US2173854A

US2173854A - Envelope making machine

Info

Publication number: US2173854A
Application number: US40597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Novick Abraham
Original assignee: FL Smithe Machine Co Inc
Current assignee: FL Smithe Machine Co Inc
Priority date: 1935-09-14
Filing date: 1935-09-14
Publication date: 1939-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1956-09-26

Description

Sept. 26, 1939. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Spt. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

Aim/2am Nor/ck.

I Qfmf ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 26, 1939. ov c 2,173,854

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Abra/7am Nay/bk.

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 26, 1 939. A. NOVICK 2,173,854

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE I Filed Sept. 14, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet a Fig. 7.

INVENTOR. Abra/7am Nov/ck.

ATTORNEY5.

Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE MAKENG MAGHINE Application September 14, 1935, Serial No. 40,597

13 Claims.

This invention relates to envelope making machines and more particularly to machines for making envelopes of the window type.

It has heretofore been the most common practice to attach window patches to window envelope blanks by means of an adhesive rendered tacky by moisture. Such practice is subject to numerous drawbacks. It sometimes happens that the adhesive is unevenly applied. When there is an excess of adhesive in a particular spot the adhesive is apt to be squeezed out beyond the overlapping areas of the patch and the blank. It may then be transferred to a part of the envelope machine, or may cause the flaps forming the back of the envelope to adhere to the face of the envelope, or may cause two of the envelopes to adhere to one another. When the adhesive is too scantily applied the patch may curl away from the blank and may even be accidently detached 20 altogether and thus leave the entire gummed area exposed. That such an occurrence produces highly objectionable consequences is readily apparent.

The use of dry adhesive rendered tacky by heat has been proposed, but the methods employed have involved a slowing down of production as compared with standard practice.

In accordance with a preferred method of practicing the present invention the patch material is coated with a dry adhesive which is set when cool but which is rendered tacky by heat. The patch and envelope blank are juxtaposed while in motion and are then passed together through devices which heat the patch and press its margins firmly 35 against the envelope blank without interrupting or impeding the advance of the blank.

After the patch is applied it is quickly cooled to cause the adhesive to become set at once, so that the patched blank leaves the patch uniting means with the adhesive in a set condition.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view in sectional side elevation, showing a portion of an envelope machine embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lining face of an 50 envelope blank having a patch applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in sectional side elevation, showing a modification of the structure disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4:115 a fragmentary view on a larger scale thanv Fig. 1 showing the delivery end of a fanout drier mechanism whereby the blanks are delivered, after their sealing flaps have been gummed and dried, to the individualizing and patch applying mechanism disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing details of 5 construction of the patch uniting mechanism, certain of the parts being broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, detail view in sectional side elevation taken on the line 6-t of Fig. 7, 10 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the patch heating and applying means of Fig. i on a larger scale than Fig. 1 and in greater detail;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the patch heating and transferring means of Figs. 15 1 and 6, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in sectional elevation, illustrating certain features of the patch applying means of Fig, 1 and particularly the means for 2 cooling the patch applying cylinder, and

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation showing the patch applying cylinder of Fig. 8 and the cooling means therefor.

For the purpose of making clear the general 5 nature and objects of the illustratied apparatus the complete operation of the preferred embodiment will first be briefly described, and a more detailed description will then be given.

The envelope blanks I are supplied from a stack (not shown). Each blank comprises a front panel 2, side flaps 3 and 4, a bottom fiap 5 and a sealing flap 6. The front panel 2 is provided with a window opening I which is closed by a patch 1b of transparent material. The blanks 5 are fed in overlapped relation through a fan out gumming mechanism (not shown) which is of known construction, whereby a gum stripe 8 is applied to a margin of the sealing flap of each blank; The gummed blanks are delivered inoverlapped relation to a drying conveyor 9 which, in turn, delivers the blanks to a timing and aligning mechanism Ill which individualizes the blanks. Each blank is carried uninterruptedly past a rotary patch applying device I l, which tacks the patch along its leading margin to the blank. The associated blank and patch are then delivered to a patch uniting mechanism which continues the advance of the blank and patch and at the same time first heats the gum and then cools it. Pressure is applied throughout the heating and cooling of the gum so that the blank leaves the uniting mechanism with the patch firmly and permanently united to it and in a dry condition. The blank then passes to a further conveyor l3 which delivers it to subsequent operating instrumentalities for gumming and folding the side and bottom flaps to complete the manufacture of the envelope.

The drying conveyor 8 and the timing, aligning and individualizing mechanism i6 may be constructed and organized in the manner disclosed in the pending application of Ferdinand L. Smithe and Abraham N ovick, Serial No. 734,978 filed July 13, 1934, for Manufacture of window envelopes. The patch applying mechanism may also be the same as that disclosed in said application, with the exception that the blank gumming means is omitted and provision is made for heating a portion of the patch applier to render the set adhesive on the leading margin of the patch tacky.

Briefly, the drying conveyor comprises a pair of chains I4 which run at the delivery end of the conveyor upon sprockets l5 fast upon a lshaft l6. The shaft l6 also has fast upon it a feed roller |5b which cooperates with a lower feed roller H for delivering the blanks away from the conveyor. The blanks are delivered onto a table |8 with the gummed margins of the sealing flaps facing upward and trailing. The blanks bend downward as they pass toward the table so that their window areas are out of contact with one another. The upper surface of the table if? stands substantially tangent to a pair of feed rollers I9 which are fast upon a shaft 20. The shaft 20 also has fast upon it a pair of sprockets 2% upon which parallel chains 2| travel in the plane of the top of the table I8. The chains are provided with transversely aligned pins 22 which travel in unison, and which are adapted to engage in the angles of the blanks formed at the junction of the sealing flaps and the side flaps. Sectors 23, fast upon a shaft 24, are driven in unison with the rollers l9 and the conveyor chains 2|. As a blank reaches the top of the rollers 19 it is gripped by the sector 23 and fed rapidly forward to space it away from the next following blank. When the sectors and feed rollers have given up control of the blank, the pins 22 engage behind the blank and advance it, at the same time acting to time the blank and align it.

The chains 2| travel at their discharge ends upon sprockets 25 and the table l8 terminates a little beyond the sprockets. The feed roller 26 and cooperating segments 21, which travel a little faster than the chains 2|, pull the blanks away from the pins 22 and feed them between opposed lower and upper conveyors 28 and 29.

The conveyor 28 comprises a pair of laterally spaced belts 3E! and the conveyor 29 comprises a pair of similarly spaced belts 3|. The belts 30 run upon

end rollers

32 and 33 and upon a roller table (not shown). The belts 3| run upon

end rollers

34 and 35.

The conveyor belts 30 and 3| carry the blanks in definitely timed relation past the patch applying mechanism This mechanism comprises a supply reel 36 from which a web 31 of transparent patch material, coated on all of its outer surface with a set adhesive adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, is drawn by continuously operating feed rollers 38 and 39. The patch material is fed onto a table 40. The forward edge of the table is provided with a shearing block forming one element of the patch severing device. A blade 4| is adapted to cooperate with the shearing block, being carried by a rocking frame 42 which is normally held up by a spring 4217. The

rocking frame is provided with a roller 43 which serves as a cam follower for engaging the periphery of the rotating cam 44. The cam 44 is of generally circular contour, but is provided with a hump which acts upon the follower 43 to depress the rocking frame at the appropriate time in the cycle of operations to cause a patch to be severed. The feed roller 39 is journalled in a further rocking frame 45 carried by a rock shaft 46. A spring 452) connected to the rocking frame 45 urges the roller 39 against the roller 38. The frame 45 may be rocked, however, to separate the rollers at times.

The leading end of the web 31 which protrudes beyond the cutting block of the table 40 extends into the path of a patch pressing and applying segment 41. The segment 41 travels about a hollow shaft 48 and cooperates with a bed cylinder 49. The segment 41 travels into supporting relation to the web end, lifting it. The segment 41 then travels further dragging across the surface of the web to the position of Fig. 6 when the web is substantially taut. In the position of Fig. 6 the cutting device is about to operate. At the instant of patch severance the leading edge of the web stands between the leading edge of the cylindrical surface of the segment 41 and row of suction passages 50 provided in the segment near the leading end thereof. The segment 41 carries the severed patch around and coacts with the bed cylinder 49 to press the patch in proper position against the envelope blank. The segment 41 is carried by two rocker arms 5| which in turn are pivotally mounted each upon a crank 52 carried by the shaft 48. Provision is made of a spring 53 for yieldingly urging the segment 41 outward away from the axis of the shaft 48 and of means for positively limiting such outward movement. Suction is applied to the passages in the segment 41 through a flexible hose 54.

An important feature of the invention has to do with the heating of the patch by the segment 41, so as to cause the adhesive on the leading margin of the blank engaging face of the patch to be tacky at the time when the blank is carried into juxtaposition to the moving blank.

The segment 41 is provided near its forward end with a longitudinally extending bore 55 in which the heating unit 56 is mounted. The heating unit comprises a metallic tube 51 which encloses a resistance element 58 and suitable insulating packing for insulating the resistance element from the sleeve. Opposite ends of the resistance element 58 are connected through

insulated conductors

59 and 60, respectively, to conductive rings 6| and 62. The rings 6| and 62 are mounted upon insulating

rings

63 and 64, which are supported by and rotate with the shaft 48. Conductive brushes 65 and 66, carried on but insulated from

frame members

61 and 68, are connected through insulated conductors 69 and to the opposite terminals of a source of electrical energy. As a result of the arrangement described, electrical energy is constantly supplied to the heating unit so that the forward margin of each patch is applied hot to the envelope blank. The patch is accordingly tacked by its forward margin to the blank and is held against shifting in its subsequent travel with the blank.

After the patch is applied, the blank is delivered by the conveyor belts 30 and 3| to a drum 5| which forms part of the mechanism for permanently uniting the patch to the blank. A

flexible metallic band 12 runs in opposed rela- 7 tion tothe drum H through a substantial arc, being supported and guided by rollers l3, l4 and '15, so that it presses the patch and blank firmly against the drum. The band 12 is a little wider than the patch and is adapted to press and feed the blank and to transmit heat to the adhesive on the patch. Two small heated rollers 16 and T! are provided to press downward against the upper side of the band 12 near the blank receiving end of the band. These rollers heat the patch adhesive and act through the band to press the patch firmly against the lining face of the blank, completely around the border or margin of the window opening. The patch, however, bridges the window opening and is not pressed into engagement with the drum. In order to prevent the subsequent separation of the patch and the blank it is desirable that the adhesive be cooled while pressure is maintained between the patch and the blank. After the patch has passed the second of the rollers 16, therefore, it is caused to travel for a substantial distance between the band and the drum. Provision is made of means for cooling the drum so that the united patch and blank leave the band and drum with the adhesive set.

The heated rollers 15 are journalled in bearings 78 of rocking arms '19 which are mounted and guided on stationary frame members 89. Springs 8! draw the arms '59 toward the axis of the drum and thus serve to apply yielding pressure to the rollers 16. Each roller 16 con tains a heating element 82 which is similar to the heating element 58, already described. Each heating element 92 comprises a resistance element 83, the opposite ends of which are connected, respectively, through insulated conductors 84 and 8 5, to conductive rings 86 and 8'! which are mounted upon insulating rings 88 and 89 carried by the shaft 73. Brushes 90 and ti are carried by the arms 1'9 and engage, respectively, with the rings 89 and 8?.

Insulated conductors

92 and 93 connect the brushes with the opposite terminals of a source of electrical energy so that current is supplied at all times to the heating elements in the rollers 16.

The means for cooling the drum "H may be of any suitable design and may utilize water, air or any other suitable cooling fluid. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the drum ii is hollow and has a bearing hub 'Hd in an axial portion of one of its ends. Pipes Nb and lie enter the drum through the hub Hd. Cooling water is fed into the drum through the pipe H b and is withdrawn from it through the pipe Hc, for regulating the temperature of the drum. The pipes 7 lb and 1 lo may be connected with a suitable pump and reservoir (not shown), and any desired means may be employed for cooling the water which is to be delivered into the drum.

In the form of Fig. 8 air cooling means is employed. A jacket 94 extends part way around the drum and is provided with an intake nipple 95 for connection to an air hose. Cool air is blown through the hose and into the jacket so that it travels in contact with the surface of the drum. The air blown through the jacket 94 is allowed to escape to the atmosphere through ports 96 and 9's at opposite ends of the jacket.

The envelope blanks, as they emerge from the patch uniting mechanism, travel across a guide 98 to the conveyor l3 whereby they are again aligned preparatory to being delivered to the subsequent operating instrumentalities for completing the manufacture of the blanks into envelopes and for stacking the finished envelopes.

The form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 3 is in all respects the same as the form already described, with the exception that the patch applying segment is not heated and instead provision is made for applying spots of gum to the leading margin of the window opening of each blank before the patch is applied to the blank. The gum thus applied is of the type which is rendered tacky by moisture, but it is applied scantily and solely for the purpose of tacking the patch to the blank to hold the patch in place until it can be united permanently to the blank by heat and pressure. A complete description of the disclosure of Fig. 3 is thought to be unnecessary and accordingly the parts corresponding to the parts of Fig. 1 have been designated by the same reference numerals with the subscript (1 added in each instance.

The gum applying mechanism comprises a gum pct 99 in which a roller E99 is constantly rotated. A transfer roller Hill runs in engagement with the roller H321 and is adapted to be intermittently engaged by a gum segment I02 which is carried and driven by a rotative shaft E93. The work engaging surface of the gum segment I02 travels at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the blank. The segment 12 has bosses 595 raised upon it which are the elements that actually contact the transfer roller HH and the blanks alternately.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for juxtaposing an envelope blank and a patch to be united thereto by means of an adhesive disposed between them which is rendered tacky by heat, and means for feeding and pressing the blank and the patch together and, during such feeding and pressing, first heating and then cooling the adhesive to effect the adhesive union.

2. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for tacking to an envelope blank a patch which is to be subsequently permanently united to the blank by heat and pressure, and means for thereafter feeding the blank and patch together and, as an incident of such feeding, applying heat and pressure to them to effect the adhesive union.

3. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for delivering an envelope blank with a patch tacked thereto, which patch is to be permanently united to the blank by heat and pressure, and means for effecting the permanent union of the blank and the patch comprising cooperative rotary feeding and pressing members of relatively small and large radius respectively, means for heating the smaller member, means for cooling the larger member, and means for guiding the blank in engagement with the larger member.

4. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for delivering an envelope blank with a patch tacked thereto, which patch is to be permanently united to the blank by heat and pressure, and means for effecting the permanent union of the blank and the patch comprising cooperative rotary feeding and pressing members of relatively small and large radius respectively, means for heating the smaller member, means for cooling the larger member, and a metallic band running between the rotary members and in engagement with the larger member through a substantial arc, to transmit the heat and pressure of the smaller member to the blank and to cooperate in feeding the blank away from the smaller member for engagement with the larger member.

5. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for delivering an envelope blank together with a patch in juxtaposed relation thereto, and means for applying heat and pressure to the patch and blank to adhesively unite them comprising a rotating drum, a. small heated roller opposed to the drum, and a guide band having a stretch thereof running between the small roller and the drum and in conformity to the drum for a substantial distance.

6. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for delivering an envelope blank together with a patch in juxtaposed relation thereto, and means for applying heat and pressure to the patch and blank to adhesively unite them comprising a rotating drum, a small heated roller opposed to the drum, and a guide band having a stretch thereof running between the small roller and the drum and in conformity to the drum for a substantial distance, and means for cooling the drum comprising a jacket partially surrounding the drum and means for impelling a cooling fluid through the jacket.

7. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for tacking to an envelope blank a patch which is to be subsequently permanently united to the blank by heat and pressure, and means for thereafter feeding the blank and patch together and, as an incident of such feeding, applying heat and pressure to them to effect the adhesive union, the tacking means, comprising a gum applicator for applying tacking gum to portions of the window margin of the blank, and a patch applier for thereafter pressing a patch against the blank.

8. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for tacking to an envelope blank a patch which is to be subsequently permanently united to the blank by heat and pressure, and means for thereafter feeding the blank and patch together and, as an incident of such feeding, applying heat and pressure to them to effect the adhesive union, the tacking means comprising means for severing a patch from a Web coated with set adhesive adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, means for transferring the severed patch and pressing it against the blank, and means for heating the patch transferring means sufIiciently to cause local adhesion of the patch to the blank to be effected.

9. The method of making Window envelopes which comprises applying moist adhesive to a margin of the window opening, feeding into juxtaposition with the Windowed envelope a window patch which is coated with an adhesive adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, tacking the patch to the envelope by the moist adhesive and applying heat and pressure to the patch and blank during the continued advance thereof, and thereafter cooling the adhesive to a set condition while holding the patch and the blank pressed together.

10. The novel envelope machine substantially as shown and described herein, said machine comprising, in combination, means for juxtaposing an envelope blank element and a patch element to be united thereto, at least one of which elements has a component adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, and means for first heating and then cooling said elements to effect the tacky union.

11. A machine of the class described, said machine comprising, in combination, means for juxtaposing an envelope blank element and a patch element to be united thereto, at least one of which elements has a component adapted to be rendered tacky by heat and means for feeding and pressing the blank and the patch together, and, during such feeding and pressing, first heating and then cooling said elements to eifect the tacky union.

12. A mechanism for applying patches to window envelopes, at least one of which elements has a component adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, said mechanism comprising a pressing means, means for feeding said elements respectively to said pressing means, and means to heat at least one of said elements while being fed to said pressing means, said several means cooperating to effect the permanent union of said patch to said windowed blank.

13. The novel method of making envelopes with patched window openings, at least one of said elements having a component adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, said method comprising feeding said elements respectively into juxtaposition with each other, heating at least one of said elements While being so fed, and applying pressure to said juxtaposed elements thereby to effect permanent union thereof to one another.

ABRAHAM NOVICK.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,17 ,85LL. September 26, 1939.

ABRAHAM NOVI CK It ishereby certified that erroi' appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction ass-follows: Page h, ee c 0nd column lines 5" end 6, (315111119, strike out the words 'and 06mm apply-.- ing moist adhesive to amargin or the window -openir;g,'"; line'aj, same claim,"

for "the" befqreWvindowed" read a; 1ines -9-end'1O, same claim 9 ,=str ike out "tacking the patch to the 'envelope'by the moist adhesive"; and that the said Letters Patent should be I-ead with thiaeorrection therein that the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this ZLLth day of Qetober, A. D, 1959.

Henry 'Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents,