Patent GB-186150-A (GB)
Title: Device for feeding envelopes to typewriting machines
IPC: B41J13/12
Filed: 1921-06-21
Abstract: 186,150. Marks, E. C. R., (American Speed-O-Feeder Co.). June 21, 1921. Envelope-feeding arrangements; carriagereturning mechanism; platen rotation for blanking. Apparatus of the kind described in Specification 7537/13 for supplying envelopes to a typewriter, and a device for rotating the platen roller to feed the envelopes to the printing line and eject the preceding envelope are operated by a common driving-mechanism; preferably, the diving-mechanism is adapted to return the paper-carriage and then to operate the envelopesupplying and platen-rotating devices in sequence. The driving-mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is mounted on a base 4 and comprises a hand-lever 22 on a rock-shaft 21 provided with arms 23, 24, 46 operating the envelope-supplying apparatus and the platenrotating and carriage-returning devices respectively. The arm 23 is connected by a link 57 to a lever 76 of the envelope-supplying apparatus 3, described below. The arm 24 operates a sector 26 gearing with a segment 28 which carries, on a spring 31, a pawl 32 coonerating with a ratchet-wheel 33. A bevelwheel 35 on the ratchet-wheel gears with a bevelwheel 36 splined to a shaft 41 which is coupled by a universal joint 47<1> to the shaft 47 of the platen roller 5. The arm 46 is connected to a sliding collar 43 adapted to engage a boss 44 on the shaft 41. On operation of the hand-lever, the paper-carriage is returned by means of the collar 43 and the apparatus 3 is operated, whilst on return of the hand-lever the pawl 32 is effective to rotate the platen roller. The feed imparted by the pawl is adjusted by means of a rocking mask 55 which engages a pin 56 on the pawl and is adjustable by means of a worm 51. 1'he paper-carriage and platen roller can be operated or shifted in the ordinary manner without interference from the driving-mechanism. The driving-mechanism is supported by a bracket 19 vertically adjustable on a laterally adjustable stand 10. In the envelope-supplying apparatus 3 shown in Figs. 1, 15, and 18, the envelopes E are stacked, on edge and flap downwards, on ways 66, and the front envelope is pushed down. wards and permitted to drop into the bite of the feed-rollers 6 by a sliding pusher 81 having rearwardly bent flexible fingers 82 for engaging the flap-fold. The envelope is then pushed into the bite by a second sliding pusher 85 independent of the pusher 81 and having lugs 88 for engaging the top edge of the envelope. The pusher 81 is secured to a block 79 which runs in a guide-slot 80 in a plate 65 and is connected to the lever 76. The pusher 85 is guided by slots 86, 89 in the plate and when raised, by the block 79, is retained by a detent 96 which catches a lug 101. The link 57 rocks the lever 76 and causes the pusher 81 to descend, the movement being timed to cause the envelope to enter the bite of the feed-rollers 6 when the paper-carriage has been returned to the normal position. When the pusher 81 is approaching the bottom, the lever 76 trips the detent 96, and the pusher 85 descends by gravity; the movement may be assisted by a spring-urged lever 95. In the upper position of the slide 85, the lugs 88 are out of contact with the envelopes, but when the slide descends, hooks thereon engage a curved part 91 of the plate 65 and carry the lugs into the path of the envelopes. The apparatus is secured to brackets 61 vertically adjustable on pillars 60. The envelopes are pushed along the ways 66 by a follower consisting of plates 70 connected to a spring-urged bail 73.