Patent GB-206543-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for making envelopes and the like
IPC: B31B19/00
Filed: 1922-05-11
Abstract: 206,543. Carlton, N., and Kersten, A. May 11, 1922. Envelopes and the like, making.-In a machine for making envelopes &c. the blank is brought to and lowered at the side-flap folding station, transferred to the end-flap folding station, where it is again lowered, and then transferred by rollers to a delivery point. The three planes of operation are shown at A, B, C, Fig. 5. The mechanism at each folding station is adjustable laterally to accommodate different sizes of blanks. The blanks 99 are fed from a lay-board 3 to the first station by chains 53 passing through guide channels 87, 88 and carrying two pairs of spring-equipped fingers 68. The feed-chains make one revolution for two revolutions of the folding mechanism and deliver each blank against stops (not shown), the fingers 68 being removed from the blank by adjustable shields 91, 92 which depress the fingers, as shown in Fig. 13. The shaft 62 carrying the sprockets 67 for the chains 53 is driven by chains 56, 60 from the sprocket 55 on the shaft 27. The tension of the chains 53 is adjusted by the hand-wheels 76 and springs 78, which operate on the shaft 62. Side-flap folding. The first folding is done by the blades 85, 86 carried by the bridgepiece 84 on the rods 82. Bellcranks 80 operated by cams 36, 41 on the shaft 34 actuate the blades 85, 86, the depression of which forces the centre of the blank between the supporting rods 89, 90, raising the side-flaps at right-angles, as shown in Fig. 7. Side-folding blades 45, 46, pivoted at 43, 44 to the frames 17, 16, are then operated by the cams 40, 42 on the shaft 34, the timing being adjusted so that one flap folds over the other. Secured to the shaft 34 is a gear-wheel 33 meshing with a gearwheel 98 on a shaft 93. Two pairs of arc-shaped castings 35, 39, 94, 95 are carried by the shafts 34, 98 and transfer the partly-folded blank from the blades 85, 86, as shown in Fig. 9. The ends of the blades 85, 86 are thinned down and stopped short of the arc castings so that the folds of the - blank are well pressed during transferring. Transferring. The blank is passed through feed-rollers 100 - - 104 between the folding-stations to a guide-plate 173. The upper rollers 100, 101 are carried bv a bracket on the shaft 111 to the end of which is secured a crank 110 connected to a link 109. A bowl 113 on the upper end of the link 109 engages a cam 108 on the shaft 93, so that the feed-rollers 100, 101 are raised intermittently to prevent them coming into contact with the gummed flap of the blank. The lower rollers 102 - - 104 are operated through a train of gears from the pinion 33. End-flap folding. The partly-folded blank is delivered by the transferring rollers on to guides 174 and against stops (not shown) at the end-flap folding station, the mechanism of which is of similar construction to that for the side-folding. The blank is depressed between supporting rods by blades 136, 137 carried by a bridge-piece 135 and operated by a cam on the shaft 122 and bellcranks. Cams 128, 138 operate side-folders 142, 141 and arcs 127, 129 acting with arcs 148, 147 transfer the completely-folded envelope to delivery rolls. Pressure between corresponding pairs of arcs is ensured by providing the upper shafts 93, 143 which carry the arcs 94, 95 and 147, 148 with springs 93<x>, 143<x>. The machine is driven from a pulley on the shaft 27 which drives the first station mechanism through the pinion 29 and which carries a bevel pinion 30 engaging a second bevel pinion 31 on the shaft 32. The shaft 32 carries a pinion 124 engaging the second station gear-wheel 123, so that the mechanisms of the two stations are operated synchronously. On completion, the envelope is delivered between rollers which may press the gummed flaps while still keeping the sealing-flap open. Adjustment for different sizes of blank. One or both of the frames supporting the folding mechanism at each station is adjustable laterally to accommodate blanks or different sizes. As shown in Fig. 5, one frame 17 is mounted in a crossslide and traversed by a nut 20 and screwed rod 21, operated by a hand-wheel 26 through pinions 22, 24. A chain-wheel 23 on the shaft 21 carries a chain 70 driving a chain-wheel 71 on a screwed shaft 72. This shaft carries a forked arm 73 which engages the sprocket 67 of the chain 53, so that lateral movement of the two sprockets 51, 67 takes places simultaneously. The folding-cam 40 and arc casting 39 are mounted on a brush 38 slidably fitted on the key 37 in the shaft 34, and the arc castings 94, 148 can be moved along the shafts 93, 143 in accordance with the lateral adjustments of the frames 17, 116. The frame 116 is adjusted by the hand-wheel 121, screwed shaft 120 and nut 119.