US3441268A - Device for tamping envelopes - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1969 B. E. HANSON DEVICE FOR TAMPI NG ENVELOPES 'Filed June 1, 1967 INVENTOR- BROR E. HANSON 7 BY I warm/Jo, Mr

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,441,268 DEVICE FOR TAMPING ENVELOPES Bror E. Hanson, Worcester, Mass, assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass, 21 corporation of Maine Filed June 1, 1967, Ser. No. 642,786 Int. Cl. B6511 31/38 US. Cl. 271-89 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tamping devices for use with envelope handling machines, and deals more particularly with a device which is self-contained and can be used with an inclined ramp of the type normally provided adjacent the delivery wheel of a conventional envelope flap folding and stacking mechanism.

The general object of the present invention is to pr vide a self-contained envelope tamping, or jogging device, having a minimum number of moving parts, as a result of which the device is rendered very reliable in service.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the present invention showing the delivery wheel of a conventional envelope flap folding and stacking mechanism, and also showing a generally horizontal table onto which the folded envelopes are fed by the line pressure of envelopes being continuously handled by a said delivery wheel.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the inclined ramp, located between the delivery wheel and the table, being broken away to reveal the cam and follower mechanism therebeneath.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, FIG.

1 shows a conventional envelope delivery wheel 10 for delivering successive completed envelopes E from a flap folding mechanism (not shown) onto a ramp which is mounted in fixed relation to a stacking table 22.

The ramp 20 is of conventional construction, having an upstream end 24 adjacent the circumference of the delivery wheel 10 for receiving envelopes E, E conveyed thereto in the notches 26, 26 of the delivery wheel 10. As best shown in FIG. 2, the delivery wheel 10 normally comprises end discs 30, 30 which are adjustably mounted on a shaft 32. The envelopes E, E may be held to the delivery wheel 10 by providing a negative atmospheric pressure at the circumference of the wheel 10 in the area of the notches 26, 26 through suitable means, indi- "ice cated generally at 34, located intermediate the end discs 30, 30. Still with reference to the conventional structure shown, guide clips 36, 36 may be provided on the upstream end of the ramp 24 for guiding the envelopes E, it onto the ramp 20. The ramp 20 may be supported on a horizontally extending bar 40 adjacent its upstream end, with the downstream end of the ramp 20 resting upon the stacking table 22.

In accordance with the present invention, means is provided at either side of the ramp 20 for tamping or jogging the ends of the envelopes E, E as they are being fed down the ramp 20 in order to align them one behind another so that groups thereof can be more readily packed in containers or the like at some downstream location on the stacking table 22. Preferably, and as shown, the mechanism for tamping the ends of the envelopes comprises a pair of generally vertically disposed tamper blades 42, 42 which are mounted, cantilever fashion, on upright posts 44, '44 at the side of the ramp 20. The lower end of each post 44 is mounted in a block 46, which block is attached to the underside of the ramp 20. These posts 44, 44 provide a convenient means for clamping the downstream end of each tamper blade 42, and it is a feature of the present invention that the blades 42, 42 are fabricated from a resilient material, such as spring steel, 50 that the free end portions thereof can be vibrated laterally toward and away from one another in a fundamental vibration mode consistent with the cantilevered mounting.

While the downstream .end portion of each tamper blade 42 may take any convenient shape, preferably, and as shown in FIG. 2, each such blade includes a laterally outwardly bent portion adjacent its downstream end, which portion is welded or otherwise secured to the lateral edge of its associated upright post 44. The intermediate portion of each blade 42 is generally flat so as to abut a large number of envelopes E, E during its vibratory motion. The upstream end of each tamper blade 42 is preferably flared outwardly as shown in FIG. 2 to guide the envelopes E, E between the tamper blades 42, 42 as they are being fed by the line pressure of oncoming envelopes across the ramp 20.

In further accordance with the present invention, means is provided for vibrating the free end portions of the blades 42, "42 in unison toward and away from one another in a tamping, or jogging, action which serves to align the envelopes on the ramp. A cam follower link 48 associated with each tamper blade 42 carries a cam follower 50 at its inner end, and the resiliency of the blade 42 holds the cam follower 50 in engagement with a rotary multi-lobe cam 52 which is rotatably supported below the ramp 20.

Each cam follower link 48 is generally L-shaped having an upstanding leg which is welded or otherwise secured to the tamper blade 42 intermediate the upstream and downstream ends thereof, and preferably at a point such that the blade can be vibrated in its fundamental mode as a result of lateral movement of the link 48 in a direction perpendicular to the neutral axis of the tamper blade 42. Preferably, each link 48 is connected to its associated blade 42 approximately one third the distance between the downstream and upstream ends. As best shown in FIG, 2, the link 48 includes a horizontally extending leg of adjustablelength, being made in two parts to permit use of the device in tamping or jogging envelopes of various lengths.

The multi-lobe cam 52 defines at least one pair of diametrically opposed lobes for simultaneously urging the cam followers 50, 50 in an outward lateral direction, and for simultaneously allowing the resiliency of the blades 42 to return the cam followers inwardly in a tamping motion for aligning envelopes on the ramp 20. As shown two such pairs of diametrically opposed lobes are provided on the cam 52, which cam is secured to the output shaft 54 of an electric motor 56. The motor 56 is mounted on an annular ring 58, which ring 58 is in turn bolted to four depending studs 60, 68 attached to the underside of the ramp 20.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for use with a generally horizontal ramp across which a plurality of envelopes are adapted to be conveyed in edgewise front to back relation, said device comprising a pair of vertically disposed tamper blades movably mounted cantilever fashion at opposite sides of said ramp for flexing movement toward and away from the side edges of the envelopes on said ramp, and means for so flexing said blades in unison toward and away from one another for aligning said envelopes on said ramp.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by means for clamping each of said tamper blades adjacent its downstream end, so that the upstream end thereof can be vibrated in a fundamental vibration mode consistent with its cantilevered mounting.

3. A device for use with a generally horizontal ramp across which a plurality of envelopes are adapted to be conveyed in edgewise front to back relation, said device comprising a pair of vertically disposed tamper blades movably mounted at opposite sides of said ramp for movement toward and away from the side edges of the envelopes on said ramp, mean for moving said blades in unison toward and away from one another for aligning said envelopes on said ramp, said means for moving said blades comprising a continuously driven cam rotatably supported below said ramp, and two cam followers having inner ends for engaging diametrically opposed points on said cam, said cam followers having opposite ends connected to said blades respectively.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 and further characterized by means for clamping each of said tamper blades adjacent its downstream end, the upstream ends of said blades having outwardly formed lips for receiving non-aligned envelopes therebetween.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 and further char- 4 acterized in that said opposite ends of said cam followers are connected to said blades intermediate said upstream and downstream ends respectively.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 and further characterized in that said rotary cam has at least one pair of diametrically opposed cam lobes for moving said blades synchronously.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 and further characterized in that said rotary cam has more than one such pair of cam lobes, and said blade moving means further including a continuously driven motor having a driven shaft upon which said cam is mounted.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 and further characterized in that said blades are formed of resilient material, and wherein said blade supporting means comprises an upright post associated with each of said blades, said blades being mounted in cantilever fashion to posts so that downstream portions of said blades adjacent said posts flex causing oscillatory movement of the upstream portions.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 and further characterized and that said opposite cam follower ends are connected to said blades approximately one third of the distance between said post associated downstream blade ends and said upstream ends respectively.

10. A device as set forth in claim 8 and further characterized in that said opposite cam follower ends are connected to said blades at points between said post associated downstream blade ends and said upstream ends respectively such that said blades are vibrated in their fundamental mode.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,554 7/1952 Griflith 198-29 2,815,111 12/1957 Capps et al 19829 2,853,298 9/1958 Faeber 271-89 3,175,822 3/1965 Benson 27l-89 3,236,162 2/1966 Reist 271-89 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

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