US2339071A - Sheet decurling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

- 9 4 o. HAYES 2,339,071 v k 51mm nmcurinme APPARATUS" Filed 0%,,24. 1941 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1' AT TORNE Y5 vJan. '11; 1944.} o. HAYES Q SHEET DECURLING APPARATUS 'F'iled Oct, 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1 Lynn 0. Hayes I W w AT TOR/van L. o. HAYEs' SHEET DECURLING APPARATUS I Jam- 11,1944.

F iled om. 24, 1941", 5 Sheets- She et s AT TORNEYS Jan. 11,1944. HAYES I 2,339,071

SHEET DECURLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24. 1941 r 5 sheets-sheet s 'INVEIVTOR. 1

Lyn/70. Hayes ATTORNEYS I Patented Jan. 11, 1944 2,339,071 SHEET DECURLING APPARATUS Lynn 0. Hayes,- St. Louis, Mo., assignor to F. L.

Smithc Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 24, 1941, Serial No. 416,294

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet decurling apparatus, and especially to such apparatus adapted for removing the curl from thetrailing portion of a traveling sheet or blank. It is especially adapted to decurling the closure flaps of envelope blanks while the blanks travel through an envelope folding machine, eliminating the curl in such flap caused by the dried gum extending along the flap margin.

A general purpose of the invention is to provide an improved decurling construction which may be shifted into and out of decurling engagement with a traveling sheet or blank in appropriate timed relation to the travel of the blank. A further purpose is the provision of suchapparatus which is adapted to be mounted on and actuated by standard machines, in which the sheets or blanks are continuously conveyed in series to successive operating devices, such as flap gumming and folding mechanisms.

Another purpose is the provision of a novel arrangement for adjusting the relationship of the decurling members to adapt the apparatus to different conditions and types of sheet material; and in the preferred form the invention includes a construction for adjusting the decurling members both ongitudinally of and transversely to the path of the sheets or blanks.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the invention disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 416,293, filed October 24, 1941. No claim is made herein to the feature of adjusting the guide memher and the decurling member relative to one another longitudinally of the sheet path for the reason that that subject-matter is claimed in the copending application referred to.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a decurling apparatus incorporated in an envelope folding machine, with parts omitted, showing the decurling apparatus in non-operating position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the apparatus in operative or decurling position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of an envelope blank wit the closure flap trailing in position for decurling:

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the mounting and arrangement of the decurlin members;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction in inoperative position:

Fig. 8 is a. similar view of the modified construction in operative position; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the modified construction viewed from line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the decurling apparatus is mounted on an envelo e folding machine and is actuated by the drive mechanism of such machine, which advantageously is of the type shown in the patent to Abraham Novick, No. 1 807.867 issued June 2. 1931. In machines of this type the envelope blank is subjected to a series of operations including folding the side flaps. summing the bottom fiap, folding the bottom fiap into adhesive engagement with the side flaps, and finally folding the closure fiap into place. While the decurling apparatus maybe located at diflerent stages in the folding. perations, it is advantageously arranged to decurl the closure fiap after the bottom fiap has been folded into place and immediately preceding the final folding of the closure flap. Moreover, the decurling apparatus is especially designed and adapted for location between blank advancing devices such as pairs of rolls, and is constructed and arranged to permit free passage of the advance margin of the blank from the first pair of rolls to the second pair, thereafter coming into decurling engagement with the trailing flap portion of the blank after the latter has been engaged by the second pair of rolls, and advantageously after the fiap has been released by the first pair.

In the illustrated arrangement the envelope folding machine includes a pair of side frames in carrying two pair of feed rolls H, I2 and. 13, M suitably driven in known manner to advance the envelope blank IS, with closure flap is trailing, along aligned table sections II, it and I9.

Table section i8 is mounted on suitable cars 20, Fig. 4, on frame 10 by screws 2|. The decurling apparatus includes two members extending transversely at opposite sides of the envelope path and spaced therefrom when in inoperative position, one member being movable into overlapping relationship to the other member while the envelope blank is passing between the members, the arrangement being such that the curled portion of the flap is bent across the second memher and is decurled by being drawn across said member by rolls it an H The decurling members and their actuating 5 mechanism are arranged for support by the frames in; and in the preierred embodiment illustrated are mounted on table section It. In this particular construction the upper member 22 is stationary and consists of a fiat bar 28 extending A suitable construction is advantageously pro-- vided for adjusting the upper decurling member 22 longitudinally or the envelope path. This is conveniently accomplished in the illustrated arrangement by providing each mounting flange 25 with a transverse slot 26, Fig. 6, fitting an mounted on and actuated by the drive of the folding machine.

- A suitable construction is advantageously provided for adjusting the position of the upper decurling member 22 relative to the lower decurling member 35 transversely to the envelope path,

eccentric shank 21 01 adjusting post 28, the-head 29 or which extends over and engages mounting flange 25 at either side of slot 25 and is held in position by mounting screw 30 threaded into table section I8, Fig. 4. Screw I is eccentric to shank 21, but is advantageously concentric with head 29 and countersunk therein, the arrangement being such that by releasing screws the adjusting posts 28 may be rotated to shirt the ends oi upper decurling member 22, slots being or sumcient length to permit proper positioning of the mem-' ber with relation to the sides or the envelope path. Member 22 maythen be clamped in adjusted p0 sition by tightening screws 80. v

The lower decurling member 35 comprises a fiat bar 25 located a short distance to the rear of upper bar 28 with relation to the direction of travel oi! the blanks i5, bar-.35 being located below the level of the 'upper races 01 table sections i8 and i9 when in inoperative position, and being movable upwardly between said sections into overlapping juxtaposition to the lower margin 01 bar 28 (or decurling the flap i5. Suitable mechanism carried by i'rames III is provided for supporting and shifting the lower decurling member 35 between operative and inoperative positions. In the illustrated embodiment decurling member 35 is mounted on table section it. For this purpose bar 85 is provided at each end with an upward extension 21 carrying a pin 38 Journaled in the lower end oi hanger links 29 which are journaled on liit rod 40. Rock arms 4i are fixed to rod 40 in contact with links 38, and the end of each arm 4| is journaled on a headed pivot pin 42 mounted on a standard 43 attached to table section II by screw 44. Each hanger link as is appropriately held in place on rod 40 as by collar 24 fixed to said rod.

An appropriate construction for raising and lowering, liit rod 40 to move decurling member 35 to and from operative position is provided, and in the form shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 includes a lift arm 45 fixed to an end of rod 40 extending through opening 45 in a frame Ill. Am 45 is provided with a longitudinal slot 41 in which pivot pin 48 is adjustably clamped, the pivot pin including a headed collar 45 slidable in slot 41 and 'threaded on the shank oi pivot screw 50 having an enlarged pivot section 5}, arrangedso that by tightening screw 50 with the pivot 45 in appropriate position in slot 41 the collar 48 and washer thereby varying the amount of overlap between the members and the resulting decurling action. This is accomplished by varying the throw of drive link 53 through adjustment of pivot pin 48 in slot 41; but it may be done also by an adjustment that does not change materially the throw or stroke or the oscillating frame which supports member 35. In the illustrated construction this is accomplished by constructing pivot pin 42 with an end portion 55 rotatable in standard 43, and a body 56 eccentric to the end 55 and rotatable in a bore in rock arm 4i, set screw 51 in standard 43 engaging the pivot end 55 to hold the body 55 in adjusted position.

A suitable guide construction is provided for guides slidably engaged by end portions oi bar 35 or extensions thereof. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 each bar extension 31 slidably fits a vertical guideway 58 in the contiguous standard 43.

A modified construction for supporting and actuating the decurling members 22 and 35 is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. In this arrangement each pin 38 on the lower decurling member 35 is journaled in the lower end of an elongated hanger link 60, which is held on the pin 50:: by collar 5! and set screw 52. The upper end of each link 60 is pivoted on headed pivot pin 53 carried by rock arm 64 fixed to rock shaft 55 as by split clamp 66. Shaft 65 is joumaled in ears 5'! on standards 65 fixed to frames in by screws 55, and is held in place by collors 1i. Shaft 55 is rocked by arm 10 fixed to its outer end, arm 10 being constructed, arranged and actuated in the same way as'arm 45 above described.

In thisembodiment a suitable construction is. provided for adjusting the'position or the lower decurling member 35 longitudinally to the path of the blanks, thereby varying the spacing between said member and the upper decurling member 22 when the members are in operative position. This is in general accomplished by providing a guide construction controlling the path of movement 01' the member 85, and adjusting the position of such guide construction.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 this construction includes a slot or guideway 14' at each side of the path of the blanks formed between guide flanges 15 on guide arm 16 and slidably fitting each upward extension 31 of decurling member 36. Each guide arm 18 is mounted for the requisite longitudinal adjustment, as by pivoting the arm above the uppermost position of decurling member 35 by means of pivot pin l'l threaded into arm 16 and countersunk in a suitable bore in standard 68. Arm 18 is clamped in adjusted position as by clamp screw 18 threaded into standard 68 through adjustment slot 18, Fig. 8, in arm 15. By releasing screw 18 the upper end oi. arm 76 may be shifted, moving guide flanges 15 about pivot 11 and shifting the lower decurling member 35 longitudinally'oi the blank path, the distance between said member and pivot pin 17 being such that the change in the angle of said member is insuificient to aflect the decurling operation.

' In this construction table sections l8 and II are spaced sufficiently to permit the requisite longitudinal adjustment of member 25; and the upper decurling member 22 may be held in fixed position on table section 18, though this showing is illustrative rather than restrictive, since obviously the adjustable mounting for member 22 disclosed in the embodiment first described may be employed in that shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 if it is considered desirable.

' the bight of rollers I3 and H. During this operation the lower decurling member 35 is in lowermost position with its upper margin below the level of the table sections 18 and I9, so that the blank l may pass over member 35 without interference. The upper member 22 is clearof the normal path of the blank; but if the blank should be accidentally deflected upwardly into contact with member 32,- the downwardly inclined guide face 3| will guide the blank edge under member 22 and avoid interference with the advance of the blank to rollers l3, ll.

The rollers are arranged so that-rollers 13, II will engage the blank [5 before it is completely released by rollers H, I2; and the decurling members 22, 35 are positioned and actuated so that they will come into decurling engagementwith the forward portion of the trailing closure flap it after the blank l5 has been engaged by rollers l3, l4 and releasedbyrollers ll; l2. When lower decurling member-35 is raised into operative position by cam action on drive link 53 the fiap It will be bent over the decurling edge 32 of member 35 by guide edge 33 of decurling member 22, as shown in Fig. 2; and the curl in flap [5 will be straightened by drawing the fiap across edge 32 in the indicated bent position through the action of rollers i 3, M.

The decurling action, as well as the adaptabile ity of the device to different types of sheet material, is regulated either by varying the spacing. of members 22 and 35 in the direction of sheet travel, by varying the extent to which member 35 overlaps member 22 when in operative position, or by a combination of these two adjustments. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the adjacent margin of table sections I8 and I9 may be appropriately spaced to serve as guides for the lower decurling member 25. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7-9 the corresponding margins of table sections 18 and I9 are sufflciently spaced to permit adjustment of lower decurling member 35 lengthwise of the sheet path without interference with said table sections. The engagement of member 35'with the proper portion of the envelope blank is assured by actuating the decurling device from the folding machine drive in obvious manner.

The disclosed construction is compact, convenient and capable of ready assembly and disassembly in whole or in part. It is arranged to provide a compact unit which can be separately assembled and rapidly and readily applied to or removed from an envelope folding machine. It is in particular arranged to fit between pairs of sheet feeding rollers of standard type and arrangement. Moreover, the decurling members are provided with separate adjustments at eac side of the sheet path so that accurate alignment, parallelism and spacing may be readily obtained. a 6 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.

Iclaim: I

1. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising registering decurling members located on opposite sides of the path of a traveling sheet, actuating mechanism for shifting one of the members into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the other member, and adjusting mechanism for varying the location of the latter member in decurling position in a direction transverse to the path of the sheet, thereby varying the extent of 20 overlap of the members.

'2. Sheet decurling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the actuating mechanism comprises a reciprocating frame operatively connected to a movable decurling member and in which the adjusting device varies the position of. the 4 frame at one limit of its reciprocating movement. 3. Sheet decurling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the actuating mechanism in- I cludes a rocking frame supporting a movable decurling member and a reciprocating actuating element having a radially adjustable engagement with the frame. a v

4. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising registering decurling members on opposite sides of the plane of a traveling sheet, actuating mechanism for shifting a member into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the other member including a reciprocating frame carrying the shifted member and a support for the frame, and an t adjusting, device arranged to shift the position of the frame on the support in a direction trans-l, verse to the plane of the sheet, thereby varying, the extent of such overlap.

5. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a stationary decurling member located at one side of the plane of a traveling sheet, a. registering movable decurling member at the other side of said plane, actuating mechanism for shifting the movable member into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the stationary member, and a device for adjusting the spacing of said members in decurling position in the direction of sheet travel.

6. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising registering decurling members on opposite sides of the plane of a traveling sheet, and actuating mechanism for moving a first decurling member from a position below said plane into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the other member, including a reciprocating frame above said plane and supports connecting the moving member with the frame and extending a'cross the plane of the traveling sheet at either side of the sheet path.

'7. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a stationary decurling member located at one side of the plane of a traveling sheet, a registering movable decurling member at the other side of said plane, actuating mechanism for shifting the movable member into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the stationary member, and a device for adjusting the spacing of said members in decurling position in the direction of sheet travel. including a support for the movable member and an adjustable guideway construction entionarv decurlinc member located at one side or the plane oi a traveling sheet. a registering movable decurling member at the other side of said plane. actuating mechanism for shifting the movable member into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the stationary member. and a device for adjusting the spacing of said members in decuriing position in the direction of sheet travel. including a pivoted auideway for the movable decurling member adjustable about its pivot tovshiit the path or said movable member.

i and overlapping the stationary member, and 2.

9. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a stationary decurlina member located at one side of the plane or traveling sheet, a registering movable decurling member at the other side of said plane, actuating mechanism for shifting the m'ovable member into decurling position adjacent to device for adjusting the spacing of said members in decurlin-g position in the direction of sheet travel, including a guideway structure adjustable in the direction of sheet "travel, the movable decurling member having end portions slidingly engaging the guideway structure.

1 LYNN O. HAYES.

of theab ov'ymmbepadpaten-t requiring corr'ectlon asijollow Page 5, sep-

Images