Patent GB-439109-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for placing enclosures such as letters or circulars in envelopes
IPC: B43M5/04
Filed: 1934-05-23
Abstract: 439,109. Wrapping-machines. BALLATORE, A. A., Bradenham, Overnhill Road, and IVORY, E. R., Trianon, Croome's Hill, both in Downend, near Bristol. May 23, 1934, No. 15372. [Class 94 (i)] Circulars and the like are enclosed in an envelope blank which is folded over it and sealed. The envelope blank is conveyed in flat formation to a stationary folding station, an enclosure is mechanically deposited upon the blank, which is folded about the enclosure while at rest at the folding station, and the formed envelope and enclosure is removed. The enclosure may be separately folded before assembly with the blank. The machine, shown in plan in Fig. 1, has an enclosure feeding station B, an enclosure folding station C, an envelope blank supply station E, an envelope folding station D, and a delivery station F. The envelope blanks are shaped as shown in Fig. 11, with a central panel G, end flaps G<1>, G4, and side flaps G<2>, G<3> separated from the central panel by folding creases G<5>, G<6>. The blanks are stacked in a magazine 80, Figs. 1 and 5, cut away at 81 to accommodate the end flaps. The base plate 84, which is the same shape as the blanks, is raised by a ratchet and pawl mechanism, and the blanks are transferred by a stencil gummer 86 having a rubber gummer 87, mounted on a horizontally reciprocatory slide 88 on a guide bar 89 adapted to be vertically reciprocated. The gummer descends and picks up a blank and transfers it to station D, where it is retained by rubber tipped fingers 126, while the gummer returns to receive adhesive from a roller 111. The enclosures H are stacked in a casing 2, Figs. 1 and 3, on a base plate 3 mounted on a vertical rack 4 engaged by a pinion 5 driven by a ratchet 7 and pawls 8, 8<a>. The pawls are actuated by a cam-operated link 11 which also oscillates an arm 12 carrying a suction head 14 connected to a pump. Each oscillation of the link 11 causes the top enclosure to be lifted and the pile to be raised to a corresponding extent. Grippers 24, 25 seize the top enclosure and transfer it to position C, where it rests on a thin horizontal base plate 41, Figs. 1 and 10, of rectangular shape, while a plate 46, cut away at 45 descends and rests on the centre. Side plates 41a, 41<b> similarly cut away at 45, and hinged to the plate 41, are turned over as indicated in Fig. 10 to fold the enclosure to a third of its original area. The actuating mechanism and controls of the folding plates and associated mechanism are arranged to allow the folders &c., to be moved bodily across to the folding station D. In order to effect this, the actuating levers are formed with lateral pins engaging slots on the levers of the folding plates. On arrival at the position shown in Fig. 7, a clamp 141 rises and moves into the position shown and then falls to turn the flap Glover on to the enclosure, and holds it in position while the folding plates recede, the cut away portions of the plates allowing the blanks to be stripped off. A knife edge 158 assists the folding and is removed before the clamp arrives in the lower position. A plate 159, Figs. 1 and 7, one of a series of four on an intermittently rotated turret, descends and presses the blanks while folders 183, 183a are advanced from the sides to turn over the flaps G2, G<3>. The folder 183a is ridged to prevent the removal of gum from the flap G<2>. The folders 183 are mounted in guides 185 and are actuated in succession rapidly so that a clamp 172 can descend and secure the folds before the flaps have time to spring open. The plate 159 rises about its pivot 178 and the turret rotates through 90 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1, and then descends to present the envelope to final folding and withdrawal mechanism F. The withdrawal mechanism comprises jaws 202, the upper of which folds up the gummed flap G<4> and then moves forward to fold it down and seize the end of the envelope. Ejector prongs 217 remove the envelope from the jaws, from which it falls into a delivery shoot 222. The finished product is as shown in Fig. 12. The side flaps are folded down and joined in a longitudinal seam, the end flap G<4> is gummed on the top of the side flaps, and the end flap G<1> is folded inside. The machine may be modified to produce envelopes adhesively closed at both ends, additional adhesive being applied to those parts of the flaps G<2>, G<3> which overlie the flap G<1> when closed. When the enclosures are of an appreciable thickness, the long seam clamping members may be electrically heated. The envelope blanks may be cut from a web.