USRE15419E - Envelope-feeding-mechanism - Google Patents

Description

G. CHISHOLM.

ENVELOPE FEEDING MECHANI SM.-

APPLICATION FILED FEB.4,1920- I 2 SHEETS-SHEET L Reissu'ed July 25, 1922 C. CHISHOLM.

ENVELOPE FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1920.

Reissueil July 25,1922. 7 15,419.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'- UNITED STATES OF OHIO.

Original No. 1,285,623,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFTON CHIsHoLM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented. a certain new and useful Improvement in Envelope-Feeda full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to means for automatically feeding unsealed envelopes from a supply thereof. The invention may be utilized in conjunction with any suitable machine to act on the fed envelopes. As an illustration of such supplemental machine, I may cite an address printing machine, in which address plates are automatically brought into printing relation with envelopes which the mechanism of the present invention automatically withdraws from a supply and carries into presentation to the plates.

The general object of the invention is to desired, which will rapidly and certainly withdraw the envelopes one at a time and carry them through the machine as stated. Another object is to render this mecnanism adjustable to such an extent as is'necessary to enable its use in connection with envelopes of various sizes. I

Another object of the invention is to provide such envelope feeding mechanism as will withdraw from the envelope supply only such envelopes as are so placed therein that when withdrawn they will be properly velope feeding mechanism is employed opes are placed in the envelope magazine in one way or another, envelopes which are misplaced therein will frequently be spoiled by having the addresses printed thereon at the wrong. place or direction before the operator notices that the envelopes have been misplaced.

The invention comprises the combination of cooperatlng mechanlsms for accomplishing Mechanism, of which the following is provide efficient mechanism for the purpose presented to the address plates. When en-v which acts regardless of whether the envel- PATENT a OFFICE.

CLIFTON CHISHOLM, or GLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIGnon, nY'MnsNnAssIGNMENTs, TO THEAMERICAN MULTIGRAPH COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, 01110, A oonroRA'rIoN ENVELOPE-FEEDING MEGHANISMJ.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reigsued July 25, 1922,

dated November 26, 1918, Serial No.,2( )2,094 filed November 15, 1917. Application for reissue filed February 4, 1920. Serial No. 356,279.

ing the above results, or some of them, without regard-to the specific character of the individual mechanisms employed, it includes also the embodiment shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.

In the drawing, Fig.1 is a plan view of mechanisms in which the present invention is embodied; Fig. 2 'is aside elevation partly sectioned, from the right side of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation from the left side of Fig. 1 of a part of said mechanism; Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view showing one of the face cams for operating one of the, fingers which engage the envelope flap; Fig. 5 is sectional view of the clutch mechanisn for connecting or disconnecting the driving pulley; Fig. 6 is a diagram of an'electro-magnetic stop device which may be associated with my feeding mechanism.

A stack of envelopes to be addressed is placed in a suitable magazine or holder, which as a whole is'indicated by 10. This magazine, as shown, includes a fixed vertical plate 12 which is located at a point adjacent but preferably slightly in front of the highest part of the cylindrical platen 50-there being between the surface of the platen and the lower edge of plate 12 a narrow slot 11 through which the envelope may pass. The-magazine also includes two rear corner members 13, preferably made of thin metal bent to form angle bars as shown. Each corner member carries a horizontal plate 14, which platesserve as the bottom of the magazine.

The supporting plates 14 must be large enough to support the stack of envelopes,

but they preferably should be of such shape that neither of them lies under the flap e of the lowest envelope E of a stack when the envelopes are placed in the magazine with their flaps downward and pointing rearward, that is to say, with a bend e that connects the envelope and flap adjacent the front plate 12 of the magazine. The two corner members 13 are respectively secured to slides 15 which are movably mounted on transverse bars 16 rigidly secured to end pieces 17 to form a sliding frame. This frame is slidable horizontally on the main frame 19 of themachine toward and from the front plate 12'.

vIt will be seen that the envelope magazine described is adapted ,for longer or shorter envelopes by moving. the slides 15 away fromtor-toward each other It islikewise possible to adapt the magazine for wider or narrower envelopes by moving"v the shaft of a machine of which the. described envelope handling mechanism is a part.

The shaft. 51 passes loosely through and may help to support .two non-rotating face cams 82 which arelocated. at opposite ends of said pla-ten. Each of these face cams is carried by a hanger 80gwhich is partly supported by, but is movable transversely with respect to an extended frame bar 81 so as to carry these cams toward or away from. the ends of the platen.

Associated with each cam is a sleeve 60 which has a tongue and grooi e driving connection with the shaft- 51. It may, therefore, move lengthwise onthat shaft, but must rotate with it; The associated cam projectsinto an annular groove in the associated sleeve, the groove being between the annular shoulder 61 onithe sleeve and a-nut 62 which screws onto said sleeve. The sleevemay, therefore, rotate in the cam; but when either is moved. lengthwise ofthe shaft the other must move with it. An. envelope feeding lever 65 straddles veaclrof the sleeves 60 and is pivoted thereon by pivot pins 66 which are diametrical with respect to the shaft and sleeve. .As a measure of economy in construction one of these pins passesthrough the. sleeve into a longitudinal' groove 57 in the shaft and thereby the tongue and groove connection between the shaft and sleeve is produced. Each feed lever 65 engages the cam flange 83 on both sides of the axis of. the shaft; wherefore, as the shaft turns the cams. will cause these levers-to rock on their pivots Each lever has at the outer end of each ofits arms a thin offset finger 68. The lever arms are of such length that as the shaft is.

rotated, the. fingers will,.asthey. move across the topof their paths, engage the lower face of the lowest envelope, and will insertthem selves between the lower surface of that envelope and the depending flap thereof, and come against the bend e which unites the flap and envelope. It should be explained that the cams 82 are of such shape, substantially as shown, that as the fingers are ascending toward the envelopes, their respective fingers are moved toward each other, and, therefore, into such. position that the fingers will pass between the under face of the lowest envelope and its flap and engage thebend,-as -stated.

Asrthe shaft 51 continues .to-turn thefiapengaged lowest envelope'will' be positively withdrawn from the magazine below the lower edge of the front plate 12 and will be carried around with the platen cylinder, as shown in Fig. 3. The envelope will be caused to curve around this platen cylinder by a curved shield elgwhichis fixed in position and follows the curvature of the platen cylinder from the front plate 12 nearly down to the bottom of the cylinder, which is. the pointat which the envelopes will bebrought into printing engagement with printing plates which are being fed through the machine between the platen 50 and a cooperating platen'TO, by any suitable mechanism. An illustration of a suitable plate-feeding mechanism may be found in my Patent No. 1,285,622,'issued November 26, 1918.

Before the envelope reaches the printing position the cams 82 will have swung the. feed levers 65 on their pivots so as to move their fingers apart,- and thus cause them to release their engagement with v the envelope. This outward movement of the descending arms of the feed levers is obviously accompanied by a movementtoward each other of the ascending arms of these levers to bring them to the described position where their fingers will engage the lowest envelope then in the magazine. This, of course, assumes that fingersare placed on both ends of these 8111 610130 fQQdl Dg'lGVQIS. When they areso placed as shown, two envelopes are. withdrawn from the magazineduring each revolution of shaft 51. If the fingers are placed only at one end of each lever only one envelope would be withdrawn from the magazine during each revolution of the shaft 51.

Two spring actuated frames are pivoted to the outer face of the curved guard plate 5 1. Theserespeetively carry the rotatable velope shallpass. at a time out of the maga- Zine. under the front. plate thereof. To insure against a fed envelope dragging another with it by friction, I provide one. (or more) stop-fingers 9,.best shownin. Fig. 3, which are located a short distance in front of the front plate and extend downward toward the platen cylinder. The lower edge of this finger is below the horizontal plane in which next to the lowest envelope lies in the magazine. Therefore, when the feed fingers 68 engage the lowest envelope and positively begin to withdraw it beneath the lower edge of the front plate, the next envelope, if it should be dragged by the lowest'envelo 3e and pass with it below the front plate, wlll come against the stop finger and any further movement forward will be prevented. However, before the front edge of the lowest envelope reaches the stop finger, the front edge of this lowest envelope will have been bent downward so that it will pass beneath the stop finger. When the next pair of feed fingers 68 come up they will pass above the flap ofthe envelope which was next to the lowest and was moved forward this short distance, and by engagment with its flap, will pull the front edge of this envelope down below the stop finger and will carry the envelope under it as above specified.

As the addressed envelopes pass out from under the platen cylinder 50 they are pushed a between two feed rolls 30, 31, from which they are discharged onto downwardly inclined bars 34 upon which they slide down toward the horizontal stacking bars 90. A stacking device catches the envelopes as they slide down these bars 34: and delivers them onto the stacking bars 90 and pushes the-m against a follower 91 which slides upon the stacking bars.

The stacking device as shown comprises a shaft 35, which rotates in proper relation to the other rotatingparts of the machine, and carries two cam disks 36 each ofwhich has an envelope receiving peripheral slot 37 of ample capacity. Each envelope slides down the inclined bars 34 and passes edgewise into the two slots, which, by the rotation of the shaft 35,-have reached the position to receive the envelope. The continued revolution of said slotted disks deposits the envelope edge downward onto the stacking bars 90, and then the peripheryof the disks engage the envelope and push it along the stacking bars and holds it upright until the instant before another envelope is similarly delivered onto the stacking bars.

The feed roll 30 is rotatably mounted on a fixed axis. The feed roll 31 is mounted on a frame 32 which is hung on the shaft 51. The roll 31 carries a gear 31 that meshes with an idler gear 38 mounted on frame 32, and this idler gear in turn meshes with and is drivenby a gear 51 'fixedto shaft 51.

Each of the magazine corner members has pivoted to it the upper end of a link 94. which is pivoted at its lower end to another link 95, which in turn is pivoted to the hanger 80 which supports the associated cam. This connection between the magazine members and cam need not be of-such character the cams and associated envelope feeding levers must be correspondingly adjusted.

The toggle links referred to serve to remind the operator of this necessity and to show him when he has positioned the hopper member and cam properly with respect to one another.

The power to drive the machine may be applied through a pulley under the control of a clutch. Thus, I have shown a pulley 100 which is loosely mounted on shaft 51,

and adjacent this pulley is a sliding clutch sleeve 101 (see Fig. 5) having a tongue and groove connection with the shaft 51. carries jaws 101 adapted to engage or disengage jaws 100 on the hub of the pulley 100 to thereby make or break the driving connection between the pulley and the shaft. This sleeve has a circumferential groove, and into this groove project pins 102 carried by a yoke 103 which is a part of a shifting lever 103 pivoted to a bracket 104 fixed to the machine frame. By operating this lever this clutch sleeve may be moved into engagement with the pulley, or out of engagement with it.

if desired, a suitable stop mechanism may be provided tostop the machine in case an envelope fails to be fed. I have shown for this purpose mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, which will now be described. The shift lever 103 is adjacent the poles 110 of an electro-magnet 112 which is fixed to the frame work of the machine, and the lever serves as the armature of that magnet. lVhen the magnet is energized and therefore attracts the lever, the lever will swing in the direction to cause it to withdraw the clutch sleeve from its engagement with the pulley. Therefore, to disconnect the machine from the source of power it is only necessary to energize this magnet.

The circuit of the magnet 112, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, includes a suitable source of current 115 connected with one terminal of the magnet winding. The other terminal of the magnet may be connected to the metallic frame work of the machine. The source of current may be connected with an insulated switch spring 116 supported by the frame work ofthe machine in a position such that a metallic contact plate 50 which is fixed to the rotating platen may under certain circumstances engage with it. This contact plate is, however, fixed to the platen in a position'such that This magazine by the feed arms, electrical contact between the switch and contact plate will be prevented. 7 But if the envelopes have all been withdrawn from the magazine, or-ri-f the bottom envelopehas been misplaced so that its flap does not liein the described relation to the front plate of the magazine and the platen cylinder and feed arms, the feed arms will not withdraw an envelope from the hopper, and therefore, the contact plate and spring described will come into electrical contact. 'This will complete the circuit of the magnet, with the result that the clutch operating lever will be moved in the direction which will (:lisengage the: clutch sleeve from the pulley, and there upon, the machine, being disconnected from the source of power, will stop.

The clutch shifting lever 103 is a part of the circuit of the magnet, being normally in contact with an insulated metal plate 105 which is a terminal of a circuit wire, the lever itself is connected with the metallic part ofthe machineframe. When the circuit is completed by the engagement of the contact plate on theplaten with the switch spring referred to, and the magnet is energi-zed', and the lever 103 moved so as to dis connect the machine from the driving pulley, this'movement of the lever moves it out of contact with metallic plate 105 and against an insulating stop block 106, wherebythe' circuit of the magnet is broken in anotherplace. Therefore the circuit will be effectively interrupted even though the platen stops with the contact plate thereon still in contact with the switch spring.

It will be seen from the above description that my machine, while simple in construction, has advantages of beingadjustable for various sizes of envelopes; of feeding such envelopes very rapidly from the supply thereof; of controlling the withdrawal so that only one envelope is withdrawn, and of feeding only such envelopes as are properly placed in the magazine. I have referred to the use of the feeding mechanism in conjunction with address-printing machines, but it is to be understood that the present invention is independent of the mechanism which acts on the fed envelopes and'may be advantageously employed where the subsequent treatment of the envelope is other than printing an address thereon.

I claim:

1. In an envelope feeding device, the combination of pivoted means adapted to swing toward the ends of an envelope to engage the envelope between its flap and the ad- I gaged.

jacent face, means for moving said engaging means intoand out-of engagingpositiomand means for moving said engaging means in another direction to feed the envelope en- 2. In an envelope feeding device, the com-= bination with a stack of envelopes of means adapted to engage the endmost envelope be tween its flap and the adjacent face, means for moving saidengaging means from a-position beyond the end of the envelope into engaging position, and means for moving said engaging means transversely of the. stack to feed the envelope engaged.

3. In an envelope feeding device, thecombination of a pair of pivoted membersa dapted to engage the envelope between its .fiap and the adjacent face, means for moving each member from a; position beyondthe end. of the envelope into engaging position,.and: means for moving the pair of members as a. unit to feed the envelopeengaged.

4. Intan envelope feeding mechanism, including a bottom feed hopper the combination of mechanism adapted to engage. the bottom envelope between its flap and its ad jacent face, means for moving; said .mechanism from a position beyond the end of the envelope intoengaging position, andmeans for givingit a rotary movement while. engaged to feed; the envelope.

5. In an envelope feeding mechanism, in cluding a bottom feed hopper the combina tion ofmechanism adapted to engage thebottom envelope betweenits flap and its adjacent face, means for giving. it a rotary movement while engagedto feed the. envelope, and means for giving it another movement toward the ends of'the envelope while rotating to cause it toengagethe. envelope.

6. In an envelope feeding". mechanism, including a gravity feed hopper the combination of a member adapted to ,engagethe bottom envelope between its flap andaits, adjacent' face, means for moving said: member from beyond the end of the envelope into engagingposition, and means for revolving. said member while engaged'to feed. the envelope along a circu'lar path.

7. In an envelopefeeding -mechanism, a.

hopper for maintaining the envelopes in a superimposed stack the combination of a pair of fingers, means for moving them relative to each other'to engagethe bottom envelope between its flap and its adjacent face, means for causing the fingers. to travel with the engaged envelope, and means for thereafter withdrawing the fingers from the en.- velope.

8. In an envelope feeding mechanismgthe combination of a pair of fingers, means for swinging'them about individualaxes to engage the envelope between its flap and its. adjacent face, means for causing the engaged fingers 'to travel as a unit to feed the:

,engaged envelope, and means for thereafter withdrawing the fingers from the envelope. 9. In an envelope feeding mechanism, the

combination of a pair of pivoted fingers, means for moving them toward each other to engage an interposed envelope between its flap and its adjacent face, means for causing the fingers to rotate together about .a common axis to feed the engaged envelope,

and means for thereafter moving the fingers apart to free the envelope.

10. The combination, with a rotary platen, of members pivoted on an axis arranged at an angle to the axis of the platen and adaptthe platen.

11. The combination with a rotary platen of members pivoted on an axis arranged at an angle to the axis of the platen and adapted to engage an envelope between its flap and adjacent face to feed the envelope with the platen, and mechanism for giving said means another movement to engage the envelope. Y.

12. The combination with a rotary platen of a pair of pivoted members rotating therewith and located at opposite ends thereof,

and means, for moving said members toward the ends of'theplaten during their said rotation to cause them to engage the envelopebetween its flap and adjacent face to feed the envelope with the platen.

13. The combination, with a rotary platen, of rotary means adapted to engage an envelope betweenits flap and adjacent faceto feed the envelope with the platen, and means for swinging said rotary means about an axis arranged at an angle to that of its feeding rotation, whereby it may engage the envelope.

14. The combination of a rotary platen, a printing platen and a pair of envelope feeding fingers at the opposite ends of the platen, means for moving said fingers toward and from each other to engage andv clear the envelope between its flap and adjacent face, and means for rotating the fingers with the platen during the time they are in engagement with the envelope.

15. The combination of a rotary platen, a rotary shaft on which it is mounted, a device, including members movable relative to each other movably mounted on said shaft but rotating therewith and adapted to engage an envelope between its flap and adjacent face to feed: the envelope with the platen, and mechanism for moving said device relative to the shaft to cause it to engage the envelope.

16. The combination of a rotary shaft, a rotary platen thereon, a printing platen cooperating therewith, -a pair of envelopefeeding fingers movably mounted on the shaft at the opposite ends of the platen,

means for moving said fingers relatively to,

the shaft and toward and from each other "to engage and clear the envelope between its flap and adjacent face, and means whereby the shaft rotatesthe fingers and platen torotation about the axis of theplaten. ed to engage an envelope between its flap and adjacent face to feed the envelope with 18, The combination of a rotary platen, a rotating shaft on which it is moved, a pair of envelope-feeding'fingers on theshaft and located at opposite ends of the platen respectively, means for moving said fingers relative to the shaft toward each other to en age the envelope between its flap and ad acent face, means whereby the shaft may rotate the engaged fingers as a unit with the platen to feed the envelope, means for moving the fingers apart to withdraw them from the envelope, all of said movements of the fingers taking place while the shaft is rotating and a second platen coacting with said first platen.

- 19. The combination with a rotary platen of a pair of envelope-feeding fingers adapted to travel concentrically-with the platen means forgiving said fingers another movement relative to each other to cause them to move toward the end of the envelope to engage the same and a second platen coacting with the platen first mentioned. ,v

20. The combinationwith a rotary platen of a pair of envelope-feeding fingers adapted. to travel concentrically with the platen,

and means for giving said fingers relative movement. about other axes to cause them to move toward the end of the envelope to engage the same and a second platen coacting] with the platen firstmentioned.

21. The combination, with an envelope magazine adapted to feed envelopes from the bottom thereof, of an adjacent'rotary platen, a pair of envelope-feeding fingers at opposite ends of theplaten, mechanism for continuously rotating the platen and continuously rotating the fingers about the same axis, andmechanism-for causing said fingers to approach each other and recede from each other during the said rotation, whereby they may engage the bottom envelope between its flap and adjacent face and then draw said envelope along with them in acurved path and thereafter clear the, envelope. v

22. The combination of a rotatable platen shaft, a platen fixed thereto, an envelop magazine adjacent said platen, two ..feed arms which are respectivelylocate at oppo site ends of said platen andmounted on .saidshaft and project at substantial right angles to said shaft, each of said arms having at its end a "feed finger, and means for swinging said ffeed fingers toward the ends of the envelope as the shaft rotates.

The'com'bination of'arotatable platen shaft, "a platen fixed thereto, an envelop magazine adjacent said platen, two feed arms each of which is pivotedto said shaft on an axis substantially at right angles to the shaft andeach of said levers having at its end a 'feed finger, and means for rocking said feed levers on their pivots as the shaft rotates. I I b '24. The combination, with arotary platen,

H of rotary means adapted to move toward the'endsof an envelope to engage the, same I between its flap and adjacent face to feed the envelope with the platen, and a fixed cam adapted to act'on said rotary means to -cause itto engage the envelope. s

25. The combination with a rotary platen, oflalpair of pivoted individually movable envelopefeeding fingersadapted to travel concentrically with the platen, a pair of :cams for giving. said fingers movement longitudinally of "the platen to cause them to,

move into engagement with the envelope, and means forrotating the fingers and platen together. 1

26. The combinationof a pair of rotary shafts, platens thereon, a pair of envelope- .feeding fingers at opposite ends of one platen, carried by one shaft and-adapted to rotate with it, and a pair of fixed cams moving said fingers toward and from each w other during their rotation aboutthe axis of the last mentioned platen. g a .27. The combination of a rotatable platen shaft, a plat-en thereon, two feed arms which ,are respectively located at opposite ends of" said platen and are pivoted, to said shaft on axes which are at substantial right angles to said shaft-, each of said arms having a feed finger, anda fixed' cam which is associated with and engages each feed arm and \causes'it to rock on its pivot, substantially as specified,as said shaft rotates,

28, The combination of a feed magazine,

, ia r'otatable'platen located'below the same, a

shaft to which said platen is secured, feed arms located at opposite ends of said platen and respectively gpivotedfto said shaft'on axeswhich aresubst'ant-ially at right angles to thelshaft each of said arms having at its endian offset feed finger, two cams which loosely embrace the said shaft adjacent said ffeed arms, means which prevent the rotation of said cams but permit their longitu-' dinal movement upon-saidishaft nieans to i preserve the engagement of said cam, respectively with the adjacent feed arms. 7

' 29. The combination of a feedmagaziim comprising a fixe'd front plate andtwo Tear with the platen and engage between theflap "cornerjmembers, a sliding'frame on which said corner members are mounted which frame is movable toward and from the fixed plate and said corner members being movable on said frame toward and from each otherand each of saidcorner members having at its lower end an envelop supporting bottom, a rotatable platen located below said magazine, and mechanism adapted to rotate 7 5 andvadjacent face of the bottom envelope in the magazine.

30'. The combination of afeed magazine, comprising a fixed front plate and 'two'rear corner members, a sliding frame on which said corner members are mounted which frame is movable toward and f'rom'the fixed plate and said corner'mem'bers being movable on said frame toward and from "each other and each of said corner members having at its lower end an "envelop supporting bottom, a rotatable platen located below said magazine, a shaft to which said platen is secured, two cams which loosely embrace the said shaft, envelope feeding devices op erated by said cams, means which prevent the' rotation of said cams but permit their ,lOllgl'tUdlllfi-l movement upon said shaft, means to preserve the, engagement of said cams respectively withthexadj acent envelope feeding device, and connections between said cams respectively andthe two corner membersof the magazine to require that when a cam is moved longitudinally with respect to the shaft the corresponding corner member shall be similarly moved.

The, combination of a feed magazine coiioprising a fixed front plate and two rear corner members, a sliding frame on which 'saidcorner members are mounted which frame is movable toward" and from the "fixed plate and said corner *members beingfmovable on said frame toward and from each other and each of said corner plateshaving at itslower endan envelop supporting bot tom, a rotatable platen located below 'said hopper, a shaft to which said platenis secured',-fe.eding mechanismlocated at opposite ends of saidplaten and comprisinglfeeding v fingers andtwo cams which loosely embrace the said shaft, means which "prevent the roitationtof said cams but perniit their longitudinal movement upon said shaft, meansto preserve the engagement of said cams respectively with the adjacent feeding -mem- 12 0 hers, and toggles which connect the two magazine'corner members with the twocamsre- 'spectiv'ely.

32 111 an address printing machine, the combination-of an envelop magazine, the

Fbottom of-which does-not extend beneaththe flaps of the envelops supported thereon, an

a-djacently {placed rotatable platen,- agrotatable shaft'to whiichsaitlplaten is secured "envelopfeedmg arms, "each "ofwliichis c'arried' by said shaft and extends in opposite directions therefrom, each of said arms having at each of its ends a finger which extends toward the platen, and non-rotatable cams which surround said shaft, there being PIOVlSlOIl for enabling the cams to rock pivoted' arms and rock them on their pivots.

surround said shaft and adapted to cause the rocking of the feeding device into or out of feeding position and means for so connecting said sleeves and cams that any movement of a sleeve lengthwise of the shaft is accompanied by a corresponding movement of th'e'associated cam.

34. In an address printing machine, the

combination of arotatable platen, a rotatable shaft to which saidplaten is secured,

a transversely extended horizontal frame member, a pair of hangers slidably mounted upon said frame member, adjacent opposite ends of said platen, two envelop magazine members respectively connected with said hanger, said hangers having holes through which the platen shaft passes and being formed with cams which extend around said shaft, sleeves which embrace said'shaft and have tongue and groove connections therewith, means connecting each of said sleeves and an associated hanger whereby movement of the hanger lengthwise of said platen haft will be accompanied by a like movement of the sleeve, and'feeding devices posi-r tioned by said sleeves.

In an address printing machine, the combination of a rotatable platen, a rotatable shaft to which said platen is secured, sleeves having tongue and groove connections with said shaft and lying adjacent opposite ends of said platen, envelop feeding arms each of which is carried by one of said sleeves, each arm having adjacent its end a finger which extends toward the platen,

non-rotatable cams which surround said shaft and act to rock the fingers as said shaft is rotated, means for so connecting said sleeves and cams that any movement of a sleeve lengthwise of the platen shaft is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the associated cam, and a magazine having two independently movable rear corner members each of which is connected with one of said cams whereby a movement of the cam lengthwise of the platen shaft requires a corresponding movement of the magazine member with which it is connected.

36. .The combination of a rotatable platen, an envelop magazine which is located above the platen and has a vertical front plate whose lower edge is a short distance above the surface of said platen and is slightly in advance of a vertical plane passing through the axis of said platen said magazine also having two rear-corner members each of which carries an envelop supporting bottom plate located in a plane approximately tangential to the upper point of the platen, a stop finger fixed to the front plate of said magazine extending therefrom toward the platen and to a point in a horizontal'plane which is below the top of said platen, feeding mechanism adapted to insert itself between the lower envelop and its fiapand to draw said envelop out of'the magazine under the front plate thereof and under the stop finger, the lower edge of said stop finger however'being in a plane such that if two envelope be simultaneously drawn out of the hopper beneath the front platethereof the advancing'edge of the upper envelop will engage said stop finger. 37. "The combination of a rotary shaft, a platen thereon, a pair of arms at opposite ends of the platen, each intermediately carried by said shaft and adapted to rotate with it, envelop feeding fingers at theopposite ends of said "arms, and means for moving said fingers toward and from each other during their rotation about the axis of the platen. 38. The combination, with? rotary platen,

two pairs of envelope feeding fingers at opposite ends of the platen respectively, single means for moving fingers of one'pair toward each other to engage the envelope between its flap and adjacent face and at the same time fingers of the other pair away i from each other to clear the envelope, and

means for rotating the engaged fingers as a unit with the platen to feed the envelope;

39. The combination of a rotary shaft, a

platen thereon, a pair of arms carried by the shaft and longitudinally shiftable thereon, envelope feeding fingers at the endsof said arms, said arms and fingers being adapted 'to rotate with said shaft, means for moving said fingers toward and from each other during their rotation about the axis of the platen, an envelope magazine having a bottom feed, said magazine being extensible in a direction parallel with said shaft.

40. The'combination with bottom feed envelope magazine of adjacent rotary'platen, a pair of envelope feeding fingers at opposite ends of said platen, mechanism for continuously rotating the platen and continuously rotating the fingers about thesame axis, stationary cams for causing said fingers magazine adjacent said platen, two feed arms whichare respectively located at opposite ends ofsaid platen and are p voted ,:to

saidrshaft oneaxeswhich are at substantial I right :angles to said shaft, each of said -a'rms having at its endan offset feed finger,

-a nd means for rocking said ifeed arms on their pivots as the shaft rotates substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The combination of a rotatable platen shaft, lanplaten fixed thereto, an envelop magazine adjacent said platen, two feed Iarmseach of which near its middle is pivot- .fidrtO said shaft on an axis substantially at right angles to the shaft and each ofsaid levers having .at :itscends an offset feed- ;finger, and means for ,rocking said feed lev- .ers'onztheir pivots as theshaft rotates substantially as and for the purpose specified.

.43. The combination ofa rotatable platen shaft, a platen fi-xed thereto, an envelop .magazine adjacent said platen, two feed.

arms which are respectively located at op.- vposite ends of said-platen and are pivoted to said shaft on axes which are at'substantial :rightanglesgto said shaft each of said arms having at its ends an offset feed finger, a fixed cam which isassociated with and engages each feed arm and causes it to rock on its pivot, substantially as specified, as. said shaft'rotates.

l 44:. The combinationof a feed magazine, comprising aifixed front plate and two rear corner members, .a sliding frame on which said corner members are -mounted which frame is movahle toward and from the 'fixed plate and said corner members being movable :on said, frame toward and from each otherandeach of said corner -members havingat its lower end an envelop supporting bottom, a rotatablezplatenlocated below sa1d -magazine,.a shaft to which said platen is secured, feed arms located at opposite ends of said platen .and respectively pivoted to said shaft -on axes which are substantially at wright angles to the'shaft each of said arms havingat'its end an offset feed finger, two

cams which loosely embrace the said shaft adjacent said ifeed arms, means which prevent the .rotation of said cams but permit their longitudinal movement upon said shaft, means to preserve :theengagement of said ram: respectively with the adjacent feed sarms andronnections betweensaid cams reframe is movable toward-and from the fixed plate and-said corner members being movable on sa1d frame toward and from each other and each of said corner plates having a at its lower end an envelop supportingbottom, arotatable platen located below said- .magazine, a shaft to which said platen is-,-s ecured, feedarms located .atropposlte ends of said platen and respectively pivoted .to said shaft on axes which 'aresubstantially at right anglestoithe shaft,each of.sai,d arms having at its end an offset feed finger, two

cams whichloosely embrace the said shaft adjacent said feed arms, means which prevent the rotation of said cams but permit their longitudinal movement upon said shaft, means to preserve the engagement of said cams respectively with {the adjacent feed "arms, and toggles which connect; the

#two magazine corner members with the ,two

cams respectively.

,46. Inan address printing machine, the

combination of an envelop magazine jwhose bottom does :not extend-beneath the flaps .of the envelops supported ithereon, an adjacently placed rotatable platen, a rotatableshaft to which said platen is secured, sleeves having ltongue and groove connections with c said shaft and lying adjacent opposite ends of said platemenvelop feeding arms each of which is pivoted to oneof saidvsleeveson an axis which 1s transverse withres pect to sa1d sleeve seach of said arms having at eachof its ends afinger which extends toward the platen, and .nonrotatable cams vwhichssurround said shaft and engage said ,pivoted arms and rock them ontheir pivots.

47. E111 an address printing i machine, the

combination of an envelop magazine whose bottom does not extend beneath the flapsof the envelop supported thereon, an adjacently placed rotatableplaten a rotatable shaft to which said platen is secured, sleeveshaving tongue and groove connections with said shaft and lying adj acent opposite ends .of

said platen, envelop feeding arms.each,of

whichextends onoppositesides of said shaft and .is pivoted -tooneof said .sleeves .onan axis which is diametrical. with respect to said-shaft each of said {arms .having at,each

of its ends an offset finger, :non-rotatable, cams which surround saidshaftand engage said .pivoted arms and rock themon {their pivots, and means for so-connecting said sleeves and cams that any movement (of. a.

sleeve lengthwise of the shaft is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the associated cam.

48. In an address printing machine, the combination of a rotatable platen, a rotatable shaft to which said platen is secured, a transversely extended horizontal frame member, apair of hangers slidably mounted upon said frame member adjacent opposite ends of said platen, two envelop magazine members respectively connected with said hanger, said hangers having holes through which the platen shaft passes and being formed with cams which extend around said shaft, sleeves which embrace said shaft and have tongue and groove connections therewith, means connecting each of said sleeves and an associated hanger whereby any movement of the hanger lengthwise of said platen shaft will be accompanied by a like movement of the sleeve, and feed arms pivoted respectively to said sleeves on axes which are transverse to said sleeves each of said arms being adapted to be engaged by the adjacently placed cam, and each arm having at both of its ends an offset feed finger which extends toward the platen and is adapted in certain positions of the arm to which it is fixed to pass between the flap and body of the lowermost envelop in said magazine.

49. In an address printing machine, the combination of a rotatable platen, a rotatable shaft to which said platen is secured, sleeves having tongue and groove connections with said shaft and lying adjacent opposite ends of said platen, envelop feeding arms each of which is pivoted to one of said sleeves on an axis which is diametrical with respect to said shaft each arm having adj acent its end a finger which extends toward the platen, non-rotatable cams which surround said shaft and engage said pivoted arms and rocli them on their pivots as said shaft is rotated, means for so connecting said sleeves and cams that any movement of a sleeve lengthwise of the platen shaft is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the associated cam, and a magazine having two independently movable rear corner members each of which is connected with one of said cams whereby a movement of the cam lengthwise of the platen shaft requires a corresponding movement of the magazine member with which it is connected.

50. The combination of a rotatable platen shaft, a cylindrical laten fixed thereon, an envelop magazine which is located above the laten and has a vertical front plate whose ower edge is a short distance above the surface of said platen and is slightly in ad vance of a vertical plane passing through the axis of said platen, said magazine also having two rear corner members each of which carries an envelop supporting bottom plate located in a plane approximately tangential to the upper point of the platen, a stop finger fixed to the front plate of said magazine and extending therefrom toward the platen and to a point in a horizontal plane which is be low the top of said platen, feed arms carried by said shaft each having an offsetfeed finger adapted to insert itself between the lower envelop and its flap and to draw said envelop out of the magazine under the front plate thereof and under the stop finger, the lower edge of said stop finger however being in a plane such that if two envelops be simultaneously drawn out of the magazine beneath the front plate thereof the advancing edge of the upper envelop willengage said stop fin er.

51. T e combination with an extensible envelop magazine, of a rotary platen, an adjustable envelope feeding device, and means coupled with the magazine and the feeding device for insuring corresponding -adjustment of one when the other is adjusted.

52. The combination with an extensible envelop magazine, of a rotary platen and feeding mechanism comprising a pair of envelop feeding devices at opposite ends of the platen, each device being adjustable toward and from the platen, and means coupled with the magazine and the feeding mechanism for insuring a corresponding adjustment of one with reference to the other.

53. The combination with an extensible envelop magazine and a rotary platen, a rotary shaft on which the same is mounted, a pair of envelop feeding devices mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, said devices being adjustable, longitudinally of the shaft, and means coupling the magazine with said devices for insuring correspondence in their adjustment.

54. In an article feeding machine, a support for articles, means whereby a portion of the endmost article projects beyond the support, and means comprising two members movable towards each other and movable toward the ends of the article to engage the latter and move it from its support.

55. In an envelope feeding machine, a support for a plurality of envelopes, said sup port having an open end whereby the flap of the endmost envelope will project away from the envelope body, and means includends of the envelope to engage the fiap of such bottom-most envelope and withdraw it from the stack.

57. In anenvelope feeding machine, a support for a stack of envelopes, a rotary feeding drum, feeding fingers coacting therewith, and means to move said fingers towards each other tofirst engagethe back of the bottom-most envelope in said stack and then to move into conveying position at the juncture of the flap and body of the envelope.

58. In an envelope feeding machine, a sup port for a stack of envelopes, said support having an open bottom whereby the flap 011 the bottom-most envelope may project away from the/envelope body, and envelope moving means including members movable towards each other for first engagin the body of the envelope and then moving against the flap hinge.

59. In an envelope feeding machine, the combination with means for supporting a stack ofenvelopes, rotary envelope carrying means, a pair of fingers movable towards.

each other for engaging the envelope, and additional means to cause said fingers to first engage the body of the envelope onthe back thereof and then to move into engagement with the envelope at the flap hinge.

60. In a machine for feeding envelopes, thecombination of a support for a stack of envelopes, rotary means to advance an envelope, means including members movable towards each other for engaging the'body f the envelope on the back thereof, said tive to the envelope to engage the flap after which it removes the envelope from said stack.

61. In an envelope feeding machine, the combination with means for supporting a stack of envelopes, means to advance an envelope, means to engage an envelope, and additional means including two members movable towards each other to cause said engaging means to be first positioned against the body of the envelope onthe backportion thereof and then to move into engagement with the flap. t

-62. The combination with an envelope feeding machine, a supportfor a stack of en velopes, means to advance an envelope, a pair of fingers movable toward each other for coacting with said advancing means for engaging the envelope,'and additional means to cause said fingers to first engage the body of the envelope on-the back portion thereof and then to move into engagement with the flap.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 31st day of January, 1920.

CLIFTON OHISHOLM.

last mentioned means being movable rela-

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