Patent GB-374355-A (GB)
Title: Improved machine for enclosing letters in envelopes
IPC: B43M5/04
Filed: 1931-10-15
Abstract: 374,355. Inserting sheets in envelopes. CLARE, H., 11, Zimmerweg, Berne, Switzerland. Oct. 15, 1931, No. 28671. Convention date, March 26. [Class 94 (i).] The machine opens envelopes, inserts letters or like sheet material therein, moistens the flap and closes the envelope. The envelopes 8, Fig. 1, are fed forward against an endplate 9 in a cage 10 by a pusher plate 12 running on a roller 11. The wires forming the cage are bent at 14 to cause the envelopes to separate slightly at their upper edges. A plate 16, Figs. 1 and 4, is mounted on a shaft 15 and is rotated so that the top edge of the envelope is bent backwards and the flap 81 is swung outwards so as to be engaged and partly opened by blades 17, which are moved from the lower position shown in Fig. 2 to the upper position to open the flap about 40‹. A roller 25, mounted in a forked arm 23 and guided in a slot 24, moves upwards from position 251, Fig. 1, and carries the envelope flap with it into contact with a feed roller 26. The rollers 25, 26 now rotate together and the envelope is fed upwards to embrace a tongue-shaped plate 29 which, at an appropriate moment, is swung about its pivot 292 from the position 29<3> into a vertical receiving position. A plate 31, cut out in the middle at 31<1>, presses on the back of the plate 29 and engages and opens out the flap of the envelope. The back of the envelope is supported by a five-pronged rake 32<1>, of which the outermost prongs are somewhat more advanced than the others, so that the back of the envelope is slightly curved and the opening operation facilitated. The sheet material to be inserted is folded in any suitable manner and fed between endless bands 27 co-operating with guide plates 28, and passes between the plates 29, 31 into the envelope, the plate 29 making, at this moment, a short outward movement. A holding member 34 moves towards the plate 29 to hold the assembly in position while it is moved in the direction of the arrow into position 293. During this movement the roller 25 is momentarily lowered to make room for the lower edge of the envelope, which, at the end of the movement, is brought against a roller 39 mounted in a drum 35. A displaceably mounted roller 40 moves from position 40<2> to the position shown in full lines. The holder 34 is released from its holding position and the roller 39 is rotated to strip the envelope and contents from the plate 29 and to feed it between guides 38 on the drum against a stop 41. The body of the envelope is now completely within the drum with the flap projecting outside. The drum is now rotated through 180‹ and the flap is folded down by a pressure roller 57 upon a moistened felt strip mounted in a plate 36 and corresponding in shape to the gummed portion of the flap. The drum comes to rest with the rollers 39, 40 opposite delivery rollers 50, 51. The roller 40 is moved to the open position and the stop 41 moves the envelope into the nip of the delivery rollers 50, 51, which close the flap as they remove the envelope from the drum. The moistening device is replenished during the next half rotation by a rubber roller 56 applying water from a trough 54.