming a unit with the gumming device.

The gum pickers 34 receive gum or other adhesive from a receptacle 68 in which a. roller 6| is immersed, this roller contacting with a roller 62 the periphery of which is located to be engaged by the gum pickers 34 as the latter rotate whereby adhesive is transferred to the gum pickers. The roller 6| is driven by gearing 63 from the shaft 64 of the roller 62, and the shaft 64 is driven by a belt 65 and

pulleys

66 and 61 from a shaft 68. The shaft 68 is driven from the longitudinal drive shaft 69 by bevel gearing I8 which connects this shaft to a shaft II journalled in the adjacent side frame of the machine, shaft II having a gear I2 fixed thereon and meshing with a gear 13 fixed on the shaft 68. The gear I3 also meshes with a gear 14 fixed on a shaft I5 which is journalled in bearings in the side members of the machine frame, this shaft carrying a pulley I6 over which the belt 4| passes. The picker shaft 55 is also driven from the shaft 68 through a gear 11 fixed on this shaft, a pair of idler gears 18 mounted on the adjacent side member of the frame and a gear I9 fixed on the shaft 55, it being understood that the shaft 55 is synchronized with the passage of the envelope blanks beneath the gum pickers 34. Since the impression roll 58 is mounted on the picker shaft 55, it also will rotate in synchronism with the passing envelope blanks and at a surface speed corresponding with the speed of travel of the envelopes.

The printing attachment provided by the present invention, is adjustable in a direction axially of the picker shaft 55 in order to accommodate it to the printing of envelope blanks of different sizes or enable the printing to be done on different desired portions of the blanks. For this purpose, the impression roll 58 is splined on the picker shaft so that it will be driven thereby but movable longitudinally thereon. As shown in the present instance, the impression roll comprises a pair of heads or end plates 88 and 8| mounted in spaced relation on a flanged hub 82 and a cylindrical body 83 extends between the heads, the heads 88 and 8| being secured to the flanges of the hub and securing the cylindrical body 82 firmly in place between them by screws 84. A sleeve 85 extends through the hub and fits the shaft 55, and the impression roll is clamped frictionally to the shaft 55 by a split clamping ring 86 which fits around a ring 81, the latter fitting upon the sleeve 85. The ring 86 is fixed to the impression roll by a screw 88 which extends through the clamping ring 86 and adjacent head or end plate 88 into one of the hub flanges and is provided with a screw 89 which connects its split portions and is operative to contract the split ring on the ring 81. The ring 81 is connected to the sleeve 85 to be driven therefrom by a suitable number of pins 98 which extend radially through the ring 81 and sleeve 85, and as shown, these pins also extend into a collar 9| which fits slidably on the shaft 55. By this arrangement, by loosening the screw 89, the impression roll may be rotated relatively to the picker shaft 55 to set the type roll, which is driven from the impression roll, in proper timed relation to the envelope blanks as they pass between the impression and type rolls or to enable the printing to be done at the desired point or points in the direction of the length of the en velope blanks, and tightening of the screw 89 will clamp the ring 86 upon the ring 81 and thereby provide a frictional but firm driving coupling between the sleeve 85 and the impression roll. The sleeve 85 is splined on the picker shaft 55 by a key 92 which fits into and is slidable longitudinally in a keyway 93 in the shaft 55, this key being fixed in a collar 94 which is fitted into an end of the sleeve 85 and is fixed to turn therewith by a suitable number of radial driving pins 95. A gear 96 is keyed or otherwise fixed on the hub 82 of the impression roll, this gear meshing with a gear 91 which is fixed to the type roll and serves to drive it. The sleeve 85 is journalled in a bearing 98 which occupies a position between the gear 96 and a collar 99 which is fixed on the outer end of the sleeve 85. The impression roll is provided with a tympan I 88 which may be composed of sheets of paper, fabric, parchment or other suitable flexible material which surrounds the cylindrical body 83 of the impression roll. In the present instance, the tympan comprises a sheet IIII of fabric or other suitable backing material which lies against the surface of the cylindrical body 83, one end of this sheet being fixed to the cylindrical body as by a clamping strip I82 and the other end of which is attached to a shaft I83 which is mounted rotatably in the heads 88 and 8| and is adapted to wind the sheet thereon and thereby tension it, the shaft I83 being provided for this purpose with a square or other suitable wrench receiving end I84 and having a ratchet wheel I85 fixed thereon, this ratchet wheel cooperating with a pawlI86 which is pivoted at I81 on the adjacent head 8| for locking the shaft I83 against unwinding rotation and thereby maintaining the sheet I8I in tensioned condition. The tympan also comprises an outer sheet |88 of for example paper or parchment which extends around the impression roll exteriorly of the sheet |8I, this outer sheet being attached at its ends to shafts I89 and I I8 mounted rotatably in the heads 88 and 8|, one of these shafts having a square or other wrench receiving end Ill for rotating it to wind the sheet |88 thereon and thereby tension it, the shafts I89 M- and I I8 being locked to maintain the outer sheet |88 under tension by set screws I I2 and I I3.

The type roll 59, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, is adapted to receive printing plates or other printing elements for cooperation with the impression roll. The cylindrical periphery of the type roll may for example be provided with intersecting circumferential and longitudinal undercut grooves M5 to receive the heads of screws ||6 for clamping a printing plate II! in the desired-position on the periphery of the type roll. The type roll is provided with bearings I I8 which are mounted revolubly on a shaft I I9, the latter being pinned or otherwise fixed at its ends in a pair of arms I28. A hub |2I extends axially from one end of the type cylinder and the gear 91 is keyed or otherwise fixed on this hub. A cam I22, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, is also keyed or otherwise fixed on the hub I2I of thetype roll.

v The type roll and itscooperating inking mechanism is carried by a frame which is shiftable axially of the-picker shaft 55, and the impression roll 58' is shiftable axially on said shaft and as a unit with this frame. The frame comprises a pair of side members I25 and I26and a tie rod or bolt I21 which rigidly connects them, and the bearing 98 in which the hub of the impression roll is journalled is carriedby or formed as a part of the side frame member I26, so that the impression roll may shift axially of the picker shaft as a unit with the frame I25, I26 and the type roll and inking devices. The shiftable frame is supported for such shifting movement by a pair of rods I28 and I29 which are rigidly secured in the main side frame members 51 and extend slidably through bearing sleeves I30 and I'3I which extend between and are secured to the side frame members I25 and I26 of the shiftable frame. The frame carrying the type roll and inking devices is adjusted on therods I28 and I29 by a screw I32 (Fig. 25) which is mounted rotatably in the adjacent side member 51' of the'main frame and. is held against axial movement by thrust collars I33, the outer end' of this screw having a suitable crank or wrench receiving portion I34 and the screw being threaded at I35 into the shiftable frame member I26.

The shaft II9 on which the type roll 59 is mounted extends through a slot I36 formed in the frame member I26, and the arms I20 which carry the shaft II9' are fixed on the ends of a shaft I3! which extends through the frame members I25 and I26 and is rotatable therein, the type roll being thus mounted to swing forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the impression roll, about the shaft I31 as a center, and the slot I36 is concentric with the shaft I31.

The type roll is thus mounted for swinging movement relatively to the impression roll for the purpose of setting it in or out of printing relation therewith, and the present invention provides means for automatically settingthe type roll out of printing relation with the impression roll uponfailureof feed of an envelope blank to the printing mechanism. By referring more particularly to Figs. 13 and 14, it will be understood that rotation of the gear 96 in a clockwise direction and which drives the gear 91- 'connected to the type roll in an anti-clockwise direction, will tend to swing the type roll shaft II9 toward the left in Fig. 13 to bring the type roll into printing relation with the impression roll and to maintain it in such position, through the force of the'drive between the gears 96 and 91, and while the type roll occupies that position, it will'be in printing relation with the impression roll. Means isprovided however for swinging the type roll rearwardly or toward the right in Fig. 13 to carry the type roll out of printing relation with the impression roll,.such means comprising the cam I22 fixed to the type roll and rotatable therewith, a cam follower comprising a pawl I40 pivoted at I4I on the adjacent shiftable frame member I26 and carrying a roller I42 which rides on the cam I22 and is held in contact therewith by a spring I43, and a latch I44 which is pivoted at I45 on the frame member I26 and is engageable with the end of the pawl I40. While the latch I44'is in lifted relation with the pawl I40 as shown in Fig. 13, the pawl I4Il' will swing to and fro idly as the roller I42 rides on the cam I22 and'the type roll will remain inprinting position, but when the latch I 44" is'lowered into the path of the upper end of the pawl I40, the pawl I40, after the roller I42 thereon has dropped into the depression I22 of the cam, will be held against swinging movement toward the left in Fig. 14, in consequence of which the cam I 22, bearing onthe fixed roller I42, will swing the type roll shaft 9 toward the right, or from the position shown in Fig. 13'to'that shown-in Fig. 14, thereby moving the type roll out of printing relation with the impression roll.

The purpose of moving the type roll out of printing relation with the impression roll is to avoid printing on the tympan of the impression roll as would occur upon failure of an envelope blankto feed between these rolls, and the present invention provides means controlled automatically according to t-he presence or absence of an envelope blank, to control the position of the type roll. In the preferred construction as shown, the shaft I 45- to which-the latch I44 is fixed is J'ournalled in and extends through the frame member I26 and has an arm I 46 fixed on its outer end, this arm carrying anarmature or core I41 of a solenoid I 48, the latter beingfixed to the frame member I26, as by abracket I49. A spring I50 acts on the arm I46 toswing it in a direction to lift the latch I44 from the path of the pawl M0 while the solenoid is deenergized. The terminals of the solenoid are connected by wires WI and I52 anda battery or other suitable source of electric current I53 to a pair of spring contact members I54 and I55 which are mounted opposite to one another in the'path of the envelopes as they are about to enterbetween the impression and type rolls. If an envelope blank passes between the contact members I54 and I55 at the I moment the depression I 22 inthe cam I22 is passing the'roller I42, said contact members will be held out of engagement with one another as shown in: Fig. 1-3 and the solenoid I48 will be deenergized sothat the spring I50 will hold the latch I44 in-its elevated position out of the path of the upper end of the pawl I40 so that the latter can swing idly andthetype cylinder will re main in printing relation with the impression roll, but if no envelope blank passes between the contact members I54and I55-at the moment the depression I22 inthe cam I22 is-opposite to the roller I42, the contact members I54 and I55 will engage one another, thereby completing the electric circuit through the solenoid I48, ener- 5 gizing the latter and causing it to lower the latch I44 into the path of the upper end of the pawl I40, therebypreventing swing of said pawl toward theleftin Figs. 13 and 14, and since the roller I42 will be thus heldin a fixed position,

continuing rotation of the-cam I22 will cause it, through reaction against the roller I42, to swing the type roll shaft II9 toward the right or into the position shown in-Fig. 14, the type roll being then-in non-printing relation with the impression roll. Upon 'deenergizing-of the solenoid, due to the feed of an envelope blank between the contact members I54 and I55, the latch I44 will be returned'to its elevated-or non-active position under the action of the spring I50. Means is thus provided for automatically setting the type roll in non-printing relation with the impression roll upon failure of feed of an-envelope blank to the printing mechanism;

The inking devices for'supplying' ink to the printing plate or other printing means on the type roll is carried between the side members I25 and I 26 of the shiftable frame and driven from the gear 91 fixed to the'type roll. These inking devices comprise a pairof' form rollers I68 and I6I which serve to apply ink to the printing plate or the like on the type roll, distributing rollers I 62, I 63 and I54 for supplying ink to the form rollers, an ink fountain roller I65, and a transfer roller I66 to receive ink from the fountain roller and transfer it to the distributing rollers.

The form roller I68 is mounted on a shaft I61 the ends of which are journalled in bearings I68, and the shaft I67 has a gear I69 which meshes with the gear 91 and by which it is driven. The bearings I68 are removably mounted in the shiftable frame so that the roller I68 may be readily removed therefrom for cleaning or other purposes and replaced with facility. As shown, each of the bearings I68 has a rib I18 thereon which is slidable in a groove I'II formed in the inner side of a bearing block I12, the bearing block being secured to the respective frame member I25 or I26 by a bolt I13 and the bearing block being locked to the respective frame member by a key I'M. Each bearing I68 is provided with an elongated slot I I5 through which a screw H6 passes, said screw being threaded into the respective bearing block I12 and serving to clamp the respective bearing thereto, and each bearing I68 carries a set screw Ell which is threaded therein and arranged to bear against the outer end of the bearing block I12 and thereby set the bearing I68 in adjusted position so that the periphery of the roller I68 makes proper contact with the printing plate or other printing element on the type roll. A similar mounting is employed for the roller I63 whereby this roller may be removably mounted in the shiftable frame and adjusted and. set so that its periphery makes proper contact with the ink distributing rollers I62 and I64. In Fig. 12, the roller I63 is shown by the full lines removed from the bearing blocks and is shown by the dotted lines in operative position on the bearing blocks, and it will be understood that the roller Hill which is mounted in a similar way, may be similarly removed and rep-laced, the set screws I'II enabling removal and replacement of either or both of these rollers without disturbing the adjustment or adjustments thereof, these set screws serving to determine the adjusted positions of these rollers by engagement with the outer ends of the respective bearing blocks.

The form roller I6I is mounted on a shaft I88 each end of which is journalledin a bearing I8I. Each of these bearings has a pin I82 fixed thereon and removably and slidably mounted in a bore I83 formed in a lever I84, and a set screw I85 is threaded through each of the bearings I8I and rests against a shoulder or abutment I86 on the lever I84. By this arrangement, the roller I6I and the bearings I8I may be removed from the levers I84, for cleaning of the roller or other purposes, and when replaced by insertion of the pins I82 in the bores I83, the set screws .485 will insure the return of this roller to its former adjusted position. Each of the levers I84 is fpivoted at I81 on the respective side member I25or I26 of the shiftable frame and may be secured in different adjusted positions about the pivots I81 by swinging the lever, in order to securejjproper contact between the roller I6I and the'iroller I62 and the printing plate or other printing element on the type roll 59 and each of the levers I84 is securedin adjusted position by a clamping bolt I88 which extends through aslot or"'enlarged opening' l89 on the respective side franie member. By mounting the bearings I8I on theilevers I84, the respective ends of the roller I6I maybe adjusted toward and from the roller I62 and the type roll 59, and by mounting the bearings slidably on the levers I84,

, the roller I6I may be set more or less in between has a gear I94 fixed to its shaft and meshing withv the gear I69 on the shaft of the roller I68, and the gear I94 also meshes with a gear I95 fixed to the shaft I67 of the roller I63 so that these rollers will be driven from the gear 91 through the intermediate gears previously described.

The distributing rollerl64 is mounted on a shaft I96 which is journalled in bearings I91 on the frame members I25 and I26 respectively, and

this roller has a, gear I98 fixed to its shaft andmeshing with the gear I95 on the shaft of the roller I63. The shafts I9I and I96 of the rollers I62 and I64-are movable axially in their bearings, and grooved colla'rsI98 and 288 are fixed on the shafts of these rollers and cooperate with rollers or projections 28I and 282 on the respective ends of a lever 283, this lever being pivoted at 284 to the inner side of the frame member I25. The lever and collars just described provide a connection between the rollers I62 and I64 whereby when one of these rollers is moved axially in one direc-- tion the other roller is moved axially in the opposite direction. Such axial movement of these rollers is provided for the purpose of insuring uniform distributionof the ink thereon and upon the form rollers I68 and I6I, and such axial movement is produced in the present instance by a pinion 285 which is fixed on the shaft I96 of the roller I64 and has flanges 286 which project circumferentially beyond it, this pinion meshing with a gear 281 a portion of which is twisted or distorted-out of a plane perpendicular to its axis.

' The gear 281 is fixed on a shaft 288 which is journalled in 'a bearing 299 on the lower end of the frame member I26, said shaft having thrust 001- lars 2l8 and 2| I which are pinned or otherwise fixed thereon and abut against the opposite sides of the bearing 289 so that the shaft 288 may revolve in said bearing but will be held against axial movement therein. The toothed portion of the gear 281 meshes with the teeth of the pinion 285 between the flanges 286, and as the gear 281 revolves, the pinion 285 and the shaft I96 to which it is fixedwill be shifted axially, due to the axial displacement of portions of the periphery of the gear 281. The ink distributing roller I64 will be thereby shifted axially to distribute ink therefrom onto the roller I63 and, through the rocking of the connecting lever 283, the roller I62 will be simultaneously reciprocated axially to distribute the ink received by it. from the roller I63 onto the rollers I68 and l6l. The gear I95 fixed on the shaft of the roller I63 is elongated in order that the gears I94'and I98 fixed to the rollers I62 and v I64 respectively will remain in mesh therewith during the axial reciprocations of said rollers.

The inking mechanism receives ink from an ink fountain 2I5 which may be mounted on the tie rod I21. This ink fountain, as shown in detail in Fig. 26, preferably comprises an ink receptacle 2I6 one side of which is closed by the roller I65 mounted on a shaft 2| 8, the latter being journalled in suitable bearings 2I9 at the respective ends of the ink fountain, and the bottom of the ink receptacle is preferably formed of a flexible plate of steel or other suitable vmaterial 228 one edge of which may be clamped firmly in place by screws HI and the otheredge of which extends beneath and bears against the underside of the roller I65. In order to insure uniformity of contact of the plate 220 with the periphery of the roller I65 and therebycause the ink to be distributed uniformly on the surface .of the roller I65, a suitable number of levers 222 are pivoted at 22.3 in the base of the ink fountain, these levers bearing against the underside of the plate 220 .at different points along the lengthof the roller I65 and having individual set screws 223' by means of which they may be adjusted. The-roller I65 is rotated .to remove ink from the ink foun- .tain preferably by a lever 225 which is pivoted to swing on an extension 226 fixed-on the shaft .2 I 8, this lever carryinga pawl .22] which cooperates with a ratchet wheel .228 fixed on the shaft 226. The lever 225 is swung .to and fro during the operation .of the printing mechanism by a link 229 which is pivotally connected to the lever 225 by a pivot 230, this pivot beingpreferably adjustable in a slot ..23I in said lever ,to vary the throw of said lever and, in consequence, the extent of rotation of the ink fountain roller I65. The link 229 is driven preferably bya crank pin 232 fixed on a side of the gear 201. Ink from the fountain roller I65 is vremoved therefrom and transferred to the roller .I.64 by the transfer roller I66 the shaft 234 .of which is journalled in the upper endsof a pair of .arms235, these ar-ms being fixed on a shaft 236 journalledin the ,frame members I25 and I26 and the shaft .236 havingacrank arm 231 fixed thereon, this crank .arm having a roller 2138 thereon which rides on a cam .239

fixed on the shaft 208, a spring248 holding the roller 238 in contact with said cam. By :this arrangement, rotationof the shaft 208 will cause rocking of the crank arm 231 and .of the shaft 236 to which it is attached, thereby causing the roller I66 to swing to and fro between therollers I65and I-64 whereby ink :willbe-removed from the roller I65 by the roller I66 andtransferred to the roller I64.

The operation of the improved-attachment provided by the present invention is as follows: As each envelope blank A, having its .side flaps -b folded by an envelope machine such as that hereinbefore described or any other suitable machine is presented to the gumming and printing mechanism while'being advanced with its unfolded flaps aand c projecting laterally of its direction of advance as shown in Fig. 6, the flap-c passes beneath the gum pickers 34 which receive gum or adhesive from the roller '62andapply it-along the lines 0 to the flap 0, as shown in Fig. 7, and the previously gummed and dried flap a passes between the impression roll 58 and type roll 59. The

blank is guided in its travel beneath the gum.

pickers and between the impression and type .rolls by the stationary guide rails .5.I and 52 and its advance is assisted by :the upper and lower belts 4| and 42 between which it is engaged,- as shown in Fig. .13. The printing plate or other printing means I-IrI is so positioned circumferentially of the type roll 58 as to print the impres sion at the desired pointon the underside of the blank in the direction of the width thereof. In

the present instance and as indicated in Fig. 7, the printing plate is adapted to make two printed impressions d and e on the face of the envelope body, one of these impressions being for example the return address and the other impression a postal frank or the like. The printing plate or other printing means is also positioned at such a distance from the gum pickers as to cause the printed impressions to be made at the desired point or points in the height of the envelope body, according to the size of the envelope. Such location of the printing plate may be obtained to a certain extent by placing the printing plate at one position or another in the direction of the length of the type roll, but such location of the printed impressions is determined primarily by the adjustment of the shiftable frame which carries the impression and type rolls and the inking devices in a direction transversely of the path of travel of the envelope blanks, the screw I32 which adjusts the shiftable frame enabling a fine adjustment to be obtained and moreover, by shifting the frame carrying the impression and type rolls, these elements of the printing mechanism may be adjusted for printing envelopes of different sizes. Furthermore, the impression and type rolls may if desired, be adjusted so that the printed impressions will be produced on the underside of the flap a, if such should be desired,

or upon any other desired portion of the underside of the envelope blank. Since the inking devices are carried by the same frame which carries the impression and type rolls, the cooperative relation between these elements of the printing mechanism is not disturbed by the adjustments of the shiftable frame.

The pawl I40 and cooperative latch I44 in conjunction with the contact members I54 and I55 between which the envelope blanks pass as they enter the printing mechanism serve to automatically control the printing operation according to the presence or absence of an envelope in printing position. As each envelope blank is about to enter the printing mechanism, it passes between the contact members I54 and I55, thereby separating them so that the electrical circuit of the solenoid I48 is held open, and since the latch I44 will then be held in its inactive lifted position by the spring I50, the pawl I40 will swing idly under the action of the cam I22 and the type roll will occupy printing position. If however an envelope blank fails to feed to the printing mechanism,

the contact members I54 and I55 will engage one another, thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid I48 and energizing the same, in consequence of which the latch I44 will be lowered into the path of the pawl I48, and as the high part of the cam I22 engages the roller I42 which is then held stationary, the type roll will be swung rearwardly into non-printing position, thereby avoiding printing on the tympan of the impression roll, which would be objectionable since it would produce a smudge or undesired impression on the next following envelope blank.

Since the envelope blanks are printed at the same time the gum pickers apply gum or adhesive to the bottom flaps thereof, the printing of the envelope blanks is accomplished while the envelopes are being made in the machine, the time and expense that would be involved in printing the envelopes or envelope blanks separately being thereby avoided. By mounting the impression roll on the gum picker shaft and. driving the type roll from the impression roll, the printing mechanism is properly timed to operate upon the envelope blanks concurrently with the operation of the gum pickers thereon, thereby insuring proper application of the gum and the printed impressions to the respective portions of the envelope blanks.

I claim as my invention:

1.'In an envelope machine having means for applying a flap securing adhesive to one side of one end of an envelope blank, means operative concurrently with said adhesive applying means but offset therefrom for simultaneously printing on the opposite side and toward the opposite end of the blank, and envelope blank feeding means extending between the adhesive applying means and printing means.

2. In an envelope machine having means for applying an adhesive to an unfolded flap at one end of an envelope blank for securing it in folded position, means connected to and operative simultaneously with said adhesive applying means and offset laterally of the latter for printing on the other side of the blank, and opposed travelling belts extending between said adhesive applying means and printing means for feeding the envelope blanks.

3. In an envelope machine, the combination of a rotatable gum applying device operative to apply gum to one side of an envelope blank during the travel thereof, printing means an element of which is separate from but rotatable coaxially with said gum applying device and operative simultaneously with said gum applying device to print on the other side of the same envelope blank, and means for adjusting said element axially of the gum applying device to print on different portions of the envelope blank relatively to the portion thereof to which the gum is applied by the gum applying device.

4. In an envelope machine, the combination of a rotatable gum applying device operative to apply gum to one portion of an envelope blank during the travel thereof, printing means embodying an impression roll separate from but mounted coaxially with said gum applying device at one side of the latter and a type roll cooperative with said impression roll, and means connecting the printing means to the gum applying device to operate simultaneously with said gum applying device to print on another portion of the envelope blank, said connecting means rendering the printing means adjustable toward and from the gum applying device to print on portions of the envelope blanks at different distances from the portion thereof to which the gum is applied by the gum applying device.

5. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft having gum pickers thereon toward one end thereof for applying an adhesive to one portion of an envelope blank, and a printing device comprising an impression roll splined for adjustment axially on said shaft toward its other end in offset relation with said gum pickers and a type roll connected to and cooperative with said impression roll for rotation and adjustment axially therewith, said printing device being operative by said shaft simultaneously with said pickers to print on another portion of the envelope blank beyond the portion thereof to which the gum pickers apply the adhesive.

6. In an envelope machine having means for advancing envelope blanks, and means for applying an adhesive to a portion of each blank during its advance, a printing device embodying printing and impression elements having a driving connection with said gum applying means and operative simultaneously therewith for printing on another portion of each blank, and means supporting the elements of said printing device for adjustment in unison transversely of the path of advance of the blanks independently of said adhesive applying means and while their driving connection therewith is maintained.

'7. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft carrying gum pickers for applying an adhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks, and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion of the blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined on said shaft to move axially thereof, a type roll cooperative with the impression roll and connected to and shiftable axially therewith, inking devices cooperative with the type roll, and means carrying the impression and type rolls and the inking devices as a unit and adjustable relaadhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks, U

and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion of the blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined on said shaft, a type roll cooperative with the impression roll, inking devices cooperative with the type roll, and aframe having means for guiding it for movement in a direction axially of said shaft and carrying the impression and type rolls and the inking devices as a unit.

9. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft carrying gum pickers for applying an adhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks, and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion of the blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined on said shaft, and having a gear fixed thereto, a frame having a portion in which the impression roll is journalled, said frame having means guiding it for movement axially of said shaft, a type roll journalled in said frame and having a driving gear fixed thereto and cooperating with the gear fixed to the impression roll, and inking devices journalled in said frame and cooperative with the type roll and having driving gears driven from the gear fixed to the type roll.

10. In an envelope machine, the combination of a shaft carrying gum pickers for applying an adhesive to a portion of the envelope blanks, and a printing device for simultaneously printing on another portion of the blanks, the printing device comprising an impression roll splined on said shaft, a type roll having a driving connection with the impression roll, the impression roll being rotatable relatively to said shaft to adjust the type roll to print on different desired areas in the length of the blanks, and means for securing the impression roll in different rotatably adjusted positions on said shaft.

JOHN L. OBERENDER.