US3162435A - Envelope flap conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1964 A. w. RASTORGUYEFF ETAL 3,162,435

ENVELOPE] FLAP counmomwc APPARATUS -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1962 INVENTORS Andrew h). fiasl'drgv ezq lawence I Kresah.

a: By QM W Dec. 22, 1964 A. w. RASTORGUYEFF ETAL 3,162,435

ENVELOPE FLAP CONDITIONING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1962 l w fi ll i mm 53 :3}

[awrence T. Kresah United States Patent Ofilice 3,152,435 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,435 ENVELOE FLAP CGNDETISENHNG APPARATUS Andrew W. Rastorguyeif, Norwallr, and Lawrence J. Kresan, Springdale, Conn, assignors to Pitney-Bowes, Inc, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 221,537 4 Claims. ((15. 271-2} This invention relates to an improved apparatu for handling articles that each have a bent over flap. More particularly the invention relates to a novel conditioning means which is adapted to engage and fold back the bent over flap on envelopes and the like that are being serially fed to a work station.

There are many instances when it is desired to deliver envelopes in an opened condition to a work station so that the envelopes are thereby capable of receiving one or more sheets or other documents that are to be manually or automatically inserted therein. Here the envelope must be fed to the sheet inserting work station with the flap bent and held back so as to permit access to the inside of the envelope. When this type of envelope opening operation is being serially carried out at high cyclic rates of speed as occurs in the operation of some automatic mail inserting machines the flap engaging and bending devices used must not only be operationally reliable but must not seriously rumple or otherwise damage the various portions of the envelope material.

.One object of the instant invention is to provide a very reliable and eflicient envelope flap opening device which has a minimum number of parts and which is operated in response to a transport movement of the envelope.

gAnother objectof the invention is to provide an improved envelope flap conditioning means which will accommodate a Wide variety of envelopes having different paper thickness and rigidity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel envelope flap conditioning means which is operated by a reactive force generated by a deformation of the envelope material itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel envelope conditioning means which is capable of engaging and bending back an envelope flap and which is displaced from an inoperative position to an operative position by a reactive force that is created by the movement of the envelope past saidmeans.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel envelope iiapconditioning means which is characterized by an envelope flap engaging edge that is biased into operative engagement with a moving envelope by a force which is a function of the rigidity of the envelope material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an imroved envelope flap opening lever arrangement whereby section line 1-1 of FIG.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 1 and illustrate active conditions of the parts shown;

FIG.;5 is a front elevational view with certain parts broken awayand further illustrates the construction and organization of the instant apparatus.

A very general description of the function of theinstant invention :will be made first with reference to FIG. 1.

The apparatus comprises two principal parts namely an envelope transport mechanism and a cooperating envelope flap conditioning means. The general type of transport unit used here is not critical and may'be of anysuitable type other than the illustrative arrangement disclosed so long as it cooperates with the envelope flap conditioning means and produces an envelope transporting movement corresponding to that hereinafter described. The itransport-mechanism is adapted to serially feed envelopes,.- fiap up and trailing, past a pivoted flap conditioning-member 60. FIG. 1. Depending feeler fingers on member 60 are adapted to guide an envelope through .an arcuate .path and to be swung outwardly by .the moving envelope whereby a flap intercepting edge or nose formed on the upper part of member 60 is reactively pressed against the adjacent faces of the envelope so as .to slidably engage and fold back the envelope flap as the latter approaches and passes member :60. This actioniis progressivcly illustrated by FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The force with which said flap intercepting nose presses against themvelope is a function of the rigidity of the envelope.ma terial, i.e. to the deformation resistance oiferediby said material against the action of the depending fingers of member 60.

Considering now the structural details of the transport system shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 a pair of vertical side frames 10 and 11 are fixed'in parallel spaced relationon a base 12 and rotatably support a main shaft 13 to which is fixed a main feed roll 14. A feed belt shaft 15 -is also rotatably supported by the side frames and has an axially spaced pair of pulleys 16;and 17 fixedthereto and around which the lower portions of flexible feed belts 20 and 21 are woundrespectively. The upper endsiof belts 20, 21 run in suitable annular grooves formed in the main feed roll 14, the outer surface of the belt portions in the roll grooves being substantially fiush with the adjacent cylindrical surfaces of the roll. The portion ofeach belt between its associated pulley and roll l t-extends generally rearwardly and downwardly. The main roll 14 and the belts are adapted to be rotatably driven bya pulley 2 2 which is secured to an outer end of roll shaft 13 and which is operatively connected by means of a belt 23 to a pulley 24 that is securedto the shaft of a motor 25. A drive shaft 26 is rotatablyrnounted on the side frames 10, 11 and has affixed thereto a spacedpair of frictionrollers 30 and 31 which have cylindrical outer surfaces thatre spectively contact the outer surfaces of the adjacent portions of belts 2t), 21. On one end of theshaft 26 thereis secured a gear 32 which meshes with a gear 33 secured to the main shaft 13. As wil-lbe apparent friction rollers 39, 31 are rotatably driven along with the roll '14 and the belts 2Q, 21 upon energization of motor 25. The gear and pulley speed ratios are respectively chosen so that the peripheral speed of the friction rollers 30, 311s substantially the same as the linear speed of the belts 2t), 21. A pair of spaced belt pressing rollers 34 and 35 are respectively rotatably mounted on the free ends of arms 36 and 37 that are fixed to a cross shaft 46 rotatably mounted on the machine side frames. The rightend, FIG. 5, of cross shaft 40 has an arms fixed thereto which is connected to a spring 42 that is anchored torthe machine side frame 19, the spring 42 serving to bias the rollers 34- and 35 into engagement with the belts 29, 21 respectively at positions opposite the friction drive rollers 3t), 31 respectively.

A pair of transversely disposed envelope guide 'members 43 and 44 are mounted on the side frames 10 and 11 While a guide roll .45 is-rotatabl'y mountcdin bushings .46 and 47 that are respectively vertically guided in-s'imi- .lar vertical slots 59, FIG. 1, formed inieach of the upper portions of the side frames. The guide vrolldS is biased downwardly by gravity or by a suitable springmeans toward the main roll :14. A feed hopper. illustrated rat hopper so that the flaps are up and facing forwardly toward the guide roll 45. Thereafter: when the friction disc roller 53 is rotated the first envelope 52a is frictionally separated and fed between the main roll 14 and the guide roll 45, around and along belts 20, 21, past guide 43 and between rollers 30, 31 and belts 20, 21, and finally ontothe guide surface 44 leading to a downstream work station, this transport movement of the envelope'taking place with the flap trailing.

The above described envelope transport system has structurally and functionally cooperating with it the elongated transversely disposed envelope flap conditioning member 60 which by means of a shaft 61 is mounted between the machine side frames for pivotal movement about an axis that extends substantially parallel to the axis of roll 14. The member 60 comprises a body portion 62 and a plurality of laterally spaced depending feeler fingers 63 which are adapted to swing into and out of the respectively associated annular grooves 64 formed in the adjacent periphery of the roll 14. The upper inclined surface 65 of member 60 is provided along its rearward side with a transversely extending flap intercepting edge or nose 66 which extends substantially parallel to the length of the adjacent peripheral surface of themain roll 14. In one embodiment that has been constructed the cross section profile of nose 66 has a radius of between .010 and .060 inch. The member 60 is pivotally biased by a spring 67 which is anchored to the frame stud 68, the fingers 63 thus normally seating against the bottom of the roll grooves 64 while the flap engaging nose 66 is normally positioned a short distance away from the surface of roll 14 as shown in FIG. 1.

In the operation of the instant apparatus when the first envelope 52a is fed between the guide roll 45 and the main roll 14 the bottom or leading edge of theenvelope will pass freely beneath the nose 66 and will engage the biased depending fingers 63. This contact will cause the member 60 to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction,

FIG. 2-, against the action of spring 67 so that fingers 63 swing outwardly of the roll grooves 64 and the nose 66 swings into sliding contact with the adjacent upper surface or face of the moving envelope 52a as illustrated in FIG. 2. The contact point of nose 66 with the envelope is located a short distance after the point where the'envelope begins its arcuate trajectory or path about the roll 14. The'contact force between nose 66 and the moving envelope is a function of the rigidity of the envelope matenal, re. a function of the deformation resistive force which is afforded by the envelope material in being made first to bend around the areuate feed path and secondly to transversely'bridge the .roll grooves 64 under the loading actionof'fingers 63. 'As the transport movement of $116 envelope 52a continues the leading edge of the envelope Wlll be guided by member 43 between the belts 2t 21 and the driven disc rollers 30', 31 which now serve to frictionallydraw. the envelope along its feed path. As the .upwardftrailing envelope fiap 52b approaches the nose 6.6- it will tend to move tangentially with respect to the adjacent portion of the main roll .14 instead of 7, following the arcuateenvelope feeding path and this will 1' facilitate the interception of the flap edge by the upper inclined surface of member 60 as illustrated in FIG. 2. As thenos'e 66 which is pressing against the upper enve- V rlope face rides under the flap the latter will move up {wardly along surface 65 as illustrated in FIG. 3 until the a j nose reaches the fold between the flap 52b and the body of e nvelope "Atthis point the continued feed move- 67 will swing the member 60 to its said normal position wherein the fingers ride on the bottom of the roll grooves 64 and the nose 66 is again positioned inspaced relation with respect to the adjacent surface of the roll 14 preparatory to receiving the next envelope to be delivered by the separating roller 53. In this manner each cycle of operation of the transport mechanism in combination and cooperation with the envelope flap conditioning member 60 serves to feed to a work station an envelope that is in a predetermined opened condition.

As will be apparent the instant envelope conditioning means 60, 67 etc. is simple and inexpensive in construction and the minimum number of parts involved insure a high degree of operational reliability for high as well as low speed envelope handling apparatus.

Since many changes could be made in the embodiment of the invention as particularly described and shown herein without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that this embodiment be considered as exemplary and that the invention not be limited except as warranted by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for handling articles each of which has a bent over flap:

a frame;

transport means for serially transporting individual articles through a flap conditioning station, said transport means including an article feed roll that is rotatably mounted on said frame; flap intercepting member, said member having an article flap engaging nose which extends substantially parallel to the axis of said roll, there normally being a narrow gap between said nose and the adjacent periphery of said roll; mounting means for movably mounting said flap intercepting member on said frame, the movement of said member being such that said flap engaging nose moves along a predetermined path which when extended intersects the surface of said roll;

said flap intercepting member having camming means fixedly connected thereto, said camming means comprising at least one feeler finger that is displaceable in response to the transport movement of an article throughthe fiap conditioning station so as to press said flap engaging nose against that portion of the article that is supported by said roll, said nose thereby slidably engaging the flap side face'of said article so as to intercept and bend the flap of said article as the latter moves through said flap conditioning station.

2. In an apparatus for handling articles each of which has a bent over flap:

aframe; V

transportl means for serially transporting individual articles through a flap conditioning station, said transport means including an article support means mounted on said frame and having an operative surface for supporting anarticle that is being transported through said station; 0 v flap inter epting member, said member having an article flap engagingnose which extends substantially parallel to the axis of said operative surface, there ,norr nally being a narrow, gap between said nose and the said operative surface; p 1 g H mounting m eans for movably mounting saidflap intercepting member on sfaidframe the movement of 3 said member being such that said flap en aging nose moves along a predetermined path which when extended intersects said operative surface;

said flap intercepting member having camming means fixedly connected thereto, said camming means corn prising at least one feeler finger, said feeler finger eing arranged so as to be displaceable in response to the transport movement of an article through said flap conditioning station so as to thereby press said fiap engaging nose against that portion of the article that is supported by said operative surface, said nose thereby slidably engaging the flap side face of said article so as to intercept and bend back the flap of said article as the latter moves through said flap conditioning station.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein the force with which said nose is pressed against said fiap side face of the article is a function of the stiffness and the extent of deformation of said article as the latter moves through said flap conditioning station.

4. In an apparatus for handling articles each of which has a bent over flap:

a frame;

transport means for serialiy transporting articles over an arcuate path through a flap conditioning station, said transport means including an article feed roll that is rotatably mounted on said frame;

a flap intercepting member pivotally mounted on said frame, said member having an article flap engaging nose which extends substantially parallel to the axis an article feeler finger fixed to said flap intercepting member and having an outer end which is adapted to be swung into and out of a cooperating annular groove formed in the adjacent portion of the periphery of said roll, the finger swinging movement accompanying a pivotal movement of said article flap intercepting member;

spring means for yieldabiy retaining said flap intercepting member in a normal position wherein said nose is spaced a short distance from the adjacent periphery of said roll and the end of said finger is disposed in said roll groove;

and means for causing each article to initially engage the periphery of said roll at a point before the effective point of cooperation of said roll periphery and said nose whereby when an article is fed through the flap conditioning station said article will move through an arcuate path with said roll periphery and will force the end of said finger out of said grooves against the action of said spring means whereby said nose is pressed into engagement with that portion of the article which is supported by said roll periphcry, said nosethcreby slidably engaging the flap side face of said article so as to intercept and bend back the flap of said article as the latter moves through said flap conditioning station.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS of said roli and which is swingable towards and 946,071 Robbins Jan. 11, 1910 away from the periphery of said feed roll, said nose 1,747,384 Olson et al. Feb. 18, 1930 when swung towards said roll being adapted to press 1,784,854 Tufts et al Dec. 16 1930 an article against the periphery of said roll; 3,024,716 Limberger Mar. 13, 1962

Claims (1)

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES EACH OF WHICH HAS A BENT OVER FLAP: A FRAME; TRANSPORT MEANS FOR SERIALLY TRANSPORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES THROUGH A FLAP CONDITIONING STATION, SAID TRANSPORT MEANS INCLUDING AN ARTICLE FEED ROLL THAT IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; A FLAP INTERCEPTING MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN ARTICLE FLAP ENGAGING NOSE WHICH EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROLL, THERE NORMALLY BEING A NARROW GAP BETWEEN SAID NOSE AND THE ADJACENT PERIPHERY OF SAID ROLL; MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID FLAP INTERCEPTING MEMBER ON SAID FRAME, THE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER BEING SUCH THAT SAID FLAP ENGAGING NOSE MOVES ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH WHICH WHEN EXTENDED INTERSECTS THE SURFACE OF SAID ROLL; SAID FLAP INTERCEPTING MEMBER HAVING CAMMING MEANS FIXEDLY CONNECTED THERETO, SAID CAMMING MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE FEELER FINGER THAT IS DISPLACEABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE TRANSPORT MOVEMENT OF AN ARTICLE THROUGH THE FLAP CONDITIONING STATION SO AS TO PRESS SAID FLAP ENGAGING NOSE AGAINST THAT PORTION OF THE ARTICLE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SAID ROLL, SAID NOSE THEREBY SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE FLAP SIDE FACE OF SAID ARTICLE SO AS TO INTERCEPT AND BEND THE FLAP OF SAID ARTICLE AS THE LATTER MOVES THROUGH SAID FLAP CONDITIONING STATION.

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