US3086338A

US3086338A - Apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes

Info

Publication number: US3086338A
Application number: US91100A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ehlscheid Gunther
Original assignee: Berkley Machine Co
Current assignee: Berkley Machine Co
Priority date: 1960-04-01
Filing date: 1961-02-23
Publication date: 1963-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-23

Description

April 23, 1963 G. EHLSCHEID APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23,. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

April 23, 1963 ca. EHLSCHEID APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illll Illlll A IIIIIIHII llllllllll W g aw ATTOKNEY.

G. EHLSCHEID April 23, 1963 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 K m? rt W00 ma. 6 5 2 9 I Z4 m ATTORNEK April 23, 1963 e. EHLSCHEID 9 3 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AZ WM 1N VEN TOR ZQMW A TTORNEY,

United States Patent 3,086,338 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES Giinther Ehlsclieid, Niederbieber, near Neuwied, Rhineland, Germany, assignor to Berkley Machine Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Feb. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 91,100 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 1, 1960 20 Claims. (Cl. 53-198) This invention relates to an apparatus for grouping and banding a specific number of envelopes into packets, particularly in conjunction with the output of high speed envelope making machines.

The presentapplica-tion is an improvement in the ap paratus disclosed in a copending application Serial No. 22,769, filed April 18, 1960, now US. Patent No. 3,040,- 488. It has been discovered that with the apparatus of the type disclosed in the application, the conversion of more than four hundred envelopes per minute into packets, each containing a small number of envelopes, requires considerable power to adequately accelerate the conveyor stops when they slide between adjacent envelopes and for reciprocating the comparatively heavy carriages therefor in the time available for making up a packet. This also leads to uneven operation and comparatively heavy wear of the apparatus. Furthermore, a limit is imposed on any increase in output corresponding to the output of modern high capacity envelope making machines.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type disclosed in the application which, when connected to a modern high capacity envelope making machine, groups the entire output into packets and bands the packets, while avoiding the above mentioned disadvantages.

Other objects of the invention are to provide forcontinuous movement of the stops in a generally gyratory direction, and to provide a simpler construction that is more easily adapted for adjustment to different sized packets.

The objects of the invention are achieved in part by an oscillatory stop that is fixed in the direction in which the envelopes are conveyed from the envelope making machine, to hold the envelopes at a collecting station until a number of envelopes have been collected to form the desired packet, whereupon a pair of auxiliary stops and an upper auxiliary stop automatically execute a slight movement parallel to and across the stream of envelopes. The advancement of the collected packs is achieved by pairs of grippers mounted on holders which are secured articulately between chains that move by steps. chains are guided in such a manner that one pair of grippers after another rises into the path of the envelopes to engage therebetween a collected pack at the collecting station, and after withdrawal of the stops the pack of envelopes is advanced therebetween to an intermediate station, and through the intermediate station to a banding station where a band is wrapped about the packet, and from the banding station to a station where the grippers are withdrawn, to leave the banded packet for subsequent advancement by following banded packets onto a delivery table. The grippers are withdrawn by the chains and carried by the chains to complete another cycle.

As a result of the provision of an' intermediate station between the collecting station and the banding station, the travel of the packets per working stroke of the apparatus is very short in comparison with the construction disclosed in the aforementioned application. The auxiliary stops automatically insure penetration of the grippers between the envelopes when a group has been collected, and serve as a stop for the envelopes arriving from the envelope making machine while the grippers are advancing collected packs past the oscillatory stop. 7

In accomplishing the objects of the invention, improved construction has been provided, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,- where- FIG. 5 is a detailed view on a larger scale of the scissors-shaped auxiliary stops in retracted position to pass the envelopes from the conveyor worms.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the scissors-shaped auxiliary stops in position for stopping the envelopes from the conveyors.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a part of the conveyor chains and showing the mounting of a pair of grippers thereon, and particularly illustrating the construction which permits spacing of the grippers to accommodate packs of diiferent numbers of envelopes, the section being taken on the line 77 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal view of two adjacent chains, showing the connection of the gripper mounting means therewith.

FIG. 9 is a cross section on the line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of FIG. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an apparatus for collecting packs A of envelopes B, with a given number of envelopes in each pack, at a station P, with discharge of the envelopes from the delivery end of an envelope making machine, and for separating the packs at a station P and advancing the packs to a banding station P in which a band is applied around each pack, to a station P where the packs are left for subsequent advancement under pressure by the following packs onto a delivery table 2, in accordance with the output of a modern high capacity envelope making machine.

The delivery table 2 is connected with the envelope making machine, not shown, by laterally spaced apart extensions 3 and 4 for supporting and guiding the envelopes on edgenear their respective ends. The envelopes B are conveyed along the extensions 3 and 4 by means of conveyor screws or worms 5 and 6 having the flights thereof circling the extensions 3 and 4. Cooperating with the conveyor screws 5 and 6 is a conveyor screw or worm 7 of smaller diameter and of slightly longer length at the delivery end thereof, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and. 2. An opening 8 corresponding to the space between the extensions 3 and 4 is provided in the delivery table 2 for accommodating a mechanism 9 otor stopping and advancing the packs A through the respective stations, as later described. The opening =8 has a width so that the ends of the packs are slidably supported thereon as they are advanced over the opening to an abutment 10 that is slidable on the top of the delivery table to cooperate with the feed of the packs for maintaining the packs in compression to assure setting of the gum on the bands prior to removal of the banded packs for boxing.

Depending below the delivery table at opposite sides of the opening 8 are side frames 11 and 12 connected at their lower edges by a cross bar 13. The mechanism 9 includes two pairs of endless chains 14-15 and 16-17, with the chains of each pair running along the side frames 11 and 1-2 and in spaced apart relation, and the inner chains positioned in partial advance of the outer chains. The

outer chains

14 and 16 of the respective pairs are respectively carried on sets of upper sprockets 18 and 19 and

lower sprockets

20 and 21. The inner chains 15 and 17 are carried on upper sprockets 22 and 23 and lower sprockets 24 and 25. The sprockets 18, '19 land 21 of the outer chains are mounted on the side frames for rotation on studs 26 which are secured by nuts 27 in bores or slots of the side frames. The sprockets 22, 23 and are mounted for rotation on studs 28 which are secured by nuts 29 in bores or slots of an inner frame 30 secured to the side frames (FIG. 3) or in a support member 31 (FIG. 2) secured below the table top 2 at the rear end of the opening 8. The side frames 11 and 12 are rigidly secured to the under side of the table 2. The sprockets 20 constitute driving sprockets and are fixed along with gear wheels 32 on stub shafts 33 which are carried by the side frames 11 and 12. The gear wheels 32 are in meshing engagement through intermediate gears 34 with gears 35 secured on a countershaft 36 that is rotatably mounted in the side frames 11 and 12. The sprockets 24 are fixed along with gears 37 on a shaft 38 that is mounted in a bracket 39 secured between the side frames 11 and :12 on a transverse plate 13. The gear wheel 37 meshes through an intermediate gear 41 with a gear 42, also fixed to the countershaft 36. The gear 41 is mounted on a shaft 38, also carried by the bracket 39 (FIGS. 1 and '10). The 'countershaft 36 is rotated rythmically by a steadily rotating driving shaft 43 through a Geneva movement or the equivalent, designated by the numeral 43', to produce rotation with subsequent pauses, for instance, in the ratio of 120 rotation to 240 pause on a 360 rotation of the driving shaft 43. During the 240 pause, the actual banding takes place at the banding station P", as illustrated and described in the above mentioned application. Accordingly, the sprockets 20 and 24 are periodically driven, followed by substantially twice as long a pause as the rotation.

Spaced along the length of each pair of chains are pairs of

grippers

44 and 45 for engaging the packs therebetween, as later described.

Each pair of grippers comprises flat blades that are carried by a bar 46. Each bar has one end thereof connected by a pin 47 with a substantially triangular shaped link 48 of one chain of the pair, and its opposite end connected by a pin 49 with .a triangular shaped link 50 of the other chain of the pair (see FIG. 9). Therefore, when the chains are in operation, the bars are advanced in horizontal position about their path of travel. One of the grippers 44 is fixed to an end of a bar 46, while the other gripper is adjustably positioned on the bar to be spaced from the fixed gripper according to the number of envelopes to be contained in a packet. For this adjustment, the bar 46 has a plurality of internally threaded openings 51, and the gripper 45 has a lateral foot 52 having a slot 53. Passing through the slot 53 and into one or another of the threaded openings 51 is a fastening device such as a screw 54 for rigidly attaching the gripper. The grippers 44 are somewhat longer than the grippers 45. The grippers project at substantially right angles to the chain when they are being carried by the chains, to move in the longitudinal direction of the machine and in parallel relation when they are being carried rat the end runs of the chains, as shown in FIG. 1.

The speed ratio between the shaft 43 and the driving sprockets of the chains is such that the periodic advance of the chains is equal to the mutual spacing of any two gripper-s 44, so that after each advance of the chains, the following gripper comes precisely in the place of the previous gripper 44.

Pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 55 that is carried by an upwardly projecting ear 56 on the inner frame 30 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is a pivoted stop lever 57 which is immovable in the direction in whch the envelopes are conveyed along the delivery table 2, and the envelope stopping part 58 of the lever can be adapted to the thickness of a pack. It is, therefore, a separate part ad-- justably attached to the stop lever by fastening devices such as screws 59 that have their shanks extended through slot-like openings in a part of the stop 58 and which tighten into threaded openings of the lever.

back relatively to the thickness of a pack. The stop lever 57 is yieldingly retained in position to engage the envelopes by a spring 60, having one end connected with a sloping terminal 61 of the stop lever 57 and its opposite end connected with a part of the inner frame as indicated at 62, to normally hold the stop face 58 in the path of the envelopes. The stop lever 57 is actuated pivotally to withdraw the stop 58 from engagement with the envelopes and hold the stop 58 out of engagement with the en-- velopes by cam shaped lugs 63 on the links of the inner chains, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Mounted above the stop 58 on an upper longitudinal guide 64 that extends parallel with the table top 2 is a stop 65 that is reciprocable in a bracket 66. The stop 65 is moved automatically into and out of the path of the envelopes by means of a double-acting magnet 67, also carried by the bracket 66. The bracket 66 is adjustably attached to the guide 64 by fastening devices such as screws 68 that extend through slotted portions of the bracket and into the upper guide 64. By loosening the attaching screws 68, the bracket can be shifted back or forth according to the adjustment of the stop 58, after which the screws 68 are retightened to secure the reciprocating stop 65 over the stop 58 for engaging the upper portions of the envelopes.

Mounted close in front of the conveyor screws 5 and 6 is a scissors-shaped auxiliary stop 69 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 70 that is carried on an arm 71, later described. The scissors-shaped stop comprises two

sections

72 and 73 that have curved outer ends 74 and 75 adapted to be swung into and out of stopping relation with the envelopes as they pass from the flights of the screw conveyors 5 and 6. The lower ends of the scissor sections extend below the pivot pin 70 and are connected by a coil spring 76 to normally hold the

ends

74 and 75 in a position in which they engage and stop the envelopes. The sections of the scissors-like stop are actuated against action of the spring by a roller 77 engaging between

rollers

78 and 79 on the respective arms (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The roller 77 is carried on the head of a rod 80 that is mounted for vertical displacement, With a slotted portion thereof guided on a pin 81. The pin 81 is carried by the inner frame by means of a screw 82. The rod 80 extends downwardly of the machine and has a forked end 83 engaging over a shaft 84. (FIG. 1) The shaft 84 has a cam 85 that engages a cam follower S6 rotatable on the forked end of the rod. The shaft is driven in time with the chains to make one complete revolution during the time the chains are in motion, and is stationary while the chains are stationary. On the upward movement of the rod 80, the roller 77 abuts against the

rollers

78 and 79 on the

sections

72 and 73 of the scissors stop to swing the

ends

74 and 75 outwardly from stopped relation with the envelopes and to permit the envelopes to pass. When the rod moves downwardly from between the

rollers

78 and 79, the spring 76 draws the upper ends of the arms inwardly into stopping relation with the envelopes, for a purpose later described.

The arm 71 which carries the scissors stop projects from one end of a reciprocatory rod 87 which is mounted for reciprocation parallel to the direction in which the envelopes are conveyed (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The other end of the rod 87 carries a fork 88 wh ch engages over the driving shaft 43 (FIG. 1). Fixed on the fork 88 by a pin 89 is a roller 99 which engages a cam 91 on the shaft 43 to impart a reciprocating movement to the rod 87 in time with the chain, to shift the scissors stop slightly By loosen-- ing the screws 59, the stop 58 can be moved forward or for engaging the tips of the longer of the grippers 44 (see FIG. when the grippers move upwardly, as later to be described.

Directly above the upper ends of the scissors stop, on an extension 92 of the arm '71, is a reciprocable stop 93 slidably mounted in a bracket '94 for movement into and out of the stream of the envelopes by means of a doubleacting solenoid 95, also carried by the bracket. The bracket 94 is fixed to a bracket 96 of theextension 92 by a clamping screw 9'7. The clamping screw 97 has a stud which projects through a slot in the guide bracket and is threaded into the bracket 94. A backing plate 98 is adjustably fixed to the upper end of a recriprocatory rod 99 that slides in bearings 10!) and 101 of the frame 30. The rod 99 carries rack teeth 102 that mesh with a pinion gear 163. The pinion gear is actuated by a suitable driving connection, not shown, in timed relation to the periodical feed of the chains. In addition to carrying the cam 85, the shaft 84 also carries cams for actuating electrical switches 67 and 95 (FIG. 3) for controlling the doubleacting electromagnet 67 and the double-acting solenoid 95 for automatically moving the upper stops 65- and 93 into and out of position.

The upper guide 64 is carried by studs 104 fastened to the machine by means not shown, and adjustable according to the height of the envelopes.

Rotatably mounted on the front end of the upper guide 64 in

bearings

105 and 106 is a transverse shaft 107 carrying rotary brushes 108 and 1119 on the ends thereof for engaging the upper portions of the envelopes. The shaft 1117 is driven by a belt operating over a pulley 1113, as shown in FIG. 4.

Above the backing plate 93 is pivoted a stop 111 that is mounted on a pin 112' in a bracket 112. The bracket 112 is secured to the upper guide plate by suitable fastening devices, so that it may be adjusted according to the size of the packets. A pin 113 on the bracket 112 engages the tail portion 114 on the stop to hold the stop 111 in the position shown in FIG. 1. The stop 111 will swing out of the way when a banded pack of envelopes engages it, but after thepack has passed, th stop 111 cannot swing retractively because of the tail portion 114 striking the pin 113.

Carried by the upper guide plate is a member 115 for holding down a band C that is to be applied to the envelope pack. The member 115 is carried by :a rocker arm 116 on a pin 117 of a bracket .118. The rocker arm is rocked a fore and aft direction by a link 1119 for raising and lowering the hold down member 115, which is also in timed relation with the periodical feed of the chains.

In order that the section of chain carrying the grippers retains a straightaway direction while moving between the sprockets, the chains are guided by bars 120 and 12 1, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The band C is fed across the path of the packs of envelopes between the stations P and P" asdisclosed in the above mentioned application, so that as the pack is advanced against the band C, the band is drawn around the upper and lower edges of the pack, as shown in FIG. 1. Upper and lower applicators 122 and .123 come into position between the grippers and carry the ends of the band in overlapping and sealing contact at the rear side of the pack. K ill 'i The apparatus constructed as described is connected with the delivery end of an envelop making machine, so that the finished envelopes are delivered along the extensions 3 and 4, with the envelopes being held upright by the flights of

theworrns

5, 6 and 7.

The upper longitudinal guide 64 is adjusted on the studs 104 tothe height of the envelopes. The stop lever 58 and its complementary'upper stop 65 are adjusted from the scissors stop 69 and the upper reciprocable stop 93 according to the number of envelopes to be collected into packs at the station :P. The band hold down member 6 115 and backing plate 98 are correspondingly adjusted on the reciprocating rod 99 and on theupper guide 64, respectively. The swing stop 111 is also adjusted on the upper guide to be in position for preventing retractive movement of the packs after they have been pushed into the station P'. All of .the shorter grippers 45 are adjusted on their supporting bars 46 to and from the longer grippers 44, to accommodate the collected packs therebetween. This is readily effected by removing the screws 54 and sliding the foot portions of the shorter grippers to the desired position over a selected one of the threaded openings in the bars. The screws '54 are then inserted in the selected openings, as shown in FIG. 7.

With the driving shaft 43 in operation, the Geneva movement will drive the shaft 38 followed by a pause, in the ratio of 120 rotation to 240 pause, based on 360 rotation of the shaft 43. The conveyors are therefore advanced in the direction of the arrow F distances corresponding to the spaces between the grippers 44 of the respective pairs followed by a pause between each movement. The pairs of grippers are carried by the chains so that they are successively advanced from one station to the next, with a pause taking place at each station P, P, P and P'. At the time a pair of grippers reach the end of the opening or the station P', the bars carrying that pair of grippers begin to move downwardly by the chains to a position below the table top, where they begin to move in the opposite direction along the lower runs of the chains to a position where the longer grippers are projected below the scissors stop 69 and the corresponding shorter gripper is directly below the pivoted stop 58, ready to be carried upwardly through the opening 8.

The scissors stop and the reciprocable stop 93 are periodically actuated in time with movement of the grippers through the cam 91 and reciprocatory rod 87. The stop 58 will also be pivoted into and out of stopping position whenever the tail portion 51 of the lever is contacted by the cam.- lugs 63- that are attached to links of the inner chain 16.

Assume that the feed of the envelopes by the conveyor screws 5, 6 and 7 starts with the

ends

74 and 75 of the scissors sections '72 and 73 retracted, as shown in FIG. 5, and in front of the grippers 44 0f the pair of

grippers

43 and 44 that are below the station P. The magnet 95 has retracted the stop 93. The spring 87' is holding the reciprocatory rod 87 in retracted position, so that the scissors stop 69 and the stop 93 are in their forward position and out of pressing contact with the grippers 44. The

brushes

108 and 109, rotating in the direction of the arrow, FIG. .1, push the upper portion of the envelopes and facilitate their entry into the collecting station P, with the envelopes accumulating against the stops 58 and 65. gUp to this time, the conveyor chains and grippers v are in stationary position. At the time the pack has reached its full number of envelopes, the conveyor chains and the grippers carried thereon start moving. The cam 91 on the drive shaft 43 pushes the rod 87 against action of the spring 87' to shift the scissors stop and stop 93, so that the ends 74 and 75 of the scissors stop press the tips of the grippers 44, which are still below the path of the envelopes, resiliently against the end of the conveyor screws 5 and 6. The conveyor chains continue to rnove, carrying the gripper 44 well into the path of the envelopes. The cam on the shaft 84 now allows the rod 80 to drop, for bringing the roller 77 downwardly from between the

rollers

78 and 79, so that the spring 76 draws the sections of the scissors together to cause sliding of the

ends

74 and 75 off the grippers 44, as shown in FIG. 6, and into the path of the envelopes that are contained in the

screws

5, 6 and 7. Simultaneously, the magnet has been energized to project the stop 93 into the path of the envelopes. By this time, the chains have moved the

grippers

43 and 44 upwardly of the front and man faces of the collected pack 1, the grippers 44 having penetrated reliably into the gap between the last envespeaaas lope in the completed pack and the leading edges of the conveyor screws and 6.

By this time, the tail portion of the stop lever 57 has been engaged by the first of a group of cam lugs 63 on the chain 15 to swing the stop 58 downwardly out of the path of the envelopes. Simultaneously, the magnet 67 has retracted the stop 65. By this time, the pivotal connections of the bar or holder 46 that carries this pair of grippers begin to move with the upper runs of the chains, to carry the collected pack into the intermediate station P and widen the gap on the rear side of the pack. With the pack in the station P, the stop 58 and stop 65 are returned to their stoppin position. The cam 91 allows the rod 87 to shift under action of its spring 87' to shift the scissors stop and the auxiliary stop 93 away from the end of the conveyor screws. Also, the cam 85 has raised the rod 80 to bring the roller 77 between the

rollers

78 and 79 to move the sections of the scissors stop outwardly to withdraw the curved ends 74 and 75 thereof out of the path of the envelopes and in front of the next following grippers 44. Simultaneously, the magnet 95 draws the stop 93 out of contact with the upper portion of the envelopes. With these stops out of position, the conveyors come to rest. Another pack of the envelopes now begins to gather against the stops 58 and 65 to start collection of another pack.

By the time another pack is collected and is ready to be removed from the position P, the chains begin to move and carry the previously collected pack from the station P to the banding station P, and the following collected pack into the station P. A band C has previously been fed across the path of the collected pack that is now moving from the station P, to push the band C ahead thereof and to bring the hand against the backing plate 98, with the hold down member 115 engaging the portion of the band that is drawn across the upper side. of the pack. On the last movement of the conveyor chains, the backing plate 98 has been lifted into position for abutment with the pack. The conveyor chains now make another pause, and the band applicators 122 and 123 move the ends of the band in overlapping sealed relation with the rear face of the pack in the station P, as disclosed in the above mentioned application. A laterally recipr-ocable plate 124 is movable into position between the pack and the ends of the band C by a rod 125 during the time the ends of the band are pressed together. This is particularly desirable when envelopes with fat folds are being handed. The adhesive on the band is sufficient to hold the ends of the band together. The conveyor chains again start moving to carry the banded pack from the station P" to the station P'.

At the completion of the band, the link 119 lifts. the band hold down member 115. Simultaneously, the backing plate 98 is lowered by the pinion and rack connection with its supporting rod 99. The stop 111 yields before the packet and swings back into its normal position immediately after the packet is in the station P', in order to prevent the packet from falling over on the delivery table.

When the packet is in the position P, the

grippers

44 and 45 holding that packet are withdrawn by downward movement of the chains.

This finishes one complete working cycle, and during the working cycle a pack is collected at the station P, another pack is in the station P, and another pack is in the banding station P, so that the operation is continuous.

The banded packets gather on the. delivery table 2 in closely pressed relation, to hold the packets under the upper guide 64 during setting of the adhesive, so that by thetime the packets push out from under the guide 64 they are ready for boxing.

While the invention is described for the banding of envelopes, it is also adapted for the banding of other flat articles in a similar manner.

It is obvious that with the present invention, the travel of the packs per working periods of the conveyor chains is very short in comparison with the working stroke of the pack moving means of the above mentioned application. Therefore, less power is required to accelerate the mechanisms between pauses, and less time is required to get the parts in motion. There is also a more even and smoother operation, with comparatively less wear upon the working parts. Consequently, the apparatus is Well suited to handle the high output of modern envelope making machines. It is also obvious that the machine is operable to band fat folded envelopes as well as tight folded envelopes.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine: means for moving envelopes through a path in face to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing a station for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number; means spaced from the said collecting station for providing a banding station; means spaced from the banding station for providing a station for subsequent advancement of the banded packs under pressure of one pack against another; endless chains; grippers carried by the chains; means mounting the chains with one run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collecting station, a run for carrying the grippers with the pack therebetween to the banding station and from the banding station to the pressure station, a run for withdrawing the grippers at the last named station, and a run for returning the grippers to the beginning of the first named run; means for actuating the chains with pauses when the grippers reach the respective stations; pack backing means at the banding station; means for reciprocating the pack backing means into and out of support of the pack while in said banding station; and means for actuating the reciprocating means in timed relation with movement of the chains.

2. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from -an envelope making machine as described in claim 1, and including means for preventing falling back of the banded packs after withdrawal of the grippers.

3. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus includin g means for moving envelopes through a fixed path in face to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number and comprising upper and lower stops for movement into and out of the path of the envelopes for collecting the envelopes against said stops; auxiliary stops spaced from the lower stop; means for moving the auxiliary steps into the path of the envelopes when the desired number has collected against the first named stops; endless chains; pairs of grippers having articulate connections with the chains; means mounting the chains with one run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of the collected pack, a run for carrying the grippers with the pack therebetween to a separating station to separate said pack from the following pack being collected between said stops and from the separating station to a banding station and from the banding station to a station for subsequent advancement under pressure of one pack against the other, a run for withdrawing the grippers at the last named station, and a run for returning the grippers to the beginning of the first named run; and means for actuating the chains with pauses at the respective stations.

4. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine: means for moving envelopes through a path in face to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing a station for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number; means spaced from the said collecting station for providing a station for holding the collected pack; means spaced from the last named station for pro- 9 viding a banding station; endless chains; pairs of grippers having articulate connections with the chains; means mounting the chains with one run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collecting station, a run for carrying the grippers with the pack to the second of said stations to hold the collected pack while a previous pack is banded at the banding station and advancing the banded pack from the banding station, a run for withdrawing the grippers from the banded pack after advancement, a run for returning the grippers to the beginning of the firist named run; and means for actuating the chains with pauses when the grippers reach the respective stations and means for preventing the banded packs from falling back during withdrawal of the grippers.

5. An apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus including means for moving envelopes through a path in face to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number and comprising stops for movement into and out of the path of the envelopes for collecting the envelopes against said stops; auxiliary stops; means for moving the auxiliary stops into the path of the envelopes when the number has collected against the first named stops; endless chains; pair-s of gripper-s having articulate connections With the chains; means mounting the chains to provide one run for carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of the collected pack, a run for carrying the grippers with the pack therebetween to a station to separate said pack from a following pack being collected and from said station to a banding station and from the banding station to a station for subsequent advancement under pressure of one pack against the other, a run for withdrawing the grippers at the last named station, and a run for returning the grippers to the beginning of the first name run; a reciprocatory back support at the banding station for backing the envelopes during banding thereof; a band holder above said back support; means for actuating the chains with pauses at the respective stations; and means for actuating said back support and band holder in time with the actuation periods of the conveyor chains.

6. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flights for retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging the envelopes in face to face contact at ends of the conveyor screws; upper and lower stops spaced from the end of the conveyor screws for collecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stops and the ends of the conveyor screws; auxiliary stops at the ends of the conveyor screws; said auxiliary stops being normally out of the path of the envelopes when the envelopes are being collected against the first named stops; pairs of grippers; pairs of endless chains carrying the grippers; means for supporting the chains to provide one run for projection of a pair of grippers for movement across the ends of the conveyor screws for engagement with the respective faces of a collected pack, and a run for moving the collected pack from the collecting station; means for actuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with ends of the grippers in one position of pause in contact with the auxiliary stops; means for shifting the auxiliary stops against ends of the grippers to press said grippers into contact with the ends of the screw conveyors during the projecting movement thereof into engagement with the collected envelopes and for releasing said shifting pressure; and means for moving the auxiliary stops into position to hold back the envelopes in the conveyor screws while the collected pack is shifted out of collected position.

7 An apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flights for retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging the envelopes in face to face contact at ends of the conveyor screws; a pivoted lever supporting a lower stop spaced from the end of the conveyor screws; means for resiliently urging the pivoted lever to hold said lower stop in the path of the envelopes for collecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stop and the ends of the conveyor screws; auxiliary stops at the ends of the conveyor screws normally out of the path of the envelopes; pairs of grippers; pairs of endless chains carrying the grippers; means for supporting the chains to provide one run for projection of a pair of grippers for movement across the ends of the conveyor screws for engagement with the respective faces of a collected pack and a run for moving the collected pack from the collecting station; means for actuating the chains with pauses at the collect ing station and with ends of the grippers in one position of pause in contact with the auxiilary stops; means for shifting the auxiliary stops to move said ends of the grippers into contact with the ends of the screw conveyors during the projecting movement thereof into engagement with the collected envelopes and for release of said shifting pressure; means for moving the auxiliary stops into position to hold back the envelopes in the conveyor screws while the collected pack is shifted out of collected position; and cam plates on one of the chains for actuating said pivoted lever to move the lower stop lever out of the path of the collected pack.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7 and including an upper stop over the lower stop; an upper auxiliary stop; magnet means for actuating each of said upper stops; and switches actuated by movement of the chains for actuating said upper stop with movement of the lower stop.

9. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flights for retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging the envelopes in face to face contact at ends of the conveyor screws; upper and lower stops spaced from the ends of the conveyor screws for collecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stops and the ends of the conveyor screws; auxiliary stops at the ends of the conveyor screws; means for moving the auxiliary stops into and out of the path of the envelopes when said number has been collected against the first named stops; pairs of grippers; pairs of endless chains carrying the grippers;

means for supporting the chains to provide one run for projection of a pair of grippers for movement across the ends of the conveyor screws for engagement with the respective faces of a collected pack and a run for moving the collected pack from the collecting station; means for actuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with ends of the grippers in contact with the auxiliary stops; means for shifting the auxiliary stops to move said ends of the grippers into contact with the ends of the screw conveyors during the projecting movement thereof into engagement with the collected envelopes and for release of said shifting pressure; and means for moving the auxfliary stops into position to hold back the envelopes in the conveyor screw-s while the collected pack is shifted out of collected position.

10. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envc' lopes from an envelope making machine, means for moving envelopes through a path in face to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing a station for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number; pairs of inner and outer endless chains; bars having ends pivotally connected respectively with the inner and outer chains to be canied by the chains horizontally in a lengthwise direction between said chains of the pairs of chains; a gripper fixed to one end of the bars; a corresponding gripper adjustable on the bars to and from the fixed gripper for spacing the grippers according to the number of envelopes to be in a pack; sprockets mounting the inner and outer chains with one run carrying the grippers for projection across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collecting station, said sprockets for the inner chains being positioned ahead of the sprockets for the outer chains to retain the bars substantially horizontal and the grippers all parallel and presented in the same direction throughout their entire movement by the chains; and means for actuating one of the sprockets of both the inner and outer chains to drive the chains with pauses when the grippers reach the collecting station.

11. In an apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from an envelope making machine, means for moving envelopes through a path in face to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing a station for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number; means spaced from the said collecting station for providing a banding station; means spaced from the banding station for providing a station for subsequent advancement of the banded packs under pressure of one pack against another; pairs of inner and outer endless chains; bars having ends pivotally connected respectively with the inner and outer chains to be carried by the chains horizontally in a lengthwise direction between said chains; a gripper fixed to one end of the bars; a corresponding gripper adjustable on the bars to and from the fixed gripper for spacing the grippers according to the number of envelopes to be in a pack; sprockets mounting the inner and outer chains with one run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collecting station, run for carrying the grippers with the pack therebetween to the banding station and from the banding station to the pressure station, a run for withdrawing the grippers at the last named station, a run for returning the grippers to the beginning of the first named run, said sprockets for the inner chains being positioned ahead of the sprockets for the outer chains to retain the bars substantially horizontal and the grippers all parallel and presented in the same direction throughout their movement by the chains through all of said stations; and means for actuating one of the sprockets of both the inner and outer chains to drive the chains with pauses when the grippers reach the respective stations.

12. In an apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from an envelope making machine, means for moving envelopes through a path in face to face relation, means in the path of the envelopes providing a station for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number, pairs of inner and outer endless chains, pairs of grippers fixed to the inner and outer chains of the pairs at spaced points along the length of the chains, sprockets mounting the inner and outer chains with one run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collecting station, said sprockets for the inner chains being positioned ahead of the sprockets for the outer chains to retain the grippers all parallel and presented in the same direction throughout their entire movement by the chains, and means for actuating one of the sprockets of both the inner and outer chains to drive the chains with pauses when the grippers reach the respective stations.

13. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flights for retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging the envelopes in face to face contact into a collecting station at ends of the conveyor screws, upper and lower steps spaced from the end of the conveyor screws for collecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stops and the ends of the conveyor screws, pairs of endless chains, grippers carried by the chains of the pairs of chains, means for supporting the chains to provide one run thereof for projection of a pair of grippers across the ends of the conveyor screws and into engagement with the respective faces of a collected pack, intermittent means for actuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with ends of the grippers in one position below the ends of the conveyor screws, an auxiliary stop comprising a pair of scissor sections pivotally connected together and having ends normally out of the path of the envelopes, means movably supporting said scissor sections with said ends in lapping engagement with the ends of the grippers in said paused position thereof, means for shifting the movable support for said scissor sections to press said ends of the scissor sections against the grippers to press the grippers into contact with the ends of the conveyor screws during movement thereof into engagement with the collected pack to assure entrance between the last envelope of the pack and the next following envelope held by the conveyor screws; and means acting in timed relation with the chains for closing the scissor sections to move sm'd ends off the grippers and into the path of the envelopes to hold back the envelopes that are carried by the screw conveyors when the chains move the grippers for carrying the collected pack out of the collecting station.

14. An apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes as described in claim 13, and including a screw conveyor between the first named screw conveyors and having an end projecting from the ends of the first named screw conveyors to facilitate carrying the envelopes into the collecting station during pause of the conveyor chains.

15. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelope making machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flights for retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging the envelopes in face to face contact into a collecting station at ends of the conveyor screws, upper and lower stops spaced from the ends of the conveyor screws for collecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stops and the ends of the conveyor screws, pairs of endless chains, grippers carried by the chains of the pairs of chains, means for supporting the chains to provide one run thereof for projection of a pair of grippers across the ends of the conveyor screws into engagement with the respective faces of a collected pack, intermittent means for actuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with ends of the grippers in one position below the ends of the conveyor screws, an auxiliary stop comprising a pair of scissor sections pivotally connected together and having ends normally out of the path of the envelopes, means movably supporting said scissor sections with said ends in lapping engagement with the ends of the grippers in said paused position thereof, an upper auxiliary stop carried by the movable support, means for shifting the movable support for said scissor sections to press said ends of the scissor sections against the grippers to press the grippers into contact with the ends of the conveyor screws during movement thereof into engagement with the collected pack to assure entrance between the last envelope of the pack and the next following envelope held by the conveyor screws, means acting in timed relation with the chains for closing the scissor sections to move said ends off the grippers and into the path of the envelopes to hold back the envelopes that are carried by the screw conveyors when the chains move the grippers for carrying the collected pack out of the collection station, and means actuated in timed relation with the chains for moving the upper auxiliary stop into the path of the envelopes to cooperate with the ends of the scissor sections in holding back the envelopes held by the conveyor screws.

16. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes that are delivered from an envelope making machine in face to face relation into a collecting station in which aosasss the envelopes gather into a pack, advance to a banding station and thence to a subsequent station for advancement of the banded packs in pressing contact of one pack against the other; means for moving the packs through said stations, including laterally spaced apart endless chains located under said stations with one chain being in advance of the other, substantially rigid members movable between said chains and having articulate connections with the respective chains with one articulate connection being in advance of the other and in accordance with the advance of one chain over the other; a pair of grippers carried in fixed spaced relation upon said members to maintain upwardly opening pockets therebetween substantially corresponding to the size of the envelope packs; means for guiding the chains to provide a substantially vertical upward run below the collecting station for projecting a pair of the grippers simultaneously across the front and rear faces of the pack collected in the collecting station, to provide a substantially horizontal run for carrying the pack while contained between said grippers through the banding station to the last named station, and to provide a downward vertical run to withdraw said grippers downwardly in substantially simuI- taneous movement from the front and rear faces of said pack; and means for actuating the chains.

17. In an apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes that are delivered from an envelope making machine in face to face relation into a collecting station in which the envelopes gather into a pack, advance to a banding station and thence to a subsequent station for advancement of the banded packs in pressing contact of one pack against the other: means for moving the packs through said stations, including pairs of laterally spaced apart endless chains located under said stations with one chain of each pair being in advance of the other and with the chains of each pair spaced apart, substantially rigid members movable between the said chains of each pair and having articulate connections with the respective chains of each pair with one articulate connection being in advance of the other and in accordance with the advance of one chain over the other, said members carried by one pair of chains being aligned laterally with those carried by the other pair of chains; a pair of grippers carried in fixed spaced relation upon each of said laterally aligned members to maintain upwardly opening pockets therebetween substantially corresponding to the size of the envelope packs; means for guiding the pairs of chains to provide substantially vertical upward runs below the collecting station for projecting said grippers simultaneously across the front and rear faces of the pack collected in the collecting station, to provide substantially horizontal runs for carrying the pack while contained between said grippers through the banding station to the last named station, and to provide downward vertical runs to withdraw said grippers in substantially simultaneous movement from the front and rear faces of said pack; and means for actuating the pairs of chains.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, supporting means on which envelopes are moved on edge in face to face relation into a collecting station; laterally spaced apart endless chains located under said supporting means with one chain being in advance of the other; substantially rigid members between said chains and having articulate connections with the respective chains with one articulate connection being in advance of the other and in accordance with the advance of one chain over the other; a pair of grippers carried in fixed spaced rela-. tion upon each of said members to maintain upwardly opening pockets therebetween corresponding to the size of the envelope packs; means for guiding the chains to provide a substantially vertical upward run below the collecting station for projecting a pair of grippers substantially simultaneously across the front and rear faces of the collected envelopes to provide a substantially horizontal run for carrying the collected envelopes between said grippers and to provide a downward vertical run to withdraw said grippers in substantially simultaneous movement from the front and rear faces of said collected envelopes; and means for actuating the chains.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, supporting means on which envelopes are moved with edges thereof sliding along said supporting means and with opposite face sides of said envelopes in face to face relation; parallel conveyors having flights thereof engaging side portions of the envelopes; retractable stops in the path of the envelopes and spaced from the ends of the conveyors for collecting the envelopes in face to face contact; auxiliarystop means comprising a pair of scissor sections pivotally connected together and having ends normally out of the path of the envelopes when the scissor sections are in open position; means for retracting said retractable stops; means for actuating said scissor sections to bring said ends thereof into stopping relation with the envelopes being advanced; laterally spaced apart chains located under said supporting means, one in slight advance tothe other; substantially rigid members between said chains and having articulate connections with the respective chains with one articulate connection being in :advance of the other and in accordance with the advance of one chain over the other; a pair of grippers carried in fixed spaced relation upon each of said members to maintain upwardly opening pockets therebetween corresponding to the size of the collected envelopes; means for guiding the chains to provide a substantially vertical upward run below the collected envelopes for projecting a pair of grippers substantially simultaneously across the front and rear faces of the collected envelopes, to provide a substantially horizontal run for carrying the collected envelopes between said grippers and along said supporting means, and to provide a downward vertical run to withdraw said grippers in substantially simultaneous movement; and means for actuating the scissor actuating means and the retractable stop in timed relation with said movmg means.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a horizontal supporting means on which envelopes are moved with edges thereof sliding along said supporting means and with opposite face sides of said envelopes in face to face relation, parallel conveyors engaging side portions of the envelopes, a retractable stop inthe path of the envelopes and spaced from the ends of the conveyors for collecting the envelopes in face to face contact, auxiliary stop means comprising a pair of scissor sections pivotally connected together and having ends normally out of the path of the envelopes when the scissor sections are in open position, means for retracting said stops, means for actuating said scissor sections to swing the sections toward each other to bring said ends thereof into stopping relation with the envelopes being advanced by the conveyors, means for moving collected envelopes along said supporting means, and means for operating the scissor actuating means and the retractable stop in timed relation with the moving means.

Lewis Apr. 3, 19'17 Wmk --..-i s-- S p 1 1961

Claims

18. IN AN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, SUPPORTING MEANS ON WHICH ENVELOPES ARE MOVED ON EDGE IN FACE TO FACE RELATION INTO A COLLECTING STATION; LATERALLY SPACED APART ENDLESS CHAINS LOCATED UNDER SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WITH ONE CHAIN BEING IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER; SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID CHAINS AND HAVING ARTICULATE CONNECTIONS WITH THE RESPECTIVE CHAINS WITH ONE ARTICULATE CONNECTION BEING IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADVANCE OF ONE CHAIN OVER THE OTHER; A PAIR OF GRIPPERS CARRIED IN FIXED SPACED RELATION UPON EACH OF SAID MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN UPWARDLY OPENING POCKETS THEREBETWEEN CORRESPONDING TO THE SIZE OF THE ENVELOPE PACKS; MEANS FOR GUIDING THE CHAINS TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL UPWARD RUN BELOW THE COLLECTING STATION FOR PROJECTING A PAIR OF GRIPPERS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY ACROSS THE FRONT AND REAR FACES OF THE COLLECTED ENVELOPES TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RUN FOR CARRYING THE COLLECTED ENVELOPES BETWEEN SAID GRIPPERS AND TO PROVIDE A DOWNWARD VERTICAL RUN TO WITHDRAW SAID GRIPPERS IN SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT FROM THE FRONT AND REAR FACES OF SAID COLLECTED ENVELOPES; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE CHAINS.