US3511013A

US3511013A - Process and machine for the automatic production of closed,letter-like objects formed by means of roll-folding

Info

Publication number: US3511013A
Application number: US557248A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruno Pahlitzsch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-06-21
Filing date: 1966-06-13
Publication date: 1970-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1987-05-12
Also published as: GB1153615A; DE1436833A1

Description

May 12, 1970 y B. PAHLITZSCH 3,511,013

PROCESS AND MACHINE. FOR THE AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION OF CLOSED, LETTER-LIKE OBJECTS FORMED BY MEANS OF ROLL-FOLDING Filed June 15. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l Bruno Pahlifzsch Inventor.

May 12, 1970 p rrzsc 3,511,013

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION OF CLOSED, LETTER-LIKE OBJECTS FORMED BY MEANS OF ROLL-FOLDING Filed June 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Inventor: Bruno Pah/H'zsch United States Patent Int. Cl. B65b 61/02 U.S. Cl. 53-14 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of and apparatus for the production of closed objects contained in flat envelopes, comprising the steps of withdrawing a succession of individual sheets from the bottom of a stack of precut, preprinted sheets, perforating each sheet to form a pair of lines thereon and applying an adhesive to lateral edges of the sheet parallel to the direction of movement thereof, folding the sheet transversally of the direction of movement to bring one portion of the sheet to overlie another portion thereof and join the lateral edges of the overlying portions, and thereafter stacking the sheets by diverting them transversely to the original direction of movement. Objects such as medical samples can be inserted in the envelope prior to the total sealing and stacking thereof. The adhesive may be water soluble and manifest evidence of color change upon contact with water to indicate any tampering with the sealed unit.

The invention relates to a process for the automatic production of closed, letter-like objects formed by means of roll-folding and to a machine for carrying out the process.

Letter-like objects formed by means of roll-folding find use particularly as lottery letters or also as packings for example for physicians samples or articles of the sweetmeat industry. In the previous production of lottery tickets and/ or lottery letters for real value lotteries, as they are used by vendors publicly, for example in places of amusement, the lottery tickets were either folded, sealed, milled and perforated in several operations or wound into rolls by another process and closed with a ring or a sealing stamp. In these known processes the possibility always exists that the personnel engaged in the production of the lottery tickets and/ or lottery letters can see into the individual tickets because during the production of lottery letters many separate operations are necessary which make practically impossible any check on trustworthy production. The same applies to the production of lottery tickets in roll form.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process for the production of such objects usable as lottery letters formed by roll-folding in which the necessary security of production is ensured and the seeing inside the ticket by the personnel is excluded.

A further field of use of the process based on the invention is given in the production of packings formed by means of roll-folding which serve the purpose of packing small objects, for example physicians samples, satisfactorily and hygienically.

The process of the invention is characterized by the fact that the laminar cut sheets to be folded, provided with any desired printing, are drawn downwards from a stack and, in one and the same, preferably horizontal, conveyor path are led first over a perforating device for the formation of tear-off lines, then over a gumming device applying adhesive to the lateral edges of the cut sheet lying parallel to the direction of travel, thereupon over a folding device bringing about the necessary folds and a subsequent 3,511,013 Patented May 12, 1970 counting device with a right-angle alteration of the direction of travel to a depositing device and there stacked in a closed condition.

A further feature of the invention consists in the fact that in the production of lottery letters all the foldings required in order to close the letter are carried out in the folding device and the ready-folded and closed lottery letter, before reaching the counting device, is led over a milling device carrying out the necessary sealing of the gummed lateral edges, preferably carrying out herringbone milling, and if necessary a subsequent embossing device. Essential to the invention is that a water-insoluble adhesive is used which becomes colored on contact with water.

The process according to the invention ensures by means of its fully automatic run-off, a rapid and secure production of lottery letters without allowing the personnel to see inside the cut sheets and possibly to ascertain winning numbers. In the process according to the invention the prepared cut sheets, consisting of blanks and prizes, are placed in the machine in a stack whereby the Withdrawal of the cut sheets takes place from the underside of the stack, by which means it is ensured for certain that the personnel cannot determine which ticket is drawn directly into the machine. Moreover the machine can operate continuously since the stack can be replenished from above without bringing the machine to a stop. In the succeeding process step the tickets are perforated on both sides for the purpose of facilitating opening by the purchaser. The edge seams of the tickets are then gummed and in the next process step the tickets are folded. The folding takes place in the form of a multiple Winding in order to make through-viewing or transparency impossible. For this purpose, for increasing security, a corresponding black dazzle can be printed on the cut sheet by the ticket printer at the position opposite to the point on the folded letter on which the winning number stands. After folding has taken place, during which simultaneous- 1y sticking of the gum occurs, the tickets are led over pressure rollers and milling wheels by which a sealing of the gummed rims of the lottery letters is effected in order to prevent unauthorized opening of the ticket. In so doing it is particularly advantageous to make use of a so-called herringbone indentation which excludes the possibility of a subsequent opening of the edge by mechanical means, for example by a needle. For increasing security, in the preparation of lottery letters, a special adhesive or glue is used which is water-insoluble, so that opening by means of steam is impossible. In addition, on contact of the glued edges with moisture, a coloration of the Water-insoluble glue takes place which brings to notice an unauthorized attempt at opening. For increasing security against unauthorized opening the tickets can be provided with an additional embossing when this embossing can also be used advantageously for additional publicity. By means of the counter device and the depositing device, automatic stacking of the prepared tickets takes place in which, by means of the counter device, every hundredth ticket, for example, can be pushed out in order to facilitate the packing of the prepared lottery tickets.

In the use of the process according to the invention for the production of packings the invention is further characterized by the fact that for the production of letter-like packings, a partial folding of the cut sheets takes place in the folding device with the formation of an open flap closure; that the objects to be packed are inserted into the pockets formed by the folded parts and the open fiap closures of the cut sheets by means of an insertion device lying in the conveyor route behind the folding device; and that the flaps are closed at the point of the right-angled alteration of the conveyor route in the route of the blade-folding. As distinguished from the production of lottery letters there takes place here in the folding device no complete folding but only a partial folding in such way that a pocket is formed into which the object to be packed is inserted automatically before the final closing of the packing takes place at the right-angled diversion of the conveyor route. In the production of such packings the security measures against unauthorized opening necessary with lottery letters are not required so that milling and embossing do not need to be taken in hand. The process according to the invention is particularly advantageous for the packing of physicians samples since care is required that the packing is securely closed and that it takes place in a perfectly hygienic way. A further advantage in this packing consists in the fact that it offers sufficient room for publicity purposes in order to identify the included sample or to provide any other desired data. Since the automatic production of the packings takes place from cut sheets the whole double surface of the cut sheet can be used for the introduction of such representation. A prerequisite for the use of the process according to the invention for packing is of course that the objects to be packed have a flat shape and small dimensions and that the objects are equal to one another whereby unimpeded automatic insertion into the folded pockets can take place. For example, articles of the sweetmeat industry, for example chewing gums, can also be packed by the process according to the invention whereby the letterlike packing can be provided with any desired inscription or representation stimulating the public to purchase. To this extent the packet in the form of a lottery letter is particularly attractive in that with it a certain surprise effect can be achieved on opening with regard to the representation disclosed.

The machine suitable for the performance of the process according to the invention is characterized in that it possesses, in successive arrangement and in com- Ibination, a stacking device fitted with an underneath suction device, a perforating device, a gumming device, a folding device settable to a varying number of winding turns, showing severalpreferably sixpocket folds, a disconnectable milling device, a likewise disconnectable embossing device, a counting device and a depositing and stacking device in itself known, in which the individual devices are connected together by means of a roller conveyor track, in itself known, showing behind the counter device a right-angle diversion.

If the machine is to be used for the production of packings an additional feature according to the invention consists in the fact that in the conveyor route of the machine, before the diversion point of the roller path, an insertion device is arranged which consists of a vertical magazine containing the objects to be packed in successional arrangement, Which on its underside shows a slide movable in the conveying direction, closing the magazine, and of a striker in the conveying direction lying behind the magazine bringable into engagement with the roller track by pivoting, and that, by the use of conventional means, the slide and the striker can be controlled in such a way that on engagement of the striker in the roller track the slide opens the magazine contrary to the direction of the conveyor with the release of an object and closes again the conveying direction with the insertion of the object into the packing. In this connection it is essential that at the diversion point of the roller track is arranged a striker working together with a folding blade movable in a vertical plane for closing the filled packing. In addition it is also of importance that the insertion device is arranged before the diversion point of the conveyor path.

A further essential feature of the machine according to the invention resides in the fact that it includes two construction units whereby the first construction unit, which contains the devices necessary for the handling of the cut sheets, includes the counting device; to the latter is attachable a second constructional unit, a depositing device for reception of the lottery letters or a depositing device having an insertion device for reception of the packings.

The machine according to the invention can be used both for the production of lottery letters and also for the production of packings, whereby the main part of the machine can be used for both production processes. In the production of lottery letters a depositing device fitted with a right-angled deviation of the roller track is to be used which must simply be exchanged for another depositing device for the production of packings, which possesses the necessary insertion device and the folding blade for closing the packing. In the latter instance the milling device and the embossing device are disconnected and the folding device by means of the corresponding closing of one or more folding pockets is so adjusted that after leaving the folding device a pocket with an open flap is formed.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the invention but in no restrictive sense.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the machine according to the invention for the production of lottery tickets and FIG. 2 a representation of the machine according to the invention for the production of packings. The machine according to the invention consists of two separable constructional units namely a constnuctional unit 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 which shows the main part of the machine and an extension 2 according to FIG. 1 or another extension 16 according to FIG. 2. Part 1 of the machine according to FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a drive 3, a stacking device 6 with a suction device 7 and a conveyor roller 5 to which is attached the roller track 4. In the roller track are connected in serial arrangement, a perforating device 8, a gumming arrangement 9, a folding device 10, a disconnectable milling device 11, likewise disconnectable embossing device 12 and a counting device 13. The roller track runs through as far as the end of constructional unit 1. All devices 3 to 13 are in themselves known, so that they are shown only in schematic representation. The folding device 10 possesses six folding pockets, which are optionally closable and thereby disconnectable. The extension 2 of the machine according to the FIG. 1 is intended for the production of lottery letters and contains a continuation of the conveying track 4 which is provided with a diversion directed vertically downwards. The roller track ends in a depositing device 15 in which the lottery letters closed in the folding device 10 are stocked. The diversion device 14 and the depositing device 15 are, as they are already known, shown schematically.

For the production of packings the main part 1 is converted by disconnecting the milling device 11 and the embossing device 12 and by attaching the extension 16. This extension 16 likewise contains an extension of the roller track 4. At the beginning of the extension 16 is a vertical magazine 17 arranged for the reception of the objects to be packed. Before the magazine 17 a slide 18 is arranged which keeps the magazine 17 closed. The pocket formed in the folding device 10 runs under the magazine whereby it is applied to a striker 21 which is rotatable about a pivot 22. The distance of the rotatable striker 21 to the back wall of the magazine 17 is calculated in such a way that when a pocket runs onto the striker 21 the open fold is below the opening of the magazine 17. When the striker 21 engages in the roller path 4 a slide 18 arranged in front of the magazine is withdrawn against the direction of conveying by means of a lever 19 rotatable about a pivot 20; by this means an object to be packed falls on the upper side of the open flap and is inserted into the pocket by means of a movement of the slide 18 taking place in the direction of conveyance. The lever 21 then turns out of the conveyor track 4 so that it continues to convey the filled packings. By the next inturning of the lever 21 in the conveying track 4 the insertion of the next object to be packed takes place by the same movement of the slide 18. The open pockets filled in this way are conveyed by the roller track 4 to the diversion point 23. Above the diversion point is a folding blade 25 which is moved back and forth rhythmically by means of a lever 26 rotatable about a pivot 27. Behind the diversion point 23 is an adjustable striker 24 onto which the filled pockets run. When the pocket comes into contact with the striker 24 the folding blade 25 is moved downwards and conveys, while folding the open flap, the folded pocket into the vertical deflection of the conveyor track 4 whereby automatic sticking down of the pocket takes place. The stuck down pocket is then stacked in the depositing device.

I claim:

1. A method of serially producing closed letter-like articles, comprising the steps of withdrawing a succession of precut, preprinted sheets from the base of a stack thereof and displacing said sheets continuously and successively along a generally horizontal transport path;

perforating said sheets to form a pair of lines thereon accommodating subsequent opening of said articles but maintaining the closed condition thereof in the absence of intentional separation of the articles along said lines;

applying adhesive to lateral edges of said sheets in the direction of movement thereof;

folding each sheet along said path to juxtapose two portions of said sheet and adhere the corresponding lateral edges of said portions together; and successively diverting the folded sheets in 'a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets and in a generally vertical direction to stack the folded sheets in a substantially upright array.

2. A method of serially producing letter-like articles, comprising the steps of withdrawing a succession of precut, preprinted sheets from the base of a stack thereof and displacing said sheets continuously and successively along a generally horizontal transport path;

perforating said sheets to form a pair of lines thereon;

folding each sheet along said path to juxtapose two portions of said sheet and adhere the corresponding lateral edges of said portions together;

successively diverting the folded sheets in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets and in a generally vertical direction to stack the folded sheets in a substantially upright array; and nipping the adhesive-carrying lateral edges of each sheet after folding same and prior to the stacking thereof.

3. The method defined in claim 2, further comprising the step of counting the folded sheets subsequent to the folding thereof and prior to the stacking of said sheets in upright array.

4. The method defined in claim 2 wherein said adhesive is water-insoluble and manifests color change in contact with water.

5. The method defined in claim 3 further comprising the step of inserting an object into a pocket formed between the portions of each folded sheet prior to the counting and stacking thereof.

6. An apparatus for the automatic production of closed articles, comprising feed means for successively drawing precut, preprinted sheets from the bottom of a stack thereof;

means establishing a generally horizontal path for the sheets withdrawn from said stack and for continuously advancing said sheets along said path;

preforating means along said path for perforating each sheet removed from said stack to form a pair of lines thereon;

gumming means engaging the lateral edges of each sheet along said path in the direction of displacement thereof to apply adhesive to said lateral edges;

folding means having a plurality of adjustable folding pockets successively receiving said sheets for buckling same to bring portions of said sheets into juxtaposed relationship and bond lateral edges of said portions together with said adhesive;

stacking means offset from said path for retaining folded sheets in a generally upright array; and

deflecting means between said stacking means and said folding means for directing the folded sheets transversely to said path toward said stacking means.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising disconnectable milling means between said folding means and said stacking means for embossing a pattern on the folded sheets.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising insertion means above said path between said folding means and said stacking means, said insertion means comprising a magazine containing a succession of articles to be inserted into said sheets,

a slide movable in the direction of displacement thereof and a capable of closing an end of said magazine, and

a striker rotatably mounted behind said magazine in the direction of displacement of said sheets and operable simultaneously with said slide for opening the magazine to release an object therefrom and subsequently to close the magazine while moving the object released therefrom into the respective folded sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,884,468 10/1932 Winkler et al. 93-61 2,088,068 7/1937 Overbaugh 22983 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner E. F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 53-29, 133