Patent GB-190411927-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Envelope Sealing Machines.
Inventor: FANCHER CHARLES JAMES
Filed: 1904-05-25
Granted: 1904-06-30
Abstract: 11,927. Fancher, C. J. May 25. Damping envelopes.-In machines for damping and closing envelopes, the envelope is drawn out from the bottom of a pile by a slide, and a moistening-brush actuated by the slide passes over the gummed flap, which is then pressed down by a pair of rollers. The envelopes are carried in a hopper comprising four corner sections, of which one pair 15 is fixed to the frame and the other 16 is mounted on guide-bars and can be adjusted by racks and pinions for any width of envelope. A follower 22 presses the envelopes down. The slide 24, which removes the envelopes from the hopper, has extensions working in slots in the frame and connected by rods with cranks on a shaft 32. A sprocketwheel on this shaft is connected by a chain with a smaller wheel which may be turned by a handcrank. A water reservoir 34 is attached by spring clips 35 to a cross-bar 11. An extension of the reservoir contains absorbent material 36 which conveys water to a brush 38 mounted on a shaft 37 carried by brackets 24<c> attached to the slide 24. The brush is caused to rotate, as the slide moves forward, by a spur-wheel 39 on the shaft 37 gearing with a fixed rack 40. Mounted in brackets attached to the frame is a rock-shaft 41 carrying two arms 42 held against pins 44 by springs 43. The arms are attached at the top to a plate 45 carrying a stud 45<a> which can be engaged by a lever 56 pivoted to the slide 24 and pulled down by a spring 57. A stop plate 47, mounted on a rock-shaft 46 and actuated by a spring 48, prevents the movement of more than one envelope at a time. Two pairs of sealing-rollers are used, the upper roller of each pair having a spur-wheel gearing with a wheel 55 on the shaft 32. The roller 49<a> is of blotting- paper, and the roller 49 is corrugated so as to grip the envelope. The lower roller of each pair is mounted on links pressed upwards by springs. On turning the crank handle, the slide 24 moves forward and a projection 24<b> attached to it passes over the sealing-flap of the lowest envelope. The lever 56 strikes the stud 45<a> and carries forward the plate 45. The brush 38 rotates until it passes over the gummed flap which rests on the plate 45. The latter is further depressed by the brush, and the edge of the envelope is gripped by the rollers 49, 49<a>. The motion of the slide and brush is then reversed, and the plate 45 escapes from the brush and is carried back by the springs 43. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the rock-shaft 41 carries arms 42<a> which support a plate 45<b> and one of which has an extension 42<b> which is held against a pin 44<a> by a spring 43. The plate 45<b> it provided with fingers 58, and at each end a stop plate 47<a>, carried by a pivoted arm 47<b>, is held down on the fingers by a spring 48<c>. As the slide moves forward, the plate 45<b> is depressed by the rotating brush 38. A lug 60 then engages a lug 59 on the lever 47<b>, which is thereby raised, allowing the projection 24<b> of the slide to pass with the envelope beneath the stop plate 47<a>. The roller 49<a> contains annular grooves to receive the fingers 58 when the plate 45<b> is depressed.