Improvements in Counters for Envelope and analogous Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Counters for Envelope and analogous Machines.
We HENRY BUCKLEY COOLEY, 10 Walnut Street, JOHN MADISON NOBLE,
144 Albany Avenue and JAMES EDWARD TREVOR, 37 Chestnut Street,
Machinists, all of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention relates to counters for envelope and analogous machines and our
objects are to make a counter for such machines which will, first, accurately and
unvaryingly count the envelopes cards or the like (we will refer to them as
envelopes throughout this Specification) as they are received from the machine to
which our mechanism is attached, and second, to count only as each envelope is
received so that when from any cause, an envelope should not be received by it no
count will be made, and our further object is to provide a chain in connection with
our counter which will remain stationary while a predetermined number of
envelopes are being placed upon it and will be automatically moved step by step,
as each bundle or package of envelopes is completed, and in general, we aim to
provide a counter and chain in connection therewith as will be particularly adapted
to envelope machines, or analogous structures, having a bottom delivery.
To this end, our invention consists in mechanism for receiving the envelopes
from the machine and counting the same as they are received; and mechanism for
pushing the envelopes successively upon the delivery chain; mechanism for
packing and holding the same in position thereon; and mechanism for automatically
moving the chain one section at a time, upon the completion of each bundle or
package of envelopes, and in general and specific details entering into these
imechanisms, for accomplishing the purposes set forth.
We will describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of
which
Figure 1 is a top plan view showing our improved counter mechanism applied to
an envelope machine.
Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view.
Figure 3 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow, Figure 4.
Figure 4 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of a detached portion, viewed in the opposite
direction to that shown in Figure 4.
Figures 6 and 7 are details of the pawl mechanism.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are details of a modification of the pawl mechanism,
Figure 9 being a section on the line 9-9, Figure 8.
Figure 1 is a detail of the mechanism for causing the chain to move one section
at a time.
Figure 12 is a detail in side and front views, of the side cam thereof.
Figure 13 is a detail of the adjustable bearing for one of the chain sprockets.
Figures 14 to 19 are details of the chain structure.
Figures 20 to 22 are details of the supporting frames.
Figure 23 is a front view of the packer or
pusher head.
Figure 24 is a detail, in top plan and vertical sectional views, of the shaft and
ingers carried thereby for retaining the envelopes on edge in the chain.
Figure 25 is a sectional detail showing the manner of mounting the counter gears.

page_text: Figure 26 is a vertical sectional view on the line 26-26, Figure 3, looking in
the direction of the arrow.
Figure 27 is a detail in plan of the buffer.
Referring now to the drawings in which the same characters refer to the same
or corresponding parts throughout all the views, 1, indicates the frame of the
machine to which is secured, by suitable means, the side frames +, for supporting
the counter mechanism. These frames 4 are connected by two cross bars or
pieces 5 and 6, the whole constituting a supplemental frame and supporting
structure for the various rolle, gearing etc., as hereinafter more particularly
described. This structure is of course attached to the frame 1 of the machine at a
suitable point below the delivery mechanism of the machine, which is supported
upon a table, not shown in the drawings, on top of the frames I. The dotted lines,
Figure 1, indicated by the letter A represent the direction in which the drying
chain or other mechanism travels and is not illustrated in this application inasmuch
as it is only necessary to understand that the counting mechanism is to be attached
to the frame of the machine at such points below the delivery of the machine as to
properly receive the envelopes as they are discharged therefrom; and in the present
application of the invention, it is illustrated as applied to a machine which has a
bottom delivery such for example as that disclosed in our application for a Patent
filed of even date herewith.
The receiving rolls 7 and 8, are suitably journalled in the cross bars 5 and 6, in
their respective bearings and k¹. These rolls are made in two parts mounted
upon their shafts, leaving a space between the two parts for the pawl 9, which is
journalled upon the shaft of the roll 8. Upon a shaft supported in bearings m', in
the bars 5 and 6, adjacent to the rolls 8, is a roll 19, rigidly fixed to its shaft so as
to rotate continuously therewith. Upon this same shaft is loosely mounted a bevelled
gear 18, with an elongated hub having its face in loose contact with the roll 19,
and provided on the large thereof with a ratchet tooth 18°; meshed with the
gear 18, is another bevelled gear 17, jourualled in the frame 4 and provided on its
outer end with a one tooth gear 10, which meshes with a ten tooth gear 11, upon
whose bushing is mounted a second single tooth gear 12, meshing with a five tooth
gear 13 as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 25. By this arrangement, it will be seen
that one revolution of the bevelled gear 17 with its one tooth gear 10, will cause
the gear 11 to move one tooth and one revolution of the gear 11, will be equivalent
to ten revolutious of the gear 10, and one revolution of the gear 11 through the
one tooth gear 12, mounted on the same bushing therewith, will move the gear 13
one tooth and one revolution of the latter consequently requires five revolutions
of the gear 11, and fifty revolutions of the gear 10. It will thus be seen that
when the gear 10 is caused to make a single revolution at each time an envelope is
received by and passed between the rolls 7 and 8, the passage of fifty envelopes
between the rolls will cause, through the intervening gears just described, the
gear 13, to make one complete revolution. Of course, any other number may be
selected, if desired, fifty being selected in the present instance merely as an illus
tration, as it is a common number of envelopes forming a pack.
;
Pressing upon the face of the gear 11, is a leaf springs, the object of which is to
prevent the gear 10 from moving the gear 11, more than one tooth at a time by the
momentum given to it as it turns the said gear, the spring serving by its pressure
on the face of the gear to hold the latter in the position in which the tooth 10 leaves
it. The spring presses upon the hub of the gear 13, and serves a similar
purpose with respect to that gear and its driving gear, 12.
111
P
As shown in Figures 20 to 22 inclusive, the frames 4 are provided with suitable
studs 10 and 11, and journal bearings 13', o¹, 1, p and 31, forming bearings
for the hubs or bushings of the gears 10, 12, 13, o, and p, and shafts
and 311,
respectively, and that the cross bars 5 and 6, connecting the two frames 4, are
provided with bearings l', kl, m', for the shafts of the rolls 7, 8 and 19, upon which
shafts are carried the gears l, k, m, respectively, the former bearing being
. preferably slotted so as to receive a compensating or spring actuated journal, as

page_text: shown in Figure 4.. The frames 4 may be attached to the main frame 1, of the
machine, by any suitable means such as flanges and securing bolts, illustrated in the
drawings.
The rolls' 7, 8 and 19, as before stated, rotate continuously with their shafts, upon
the outer ends of which are the intermeshing gears 1, k, i, of equal diameters;
respectively, which receive their motion from the main shaft through the train of
gears a, b, f, g, h, i, k, and I, in the order named, the gear a, being rigidly secured
to the driving shaft 2 of the machine, the receiving rolls 7 and 8, being timed to
make two or more revolutions to one revolution of the roll, 19. The gear i, is
mounted loosely upon its shaft and drives the gear k, while the gear upon the
shaft of the roll 8, drives the gear m and through it, the roll 19, both m and n being
fixed to their shaft. .
4
In order that the mechanism by which the counter train is operated may cause
the same to make the proper count, as the envelopes are received by the receiving
rolls and passed therethrough, we provide a pawl clutching mechanism, shown more
clearly in Figures 2, 6 and 7. As before stated, the bevel gear 18, is loosely.
mounted upon the shaft of the clutch roll 19, and has on its outer end an annular
flange provided with a notch 18, normally engaged by the pawl 9; mounted upon
the shaft of the roll 8, between the two portions thereof, thus being held normally
against rotation. One end 9ª of this pawl, projects slightly beyond and below the
line of contact between the rolls 7 and 8, and it is so balanced that as the envelope
falls from the machine above, between the two rolls, it strikes the end 9, and as
the envelope is gripped by the rolls, it forces down the end of the pawl, thereby
disengaging the pawl from the bevel gear 18, as the envelope is gripped by and
drawn between the rolls 7 and 8.
In the face of this gear 18, is a groove 18", provided with a pin 186, or suitable
shoulder equivalent thereto. Working in a recess in the clutch roll 19, is a
plunger 19, normally pressed outwardly by a spring 19, on one side of which
plunger is a shoulder or recess in contact with pin 19, adapted to limit the outward
movement of the plunger so as to keep the point thereof slightly away from the
bottom of the groove 18", in the hub of the gear 18. It will be seen that the end
of this plunger is pointed and projects normally within the groove 18ª, so that as
the roll 19, rotates continuously with the shaft, the pointed end of the plunger will
travel in the groove and in each rotation will come in contact with the pin or
shoulder 18, and will slide over the said shoulder as long as the gear 18, is held
from rotation by the pawl 9. While the envelope however, is passing between the
rolls 7 and 8, the pawl will be raised and held out of engagement with the tooth 18%,
thus permitting the plunger 19", to engage and clutch the shoulder or pin 18%, the
spring 19b, being of just sufficient strength to prevent the said shoulder or pin from
pushing the plunger back into its recess when the pawl does not hold the hub
against rotation.
The gear 18, and the roll 19, will thus be locked together and will rotate in this
manner until the envelope has passed between the rolls, releasing the pawl 9, which
drops down again and engages the hub, the latter of which rotates continuously while
the envelopes are fed regularly, but if the feed is not regular, during such time the
hub will be held against rotation. The cycle of operation is repeated, as each
envelope passes between the receiving rolls; one to each revolution of the roll 19.
By this means, it will be seen, that the gear 18 will make one revolution each
time an envelope passes between the rolls 7 and 8, and the gear 17, with its tooth 10,
will likewise be rotated once at such passage of an envelope.
To secure a positive action for lifting the pawl 9, and to prevent the possibility
of the point 9, scratching or tearing the envelope as it passes through the rolls,
we prefer to employ the modification shown in Figures 8 to 10, in which the pawl
mechanism is made positive in its lifting action and is so timed that it cannot
possibly scratch or tear the envelope in its passage through the rolls.
In this
modification there is mounted upon the roll 19, a land 19, the forward end of
which is indicated by 19°, and the rear end by 19. Secured to the roll 19, against

page_text: and overlapping the rear end of this land is an angle iron or lug 19, the forward
end of which lies between the two ends of the laud, and upon the arm of the
pawl 9, is suitably secured a cam block 8°, having a tappet arm 8, projecting
downwardly from the side of the pawl in line of travel of the land 194, and the
lug 19. A spring s, is attached to the frame at a suitable point and bears down
upon the pawl 9, so as to keep it in engagement with the hub of the gear 18.
By this construction, as the roll 19, rotates, the forward end of the lug 19°, will
come in contact with the tappet, 8, on the pawl, raising the same against the
pressure of the spring and if there is an envelope passing between the rolls 7 and 8,
the entering edge of it will have passed a short distance beyond the depressed
end 9, of the pawl, before the tappet is released by the lug 19, and the pawl end
for this distance will be out of contact therewith; the rear end of the lug 19€,
then passes from under the other end of the pawl which will then drop off of the
same throwing the end, 9, of the pawl in contact with the envelope, thus preventing
the pawl from engaging, at this time, the tooth 18%, on the hub of the gear 18.
At this time, the plunger 19ª, is about in position shown by the star Figure 9, and
further revolution of the shaft will bring this plunger in contact with the pin 18,
in the groove 18, thereby locking the gear 18, and the roll 19 together. The
further rotation of the roll 19, will bring the forward end 19, of the land 19ª, in
contact with the tappet 8ª, just when the envelope remains a short distance between
the rolls 7 and 8, thereby raising the pawl 9, slightly and releasing the pressure of
the end 9, on the envelope as the envelope leaves the receiving rolls. Inasmuch
as the hub of the gear 18, is loosely mounted on the shaft, it will be seen that if
no envelope passes through the rolls, the pawl will be lifted by the lug 19, as
described and dropped back in engagement with its notch 18, thus preventing a
count being made when no envelope passes through. It will be further observed
that the envelope is permitted to enter between the rolls a short distance before
the pawl comes in contact therewith, and that the latter is lifted out of contact
with the envelope just before the envelope passes from the receiving rolls, so that
there is no liability whatever of the edge of the envelope being torn or scratched
as it passes through. The lifting action of the pawl is thus rendered positive;
and there can be no count, with either construction, unless an envelope passes
between the receiving rolls.
For these reasons, therefore, we consider the construction just described, and
illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, as the preferable pawl mechanism.
We will next describe the mechanism whereby the envelopes are pushed into the
appropriate section in the delivery chain after they are dropped from the receiving
rolls, and also the mechanism for packing and retaining the said envelopes in the
proper position upon the chain. This mechanism is more clearly shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 14 to 19 and 23, where it will be seen that the chain structure is
attached to the frame 4. The side rods 37, of this structure are for the purpose of
guiding and retaining the upper parts of the sections D Figure 17, of the chain and
the envelopes contained therein. Suitably bolted to the main frame are the
frames 33, provided with the guideways 35, Figures 14 and 15, upon which
guideways, the pintles 36, connecting the links, 34, of the chain, are adapted to
slide. Each link of the chain is formed of a flat upper face with two Z-shaped
lugs 351 projecting from the lower side thereof through which lugs the pintles 36
pass to connect the separate links together an upright 34' being formed on the
links at the end of each section, between which the envelopes are held. Passing
through one end of the frames 33 is a shaft 31 journalled in the frames 4 upon
which a suitable sprocket wheel 32 is mounted for giving motion to the chain. In
the other end of the said frames 33 near the outermost side of the table 3 we
provide another sprocket 40 Fig. 13 around which the chain travels. This sprocket
is preferably mounted in an adjustable bearing block 39 which is provided with a
journal 38 in which the shaft of said sprocket rotates; each of the frames 33 is
slotted to allow for the longitudinal movements of the shaft of the sprocket when
adjusted and the bearing block 39 is provided with similar slots having a binding

page_text: screw therein the end of the block being in contact with an adjusting screw bolt which
passes through a lug cast on the side of the frame 33 in contact with a fixed
post 41 which forms a support for the guide wires 37. By this means any slack in
the chain can be readily compensated for by casing up the screw on the bearing
5 block and screwing the adjusting bolt so as to move the journal bearing 38 of the
sprocket 40 farther away from the bearing of the sprocket 32. We show this
means of adjustment as convenient and simple but it is to be noted that any
ordinary adjustable bearing may be used for this purpose.
It will be observed that the chain travels along side of the table 3 over the
shelf 31 which is below the top of the table so as to bring the top of the sections D
slightly above the table 3. The inside rods, or guide wires 37 extend within a
short distance of the line of travel of the envelopes while the outside rods 37 as
shown in Fig. 2, extend preferably to a point nearly in line with the centre of the
receiving rolls opposite to which the centre of each section D is adapted to be held
while the envelopes are being pushed within the same.
Projecting from the frame 4 below the receiving rolls are two cross head
guides 59 forming ways upon which tubular cross heads 61 are adapted to slide
between which guides the envelope is dropped from the receiving rolls, striking
guide plates 62 the lower edge of the envelope finally resting upon the bottom
plate 63 attached to the block C; this block Cis bolted to the inside frame 33 and
carried by the tubular cross heads 61 is a plate 60 which is adapted to push the
nvelope across the bottom plate 63 into the section D of the chain. This pusher
plate is reciprocated by a bell crank lever fulcrumed upon a pin 68 attached to the
frame 1 of the machine and passing through the sleeve 69 of the said lever, the one
arm 64 of this lever has a slotted connection with the tubular cross heads 61, the
other arm 65 being provided with a friction roll 66 held normally in contact with a
cam 67 on the main shaft 2 by means of a spring " tied to the frame of the
machine. Fig. 23 shows a front view of the head 60 which is provided with
notches on its upper edge to clear the fingers 52 when the latter are projecting
through the plate 42 bringing them below the upper edge of the said pusher head.
This cam 67 is so timed that as the envelope is discharged from the receiving
roll and falls upon the bottom plate 63 in upright position it will permit the
springs to pull the arm 64 toward the chain structure thereby moving the pusher
head or plate across the vertical path of the envelope in its course downward from
the receiving rolls thus pushing the said envelope into the section D of the chain.
The envelopes are retained on edge in an upright position by the end frames 34¹
and the fingers 56 pivotally supported upon the buffer 55 so as to swing in the
direction of travel of the chain, a spring being confined between the buffer and
the bottom of the chamber 57 in which chamber a stud 55' works one end of the
said stud being secured to the buffer, which in the present instance is a bar 55; the
finger 56 is pirotted upon such end of this stud in a slot in the buffer 55.
buffer is shown as supported by the central stud 551 and by similar guiding
studs 55 at each end of the buffer and passing through the frame 4 into
chambers 57 the latter of which may be perforated bosses upon the frame or
provided with bottoms as desired. Additional guiding studs 55" attached to the
buffer 55 and passing through holes in the frame 4 may also be employed.
This
Instead of using a single buffer bar or plate as 55 it is obvious that two or more
tuds 55 each provided with a finger 56 and a springs may be employed, in
which case a chamber 57 would be used for each stud; or such chambers may be
ispensed with and the spring or springs secured at the other ends directly to the
rame 4; but we prefer the particular construction shown.
In order to prevent the envelope from falling forward after the pusher plate
ecedes we provide mechanism which is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and more in
etail in the latter figure. Above the buffer 55 a plate 42 is secured to the side
rame extending between the cross bars 5 and 6 underneath the roll 7 thus
rotecting the envelopes which are being loaded upon the chain below from dust
il etc. This plate is provided near each end with journal bearings 43 in which is

page_text: journalled the shaft 44 preferably square in cross section to which shaft are
attached arms 54 each carrying a downwardly projecting finger 52 the said arms
being preferably connected to the outer side of the shaft 44 by a transverse
piece 54' which comes directly under a slot in the plate 42 so as to afford sufficient
space for the oscillation of the shaft 44 and the consequent movement of the
connecting piece 54' as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 and more in detail in Fig. 24.
Connected to an arm 45 on the outer end of this rock shaft by a slotted
connection 49 is a lever 46 pivoted at 48 the other arm of which lever is provided
with an upward bevel projection 47 which is adapted to be engaged by a pin t
carried by a plate T secured to the face of the gear m.
This lever 46 connecter!
to a fixed part of the machine by an upwardly extending spring s¹, which normally
tends, when the bevel projection is not in contact with the pin t to depress the
arm: 45 of the rock shaft thereby normally holding the fingers 52 downward, the
lower ends of which extend slightly below the top of the envelope, thus preventing
tle envelopes from falling forward and confining them between the buffer and their
pivotted arms and the said fingers. Now it is to be observed that the pin t is
so timed in its revolution with respect to the movement of the pusher plate 60 that
it comes in contact with the bevelled projection on the lever 46 in time to raise the
fingers out of the way of the plate so as to allow it to push the envelope well into
the section of the chain; the pin t releases the lever 46 as the said pusher plate
recedes thus allowing the fingers to be pushed downward in place to hold the
envelopes. By this mechanism the envelope is always kept on edge and the
pressure exerted by the buffer upon the back of the package, which is being formed,
is just sufficient to keep the envelope in a compact upright position within the chain
section. The plate 63 is above the level of the chain so as to hold the bottom of
the envelope in place. This plate it will be observed is at right angles to the
movement of the chain and its structure.
After the section is filled with a package, in the present instance of fifty envelopes,
it is necessary to move the chain just one section; and to do this in time for the
next succeeding section to be in position to receive the first of the next package of
envelopes from the pusher plate, we provide the mechanism, shown more clearly in
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 11 and 12. Referring now particularly to these figures 29 indicates
a hub fixed to and adapted to rotate with the shaft 31 and provided with an arm 30
projecting therefrom; r indicates a spur gear loosely mounted upon the shaft 31 to
the side of which is fixed a disc 20 provided with a single ratchet tooth 21 the
gear and the disc connected thereto are coutinuously rotated upon the shaft 31
this gear receiving its motion from the idler gear q. mounted upon a spindle on the
block C and meshing with a spur gear on one end of the shaft p which carries
at its outer end outside of the frame 4 a gear p² the latter receiving motion through
the train composed of the gear o meshing with the gear e on the hub of the bevel
gear d which meshes with a bevel gear c carrying a spur gear 6 in mesh with the
large spur gear a on the main shaft 2 of the machine. It will thus be seen that the
spur gear with its disc 20 is continuously rotated through the train connecting it
with the main shaft the said gear being so timed as to make two revolutions to
one of the clutch roll 19. The rolls 7 and 8 through the train of gears, previously
described, are likewise continuously rotated and it is now in order to describe the
mechanism by which the disc 20 is clutched to the shaft 31 so as to move the chain
one section when said section has been filled with a predetermined number of
envelopes forming a package.
2°
In the outer end of the arm 30 is journalled a spindle 28 carrying on one end a
pawl 24 Figures 2 to 11 adapted to engage the tooth 21 ou the disc 20 toward
which it is normally pressed by a spring 25 and on the other end a tappet arm 23
whose upward movement is limited by a stop pin 58. Whenever therefore the
pawl 24 is caused to engage the tooth 21 of the disc 20 it will be seen that the arm 30
and the disc will be locked together so that the arm will rotate therewith thus
turning the shaft until the pawl 24 is disengaged unlocking the connection between
the said arm and the disc carried by the gear r.

page_text: To accomplish this locking and unlocking of these two parts together so as to
rotate the shaft to move the chain one section we provide suitable mechanis n
between the last gear of the counter train and the tappet lever 23. Fulcrumed to
lugs 26 on the frame 4 is a trigger in the form of a bell crank lever having one
arm 22 projecting through a slot in the frame and engaging the tappet 23 the other
arm 15 being in engagement with the spring 16 so that the tappet 23 with which
the arm 22 is in contact is normally held upward thus keeping the pawl 24 out of
contact with the disc 20. Mounted upon the bushing of the five tooth gear 13 is.
an arm 14 having a side cam 27 which consists of an inclined surface or recess
running across the face of the said arm and is adapted to engage at the proper time
the arm 15 of the trigger to force it inward towards the frame of the machine
against the action of the spring 16 thereby depressing the other arm 22 of the said
trigger and permitting the spring 25 to throw the pawl 24 against the edge of the
dise 20 thus causing the pawl to drop into the tooth 21 when the latter is brought
under the same by the further revolution of the said disc. By this means the disc
and arm 30 are locked together and the shaft 31 is consequently turned thereby
moving the chain the length of the section D. It will thus be seen that at each
revolution of the arm 14 which is placed upon the shaft slightly in rear of one of
the teeth of the five tooth gear 13 gives enough motion to the side cam thereon as
to carry it into contact with and past the trigger so as to effect the clutching
or locking of the disc 20 and the arm 30 together and allowing the trigger to
spring back into place after the clutching is effected and the shaft 31 moves the
chain one section whereby the said trigger will be in position to release the pawl 24
from the disc 20 when the tappet 23 comes in contact with the arm 22 of the
said trigger upon the completion of the movement of the chain section. It will
thus be observed that a positive means is provided for turning the shaft 31 so
as to move the chain the length of the section D when a predetermined number
of envelopes forming the package has been loaded thereon. We should observe
that the counter gears and the arm 14 having the side cam thereon are all
preferably mounted upon sleeves so that they can be readily and accurately
adjusted with respect to one another upon their respective shafts.
From the foregoing description the operation of the machine will be readily
understood. It will be sufficient to note that as the envelopes are passed between
the receiving rolls the pawl mechanism is operated to lock the continuously rotating
roll 19 with the bevel 18 which meshes with the primary gear 17 of the counter
train on which the one tooth gear of the said counter is secured a single revolution
of the said one tooth gear 10 at the passage of an envelope through the receiving
roll thus counting one envelope at a time; the one tooth gear moves the train of
counters 11, 12 and 13 constructe.l to count any desired number according to the
number of teeth used, in the present instance fifty, and upon the completion of the
count of a designated number the trigger mechanism is operated by the side cam
mounted on the shaft of the last counter gear in the train to lock the revolving
disc 20 and the arm 30 fixed to the shaft 31 thus rotating the said shaft and
causing it to move the chain one section at a time; and upon the completion of
which movement the trigger having been released by the side cam is in position
to unlock the arm 30 and the disc 20 the former remaining stationary until
another package of envelopes has been completed when the cycle of operations is
repeated.
While we have described and shown the preferable construction for causing the
envelope to set in motion the mechanism for operating the counter train it is to be
understood that this mechanisin may be varied within the spirit of our invention;
and that the mechanism for pushing the envelopes upon the chain with the
mechanism for intermittently operating the latter may likewise be varied within
the scope of our invention and changes in other parts of the counter mechanism
and chain may be made without departing from our invention which consists
essentially in mechanism for positively operating the counter depending upon the
passage of the envelope through a pair of receiving rolls and in the mechanism for

page_text: moving the chain one section at a time when a predetermined number of envelopes
have been placed thereon; and it further consists in the combination of the
intermittently operated chain, a counter train, the receiving rolls, and clutching
mechanism between the receiving rolls and the counter train controlled by the
passage of the envelopes between said rolls, and it should be further observed that
the relative arrangement of the parts may be changed to suit varying circumstances
and to adapt the device to other forms of machines without involving a material
departure from our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an envelope or analogous machine the combination of a chain composed of
a series of sections adapted to receive the envelopes as they are discharged from
the machine, mechanism for moving the said chain, and mechanism controlled by
the envelopes as they are discharged from the machine to cause the chain to move
one section at a time when a predetermined number of envelopes has been received
by the said section substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In an envelope or analogous machine, the combination with mechanisin for
receiving the envelopes from the machine, and mechanism for placing the said
envelopes upon a chain, of a chain composed of a series of sections, and means
controlled by the envelopes for moving the said chain one section at a time
intermittently when a predetermined number of envelopes has been placed thereon
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of a chain composed
of a series of sections, mechanism for receiving envelopes from the machine and
discharging the same downwardly, mechanism operating across the path of the
envelopes for pushing the said envelopes one at a time upon a section of the chain,
and means for moving the said chain a section at a time when a predetermined
number of envelopes has been placed upon the said section substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of receiving rolls
between which the envelopes are passed, a counter train normally out of gear with
the said rolls, mechanism for automatically throwing the said train into gear with
the rolls when an envelope passes between them, a chain comprising a series of
sections adapted to receive the envelopes, and mechanism between the chain and
the receiving rolls for pushing the envelopes one at a time upon the sections of the
said chain, with mechanism controlled by the counter train to cause the chain to
move one section at a time as a predetermined number of envelopes is placed on
the said section, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The combination with an envelope, or analogous machine, of the main driving
shaft, the receiving rolls through which the envelopes are passed downwardly from
the machine, connections between the said driving shaft and rolls for continuously
rotating the same, a counter train normally at rest, connections between the
receiving rolls and counter train adapted to be put in operation by the envelope as
it passes through the rolls, whereby the counter train is operated to count each
time an envelope passes between the rolls, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. In an envelope or analogous machine, the combination with a chain and
mechanism for automatically moving the said chain step by step when a prede-
termined number of envelopes has been placed thereon, of the receiving rolls
journaled in bearings below the delivery of the machine, a shaft journalled in
bearings adjacent thereto, connections between the main driving shaft and
receiving rolls for continuously rotating the same, a bevel gear loosely mounted
on the said shaft, pawl mechanism carried by the shaft of one of the receiving rolls
normally holding the said gear against rotation, a locking device between the gear
and its shaft, and means for causing the said locking device to lock the gear and
shaft together as an envelope passes between the receiving rolls, a counter train,

page_text: and connections between the said counter train and gear, whereby the said counter
train may be caused to count each envelope as it passes between the rolls,
substantially as herein before described.
7. In an envelope or analogous machine, the combination with the main frame, of
a supplemental frame attached thereto below the delivery of the machine, of the
receiving rolls mounted in the said supplemental frame, connections between the
driving shaft and the said receiving rolls for continuously rotating the same, a
shaft journalled in the said supplemental frame adjacent to the receiving rolls in
gear therewith, a clutch roll fixed to the said shaft, a bevel gear loosely mounted on
the shaft with its hub in contact with the clutch roll and provided with a groove
therein, a stop pin or shoulder in the said groove, a recess in the clutch roll, a
spring actuated plunger in the said recess having its outer end travelling in the
groove in the face of the hub of the gear, a pawl journalled upon a shaft of one of
the receiving rolls and projecting slightly beyond the line of contact of the two
receiving rolls and normally engaging a tooth on the gear to hold it against
rotation, means for disengaging the said pawl from the gear and holding it out of
engagement therewith as the envelope passes between the rolls, so that the spring
actuated plunger may engage and remain in contact with the pin or shoulder of the
groove of the said gear thereby locking the gear and clutch roll together, a counter
train, connections between the said counter train and gear, whereby the former is
caused to move each time an envelope passes between the rolls, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
8. In a counter for envelopes or analogous machines, the combination with the
receiving rolls through which the envelopes pass, of a clutch roll mounted on a
shaft adjacent to the said rolls and rotating continuously therewith, an interrupted
flange on the said roll forming a land, a cam projecting upon the roll between the
ends of the land and having its upper surface in line with the upper surface of the
land, a spring actuated plunger in the body of the roll with its end projecting
beyond the face thereof, a pawl fulcrumed upon the shaft of the receiving roll
adjacent to the clutch roll with one end projecting slightly beyond the line of
contact between the two receiving rolls, a gear loosely mounted upon the same shaft
with the clutch roll, normally held against rotation by the said pawl, a tappet
projecting from the pawl in the path of the ends of the land and cam on the clutch
roll, a groove in the face of the hub of the gear with a shoulder or stop therein, in
which groove the end of the plunger travels in the rotation of the roll, the said stop
pushing the plunger into its recess when the gear is held against rotation and
locking the gear and roll together when the gear is released by the pawl,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. In a counter for envelopes or analogous machines, the combination with the
receiving rolls between which the envelopes pass, of a shaft adjacent to one of the
rolls, a clutch roll fixed to the said shaft, a gear loosely mounted on the said shaft
with its hub in contact with the clutch roll, a pawl mounted on the shaft of one of
the receiving rolls with one end projecting slightly beyond the line of contact of the
said rolls and normally holding the gear against rotation, a cam on the clutch roll
for raising the pawl to throw its end out of line with the envelope as it enters
between the receiving rolls, and permitting the pawl to drop until its end engages
the envelope after it has cleared the edge thereof thus holding the said pawl out of
engagement with the gear, means for locking the clutch roli and gear together in
the further rotation of the roll, whereby the gear is caused to make one revolution
as the envelope passes between the receiving rolls, and means for raising the pawl
out of contact with the envelope to clear the edge thereof as it drops from the
receiving rolls and to cause the pawl to engage the gear and to lock the same
against rotation when the envelope is passed from the receiving rolls, substantially
as hereiubefore described.
10. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the receiving
rolls between which the envelopes are passed, a counter train normally out of
action, mechanism directly controlled by the passage of the envelopes between the
R

page_text: receiving rolls for connecting the said rolls with the counter train, whereby a count
is made only when an envelope is passed between the rolls, substantially as herein-
before described.
11. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the receiving
rolls, each consisting of two parts with a space between said parts, a pawl fulcrumed
upon the shaft of one roll within the space between its two parts, and having one
end projecting within the space between the two parts of the other roll and beyond
the line of contact between the rolls, a counter train, clutch mechanism between the
said train and the receiving rolls normally held out of action by the pawl, and
thrown into action by the passage of an envelope between the receiving rolls,
substantially as herein before described.
12. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the receiving
rolls, a clutch roll adjacent to a bevel gear loosely mounted upon the same shaft
with the said clutch roll, mechanism for locking the said gear and clutch roll
together as an envelope passes between the receiving rolls, a counter train com-
prising a series of gears intermittently intermeshed with the clutch roll by the said
bevel gear,
and springs bearing upon the driven gears of the counter train to bin:
them against their bearings, whereby the said driven gears may be prevented from
moving more than one tooth at a time substantially as hereinbefore described.
13. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the receiving
rolls, connections between the said rolls and a rotating part of the machine, a clutch
roll mounted on a shaft adjacent to the said receiving rolls so timed as to make one
revolution to two or more revolutions of the receiving rolls, a bevel gear on the
same shaft with the clutch roll, a pawl normally holding the said gear against
rotation, and having one end projecting beyond the line of contact of the receiving
rolls and in line of the travel of the envelope through the rolls, a counter train in
mesh with the bevel gear, connections between the clutch roll and bevel gear
adapted to lock the said parts together when the pawl is released from the gear by
the envelope passing between the rolls, substantially as hereinbefore described.
14. In a counter for envelopes or analogous machines, the combination with the
receiving rolls through which the envelopes pass, of a counter train, a gear mounted
on the shaft between the said counter train and receiving rolls and normally held
against rotation, a pawl fulcrummed on the shaft of one of the rolls adapted to
hold the said gear against rotation having one end projecting beyond the line of
contact of the said rolls, mechanism for positively raising the said pawl to clear
the edge of the envelope as it enters between the receiving rolls, and immediately
releasing the same to bring it into contact with the envelope passing between the
rolls to hold the pawl out of engagement with the gear, a clutch device fixed to
and rotating with the shaft of the gear, adapted to lock the gear to the shaft
when the pawl is out of engagement therewith, and means for positively lifting
the pawl out of engagement with the envelope to clear the edge as it leaves the
rolls and release the pawl to engage the gear to hold it against movement when an
envelope fails to pass through the receiving rolls at the proper time, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
15. In a counter for envelopes or analogous machines, the combination with the
receiving rolls, of a connter train, connections between the said receiving rolls and
the train controlled by the envelope passing through the rolls to transmit motion
from the said rolls to the counter train only when an envelope passes between the
said receiving rolls, a chain below the receiving rolls, means for pushing the
envelopes upon the said chain successively, and means for moving the said chain,
with connections between the counter train and the operating means for the chain
arranged to move the chain one section at a time upon the completion of a package
of envelopes of a predetermined number, substantially as hereinbefore described.
16. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the receiving
rolls through which the envelopes pass, a counter train, connections between the
receiving rolls and the counter train, normally out of action and set in motion by
the passage of envelopes between the receiving rolls to cause the train to count

page_text: one envelope at a time, a shaft journalled below the receiving rolls, a chain operated
by the said shaft, means for pushing the envelopes upon the said chain as they
fall from the receiving roll, a gear loosely mounted on the said shaft, connections.
between the said gear and an operating part of the said machine for continuously
rotating the same, an arm fixed upon the said shaft and a clutch between the gear
and the said arm normally out of action, with connections between the said clutch
device and the counter train adapted to throw the clutch device in action and lock
the gear to the shaft upon the completion of the count of a predetermined number
of envelopes by the train, substantially as hereinbefore described.
17. In a counter for envelopes or analogous machines, the combination with a
counter train, of a chain comprising a series of sections, a shaft for operating the
chain, a gear loosely mounted on the said shaft, an arm fixed to the said shaft, a
disc fixed to the gear and rotating therewith, a spindle journalled on the said arm
having a locking pawl held normally out of engagement with the disc, and a tappet
arm on the opposite side thereof, a spring actuated bell crank lever mounted upon
the frame of the machine with one arm normally in contact with the said tappet
thereby holding the pawl out of engagement with the disc, an arm on the shaft of
the last gear of the counter train provided with a side cam rotating in the path of
the other arm of the bell crank lever adapted to move the same to release the
tappet arm, upon the completion of a revolution of the last gear in the counter
train, substantially as hereinbefore described.
18. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the supplemental
frame secured to the main frame below the delivery of the machine, the receiving
rolls through which the envelopes are passed, a counter train, mechanism between
the receiving rolls and train for causing the latter to count one envelope at a time
as the envelopes pass between the receiving rolls, a chain below the receiving rolls
composed of sections adapted to receive each package of envelopes of a desired
number, a shaft for operating the said chain held normally against rotation, a
clutch disc loosely mounted upon the said shaft, connections between the said disc
and the main shaft of the machine for continuously operating the same, an arm
fixed to the shaft, a pawl carried thereby, a bell crank lever fulcrummed upon the
frame with one arm projecting through a slot in the same and adapted to hold the
pawl out of engageinent with the rotating disc, a cam carried by the sleeve of
the last gear of the counter train arranged to engage the other arm of the bell
crank lever and force it down to release the pawl and permit it to lock the arm and
disc together, whereby the said arm may make one revolution to move the chain
one section, substantially as herein before described.
19. The combination with the receiving rolls from which the envelopes are.
discharged downwardly, of the bottom plate or table upon which they fall, the
chain comprising a series of sections adapted to be held in position to receive the
envelopes, means for intermittently moving the chain at right angles to the table,.
the reciprocating pusher plate below the receiving rolls and connections between
the pusher plate and the main driving shaft for reciprocating the saine, whereby the
envelopes are successively pushed into the chain, substantially as herein before
described.
20. The combination with the receiving rolls through which the envelopes are
passed, the bottom plate or table below the receiving rolls upon which envelopes
fall, and the main driving shaft, a cam thereon, a bell crank lever fulcrummed to
he frame of the machine having one arm held in contact with the said cam, a
pusher plate connected to the other arm of the bell crank lever located below the
eceiving rolls, a chain upon which the envelopes are to be placed adapted to be
eld with a section opposite the pusher plate, and means for moving the said chain
ntermittently at right angles to the table, whereby the envelopes are pushed
uccessively into a section of the chain, substantially as herein before described.
21. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of the receiving
olls through which the envelopes are passed, the table upon which the envelopes
all, the chain supporting structure comprising the frames having guideways thereon.

page_text: secured to the machine, at right angles to the said table, the chain composed of a
series of links each having Z-shaped lugs, and pintles passing through the said lugs
connecting the separate links together, the ends of the said pintles resting upon
the guide ways on the frames, and sprocket wheels around which the chain passes,
with means for pushing the envelopes upon the chain and means for moving the
said chain, substantially as herein before described.
22. The combination with an envelope or analogous machine, of a mechanism
for discharging the envelopes downwardly, a table upon which the envelopes fall,
a chain comprising a series of sections formed of a plurality of links hinged together,
frames for guiding the said chain, a driving shaft mounted in bearings upon the
machine, a sprocket wheel on the said shaft between the frames of the chain
structure, a second sprocket wheel mounted in adjustable bearings on the said
frames, with means for rotating the said shaft to move the chain at right angles
to the table, substantially as herein before described.
23. The combination with the receiving rolls, of a counter mechanism for
envelopes or analogous machines, the table or bottom plate upon which the
envelopes fall from the rolls, the pusher plate reciprocating below the receiving
rolls across the path of the envelope, a chain upon which the envelopes are pushed,
mechanism for operating the pusher plate, a spring buffer having a pivotted finger
depending therefrom against which the envelopes are pushed, and the rock shaft
mounted above the chain provided with fingers projecting normally below the top
of the envelope in line therewith, with means for vibrating the said rock shaft to
raise the finger out of the path of the envelopes and lower the same after the
envelopes are pushed onto the chain to confine the same within the chain, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
24. In an envelope or analogous machine, the combination with the chain, the
receiving rolls and the mechanism for pushing the envelopes upon the chain, of
the means for holding and retaining the envelopes in upright position in the chain
while being loaded, consisting of the spring buffer with a pivotted finger against
which the envelopes press on one side, a rock shaft mounted above the chain
provided with fingers adapted to engage the upper part of the other side of the
envelope, and means for intermittently vibrating the said shaft to raise the said
fingers out of the path of the envelopes as they pass to the chain, substantially as
herein before described.
25. In an envelope or analogous machine, the combination with the chain and
the mechanism for loading the envelopes upon the chain, of the buffer against which
the envelopes press on one side, a rock shaft mounted above the said buffer
provided with downwardly projecting fingers adapted to hold the envelopes in
upright position, a lever fulcrummed to a fixed part of the machine having a
slotted connection to an arm on the rock shaft, a spring normally holding the other
arm of said lever upward thereby depressing the finger thereon, a pin carried by a
rotating part of the machine arranged to engage the other arm of the lever so as
to depress the same as each envelope is loaded upon the chain, thus raising the
confining fingers out of the path of the said envelope and lowering the same to
hold the envelope in position, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 25th day of June 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.