US2625392A - Machine for insetting cards or the like under envelope flaps - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 N. H. MORRISON 2,

MACHINE FOR INSETTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS Filed July 17, 1947 v 6 Sheets-Sheet l nit Enron. A/dfllan Mark/3a H T TORNEY Jan. 13, 1953 N. H. MORRISON 2,625,392

MACHINE FOR INSETTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS I Filed July 1'7, 194'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 3 INVENTOR.

mi mmu ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1953 N. H. MORRISON MACHINE FOR INSETTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 17, 1947 IN V EN TOR. I? Marl-ism J 516w MQ Q ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1953 MORRISON 2,625,392

MACHINE FOR INSEITTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS Filed July 17, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1953 N. H. MORRISON 2,625,392

MACHINE FOR INSETTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS Filed July 17, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. .90 BYMf Mn r94 liar-r11: on

JSMQMM AT T GENE! 1953 NH. MORRISON 2,

MACHINE FOR INSETTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS Filed July 17, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 /MQ W H TTO R/VE/ Patented Jan. 13, 1953 MACHINE FOR INSETTING CARDS OR THE LIKE UNDER ENVELOPE FLAPS Nathan H. Morrison, Lowell, Mass., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to R. R. Heywood 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 17, 1947, Serial No. 761,450

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for handling greeting cards or other sheet-like articles and particularly to a collating machine for assembling a greeting card and an envelope by inserting the greeting card under the closing flap of its envelope and for transferring the collated articles into a container.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved collating machine of the character specified in which provision is made for assembling successive sheet-like articles into collated relationship and for transferring them into a container in a novel, superior and efficient manner.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improved sheet feeding device for withdrawing successive foremost sheets from a stack thereof in an eflicient and superior manher.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the collating machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification,

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figs. 1 and 2 are side and front elevations of the present collating machine; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing a sheet feeding unit; Figs. 6 and 7 are front elevations partly in section of a feeding roller of the sheet feeding unit in different positions of operation; Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram to be referred to; Fig. 9 is a front elevation partly in section, showing a modified form of sheet feeding mechanism; and Fig. 10 is an end view, partly in section taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel and improved collating machine particularly adapted for handling greeting cards and envelopes in which provision is made for feeding an envelope from a stack thereof supported in a magazine or chute into operative position to receive a card and for feeding a card from a stack supported in a second magazine into a position to be disposed under the closing flap of the envelope and thereafter the collated envelope and card may be discharged into a box or other container positioned to receive the correlated articles.

In practice a battery of collating machines may 2 be provided, each machine operating upon a different greeting card, and a plurality of containers may be intermittently advanced on a belt into operative relation to successive machines, each container receiving one collated article from each machine so that at the end of the line each container is provided with a plurality of different greeting cards correlated with their respective envelopes. Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for detecting the failure of a unit to discharge a greeting card and envelope into the container and for providing an identifying mark on the container in such event so that when the container is delivered at the end of the line, the missing card or cards with their envelopes may be provided to assure a complete set of assorted cards in each container.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the collating machine comprises two spaced independently supported and driven half sections cooperating to guide and feed the articles to be collated and provision is made for adjusting one half section with relation to the other for handling articles of different widths.

The present invention further contemplates a novel and improved feeding device adapted to feed the foremost card or envelope from a supply thereof carried in a magazine or chute in which they are arranged to be advanced by gravity into operative relation to a feeding wheel or roller having a portion of its circumference provided with a rubber surface arranged to frictionally engage the foremost article and in co.- operation with a non-driven stationary rubber roller the foremost card or envelope is withdrawn from the magazine or chute. Heretofore, sheet or card feeding devices of the same general type have been successfully employed to feed cards of substantially uniform thickness, the rotary feed roller being adjusted with relation to the stationary roller to accommodate such thickness of card. However, if the cards should vary in thickness the device might fail to deliver successive cards, or, two or more cards might be delivered at once.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the feeding mechanism is capable of feeding sheets or cards of varying thickness so that a critical adjustment of the feeding device is not required each time a group of cards of a different thickness is supplied to the magazine. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by the provision of a suction opening in the frictionally engaging surface of the feed roller to assure a positive engagement of the card with the roller, and, a positive stop member carried by and movable with relation to the feed roller is provided to prevent withdrawal of a succeeding card until the rubber surface of the roller again arrives into withdrawing engagement with the card during the next cycle of operation.

In the operation of the collating machine, an envelope withdrawn by one feeding unit is ad'- vanced into operative position to receive a. card withdrawn from a second feeding unit, the card being inserted directly fromthe feeding unit under the flap of the envelope.

Referring now to the drawings ID, l2 represent magazines of feed chutes arranged to support a supply of sheet-like articles such as greeting cards l4 and a supply of envelopes l6 respectively,

the foremost card being illustrated in Fig. 3 in engagement with a rotary feed wheel or roller indicated generally at 8, and, the foremost envelope in engagement with a similar feed roller, indicated generally at 20. In general, in the operation of the machine, a card and an envelope are simultaneously withdrawn from their respective magazines, the card i4 being delivered under the flap 22 of a previously withdrawn envelope l6 which has come to rest against a cam-operated stop member 24. The flap 22 is preferably lifted to receive the card by a jet of air discharged from an air nozzle 23. The stop member 24 is then rocked to release the collated card and envelope which are then advanced between delivery rollers 26, 28 arranged to discharge the articles into a container 30 supported on a belt conveyor 32. In the meantime, the envelope which was withdrawn from the magazine (2 simultaneously with the card already discharged, is advanced on a belt 34 into engagement with the stop member 24 in position to receive a card withdrawn from the magazine H] during the next cycle of operation.

As illustrated in Figs; 2 and 4, the collating machine includes two independently supported; separately driven and substantially symmetrical half sections indicated generally at 36, 38; each section being provided with a feed roller l8 for engagement with opposed marginal edges of the card to be withdrawn from the magazine l0, and, each section is also provided with afeed roller for engagement with opposed marginal edges 3 of. the envelope to be withdrawn from the magazine l2. As herein shown, each section includes a side frame member 40, 42 mounted on the platen 44 of the machine, and each side frame member r is arranged to adjustably support angular guide members 48, 48 respectively forming cooperating half portions of the card chute l0, and also a similar pair of guide members 59', 52 forming cooperating half portions of the envelope chute l2. As illustrated in Fig; 1 the chute guide members are pivotally mounted at their forward ends on similar studs 54 adjustably secured to the side frames and are arranged to be angularly adjusted by the provision of studs 53 disposed intermediate the ends of the guide members and arranged to be received and adjustably secured in curved slots 58 formed in the side frames 40, 42.

The purpose of the individually supported and separately mounted half sections 33, 38 is to permit one half section to be adjusted with relation to the other to accommodate cards or envelopes of different widths and, as shown in Fig. 1, one of the side frames, 42, is arranged to be clamped in a relatively fixed position to an elongated rail 69 secured to the machine frame. The rail 60 is provided with a laterally extended lip 62 which is received by an angular retaining member 64 secured to the underside of the side frame 42. The angular retaining member 64 is further provided with an upstanding lip 65 arranged to be received in a groove provided in the underside of the frame, as illustrated. The rear wall of the rail 60 is arranged in substantial alignment with a rear wall 61 of the side frame and a clamping member 68 is provided with an undercut portion it forming bearing portions E59, H for engagement with the rail and the side frame. The clamping member 68 is secured to the side frame by a bolt 72 so that when the bolt 72 is tightened the side frame 42 is clamped to the rail 66 by the cooperation of the retaining member 64 and the clamp member 68.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a similar construction is provided for clamping the side frame 419 to the elongated rail 69 except that provision is made for permitting the side frame to slide laterally along the rail when it is desired to change the spacing between the half sections. As herein shown, a similar retaining member 64, and a clamping member M in which no undercut is provided, is arranged to bear against the aligned rear surfaces of the frame and the rail. The clamp member id is retained in clamped position by an elongated bolt it provided with a lock nut 18 and, the end of the bolt is arranged to extend into aslotted portion 8%] in the side frame and in engagement with a clamping piece 82. The clamping piece 82 is arranged to engage an elongated rectangular bar 84% which also extends through a similar slotted portion 85 of the side frame 42, as shown in Fig. 1. With this construction it will be seen that when the bolt 76 is tightened the side frame 40 is clamped to. the bar 86- and when the lock nut 18 is tightened the side frame is clamped to the rail fill. When it is desired to adjust the side frame 40 with relation to the frame 42, the lock nut 73 is loosened to free the frame from looking engagement with the rail and the bar 84 is moved longitudinally moving the frame 43 clamped thereto along the top of the rail. During the adjusting operation, the bar 84 is free to slide through the slot 80 in the relatively stationary side frame 42. It will be observed that when a plurality of spaced collating units are mounted on the rail iii), the elongated bar 84 may extend continuously through the slotted openings 89 in the side frames, being slidingly movable through the stationary frames 42 and clamped to the frames 46 so that by longitudinal movement of the single bar 84 simultaneous adjustment of all of the units may be obtained. It will also be observed that the forward ends of the frames 48, 32 are supported upon an elongated rail 86 forming a part of the machine frame.

Provision is made for continuously driving the feed rollers I8, 26 and the feed belts 34 of each half section 36, 38 through similar but separate and individual driving connections from a main drive shaft 90 journaled in bearings, one of which is indicated at 92, attached to the machine frame. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the driving connections for the half section 38 includes a gear 94 fast on the drive shaft 90 and which cooperates with a gear 96 rotatably mounted on a stud 98 carried by the side frame 42. A sprocket I09 formed integrally with the gear 96 is connected by a chain I02 to similar sprockets I04, Ills-fast onthe feed roller shafts I08,- Hllrespectivelyto efiect continuous and simultaneous rotation of both rollers I8, 20 at the same rate of speed and in the same direction. The drive chain I02 is also arranged to pass over an idler sprocket III, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The belt 34, on which the envelopes are supported and carried into operative position to receive a card, is arranged to run over the drive pulley 26 fast on a stud II4 rotatably mounted in the side frame 42 and over idler pulleys H6, H8 rotatably mounted on studs I20, I22 respectively which are secured to the side frame 42. The belt 34 is arranged to be driven at a relatively faster rate than the speed of the feed rollers through connections including a gear I24 rotatably mounted on a stud I26 carried by the side frame and which is arranged to mesh with the gear 96. A chain and sprocket drive I23 connects the stud I26 to the drive pulley stud I I4 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The drives to the feed rollers I8, 20 and the feed belt 34 of the half section 36 are similar in all respects to the drives above described except that provision is made for permitting longi tudinal movement of the main driving gear along the main drive shaft 90. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the main driving gear 9| for the half section 36 may be provided with a grooved hub I30 arranged to receive a yoke member I32 secured to the side frame 40 so that in operation, when the half section 36 is moved the driving gear 9| will move along with it, the gear being rotatably connected to the shaft by an elongated key 93 over which it may slide longitudinally during movement of the half section.

From the description thus far, it will be observed that the half sections 36, 38 of the collating unit are individually mounted and driven and that one half section may be adjusted with respect to the cooperating half section to accommodate cards or envelopes of different widths, the feed rollers I8, 20 of each half section being driven at corresponding speeds for simultaneous engagement with the marginal edges of the foremost cards or envelopes in their respective chutes, and, the feed belts 34 also being driven at corresponding speeds but at a faster rate than the speed of the rollers.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, the cards I4 and the envelopes I6 are upended or substantially vertically disposed in their respective chutes I0, I2 being supported along their lower edges between the guide members 46, 46 and 50, 52 and are arranged to slide by gravity, off the forward ends of their respective guide members and down onto auxiliary supporting members, each comprising a pair of spaced bottom guide rails I34 secured to the Side frames 40, 42, the construction being such as to effect spreading or fanning out of the stack and to present the foremost card 01 envelope against its respective feed roller I8, 20 as shown in Fig. 3.

As best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, each feed roller I3, 26 includes a rubber band I36 arranged to provide a frictional engaging surface for a portion of the periphery of the roller and each roller is arranged to cooperate with a lower roll I38 comprising a stationary, non-rotatable rubber roll secured to its respective side frame 40, 42, the lower roll being arranged to frictionally retain the second sheet during withdrawal of the foremost sheet by the rubber band I36.

Provision is made for adjusting the feed roller vertically with respect to the lower rubber roll I38 to provide a spacing which permits the foremost sheet to pass and to prevent passing of the second sheet between the rolls, and, as herein shown, each roller is mounted to rotate with its respective stud I08, I I0 which studs are journaled in similar block bearings I40 slidably mounted in vertical guides I42 formed in the side frames. Each slide block I40 is urged upwardly in its vertical guide by a spring I44 interposed between the bottom of the guide and the underside of the block to present the upper end of the block against a hollow adjusting screw I46. The adjusting screw is mounted in a cap member I48 extending across the upper ends of the arms forming the vertical guide I42. Thus, rotation of the adjusting screw in one direction urges the roller mounting downwardly and rotation in the other direction permits the spring I44 to elevate the mounting unit in the guide to provide the most efiicient spacing between the feed roller and its cooperating lower roll I38.

In the operation of the sheet'feeding device thus far described it Will be observed that the foremost sheet in the chute is withdrawn by the rubber band engaging surface I36 of the feed roller each revolution thereof, the succeeding sheet being retained by the frictional engagement of the lower stationary rubber roll I38. In practice, the foremost group of sheets which have dropped down on the auxiliary guide rails I34 and are spread apart vertically tend to assume a curved or arcuate form and to project the lower edges of the sheets into the bight of the cooperating rollers. Thus, in operation, when the foremost sheet is engaged by the rubber surface I33 of the feed roller, the next succeeding sheet is in a position to cover the lower roll so that the foremost sheet may easily slide past the lower roll by virtue of the paper to paper contact, the succeeding sheet being retained by the frictional engagement of the lower rubber roll, as described.

While the above described manner of feeding has been found successful in feeding sheets of substantially uniform thickness, it will be appreciated that a critical adjustment is required between the feed roller and the retaining roller to prevent the passage of two or more sheets or to prevent failure of a sheet to be withdrawn. In the use of the present collating device, it is desired to feed different groups of cards or envelopes in the same unit or to interchange one group with another as the occasion requires and such cards or envelopes may vary in thickness. In the construction of the sheetfeeding unit as thus far described it will be seen that each interchange of sheets of different thickness would require a corresponding change in adjustment of the feed rollers. However, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, provision is made for assuring withdrawal and feeding of successive foremost sheets of varying thickness within reasonable limits without requiring adjustment of the feed rollers, a position of adjustment for the maximum thickness of sheet being maintained for feeding the sheets of lesser and variable thicknesses.

This is accomplished by the provision of a suction opening I53 in the rubber band I36 arranged to draw the foremost sheet into positive engagement with the feed roller during the feeding operation, and, the provision of a holding finger I52 arranged to positively prevent passage of the sheets until engaged by the rubber band portion of the feed wheel. As best shown in Fig. 6, the rubber band I36 is stretched about a laterally extended arcuate rib portion I54 formed integrally with a roller disc I55 mounted on the stud I08 for rotary adjustment with respect to a driving disc I58 keyed to the stud, the roller disc being secured to the driving disc for rotation therewith by a nut IGQ cooperating with reduced diameter threaded end of the stud. Provision is made for connecting the rotating members to a source of suction and, as herein shown,.a stationary vacuum shoe I62 provided with a, passageway IE4 is carried by the bearing block HM] and is arranged to yieldingly bear against the rear face of the driving disc I58 by the provision of a spring I86 disposed in a chamber I58 formed in the block. The chamber IE8 is arranged to communicate with a source of suction through a pipe I'Ifi secured in the top of the block, M53 and which extends through the hollow adjusting screw M5, the construction permitting adjustment of the bearing block without interference with the air pipe. The passageway ltd in the vacuum shoe is open to the chamber IE8 at one end and terminates in an arcuate grooved portion I'IZ cut in the face of the shoe and concentric with the driving disc against which it bears. The driving disc I58 is provided with an opening I'M on the same radius as the arcuate groove and which connects the grooved portion I12 with an annular chamber I16 formed in the cooperating face of the roller disc I53, when the opening H6 is in communication with the groove I12 in the stationary vacuum shoe during the rotation of the driving disc. The annular cham ber I'IS communicates with the suction opening I50 in the rubber band by a passageway F8 formed in the rib portion I54 as shown in Fig. 5. From the description thus far it will be seen that in the operation of the device, when the rubber band with the suction opening I58 adjacent the forward end thereof is rotated into engagement with the foremost sheet in the group, the connecting opening H4 in the driving disc I58 arrives into communication with the arcuate grooved chamber H2 in the vacuum shoe to provide suction at the opening I58 and that the suction is maintained as long as the opening I'M remains in communication with the groove during which time the foremost sheet is being withdrawn, whereupon the opening I74 passes beyond the groove and the vacuum is out off. In order to adjust the roller disc with relation to the driving disc for the purpose of varying the setting at which the suction is initiated for the most efiicient operation, the nut IEO may be loosened and the roller disc rotated to the desired position whereupon the nut may again be tightened. In this manner the foremost sheet is positively drawn into engagement with the feed roller during the withdrawing operation and together with the frictional engagement of the rubber band I36 efiects withdrawal of the sheet.

The holding finger i52 for each feed roller is mounted to rotate with the fed roller and is also free to rotate with relation to the roller for a portion of each revolution, the object being to permit the stop finger to come to rest substantially at a point of tangency with the stationary rubber roller I38 to hold a succeeding sheet and the group of sheets in abeyance until the feed roller again presents the frictionally engaging band into engagement with the succeeding foremost sheet, whereupon the stop finger is released to rotate with and with relation to the feed roller. As best shown in Fig. 5, the holding finger IE is rotatably mounted on a shouldered portion I8I|of a collar I82 which isadjustably secured to the nut I60 by a set screw I84. A torsion. spring I86 coiled about the collar I82, and having its ends secured in the holding finger and in the collar respectively, effects rotation of the finger against the trailing end of the arcuate band. portion I36 during the feeding operation, as illustratedin Fig. 7.

In order to bring the holding finger to rest substantially in alignment with a radial line extending from the center of the feed roller to the center of the stationary roller, after the band portion I35 has passed and withdrawn the foremost sheet, a spring, stop, I88 is provided which is arranged to engage a pin I98 carried by the finger I50. As shown in Fig. 5, the spring stop is secured to an angle bracket ISI supported from the side frame and isprovided with an inwardly bent edge portion I92 disposed at an angle with relation to the circular path of the pin I98, see Figs. 6 and 7, and in a manner such as to obstruct the passage of the pin and to stop the holding finger in a position to cooperate with the roller I38 in preventing passage of succeeding sheets as shown in Fig. 6. As, herein shown, the holding finger is provided with an arcuate end portion I95 having a radius slightly greater than the radius of the arcuate band portion I33. During the rotation of the feed roller with the holding finger I53, at rest, the torsion spring 186 is wound up, and, when the leading end of the arcuate band portion I36 engages the holding finger I58, the spring. stop I88 is permitted to flex to release the finger whereupon the finger is rotated by the torsion spring into engagement with the trailing end of the arcuate band portion as shown in Fig. '7.

In practice the feed roll is set with relation to the opening i l to initiate the suction at the opening I563 substantially at the same time that the holding finger IE2 is engaged and released by the leading end of the band portion I35 as shown in Fig. 6 so that in operation the foremost sheet is drawn into engagement with the band and permitted to pass beyond the stationary rubber roller I38, a succeeding sheet having projected itself over the rubber roller. The frictional engagement of the band I33 on one side of the foremost sheet effects withdrawal of the latter over the contacting paper surface of the succeeding sheet, and the latter is retained by the frictional engagement of the stationary rubber roll I38. After the band portion I35 has passed beyond the roll I38 the holding finger I52 immediately engages the succeeding sheet and comes to rest to retain the sheet against the roll I38 and prevent passage thereof until the finger is released during the next cycle of operation.

As above stated the feed rollers I8, 29 operate simultaneously to feed a card and an envelope from their respective chutes, and, provision is made for inserting the card It under the flap 22 of an envelope which was withdrawn during the previous cycle of operation and which has been advanced by the belt 3 3 into engagement with a movable stop member 2G. As best shown in Fig. 3, the envelopes it are stacked vertically in the chute I2 with the fiap portions disposed at the lower forward end so that when an envelope is withdrawn it is disposed flat upon the belts 34 with the flap uppermost at the forward end. As herein shown, the envelopes extend transversely between the spaced belts 3d being engaged and advanced with the belts along their marginal edges and are retained in engagement with the spaced belts by weighted balls I96 which are supported. for rotation and vertical movement in openings l98 provided in side rails 200 secured to their respective frame members. Thus, in operation, an envelope withdrawn by the feed roller 28 is received between the belts 34 and the weighted balls I96, the latter serving to hold the envelopes in engagement with the belts and is permitted to rotate by the frictional engagement of the envelopes therewith during the advancing movement to present the envelope against the stop 24 as described.

The air or blower nozzle 23 for lifting the closing flap 22 to permit insertion of a card thereunder during the next cycle of operation is preferably arranged to blow a continuous stream of air to effect the flap lifting operation and, as herein shown, is disposed substantially centrally between the two half sections 36, 38 being supported between the side frames 48, 42 in a manner such as to maintain the nozzle unitin a central position when the side frames are adjusted for different widths of cards and envelopes. The nozzle pipe 282 is fixed in a block 284 which is provided with a passageway 208 in communica-' tion with a connection 258 for receiving a flexible tube 2 In which may be connected to any usual or preferred source of air under pressure. The block is supported by two laterally extended square rods 2l2 which may be threadedly connected at their inner ends to both sides of the block 284 and which extend through round openings H3 in the side walls 48, 42. The rods 2|2 are also arranged to pass through relatively thin retaining plates 2E4 attached to the side frames and havin square openings to prevent rotation of the assembled supporting unit. Coil springs 215 are provided on both sides of the block being interposed between a washer 2 l8 and the retaining plates 2l4. The threaded ends of the rods are also provided with lock nuts 220 to permit adjustment of the block to a suitable angular position to direct the stream of air under the fiap 22. With this construction it will be seen that when the side frames 48, 42 are adjusted with relation to each other, the square rods 2l2 may pass freely through the openings in the side walls and the retaining plates 2 I4 and are maintained in a substantially central position by the equal pressure of the coil springs 2l6.

In the operation of the machine, a card is projected under the envelope flap 22 while the latter is held up by the stream of air from the nozzle 23 and immediately thereafter the cam operated stop member 24 is rocked out of the path of the collated card and envelope to permit the same to advance between the rollers 28, 28 to be discharged into the container 38 disposed on the conveyer belt 32. As best shown in Fig. 3, the cards are guided from the feed roller by angular cut out portions '29 formed in the forward ends of the ball retaining side rails 250 so that in operation the leading edge of the card is projected under the flap while the card is disposed in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, the card and envelope being brought into parallel relationship when they are ejected by the rollers 26, 28. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the stop member 24 is attached to one arm 222 of a lever pivotally mounted on a stud 224 fixed in the side frame 42. The other arm 226 of the lever is provided with a cam roll 223 arranged to cooperate with a cam 238 fast on an extension of a stud I88 carried by the side frame 42. The cam 238 may and preferably will be adjustably fixed to the stud I88 and is preferably arranged to permit the stop member 24 to rock out of the path of the articles immediately after a card has been inserted in the envelope. A coil spring 232 wound about the stud 224 and having its ends fast in the cam and in a collar 234 secured to the stud is arranged to efiect rocking of the lever in a clockwise direction to hold the roller against its cam, the cam being designed to efiect counterclockwise movement of the lever to present the stop member 24 in operative position.

As herein shown the lower rolls 28, over which the belts 34 travel are geared to the upper rolls 25 by cooperating spur gears 236, 238 the latter being fast on studs 248 journaled in slide blocks 242 arranged for vertical movement in the side frames 48, 42 respectively, the slide blocks being urged downwardly by springs 244 interposed between cap members 246 and the upper ends of the blocks. The belts 34, as best shown in Fig. 2 are retained in grooved portions of the lower rolls 28 to present the outer surfaces of the belts substantially flush with the outside diameter of Thus, during each cycle of operation,

to quickly discharge the collated articles and permit the stop member 24 to be brought down into operative position to stop the simultaneously withdrawn envelope being advanced by the belt? 34 in position to receive the next card withdrawn.

Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for detecting the failure of a collating unit to eject a collated article duringeach cycle of operation of the machine, and, upon such failure provision is made for printing an identifying mark upon the container so that when the container arrives at thedelivery end of the conveyer, the operator may place therein such missing article or articles to complete the set. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8, this is accomplished by an electrical circuit 249 which includes a micro-switch 258 which is normally closed and arranged to be opened upon passage of a card between the rollers, and a cam operated switch 252 arranged to be closed during the period in the cycle when an article does pass or should have passed between the rollers 25, 28. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each slide block 242, by which the upper rollers 26 are carried, is provided with an upstanding rod 254 which extends through the cap member 246 and is guided at its upper end in a supporting bar 253 attached to the side frame, so that when the slide blocks 242 are ele-' vated by a collated article passing between the rollers, the rods 254 are moved vertically. A contact member or switch arm 258 adiustably. secured to one of the rods 254 is arranged to co-" operate with the micro-switch 258 to effect opening of the circuit when an article passes between the ejecting rollers. A solenoid operated printing element 268 also included in the circuit 249 is disposed adjacent the conveyor belt 32 and in operative relation to the container 30 to print an identifying mark, such as the number of the card or the collating unit associated therewith, on the side wall of the container when the solenoid 28] is energized. The switch 252 is operated by a cam 252 fast on the main drive shaft 38 and which is arranged to cooperate with a cam roll 254 carried by a pivotally mounted arm 285. Thus, in the operation of the machine, when a collated card and envelope fails to pass between the rollers 26, 28 the switch arm 258 will not be elevated to open the normally closed closed at the switch 252 .by the cam 252 at this time, the solenoid 26! is energized to effect printing of an identifying marl: on the container. Conversely, in the normal operation of the machine when a collated card and envelope does pass between the rollers 26, 28 the switch arm 258 is elevated to open the circuit at the normally closed switch 258 so that although the cam operated switch 252 is closed at this time the solenoid 25l will not be energized.

From the above description it will be seen that the wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 8 for a single collating unit may be duplicated for each of a plurality of collating units in the line and that but one master cam 262 is required for the entire circuit to effect closing of the switch 252 at the period in the cycle when a collated article is or should be ejected by the rollers 255, 28 so that when the container arrives at the end of the line the operator may place in the container such missing cards and envelopes as are indicated by the printed matter on the side wall of the container.

.As generally indicated in Fig. 1, the belt conveyer .32 may be continuously driven to advance the containers 3!; along the belt between suitable guide rails 268,219, and, the containers are arranged to be brought to rest in operative relation to their respective collating units and in timed relation to the operation thereof, by solenoid operated stop fingers 272, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, the stop fingers 212 for each collating unit may be simultaneously operated by a master cam 2M fast on the maindrive shaft .90 and which is arranged to cooperate with a cam roll 2'15 carried by a pivotally mounted arm 218 to effect closing of :a switch 280 in the circuit 282 to the solenoid 284 for the stop finger, the circuit 282 shown in Fig. 8 being duplicated for each collating unit. Thus, in operation, successive containers 3% are in effect intermittently advanced into operative relation to successive collating units to receive a different greeting card and envelope from each s unit to make up a box of assorted greeting cards.

A modified form of sheet feeding mechanism embodying the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 in which the holding finger I52 is eliminated and the stationary rubber roller W is replaced by a cooperating metal member 330 shaped to support the foremost sheets in the magazne in cooperating relationship with the feed roller'andto permit but onesheet at a time to be withdrawnfrom the magazine. .As herein shown, the modified construction includes a feed roller provided with a yieldable friction band 135 similar to that described to provide a frictional engaging surface for aportion of the periphery of theroller, the radius of the friction band being s'lighty greater than the radius of the supporting and driving members I55, I58 respectively of the feed roller. The feed roller is arranged to cooperate with the stationary metal member 390, h'ereinshown in the form of a roll having a concave portion 382 disposed to be substantially coextensive with the supporting rail 134 and terminating in a fiatted portion 304 spaced from and arranged to cooperate with the friction band 136 to permit the foremost sheet to be withdrawn by the friction band, the succeeding sheet being held back by the engagement with the upwardly curved portion of the concave surface 302. Although, for practical purposes, the concave and fiatted surfaces 302, 304 could be formed by an i 12 integral extension of the rail 134, it is preferred to provide a separate member 300 mounted on a stud 396 to permit rotation of the member 300 r on the stud in order to adjust the flatted portion 334 with relation to the arcuate friction band 136 for most efficient operation, the member 300 being maintained in its adjusted position by a nut 338 cooperating with the threaded end of the stud.

In the operation of the modified sheet feeding mechanism thus far described, the sheets are fed into cooperation with the feed roll by gravity, being arranged to slide down the upper chute and onto the lower supporting rails I34 on edge and in a rearwardly inclined position with the lower edges of the foremost sheets resting in the concave pocket 35:2. The concave surface may and preferably will be polished smooth to provide a low friction surface to permit the sheets to be freely advanced thereover by the slight urging of the succeeding sheets of the group so that the foremost sheet will be projected onto the flatted surface 3&6 during the period of rotation when the metal discs I56, I58 are in engagement with the foremost sheet, such discs being of a radius such as to provide a space between the discs and the flatted surface 394, whereupon the sheet will be Withdrawn by the yieldable friction band when the latter is rotated into pressing engagement therewith. The spacing between the flatted surface 3% and the friction band I35 may be such as to permit but one sheet to pass and the slightly upturned end of the concave portion 382 serves to retain the succeeding sheets in the magazine. In practice the spacing may be adjusted to accommodate a sheet of maximum thickness so that other groups of sheets of lesser and variable thicknesses may be withdrawn without further rotary adjustment of the cooperating member 3539. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the modified form of the invention the feeding mechanism may be provided with suction means including a suction opening in the friction band similar to that heretofore described in order to assure the lifting of the lower edge of the foremost sheet over the upturned portion of the concave surface 382 and onto the flatted surface 334 to be withdrawn by the friction band I36.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Ina machine of the character described, in combination, movable conveyor belt means, a magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, a second magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said first magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first magazine and ejecting it forwardly to said conveyor belt means with its flap uppermost and at the forward moving end of the envelope, conveyor belt movable stop means for bringing the envelope to rest in operative position to receive a card from said second magazine, means for lifting the'closing flap of the envelope, means asaasez' 13 for withdrawing a card from said second maga zine and ejecting it forwardly under the uplifted flap, means for operating said stop means in timed relation to the withdrawal of a card from said second magazine to release the assembled card and envelope, and means for discharging the same from the machine.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, movable conveyor belt means, a magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, a second magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said first magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first magazine and ejecting it forwardly to said conveyor belt means with its flap uppermost and at the forward moving end of the envelope, conveyor belt, movable stop means for bringing the envelope to rest in operative position to receive a card from said second magazine, means for lifting the closing flap of the envelope, means for withdrawing a card from said second magazine and ejecting it under the uplifted flap, means for operating said stop means in timed relation to the withdrawal of a card from said second magazine to release the assembled card and envelope, means for discharging the assembled card and envelope from the machine, and means for supporting a container in operative position to receive the assembled card and envelope thus discharged.

3. In a machine of the character described, in

combination, a magazine for supporting a stack of envelopes having closing flaps,-a second magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first magazine, means for advancing the withdrawn envelope, movable stop means for bringing the envelope to rest in operative position to receive a card, means for lifting the closing flap of the envelope, means for withdrawing a card from said second magazine and inserting the card under the uplifted flap, means for operating said stop means to release the assembled card and envelope, and means for discharging the same from the machine, and means for supporting a container in operative position to receive the assembled card and envelope thus discharged, means for detecting the failure of the discharging means to discharge an assembled card and envelope, and means actuated by said detecting means for applying an identifying mark on said container in the event of such failure.

l. In a machine of the character described operating in successive cycles, in combination, movable conveyor belt means, means mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, means mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced from said envelope supporting means in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing successive envelopes from said first stack and ejecting them forwardly to said conveyor belt means with their flaps uppermost and at the forward moving ends of the envelopes, means for lifting the flaps of successive envelopes,

and means operating simultaneously with said envelope withdrawing means for withdrawing successive cards from said second stack and eject ing the same forwardly under said uplifted flaps, each card being inserted under the fiap of an envelope withdrawn and advanced into said operative position during a previous cycle of operation.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, continuously moving conveyor belt means, a magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, a second magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said first magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first magazine and ejecting it forwardly to said conveyor belt means with its flap uppermost and at the forward moving end of the envelope, movable stop means for bringing the envelope to rest in operative position to receive a card from said second magazine, means for lifting the closing flap of the envelope, means for withdrawing a card from said second magazine and ejecting the card forwardly under the uplifted flap, means for operating said stop means in timed relation to the withdrawal of a card from said second magazine to release the assembled card and envelope, and means for discharging the same from the machine, and means for supporting a container in operative position to receive the assembled card and envelope thus discharged, said conveyor belt means and discharging means being arranged to travel at a relatively faster rate of speed than said withdrawing means to effect discharge of a collated card and envelope and advancement of a succeeding envelope into operative position to receive a subsequently withdrawn card.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a magazine for supporting a stack of envelopes having closing flaps, a second magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first magazine, means for advancing the withdrawn envelope, movable stop means for bringing the envelope to rest in operative position to receive a card, means for lifting the closing flap of the envelope, means for withdrawing a card from said second magazine and inserting the card under the uplifted flap, means for operating said stop means to release the assembled card and envelope, and means for discharging the same from the machine, a continuously moving belt for supporting and advancing containers, and means operating in timed relation to the collating machine for bringing successive containers to rest in operative relation to receive the assembled card and envelope thus discharged.

'7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, continuously moving conveyor belt means, a framework comprising two substantially symmetrical side frames on opposite sides of said conveyor belt means, each side frame being arranged to support cooperating half portions of a magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, cooperating half portions supported by said side frame and forming a second magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said first magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing successive envelopes successively from said first magazine and ejecting them forwardly to said conveyor belt means with their flaps uppermost and at the forward moving ends of the envelopes, movable stop means carried by one side frame for bringing the envelopes successively to rest in operative position to receive cards successively from said second magazine, air blast means carried between said side frames for lifting the closing flaps of the envelopes, means for withdrawing cards successively from said second magazine and inserting the cards successively under the uplifted flaps of the envelopes, means for operating said stop means in timed relation to the withdrawal of a card from said second magazine to release the assembled cards and envelopes, and means for discharging the same from the machine.

8. In a machine of the character described, in combination, continuously moving conveyor belt means, a framework comprising two substantially symmetrical side frames disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor belt means, each side frame being arranged to support cooperating half portions of a magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, a second magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said first magazine for supporting a stack of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first magazine and ejecting it forwardly on said conveyor belt means with its flap uppermost and at the forward moving end of the envelope, movable stop means carried by one side frame for bringing the envelope to rest in operative position to receive a card from said second magazine, air blast means carried between said side frames for lifting the closing flap of the envelope, means for withdrawing a card from said second magazine and ejecting the card forwardly under the uplifted flap, means for operating said stop means timed relation to the withdrawal of a card from said second magazine to release the assembled card and envelope, means for discharging the assembled card and envelope from the machine, and means for adjusting said side frames with relation to each other to accommodate cards and envelopes of different widths.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of movable conveyor be t means, means for supporting a stack of envelopes having closing flaps, means for withdrawing envelopes successively from said stack and discharging them upon said conveyor belt means with their flaps uppermost and at the forward moving ends of the envelopes, envelop flap lifting means mounted in fined relation to said. envelope stack supporting means for lifting the closing flap of each envelope in succession as it is vancecl by the conveyor belt means, means spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said envelope stack supporting means for supporting a stack of cards, and means for withdrawing cards from said stack and discharging them successively under the uplifted flaps of corresponding envelopes.

10. In amachine of the character described, the combination of movable conveyor belt means, means mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends of the envelopes and transversely of said conveyor belt means, means for withdrawing envelopes successively from said stack and discharging them upon said conveyor belt means with their flaps uppermost at the forward moving ends of the envelopes, envelope flap lifting means mounted in fixed relation to said envelope stack supporting means for lifting the closing flap of each envelope in succession as it is advanced in the conveyor belt means, means mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said envelope stack supporting means for supporting a stack of cards transversely of said conveyor belt means, and means for withdrawing cards from said stack and discharging them successively in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means and under the uplifted flaps of corresponding envelopes.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of movable conveyor belt means, means mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their closing flaps disposed at the lower forward ends of the envelopes and transversely of said conveyor belt means, means for withdrawing envelopes successively from said stack and discharging them upon said conveyor belt means with their flaps uppermost at the forward moving ends of the envelopes, envelope flap lifting means mounted in fixed relation to said envelope stack supporting means for lifting th closing flap of each envelope in succession as it is advanced by the conveyor belt means, means mounted over said conveyor belt means and spaced in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means from said envelope stack supporting means for supporting a stack of cards, transversely of said conveyor belt means, means for withdrawing cards from said stack and discharging them successively in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means and under the uplifted flaps of corresponding envelopes, stop means for temporarily stopping the movement of each envelope while a card is being inserted under the uplifted flap thereof, and means rendered operative in timed relation to the withdrawal and discharge of said cards, for releasing said stop means to permit the discharge of assembled cards and envelopes from said conveyor belt means.

12, In a machine of the character described, the combination of movable conveyor belt means, a plurality of spaced apart containers carried by said conveyor belt means, a plurality of collating machines disposed along said con eyor belt means and adapted to discharg assembled cards and envelopes into said respective containers, each of said collating machines comprising means for supporting a stack of envelopes having closing flaps, means for supporting a stack. of cards, means for withdrawing an envelope from said first stack, means for advancing the withdrawn envelope into operative position to receive a card, means for lifting the closing flap of the envelope, means for withdrawing a card from said second stack and inserting the card under the uplifted flap, and means for discharging the assembled card and envelop into a container on said conveyor belt means, and means for moving said conveyor belt means intermittently in timed relation to the discharge of cards from said collating machines.

13. In a machine of the character described the combination of continuously moving conveyor belt means, a magazine mounted over said conveyor belt means for supporting a stack of envelopes with their flaps disposed at the lower forward ends thereof and transversely of said conveyor belt means, feed mechanism for withdrawing an envelope from said magazine and ejecting it forwardly on said conveyor belt means with its flap uppermost and at th forward moving end of the envelope, and nozzle means mounted so as to blow fluid in the direction of movement of said conveyor belt means and under the flaps of successive envelopes carried thereby to lift said flaps.

NATHAN H. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Teal Dec. 16, 1924 Russ June 21, 1927 Marsh Apr. 15, 1930 Winkler et al Nov. 24, 1931 Spiess Feb. 18, 1936 Donnellan Oct. 20, 1936 Henry Oct. 2'7, 1936 Rosebush July 16, 1940 Barkley Oct. 7, 1941 Williams July 27, 1943 Long Oct. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 11, 1921

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