US1564937A - Envelope feed and delivery attachment for typewriters - Google Patents

Description

"1,564,937 L. M. CAMPBELL Filed Jan. 2e. 1925 s Smets-sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1925.

ENVELOPE FEED AND DELIVERY ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS 1 J ||l r|. M 4 Y v WIL E @I W R mM m, NA ma,

J N\ xA/.5H fau. r K T m |m@ u- Jo ,y v L B i nl v. i! l L Illu/ 3 Sheets-She'c` 2 rlflhd H um N R3 @T L. M. CAMPBELL l Filed Jan. ze, 1925 A TTORNEY Dec, s, 1925.

ENVELOPE FEED AND DELIVERY ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Dec. 8, 1925- L. M. CAMPBELL ENvELoPE FEED AND DELIVERY Agn-cmu? Fon TYPEwRITERs Filed Jamas. 192s' :s Smets-sheet ls INVEN T 0R Lum/J N. CAMPBELL Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED:Y STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIUS IVI.v CAMPBELL, OF VST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Application led January 26, 1925. "Serial No. 4,733.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LUGIUS M. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope Feed and Delivery Attachments for Typewriters, of which the following is a. specication.

My invention relates to an envelope feed and deliveryV attachment for typewriters, and, it is a distinct and practical improvement to overcome certain practical objections to, and defects in the present types of attachments for typewriters.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for typewriters which will elevate a supply stack of envelopes in a receptacle a predetermined distance and feed or deliver one envelope at a time from the top of the staclr'of envelopes to and between conveyor belts' for delivery to the platen roll of a typewriter by the manual turning of the platen roll one half revolution inthe usual manner, which turning movement of the platen positions the next 'envelope to be addressed on the platen, and during the same manual operation of the platen, the platen discharges the addressed envelope on the platen to and between the two continuously driven conveyor belts for delivery to an addressed envelope receiving receptacle.

An object of my invention is to provide means to raise a stack of envelopes to be addressed a predetermined distance and advance the. top envelope thereof toward the platen of a typewriter a predetermined distance each time an addressed envelope is discharged from the platen. y

A further object `of my invention is to provide a platen actuated mechanism to raise a stack of envelopes in a supply receptacle a. predetermined distance to each half revolution of the platen.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a plurality of feed conveyor 'belts to be actuated or driven a predetermined distance through the manual rotation of theplaten'to feed an envelope between belts movable toward the platen and to discharge the preceding or addressed envelope from the platen.

A further object of the invention is to A further object of the invention is to` provide means for raising the forward ends of the addressed envelope conveyor belts out of cooperative relation with the platen when the typewriter is used for purposes other than the addressing of envelopes to obviate the necessity of having topdetach the attachment from' the typewriter when it is desired to write letters, or the like. p

Affurther object of the invention is'the yprovision of an envelope feedand delivery attachment for typewriters, which will possess advantages-in points of simplicity, efficiency, and, at the same time prove itself comparatively inexpensive in manufacture.

Vith the above Vand other objects in view,

the inventionk consists inthe vnovel features v of construction, arrangementvand combina-k tion of vparts hereinafter more fully de scribed and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l, is a right side elevation of a device as attached to a typewriter and embodying they features of my invention. Y

Fig. 2, is a detail in sectional elevation taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing the platen ,gear disengaged from an idler gear which imparts movements to gears for driving the feed conveyor belts.v

Fig. 3, is a left side elevation of the device as attached to a typewriter and embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the attachment with portions thereof broken away and others 'in sectional elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral A vrepresents a typewriterwhich is shown in dotted lines. is provided with the usual platen, or roll l The Y typewriter l and the platen actuating lever 2, which are shown in full lines.

In carrying out the aim of my present invention, which is in the form of a device to be readily attached. to and: detached from a typewriter, l employ a suitable supporting frame 3, adapted to be positioned to the rear of a typewriter and suitably connected thereto by means of suitable connecting straps 4,v or their equivalent. rlhe fra-me work 3 is so constructed as to provide an envelope supply or feeder receptacle 5-open at its top, closed at its bottom with a verticallyl movable floor; 16 upon which is positioned a stack of envelopes 7 to be addressed,which envelopes have their aps facing up and their sealing end at the front, as is manifest. The frame is also provided with an addressed envelope receiving rcceptacle 8 which is positionedto the rear of receptacle 5. n

The means for elevating the licor 6 will now be described.

The mechanism, lY have shown for elevat-V ing the iioor 6, consists of a suitable rack gear 9 which is iixe'd to the lower face of the movable envelope supporting floor 6 and directed downwardly therefrom, and is of such length as to elevate the floor 6 to its uppermost position in the receptacle, which position is at the topfofreceptacle 5. The teeth of the rack` gear 9 meshl with a pinion gear 10 fixed to the cross shaft 11 which is rotatably. supportedL at its ends by the supporting frame .3. A suitable ratchet wheel 12 is fixed to one end of the right hand end of the crossshaft 11 andthe teeth thereof are adapted to be engagedA by means `of a dog,.or pawl 13'which is pivotally connected, as at. 14, at its forward end tothe lower end ofthe vertically disposed short arm 15 of the horizontally disposed lever arm 16, which is fulcrumed at its rear Aend"to the.

frame 3, as atA 17'.V A vertically disposed plunger rod 18'is -pivotally connectedV atv its lower end, as at 19.y to the forward. end of the lever arm 16 and is guided near its upper end'by means of aY suitable bearing sleeve 20 carried at the forward end of one of the frame arms 21, of which there are twoin opposed relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The-upper end vof the plunger. rod 18'is provided with a suitable head 22and a coiled spring 23 encircles the plunger. rod 18 between itshead 22 and the bearing-sleeve 20. The right hand end of the platenl adjacent the plunger rod head 22 is provided witha suitable y gear 24 which is suitably fixed thereto and provided with a pairQofoppositely disposed and suitably spaced outwardly directed plunger actuating pins .designated 25 and 26. The foregoing mechanism', it willbe observedelevates the floor of the envelope `supply receptacle the 'distance of the thickness ofone envelope to each half turn of the platen or roll l due to either pin 25 or 26 depressing the plunger rod 18 during rotation of the platen 1 which in turn rocks the lever arm 16 causing the Idog or pawl 13l to be movedy rearwardly to direct its force against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 12 which revolves the shaft 14 and pinion gear 1.0 for elevating the rack gear 9 and the envelope Supporting floor6 on receptacle 5.

The mechanism for conveying ,the en'- velop-es, one at a time, from the supply stack 7 to the platen 1 to be there addressed kby the operatorA of the typewriter, will now be described.

rlhe above referred to mechanism, consists ofa pair of suitably spaced front and rear feed rollers designated 27 and 28.l These rollers are rotatably supported'at their ends, as at 29 and 30, respectively, vby the arms-21 of the frame 3. rllhe rear roller-28 is preferably positioned a little higher than the forward rollerl and a plurality ofsuitably spacedconveyor belts 30 ride over these rollers v27 and 28, as will be apparent from Figs. 1', 2 andf 4. Positioned directly above the feed rollers 27 and 28 are a pair of'feed rollers 31 and 322 rlfhese rollers are rotatably supported at their ends, as at 33 and 34, respectively, by means yof the opposed side arms 35 which are positioned above the arms 21;. A plurality of suitably spaced conveyor belts 36 ride over the feed rollers 31 and l32 and also over a vacuum feed roller 37 positionedto the vrear ofv feed roller 3,2 and over'the forward end'y of the envelope stack 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 1- and 2.' The belts 36 are in opposed relationV to belts30.

Asshown in Fig; 4, the vacuum feedfroller 37 is rotatably mounted upon a'V metallic vacuum tube 33 reduced at its ends'and suit-ably fixed' to the side arms 35V of the frame 4l The vacuum tube 38v is providedv at its ,lower sidewith a plurality ofsuitably spaced'openings'39 andthe vacuum roller 37 is provided witha pair of opposed lsuction feet V40 to each tube opening 39, which feet are each provided with a plurality ofsuction openings 41 adaptedto register with their respectivetube openings 39 when the vacuum roller 37 is revolvedl by means ofthe belts 36 thereby causing the top envelope ofthe stack 7 to be bodily lifted from the stack and carried forward by the suction feet 40of the roller 37 and guided to enter between the` conveyor belts to be thereby conveyedto the platen 2 for addressing. Ther vacuum tube 38 is connected, by means of an air tube 42 with a suitably driven vacuum pump 43. The belts 30' and 36'are driven' by means of the rollers 27 and 31 which, in turn, are rotated by means of the meshing gears 44 and 45' and which gear 44 is driven'by means of an idler gear 46 rotatably supportedas at 47 by one of the arms 35 and which meshes with the platen gear 24 which `rotates it when the platen gear is to its extreme right hand position and it itself is rotated by manually turning the platen in the usual manner.

From the foregoing statement, it is evident that the feed mechanism described, lifts the top envelope from the supply stack 7 as the stack is elevated and carries this envelope forward to the mouth of the feed conveyor belts 30 and 36, from which point the conveyor belts deliver the envelope between them to the platen 1 where it is to be addressed in timed relation with the discharge or delivery of the addressed envelope from the platen 1, which movement of the envelope is only upon the manual rotation of the platen 1' by the operator of the typewriter.

The mechanism for conveying the addressed envelopes, as discharged, from the platen 1 vwill now be described.

The addressed envelope conveying mechanism consists of a pair of suitably spaced rollers designated 48 and 49 which are rotatably supported at their ends as at 50 and 51, respectively, by the opposed arms 52, which arms are pivotally connected at their downwardly directed extension ends 53 with the frame 3 by means of suitable bolts 54 provided with the winged nuts 55. A plurality of suitably spaced conveyor belts 56 ride over the rollers 48 and 49, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. These conveyor belts 56 are disposed at a suitable incline with the forward end thereof adjacent the top of the platen 1. Positioned directly above the conveyor belts 56 and extending-over the forward and rearward ends `of the belts are a plurality of conveyor belts ,57 riding over spaced rollers designated 58 and 59, which are rotatably supported at their ends as at 60 and 61 by means of a pair of side supporting arms 62, The rear ends of the arms 62 are hingedly connected to the arms 63 of the frame 3. The conveyor belts 57 are looser than the conveyor belts 56 soas to permit the upper front delivery roller 58 to over ride the lower front delivery roller 48 and be positioned adjacent the delivery end of the platen 1, as

Vclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The lower supporting arms 52 are sup ported from extreme downward arcuate movement by means of the legs 64 resting upon the side frame arms 35. The pivotally supported roller supporting arms 52 and 62 are connected by means of the pin 65 carried by arms 52 and receivable in the slots 66 of arms 62, thus permitting both of the pivotally supported arms 52 and 62-to be raised simultaneously and without being separated. When it is desired to use the typewriter for any other purpose'other than addressing envelopes, the pivotally support- Ved arms 52 and 62 can be raised to the position shown in dotted`lines in VFig. 3, and locked there by the bolts 54 and winged nuts 55. p

The means for driving' the conveyorbelts 56, consists of a bevel, or miter gear 67 fixed to the conveyor roller 49 -which meshes' with a bevel or miter gear 68 fixed to the upperV end of a vertically disposed drive shaft 69 mounted in the bearings 70 and 71. .The lower end of the driveshaft 69 is provided with a worm 72 meshing with a worm gear 73 fixed to the vacuum pump shaft 74 for continuously driving the-roller 49 which in turn drives the lower'beltand which lower belt in turn drives the upper conveyor belts 57 by its overhanging contact with the front end of the lower conveyorgbelt 56.

In discharging an addressed envelope from the platen, it will be'understoodthat the envelope is directed'upwardlyto enter between the conveyor belts 56 and '57 for delivery to the receivingreceptacle 8. i

It is evident from the foregoing description that I provide an attachment for typewriters for rapidly'feeding envelopes toposition on the platen l where they are ad"- dressed by the operator in the usual manner and for delivering the discharged addressed envelopes to av receiving receptacle 8 "wherethey are'deposited one above the other in a stack to the rear 'ofthe supplyreceptacle 5. It is also evident that the feeding mechanism is manually controlled whereas the delivery mechanism yfor rvthe addressed envelopes is continuously driven" by means of suitable motive power', such yfor instance, asian electric motor 75.' y

The many advantages ofthe herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. f

I do not wishto be `understood as having limited myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the `invention I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, 'as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in, thc exact construction and particular arrangement of parts 4without departing from the spirit of my invention, 'hence Ireserve the right to make any such changes, or modifications, as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed. i

What I claim is:

l. In a device for feeding envelopes to a typewriter and delivering them therefrom, the combination with the platen of the typewriter, of a -framestructure lembodying a supply receptacle and a receiving receptacle, means actuated by manually rotating the platen for elevating a stack of unaddressed envelopes a predetermined distance, means ffor advancing-the top'envelope' of theV stack as it isdischarged from'theplaten and conveying itv to a receivingy receptacle.,

2, In an attachment structure for typewriters,.the combination with the typewriter platen, a frame structureembodying a supply. receptacle adapted'to be filled with. a`

stackfof unaddressed envelopes and aa'receivingreceptacle for addressed envelopes, an envelope conveyor, manually controlled means foradvancingf one envelope, ata time in the supply receptacle to said conveyor, a train of gears connecting theconveyor with4 the platen for'advancing the envelope from the supply stachy to the platen; a conveyor for delivering the discharged .addressed. envelopes from the platenv to thefreceiving conveyor and meansfor continuously driving said? latter conveyor.

8. In an attachment lstructure for type-- Writers, the combinationv ywith the -typewriter platen, a .frame structure embodying a/su-pply 4receptacle,adapted to :be fille'd witha stack of nnaddressed envelopes and a receiving receptaclefor addressed envelopes, of a plurality of Vfeed rollers, belts riding over said rollers, suction feet carried by one of said rollers, means for .rotating saidfeedrrollers and driving said belts in timed relation with the rotation of the platen for feeding anenvelope to and between-,said beltsto position on the platen and advancing an envelope from the supply stack to Vthevmouth oli-'the said, feed rollers and belts, a continuously drivenl conveyor belt for carryingI the discharged addressed envelopes from the platen to, a: receiving; ref ceptacle. v 4. In yan attachment structures-for typef Writers, the-combination with the typewriter platen, a frame structure embodying; a supply receptacle adapted, to beiilled with a stack of unaddressed' envelopes and a receivingl receptacle for addressed envelopes, a gear fixed to one endy of the plateina spring supportedplunger rod, a pivotally supported lever arm pivotall-y connected with the lower'endof said plunger rod, apush pawl pivotally connected to oneend ofsaid lever arm, a ratchet wheel, a shaft forsupporting said ratchet wheel, a pinion fixed' toy said shaft, a rack gear in mesh .withsaid pinion, a palet fixed upon the upper end of the rack gear for supporting a staclcoi unaddressed envelopes, a pair'of opposed pins directed outwardly from said grantor actuating the .plunger rod to raisev the envelope' stack a predetermined distance,upper and lower feed conveyors, means for ldriving said con.- veyors Vin timed relation with` therotation-:o the platen for :feeding one envelope at; a timeto-the platen, a suction'lroller forv raisingxone yenvelope at a time from thesupply stack andadvancingitt-o the feedrconveyors,

gear fixed to one end ot the platen, a spring Y supported plunger.` rod, a pivotally sup-- ported lever arm pivotally connectede with thel lower end of` said plunger rod, a pushy paivl pivotally connected to-oneend of said lever arm, a ratchet wheel, ai shaft for-sup.- porting-said; ratchet wheel, aA pinion fixed to said shaft, a rack gearinmesh,witlrsaid pinion, a palet; liXed uponthe upper end of' the rack gear fors-upporting av stackzof nnaddressed envelopes, a pair ofA opposed pins directed outwardly from said gear, for actuatingthe plungerl rod to raise the envelope stack a predetermined distance, :upper and lower feed conveyors, means for driving said conveyors in timed relation with the` rotation of the platen for feedingy one envelopev at a; time tothe platen, aA suction roller 'for raising one envelope at al time from the; supply stack and advancing it. to the feed conveyors, means rotating saidroller .in time-d relation with therotationf of the platemupper andV lower delivery conveyors, means for. `continuonsly driving said con.- veyors :tor delivering addressed envelopes discharged from the platen to receiving receptacleto the rear of theI supplydstaclr of unaddressed; envelopes, means Jfor.A `pivotally supporting the Aupper and lower delivery conveyors at their rear ends, means for moving bothl of' said conveyors inv an arcuate pathin `connected relation with each other and means for locking the lower Vdelivery conveyorin its upper and lower adjusted. positions.

6. In an attaclnnent structnre for type.- writers, the combination witlrthe typewriter platen, a frame structure embodying a supply receptacle adapted to be filled with a stack of unaddressedenvelopes and, al receiving receptacle for receiving addressed envelopes, manually actuatedmeans for feed,- ing one-,envelope at a time from lastack of envelopesin thesupply receptacle to a vposition at the platen and continuously driven means fordelivering addressed envelopes discharged from the' platen to a receiving receptacle.l f

lli)

platen, a frame structure embodying a supyply receptacle adapted to be lled withv a Astack of unaddressed envelopes and a re ceiving receptacle for addressed envelopes, manually actuated means for elevating the stack of unaddressed envelopes the distance of the thickness of a single envelope, a suction feed roller disposed above the stack of unaddressed envelopes, feed rollers in advance of said suction roller, conveyorI belts connecting said feed rollers in pairs, conveyor belts connecting one of .said feed rollers with the suction roller, a train of gears connecting a pair of said feed rollers with the platen and a pair of arcuately movable oonveyors for receiving and delivering addressed envelopes discharged from the platen to a receiving receptacle.

8. In an attachment structure for typewriters, the combination with the typewriter platen, a frame structure embodying a supply receptacle adapted to be filled with a stack of unaddressed envelopes and a receiving receptaclefor addressed envelopes, conveyors for advancing unaddressed yenvelopes to position at the platen, a suction pump, a vacuum tube having openings therein, a tube connection between the pump and tube, a roller having peripheral suctionfingers provided with openings adapted for timed register with the openings of the vacuum tube for lifting one envelope at a time from the supply stack and advancing the same to said conveyors each time the platen is rotated one half of a revolution and continuously driven conveyors for receiving addressed envelopes discharged from the1 platen for delivery to a receiving receptac e.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

LUCIUS M. CAMPBELL.

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