US2996962A

US2996962A - Apparatus for cutting and applying patches to window envelope blanks and like articles

Info

Publication number: US2996962A
Application number: US745521A
Authority: US
Inventors: Winkler Richard; Dunnebier Kurt
Original assignee: Berkley Machine Co
Current assignee: Berkley Machine Co
Priority date: 1957-06-07
Filing date: 1958-05-28
Publication date: 1961-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1978-08-22

Description

g- 1961 R, WINKLER ET AL 2,996,952

APPARA FOR CUTTING AND APPLYING PATCHES TO WIND ENVELOPE BLANKS AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed May 28, 1958 2 Sheets -Sheet l x *PEE Aug. 22, 1961 R. WINKLER ET AL 2,995,962

APP TUS FGR CUTTING AND APPLYING TCHES TO PA N OW ENVELOPE BLANKS AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed May 28, 19 2 Sheets--Sheet 2 E A TTOR/VEY United States Patent 2,996,962 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND APPLYING PATCHES T WINDOW ENVELOPE BLANKS LIKE ARTKCLES Richard Winkler, Rengsdorf, near Neuwied, and Kurt Dunnebier, Wollendorf, near Neuwied, Germany, as- .signors to Berkley Machine Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed May 23, 1958, Ser. No. 745,521 Claims priority, application Germany June'7, 1957 6 Claims. (Cl. 93-61) This invention relates to an apparatus .for producing window envelopes and like articles wherein a patch of thin sheet material is applied thereto.

.Eor example, in the manufacture .of window envelopes .a continuous web of thin transparentmaterial is fedfrom ;a roll to a severing mechanism, which cuts off patches from the web, and the patches are seized and carried to .a transfer mechanism, which deposits the patches over the Window openings of envelope blanks which are in motion in an envelope making machine.

Itis obvious that the timing and action of such mechanisms is critical in order that the patches may be of exact size and located accurately over the window openings, and particularly relatively to the adhesive that has been previously applied to the blanks for securing the patches, but prior to the present invention such mechanisms have not been completely satisfactory and loose edges are left at the margins of the patches.

The transparent material usually employed is paper, cellophane, parchment, or the like, and is very thin, easy to curl and difficult to hold, with the result that the detached pieces are often cut inaccurately and they slip during transfer, with the result that they are inaccurately placed on the envelope blanks.

The patches are usually cut so-that they extend beyond the outer edges of the adhesive to assure coverage of the adhesive and prevent exuding of the adhesive from the outer edges of the patch. This extra amount of patch material results in considerable waste over a period of time.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus which cuts the patches with accuracy and transfers them without slipplug in exactly timed relation with movement of the envelope blanks.

Other objects of the invention are to providemeans for seizing and securely holding the end of the web under tension while the patch cutting mechanism is in operation; to provide for a continuous hold on the cut off patch while it is being removed from the cutting mechanism; to provide transfer mechanism with means for gripping the patch and pulling it from the removing means, and to provide the transfer mechanism with means for gripping and holding the patch while it is being carried to the place of deposit on a moving envelope blank.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a simple apparatus for cutting and applying the patches in their correct position without any special attention on the part of "the operator of the envelope making machine, and to provide patches that are accurately cut to size and neonrately applied over the'adhesive, thereby eliminating loose edges and permitting'use of smaller patches.

In accomplishing these and otherobjects of the invention, we have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a patch applying apparatus embodying the features of .the present invention.

'FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic section to better illustrate control and holding of the patches.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section showing adjustment of the counterroller for larger size patches.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of aportion of an envelope blank with the patch applied over the window opening.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for applying, for example, thin, transparent patches A .in covering relation with the Window openings B in blanks C (FIG. 1) from which window envelopes are formed while the blanks are in motion in an envelope making machine represented by the cylinder 2.

The apparatus 1 includes a feeding mechanism 3 for feeding the patch material to a cutoff mechanism 4 for cutting the patches A, a mechanism 5 for removing the cut off patches from the cutting mechanism, and a trans-'- fer mechanism 6 for taking the patches from the removing mechanism 5 and applying the patches to the envelope blanks C as they are carried around the cylinder 2 of the envelope making machine.

The patch material may be paper, transparent paper, cellophane, parchment, or the like. The material is thin and for convenience is contained in a roll 7 in the .form

of a web 8 having a Width corresponding to one dimen- =sion of the patches A to be formed therefrom. The roll 7 and the mechanisms of the apparatus are suitably supported by side frames 9 that may be carried on thefr-ame of the envelope making machine in a suitable position relatively to the cylinder 2.

The feeding mechanism 3' includes upper and lower continuously rotating feed rollers 10 and 11 between which the web 8 is passed (FIG. 1). The lower feed roller 11 is preferably the driving roller, over which the web passes when pressed into contact therewith by the upper roller 10. The upper feed roller 10 is preferably 'journaled in bearings 12 that are movable in ways 13 of the side frames 9 under action of springs 14 to maintain a frictional contact of the web 8 with the driving roller .11 to withdraw the web from the roll 7 and pass it be tween upper and lower guides 15 and 16 to the cutoff mechanism 4.

The cutoff mechanism 4 includes a stationary knife element 17 that is carried transversely of the path of the web 8 on a cross bar '18 carried between the side frames 9. The cutoff mechanism 4 also includes a movable cutting element 19 in the form of a blade 20 that is carried in .a recess 21 of a rotor 22. The rotor 22 is rotatably mounted transversely below the path of the web 8 and in position so that upon each revolution the blade 20 comes into shearing contact with the stationary knife element 17. The side of the rotor 22 opposite the knife blade 20 has a recess or flat side 23 to facilitate movement of the end of the Web after a cut has been made through the web to form a patch A, as later described.

The rotor 22 of the cutoff mechanism is' operated at a speed relatively to the feed rollers 10 and H. to feed a .predetermined length of the web upon each revolution of the rotor to constitute the other dimension of the patch. The speed regulating means is not shown in the drawing, .but may be of any Well known type whereby the timing of the feed rollers 10 and 11 and the rotor 22 may be changed to obtain patches A of desired length to conform with various sizes of the openings B in the envelope blanks that are under manufacture in the envelope making machine. The cut off patch A is supported on the periphery of the rotor 22 and passes freely under an arcuate guide 24 to the patch removing mechanism 5.

The patch removing mechanism includes a suction roller 25 which is preferably made up of a plurality of disks mounted on a transverse shaft 26, whereby the number and position of the disks may be adjusted to conform with the width of the patches A. The shaft 26 is rotatably mounted insuitable journals in the side frame and in position where- 3 by the peripheral face 27 of the suction roller 25 travels in sufficiently spaced relation with the peripheral face 28 of the rotor 22 to carry the patch A therebetween. The disks are provided with radial openings or nozzles 29 that are arranged in spaced relation around their periphery, with the openings 29 in one disk adapted to align laterally with those of the adjacent disks to form transverse rows of the openings 29 along the length of the suction roller. Suction is drawn through the openings or nozzles 29 by way of channels 30 which, as the suction roller 25 rotates in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1) are adapted to come into registry with a vacuum chamber or manifold 31 at one end thereof and which is connected with a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). The vacuum chamber 31 may be of arcuate shape and is supported below the shaft 26 of the suction roller 25 whereby, as the roller 25 rotates in correspondence with the speed of the knife rotor 22 of the cutoff mechanism, a suction is drawn through one or more rows of the openings 29 to engage the free end of the web 8 and to hold the web in tension just prior to and while the blade is cutting through the web, thereby assuring the proper length of a patch and preventing any displacement or wavering thereof. Continuing rotation of the suction roller draws the patch from the rotor 22, and as the succeeding rows of suction openings 29 come into registry with the suction manifold 31, they are made eifective in seizing the cut off patch closely against the arcuate face 27 of the suction roller 25 and thereby hold the patch in smooth contact, free of wrinkles and curls. The suction roller 25 carries the patches A through an arcuate pass 32 that is formed between the lower periphcry of the suction roller 25 and arcuate guides 33, the

guides 33 being carried on a transverse rod 34. The

The transfer mechanism 6 includes a pair of

rollers

35 and 36, of which the roller 36 is a suction roller and the roller 35 is a pressure or counter-roller yieldingly retained in contact with the periphery 37 of the suction roller 36 by springs 38 that press against bearing blocks 39 which journal the ends of the roller 35 in a frame 40, by which the position of the roller 37 is adjusted about the upper periphery of the suction roller 36.

The suction roller 36 is of larger diameter than the suction roller previously described and has, for example,

two parallel rows 41 and 42 of openings or nozzles that respectively connect with suction ducts 43 and 44. The suction roller 36 may be made up of a series of disks similar to the suction roller, with the disks being mounted on a transverse shaft 45 that is journaled in the side frames 9 and driven at a speed to provide a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of the suction roller 25 and in the direction of the arrow (FIG. l). The suction roller 36 on the advance side of the rows of openings 41 has a transverse recess or groove 46 which forms a gripping edge 47 that cooperates with the pressure roller 35 in pulling the patches A from the suction roller 25 by gripping the forward edges of the patches therebetween. Since the gripping edge 47 is to engage the forward marginal edge of the patches, the pressure or counter-roller 38 must be positioned according to the size of the patch. This adjustment is accomplished through the frame 40, as now to be described. The frame 40 includes side members 48 that are journaled in bearings 49 on the side frames 9 that journal the shaft 45. The sides 48 of the frame 40 have depending arms 50 connected by a bar 51. The sides of the frame extend above the periphery of the suction roller to carry the bearing blocks 39 for the shaft of the roller 35. The extensions are also connected by a transverse bar 51' similar to the arms 50.

The frame 40 carries an arcuate segment 52 on one of the sides 48 which meshes with a gear 53. The gear 53 is fixed to a shaft 54. When the shaft 54 is turned in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) the gear 53 rocks the frame 40 on the axis of the shaft 45 to move the roller 35 as shown in FIG. 3 to provide for handling a larger sized patch than that shown in FIG. 1.

The patch, when attached to the peripheral face of the roller 36 is carried to the applicating position on the cylinder 2 through a pass 55 that is provided between the face 37 of the roller 36 and arcuate guide rails 56 carried on a transverse bar 57. It is obvious that the suction roller 25 being positioned between the rotary cutting member and the patch applying roller 36, the cylindrical surface thereof provides a substantially tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting member on one side and a substantially tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller 36 on the other side, and that the source of suction on the patch is from near the tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting member to near the tangential transfer point wtih respect to the patch applying roller, whereby a continuous hold is maintained on the patch until the leading edge of the patch is firmly gripped between the pressure roller 35 and the gripping edge 47 of the applicating roller 36.

In using the apparatus constructed and assembled in connection with an envelope making machine as described, the Web 8 is drawn from the roll 7 and threaded between the feed rollers 10 and 11 so that it is gripped therebetween with the free end contained between the guides 15 and 16. The various driven shafts of the apparatus are connected in driving relation with the envelope making machine, so that the envelope blanks C are delivered by the cylinder 2 in timed relation with operation of the various mechanisms of the apparatus 1. The blanks are delivered to the cylinder '2 with the gum applied around the window opening B as indicated at D, FIG. 4, and ready to receive a patch thereon.

When the cutting rotor 22 moves in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1), the cutting edge of the blade 20 moves away from the cutting edge of the fixed cutting element 17 and the feed rollers 10 and 11 move the web therebetween until the cutting edge of the blade 20 again comes into position to sever the web and provide a patch of proper size.

As previously stated, the size of the patch A is dependent upon the size of the window opening B of the blank and the width of the gum applied therearound so that the edges of the patches will register with outer edges of the adhesive. The size of the patch is regulated by using a web of certain width and by adjusting the speed of the feed rollers 10 and 11 relative to the speed of the rotor 22 to feed the desired amount of material by the time the rotatably carried cutotf blade 20 reaches the fixed cutoff element 17. The pressure or counter-roller 35 is adjusted for the size of the patch by turning the shaft 54 in the proper direction.

Just prior to the cutoff, one or more rows of the openings 29 in the suction roller 25 have engaged the free end of the web and drawn it tautly over the face 28 of the rotor, so that an accurate cut is made across the web. With continued rotation of the suction roller, other of the rows of openings 29 come into position to effect engagement of the patch, so that when the patch has been completely removed from the cutting mechanism, it is held firmly in fiat contact with the peripheral face of the suction roller while it is being moved through the pass 32 (FIG. 2). With continued movement of the suction roller in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1), the forward edge of the patch moves upwardly between the suction roller 25 and the face 37 of the larger suction roller 36 of the transfer mechanism into the pass 55. The feed of the patch into the pass 55 is augmented by force which is produced by the roller 36 operating at a higher speed than the roller. 25 to bring the leading edge of the patch into contact with the pressure roller 35 to be engaged by thegripping edge 41. By this time the first row of suction openings 41 have reached the leading marginal edge portion of the patch and the suction may be made effective through those openings. During this advance of the patch, the suction is cut off from the rows of openings of the suction roller as the channels therefor move out of registry with the suction chamber 31. The pressure roller is set so that when the leading edge of the .patch is engaged between ,the roller 35 and the gripping .edge 47 of the roller ,36, the trailing marginal edge of the patch has just about cleared the last of the open- .ings 29 that are then effective in the suction roller 25.

Atthis point, suction is also made efiective through the row of openings 42, so that the forward and trailing marginal edges of the patch are drawn to the roller 36 to hold the patch smoothly thereon as the patch is pulled off the roller 25. The larger suction roller now carries the patch at a higher rotational speed and brings it into position where it is deposited over the gum D that has been applied around the window opening B of the blank ,C that is then in position on the cylinder 2. During application of the patch the suction through the series of holes 4-1 and 42 is relieved in proper sequence by time actuated valving means of the usual type, similar to the suction control forthe suction roller 25.

It is obvious that the patch is held by the suction roller 25 at the time of the cut, so that the cut patch is accurately formed, and that the suctionrollers maintain aconst-ant ho ld jQn the patch to keep the patch taut and free of puckers. After transfer of the patch from the .suction roller '25 to the patch applying roller 36, it is held tightly against the peripheral face thereof to be rolled onto the envelope blank C and pressed into con-- tact with the sealing gum 'D.

When a different size patch is needed, the relative speed between the cutting roller .19 and the feed rollers '10 and 1-1 is changed and the position of the pressure roller 35 is changed, so that just prior to the time the trailing edge ofthe patch is transferred to the transfer roller 36, the forward edge of the larger patch is gripped between the gripping ledge 47 and the pressure roller 35. It is obvious that vafter adjustment of the pressure roller 35, the patch of different size is pulled from the roller 25 without {slipping of the patch on the roller 36, in the same manner as previously described.

What we claim and desire to secure'by 'Letters Patent 1s:

1. An apparatus for cutting patches of thin sheet martcrial and carrying the patches into applicating contact with envelope blanks, said apparatus including a fixed cutting'element and a rotary cutting element, means for feeding a web of said material in continuous movement between the fixed and rotary cutting elements, a continuously rotating patch applying roller having a substantially continuous cylindrical surface spaced from the rotary cutting member and having a portion thereof prowiding a gripping edge, a continuouslyrotating suction roller intermediate the rotary cutting element and the patch applying roller and having a cylindrical surface providing a substantially tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting element on one side and a substantially tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller on the other side, said patch applying roller having a faster surface speed than the surface speed of the suction roller, means associated with the suction roller for establishing a continuous source of suction on the patch from near the tangential transfer point of the rotary cutting element to near the tangential transfer point of the patch applying roller for applying suction to the free end of the web extending over the rotary cutting element to seize and tension the web during cutting through of the web to provide a patch and for transferring the patch progressively into contact with the patch applying roller and progressively releasing the leading portion of the patch at the tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller, a pressure roller, and means supporting the pressure roller in rolling contact with the cylindrical surface of said patch applying roller to cooperate with said gripping edge to grip and time theleading edge of the patch when the trailing edge of the patch is still being held by suction, said patch applying roller having suction means for seizing the .patch to cooperate with the pressure roller and gripping edge to .draw said patch from the suction roller without slipping of the patch and to carry the patch into contact with an envelope blank.

2. An apparatus for cutting patches of thin sheet material and carrying the patches into applicating contact with envelope blanks, said apparatus including a fixed cutting element and a rotary cutting element, means for feeding a'web in continuous movement of said mate- ,rial between the fixed and rotary cutting elements, a continuously rotatable patch applying roller having a substantially continuous cylindrical surface spaced from the rotary cutting member and having a portion thereof providing a gripping edge, a continuously rotatable suction roller intermediate the rotary cutting element and the patch applying roller and having a cylindrical surface providing a substantially tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting element on one side and a substantially tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller on the other side, said patch applying roller having a faster surface speed than the surface speed of the suction roller, means associated with the suction roller for establishing a continuous source of suction on the patch from near the tangential transfer point of the rotary cut ting element to near the tangential transfer point of the patch applying roller for applying suction to the free end of the web extending over the rotary cutting element to seize and tension the web during cutting through of the web to provide a patch and for transferring the patch progressively into contact with the patch applying roller and progressively releasing the leading portion of the .patch at the tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller, a pressure roller, and means supporting the pressure roller in rolling contact with the cylindrical surface of said patch applying roller to cooperate with said gripping edge to grip and time the leading edge of the patch when the trailing edge of the patch is still being held by suction, said patch applying roller having suction ports for seizing the leading and trailing mar- :gi al portions of the patch to cooperate with the pressure roller and gripping edge to draw said patch from contact with the suction roller without slipping of the :patch and to carry the patch into contact with an envelope blank.

3. An apparatus for cutting patches of thin sheet material and carrying the patches into applicating contact with envelope blanks, said apparatus including a fixed cutting element and a rotary cutting element, means for feeding a web of said material between the fixed and rotary cutting elements, a patch applying roller having a substantially continuous cylindrical surface spaced from the rotary cutting member and having a portion thereof providing a gripping edge, a suction roller intermediate the rotary cutting element and the patch applying roller and having a cylindrical surface providing a substantially tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting element on one side and a substantially tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller on the other side, means associated with the suction roller for establishing a continuous source of suction on the patch from near the tangential transfer point of the rotary cutting element to near the tangential transfer point of the patch applying roller for applying suction to the free end of the web extending over the rotary cutting element to seize and tension the web during cutting through of the web to provide a patch and for transferring the patch pro gressively into contact with the patch applying roller and progressively releasing the leading portion of the patch at the tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller, a pressure roller, a frame member for carrying the pressure roller, and means supporting the frame member for rocking support about the rotational axis of the patch applying roller to adjust the position of the pressure roller from the tangential transfer point of the suction roller for timing grip of the leading edge of the patch by said gripping edge when the trailing edge of the patch is still being held by the suction roller, said patch applying roller having suction ports for seizing the leading and trailing marginal portions of the patch to cooperate with the pressure roller and gripping edge in drawing said patch from the suction roller without slipping of the patch and to carry the patch into timed con- -tact with an envelope blank.

' 4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 for cutting and carrying patches into applicating contact with envelope blanks, and including a toothed segment on the frame member and a gear meshing with the teeth of the segment for rocking the frame member to adjust the position of the pressure roller.

5. An apparatus for cutting patches of thin sheet material and carrying the patches into applicating contact with envelope blanks, said apparatus including a fixed cutting element and a rotary cutting element, means for feeding a web of said material continuously between the fixed and rotary cutting elements, a continuously rotatable patch applying roller having a substantially continuous cylindrical surface spaced from the rotary cutting member and having a transverse groove providing a gripping edge, a continuously rotatable suction roller intermediate the rotary cutting element and the patch applying roller and having a cylindrical surface providing a substantially tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting element on one side and a substantially tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller on the other side, said suction roller having ports arranged in spaced relation about the periphery thereof, means for establishing a continuous source of suction through the ports extending from near the tangential transfer point of the rotary cutting element to near the tangential transfer point of the patch applying roller to apply suction to the free end of the web extending over the rotary cutting element to seize and tension the web during cutting through of the web to provide a patch and to transfer the 'patch onto the suction roller progressively with movement of the ports into connection with the said suction 'supply means for taking the patch from the rotary cutting means and holding the patch on the cylindrical surface of the suction roller while the suction roller 'is carrying the leading edge of the patch into contact with the patch applying roller and progressively releasing the leading portion of the patch as the ports pass out of connection with said suction supply means, a pressure roller, and means supporting the pressure roller in rolling contact with the cylindrical surface of said patch applying roller to cooperate with said gripping edge to grip the leading edge of the patch when the trailing-edge of the patch is still being held by suction, said patch applying roller having suction ports for seizing the patch to cooperate with the pressure roller and gripping edge to draw said patch from contact with the suction roller without slipping of the patch and to carry the patch into contact with an envelope blank.

6. An apparatus for cutting patches of thin sheet material and carrying the patches into applicating contact with envelope blanks, said apparatus including a rotary cutting element, a cutting element cooperating with the rotary cutting element, means for feeding a web of sheet material in continuous movement between said cutting elements, a continuously rotatable patch applying roller having a substantially continuous cylindrical surface spaced from the rotary cutting element and having a portion thereof providing a transverse gripping edge, a continuously rotatable suction roller intermediate the rotary cutting element and the patch applying roller and having a cylindrical surface providing a substantially tangential transfer point with the rotary cutting element on one side and a substantially tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller spaced from said first named tangential transfer point, means associated with the suction roller for establishing a continuous source of vacuum on the patch near the tangential transfer point of the rotary cutting element to near the tangential transfer point of the patch applying roller for applying suction to the free end of the web extending over the rotary cutting element to seize and tension the web during cutting through of the web to provide a patch and for transferring the patch progressively into contact with the patch applying roller and progressively releasing the leading portion of the patch at the tangential transfer point with the patch applying roller, a pressure roller, a frame member for carrying the pressure roller, and means supporting the frame member for rocking support about the rotational axis of the patch applying roller to adjust the position of the pressure roller from the tangential transfer point of the suction roller with said patch applying roller for timing grip of the leading edge of the patch by said gripping edge, said patch applying roller having suction ports for seizing portions of the patch to cooperate with the pressure roller in holding the patch and to carry the patch into timed contact with an envelope blank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,121 Rife Oct. 31,1933 2,070,205 Heywood Feb. 9; 1937 2,167,005 Sauerman July 25; 1939 32,206,043 Novick July 2, 1940 2,209,347 Novick July 30, 1940 2,209,348 Novick July 30, 1940 2,254,217 Grupe Sept. 2, 1941 2,543,220 Ardell Feb. 27, 1951 2,703,043 Novick et al t. Mar. 1, 1955