US3233889A - Drier conveying mechanism for envelope machines - Google Patents

Description

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1964 Feb. 8, 1966 v. E HEYWOOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR INCENT E. HEYWOOD o o o o AGENT N g Q:

IEO 0 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,233,889

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Feb. 8, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1964 Feb. 8, 1966 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,233,889

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F'IG.5

Feb. 8, 1966 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,233,889

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.9 FIG.1O L 90 L Q E 90 1oz f United States Patent a corporation of Maine Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,732 7 Claims. (Cl. 271-2) The present invention relates in general to envelope machines, and more particularly to mechanism for conveying freshly gummed envelopes through a drying zone or chamber.

In the common types of rotary envelope making machines, envelopes having their sealing flaps freshly gummed are required to be subjected to a drying operation before they can be handled to any appreciable extent, so as to prevent such sealing flaps from becoming adhered to its own envelope or to adjacent envelopes. Normally, the drying operation comprises feeding the envelopes alon a conveyor which passes through a drying chamber, with the freshly gummed sealing flaps being exposed directly to a drying agent. It is necessary that the gummed areas be exposed to the drying agent for an appreciable length of time to become adequately dried. It is desirable that the length of the drying chamber be at a minimum to conserve floor space, yet long enough to be thoroughly effective. Furthermore, it is desirable to move the envelopes through the drying chamber as rapi ly as possible, so that the speed of the envelope making machine will not be limited by the speed of the drier. With the length of the drier as short as possible, and the speed of the conveyor as fast as possible, spacing between the adjacent envelopes being dried becomes a critical factor. For the drier to operate efliciently the envelopes must be placed closely together, but without allowing the freshly gummed areas to touch an adjacent envelope.

One of the most common types of conveyors for passing envelopes through a dryinng zone is the belt-type, wherein closely shingled envelopes having their freshly gummed flaps extended are carried by means of belts through the drying zone. Due to their closely shingled relationship, spacing between adjacent envelopes is at a minimum because there is almost a continuous area of only the gummed areas exposed. In the present invention, it is desired to provide a mechanism which may be used for gumming envelopes having two spaced apart strips of gum thereon, one being on the flap portion and the other being on the body portion, in positions so that the two areas will match and come into contact when the sealing flap is closed, wherein self-adhering gum such as latex is utilized. Therefore, this common type of drier would not be efficient for this type envelope because of the spaced apart areas of gum. It should be understood, however, that the present mechanism is also well adapted for conveying the usual type of envelope having a single strip of gum on its sealing flap through the drying chamber.

Other types of conveyors for passing envelopes through a drying zone are disclosed in my prior US. Patents 2,604,829 and 2,755,906 wherein pairs of spaced, parallel chains carry therebetween a plurality of envelopegripping fingers. In this type of conveyor, envelopes are individually gripped between adjacent fingers and held in planes generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chains, in which condition they are moved through the drying zone. A change in direction of travel is required to spread the envelope-holding fingers apart in these conveyors to allow insertion and discharge of the envelopes.

"ice

My present drier is similar to those shown in my two above-mentioned patents in that the envelopes on the conveyor assume a parallel position and are carried generally perpendicular to the direction of travel. However, as will be apparent hereinafter, my present conveyor mechanism provides many advantages, as well as different construction and operating characteristics, from my previous driers.

It is an object of this invention to provide envelope conveyor mechanism which is adapted to carry envelopes in parallel, spaced apart relation, the envelopes lying in planes substantially perpendicular to the direction of conveyor feed, and with mechanism which requires a minimum of floor space, the drying taking place as the envelopes are moved vertically upward, and then vertically downward.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide an envelope conveyor mechanism which operates in a manner such that there is no dependence on a change of direction of the conveyor mechanism at the point of entry'and discharge of the envelopes.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor mechanism which maintains a firm grip on the envelopes therein from the point of entry to the point of discharge of the envelopes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide simple mechanism for feeding the envelopes into the conveyor, and then discharging the envelopes subsequent to drying.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor mechanism which is easily adjustable to accommodate different sizes of envelopes, and will also accommodate the afore-mentioncd envelopes having the two spaced apart strips of self-adhering gum.

Further objects will appear from the following description of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the mechanism according to the present invention, envelopes may be conveniently fed from the gumming mechanism into the conveyor mechanism for movement through the drying zone. Movement of the envelopes must, of course, be controlled as to speed and timing as they move through the gumming mechanism, so as to apply the gum in the required position. Control over these envelopes as to speed and timing is maintained until the envelopes are fed into the conveyor mechanism for drying. The conveyor mechanism comprises a pair of spaced, parallel chains trained about pairs of spaced apart sprocket wheels, the path of the chains at the point of envelope entry being substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed of the freshly gummed envelopes. Nor mally, the direction of feed of the freshly gummed envelopes will be horizontal. Pairs of cooperating rollers on rods between the chains are carried by and fixed at positions between the chains, having axes substantially perpendicular to each of the chains. Rotation of the sprocket wheels causes the chains, and consequently the pairs of rollers, to move in a closed path. As successive pairs of cooperating rollers approach the path of the advancing envelopes, the rollers are caused to rotate. As successive envelopes intersect the paths of successive pairs of rollers, the envelopes are inserted in the nip of the cooperating rollers, and the rollers feed the envelopes into the conveyor mechanism a predeterminted distance, at which time rotation of the rollers is discontinued. The envelopes are thereupon conveyed through a drying zone where stickiness is removed from the adhesive strips by means well known in the art. At a second point along the conveyor, the rollers holding the envelopes in the conveyor are rotated a second time to discharge the envelopes from the conveyor.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation View of the conveyor mechanism according to my invention, a portion of the conveyor being removed to permit as large a scale as practical, and showing especially the position of the conveyor relative to the gumming mechanism of the envelope making machine.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view in section, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation View taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation View in section, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 5-8 inclusive are schematic views showing the sequence of an envelope being inserted into the conveyor mechanism.

FIGURES 9 and 10 are schematic views illustrating an envelope being discharge from the conveyor mechanism onto another conveyor, the discharge sequence actually being a reversal of the insertion sequence.

Referring to the drawings, the conveyor mechanism, denoted generally at 20, is trained around a lower pair of sprocket wheels 22 and 24, and an upper pair of sprocket wheels 26 and 28. The lower sprocket wheels 22 and 24 are fixed to shaft 30, rotatably mounted in the frame members 32 and 34. The upper shaft 36 is also rotatably mounted in the horizontally opposed frame members 32 and 34, and has fixed thereto sprocket wheels 26 and 28. The distance between the shafts 30 and 36, and hence the length of the conveyor mechanism 20, normally would be substantial, say, in the order of 10 to feet, and would be governed by such characteristics as drying time required, conveyor speed, etc. Envelopes are inserted into the conveyor at station A, and discharged at station E, allowing the distance between the stations for the envelopes to be dried by a suitable drying agent (not shown). The conveyor mechanism is driven by imparting rotary movement to shaft in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1, at a constant speed, so as to carry the conveyor in'the direction indicated by the arrows. Sprocket wheel 37 is fixed to shaft 30 as shown in FIGURE 2 for driving shaft 30.

Envelopes E are fed in spaced apart, timed relation from the feed wheels 40 and 42, rotatably mounted in the frame 44 of the envelope making machine (not shown) onto the belt 46 trained over the rollers 48 and 50, to be gummed. Rollers 48 and 50 are rotatably mounted in the frame members 32 and 34, by means of the shafts 52 and 54, and are rotated by suitable drive means (not shown) at constant speed to carry the belt 46 in the direction indicated. The envelopes E being fed onto the belt 46 by rollers 40 and 42, and the speed of the belt 46, are in fixed and timed relation to the movement of the conveyor mechanism 20, so that the leading edges of the envelopes E will intersect the conveyor mechanism 20 at predetermined points to provide insertion into the conveyor mechanism 20, as will be more thoroughly explained hereinafter.

The belt 46 is provided with a multiplicity of small apertures 56, and the upper reach of the belt 46 lies over a vacuum chamber 53, vacuum therein being created by suitable means through the pipe 60 leading to the chamber 58. Belt 46 forms the upper side of the vacuum chamber 58, and that portion of the belt 46 extending between the ends 62 and 64 of the vacuum chamber at any given instant is acted on by the vacuum, to create a suction through the apertures 56. As successive envelopes E are fed onto the belt 46 in timed relation from the rollers 46 and 42, they immediately come under the influence of the vacuum and are held firmly to the belt 46, thereby preventing the envelopes from getting out of alignment. The vacuum acts on the envelopes E continuously until they pass the end 64 of the suction chamber 58.

As the successive envelopes E pass below the roll 66, gum is applied to the desired areas of the envelopes by d the pickers 68 and 70, mounted on the roll 66. The pickers 68 and 76 are fixed on the roll 66, which, in turn, is rotatably mounted, by means of shaft '72 between the frame members 32 and 34, for rotation in time with the envelopes E carried by belt 46. Backing roll 74 is provided just below the upper reach of belt 46 in vertical alignment with roll 66 to provide a firm surface against which the pickers 68 and 70 may act. The pickers 68 and 70 pick up gum from transfer roll 76, which is in contact with the gum in tub 78, the transfer roll 76 being driven by suitable drive means (not shown) in a manner well known in this art.

The conveyor mechanism indicated generally at 20 includes two spaced, parallel chains 84 and 86, chain 84 being trained about sprocket wheels 22 and 26, and chain 86 being trained about sprocket wheels 24 and 28. Rotation of a pair of the sprocket wheels 22 and 24 causes the chains to move in unison in a closed path. The chains 84 and 36 are spaced apart a distance suitable to accommodate the widest envelope contemplated to be carried in this mechanism.

Extending between the respective chains 84 and 86 and carried thereby, are a plurality of rods 88, positioned such as to intersect each of the chains at right angles. The ends of the rods 88 are rotatably mounted in the pivot points of the adjacent chain links. Thus, the rods 83 are free to rotate at any point on the conveyor.

Means for carrying the envelopes E on the conveyor mechanism 26 comprise the pairs of cooperating rollers 90 and so. Each of the alternate rods 88 are provided with several spaced apart rollers 90. At the same lateral positions as the rollers 91) are provided on each of the other alternate rods several rollers 96). The rollers 90 and so are made of a frictional material, or are provided with an outer periphery of frictional material. The rollers 90 are in frictional peripheral engagement with the rollers 90' of an adjacent shaft. Envelopes are thus carried on the conveyor individually between a row of the rollers 90 and an adjacent row of rollers 90'.

To utilize all the available space on the conveyor mechanism 20, a rod 88 is provided at each of the chain link pivot points. The rods 88 are therefore equally spaced along the conveyor mechanism, and the radius of each of the rollers 90 and 96' should be equal to half the distance between centers of the rods 88. If the rollers 90 and 90' were all located at the same lateral positions on the rods 88, rotation of a single rod would cause a continuous train of rollers to rotate. To prevent this, the rollers of each pair of rods 88 are staggered, i.e., located at different lateral position between the chains. As will be observed in FIGURE 3, alternate pairs of rods 88 may have their rollers located at similar lateral positions, and at different lateral positions from either of the adjacent pairs of rods. Thus, when any particular shaft is rotated, only the rollers on that particular shaft and the adjacent shaft having its rollers at the same lateral positions will rotate.

Except at the entry station A and the discharge station B, the rods 88 do not rotate. However, at the entry stastation A, means are provided for rotating the pairs of rollers for accepting envelopes E from the belt 46, and subsequently drawing them between the rollers a predetermined distance. At discharge station B, means are provided for rotating the pairs of cooperating rollers a second time to discharge the envelopes.

To rotate the rollers 90 and 9% in the desired manner at the desired times at entry station A and discharge station B, frictional pads or cams and 102 are placed at predetermined points adjacent the path of the rods 88. Friction wheels 1% are fixed to certain of the rods 88 in position such that the periphery thereof will intersect tangentially the surface of cam 1% to cause the successive pairs of rollers 9t) and 90 to rotate as they move past station A in a direction, and for the necessary length of time, to draw in an envelope from the belt 46. Conversely, friction wheels 106 are fixed to other of the rods 88 in positions such that the periphery thereof will intersect tangentially the surface of cam 102 at the discharge station B to rotate the wheels 90 and 90 in directions to discharge the envelopes from between the rollers 90 and 90', The length of the cams 100 and 102 determine the amount of rotation imparted to the wheels 104 and 106 respectively. This length will be determined by the amount by which the envelopes are to be withdrawn between the rollers .90 and 90, and will vary with different sizes of envelopes. The cams 100 and 102, and the wheels 104 and 106 should be of a construction and material such that when the wheels 104 and 106 move along in tangential contact with the surface of a cam 100 or 102, there will be substantially no slipping. The beginning and ending of rotation of the wheels 104 and 106 may be adjusted to the most desirable limits by adjusting the length or extent of the cams 100 and 102, or the cams may be made readily changeable to provide for the proper amount of rotation of the'wheels 104 and 106.

FIGURES 5 through 8 illustrate in schematic form the manner in which a freshly gumrned envelope is inserted in the conveyor mechanism 20. As previously stated, the timing of the envelopes passing under the gumming apparatus must be accurate so that gum will be placed in the-correct positions on the envelopes. Complete control over the position and speed of the envelopes is maintained by means of the belt 46. The belt 46 and conveyor mechanism 20.are synchronized so that the envelopes are correctly inserted in the conveyor mechanism 20. FIGURES 5 shows an envelope E, and a set of the rollers 90 and 90' just prior to insertion. The periphery of wheel 104 has already contacted the surface of cam 100, and consequently the rollers 90 and 90' are rotating in proper direction for causing the envelope E to be pulled into the nip of the rollers, as indicated in FIGURES 5 through 8. FIGURE 6 illustrates the leading edge of the envelope being inserted into the nip of rollers 90 and 90'. Notice that the envelope E is still under the control of belt 46, and has not at this point been removed from the influence of the vacuum chamber 58. In FIGURE 7, the rolls 90 and 90' are still rotating, and the envelope E is being drawn between the rolls, and away from the belt 46. The envelope E is, at this point, free from belt 46. In FIGURE 8, wheel 104 has just reached the end of the cam 100, and rotation of the wheels 90 and fit) is discontinued at this point. The extent of cam 100 in the direction of travel of the conveyor mechanism 20 is such that wheels 90 and 90 will rotate an amount to draw in the envelope E a predetermined distance. The envelope E is held in the position indicated in FIGURE 8 during its travel through the drier mechanism until it reaches the discharge station B.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate in schematic form, the manner in which the envelopes E are discharged from the conveyor mechanism 20, after drying has been completed. In FIGURE 9, the conveyor mechanism 20 is moving in the direction of the arrow. Wheel 1% has tangentially contacted the surface of cam 102, causing the rollers 90 and 90 to rotate in the direction indicated, to discharge envelope E therefrom. A removal conveyor 120 is provided for clearing the envelopes away from the discharge station E. The position of the cam 102 is such that wheel 106 will be caused to begin rotating at a position far enough in advance of the conveyor 120, so that the envelope E will be completely discharged prior to intercepting the conveyor 120, as best shown in FIGURE 10.

From the above description, it will be understood that my novel conveyor mechanism may be adapted for use with many different types of envelope making machines. It will also be understood that the path of the conveyor mechanism may assume various forms, and is not limited to that embodiment shown in FIGURE 1. For example, the path of the conveyor mechanism at the discharge station B may assume a form such that the envelopes E will be discharged vertically into an upright stack, instead of horizontally, as illustrated. Various other changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for conveymg envelopes through a drying zone comprising (a) A pair of rollers in substantially axially parallel position, and having peripheral frictional engagement,

(b) A carrier member having a closed path of travel,

(c) Means mounting said rollers on said carrier member for movement therewith,

(d) The path of said carrier member having a point in which said rollers come into intercepting position with the path of an envelope to be placed in said mechanism,

(e) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions during a portion of the movement of said ear rier members, for receiving an envelope into the nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at a predetermined point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollers an appreciable distance,

(f) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions a second time during a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from the portion during which the envelope is received therein and continuing rotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

2. Mechanism for conveying envelopes through a drying zone comprising (a) A pair of rollers in substantially axially parallel position and having peripheral frictional engagement,

(b) A pair of endless, laterally spaced and parallel conveyor chains,

(c) Means for tautly supporting said chains for movement in unison along a closed path,

(d) Means mounting said rollers between said chains such that the axes of said rollers are substantially perpendicular to said chains,

(e) The path of said conveyor chains having a point in which said rollers come into intercepting position with the path of an envelope to be placed in the drying mechanism,

(f) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions during a portion of the movement of said carrier members, for receiving an envelope into the nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at a predetermined point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollers an appreciable distance,

(g) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions a second time during a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from the portion during which the envelope is received therein, and continuing rotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

' 3. Mechanism for conveying envelopes through a drying zone comprising (a) A pair of endless, laterally spaced and parallel conveyor chains,

(b) Means for tautly supporting said chains for movement in unison along a closed path,

(0) A pair of spaced and parallel rods extending between said chains, each rod being perpendicular to each chain,

(d) Means for rotatably attaching each of said rods to each of said chains at fixed points on the chains for movement therewith,

(e) A roller fixed to each of said shafts, said rollers being in frictional engagement with each other,

(f) The path of said chains having a point in which said rollers come into intercepting position with the path of an envelope to be placed in the conveyor mechanism,

(g) Means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions during a portion of the movement of said chains for receiving an envelope into the nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at a predetermined point point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollers an appreciable distance, and

(h) Means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions a second time during a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from the portion during which the envelope is received therein and continuing rotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

4. Mechanism according to claim 3 in which there are several rollers fixed to and spaced along the lengths of each of said shafts.

5. Mechanism according to claim 3 in which there are a plurality of pairs of said rods carried by said chains.

6. Mechanism for conveying envelopes through a drying zone comprising (a) A pair of endless, laterally spaced and parallel conveyor chains,

(b) Means for tautly supporting said chains for movement in unison along a closed path,

(c) A plurality of pairs of spaced and parallel rods extending between said chains, each rod being perpendicular to each chain,

(d) Means for rotatably attaching each of said rods to each of said chains at fixed points on the chains for movement therewith,

(e) Severalrollers fixed to and spaced apart along the lengths of each of said shafts, said rollers being in frictional engagement with the rollers of the shaft with which it pairs,

(f) The path of said chains having a point in which said rollers come into intercepting position with the path of an envelope to be placed in the conveyor mechanism,

(g) Means for rotating each pair of shafts in opposite directions during a portion of the movement of said chains for receiving an envelope in the nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at a predetermined point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollers an appreciable distance, and

(h) Means for rotating each of said pairs of shafts in opposite directions a second time during a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from the portion during which the envelope is received therein and continuing rotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

7. Mechanism according to claim 6 in which each of the shafts are equally spaced along the chains and the rollers of adjacent pairs are staggered to prevent peripheral contact with rollers other than pairing rollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,098 9/1934 Becker 93--74 X 2,604,829 7/ 1952 Heywood 93-74 2,755,906 7/1956 Heywood 19824 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING ENVELOPES THROUGH A DRYING ZONE COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF ROLLERS IN SUBSTANTIALLY AXIALLY PARALLEL POSITION, AND HAVING PERIPHERAL FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT, (B) A CARRIER MEMBER HAVING A CLOSED PATH OF TRAVEL, (C) MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLLERS ON SAID CARRIER MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, (D) THE PATH OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER HAVING A POINT IN WHICH SAID ROLLERS COME INTO INTERCEPTING POSITION WITH THE PATH OF AN ENVELOPE TO BE PLACED IN SAID MECHANISM, (E) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS DURING A PORTION OF THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBERS, FOR RECEIVING AN ENVELOPE INTO THE NIP OF THE ROLLERS, AND DISCONTINUING ROTATION AT A PREDETERMINED POINT WHEN THE ENVELOPE HAS BEEN DRAWN BETWEEN THE ROLLERS AND APPRECIABLE DISTANCE, (F) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS A SECOND TIME DURING A PORTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER SPACED FROM THE PORTION DURING WHICH THE ENVELOPE IS RECEIVED THEREIN AND CONTINUING ROTATION THEREOF UNTIL THE ENVELOPE CARRIED THEREBY HAS BEEN DISCHARGED.

Images