US2853296A

US2853296A - Mechanism for supplying workpieces such as envelopes to the feeding mechanism of a printing press

Info

Publication number: US2853296A
Application number: US569132A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ross E Skow
Original assignee: WALBERT MACHINE Co
Current assignee: WALBERT MACHINE Co
Priority date: 1956-03-02
Filing date: 1956-03-02
Publication date: 1958-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-23

Description

R. E. sKow 2,853,296 MECHANISM FoR SUPRLYING woRKPIEcEs SUCH As Sept. 23, 1958 ENvELoPEs To THE FEEDING MEcHANIsM 0F A PRINTING PRESS Filed March 2, 1,956

7 SheetsfSheet 1 hui www E si /WJr/MIW INVENTOR. Fas: E. 550W ml ll mm R. mw www TTRNEY Sept. 23, 1958 R. E. sKow 2,853,296

MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYING WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES TO THE FEEDING MECHANISM OF A PRINTING PRESS Filed March 2, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY R055 15 /ron/ wc/5MM@ ATTORNEY R. E. SKOW Sept. 23, 1958 2,853,296 MECHANISM FoR SUPPLYING woRKPIEcEs SUCH As ENvELoPEs To THE FEEDING MECHANISM 0F A PRINTING PRESS '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1956 um. QW

A'TTOR/VE Y Sept. 23, 1958 R E SKOW 2,853,296 MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYING WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES TO THE FEEDING MECHANISM OF' A PRINTING PRESS Filed March 2, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

BY R055 T5/raw ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1958 R. E. sKow 2,853,296

' .MECHANISM FOR suPPLYING woRKPIEcEs sucH As Y ENVELOPES TO THE FEEDING MECHANISM OF A PRINTING PRESS 4Filed March 2, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY,

sept. 23, 195s Filed March 2, 1956 R. E. sKow 2, MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYING woRKPIEcEs SUCH As ENvELoPEs To THE FEEDING MECHANISM 0F A PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent O MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYING WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES T THE FEEDING MECHANISM 0F A PRINTING PRESS Ross E. Skow, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Walbert Machine Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 2, 1956, Serial No. 569,132

16 Claims. (Cl. 271-5) This invention relates to machines for printing envelopes and similar articles, and more particularly to a mechanism for supplying such articles to the feeding mechanism of printing presses of the character disclosed in Patent No. 2,635,538, granted to me April 21, 1953.

It is explained in this patent that printers and envelope manufacturers have many customers requiring envelopes printed to their specifications, but with present day high production machines for manufacturing envelopes, it is economically impractical to set up such envelope making machines for small quantity runs. To avoid this difficulty, standard stock envelopes can be manufactured in large quantities on such high speed machines at relatively low cost, and then later printed on the machine of the patent to meet the needs of customers. When the envelopes are manufactured, they are placed in boxes in which they are sold to the trade. The boxed envelopes are then placed in storage or are delivered to commercial printing establishments or to jobbers dealing in envelopes. Then when an order is received for a standard size envelope to be printed in a special manner, the boxed envelopes are taken from storage, the envelopes removed from the boxes and placed in a stack and fed individually by the feeding mechanism of the press through the printing mechanism. The envelopes, after printing, are counted, assembled in a stack, and replaced in the boxes from which they were removed. This work fatigues the operator, because the operator must shift back and forth from the position in which the supply of envelopes is maintained in the stack to the position where the printed envelopes are reassembled and replaced in their boxes.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide such printing presses with a mechanism that permits the operator to stand in substantially one and the same position, when emptying the envelopes from the boxes and when refilling the boxes with printed envelopes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor located over the delivery table of the press and which carries the envelopes to the feed cylinder which removes the envelopes individually and delivers them in sequence to the printing mechanism.

Another object is to provide for automatically controlling feed of the envelopes to the feeding mechanism of the press responsive to operation and speed of the press, so that the supply of unprinted envelopes is stopped should the feed of the envelopes exceed the rate of withdrawal of the envelopes into the printing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveying mechanism for the envelopes which accommodates for any variation in the rate at which the operator works.

Other objects are to provide a simple and reliable conveyor mechanism that may be applied as an attachment to existing presses, to provide a step by step movement of the conveyor substantially in time with the Withdrawal of the envelopes individually for movement through the press, to provide for movement of the envelopes in a close, compact file through a curved path so that any slowing down or interruption in the press retards the progress of 2,853,296 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ICC the envelopes to shift the tile of envelopes sufficiently for use in Vactuating means to' stop the conveyor, to provide a ratchet actuator for the conveyor operable in timed relation with the feeding mechanism of the press, and to provide a connection with the ratchet mechanism to render the ratchet operating mechanism ineffective While the press is catching up with the delivery of the envelopes.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure the preferred form of which is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing press equipped with an envelope conveying mechanism embodying the features of the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 2-A are a plan view of the envelope conveying mechanism and the press with which it is associated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the envelope conveying mechanism at the delivery end of the press.

Fig. 4 is a substantially central section through the press mechanism for effecting the step by step movement of the tion of the envelope handling conveyor and which is responsive to change in contour of the le of envelopes being delivered to the withdrawal cylinder.

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the driving mechanism for operating the pawl of the ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the driving mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cam lever, supporting bracket, latch and latch operating arm shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a printing press which is constructed in accordance with the disclosure in the above mentioned patent. In brief, the/printing press includes a base 2 supporting a printing mechanism 3 and' a feeding and registering mechanism 4 by which envelopes are Withdrawn individually from a stack or le of unprinted envelopes, registered, and passed through the printing mechanism for discharge of printed envelopes onto a delivery table 5. The feeding mechanism of the patent includes means for supporting unprinted envelopes in stacked relation with the forward edge of the bottom envelope Iin contactwith the periphery of a withdrawal cylinder 6 having ports 7 through which a vacuum is drawn to seize the envelope and carry it from the stack through a pass 8 onto a pair of laterally spaced parallel f rails 9 extending from below the withdrawal cylinder to the printing mechanism 3. The upper edges of the rails provide supports for the ends of the envelopes when the vacuum is released in the cylinder, substantially as at the time the envelope is engaged by a pressure roll-er 10 that cooperates lwith the cylinder 6 in moving the envelope along the rails and into position for the rear edge thereof to be engaged by pins 11 -on chains 12, which act to carry the envelope along the rails and to discharge the envelope between pressure rollers 13, and that release the envelope from the pins 11 and continue the advance4 of the envelope. The conveyor chains 12 have upper runs positioned alongside the respective rails and operate over

sprockets

14 and 15 that are carried on

horizontal shafts

16 and 17. The shaft 16 is driven, as shown in the patent, by means of a motor through a driving connection designated by the chain 18. The driving connection is illustrated in detail in the above mentioned patent, but specifically forms no part of the present invention, the point being that the conveyor chains are in continuous motion to convey the envelopes in timed -relation with the printing mechanism.

The withdrawal cylinder 6 is similarly driven through a chain 19 that operates over a sprocket 20 on the shaft 21 of the withdrawal cylinder, as best -shown in Fig. 5. While the envelope is being moved along the rails, the side edges thereof are engaged between guide rails 22 (Fig. 4) to register the envelope in a sidewise direction with respect to the plate on the printing cylinder 23. The envelope is registered in timed relation with rotation of the printing cylinder by the relative position of the pins to the printing plate as is described in the patent.

A positive contact of the envelope is maintained with the pins through a brush 24 that bears on the envelope'. As the gripping rollers 13 are released from engagement with the envelope, the envelope is engaged on the opposite side of the printing cylinder 23 by pressure rollers 25 that cooperate with the impression cylinder 26 of the press in continuing advance of the envelope and holding the registry thereof with the printing plate until the envelope is dropped onto conveyor belts 27 which have their upper runs extending along the top of the table to carry the envelope into contact with an inclined stop 2S. The envelopes follow each other in closely spaced apart relation until they are discharged onto the conveyor belts 27, which belts are operated at a speed relative to the

cylinders

23 and 26 of the printing mechanism so that the envelopes are partially lapped one upon the other as they travel toward the stop 28. In this way the envelopes slide into face-to-face contact when the foremost envelopes slides up the face of the stop 28. The operator, standing alongside of the table, gathers the envelopes from the stop and places them in one of the empty boxes from which unprinted envelopes were taken to supply the stack.

To assure that the desired number of printed envelopes may be placed in each box, for example, every onehundredth envelope is pushed out of line by an arm 29 which is operated on every hundred revolutions of the printing cylinders or as may be required. The operator then picks up the packs lof envelopes between the envelopes which are pushed out of file, and places them in the box. This procedure is followed in like manner until a sufficient number of envelopes are placed in the -box to make up the original number.

In addition to lling the boxes with printed envelopes, the operator of the machine must keep the supply of unprinted envelopes in the stack. This requires that the operator move back and forth from the table to the stack. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the printing press is equipped with a conveying mechanism 30 to facilitate handling of the envelopes by the operator while stationed at the delivery table. In carrying out the present invention the envelope conveying or handling mechanism includes an upper table 31 on which the unprinted envelopes are placed and carried to the withdrawal cylinder, as now to be described.

The table 31 includes spaced apart

longitudinal members

32 and 33 that are supported at one -end by the delivery end of the table 5. The

members

32 and 33 extend across the top of the printing mechanism and terminate forwardly from the withdrawal cylinder where they are connected with downwardly

curved side arms

34 and 35 having ends 36 thereof that are attached to

side members

37 and 38 of the frame which supports the withdrawal cylinder, the ends being attached by fastening devices 39. The opposite ends of the

longitudinal members

32 and 33 are connected by a cross member 40 and are supported on

arms

41 and 42 which are pivotally connected therewith by fastening devices 43. The lower ends of the

arms

41 and 42 curve under the end of the delivery table and are pivotally connected as at 44 with arms 45 projecting from a cross shaft 46 having its ends journaled in legs 47 that support the end of the delivery table 5. The arms 45 are fixed in an adjusted position by a plate 43 fixed to the end of the cross shaft 46 and which is adapted to be clamped to one of the legs 47 by means of 'a bolt 49. The bolt 49 extends through an arcuate slot 50 in the plate and when tightened results in holding the table 31 at a height suitable to the convenience of the operator. The longitudinal members carry a table top 51 that extends in a fore and aft direction, from the cross member 4t) to the juncture of the

longitudinal members

32 and 33 with the downwardly

curved arms

34 and 35. The connection of the

longitudinal members

37 and 38 with the forward end of

curved arms

34 and 35 is by brackets 52 and S3 rigidly fixed to the ends of the

members

32 and 33. The brackets have ears which'are secured to the curved arms by bolts 54.

Slidable under the outer end of the upper table is a yoke 55 that is movable to and from the cross member 40 by means of adjusting screws 56 to carry a shaft 57. The shaft 57 has theends thereof freely journaled in arms 'and'59 of the yoke 55. Carried on the shaft 57' is av'pair of pulleys 6G that cooperate with" similar pairs of pulleys 6l to carry

endless belts

62 and 63 having upper runs 64 thereof extending along the upper surface of the table top. The pair of pulleys 61 are carried on al driving shaft 65 which has its ends journaled in bearings 66 carried by the brackets 52 and 53 (Fig. 7).

Therefore, when the unprinted envelopes are placed on the upper table with edges thereof bearing upon the runs 64 of the

belts

62 and 63, they are carried thereby along the table in the direction of the withdrawal cylinder 6. In order to guide the envelopes with the sides thereof in registry, the table 51 carries side guides 67 and 63. The guides`67 and 68 preferably comprise angles, each having one ange arranged vertically to engage the sides of the venvelopes and the other flanges turned outwardly for'support on pairs of links 69-70 and 7i-72. The links are fixed to swing on the

longitudinal members

32 and 33 of the table by fastening devices such as bolts 73. The opposite `ends of the links are pivotally connected with outwardly extending flanges of the guide rails by bolts 74 that extend through the anges of the guide rails and through the ends of the links, as best shown in Fig. 3. To retain the guide rails in adjusted position relative to the envelopes, the bolts 74 carry coil springs 75 that press against the upper faces of the flanges of the guide rails and against washers 76 that are backed by nuts 774 on the bolts to exert suicient frictional pressure between the flange of the guide rails and the links to retain the guide rails in adjusted spaced apart relation. The guide 68 extends the full length of the upper table 51 to form a backl stop whereby the operator automatically centers the envelopes on the upper runs of the belts. The guide 67, however, begins short of the operators station to avoid interference with placement of the envelopes on the belts. The unprinted envelopes on reaching the end of the table are shifted onto downwardly curved supports 78 and 78', now to be described.

Extending from the side frames 37 and 38 of the printing press is a horizontal frame 30 and mounted on this frame are foot portions 81 of the

supports

78 and 78. The foot portions 81 are slotted and fixed to the frame 80 by bolts 82 that extend through the slots and into the supporting frame therefor, whereby the supports are adjusted to and from fixed guides 83, later described. Thc upper ends of the curved supports have terminals 84 extending along the sides of the upper runs of the belts to facilitate movement of the envelopes from the belts to 4,the supports. The guides 83 are curved to cooperate with the curved supports to pass the envelope therebehas its ends carried by the

side members

37 and 38` which support the withdrawal cylinder. Thev rear edges of the envelopes are-supported on downwardly sloping lingers 79 that are adjustable in a vertical direction on the guides 7S and 78,'as shown in Fig. 4.

To facilitate control of the downward feed of the envelopes and to hold back the envelopes while an envelope is being withdrawn by the withdrawal-cylinder, the cross bar 85 also carriesV a bracket 86 for attaching a vertical control member 87 which carries a rubber strip 88 having a terminal 89 curving downwardly and rearwardly in bearing contact with the surface of the withdrawal cylinder. The bracket 86 has laterally directed ears 90 to support an adjusting screw 91 which passes through a lug 92 on the control member 87, so that the curvature of the rubber terminal and `the pressure thereof on the face of the withdrawal cylinder may be changed to assure Withdrawal of a single envelope, while the other envelopes are retained betweenvthe curved supports and outer curved guides. j

To relieve the weight of the upper envelopes from the lower envelopes, the frame 80 carries a bracket 94 which is adjustably mounted thereon to position an arm 95 that depends therefrom. The arm 95 has a projecting end 96 to engage between and support the upper envelopes in the stack from bearing upon the envelopes immediately over the withdrawal cylinder 6 (Fig. 4). The arm 95 is adjusted by a screw 97, which is carried by the bracket 94 and bears against the arm 95. y

Pivotally supported from the bar 85 are depending arms 99 which carry a cross bar 100` LAdjustably supported on the cross bar 160 are arcuate guides 101 which cooperate with the cylindrical face of the withdrawal cylinder in providing the pass 8 previously referred to. The envelopes are kept in aligning registry in a sidewise direction by

vertical rods

102 and 103 that are mounted on the sides of the frame 30. y

To effect an orderly progress of the envelopes as they` move from the horizontal table to the withdrawal cylinder, the table top 51 carries means 104 for raising the envelopes slightly as they pass thereover. This means effects loosening of the contact between the envelopes so that they better adjust themselves -to the curvature of the guides; Means is also provided for applying a resilient pressure to side and outer edges of the envelopes to hold the envelopes in file, but which yields to permit a slight outward bulging of the file of envelopes under certain conditions as they round the curvature of the guides, as now to be described.

Extending upwardly from the

arms

34 and 35 at the sides of the delivery end of the upper table 31 are plates 184 and 105 that extend upwardly above the file of envelopes and carry a rod 106 therebetween, the ends of the rod being 'fixed in the plates by cap screws 167.

Loosely mounted on the midportion of the rod 106 between collars 108 is a bracket 109 (Fig. 2). Fixed to the bracket 109 and extending forwardly and downwardly over the upper edges of the envelopes is a r-esilient arcuate band 110 which has its lower end registering with the'control member 87, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Pressure is applied to the side edges of the envelopes by means of resilient extensions 111 and 112 that are attached to the ends of the side guides 67 and 68, previously described.

Since the feed of envelopes by the withdrawal cylinder is of necessity -an intermittent operation, the present inventiOn contemplates a corresponding intermittent, or step by step, operation of the

conveyor belts

62 and 63 which feed the envelopes along the length of the upper table 31 and apply pressure to the rounding tile of envelopes, thereby assuring movement of the envelopes into feeding contact with the withdrawal cylinder 6. This is accomplished by means of an intermittent drive for the shaft 65, as now to be described.

assegna Fixed to one end of the shaft is a ratchet wheel 113 having peripheral teeth 114. shaft 65 between the ratchet wheel and the longitudinal `member 33 is a bell crank lever 115 having one ear 116 carrying a pawl 117 (Figs. 5 and 6), the pawl 117 being pivotally mounted on a stud 118 that is supported in the ear 116. The other ear 119 of the bell crank is connected as at 121i with a link 121. The opposite end of the link 121 is pivotally connected as at 122 with an arm 123 of a bell crank 124. The 4other arm 125 of the bell crank is connected by a bar 126 with a cam lever 127 of an actuating mechanism (Figs. 4, 5, 8, 9 and l0), which is mounted on the side member 37 of the press frame at a point below the withdrawal cylinder 6 and in a position to be driven from the shaft 15 of the pin conveyor chains 12. The cam lever 127 is pivotally connected with the frame as at 128 and the free end is connected with the depending end of the bar 126 by a bolt 129, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The cam lever 127 carries a cam follower in the form of a roller 130 that is rotatably mounted on a stud 131 which projects laterally from the cam lever, as best shown in Fig. l0. y

Rotatably mounted on a stud 132 that projects from the frame at a po-int above the catn follower is a cam 133 and fixed in driving relation with the cam is a gear 134. The earn lever 127 is yieidingly retained with the cam follower 1319 in contact with the periphery of the cam 133 by a coil spring 135 having one end fixed to a pin 136 that projects from one side of the cam lever and the other end connected with a lug 137 that is fixed to the frame at a point above the gear 134, as shown in Fig. 5. Also carried Iby the frame is a stub shaft 138 and rotatably thereon in meshing relation with the teeth of the gear 134 is a pinion gear 139. Fixed in driving relation with the pinion gear 139 is a sprocket 14! which is driven from a sprocket 141 on the conveyor shaft-by means of a chain 142 operating over the respective sprockets.

It is thus obvio-us that actuation of the pin conveyer chains also effects rotation of the cam 133 to oscillate the cam lever 127 and rock the bell cranks 124 and 114 through the rod 126 and link 121, so that when the cam 133 moves the cam lever in a downward direction, the spring stretches and the pawl 117 is carried in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, to effect a step rotation of the ratchet wheel 113 and an advance of the

conveyor belts

62 and 63. When the spring 135 contacts, the cam lever is raised thereby and the pawl 117 is returned to its original position for engaging another tooth of the ratchet wheel on the next revolution of the cam, consequently as the envelopes are withdrawn by the withdrawal cylinder 6 and carried toward the printing mechanism by the pin conveyor, corresponding movements are applied to the unprinted envelopes on the

conveyor belts

62 and 63 to maintain a supply of envelopes in the arcuate portion of the file of envelopes.

In order to control movement of the envelopes to the withdrawal cylinder at a rate for maintaining a desired pressure on the portion o-f the file of envelopes directly above the withdrawal cylinder, means is provided for starting and stopping the step by step feed of the envelopes. Oscillatably journaled in the plate extension 104 is a shaft 144 which carries an arm 145 that curves over the rod 106 and which carries an envelope contacting member, which in the illustrated instance is a wheel 146. Fixed on the end of the shaft at the outer side of the extension plate 104 is a lever 147 in the form of a segment in order to provide room for an arcuate scale indicated at 148. Also mounted on the end of the shaft between the lever 147 and the plate 104 is a lever 149 which projects beyond the arcuate edge of the lever 147 and carries a pointer 150 to move over the scale 148. The lever 149 is adjustably secured to the lever 127 by means of a screw 151 having the shank thereof extendV` ing through an arcuate slot y153 in the lever 147 and into j Oscillatable on the,

the routerside of the"lever147 and the lever 149 into'l contact with-the inner face y.o f the lever 147.

By setting.thellever149'relatively to the scale 148 and tightening the screw 151, the levers operate `as a unit when the wheel 146 moves up and down responsive to radialor outward bulging of the rounding le of envelopes, as previously referred to. The lever 149 terminates in=an ear 155` that engages a roller 156 on an actuating.armf157 of a microswitch 158. The microswitch 158 is mounted on the plate 104 with thev roller 156 thereof in position to be engaged by the ear 155 of the lever 149,' so that .the lever 4149depresses the arm 157 of the switch158 when the tile of envelopes follows the arcuate guides v78 and 78.', ,but should vthe feed of envelopes become too great inproportion to withdrawal thereof byv the cylinder 6, thefile of envelopes will bulge outwardly against the yieldable guide band 1'10 to raise the-roller 146, rock thefshafty 144,v and move the ear 155 out of Contact with the vroller 156 ofthemicroswitch 158. The microswitchlSS is connected in circuit with an electromagnet-159`which is adjustably mounted on a bracket 160-tha`t is carried on the frame of-the press at a point,

below the cam lever 127, asV best shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9; The electromagnet 159 hasan armature or plunger 16I Vthat isconnected by a'pin 162 with an arm 163. The arm 163 is loosely supported on a rock shaft 16.4 that projects laterally from the .bracket 160 (Fig. 8) .and carries a latch 165 which is connected with the ar'm 163 by interfittinglugs 163'. The lugs on the arm 163 andthose of the latch have a loose tit to allow slight movement ofthe latch 165 in a clockwise direction (Figs.4 8 *and`9) in opposition to a spring 168. Thelatch 165 has la hook portion 166 which engages over a p in 167 that projects from the side of the cam lever. The latch is normally retained in a retracted position by the weight of thepplunger 161-of the electromagnet 159, so as to permit' continued operation ofthe cam lever 127 for step bystep movement ofthe envelopes. However, when thearm`l145`is lifted, the roller, of the microswitch 159V is released 'and a circuit is closed through the electromagnet 159. l Energization of `the electromagnet lifts the pln'g'erf'161 vto'rock the lever 163, and because of thelug"connection 163' the'latch lever`165 is rocked in a countercl'ockwise direction (Fig. 9) and into position to sible 'becauseof the looseI tit'between the connecting lugsy 163. As soon as the pin ha'spassed the hooked end ofl theilatch thespring 168 snaps the hook 166-over the pin167,to"holdldown thecam lever until the microswitch again"opens the' circuit to the electromagnet.

Thesh'aft 65 i's preferably provided with a hand wheel 171". whereby the' conveyor belts may be manipulated by hand independentlyof the ratchet mechanism, as when chrgingthe'feeding' mechanismwith unpr-inted envelopes orgotherwis'e adjusting ,the le of'envelopes supplied to thefeedi'ng mechanism of the printing-press. A weighted back stopis used upon the

belts

62 and 63 of the `conveyorttoaback the venvelopes and assure positive movementi thereof.v

The apparatus constructed andvassembled as described is operated asfollows:

It is first necessary to initially'll the le of unprinted envelopes .from .the point of thewithdrawal cylinder 6 positic'mflon ltheuppe'rtable adjacent the operators sta- 8f, 145 is ,also` lifted f and swung :'backwardlyto)y clear f the", space between'the extensionsA 111;land- 112 of `the'longiav tudinal guides67 and 68. This-leaves the space open for insertion `of 'the envelopes andftogfacilitate adjustments to the size of the envelopes.: The "guides 78 and 78'I are then yadjusted on the frame 80-to space themfrom the outer curved guides 83 in accordance with the size of the unprinted envelopes to be run through the press. The longitudinal guidesr 67 and 68-arethen adjusted to'j and from each other in accor'dancevwith the widthof the envelopes to be run. This is easily effected lby Swinging of the links that support yther'n and the links assure: parallelism of the guides at all times. After these'adjustments, envelopes are placed by hand in the space be-V tween ythe vresilientl extensionsI 111'and 112 from where they are moved downwardly into the space between the'f guides 83 and 78-78' until the vface of the foremostl envelope rests withione marginal edge upon the'pe-H ripheryv ofy the withdrawal cylinder 6 and the opposite' marginal edge rests upon the supports 79, as shown in' Fig. 4. The finger 96 is adjusted to relieve'the pressure" of the upper envelopes in the tile of envelopes from the envelopes immediately over the `withdrawal cylinder 6.' The le of `envelopes"iscontinued up the arcuate guides 78-78 and onto the

belts

62 and 63 up'to the" end of the side guide 67. The arcuate guide or 'retainer is vthen returned lto a'position 'resting upon the outer edges of the-'rounding portion of Vt-he file of envelopes to' hold the'envelopes yieldingly upon the guides .78-78"A and to maintain thenormaly curvature of the file. TheI arm is returned'to its'original p osition where y'the roller` 146-bears on the outer edges vof the envelopes to rise/5 and fall with any Aoutward vmovement orbulgingv of the." iile of envelopes'to control themicroswitch. The vscrew 151 is loosened and Vtlle armis'adjusted relatively to the-'- arm 147y so as tomaintain normal contact with th'e'rollelvv 156 lof the microswitch 158, as best shownin-Figsfl'v and 4. When this adjustment Ais made, the screw `151 is' retightened so that the levers 147' and`149 are connected tomove asa unit. When 'the last of the envelopes is inl,- place on-

1the Ibelts

62 and 63, a back stop 172 is placedupon the belts and moved against the envelopes."

When vthe press'isin operation, the'withdrawal cylinder 6 removes the envelopes 4from thebottom of the file; one at a time, and carries them into position on'the' rails 9," where they are advanced into position toy be" picked'up bythe pins 11 on the conveyor chains 12. The envelopesl are registered on the rails 9 in both transverse and forward directions 'and deliveredv to the pressurey Y rolls 13, which start them through the printing mechanism Y and between the printing and

impression cylinders

23 and 26 to effect printing thereon, all described inthe" above mentioned patent. As an envelope is released by" the rollers 13, the forward portion, upon emerging fromv the printing cylinder, isengaged by a pressure roller 25y which cooperates with the Aimpression cylinder in continuing 'withdrawal' of the envelope and discharge of the envelope onto "the belts-27 of the delivery conveyor. The` envelopes are now 'carried-on the belts along thedelivery table at a slower rate of speed so that they arepartially overlapped, as shown in Fig. l, and varerultimately gathered into a stack forrepacking in the boxes from which unprinted envelopes were originally removed. A count is maintained Aof the envelopes to be placed in the boxes by the operator noting the envelopes which are tion." Tliis'is'accomplishedby lifting the arcuate band 110 pushed out' of line by the arm 29. For example, the arm 29 may be set so that every hundredth envelope is de-l flected. This is most convenient because each box usually contains 500 envelopes, althoughv other multiples may be l usedas desired.A When one or more boxes may be'illed with printed envelopes, a like number of boxes may be emptied of unprintedenvelopes and the unprinted eny velopes arepl'aced upon `the conveyor belts 22 and -23 of the upper .or supply rtablefto'keepvthe,supplyin keep! ingN with ltheV output ofthe press. The 'back stop -172isl` envelopes to maintain a closed orderly le of unprinted envelopes.

The envelopes are advanced along the upper table and down the guides 78-78 simultaneously with feed of the press by means of the ratchet mechanism, that is, the cam lever 127 is operated by the cam 133, which is driven through the

gears

134, 139, sprocket, 140, chain 142 and sprocket 141 from the shaft of the pin conveyor. On each revolution of the cam, the cam lever is moved downwardly through engagement of the cam with the cam follower 130, and the cam lever is lifted through the spring 135. This effects oscillation of the bell crank 115 which carries the ratchet pawl in a back and forth direction through the link connection 126, bell crank 124 and link 125, to move the ratchet wheel 113 and shaft 65 intermittently and effect a step by step advance of the envelopes. The operation continues `as long as the operator maintains the supply of unprinted envelopes on the conveyor belts and removes the printed envelopes from the conveyor belt of the delivery table 5.

It is obvious that in the removal and replacement of the envelopes on the conveyor belts of the respective tables, the operator may maintain his station at the side of the delivery table, and there is no necessity of his moving from one end of the press to the other, as in the case of the press which is described in the above mentioned patent.

It may happen that the feed of the envelopes to the withdrawal cylinder may become faster than the rate of withdrawal by the withdrawal cylinder, in which case it becomes necessary to stop the

conveyor belts

62 and 63 until the withdrawal cylinder catches up. When this occurs, stopping 4of the feed is automatic, because the rounding portion of the file of envelopes will be pushed radially away from the guides 78-78. This change in contour of the le lifts the arm 145 and moves the terminal 155 away from the roller of the microswitch 158. This closes circuit to the electromagnet 159, so that the plunger is actuated to eifect movement of the latch 165 into engagement with the pin 167 when the cam 133 moves the cam lever 127 downwardly as above described. The cam lever 127 is then retained by the latch 165 in its lowest position as the cam moves away from the cam follower 130. The cam may then continue to turn, but the cam lever remains inactive and there is no further advance of the envelopes by the ratchet mechanism until the withdrawal of a suicient number of envelopes by the cylinder 6 to cause the tile of envelopes to settle back into normal psition upon the arcuate guides 78-78. When this occurs, the terminal 155 of the lever 149 reengages the roller of the microswitch to open the circuit to the electromagnet 159. The plunger 161 then becomes effective in withdrawing the latch 165 from the pin 167. The cam lever 127 is then freed to maintain contact with the cam 133 under action of the spring 135. The feed continues, as described, until such a time that the feed by the belts 62 -and 63 becomes sufficient to again cause bulging of the file of envelopes, whereupon the feed by the ratchet mechanism is again automatically suspended until the removal of the envelopes by the withdrawal cylinder is suilicent to restore the file of unprinted envelopes to its normal position and contour.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a positive mechanism for maintaining a supply of unprinted envelopes for the withdrawal cylinder of a press of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent, in such a manner that the operator of the press may remain at the side of the delivery table. The only movement required of the operator is to place unprinted envelopes on the upper table and to remove the printed envelopes from the lower table. This also permits packing the printed envelopes in the boxes emptied of the unprinted envelopes, to better keep the supply of unprinted envelopes in balance with the capacity of the printing press.

What I claim and desire ltorsecure by Letters Patent ist' 1. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having means for feeding unprinted envelopes individaully through the printing press and discharging the printed envelopes from the press, an upper conveying means leading from an operators station and over the printing press to said feeding means and on which boxed envelopes are emptied from boxes for edgewise support on said conveying means for supplying the printing press with unprinted envelopes, and a lower means connected with the delivery of the printing press for gathering the printed envelopes and conducting the printed envelopes away from the printing press to the operators station for replacement by the operator in said boxes.

2. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having means for feeding unprinted envelopes individually through the printing press and discharging the printed envelopes from the press, an upper conveying means leading from an operators station and movable over the printing press to said feeding means and on which boxed envelopes are emptied for edgewise support on said conveying means for supplying the printing press with unprinted envelopes, a lower means connected with the delivery of the printing press for gathering the printed envelopes in edgewise support thereon and returning the printed envelopes to the operators station for replacement by the `operator into said boxes, and means for operating said conveying means intimed relation with the feeding means of the printing press.

3. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having means for feeding unprinted envelopes individually through the printing press and discharging the printed envelopes, an upper conveying means leading from an operators -station over the printing press to said feeding means and on which boxed envelopes are emptied by the operator for movement in edgewise support to the printing press, a lower means connected with the delivery of the printing press for gathering printed envelopes on edge and conducting the printed envelopes to the operators station for reboxing thereof, and means for operating said conveying means in timed relation with the feeding means, said conveying means including means for retaining the unprinted envelopes in an orderly file.

4. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having means for feeding unprinted envelopes indi-- vidually through the printing press and discharging the printed envelopes, conveying means leading from an operators station to said feeding means and on which boxed envelopes are emptied for supplying the printing press with unprinted envelopes, means connected with the delivery of the printing press-for gathering printed envelopes and conducting the printed envelopes to the operators station for reboxing thereof, means for operating said conveying means in timed relation with the feeding means, said conveying means including means for retaining the unprinted envelopes in an orderly file, and means responsive to change in contour of said iile for disconnecting said operating means for stopping the conveying means.

5. In combination with a press for printing workpieces, means for feeding the Workpieces through the press, a lower delivery table connected with the press for receiving the printed workpieces, means on the delivery table for gathering the printed workpieces together for convenient handling at an operators station alongside of the delivery table, an upper work supply table in reach of the operators station for placement of unprinted workpieces thereon, means on the work supply table for conveying the unprinted workpieces on edge in an orderly tile, guide means connecting the work supply table with the feeding means for continuing movement of the le of unprinted-envelopes to the feeding means, means having a driving connection with the press and connected with the conveying means on the work supply table for operating said conveying means for effecting advance of the leof workpieces in vaccordance with the feed of the fworkpieces by fsaid feeding -meansL 6; Inl combination with 'a'pressf for printing'fworkl pieces, means for feeding theworkpieees through the'- press, a delivery :table connected with` the press 'for 'ref ceiving the.' printed workpieces; means on the-deliveryA table for gatheringthe printed "workpieces together for convenient handling-at anro'perators stationfaloiigsidel of the deliveryltable,'a work supply table inrea'ch of the operator for placement of 'unprinted' workpieces thereon, means on-.the work'supply'table Vforconveying the un# printedworkp'ieces on ed'ge'in-anV orderly file,` guide means connecting the work supply table,with`theffeedingfmeans for continuingV movement of Vthe vfile of unprinted envelopes tol l.the Afeedingsmeans, 'means having 'a driving connection-With'the press and :connected withfthe conveyingfmeanson'the workfsupply 'table'for operating saidy conveying meansgand 'a ratchet means in saidl drivingl meansfor effectingfstep i by'i step Jadvance of f the le' of workpieces'v inl accordance'with feed rof the workpieces thi'ough'the press by said feeding-means.'y

7. Incombinationfwith a` press for printingi worlpieces',T meansy fori feeding the workpieces *through the press; a 'delivery ltable connected' with theipress'forre" ceivingthe" printed workpieces'," means on the Vdelivery table 'forl gathering' theV` printed workpieces together --fo`r convenient` handling-at an operators' staitinfalongside `of the delivery table, a work supply-ftable'in-reach ofthe operator vfor 'placement of lunprinted workpiecesthereon, means` on'thework supply -table for conveying the lun-l pnntedworkpieces on edge inlan orderly le`,iguide' :means connecting -thc work supply table with the feeding means'y frfcontinuing"movement `of the' le of unprinted en! vlopes to the feeding means, meanshaving a driving connection with the press and connected with theeonveying means on they work supply 'tablefor operating'said"c0711` veyingI means, a ratchet means'in said driving means for' effecting step by step advance of'the'file 'off workpieces inaccordance withv feeding `ofthe workpieces through the press, meansv for controllin'gthe ratchet means to stop the workpiececonveying means, a feeler having con-n nection with-the ratchet means and adapted tol contact the file of envelopes for *stopping-advanceof Vthe envelopes ontchange incontou'r `of the file of envelopes.

8i Incombination with'a press for printing'workpieces,4 means for feeding the workpieces throughfthe press, a delivery table connected with: the press 4'for receivingfthe printed workpieces, means'on `the delivery tabl'efor gatherv` ing -the printed rworkpiecesv together for convenient hani. dling `at anfoperatons stationalongside ofA theA delivery" table,a.work supply table over thedelivery table and terr" minatingabove the feeding means,` means onthe "workv supply table for conveying the unprinted workpieces on edge inan orderly file, downwardly curving guide means` connecting: the conveying means'on the work table withiv: thefeeding means forcontinuingmovementof" the ile'y of yunprinted envelopes in an arcuate path tothel feeding' i means, means having a driving connection with the press and connected with the'conveying means on-the worksupply table for operatingsaid conveying means, a means in said driving 'means for electingstep by stepk advance' of the leof workpieces in accordance with the means for feeding the 'workpieces through thepress; andmeans' responsive to a changein curvature'of lsaid file of envelopes while "in said means for stopping advance vofthe workpiecesv by said drivingmeans'f l 9""In"combiation witli a'printing press for printing envelopes,`means forfeeding unprinted envelopes through'V th'e 'pressi'including,y a withdrawal cylinder for supplying theunprinted envelopes* individually to the printing press, a work` ytable-for receiving the'print'edenvelopes from the printing"press',y `meanston the? work table for'gathering the printedl ',envelopes, 'a lsu'pplyitable; means`-supporting the44 supplytable fover'- the -vdeliv'ery tablef-guidemeans connect# ed with the supply table and curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder, conveyor belts having upper'runsextending *along :the supply table `'fo'rl delivering vand maing tainingl a file of'envelopes infthe' downwardly curved 'guider means'to supplythe 'withdrawalecylinden la resilient and yieldablev member-extendingdownwardly=over the curving file-of envelopes \tomaintain` a normal curvature vofthe file;` drivingrmeans having a ldriving connection with 'the' conveyor belts'ifor `effec'ting'advance ofthe `fle ofr en-y velope'sto the-withdrawalv cylinder, movable meansi'for engagingthe "curvingilef of envelopes and adapted f to 'f move'withichange inicuvatureoffthele of envelopes;

and means-connecting said'mov'able meanswith said drivf ing means for stopping f th'e' i conveying` means responsive td change in' curvature ofv the-file of envelopes; i

10;' 'Infcombination withl a'p-rintingpress 'for 'printing envelopes,` means vforrzfe'eding unprintedenvelop'es th'rogl thefpress including," a Withdrawal cylinder for"supplying the unprintedenvelopes individually to the"printingpr'ss;" a work supply table, means'supporting 'the-work'supply'f above: the" withdrawalv cylinder; guidel means 'connected with'the work supply table "and curving downwardly* over the withdrawal cylinder,A conveyor belts having' upper runs extending-#along the supplyf'table for dli'vering'fandmaintaining -a iileL` off'envelopesin'the downwardly curve'df'f -gidcmeans to supply -the withdrawal cylinder, a res'ilientf'x Vand yieldable member extending downwardly overthe" curving file of envelopes to normally maintain'thecurv'la-w ture ofth "le,"'meansforloperating said belts, anar'm having pivotal'support above the curved guide means and having 'a part adaptedy to contact edges ofthe envelopes,H and controlmeansconnecting said arm with the'isaidf' operating fineans' lfor stopping movement ofl the'rbelts re` sponsive toj movement of said arm :upon 'changein curva-l ture oftheffleof envelopesto'control feed of the envelopes to the'withdrawal cylinder; Y

11.' `In 'combination with a printing lpress for'printing-i envelopes'jiawithdrawal vcylinder for feeding'unprinted envelopes "individually: to' theprintingf press,y a supply l' table; means supporting the supply table 'abovethewith drawal.' cylinder, guide means in vconnection with 'the'l supply table andv curving 'downwardly over theI with; drawalcylin'derya conveyor extending along the supply table for 'maintaining-a file-of unprinted envelopes in the downwardlycurved guidermean's to 'supply -the withdrawal cylinder," aresilient member extending downwardly `over the curving fiile of envelopes to maintain a 'normal curva! turegofv the file,`a,ratchet having a driving-connection with the conveyor for effecting', intermittent -advance of the: unprinted envelopes to the-,withdrawal cylinder, a cam, a driving connection between the cam anda part 'of said feeding'means for actuating the cam, a cam 'lever in contact with. the cam, means connectingrthe cam lever `with the ratchet means', -a llatch `adapted to engage a part on kthe caml lever, an elctrornagnet connected with the latch forl withdrawingf'the latch froni'eng-agement withsaid'part of 'the cam "lever, an electric circuit for supplying current tothe electromagnet; a'switch in said circuit, an arm"v having pivotal support above thel curving ofV the`curved `file of .envelopes and having a part adapted to contact the' envelopes, and nieansconnectingsaid arm with' said 'switch i for'ac'tuatingthe 'switchto' effect releaseof the la'tch'foi"l engagement of the latch with said part ofthel cam leverl torstopfoperation I-of th'e'ratchetiwhen the arm'is moved responsivetochangeffrom said 'normall curvature of the legof envelopesto stop feed'of the envelopes to the" withdrawal cylinder.

12. `In an apparatus of the charact'erdescribed, means" for-feeding -unprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinderV forfeedingunprintedenvelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, means supporting the supply-table'Y -above the withdrawal cylinder, Aguide means connectedr with thesupplytable andfcurving downwardly over the.l withdrawaly cylinder, vtlconveyorV on the table for'ideliveringz a le of envelopesthroughthe downwardly.curvedguide'` means to the withdrawcylinder,"a 'resilient'andyield able member extending downwardly over the curving tile of envelopes to maintain a substantially normal curvature in the iile of envelopes, ratchet means having a driving connection with the conveyor for effecting intermittent @advance of the ile of envelopes to the withdrawal cylinder, a cam, driving means for actuating the cam, -a'cam lever in Contact with the cam, means connecting the cam lever with the ratchet means, a latch adapted to engage the cam lever, an electromagnet connected with the latch for withdrawing the latch from engagement with the cam lever, an electric current supply for energizing the electromagnet, -a switch for controlling the current supply to the electromagnet, an arm having pivotal support above the curved iile of envelopes and having a part adapted to contact the envelopes, and means connecting said arm with the switch to -actuate the switch for releasing the latch to engage the cam lever and stop operation of the ratchet means when the arm is moved responsive to change in curvature of the file of envelopes to stop feed of the envelopes to the withdrawal cylinder.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, means for feeding unprinted envelopes to -a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprinted envelopes individully to a printing press, a supply table, means supporting the supply table `above the withdrawal cylinder, guide means connected with the supply table and curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder, a `conveyor on the table for delivering a file of envelopes on edge and in face conta-ct to the downwardly curved guide means for progress through the guide means responsive to pressure effected by said conveyor, and means on the table and over which the edges of the envelopes ride for shifting the envelopes to loosen the face to face contact when the envelopes are' moved from said table in the guide means.

14. ln an apparatus of the character described, means for feeding unprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprinted envelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, means supporting the supply table above the withdrawal cylinder, inner and outer guides curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder, a conveyor on the table for delivering a file of envelopes between the downwardly curved guide means to the withdrawal cylinder, spaced apart side guides, paral- 14 lel links connecting the side guides with the table for contact with side edges of the envelopes, and extensions carried by the side guides and having portions curving downwardly to cooperate with the inner and' outer guides in directing the file of envelopes to the withdrawal cy1- inder.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, means for feeding unprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprinted envelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, means supporting the supply table above the withdrawal cylinder, guide means connected with the supply table and curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder, a conveyor on the table for delivering a file of envelopes through the downwardly curved guide means to the withdrawal cylinder, and a resilient member extending downwardly over the curving tile of envelopes to maintain a substantially normal curvature in the file of envelopes.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, means for feeding unprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprinted envelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, means supporting the supply table above the withdrawal cylinder, guide means connected with the supply table and curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder, a conveyor on the table for delivering a file of envelopes through the downwardly curved guide means to the withdrawal cylinder, means for actuating the conveyor, a resilient member extending downwardly over the curving tile of envelopes to maintain a substantially normal curvature in the file of envelopes, and means responsive to change in curvature of said le of envelopes for controlling the conveyor actuating means. l