Patent GB-929841-A (GB)
Abstract: 929,841. Labelling envelopes. EUREKA SPECIALTY PRINTING CO. July 30, 1960, No. 26617/60. Class 73. Relates to a machine for addressing envelopes by the application of adhesive address labels and which permits the rejection of labels to avoid addressing envelopes for selected persons and the rejection of labels having typographic or other defects, such labels for exclusion and rejection being previously punched with holes 180, Fig. 14. According to the invention the machine comprises means for bringing the envelopes and labels into adjoining relationship and a punch 51, Fig. 3, for severing a label from a sheet or roll and attaching it to an envelope, a label sensing finger 47 being provided such that when the finger 47 enters a hole 180 provided in a " reject " label, no envelope is fed into adjoining relationship therewith and the punch merely severs and discharges the label. The envelopes are fed by a belt 22, Fig. 1, via a separator device 23 to the punch located in a housing 25 and a sheet of labels LS is fed intermittently under a guide-plate 31 and over an envelope positioned under the punch. The label sheet LS is fed forwardly one label at a time by reciprocating shuttle bars 36, Fig. 3, having projections 153 which engage in label feed apertures 152, Fig. 14. Mounted on the guide-plate 31 is a housing 45 for a label sensing switch LSS controlled by movement of the sensing finger 47 which in the absence of a label or when engaging in a hole 180 of a " reject " label, pivots downwardly into a recess 48, Fig. 7, provided in a block 50 providing a stationary cutting edge which co-operates with the punch 51 for severing the end label. The envelopes are fed by the belt 22, Fig. 4, to separator devices in the housing 23, including a roller 70 supported by a lever 71 and pressed downwardly by a spring 72 under control of an adjustable cam 73. A main feed roller 74 engages the lower surface of the envelope and advances it for engagement by rolls 63, 65 which feed it under the punch. Envelope feed control fingers EFF are effective in the raised position for preventing envelope feeding but can be lowered under control of a solenoid 75 to permit envelope feeding. The rolls 63 are positively driven and advance an envelope beneath a table 24 while pressing it upwardly thereagainst. The spring-urged frame 60 carrying the rolls 63 also supports a sliding member 66 which can be adjusted lengthwise of the frame and carries an envelope sensing switch ESS which is actuated when an envelope encounters a switch finger 67. A second envelope sensing switch ESSa is mounted fixedly on the frame 60 and is actuated when an envelope encounters its actuating finger 68a. When the switch ESS is actuated, electrical circuits and mechanical parts are made effective to cause a wetting device body 84 to move down and then up again so that a brush 85 wets a part of the top surface of the passing envelope for a width and length corresponding to the size of the label to be applied. Assuming that the first label of a column is proper to be used, the sensing finger 47 is held raised and the envelope feeding fingers EFF are lowered to release an envelope, which then engages the finger 67 to close the envelope sensing switch ESS and the operations of label feeding, wetting the envelope and of the severing descent of the punch 51 with delivery of the detached label on to the envelope occur. When, however, the finger 47 engages in a hole 180 of a " reject " label, the switch LSS is operated to establish a circuit through the solenoid 75 and the feed fingers EFF prevent an envelope being supplied for this " reject " label, which is then advanced beneath the punch 51. The punch then operates to sever the label without need of movement of switch ESS, and deliver it on to the stage where a succeeding envelope will eject it from the machine. The start of a new cycle is prevented until a passing envelope has cleared the second envelope sensing switch ESSa operated by the finger 68a. The machine may also be operated such that label movements can be affected without delivery of envelopes and conversely feeding of envelopes without application of labels. This may be done for testing the operation of the machine.