Patent GB-190619799-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Introducing Letters, Printed Matter and the like into Envelopes.
Inventor: SCHOENING HERMANN
Filed: 1906-09-05
Granted: 1907-03-28
Abstract: 19,799. Schoening, H. Sept. 5. Feeding envelopes; damping envelopes.-Relates to machines for introducing letters, printed matter, and other objects into envelopes having closing flaps, and for damping and closing the envelopes. A number of envelopes are carried on a support 1 and are pressed forwards by a follower 4. A blade 5, carried by a lever 6 and actuated by a cam on a shaft 11, passes between the closing-flap and the body of the foremost envelope and feeds it upwards. The envelope is raised until the fold reaches the top of a plate 12. The body of the envelope is then pressed against the plate 12 by a roller on an arm 21, actuated by a spring 65 and controlled by a lever 23 and cam. Further motion of the blade 5 turns back the closing- flap on to a plate 66 which is pivoted at its lower end to a fixed plate 13. An arm on a shaft 15 carrying a roller 14 is then rocked by a projection 16 on the lever 6, so that the roller 14 holds the flap of the envelope down on the plate 66. The body of the envelope is opened to receive the enclosure by a blade 25 carried by a camactuated lever 27. The letter or other article to be inserted is placed between two plates 34, 35 pivoted to a cam-actuated lever 32, and rests on a pivoted gate 45. The plates 34, 35 are pressed towards each other by a spring and are held apart, when the lever 32 is in the upper position, by a plate 37 which engages a fixed stop 38. The gate 45 is held closed by a rod 42 and lever 41 which is supported by the end of the lever 32. When the lever 32 descends, the gate 45 falls and the plates 34, 35 close on the letter. The letter is inserted in the envelope and is retained, as the lever 32 rises, by the arm 21. A strip 54 of porous material is carried by a plate 58 and is connected by tubes 60 with rubber or like balls 62 containing water. The plate 58 is pivoted to a frame 51 mounted on a shaft 52. An arm on the shaft 52 is connected by a rod 55 with a camactuated lever 56. The porous strip 54 is thereby caused to moisten that part of the body of the envelope which comes in contact with the gummed flap when the envelope is closed. A shaft 70 is then rotated by a cord 71 attached to a camactuated lever 72. An arm 110 on the shaft 70 engages an arm 116 on the shaft 15 and withdraws the roller 14, which is held retracted by a spring 112. A curved blade 68 on the shaft 70 then turns down the plate 66 and closes the envelope. The arm 21 is withdrawn and the envelope falls down a guide-plate 18 on to a support 81. A rocking plate 76 stacks the envelopes against a follower 82. In a modification, the closing-flap is folded inside the body of the envelope. The blade 25 which opens the body of the envelope may be formed in two parts adjustable towards and from each other to suit envelopes of varying size. The opening- blade 25 may be dispensed with and the opening performed by the plates 34, 35 which carry the letter. In the form shown in Fig. 7, the,envelopes are fed forward by a plate 5<a> to which are pivoted folding-arms 108. When the fold of the envelope reaches the edge of a surface 13<a>, the arms 108, actuated by springs, fold back the body of the envelope against a surface 12<a>.