US1682578A - Envelope sealing and printing device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2a, 1928. 1,682,578

J. A. NIPCHILD ENVELOPE SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1928.

J. A. NIPCHILD ENVELOPE SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE Fi led Feb. 10, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 28, 1928. I 1,682,578

J. A. NIPCHILD ENVELOPE SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE Filed Feb 0 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 20 f in //7 Q K\ 2 1 m ,L IZZLA/FOR Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,578

J. A. NIPCHILD ENVELOPE SEALING AND fRINTING DEVICE v Filed b, 10, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J29. J] Zn/1442 0.26

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES JO$EPH A. NIPCHILD, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO;

ENVELOPE SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE.

Application filed February 10, 1923.

This invention is concerned with machines adapted to act on envelopes one after another to seal the same and if desired to print suit able matter thereon, the general object be ing the provision of a simple, eflicient envelope sealing and printing device which is adapted to receive a stack of envelopes and eject them in a sealed condition.

A further object of the present invention is to combine envelope feeding and flap moisteniing mechanisms with an envelope printiug mechanism whereby the feeding and sealing of the envelopes may be effected and a further compressive sealing action on the envelope flap may be obtained when printing the return address or other desired subject matter on the front of the envelope. A further object of the present invention is the provision. of a novel envelope flap moistening device which will a ply moisture uniformly to the envelope aps irrespective of the rateof speed at which the envelopes are fed to the device.

A still further object is the provision of a. novel envelope feed mechanism which may be incorporated in a device of the character referred to Qther objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the essential features will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an envelope sealing and printing device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan vi cw of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevational section taken longitudinally of the machine substantially along the line 33 ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional elevation taken along the line 4.4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through the envelope printing end. of the device; Fig. 6 is a sectional eleration taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a fiap inoistening device and showing an envelope approaching a flap spreader; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the relation of the flap spreader to the envelope when the guln on the: under side of the envelope is about to be moistened; Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 -9 of Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken through the fountain of the gum moistener; Fig. 11 is a, cross sectional view taken. substantially along the Serial No. 618,208.

line 11-11 of Fig. 9 showing a preferred means for applying moisture to the gum on an envelope flap; Fig. 12 illustrates the position of the moistening. device when the fountain thereof to be removed for refilling; ig. 13 illustrates a preferred manner ofremovably attaching the moistening device to the machine; Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 a transverse sectional elevation taken along the line 1515 of Fig. 5; Fig. 16 is a cross sectional plan view taken through the envelope feeding device along the line 16-16 of Fig. 4.

In accordance with the objects of my invent-ion I show in Fig. 1 a novel sealing device comprising a frame 20 preferably formed of a single casting member arranged to support the various mechanisms embodying. my invention. An adjustable envelope receptacle. is indicated at 22, an envelope feeding device disposed in uxtaposition to the receptacle is indicated at 23 and a flap moistener is shown at 24. Printing means may be incorporated in thedevice at one end thereof as indicated at 25. The means for conveying the envelopes from the receptacle to the moistener 24 and printing device 25, may comprise an endless friction belt 27 passing over end rolls 28 and 29 and arranged to act on the bottom face of the envelope, and a second endless belt 30 acting on the flap or top side of the envelope after the envelope ha been fed past the moistening device. A preferred means for driving the friction belts 27 and 30 will now be described, aud the various groups of mechanisms referred to, will be subsequently described in order.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, I have provided shaft members 32' and 33 which carry the bottom belt rollers 28 and 29, the latter members being disposed within the frame 20 and beneath a toptable 20 thereof. The table 2O has suitable apertures formed there in whereby the rollers 28 and 29 may extend therethrough in tangential relation to the top surface thereof. The endless belt 27 thus passes around the roller 28 and along the top surface of the table 20. As shown in. Fig. 3, the belt and table constitute a support for a stack of envelopes E when placed in the receptacle 22. The belt may be driven toward the feed device 23 by a. manually operated crank 35 which turns a shaft member 36, the shaft 36 is disposed inice termediate the roller members QS and :29 and constitute an axle for a large feed roller 38 preferably of the same diameter as the belt rollers 28 and 29 whereby the uppermost portion thereof may also be in tangential relation to the top surface of the table 20. Disposed on the opposite end of the shaft 36 is a gear member -10 which drives asimilar gear member 42 mounted on the roller shaft 33, through an intermediate gear ll. The weight of an idler roller 26 serves as a belt tightening means.

The top friction belt '30 extends over small rollers 43 and H, the former being mounted on a shaft member aowhich carries a gear 46 on one end and in engagementuvith the gear 42 on the bottom roller shaft 33. The shaft 48 which carries the roller 4A is driven by sprocket member 50 mountedon the outer end of the shaft member, a chainol and a sprocket 52, mounted on the roller shaft member to adjacent its small gear 46. The cooperation of the various rollers and belts in effecting the feeding, sealing and printing of the envelopes will be hereinafter described.

The envelope receptacle may comprise a side wall preferably formed by an upward extension 20" of the side wall of the frame 20, a laterally adjustable side member 56 carried by a rod 57 supported by the extension wall 20" and an upwardly and downwardly movable end bail'le 58 which comprises part of the envelope feeding mechanism. f

The envelope feed mechanism comprises the large bottom roller 38 mounted'on the 'crank shaft 36, and. a relatively small compression roller 59 resiliently mounted on the frame to be vertically movable, whereby an upward and downward movement of the roll during the passage of envelopes therebeneath will cause an alternate movement of the baffle member 58. This mechanism may comprise an upwardly extending slide member 60 having the lower end thereof in contact with the roll shaft 61 and the upper end acting on an adjustable means in engagement with a small lever member 62. The lattermember is mounted on a rocker shaft 63 supported by hearing portions 6i 9 depending from a bracket member (35 se cured to the frame extension 20". The adjustable means on the slide member (32 may comprise a screw member 66 engaging a bump 62 formed on the rocker lever (52. Small arms 68 depending from the rocker shaft 63 engage outwardly extending lug portions 58-formed on the member 58.

The movable member-58 has the lower portion 58 thereof extending toward the feed roll 59 whereby theenvelopes in the 'stack E adjacent the bottom envelope are progressively urged thereagainst by action of the friction belt :27 on these envelopes.

As shown in Fig. 16, sliding engagement between the member 58 and the bracket member may be provided by bent inner portions .65 engaging the side edges and the back face of the member 58. The end of the portion 58" may be adjusted relative to the belt by manipulating the screw member (36. The member 58 should be adjusted to a suflicient height above the belt portion traveling along the top surface of the table to permit passage of one envelope. When the bottom envelope is progressed to the 0pposed rolls 59 and 38 and is gripped thereby, the full weight of the member 58 is exertcd upon the envelope as it is fed to the moistening device and the bottom edge of the inwardly extending portion 58*, thus prevents the feeding or passing of more than one envelope at a time; likewise the member 58 prevents the feeding of a second envelope before the first envelope is moved out of contact with the feed roll 59. The spaced-apart relation of the roll 43 and the feed roll 59 is such that the roll 43 or belt 30 carried thereby will engage the forward end of the envelope-before the rearward end has passed from beneath the roll 59. This distance, accordingly, is less than the length of the smallest commercial envelopes in use. It will also be noted that the spaced apart relation of the roll 59 and the member 58 determines the spacing of the envelopes when being conveyed by the belt.

The rolls 59 and -13 may be maintained in resilient relation to the rolls 38 and 29 respectively by fiat spring members 70 disposed exteriorly of the frame '20 and fired thereto by screws 70", see Fig. 13, and having means 70" thereof extending upwardly and looping over the ends of the shaft members (3i and 45 as shown in Figs. 1 and at, one of the loops being omitted on the spring disposed on the left hand side of the machine, there being a spring member 71 act ing on a pin member 72 in place thereof.

The spreading of the envelope flap and the moi'stening of the gum thereon will now be described. i

Disposed along the upper surface of the bottom friction belt 27 and between the rolls 59 and i3, is a llat fountain member 75 in the nature of a hollow arm which comprises the body of the envelope flap opening and moistening device. The member 75 is pivotally mounted. as indicated at 76 adjacent the right side of the machine, the mounting being such that the member 75 ma be readily removed from the machine as illustrated in Fig. 13. This mounting comprises a bracket 77 having upwardly ex tending arms, formed as indicated at 78, to provide circular openings for receiving lugs 79 on the member 75. Upwardly extending slots are formed of such width as to permit the passage of lugs 79 when the flat sides 79 thereof are brought into alignment with the slots by swinging the moistening device outwardly to its detachable or filling position. The arcuate portions of the lugs engage the circular portions of the bracket openings when the member is swung to operative position.

The interior of the member 75 comprises a water fountain arranged to feed moisture to bristle members 80, so positioned upon the outer portion thereof as to be exposed on the top and contact with the gum on the envelope flap when the envelope is moved from the roll 59 to the roll 43 by the belt. The formation of the side edge of the member 75 is such that the envelope flap becomes raised as the body of the envelope is guided beneath the member 75. As shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 11, the edge of the member 75 disposed toward the feed roll, is tapered to approximate a knife edge as indicarted at 81, there being a downwardly tapered surface 83 and upwardly tapered surface 82 meeting along the edge 81 whereby the forward end a of the envelope will pass beneath the member 75. The bristle supporting end of the member 7 5 is so formed that the knife edge 81 recedes backwardly toward the bristles 81. Thus, a substantial portion of the envelope will be disposed beneath the member 75 before the flap F thereof is engaged by any portion of the fountain member. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the body of the envelope is passing beneath the fountain member 75 while the flap is being guided upwardly by the knife edge 81.

To insure intimate contact between the gum portion of the flap F, and the wet bristles 80, I provide a spring member 85 which has one end 86 thereof bent upwardly to guide that portion of the flap first engaging therewith downwardly toward the iristles. The spring member 85 also acts to press the gummed surface of the flap into intimate contact with ,the moistened bristles 88. As shown in Fig. 10, a sufficient number of bristles are provided to obtain a relatively thick moistening pad, the lower portion of the pad being disposed within the fountain member 75 below the level of the water 87. The water thus is fed to the uppermost bristles by capillary attraction. The spring member 85 is swingably at-- tached to the fountain member 75 by a screw member 85, whence the brush 80 may be readily removed.

Various means may be provided to maintain the water at the level referred to. I

prefer however, an arrangement such as is fountain member 75. adjacent the outer end thereof. This container is preferably formed of glass to permit visibility of the liquid contents. A gasket 90 may abut the end of the container and rest on a suitable shoulder formed interiorly of the fountain member, thereby preventing leakage of the water. Connnunication is afforded between the interior 9 1 of the portion 89 and the in terior 92 of the hollow envelope spreading portion of the fountain member 7 5 by a restricted passageway 93. As shown in F ig- 14, the cross section of this passageway considerably less than the cross. section of either the interior cavity 92 or the interior space'91. A small vent 94 permits the ingrcss of air to the cavity 92.

The feeding action of this device is'as follows The bottle .88 may first be filled with water and then attached to the member 75; the latter being swung outwardly from the conveyor belt and positioned as shown in Fig. 12, to prevent the spilling of any of the contents of the bottle when being attached. When the member 75 is swung in wardly to operative position upon the cow veyor belt 27 the water feeds downwardly through the passageway 93 until a partial vacuum is created at the top, closed end of the bottle member 88, thus preventing a further feeding of the water;

The relation of the passageway 93 to the cavities 92 and 91 is such that this feeding action will cease when, the water level up proximates that illustrated in Fig. 10, the level being slightly above the top of the passageway 98. As the water in the cavity 92 is consumed the level thereof comes below the top of the passageway 93 and permits an air bubble to escape from the cavity 92 upwardly to the air pocket in the top of the bottle member. A few drops of water will thus be permitted to flow from the bottle into the cavity 92. It will be seen that a constant water level is maintained relativeto the gum moistening bristles 8(7) irrespective of the rate of speed at which the envelopes are fed through the ma chine.

I have arranged the printing mechanism in such relation to the feed and moistening devices that the printing mechanism becomes automatically active when an envelope is fed thereto by the conveyor belts 27 and 30. Any desired character of printing may be affected on the address or bottom side of the envelope, the usual subject matter of the printing being in the nature of a return address placed adjacent the upper left hand corner. The printing operation is such as to be also effective in further compressing the moistened gum on the flap, thus bringing about a more thorough sealing of that portion of the flap immediately ltlfr over the surface of the envelope which is being printed.

Such a printing device may be embodied in a variety of mechanisms. In the drawings, a preferred form of simple mechanism is shown, which may comprise a revolving drmn 100 supported on a shaft member 102 mounted on a swingable bracket 101 attached to a supporting frame 104: secured to one end of the main frame of the device. The disposition of the drum is immediately below the roller 14, and the shaft 102 therefor has its axis lying in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the roll 44, whereby the latter member may serve as a platen.

To insure the proper functioning of the belt and roll -14 as a platen, I provide adjustable means for resiliently maintaining the roll el-l in contact with the envelope as it passes through the printing mechanisi'u. which may comprise fiat spring members 103 secured to the frame member 101 and acting on downwardly extending pin member 105 slidably positioned in the side walls 104 of the frame. The compressed relation between the roll 1 1 and the printing drum 100 .may be varied by the adjustment of the screw member 103 acting on the flat spring member 103. i

The revolving drum 100 is arranged to be intermittently ope ableand may be of such dimension that the circumference thereof *ill be of sullicicnt length to support an electroplate or other suitable printing form to print at least one-third of the surface of the envelope. The revolving movement of the drum 100 is initiated by the action of an envelope being fed by the rolls 13 and 44., and the belt 30 against upwardly extending projections comprising a flat member 107 secured to the roller 100 in such position as to be interposed in the path of the moving envelope. The forward edge of the envelope is thus pressed against the members 107 and starts the revolving movement of the roll and the printing surfaces of the form 108 then engage the envelope and the continued revolving is effected by the pressure of the positively driven platen roll 1 t upon the back of the envelope. The rotation of the drum is thus continued until all of the printing surfaces of the form 108 have completed contact with the under surface ofthe envelope.

To continue the revolving motion of the drum after the printing has been effected and to reposition the members 107 adjacent the rolls 14, I provide a resilient means in the form ofa spring member llO-having one end secured to a swingable support 101 and the other end attached to a small link 111,

the small link being pivotally connected to aflange 102 of the shaft 102 and the pivotal connection having an. eccentric relation to theshaft 102. During the first half revolue tion of the drum, 100, the spring member 110 will be stretched and act in opposition to rotation of the revolving of the drum 100 in the manner described. However, as the pivotal center of the member 111 passes the vertical center of the drum shaft, the spring acts upon the drum to continue the revolving movement thereof, thus bringing the members 10? into juxtaposition with the platen roll 4.1. The revolving operation may be continued by the succeeding-envelope being fed by the rollers and plate.

The. application of ink to the printing surfaces of the form 108 may be effected in any suitable manner. A very convenient and compact inking device may comprise an inking roller having a hollow perforated core 11a and an outer felt covering 115, the interior of the roll being of sulticient di mension to contain a quantity of ink which may be gradually fed through the roll. The particular concealed location of this inking device as shown in Fig. 15 is preferred to a more exposed position to prevent contact of the ink roll with the envelopes.

To permit ready access to the inking device. the support 101 is pivotally mounted as shown in Figs. 5, (3 and 15, upon a pin member 110 rigid with the frame member 10=t and is arranged to also support the inking roll. The printing drum support 101 may be maintained with the drum 100 in coo 'ierative relation with the roll 4% by a lock pin 118 having the inner pointed end thereof engaging in an opening 119 formed in the will of the bracket member 101. A spring member 120 serves to maintain the pin 118 in proper engagen'ient with the bracket member. The upper portion 101 of the bracket 101 is suitably slotted to permit engagement with the ends of the shaft 113 of the printing device. The ends of the shaft 113 are also engaged byv depending portions 122 of an envelope supporting bracket 123 which is disposed beneath the lower stretch of the belt 30 and between the end of the main frame .20 and the platen roll 4 1. The depending portions 122 are provided with slots extending in a horizontal direction as shown in Fig. 3, whereby an outward swinging n'ioven'ient of the drum supporting bracket 101 will carry the printing roll out of engagement therewith. If it is desired to use the device for envelope sealing purposes only, the drum member 101 may be swung downwardly to an inoper tive position.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it is to be seen that I haveprovided a very compact device for effecting the sealing and printing of envelopes after the letter content, which theenvclope is to carry, has been placed therein. The action of the feeding mechanism is dependent solely upon the presence of an envelope between the feed rolls. The thorough and proper moistening of the gum on the flap of the envelope is effected by a device which is extremely simple when considering the function which it fulfills, and the positive and continued movement of the envelopes through the device is assured by the noved arrangement of the friction belts which feed the envelopes into a printing mechanism with sufiicient force to effect the intermittent operation of the printing device. The arrangement of the printing device is such that a further compressing of the moistened gum flap is obtained.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of an envelope receptacle, an endless friction belt associated therewith and arranged to feed an envelope from the bottom of a stack of envelopes contained in the receptacle, said friction belt arranged whereby the top stretch of the belt may contact with the bottom envelope of the receptacle, a feed roll disposed above the belt and in contact therewith and a battle disposed between the envelope stack and said feed roll, and actuated by vertical movement of the said roll.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an envelope receptacle having an end wall thereof movable to block the passage of an envelope, an endless friction belt comprising the bottom of the re ceptacle and adapted to act upon the bottom envelope of a stack positioned in the receptaole, a pair of feed rolls adjacent to said movable wall whereby an envelope being moved from the receptacle by the belt would immediately contact with said rolls, the axis of said rolls being relatively movable, supporting shafts of the rolls and mechanisin connecting the movable shaft with said movable wall in such manner that a downward movement of the wall is effected when the edge of an envelope is engaged by the said feed rolls.

3. In an envelope sealing device, the combination of an envelope magazine, a frame having a flat top surface, an endless friction belt arranged to carry envelopes along the top surface of said frame, a feed roll positioned adjacent the envelope receptacle and above said belt and cooperating with said belt and being relatively movable therefrom, and means actuated in response to the movement of said feed roll and movable in timed relation with said feed roll, for acting on the stack of envelopes positioned in the magazine to prevent the feeding thereof by said belt.

4. The combination of an envelope magazine, a frame having a flat top surface, an endless friction belt associated with the envelope receptacle in such manner as to act upon the bottom envelope positioned therein and to carry said envelope along the top surface of said frame, a pair of feed rolls adjacent the envelope receptacle and cooperating with said belt in advancing the envelope from the magazine subsequent to a preliminary movement of the envelope from the receptacle, said feed rolls being relatively movable, means acting on a stack of envelopes positioned in the receptacle to prevent the feeding thereof by movement of the belt and actuated upon movement of one of the rolls when engaging the forward end of the envelope being carried by the belt.

5. A machine of the character described, an envelope receptacle having an end wall thereof movable to block the passage of an envelope, an endless friction belt comprising the bottom of the receptacle, and adapted to act upon the bottem envelope of a stack positioned in the receptacle, a pairof feed rolls adjacent to said movable wall whereby an envelope being moved from the receptacle by rolls,

the belt immediately contacts with said the axes of said rolls being relatively movable, supporting shafts for the rolls and mechanism connecting the movable shaft with said movable wall in such manner that when the edge of an envelope is engaged by the said feed rolls, an upward movement of the roll is effected which tends to force the end wall downwardly.

6. A machine of the character described, the combination of an envelope receptacle,

a vertically disposed stack member, a feedroll movably disposed adjacent the receptacle and adapted to be engaged and raised by a fed envelope, connecting mechanism between the feed roll and the stack member and operative upon the engagement of an envelope with the feed roll to cause a choking move ment of envelope stack member to prevent the passage of more than one envelope under the feed roll.

7. The combination of an envelope receptacle having a support and a movable wall at an angle thereto, means for moving an envelope from the receptacle past the end of the movable wall, means moving in proportion to the thickness of the envelope for permitting a corresponding opposite movement of said wall. 4

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

JOSEPH A. NIPCHILD.

Images