Patent GB-137861-A (GB)
Title: Machines for making double button and string-closures and securing them to envelopes
IPC: B31B1/90
Filed: 1920-01-15
Abstract: 137,861. Trenchard, H. Dec. 31, 1917, [Convention date]. Setting envelope-fasteners.-Relates to machines for affixing fasteners to envelopes, the fasteners comprising a buttonlike member of cardboard or the like secured to the body of the envelope, and a similar button secured to the flap, as shown in Fig. 22. A machine. according to the invention, attaches both buttons simultaneously, preferably by means of eyelets, and a reinforcing- washer, together with a string adapted to engage with the button on the envelope body, is preferably associated with the flap button in the one operation. In the machine described, the tools that set the eyelets also serve to punch out the buttons and washers from strips of material which are automatically fed forward. The envelopes are placed singly in the machine, being positioned on an adjustable table 250, Fig. 1, with the flap extended against a die plate 84, Figs. 3 and 5, and with a fixed shoe 20, Figs. 3 and 4, inserted in the body of the envelope, the outer part of which thus lies against a die plate 38. Driving-mechanism.-One rotation of a power-driven main shaft 3 effects the operations of feeding forward three strips from which the buttons and a reinforcing-washer are cut out, feeding an eyelet from each of two boxes, affixing the two buttons, the washer, and a string by means of the eyelets, and cutting off the string. The shaft 3 carries a sliding clutch 7, Figs. 1 and 10, which is normally disengaged from jaws 6 on a continuouslyrotating driving-pulley 5. On depressing and at once releasing a treadle 15, the clutch is freed from a detent 12 and thrown by a spring into engagement with the jaws 6. The shaft is then caused to make one revolution, at the end of which the clutch is thrown out of action by the part 12 acting on a cam 11. Fastener forming and setting mechanisms.- '1'hree plungers 23, 80, 100, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are reciprocated by cranks and connecting-rods driven from the main shaft 3 by gears 24, 25 and 102, 103. The plungers 23, 80 are connected by a transverse rod 29. Each of the three plungers carries a punch adapted to cut disks, to form the buttons and a washer, from strips of tape 43, .89, 116, which are intermittently fed forward in front of the respective die plates, the feed-rollers being actuated by ratchet mechanism operated by cams on the main shaft. Each plunger also carries a smaller punch such as 33, Fig. 4, and the plungers 23, 100 each contain a spring-pressed pin 36, 109, adapted to pick up an eyelet which has dropped to the bottom of a shoot 70 or 154, Fig. 1. The disk formed by the punch 35 is carried forward on the pin 36, and the eyelet is forced through the disk and the envelope and upset against the anvil 21. Between the plungers 80, 100, whicli move simultaneously in opposite directions, a string-looping device is situated, comprising a hollow wheel 200, so geared to the main shaft as to rotate at a greater speed. A U. piece 204 passing through the wheel 200 is adapted to grasp the end of a string against the face of the wheel when the string is presented thereto, the movement of the part 204 through the wheel being controlled by cams and springs (not shown). The string is fed to the looper by a reciprocating part 215, Figs. 1 and 5, geared to the main shaft. Shears (not shown) are mounted on a spring-controlled oscillating member that is moved forward at the proper time by the part 215 so as to cut the string after it has been fed forward and looped, the shears being opened and closed by fixed cams acting on one of the blades. As the plunger 100 moves forward, the pin 109 within it is released from a catch and shot forward by its spring. Picking up an eyelet, and passing through the strip 116, it meets the end of the plunger 80, which has punched out a washer from the strip 89, and a length of string is then wound round the pin 109 by the looper 200. The plunger 100, moving farther, punches a disk from the strip 116, to form the flap button, and carries it forward together with the eyelet, until the plungers meet, forcing the eyelet through the button and washer, and securing them, together with the string, to the flap of the envelope by upsetting the eyelet. As the plunger 100 returns, the pin 109 is retained within it by its catch (not shown). Eyelets, feeding.-The eyelets are stored in rotary boxes 60, Figs. 1 and 12, from which they pass into shoots 70, 154, leading to the setting- mechanism. An escapement device, provided in connexion with each shoot to allow the eyelets to drop one at a time, comprises a slide 71, Fig. 7, having two stepped knife-edges which pass into the shoot, beneath the column of eyelets. The slide is reciprocated by mechanism associated with the tape-feeding devices.