US2696255A

US2696255A - Blank-forming method and mechanism for envelope making machines

Info

Publication number: US2696255A
Application number: US36776A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent E Heywood
Original assignee: United States Envelope Co
Current assignee: United States Envelope Co
Priority date: 1948-07-02
Filing date: 1948-07-02
Publication date: 1954-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1971-12-07

Description

.A HEYWOOD BLANK-FORMING METHOD AND MECHANISM Dec. 7, 1954 FOR ENVELOPE MAKING ls/IAcl-umas` 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 2. 1948 Dec. 7, 1954 v. E. HEYwooD f 2,696,255

BLANK-FORMING METHOD AND MEcMANsM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 2, 1948 7 sheets-sheet 2 /Z ney Winsen? Dec. 7, 1954 v E, HEYWOOD 2,696,255

BLANKF'ORMING METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 2, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 arrzey Dec. 7, 1954 v. E. HEYWOOD 2,696,255

BLANK-FORMING METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR ENvELoPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 2. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zzonlor KVZHEHeyM/MJ 4g l Dec. 7, 1954 v. E. HEYWooD .2,596,255

BLANK-FORMING METHOD AND MECHNISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 2, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jaa 141-..

las

DeC- 7, 1954 v. E. HEYwooD 2,696,255

BLANK-FORMING METHOD ANDl MEcHANIsM FOR ENvELoPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 2, 1948` 7 sheets-sheet 6 lfm De. 7, 1954 v. E. HEYwooD 2,696,255

BLANKFORMING METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR lENWSLOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 2, 1948 y 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 United States Patent O BLANKL-FRMING., lVIETHOD AN D- MECHAN ISM FORL ENVELOPE vMAKING MACHINES 19 Clairns- (Cl. 164-61) This invention relates. to.. the production, by. successiye-.cut-oifsmade crosswise on anA advancing paper web i supply-of substantiallyl rhom'oic ordiarnond-shaped envelopel blanks, for direct passage, one afterv another, to andv through-,the flap folding and;glu.e.applying instrumentalities of. an envelope making machine.

In;al1.su.chenvelopemanufacturedirectly from a Paper webrsupplymhe successively severed rhombicpieces or blanks Ymust undergo a, straightawayy movement, corresponding-corners foremost, at.- anangleito. the directiony of web traveh This. arises from;v the need ofsaid blanksftotpass through;` said flap foldingy and glue applying instrnrnentalitiesn exact. syrnrnetri.cal` relation to the letters-.fixed centerline. These requirements, heretofore, have imposed severe-handicapsxandditlculties, onthe. use anclz handling, in this. web, cut-olf.v method.= of envelope blank, formation, of Webs ofvarionswidths, forr the production of these'rhornbic blankstin awde range of sizes and-lengthfto-widthratios.

My invention, as hereinafter described, overcomes all such diiiicultiestand handicaps. This. is aohieyedby Providingf for correlated angular adjustments (1') of the direction of-` Webfeed and (p2) ofl the obliquity of the web cut-off-both. about a yerticali axis inthe aforesaid fixed centerline ofy straiahtaway blank. movement. Thereby the out-off square-or diamond-shapedapieces., whatever be their sizes.andilength-to-width ratios, can always be presented; and forwarded in. the requiredgpcentralized symmetrical: relation, not" only to. the envelope machines `aforesaid flap foldingy andglue applying instrumentalities, but, also, in advance thereof, tosu'itably. adjustableblank scoring, trinnning.y and notching devices arranged along saidfiixed`- centerline.A

With.the,abo ve and other. objectsinview, the-invention comprises the'several steps, sequences, devices, combinaf tions, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated.-` in the accompanying drawings, from which;I the several;y features; of the invention and the advantages. attained thereby will be readily understood.

In the acctnnpanyina` drawings:

Fig. 1 isafragmentary side view of certain portions f of an envelope. machine of? the web supply type, in which the present inventionV is incorporated;

Eig. 2 isla. plan View, partly inhorizlontal section, of thev machine portions. shown. in Fig. l, the section being taken. substantially on the linel 2,-2; of Fig. l;

Fig-. 3 is aside elevation partly in vertical section, of the. right-hand` parts of Figs. 1 and,I 2, the section being vtakensubstantially along they line 3-.-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary horizontal sectional View, the sectiony being. taken substantially along the line 4,.-4, of Fig-. 3;

Fig. 5 represents. a, fragmentary vertical sectional View, the section being taken substantially along the line 5-5 ot Fig,- 3v;

Fig. 6 representsa fragmentary vertical sectional view, showing, two pairs of web feedingrollers, the section lacing`v taken substantially along the. line 6-6 of Fig. 2, but omitting, the partsbetweenf saidpairs of rollers;

Fig. 7 represents a, transverse vertical sectional View of the web-severing means, the section being. taken substantially alongthe line-7 7 of Fig. 2;

Fig.y 8 represents, on an enlargedv scale, a fragmentary cross sectional View of the web-severing means, the sectiony being taken substantially along the. line 8-8 of Eig:- 7; l

Fig-l.` 9. is. a diagrammatic viewV illustrating the succesrice sive steps performed by the invention ,in` the production of successive envelopey blanksfrom a, continuous web of material, and showing the adaptability. ofy the invention to Webs of various widths;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view, on a scale smaller than that employed in Fig. 9, illustrating the subsequentl successive steps employed in the manufacture ofvcompleted envelopes from such blanks, it being-.understood that the steps illustrated in this figure are performed by mechanisrns with which thepresentinventionis notconcerned;

Fig. 11 represents al vertical sectional View substantially on line 11-11 of Fig. 1, of the blank trimming and scoring mechanism, in a different condition of adjustment from thatshoWn by Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 represents a top plan .view of the so-.adjusted mechanism, and showing sectionally, on line 12f12 of Fig. 4, the direction-changing mechanism-.for thesevered blau s;

Fig. 13 representsafragmentary right-hand end view from the plane of the line 13-13, Fig. 11 of the. mechanism which is disclosed-in Fig. 11,;

Fig. 14 representsa fragmentary verticalisectional view of portions of said mechanism, the section beingtaken substantially along the line 1,4-14of Fig. 1,1;

Fig. 15 represents a. top planview of theblank notching mechanism;

Fig. 16 represents a vertical-sectionalrview substantially on line 16-16, Fig. 2, showingthe notching mechanism illustrated in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 represents a fragmentary sectional View of the notching mechanism, the section being taken substantially along the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 represents another fragmentary sectional view of the notching mechanism, the section being taken substantially along the line 18-.18 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 represents a detached end view, partly ink section, of the supporting stand for the supply roll from which the web material, as shown in Figs. lj and 3, is.- drawn;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary side elevational; view of the supporting stand shown in Fig. 19; and

Fig. 21 isv a sectional view of thepartsvshownrin Fig. 20, the section beingtakensubstantially alongline 2,1-21 of Fig. 20.

Like reference charactersrefer to like partsfinlthe different ligures.

General purpose of the mechanism Referring first to Figs. 9 and 10, it is to be understood thatv the present mechanism is adapted-to draw from asupply roll (see 47, Figs. l and 3) a continuous web of paper, the forward end. of such aweb being indicated in Fig. 9 by thenumeral 1,8. The present mechanism provides appropriate meansfor continuouslyfeeding the web of material in the general direction of arrow 18,- andpast a web-severing means which funcztions at; regular inter.- vals to sever the traveling web 1 8 onr an obliquev line such as 19, Fig. 9, thereby to form a successionof individual unconnected pieces each of diamond` or rhombus shape, for conversion by subsequent notching and trimming into

envelope blanks

20, 20. Following severancev of each diamond-shaped piece from the continuous web 18, the present invention contemplates the action thereon of feeding means adapted to convey the individual pieces, for such notching and scoring operations, away from the severing means in a straightaway pathv (see arrows) whose centerline 21 parallels the foldl lines (25,y 25). of each blanks side flaps. Thus said feeding means soy alters the direction ofv travel of the material, that thev successive substantially diamond-

shapedl blanks

20, 20 travell in a path which intersects the web path at an angle 22 which is always equal to the angle 23made by each fold. line Z5 with the blanks obliquely-disposed sides.

As hereinafter described, the. present invention.V contemplates the provision of means whereby each blanks side flap apeXes are trimmed 01T, as shownv at 2 4, Z4, accompanied by scoring of each blank along the lines 25 25. Means are also. provided for. notchingA each blank at locationsy 26, 2,6 after it. has been` scored and trimmed, Thereafter each blank advancing along said centerline 21 in symmetrical relation thereto is notched againl aft-locations 27.-, 27. After the above statedv operations have been performed, the so-completed individual envelope blanks are forwarded along and symmetrically to said centerline 21 to other portions, not shown, of the envelope making equipment, which may operate, conventionally or otherwise, in the sequence shown from right to left in Fig. 10, to fold over the side flaps 28, 28 of each blank and thereafter to apply a gum area 29 upon the bottom ap 30 preparatory to folding over this flap 30 upon the side or

end aps

28, 28. In subsequent operations, the seal flap 31 may have a gummed area 31 applied thereto thus completing the envelope. However, as previously noted, the devices required for performing the envelope making operations indicated diagrammatically by Fig. l0, form of themselves no part of the present invention and thus are not disclosed and described herein.

Power drive mechanism The operative parts of the present mechanism are mounted on a horizontal table 32 providing a support surface of the generally angular shape of Fig. 2. The drive of the mechanism is from any suitable source such as an electric motor 33 located beneath the table 32. Appropriate means, not herein illustrated, are provided for connecting the motor 33 with a gear 34 the latter serving for the drive of vertically and horizontally disposed

shafts

35 and 36, respectively, through the medium of gear 37 and shaft extension 38 which is connected to gear 34. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vertically disposed shaft 35 drives a train of gears 39 through a bevel gear 40 fastened upon the shaft 35 and meshing with a second bevel gear 40 attached to one of the gears 39 of the gear train 39. This train of gears 39 powers certain of the mechanisms of the present invention which will be hereinafter described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the horizontally disposed shaft 36 extends along one side of the table 32 and is operatively connected with a cross shaft 41 by means of a pair of bevel gears 41', 41. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the shaft 41 extends beneath the table 32 and serves to drive a vertically disposed shaft 42 by means of a pair of bevel gears 43, 43. At the lower end of the vertically disposed shaft 42 is secured a drive gear 44 which meshes with a driven gear 45 (see Figs. 1 and 3). Thus, rotation of the main shaft 36 will cause rotation of the drive gear 44 through the

intermediate shafts

41 and 42. Referring particularly to Figs. l and 3, it will be seen that driven gear 45 is carried upon the lower end of a vertically disposed shaft 46 which serves,`

as hereinafter described, to actuate the web feeding mechamsm.

Web feeding mechanism The continuous web 18, as indicated in Fig. 3, is taken from a supply roll 47 and is continuously drawn down between a pair of guide rolls 48, 48 having suitable bearings in horizontally spaced upright side frames 49 and 50. The latter extend upwardly from a swivel plate 51 which overlies and rests upon the right-hand divergent portion (Fig. 2) of table'32 and is arranged for angular adjustment thereon about a vertical axis, as hereinafter described. The supply roll 47 is journaled in a stand comprising a pair of spaced saddle members 52 and 5'3 which are respectively mounted upon the side frames 49 and 5t). (See Figs. l, 3, 5 and 19.)

From the guide rolls 48, 48 the continuous web 18 passes downwardly around a power driven roll 54 which is also suitably journaled in the frames 49 and 50 (see Figs. 2 and 3). Thereafter, the web passes over an idler roll 55 and is looped around a driven feed roll 56, before passing reversely between the latter and a cooperating feed roll 57. (See Figs. 2, 3 and 5.) As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the power driven feed rolls 56 and 57 are appropriately journaled in the side frames 49 and 50 as is also an overlying power driven shaft 58, for cooperation with the roll 57. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the shaft 58 is provided with a pair of spaced roll elements S9 and 5'9 for engaging the webs edges. Beyond these power driven rolls, the web passes in a lefthand direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to the web-severing means which will be more fully described hereinafter. Roll element 59' is adapted to be adjusted toward and away from roll element 59 in order to accommodate the machine to different widths of webs. As will be hereinafter more fully described, roll element 59 is adapted to remain in a fixed position on shaft 58, since all webs, re-

gardless of width, are so positioned in the machine that one edge (

line

72 or 72a, Figs. 5 and 9) always coincides with the outer edge of this fixed roll element 59.

All of the above mentioned power driven feed rolls are actuated from the vertically disposed shaft 46 which is illustrated in Fig. 3. This shaft 46 is appropriately journaled within a frame element 60 which extends downwardly from side frame 49 through suitable openings in the swivel plate 51 and the table 32. The upper portion of the shaft 46 has secured thereon a worm wheel 61 which meshes (see Fig. 4) with a worm gear 62. The worm gear 62 is mounted upon a horizontally projecting stub shaft 63 whose outer end carries a replaceable change-speed gear 64 (see Figs. 3 and 4) adapted through a specially-mounted idler gear 65, to drive a gear 66 on the shaft of the web feeding roll 57. Thus, rotation of the vertically disposed shaft 46 serves to rotate the feed roller 57 which, in turn, drives its adjacently disposed cooperating feed rolls 56 and 58 due to the fact that each of these rolls is operatively connected with the roll 57 by means of the

gears

66, 67 and 68 carried upon their end portions, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The roll 54 is also driven from the roll 57 through the medium of idler gears 69, 69 and 70 secured to shafts which are appropriately mounted in the side frame member 49 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the gear 70 meshing with a gear 54 which is fast on the shaft of roll 54.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the present mechanism provides a hand lever by which to raise the

roll elements

59 and 59 of the shaft 58 off of the roll 57 so as to facilitate the initial threading of the paper web through the power driven feed rolls. More specifically, the lever 75 is pivoted upon a pin 76 carried by the frame element 49 and the lower end portion of the lever is attached to a horizontally disposed bar 78, which is slidingly mounted within the oppositely disposed

frame elements

49 and 50, and passes through a pair of

blocks

79 and 80 which are suitably mounted yfor vertical movement within the

frame elements

49 and 50. Each of these

blocks

79 and 80 is spring biased downwardly in a manner such that the gear 68 of the shaft 58 is in proper mesh with the gear 66 of the feed roll 57. However, it will be understood that whenever the lever 75 is pushed inwardly toward the saddle 52, it will lift slightly each of the blocks due to the fact that the blocks are provided with depending pins 81 which engage

appropriate notches

82, 82 of the bar 78. Furthermore, whenever the blocks are so elevated, they will similarly lift the shaft 58 and thus permit the paper web to be inserted, with facility, between the

roll elements

59 and 59 and the feed roll 57. A lever 83, Fig. 1, is similarly associated with the feed roll 56, to withdraw the latter, temporarily, from contact with roll 57, so as to facilitate the introduction of the web to the feeding devices.

Beyond the cooperating feed roll 57 and roll elements 59, 59', the web 18, travelling horizontally as shown in Fig. 3, is engaged by a pair of feeding rolls 84 and 85. The

rolls

84 and 85 are mounted respectively upon vertically spaced and horizontally disposed

shafts

86 and 87 respectively, which are suitably journaled in a housing element 88 carried by the side frame member 49. Within the housing 88, the

shafts

86 and 87 are provided with intermeshing gears 89, 89 providing for synchronized rotation of the feed rolls. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the lower shaft 87 extends out of the housing 88 and into a gear box 90 wherein it is connected to a power shaft 90 by means of a pair of bevel gears 91, 91. Referring to Figs. l and 2, it will be noted that the

gear boxes

88 and 90, like the other parts of the web feeding mechanism, are suitably carried directly upon the swivel plate 51. This power shaft 90 extends along one side of the web feed mechanism and into a second gear box 92 mounted directly upon the side frame element 49. Within this gearbox 92 the power shaft 90' is provided with a bevel gear 93 which meshes with a similar bevel gear 94 carried upon the shaft of the feed roller 57. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) Thus, it will be manifest that the feeding rolls 84 and 85 will be driven in synchronism with the above described web feeding elements.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the power shaft 90 extends also in the other direction from the gear box 90 and into a third gear box 95 which is also suitably mounted directly upon the swivel plate 51. Within the gear box 95 the shaft 90 is connected with a shaft 96 by means of suitable bevel gears 97, 97. (See Fig. 2.)

Referring particularly to Figs: 2f and3,=itfisftofbe.rseen that the shaft 96 extends-intoy a housing 98alsosuitably carried-upon the swivel-plate 51. This-housing contains a' second shaft 99 (see'Fig. 5)'v whichy is'connectedtdth'e shaft 9,6- by means of suitable intermeshing gears-100g 100. A It should be noted that both the gear box-9S and the housing 98` are omittedv from Fig'. l so'thatother elements of`the`mechanism may be shown more clearly.

The

shafts

96 and 99 carry cooperating roller elements 101- and 102 which (see Fig; 2)*.areoperative on and coincide with the same web edge (liei 72-o'r 72a; Figs: 5 and 9) as the fixed ornonadjustable roller element 59( of shaft 58. According to` my invention;` each paper web, in its'hrizontalv` travel between thefeed rolls' 84; 85- and 101', 102, is severed obliquely at regular intervals, by a web severing' mechanism, designated. asv` a whole' by the numeral 103il (Figs.y 3 and' 7), which will now be described.

Web-severing mechanism `The web-'severing mechanism includes a base member 104 which (see Fig. 2) extends across the table 32 substantially at the juncture of the latter's two angularly related portions. As shown in' Fig. 7, the table 3'2 is apertured in this vicinity kfor thevertical shaft-42, whose bearings are mounted in4 al suitable sleeve member' 42a, having an annular collar 105l concentricv with shaft 42, and' by which it is secured to the table 32. The base member 104 seats on collary 105 and' on a pad? 01 plate 106 of the same thickness, near the' other'side of Atable 32. The base member 1'0'4 provides alliead or frame portion 107 in which isA rotatably mounted a horizontal knife-carrying shaftl 108. The right-hand end (Fig. 7) of the shaft 1081carries a gear 109 which meshes' with a similar gear 1'10 carried by a' countershaft 111 which is suitably journalled in base member 104. The' inner end of the countershaft 111 carries a bevell gear 112 which meshes with a similar gear 1,'13 cinl the upper end of shaft 42 whereby the lattersl rotation7 serves, through the above described gearing to drive the knife-carrying shaft 108, in timed relation to the feed of the web material.

As shown in Fig, 8, the shaft 108 has a flat surface 114 against which is firmly seated, as by means of a plurality of

screws

115, 115, an elongated knife blade 116., Standing at right angles to the flat' surface 114 is an abutment 117 which serves as a backing for the blade 116. This abutment carries a plurality of adjusting screws 118' by which to move the blade into'proper alignment with a' cooperating stationary ledger blade 1'19 which is supported, above the travelling lweb 18, upon a' block 120 secured to a bridge' piece 121 that connects the opposite ends of the frame or head portionY ,107. This stationary blade is here shown as an elongatedA hat member whichV is secured tothe block 120V by a' plurality of bolts 122, 12'2. Suitable adjusting screws 123, 123 are provided insaid block for moving the stationary blade 119 into proper web cutting position relative to the rotary blade 116. It has been found that by setting' the stationary ledger blade 119 slightly outk of parallel with the rotary knife 116, a scissors-like cutting. action on the web may be obtained. Such an adjustment reduces thev cutting load and also reduces the amount of shock imparted to the knives.

The rotary and stationary blades of the web-severing mechanism extend obliquely across the paper web, so that at eachl rotation of the knife-carrying shaft 108 the moving web 18 will be severed along an` oblique line (see 19, Fig. 9) thereby to form a succession of identical diamond-shaped pieces. In the present mechanism, the blade 116 is driven at an appropriate constant speed. Thus, for each width of web' material which is handled, there must be chosen and imparted a rate of linear 'feeding speed compatible with the cut-oli, by blade 116, of diamond-shaped pieces which in every case, as shown by Fig. 9, are normal to and symmetrical with the fixed direction line 21 of subsequent blank travel through the machine.

In order to obtain the above-mentioned range o'f speed changes for the web feed-,.1 the shaft which carries idler gear 65 projects from a plate or bracket 73 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) said plate having a pivotal mounting, for angular adjustment, upon anV extension of roll 57, which is concentric with the axis of the driven gear 66, in me'sh with ,said-.idler 65.- Said plate '73 provides an arcuate slot-(Fig.- 3)y forpassagev of-asuitable. bolt 74,by which tofix-the-` idler gear 65 in that angular position which'obtainsv its proper mesh with the selected-size' of` driving gear 64 that1is secured to' the shaft.63,A itbeing. understood that,A for suchl change speed purposes, aA plurality of sizes of such driving gears 64 are provided,. to'ftake care of the different feeding speed, requirements of different widths'ofwebs;

The verticalE shaft'v 42f is-.journaled1 atv its upper end in ay bearing 124 ywhose upper outer peripheral portionas shown in Fig. 7 is snuglysurrounded by anaperture 125 of the base member 104. Thus, the web-severing mechanisrn-as a= unit isangularly adjustable about the vertical axis (see a, Figs; 2 and 9) of the shaft 421to vary the Obliquity of the cut-off'by blade 11'6, for different' widths of webs. As shown in Fig. 2, the base'member 1042 is ap'a'ropriatelyv slotted, to receive'bolts-126, 126t by. which to clampv the web-severing' mechanism inv any desired angular position' upon' the" right-'hand divergent portion of the stationary table 32. For convenience, the'stationary pad'1'06 and the base' member 104' are each provided withv suitable' indicia so that' an operator may accurately adjust the web-severing mechanism to the correct Obliquity for any particularwidth of web.

Angular adjzlstmentof web feeding mechanism spreviously pointed'out, each diamond-shaped piece,

. upon severance from-the forward endlof the moving' web material, is moved in a new direction (lin'ef- 21, Fig. 9) thatl prevails thereafter throughout the' machine',- forthe sever-al blank-completing and" envelope-fabricating'. operations'shown by Figs; 9 and lOl TheV need for every such obliquely-severed piece, regardless of its length orwidth dimensions, tdextend' at right anglesv to' and incomplete symmetry' with said direction line 21, makes it compulsory for an edge (72', Figs. 5 andj 9)? of any moving' web that is b g' handled, tol intersect at all times with' the vertical a sa (lof shaft 42)Y about` which the web-severing mechanism, as above described, is angularly adjustable. Otherwise, the requiredV symmetrical relation of the obliq'uelyy severed material to the line 21- would'v not be a'eliieved.A

My invention obtains and preserves this `intersecting relationship (of web edge with vertical axis a) under all' conditions encountered in the handling of webs of differentwidths, by providing for angular adjustment of the entire web-feeding mechanism aboutsaid axis a. To this end, as shown in Figs. 2' and 7, the` swivel plate 51?, which carries the entire web feedingl mechanism, has a circular` aperture 127' which snugly and con'- c'entric'ally surrounds the collar 105, concentricV with' shaft 42, that projects upwardly from the surface of table 32. From this, it will be understood that the' web feeding mechanism' and the web-severing mechanism are'- both angularly adjustable, relativey to each other, about the same vertical axis n. As shown in Fig. 2, the other end of the swivelplate 51 is appropriately slotted to receive bolts 128, 128 adapted to clamp the' entire web feeding mechanism in any desired position of angular adjustment on table 32.v For convenience, the' table 32l carries a stationary calibrated plate 129' having appropriate indicia by which to `facilitate the accurate angular adjustment ofthe swivel plate 51 onsaid table.

By angularlyl adjusting the web-severing mechanism, as well as the web feeding mechanism, both about the axis a of vertical shaft 42, the apparatus is readily adaptable to the handling of webs of various widths, for the production of a wide range' of sizes of diamondshaped envelope pieces. Every s uch web, regardless of its width, is so fed that its edge (72|, Figs. 5 and 9) always intersects the vertical axis a of the shaft 42. Such a condition must prevail in order for the respective angular adjustments of the web-severing and web feeding mechanisms to `have their desired effect.

This is illustrated by the broken line' showing, of Fig. 9, depicting how the handling of a narrower web 18u (t'o produce smaller diamond-shaped pieces 20a for conversion into smaller blanks) requires, from the settin'gs for the larger pieces that become the blanks 20',- a clockwise angular adjustment of the entire web feed (by swivel plate 51) and a counterclockwise angular adjustment of` the web severing mechanism 103, to a location for producing the line of severance 19a. Both of these adjustments are about the aforesaid vertical axis a, which has to be intersected in the case of every web, regardless of width, by said webs marginal edge (see 72 and 72a, Fig. 9) in order to obtain the proper relation and symmetry of the successive cut-off pieces with the center line 21 of their ensuing movement through the machine.

Transverse adjustment of web supply roll The supporting

members

52, 53 of supply roll 47 extend upwardly (see Figs. 1, 3, and 19) from the side frames 49 and 50, which are mounted upon and secured to the swivel plate 51. Thus the web supply roll is part and parcel of the web feeding mechanism, and partakes of the latters angular adjustments, as a unit, about the vertical axis a, in setting up and adjusting the mechanism for production of any desired size of diamondshaped pieces, within the range of the web widths that can be handled. Such setting up operation, for any particular width of web, involves as heretofore described. an accurate positioning of the web, transversely of the feeding mechanism, to maintain register of its proximate edge (72 or 72a, Figs. 5 and 9) with the outer edge of fixed roll element 59 and also, as shown in Fig. 2, with the outer edges of the subsequent feed rolls 101, 102. The vertical axis a intersects a line through these roll edges, the latter thus constituting a datum point or line to which the proximate edge of every web, regardless of width, must be adjusted, and at which said edge must be maintained.

For this purpose each web supply roll 47 is arranged for adjustment, transversely of the web feeding mechanism, in the manner shown by Figs. 19, 20 and 21. That is, each supply roll 47 is mounted upon a shaft 187 between a pair of spaced

collars

188 and 189. Each of the

collars

188 and 189 carries a ball bearing 190, the latters outer races being receivable within

arcuate grooves

191, 191 formed in a pair of saddle blocks 192 and 193, associated respectively with the

support members

52 and 53. Saddle block 192 is attached to a cross slide 194 which is slidably mounted upon the top of the member 52 in a conventional manner, as shown in Figs. 2() and 2l, and saddle block 193 has a similar mounting upon member 53. A horizontal shaft 195, having threaded engagement with the member 52, passes through a boss 196 of the cross slide 194, and carries a collar 197, which prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft relative to said cross slide. The outer end of shaft 195 carries a hand wheel 71 which the operator turns, in one direction or the other, to shift the supply roll transversely of the web feed mechanism, so as to establish, and to maintain during operation of the machine, the necessary registration of the webs proximate edge with the aforesaid datum line through the outer roll edges (of 59 and 101, 102) and the vertical axis a, in all selected angular adjustments, about said axis, of the web feeding and web severing mechanisms.

Direction-changing mechanism for severed material One of the iinal edge-engaging rolls 101, 102 of the web feeding mechanism (for example the roll 102, sce Fig. 6) is circumferentially relieved or cut away, as shown at 130. The length and angular position of this relieved or non-feeding portion 130 is appropriately related and coordinated, not only with the operations of the web-severing mechanism 103, but also with the action of two pairs of direction-changing

rolls

131, 132, whose axes (see Figs. 2 and 12) stand at right angles to the center line (21) of each severed pieces subsequent movement through the machine. Said pairs of

rolls

131, 132 are on opposite sides of said center line, and have relieved or cut-away portions 131', 132 (see Fig. 13) which permit the end of the traveling web material, prior to each severing operation, to enter freely, without obstruction or interference, between them, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12. Immediately after each severing operation, the resulting diamond shaped piece, released from rolls 101, 102 by the latters non-feeding portion 130, becomes subject to the feeding or unrelieved portions of

rollers

131, 132, and is by them moved rapidly away, in the direction shown by center line 21.

The two pairs of

rolls

131, 132 are carried by the opposite ends of a pair of vertically spaced shafts 133 and 134 (Figs. 12 and 13) which are journaled respectively in

suitable housings

135 and 136. As shown in Figs. 12 and 14,

housings

135 and 136 derive partial support, and their

roll shafts

133 and 134 derive rotation, from respective rotary

parallel shafts

137 and 138, which are vertically spaced from each other and suitably journalled in laterally spaced

frame elements

139 and 140 that extend upwardly from opposite sides of the left-hand straight-away portion (Fig. 2) of table 32. The

shafts

137 and 138 are rotated in unison by means of intermeshing gears 141, 141 at the end of the gear train 39.

One end of the upper housing 135 encircles the rotary shaft 137, and its other end carries a plate 142 which overhangs, and bears against a plate 143 projecting horizontally from the web-severing mechanism 103, thereby to support said housing in a horizontal position, (see Figs. 12, 13 and 14). As shown in Fig. 12, the housing 135 contains a driving gear 144 secured to the shaft 137. This gear 144 imparts rotation to the

upper rolls

131, 131 through an idler gear 145 and a gear 146 on the shaft 133 of said

upper rolls

131, 131. The lower housing 136 has a similar mounting on the lower rotary shaft 13S and contains a driving gear 147 of said shaft which imparts rotation to the

lower rolls

132, 132 through an idler gear 148 and a driven gear 149 on the lower roll shaft 134. The lower housing 136 is supported in horizontal position by an attached pad 150, the latter adapted to bear against any underlying projection, not shown, of table 32. The pad 150 and plate 142 carry suitable adjusting screws 151, 151, by which to position the

housings

135, 136 at the proper levels for the operation of their

respective rolls

131, 132.

The

rotary shafts

137 and 138 thus drive the directionchanging rolls 131, 132 in synchronism, for seizing each piece, as soon as it is severed from the web, and for initiating its leftward movement (Figs. '2, 9 and 12) in the direction of, and in symmetrical relation to the line 21. Such blank movement is continued, throughout the fixed straight-way portion (Figs. l. and 2) of the machine, by successive pairs of upper and lower rollers, on axes normal to line 21, such as the Wheels or

rollers

152, 153 on the

rotary shafts

137 and 138 respectively.

Adjustable blank scoring and trimming mechanism The

rotary shafts

137 and 138 also provide the devices by which the successive pieces, moving in the direction of line 21, have their apex portions trimmed off, as shown at 24, 24, Fig. 9, and are also scored along the lines 2S, 25 defining the folds of the resulting

blanks side aps

28, 28. For so scoring the blanks, the upper shaft 137, on opposite sides of and equidistant from the center line 21, carries a pair of scoring

disks

154, 154, each cooperating with a hardened cylinder 155 on the lower shaft 138. For so trimming the blanks, the upper shaft 137 beyond each scoring disk 154, is equipped with suitable cutting-off or trimming blade 156, said two blades cooperating with

hardened rollers

157, 157 carried upon the lower shaft 138, to trim off the apex portions of the successive blanks, as shown at 24, 24, Fig. 9, and also by the hatched portions of the blank 20a of Fig. 12.

In Fig. 2, the above described trimming and scoring devices are so positioned, relative to center line 21, on the

rotary shafts

137, 138, as to obtain trimming and scoring operations appropriate to the passage of large size blanks, such as shown at 20, 20, Fig. 9. Figs. 11 and 12 show such trimming and scoring devices as adjusted inwardly on said shafts, toward the line 21, in positions appropriate to the passage of smaller blanks, of approximately the same size (see 20a, Fig. 9) as those produced by successive oblique cuts 19a of the narrow web 18a of Fig. 9. Said trimming and scoring devices carry any suitable means, such as set screws, not shown, for holding them in any desired positions of adjustment on the

shafts

137, 138.

To facilitate such adjustments, the upper shaft 137, along with its scoring and trimming devices, is adapted to be raised, relative to the lower shaft 138. As shown in Figs. 11 and 13, the upper shaft 137 is rotatably mounted in

blocks

158, 158 which are vertically slidable in

openings

159, 159 of the

side frame members

139 and 140. Above the shaft 137 is disposed a shaft 160, the ends of which are rotatably mounted in

alined apertures

161, 161 of

members

162, 162 which bridge the

openings

159, 159 of the

side frame members

139 and 140. As

shown-in'Figs. 11 and-.13eahbearing `block ,158 carries a substantially U-shapedmember 163,-whose -upstanding armportions at opposite sides-of member 162,'are apertured, as shown atv 163', to receive eccentrically formed earn portions 164, y164 of the shaft 160. Between each pair -of

members

162, 163 is'ar-ranged a coil spring '165, thrusting downwardly on -the associated block 1,58 to hold the shaft 137 in i-ts-lowermost or operative position. The ushaft i160 car-ries va -handlever 11465 by means of which the cams 164i are turned to raise slightly the blocks 158 and shaft 137, and thus vgive opportunityfor endwise adjustments of the trimming and scoring devices toward or from line 21, to-conform them lto the selected size of the diamond-shaped pieces that are cut from the web-material.

Adjustable mechanism for notchingrof blankfet'ges "Following Vthe scoring and trimming operations above described, each diamond-shaped piece is-acted upon yby mechanism which .continues lits movement in the direction of line 21 Vand ywhich cuts suitable fold-defining notches (see 126 and '27, Fig. 9) in its-leading and trailing edges at the opposite ends of each of its score lines 2 5, 25. Said mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 15, 16, 17 and 18, includes two spaced-parallel

hollow shafts

166 and 167,. both journalled at their endsinthe side frames 139 and 141). Said

shafts

166 and 167 are also centrally journaled in suitable bearings 166a (Fig. 16) carried by a central frame member 16741. ATo each said shaft isadjustably attached, asvhereinafter described, a driving gear .168, both of saidygears 168 being in mesh with an idler 169 of 4the gear train 39, which servesto rotate said shafts k166 -and 1 67 in the same direction (counterclockwise in Fig. l) as the preceding vlower shaft 1380i .the scoring and trimming mechanism.

Both of the

shafts

166 and 167, ladjacent Ito and on opposite sides of their central bearings 16601, are equipped with suitable blank-forwarding devices, which operate exclusively for the purpose o f continuing each blanks movement inthe direction of line '21. Such devices are the knurled forwarding rollers shown at,17 8, 178 on the shaft 166, and at 179, 17-9 on the shaft 167. Over such rollers pass only .the central areas of each blank, i. e. the blank areas which `in every-case are disposed -well inwardly of the several notch-cutting devices carried ,by said shafts.

For vholding the -blanks down in eiectivecontact with said forwarding

rollers

178 and 179, the mechanism provides suitable pairs of spring pressed upper rollers :176, 176 and-177, 177 respectively. Said upper rollers are carried lby -suitablebracl-:

ets

176a and 177a (Fig. 18/)attached to .opposite sides of ,an overlying transverse bar 172 which v'is common to -the two 4shafts 16.6 -and 167. For the support of bar-172, the side frame 140 car-ries a suitable'bracket 170, having -a ypin 171 (Fig. 16) on which the fbar 172 is pivoted. Thevotherend of bar 172 is received in a yoke member 173, pivoted at 174 Ato the other side frame 139. Said yoke member carries a screw 17351 ltoiwhich is attached a hand wheel 17S for Vmoving said screw into vand out of engagement with the free end of bar 172. Said bar 1.72 is thus normally held down in yits illustrated operative position -when the yoke meinber 173 occupies the vvertical position shown in Fig. 16. When the screw .173a is'backed off, -allowingyoke 173 to be swung outwardly on its pivot 1,74, the bar v172 and parts carried thereby ymay be swung upwardly by means of anattached handle 172a, in 4Vorder \to `give access, for adjustment purposes, to two `pairs of sleeves 180, 180cm shaft166`, and 180a, :180e on shaft 167, which sleeves carry the angularcutters that produce lthe 'respective edge nlotcllqles `26, 26 and 27, 27 of Aeach forwardly moving IOn eachof'the sleeves 180g, -18la of Fig. 16 is shown the knife-,edge cutter construction lfor producing -the 'reentrant notches 27, '27 .of each blank-s trailing edge; `it will be understood that-the :similar cutter constructions onsleevesl, 180 of-shaft166y are 'faced in the opposite direction (see Fig. 2), to cut the re-entrant ,

notches

36, 26 of each lblank-s Aleading edge. Each vsleeve 18`0 or 1239@ provides on its periphery (see Fig. 16).an angular or V-shaped j-k-nife edgegyl82, in adjacent relation to a `slot 181 Jthrough the sleeve which communieates with the borel185 vof --the associated shaft through an elongated opening 185 of the shaft wall. "'Each angular knife edge 182-consists of ya lont,y outer leg 199, which is vverynearlyparallel withgthe associated shaft axis and short"inner leg `201 at -an Vangle to said axis. The two legs of-each knife edge 182' meet at a point 200 k(see Fig. l2), and the several usleeves are iadjusted lengthwise ofthe shafts 166, -167 to register said points 200 with the score line locations (25) of the particular size of blank which is being handled. Thus the long legs 199 operateon the material of each

blanks side aps

28, 28 and the short legs operate on the material of its bottom and seal iiaps 30 and 31 respectively.

For cooperation with these four angular knife edges 182, the mechanism provides corresponding overlying anvil rollers 183, having their spindles 183 mounted in suitable hangers 184. The latter, as shown in Fig. 17, are secured in pairs to brackets 198 which are adjustable lengthwise of the bar 172, in order to conform the anvil rollers 183 to the adjusted positions, on

shafts

166 and 167, of their `respective associated cutter sleeves 180, and'180a, 180m Ample leeway for such endwise adjustments of the cutter sleeves, while still maintaining their slots 181 in full communicationwith shaft openings 1'85', is afforded by the excess length of said shaft openings. Thus all of the elongated triangular chips, cut from each blanks leading and trailing edges by the four angular cutters 182 may be drawn by suction into and-through lthe bores 185 of the

shafts

166 and 167, each suchfbore kfor this purpose having a suitable connection 186 (see Fig. 2) with a source of vacuum, not shown, which operates continuously to .obtain such waste or chip disposal.

By the above-described adjustments of sleeves `180 and 180g, toward and from the line 21, the notching mechanism is able to take care of all variations in the lengthwise dimensions of the diamond-shaped blanks. Furthermore, all variations in the widthwise dimensions of such blanks (i. e., -varying distances between their leading and trailing edges) are taken care of without disturbing `communication between sleeve openings 181 and shaft openings 185. As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, each shaft 166,167 is connected to its driving gear 168 through an interiorly-tapered sleeve V202 `to which the gear is pinned, as -shown at 202m Each sleeve 202 is received on a correspondingly tapered shaft portion 203 beyond the gear, and held -fast thereto by a suitable nut 20.4 on the end of the shaft. When said nut is backed off, the shaft (166 or 167) with yits notching cutter parts, can be turned within Athe gear 168 to any required angular setting, following which the nut 204 is tightened to reestablish the driving` connection between gear and shaft.

I claim:

l. an envelope machine, mechanism for producing different .sizes of substantially ,diamond-shaped envelope blanks Ifrom different widths of paper webs forwarded therethrough, said mechanism comprising, means for continuously advancing a paper web, means for adjusting la webwidthwise of itself so that any web irrespective of its width will be advanced through the mechanism with one marginal edge portion thereof coinciding with a predetermined path, knife means for successively severing .the kwe b obliquely, thereby to form separate unconnected diamond-shaped pieces, means for advancing said pieces in a -xed .path which diverges at an angle from the web path, and means for angularly adjusting said knife means and said web advancing means independently tin relation -to said fixed path about a common vertical axis in said fixed paths centerline .which is intersected by the predetermined path of said edge portion of the web, ythereby to obtain advancement of the severed pieces along .said lfixed-path in -symmetrical relation to said centerline regardless of differences in the size of said pieces.

`2. In mechanism of the class described, means for feed-v ing web material, means for vsevering vsuch material trans- Versely to produce successive substantially diamondshaped blanks, yfor manufacture into envelopes by movement ina fixed path which diverges from the web path, said `feeding means and said severing means being angularly adjustable, independently, about a common vertical axis inthe centerline of said xed path, to adapt `them to Adifferent width Webs in lthe production of different sizes o f blanks, and means for maintaining one marginal edge o f Vthe web material in intersecting relation to said axis.

'3. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks, by successive oblique cutoffs of paper web material whose feed is at an angle to a fixed path of movement for said blanks, the improvement which consists in adjusting the obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed independently, about a common vertical axis in the centerline of said fixed path, for the handling of different widths of Webs in producing different sizes of blanks, and maintaining in each position of web feed the intersection of the webs marginal edge with said axis.

4. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped blanks, by successive transverse cuts of a continuously fed paper web, the improvement which consists in adjusting the Obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed independently, but about the same vertical axis, for the handling of different widths of Webs in producing different sizes of blanks, and maintaining for each web, regardless of width, an intersecting relation between one marginal edge thereof and said vertical axis.

5. In mechanism of the class described, means for continuously feeding paper web material, cutting means at an angle to the direction of web feed and operable on each web to produce a succession of substantially diamond-shaped blanks, means for adjusting the obliquity of said cutting means and the direction of web feed about a common vertical axis, to adapt said mechanism to the handling of different width webs in the production of different sizes of substantially diamond-shaped blanks, and means for maintaining a marginal edge of each web so handled in intersecting relation to said axis.

6. In mechanism of the class described, means for continuously feeding paper web material, means for successively cutting, obliquely, such a webs advancing end, to produce substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks, means for forwarding said blanks in a fixed direction at an angle to the direction of web feed, pivotal supports on a common vertical axis in the centerline of said fixed direction for said web feeding and web cutting means, to permit of angular andjustments, in web feed direction and Obliquity of cut, as required by different widths of webs in the production of different sizes of substantially diamond-shaped blanks and means for laterally adjusting each web, to position its proximate edge in intersecting relation to said vertical axis, whereby the cut olf blanks, regardless of size, are disposed in symmetrical relation to said centerline.

7. In mechanism of the class described, means for continuously feeding paper web material, means for successively cutting, obliquely, such a webs advancing end, to produce substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks, means for forwarding said blanks in a xed direction at an angle to the direction of web feed, pivotal supports on a common axis for said web feeding and web cutting means, to permit of angular adjustments, in web feed direction and Obliquity of cut, as required by different widths of webs in the production of different lengths of substantially diamond-shaped blanks, means for Varying the speed of web feed, to adapt said mechanism to the production of blanks of different widths, and means for laterally adjusting each web, to position its proximate edge in intersecting relation to said axis, whereby the cut off blanks, regardless of size, are disposed in symmetrical relation to the fixed direction imparted thereto by said forwarding means.

8. In mechanism of the class described, means for continuously feeding paper web material, means for successively cutting, obliquely, such a webs advancing end, to produce substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks, pivotal supports on a common axis perpendicular to the centerline of said blanks further advance for said web feeding and web cutting means, to permit of angular adjustments, in web feed direction and Obliquity of cut, as required by different Widths of webs in the production of different sizes of substantially diamond-shaped blanks, and means for maintaining an edge of each web so operated upon, in intersecting relation to said axis.

9. In mechanism of the class described, means for continuously feeding paper web material, means for successively cutting, obliquely, such a webs advancing end, to produce substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks, pivotal supports on a common axis for said web feeding and web cutting means, to permit of angular adjustments, in web feed direction and Obliquity of cut, as required by different widths of webs in the production of different 12 Sizes of substantially diamond-shaped blanks, means fof changing the speed of web feed, in accordance with such requirements, and means for maintaining an edge of each web so operated upon, in intersecting relation to said axis.

l0. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks of various sizes by successive oblique cuts of continuously-fed paper web material of different widths, the improvement which consists in angularly adjusting the Obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed, both with reference to a xed direction of feed for the severed blanks, and both about a common vertical axis, and maintaining for each web, regardless of its width, an intersecting relation of its proximate marginal edge with said axis, whereby the cut off blanks, regardless of size, are disposed symmetrically, in relation to their fixed direction of subsequent feed.

ll. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks of various sizes from continuously-fed paper web material of different widths, the improvement which consists in making successive oblique cuts of said web material to produce diamond-shaped pieces, angularly adjusting the Obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed, both with reference to a fixed direction of feed for the severed pieces, and both about a common vertical axis, maintaining for each web, regardless of its width, an intersecting relation of its proximate marginal edge with said axis, whereby the cut off pieces, regardless of size, are disposed symmetrically, in relation to their fixed direction of subsequent feed, and trimming, scoring, and notching said pieces, to convert them into envelope blanks during their movement in symmetrical relation to said fixed direction of blank feed.

l2. In mechanism of the class described, means for feeding web material, means for severing such material obliquely to produce successive substantially diamondshaped envelope blanks, means for forwarding said blanks in a fixed direction at an angle to the direction of web feed, means for angularly adjusting said web feeding means and said web severing means both with reference to said fixed direction of blank feed and both about a common Vertical axis, to adapt them to different width Webs in the production of different sizes of blanks, and means for laterally adjusting each web to dispose its proximate marginal edge in intersecting relation to said axis, whereby said cut off blanks, regardless of size, are disposed in symmetrical relation to said fixed direction of blank feed.

13. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks of various sizes from continuously-fed paper web material of different widths, the improvement which consists in making successive oblique cuts of said web material to produce diamond-shaped pieces, angularly adjusting the Obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed, both with reference to a fixed direction of subsequent feed for the severed pieces, and both about a common vertical axis, trimming and notching said severed pieces during their feed in said fixed direction, maintaining for each web, regardless of its width, an intersecting relation of its proximate marginal edge with said axis, whereby the severed pieces, regardless of size, are disposed symmetrically, in relation to their fixed direction of subsequent feed, and adjusting the trimming r and notching devices to the size of the so-severed and so-fed pieces.

14. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks of various sizes from continuously-fed paper web material of different widths, the improvement which consists in making successive oblique cuts of said web material to produce diamond-shaped pieces, angularly adjusting the Obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed, both with reference to a fixed direction of subsequent feed for the severed pieces, and both about a common vertical axis, trimming and notching said severed pieces during their feed in said fixed direction, maintaining for each web, regardless of its width, an intersecting relation of its proximate marginal edge with said axis, whereby the severed pieces, regardless of size, are disposed symmetrically, in relation to their xed direction of subsequent feed, adjusting the trimming and notching devices transversely of said fixed direction, to conform them to the length of the severed pieces, and adjusting the notching devices angularly, to conform them to the width of the severed pieces.

15. In the production of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks of various sizes from continuously-fed paper web material of different widths, the improvement which consists in making successive oblique cuts of said web material to produce diamond-shaped pieces, angularly adjusting the Obliquity of the cut and the direction of web feed, both with reference to a fixed direction of subsequent feed for the severed pieces, and both about a common vertical axis in the centerline of said fixed subsequent feed direction, maintaining for each web, regardless of its width, an intersecting relation of its proximate marginal edge with said axis, whereby the severed pieces, regardless of size, are disposed symmetrically in relation to the center line of their iixed direction of subsequent feed, and finally trimming and notching said se vered pieces while moving in said fixed direction, at d1stances on opposite sides of said center line that are in conformity with the size of said pieces.

16. In mechanism of the class described, means for feeding web material, means for severing such material obliquely to produce successive diamond-shaped pieces for formation into envelope blanks, means for feeding the severed pieces in a xed direction at an angle to the direction of web feed, means for trimming and notching said pieces, while being fed in such fixed direction, means for angularly adjusting the web feeding means about a substantially vertical axis in the centerline of said xed direction, means for angularly adjusting the web severing means about a substantially vertical axis in said centerline, means for laterally adjusting each web to dispose an edge thereof in intersecting relation to said last-mentioned axis, and means for adjusting said trimming and notching means, transversely in relation to the centerline of said fixed direction of feed, to accommodate same to the production of different sizes of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks.

17. In mechanism of the class described, means for feeding web material, means for severing such material obliquely to produce successive diamond-shaped pieces for formation into envelope blanks, means for forwarding said pieces in a fixed direction at an angle to the direction of Web feed, blank trimming and notching devices for operation on said pieces while the latter are being fed in said fixed direction, means for angularly adjusting said web feeding means and said web severing means both with reference to said fixed direction of blank feed and both about a common vertical axis, to adapt said means to different width webs in the production of different sizes of pieces, means for laterally adjusting each web to dispose its proximate marginal edge in intersecting relation to said axis, whereby said cut olf pieces, regardless of size, are disposed in symmetrical relation to said fixed direction of blank feed, and means for adjusting said blank trimming and notching devices transversely in relation to said fixed direction of blank feed, to accommodate them to the production of differrlit llengths of said substantially diamond-shaped envelope an s.

18. In mechanism of the class described, means for feeding web material, means for severing such material obliquely to produce successive diamond-shaped pieces for formation into envelope blanks, means for forwarding said pieces in a xed direction at an angle to the direction of web feed, blank trimming and notching devices for operation on said pieces while the latter are being fed in said iixed direction, means for angularly adjusting said web feeding means and said web severing means both with reference to said fixed direction of blank feed and both about a common vertical axis, to adapt said means to different width webs in the production of different sizes of pieces, means for laterally adjusting each web to dispose its proximate marginal edge in intersecting relation to said axis, whereby said cut off pieces, regardless of size, are disposed in symmetrical relation to said xed direction of blank feed, means for adjusting said blank trimming and notching devices transversely in relation to said fixed direction of blank feed, to accommodate them to dilerent lengths of said diamond-shaped pieces, and means for adjusting said notching devices angularly, to accommodate them to different widths of said diamond-shaped pieces.

19. In mechanism of the class described, means for feeding web material, means for severing such material obliquely to produce diamond-shaped pieces for formation into envelope blanks, means for feeding the successively severed pieces in a fixed direction at an angle t0 the direction of web feed, devices operable on each piece While moving in said xed direction for cutting re-entrant corner-defining notches in its leading and trailing edges, means for adjusting said web feeding means and said web severing means, angularly in relation to said iixed direction and about a vertical axis which is intersected by an edge of each web, to adapt said mechanism to the production of different lengths and widths of said diamond-shaped pieces, means for adjusting said notch-cutting devices transversely in relation to said xed direction of feed, to accommodate them to the production of different lengths of substantially diamond-shaped envelope blanks, and means for adjusting said devices angularly in relation to each other, to accommodate them to the production of different Widths of substantially diamondshaped envelope blanks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 81,021 Skidmore Aug. 1l, 1868 317,612 Barton May 12, 1885 567,460 Feister Sept. 8, 1896 933,540 Farnham Sept. 7, 1909 1,118,515 Smith Nov. 24, 1914 1,289,084 Banzett Dec. 31, 1918 1,664,413 Heinrichs Apr. 3, 1928 2,102,170 Stern Dec. 14, 1937 2,141,574 Wamser Dec. 27, 1938 2,146,946 Engel Feb. 14, 1939 2,269,714 Fenton Jan. 13, 1942 2,414,772 Sheperdson Jan. 2l, 1947 2,415,428 Iversen Feb. 11, 1947 2,427,223 Moore Sept. 9 1947 2,481,934 Langston Sept. 13, 1949 2,518,011 Hoppe Aug. 8, 1950