US819763A - Envelop-printing machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 819,763. I PATENTED MAY 8, 1906. M. P. KENNA. ENVELOP PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905 3 SEEETSSHEET 1.

Allorney PATENTBD MAY 8, 1906.

, M. P. KENNA. ENVELOP PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2v o INVENITOR W 99 7M PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

M. P. KENNA. v ENVELOP PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

3 SHEETS SHEBT 3.

N [/VVE/VTOR MICHAEL P. KENNA, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

ENVELOP-PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented May 8, 1906.

A li ti fil d January 31, 1905. Serial No. 243,486.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL P. KENNA, a citizen of.the United States, residing at'Dubu ue, in the county of Dubuque and State of l owa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specificathe appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking from the op osite side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view, artly broken away, of the lower printing-rol er. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the upper printing-roller,

part of the envelop-receptacle, and contigu-.

ous details. F i 5 is a perspective view of the printing-rol ers and delivery-tapes forthe printed envelops. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing one end of the up er printingroller and part of the devices fbr engaging and feeding the envelops successively around to the printing-point. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the upper roller and one set of the envelop-engaging means. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a portion of the upper roller and lower end of the envelop-receptacle and showing in dotted lines an envelop in the position in which it is engaged by the clips or nippers.

My invention embodies improvements in certain of the features disclosed in two 00- pending applications, one filed on November 23, 1903, Serial No.'182,381, and the other filed on August 23, 1904, Serial No. 221,852, these improvements being -directed to the means for engaging the envelops and withdrawing same from their receptacle and feeding them to the printing-point, the means for securing the electrotype, stereotype, rubber, or other printing plates to the lower printingroller, the' tapes or belts for delivering the rinted envelops to a receptacle, and other eatures, all combining to produce a machine which will be improvedm its general construction and whose general efficiency is also im roved.

and Y indicate the su erposed printing rollers or cylinders rotatabl j mounted in the frame Z of the machine and adapted to be operated in a manner similar to the printingcylinders seen in myaforesaid application, Serial No. 182,381,'and b means substantially like the means disc osed in the lastmentioned application, and which means peed not, therefore, be specifically'described ereln.

B indicates the envelop-receptacle, adapted to contain the envelops and feed the same sively from the receptacle B comprises three sets of devices and arranged at equidistant points around the upper cylinder, and each set comprises a rod or shaft D, the ends .of

which are journaled in and project somewhat beyond the heads of the said cylinder,'and

fingers or spurs A A, the fin er A beingintegral with or fixedly secure to one'end of a rod D, while the finger A is adjustably mounted u on the rod, so as to be adjusted toward or is loose upon the rod and is adaptedto be secured in adjusted position u on the rod by means of set-screw c. The as shown, so that each has a ortion a, which lies parallel with the circumferential surface of the cylinder and said portions a of each set extending inward toward each other sufiiciently far to engage with the open fla of the lowermost envelop in the receptacle By making one of the fingers of each set adjustable u on its supporting-rod each pair of fingers wi be adapted to properly engage with envelops of varying lengths. mitting the finger to be adjusted upon the rod the cylinder is provided with a slot the finger A extending through said slot. rods D are rigidly secured to arms L, respectivel which arms carry each at its outer end a rol er L, and each of the rbd'sj D carries a gers are bent,

The

om the finger A. The finger A For perwhile the opposite end is bent outwardly and .gaged by the fingers ast bears against the inner surface ofthe cylin- The function of each spring D is to turn I the rod or shaft D into a position with the fingers A A in a closed positionthat is, in a position clamping the flap of an envelop between them and the surface of the cylinder, the said envelop having reviously been eney passed beneath the receptacle B. In connection with the coiled springs I employ additional means to insure t e clamping down of the fingers upon the flaps of the envelops in the event that there should be any irregularity inthe action-of the coiled springs, said additional means cooperating wlth the said springs for'the described purpose, and I also employ means for causing the fingers to release the envelops after the latter have in turn passed the printing-point, and these various means comprise a cam shaped piece A secured by posts 2 to the frame 'Z of the machine, said ,cam being of a length to extend substantially half a circle or about one-half 1 around the head .of the upper cylinder. A

is a second cam-shaped piece also secured to the frame Z by posts 2. A link or connect-' ing-piece 2 connects the two cams, as shown. The cam-A is of greater length than the cam A and is substantially semicircular, the osition of the two .cams relatively to each ot er and to the cylinder X being substantially as shown in Fig. 5.

In practice atleast a ortion of the-inner edge of the cam A, sho d be a trifle nearer the central axis or shaft of the upper cylinder thanthe outer edge of the'shorter cam for a purplose presently apparent.

T e location of the cams relatively to each other is such that during the rotation of'the cylinder-X each roller will ride upon the outer curved edge of the cam A and in conjunction I with the coiled spring swing its arm L to cause rod D to artially turn and cause the fingers to close own upon the flap engaged by the fingers.

The action of the cam A? upon each ofthe rollers begins just after the fingers have entered within the open flap of the lowermost envelop, and the fingers are under the positive action of the cam A kept cl'osedupon thefia until the envelop has been printed, and .t en the roller clears the 4 edge of-the cam A and next rides against the inner edge of the longer cam, and as the said inner edge, or at least a portion thereof, is nearer the central axis or shaft of the upper cylinder than the outer edge of the shorter cam the roller will be forced inwardly toward the-said central axis by said inner edge of cam A suificiently to rock the rod D reversely, and thus raise the fingers away from the flap of the printed envelop, thus permitpasses around a pulley H slaves ting the latter to fall upon the delivery-tapes 'presentl to be described.

- It wil be noted that the freeing of the envelop Wlll occur ust after the same has been printed.

The roller will remain in contact with the inner edge of cam A until thefingers (whichv are now in an open osition) have engaged with the open flap o the lowermost envelop in receptacle B, and by this time the roller has reached a point where it will again ride upon the outer edge of the cam A and be operated to cause the fingers to clamp down upon the fia of the envelop just previous y engaged by t e fingers.

H is an endless tape which asses around a pulley H mounted on a she t H, journaled in the frame Z, and which tape partially encompasses the cylinder X and also asses around a pulley 0 on shaft 0 and a pu ley m on a shaft M.

H indicates a second endless tape which on shaft H partially encompasses the cylinder X, and also passes around the pulley 0 on the shaft 0. The two tapes H H cooperate to clamp the envelops closely around the cylinder as they are fed to the printing-point and prevent the bul ing or springing outward of the envelop whi e being printed.

After the envelop has been printed the tape H, assisted by the endless tape H, delivers the same to a receptacle J at the rear of the machine. The tape H runs over pulleys h h mounted, res ectively, on the shaft M and at the up er en of a standard h carried by the base 0 the machine-frame.

The shaft M is supported by arms M, each of which-is made in sections adjustable lengthwise by means of a slot-and-pin connection, as seen at m m, whereby to adapt the delivery devices to the varying s'izes of envelops.

The endless tapes H H H are operated by means of suitable gearing, as indicated at N, interposed between the shaft H and the shaft of the upper cylinder.

For t e purpose of attaching the electrotype, stereot pe, or other printing plate to the lower cy inder Y, I construct the latter with three slots 0, extending transversely of the cylinder and nearly the entire length thereof. The slots are at equidistant points around the cylinder.

Extending from end to end of the cylinder Y within the latter and at points directl under the slots are three rods 0, each rod eing threaded for at least a portion of its len th. Upon the threaded portion of each r0 is mounted a jaw 0 which is adapted for free erates with the jaw O to clampa printingsecured at one end to the chine and extending rearwardly, and sup-- meshing gear-wheels X plate 0 and hold it securely in position, as seen plainly in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of turning the rods 0 in one direction or the other to cause the movable jaw to be adjusted toward or from the jaw O to thereby clamp a printing-plate or release the same each rod is extended at one end through the head of the cylinder and is squared at that end, whereb a wrench ma be a plied thereto to turn t e rod.

The a justability of one of the jaws tovides also for clamping printing-plates o varying lengths.

The printing-plates are beveled at the ends, and the engaging ends of the jaws are angularly bent, so as to enga e the beveled ends of the plates, all as seen p ainly in Fig. 3. The

rinting-plates of course are curved to conform to t e curvature of the cylinder.

The devices for receivin the printed envelops comprise horizonta -arranged arms ase of the ma- %orted in the rear ends of the arms is a roller around which passes a rope E, from one end of which is suspended a weight E, which counterbalances a sheet-metal receptacle J. The base of the receptaclerests in an angular bar E to which the other end of. the rope'is attached and which is adapted for verticallysliding movement within standards E secured to the arms E. The receptacle J is in a position to adapt it to receive the printed envelops discharged by the delivery-belts, and as the receptacle becomesiilled with the envelops it will descend to-about on a line with the roller E, when the receptacle may be lifted out .and emptied of its contents, another empty receptacle in the meanwhile bein placed in position upon the bar E.

he inking device for supplying ink to the printing-plates comprises a series of ink-rollers G, supported by standards or cheek-pieces G, secured to the base of the machine, these rollers being rotated by suitable gearing, as S, from the shaft of the lower printing-cylinder. The rollers G are arranged in a position to adapt them to supply ink to the printing plates during the rotation of the c linder Y.

The machine may be operated l; hand or by power. I have shown the shafts of cylinders X Y as being provided with inter- Y, the former being provided with a crank for operating the machine by hand.

What i claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an envelop-receptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged in operative relation to the discharge end of said receptacle, of means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelo contained within the receptacle, withdrawing it from the latter and feeding it around to the rinting-point comprising a rock-shaft carrie by the cylinder, spurs or fingers carried by said shaft, one of sald fingers being adjustably mounted upon the shaft to adapt it to be adjusted toward and from the other finger, and means for rocln'ng the shaft at a predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clam down upon the flap of an envelop previous y engaged by the fingers.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an envelop-receptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged in 0 erative relation to the discharge end of sai receptacle, of means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelop contained within the receptacle, withdrawing it from the latter and feeding it around to the printing-point comprising a rock-shaft carried by the cylinder, spurs or fingers carried by said shaft, one

of sa1d fingers. being adjustably mounted upon the shaft to adapt it to be adjusted toward and from the other finger, and means for rocln'ng the shaft at a predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp down u on the flap of an envelop previously engage b the fingers, and. means for rocking the sha reversely to cause the fingers to release the flap, as described:

3-. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an envelop-receptacle, and an impression-cylinder arranged in operative relation to the discharge end of said receptacle, of means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelop contained in the receptacle,'withdrawing it from the latter and feeding it around to the printing-point com prising a rock-shaft arranged within the'cylmder and rotatably mounted in the heads thereof, spurs or fingers carried b the shaft, one of said fingers being adjustab y mounted upon the shaft to adapt it to be adjusted toward and from the other finger, and means for rocking the shaft at a predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp down upon the flaps of an envelop previously engaged by the fingers, comprislng a coiled spring mounted upon the shaft within the cylinder operating to rock the shaft to cause the fingers to clamp down u on said flap, as described.

4. In a mac 'ne of the character described, the combination with an envelop-receptacle, and an impression-cylinder arranged in op erative relation to the discharge end of the rece tacle, of means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelop contained in the receptacle, withdrawing it from the latter and feeding it around to the printing-point com, rising a rock-shaft carried within the cylinder and rotatably mounted in the heads thereof, one end of the shaft extendin be yond a head of the cylinder, a spur 0r ger- 1 roller to ride upon the the combination with a supporting-frame,

-11 running over the various pul mounted upon said extended end of the shaft, a second spur or finger adjustably mounted upon the shaft within the cyl nder and projecting through a transverse slot 1n the latter, and means for rocking the shaft at a predetermined period during the-rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clam down upon the flap of an envelop previously engaged by the fingers.

5. n a machine of the character described, the combination with an envelop-receptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged in op erative relation to the discharge end of the recelptacle, of means for engaging the flap of t lowermost envelop contained withinthe receptacle, withdrawing it from the latter and feeding it around to the rinting-point com prising a rock-shaft carried by the cylinder, spurs or fingers carried by the shaft, an arm secured to one end of the shaft, a roller on said arm, and a cam mounted independently of the cylinder and in a position to cause the edge of the cam and be operated thereby to cause the shaft to rock at a predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp downupon the flap of an envelop previouslyen aged by the fingers.

6. In a maciine'of the character described,

the combination with a supporting-frame,

an envelop-receptacle and an impressioncylinder arranged in operative relation to, the discharge end of the receptacle, of ashaft H mounted in the frame, pulleys on saidshaft, a shaft 0 mounted in the frame, pulleys on the latter shaft, a shaft M, support ing-arms for the last-named shaft, a standard carried b the base of the frame, a roller on said stan ard, and endless tapes H, H eys in the manner described.

7. In a machine of the characterdescribed,

an envelop-rece tacle and an impressioncylinder arrange in operative relation to the discharge end of the receptacle, of a shaft H mounted in the frame, ulleys on said shaft, a shaft 0 mounted int e-frame,;p ulleys on the latter shaft, a shaft M,supporting-arms for the last-named shaft, said arms being adjustable in length, a standard carried by the base of the frame, a roller on said standard, and endless tapes'H, H H running over the various pulleys in the mannerdescribed.

8, In a machine of the character described,

the combination with an envelop-receptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged in operative relation to the discharge end of said receptacle, of means for engaging the flap of the owermost envelo contains within the receptacle, withdrawing it fromthe latter and feeding it around to the printing-point comprising a rook-shaft arranged within the cylinderv and extending lengthwise thereof and having a bearing in the ends of the cyleaves inder, spurs or fingers carried said shaft,

one of said spurs projecting through a longitudinal slot in the cylinder, and means for rocking the shaft at a predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp down 'upon the flap of an envelop previously en aged by the fingers.

9. In a machine of-t e character described, the combination with an envelop-receptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged in operative relation to the discharge end of said receptacle, of means for engaging the-flap of the lowermost envelop contalned 'within the receptacle, withdrawin it from the latter and feeding it aroun -.to the printingpoint comprising a rock shaft arranged within the cylinder and extending lengthwise thereof and having a bearing in the ends of the cylinder, spurs or fingers carried by said shaft, one of said spurs projecting through a longitudinal slot 1D the cylinder and the other spur bein mounted upon .a projecting end of the shat exteriorly of the cylinder, and means for rocking the shaft at a predetermined period during the .rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp down upon the flap of an envelop previously engaged by the fingers.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an envelop receptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged in operative relation to the discharge end of the rece tacle, of means for engagin the flap of the lowermost envelop containe within the receptacle, withdrawmg it from the latter and feeding it around to the printing-point comprising a rock-shaft carried .by the cylinder spurs or fingers carried by the shaft, an arm secured to one end of the shaft, 1

a roller on said arm, a sprin arranged to exert its stress upon the shaft in the manner set forth, and a cam mounted independently of the cylinder and in a position to cause the roller to ride upon-the edge of the cam and be operated. thereby to cause the shaft to rock at .a predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp down upon the flap of an envelop previously engaged by the fingers. 11. In a machine of the character described, the combination With an envelopreceptacle and an impression-cylinder arranged'in operative relation to the discharge end of the receptacle,1of means for engagin the flap of the lowermost envelop contame within the receptacle, withdrawing it from the latter and feeding it around to the printing point comprising a rock -shaft carried by the cylinder, spurs or fingers carried by the shaft, an arm secured to one end of the shaft, aroller on said arm, a cam mounted independently of the cylinder and in a position to cause the roller to ride upon. theedge of the cam and be operated thereby to cause the shaft to rock at a'predetermined period during the rotation of the cylinder to cause the fingers to clamp down upon the flap of an.

envelop previously engaged by the fingers, and a second cam also mounted independently of the cylinder and operating u on the roller at a predetermined period to e ect the reverse turning of the shaft and cause the fingers to release the flap of the envelop after the latter has been printed.

12. In a machine of 'the character de-. scribed, the combination With a sup ortingframe, printin devices carried there y, and delivery-belts lor the printed envelops, of a device for receiving the printed envelops from the delivery-belts comprising standards secured to rearwardly-extending arms of the frame, a roller rotatably mounted in said arms, a bar slidably mounted Within the standards, a receptacle removably supported on said bar, a rope secured at one end to the 20 MICHAEL PQKENNA.

Witnesses:

H. B. SPENsLEY, ALEX. Simmer.

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