US584064A - Half to the w - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Modem A. A. RHEUTAN. ENVELOP MACHINE.

No. 584,064. Patented June 8,1897.

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(No Model.)

A. A. RHEUTAN. ENVELOP MACHINE." N0. 584,064. Patented June 8,1897.

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5 sheets sheet 3.

(No Model.)

A. A. RHEUTAN. BNVELOP MACHINE. No. 584,064. Patented June 8,1897.

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(No Model.)

A. A. RHEUTAN.

ENVBLOP MACHINE No. 584,064. Patented June 8.1897.

KARL-M55555 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

' A. A. RHEUTAN.

ENVELOP MAGHINE No. 584,064. Patented June 8,1897.

M fiwmw %W%%m UNITED STATES ATENT rricn.

ABRAllLl A. RIIEUTAN, OF 'WOROESTER, MASSAOIIUSE'l"l\., ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO THE V. H. HILL ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELO P-MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584:,064, dated June 8, 1897.

A licati n fil d February 3,1898. Serial No. 577,801. (No model.)

To (1.2113 7.071.071? it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAM A. RHEUTAN, of the city and county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speci- IO float-ion, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of so much of an envelop-machine as is necessary to illustrate my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

I 5 3 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a plan of the folding-table and folders of the machine; also of part of the mechanism for guiding the envelop-s to the drying-chain and for gripping and conveying them. from said chain to the counting-box. All the following figures are upon the same enlarged scale except figures 9 to 13, inclusive, which are upon a still larger scale. Fig. at is a vertical longitudinal section through part of the machine, taken at 2 5 the point indicated by line a, Fig. 2, showing the mechanism for folding the envelops, for discharging the. folded envelops from the folding-table and conveying the same to the drying-chain, and for discharging said envelops from said drying-chain and conveying and discharging them into the counting-box, said View also showing part of the mechanism for conveying the blanks to the folders, as will be hereinafter more fully specified. Fig. 5 is 3 5 a plan of the guic'leways and carriage for supporting, guiding, and conveying the blanks to the folders. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section taken at the point indicated by line a in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of arrow at and. showing a side View of the upper part of the mechanism for elevating and lowering the gumming-heads shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7. Fig. '7 is a vertical longitudinal section through part of the blank, supporting-table or carrier, and through the end frames of the blank-guideway between the gumming and folding mechanisms, with part of a pile of envelopblanks on said table or carrier, said View also showing a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 6 and of the blank gripping and conveying mechanism arranged between said gumming and folding mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the tilting levers of the blank gripping and conveying mechanism above referred to. Fig. 9 is a vertical 5 5 longitudinal section through part of the guideway-frame, the blank-gripper, and the tilting lever at the opposite end of said conveying mechanism from the tilting lever shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a side view of part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 andi for gripping the finished envelope as they are pushed forward from the drying-chain and for conveying and discharging them into the guideway leading, to the countingbox, as will be hereinafter described. Fig. 11 is a plan of part of said mechanism shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a side view of the mechanism for operating the drying-chain, a portion of the cams and levers for operating the gum- 7o ming mechanism also being shown in this figure. Fig. 13 is aplan of part of said drying-chain shaft, its operating-levers, ratchetwheel, pawl, and lock device, looking down, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 12.

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of an envelop-machine and to obtain as compact an arrangement of the parts as possible consistent with an easy and effective operation of said parts; and it consists of certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of those portions of said envelop-machine previously alluded to, and which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to better understand the nature and purpose thereof, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail. a

My invention relates more especially to improvements in the mechanism for elevating and lowering the gumming-heads, for grip ping and conveying the envelop-blanks to the folding-table and folders, for discharging the folded envelops from said folding-table 5 and folders and conveying the same to the drying-chain, and for discharging the finished envelope from said drying-chain and conveying them to the counting-box. The description will therefore be confined to said parts and so much of the old construction of an envelop-machine as will be necessary to make 2 ss goea clear my said improvements in connection therewith. V

The gumniin g of the back flaps is performed by means of two separate gum min g-heads B B, which are arranged diagonally to conform to the shape of the envelop, as is shown in Fig. 2, and mounted on the lower ends of vertical rods B B, fitted to slide in suitable stationary bearings 13 B Said rods are connected near their upper ends by a cross-bar B to which is pivoted the outer end of a link B, (see Fig. 6,) whose lower end is in turn pivoted by means of a transverse pin to the outer end of a cranlelevcr 15, secured at its opposite end to a horizontal transverse shaft 0, fitted to turn in stationary bearings O C in the upper ends of standards 0 C secured to main frame A. Said gumming-heads B B each consist of a holding-block B, the rubber or other elastic strip B fitted in a groove in said block and projecting a little below the bottom thereof, and the holding-plate B 7 fitted against the side of the block and clastie strip and fastened by means of screws B or otherwise to hold'said elastic strip in place, as is shown in Fig. 7.

The vertical rods B B are provided with fixed collars B B above the ends of the cross bar 13 which rest upon said cross-bar to sup port the rods and their gummingheads. Said rods are also each provided with the usual springs 13 B secured at their upper ends to the upper ends of the rods and at their lower ends to the ends of the cross-bar for exerting a downward yielding pressure upon said rods.

The shaft 0 is rocked in its hearings to intermittently raise and lower the gummingheads by a cam D on shaft E through the long connecting-rod D and crank-lever D the lower end of said connecting-lever D being provided with a friction-roll D which engages with the periphery of said cam D. The upper end of rod D is pivoted to the outer end of the crank-lever D and said crank-lever is secured to the outer end of transverse shaft 0. A longitudinal pressure is exerted upon the connecting-rod D toward its operating-cam to keep its friction-roll in engagement with the periphery of the earn, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 12, by means of a spiral spring D secured at one end to said connecting-rod and at its opposite end to frame A, and a yielding power is also obtained between the crank-lever D and the connecting-rod D by providing the outer end of said crank-lever with a lateral stud D, which fits in a suitable slot D formed in the end of the connecting-rod, to which stud one end of a spiral spring D is secured, while its other end is fastened to said connecting-rod, as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The object of said yielding power is to provide for any inequality in the pile of envelopblanks which may exist, and thus remove any injury to the operating parts that might occur if the parts were all made rigid. The

said edge is gripped between a plate F, se-

cured to carriage F, and a gripping-jaw F". pivoted at F to said carriage F, and which passes in between said gumming-heads B 13 in operation. The normal position of said gripper is when it'is down fiat against the plate F or upon the edge of an envelop-blank between the two, and it is thus held by torsionsprings F F, (see Figs. 5 and 9,) fitted over the pivot-spindle F. of the gripping-jaw l and adapted to exert a yielding rotary pressure thereon'to hold'said gripping-jaw down. as aforesaid, one end of each torsion-spring being fastened to said pivot-spindle F and their other ends being adapted to bear and hold against the carriage F, as is shown in Fig. 5. The gripper is opened at stated intervals to receive the edge of the envelopblank and to release the same by the forward and back reciprocating movements of carriage F"hetween the gummers and the folders, said reciprocating movements causing a friction-roll F, mounted on an arm extending down under the gripper, to engage with a balanced tilting lever F, mounted on an arm extending up from a projection on the main frame A, and with a similar balanced tilting lever F mounted on a projection on table I at the opposite end from said tilting lever F.

The carriage, it will be understood, is moved forward and back continuously with reeipro eating movements by the usual operating-lever H to convey the gummed envelop-blan ks to the table I under the plunger f. Assuming that a blank has been conveyed under said plun ger f by the carriage, its gripper, and fingers c c and said carriage is returning for the next blank with the gripper closed, as is shown in Fig. 9, when the friction-roll F comes in contact with the top inclined surface b of the tilting lever F said gripper is opened and passes over the edge of the blank, as is shown in Fig. 7, and immediately on passing by said tilting lever (by the continued forward movement of the carriage) again closes and grips the edge of the envelop between the same and the plate F. The movement or the carriage now reversing, the blank is drawn forward toward the plunger f over the usual guideways on bed or table I, and when the friction-roll engages with the other tilting lever F said gripper is again opened and re leases the blank. The carriage continuing to move forward carries the end of the gripper beyond the blank thus released, when it is closed again by the friction-roll F passing over in contact with and beyond the highest point of the tilting lever F Said carriage then reversing causes the gripper to be passed under said blank, leaving the latter on the guideway, the lever F tipping over to permit the free passage of the gripper and then swinging back into its original position, as in the former instance. The next gummed blank is then gripped, drawn forward into the same position and released, and at the same time that said blank is gripped the pusherfingers c 0 (one at each side of the carriage) engage with the edge of the blank previously conveyed forward, as is indicated in Fig. 5, and push it in advance of the following blank over onto the table I under the plunger f.

The gummed blanks having been forced down by the plunger f onto the folding-bed J and folded by the folders cZ, cl, (Z, and e in the usual way, they are each successively, as fast as folded, pushed from said folding-bed J and conveyed to the drying-chain K by mechanism constructed and arranged to operate as follows:

The folding-bed J is provided with a series of vertical openings, nine in this instance,.in which vertical pins 5 are fitted to work up and down, said pins being mounted in ahead g, fastened to the upper end of a vertical rod g which is pivoted at its bottom end to a horizontal lever h, in turn pivoted at the opposite end from rod g to a horizontal transverse shaft 72, or other stationary bearing. The free end of said lever h is raised by a earn 1' on the horizontal transverse rotary shaft E and drops, when the cam-pressure is released, by force of gravity. A roll j may be mounted upon the end of lever 71 for the cam to impinge against to reduce friction of the parts. The purpose of said vertical fingers g and their operating mechanism is to raise the envelops 71;, after they have been folded, above- 3 the folding-bed J, as is illustrated in Fig. 4,

to bring them in line with the forked pushers Z Z, so that the latter may push them forward edgewise over the front folder 6 far enough for them to tip over and slide down the guideway L into the drying-chain K, as is also indicated in Fig. 4. The vertical rod it will be understood, is operated with intermittent vertical movements to raise and lower the pins 9 in unison with the folding operationthat is, they are allowed to drop so that their upper ends will come at or below the level of the top of the folding-table, before the envelop-blank is de posited thereon,and moved up to raise the envelop, immediately after it is folded, preparatory to being pushed forward by the forked pushers Z Z, as previously described.

To facilitate the downward slide movements of the envelops when pushed forward as aforesaid by the forked pnshersZ Z, the tops of the pins g, upon which said envelops rest, are preferably arranged at an incline to 'the top of the folding-table by varying the lengths thereof to obtain a downward incline toward the front folder, as is shown in Fig. at. Therefore, since said forked pushers are moved forward with quick movements, when they strike the back edges of the envelops the latter are carried forward also with a quick movement, and the impetus imparted thereto causes them to be carried and tipped over from the front folder and foldingbed into the guideway L, down which they slide with the front flap underneath, or in a reversed position to that which they occupied when resting on the tops of the pins g. Said guideway consists of two angle-plates, one at each side of the envelops, with a space between them, and they slant inward toward the center of the machine, so that their inner ends, where the envelops pass therefrom into the dryingchain, come about under the center of the folding-table. By this arrangement it is obvious that I am enabled to greatlyeconomize in space in the construction of the machine over the usual constructions adopted in other machines. I am also enabled to dispense with the close chute usually employed for guiding the envelops to the drying-chain, in this instance only the angle-plates at each side of the en velops being necessary to properly guide the envelops to said drying-chain.

The forked pushers Z Z are moved horizontally and longitudinally by a cam n on the same shaft E that the cam i is secured to and by the spiral springs s 8', said springs causing said forked pushers to be moved forward toward the envelops to push them forward and the cam causing them to be moved back again preparatory to pushing the next envelop forward, connection between cam i and the forked pushers being made through the friction-r0110, connecting-rod p, pivot-pin p, crank-lever q, horizontal transverse rockshaft q, and crank-levers g The roll 0 is mounted on a stud 0 on the lower end of connectin g-rod p, and the periphery of cam n engages therewith to impart the desired movements to the rod 13 and parts connected therewith. Spring 13 connects with the end of crank-lever q, and s with crank-lever (1 also on shaft q, the other ends of both springs beingin practice secured to some stationary part of the machine. If desired, the cranklever q and its spring 3' may be dispensed with.

The rod p is pivoted to shaftE by its lower end being made fork-shaped and fitted over said shaft, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and at its upper end to the pin 19. The outer end of crank-lever q is pivoted to rod 1) and its inner end is ,secured to rockshaft q. The crank-levers Q2 g are likewise secured at their bottom ends to said rockshaft q and are pivoted at their upper ends to the forked pushers Z Zat g (f. In order that said forked pushers Z Z shall be moved horizontally in line with the envelops resting on the supporting-fingers g, they are double pivoted at their base ends not only to the le vers g g at g qfibut also at r 4" to the levers r 7'. Said levers *r r are attached at their lower ends to a horizontal transverse shaft r each pair of levers 1 and r being arranged substantially parallel to each other, as is shown in Fig. 4-, when the parts are fitted for operation.

By the above construction and arrangement it is obvious that when the upper ends of levers g g are moved forward and back by the action of springs s s and cam a both sets of levers g g and r r moving together cause the forked pressers to be moved for- Ward and back always in the same horizontal line with the envelops. Said envelops after having been carried around in the dryingchain to be dried, as usual, are pushed from said drying-chain and conveyed to and discharged into the counting-box M in the following manner:

Two forked pushers i i, similar to but longer than the forked pushers Z Z, previously described, are pivoted at their base ends to the upper ends of the crank-levers '6 t, which are in turn secured at their lower ends to the horizontal transverse rock-sl1aft t To said shaft is also secured the upper end of a cra nklever i to whose lower end is pivoted one end of a connecting-rod 25 which is fork-shaped at its opposite end and pivoted to the same shaft it that the lever h is pivoted to. Said connecting-rod t is provided with a friction roll i with which the periphery of a cam 25 on shaft h engages, similar to the rod, roll, and cam employed for operating the other forked pushers Z Z, previously described. The action of said cam i is to move the forked pushers t 6 forward. They are moved back again when said cam-pressure is released by a spring 8 attached to the crank-lever i The forward ends of the forked pushers it rest on horizontal transverse supportingstuds 25 t and said forked pushers are beveled on their under sides, as is indicated at i in Fig. 4:, so that when they are moved forward over said studs t their forward ends will be gradually elevated slightly to conform to the inclination of the blade in the drying-chain coming at that point and with the incline at which the envelops should be pushed forward for the grippers N N to grasp the same and draw them forward over the counting-box M.

The mechanism for gripping the envelops, conveying them forward, as aforesaid, and depositing them in the counting-box is constructed and arranged to operate as follows: Said mechanism is operated from the same lever H that is connected with the carriage F for conveying. the envelop-blanks to the folders. To said lever H is pivoted one end of a link it, (see Fig. 1,) Whose opposite end is pivoted to the bottom end of a crank-lever it, secured at its upper end to a horizontal transverse rock-shaft n fitted to turn in suitable bearings on the guideway L. To said rook-shaft n are also secured the upper ends of crank-levers u a having the gripping 1evices N N mounted on their lower ends. Said devices are moved forward and back toward and from the drying-chain by the rocking movements of the shaft M, which oscillating movements also cause the grippers to he opened and closed to grip and release the envelops, being closed immediately after the edges of the envelops are received therein and remaining closed until the envelop is conveyed to the proper point over the counting box, when they are opened and allow the same to drop into said counting-box. The upper jaws o o of said gripping devices are formed upon or rigidly secured to the levers w 4. while the bottom jaws o 2; thereof are secured to a horizontal transverse shaft 12 fitted to rock in the lower ends of the levers 'LLS a "30 one end of said rock-shaft is secured one end of a crank-lever o (see Figs. at and 10, to Whose opposite end is pivoted the end of a lever v fitted to swing and also to move longitudinally on a pivot-stud 12 at the opposite end thereof, mounted in a stationary standard 0, said lever o being slotted longitudinally, as is shown at 'v in Figs. at and 10, to admit of the aforesaid longitudinal movements thereof. The opening r in the upper end of the standard 0 to receive the pivot-stud o is also made oblong in shape or slotted in alinement with the slot o to admit of the lateral ad ustment of said pivot-stud By thus slotting the lever '0 it is permitted to move the length of its slot with the levers it a without moving the crank-levers o and the bottom jaws 'v 1:, but when said lever 1 strikes at one end or the other of its slot 2; against the stud 0 said jaws are opened or closed, according to which end comes in contact with said stud. and remain thus opened or closed until the lever strikes the stud at the opposite end of its slot, when the action is reversed-as, for example, assuming that the jaws are closed and moving forward with an envelop to convey it over the counting-box, they are opened again upon arriving at the proper point to release said envelop to allow it to drop into said counting-box, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, by the lever o striking against the pivot-stud 11 at the inner end 12 of its slot 12 said operation causing the crank-lever r to be swung around to rock the shaft t and swing down thebottom jaws v '1}, by the continued forward movement of the main cranklevers U 103, in which position they are held by a small spring-spindle o fitted in a suitable transverse opening in the lower end of one of said crank-levers u and adapted to bear endwise against the side of the small crank-lever 11 as shown in Fig. 11. hen the crank-levers 16 7.6 return toward the center of the machine to get another envelop and the lever 21 comes against stud v at the opposite or outer end of slot '0 the cranklever o is moved in the opposite direction and the bottom jaws thereby closed to grip the envelop, the parts being so adjusted as to thus close the gripper just after the envelop has been pushed from the drying-chain in between the jaws of said gripper. The bottom jaws are held closed against the upper ones '1; with suflicieut power to prevent the envelop from being withdrawn in conveyin g the same to the counting-box by a torsion or other suitable spring r adapted to exert said pressure, and yet insufficient to move the crank-lever '0 against the holding spring-spindle o hen said lever 22 is swung in either direction to its extreme limit to open or close the gripper N, the springspindle o occupies a position to one side or the other of said cranlelever, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10, with its head bearing against the upper or under edge of the lever to better hold the same from a swinging movement, except when forcibly swung around by contact of lever UL with the pivot-stud o as previously described. To facilitate the above operation, said head of the springspindle 1: may be slightly rounded, as is shown in Fig. 11.

If desired, the grippers N N may be provided with. curved guards N, curving upward and inward therefrom toward the guideway L to prevent the envelops from accidentally passing over the grippers when pushed forward from the dryingchain; but as said guards are not an essential feature I reserve the right to use the same or not, as preferred.

lVhen the envclops are released from the grippers N N, they drop into and slide down the guideway P into the counting-box, being guided at the front side in passing down by the guide-plate P. (Shown in Fig. 4. As said counting-box does not constitute a part of my invention it will be unnecessary to de-' scribe the same in detail.

The mechanism for operating the dryingchain with the usual intermittent movements (illustrated by Fig. 12 of the drawings) consists of the rock-lever S, mounted on the drying-chain shaft Q and operated by a cam S, friction-roll S and connecting-rod Upon said shaft Q are also mounted and fitted to turn therewith the ratchet-wheels Q R, which engage, respectively, with the pawls Q and R, the pawl Q being pivoted to the outer end of the rock-lever S and the pawl R to frame A at B The pawl Q and the operating mechanism connected therewith turn the ratchetwheel Q and through the shaft Q, the drying-chain with the usual intermittent move ments, and the pawl R serves by its engagement with ratchet-wheel R to lock said parts from any forward. movement which might occur from the momentum imparted thereto by the pawl Q and other parts in turning the same. lVhen the outer end of rock-lever S is elevated to carry forward pawl Q, so as to engage with one of the notches of its ratchetwheel, a pin on said leverstrikes and raises the pawl R above the notches of its ratchetwheel and is not again lowered sufficiently to engage therewith until just prior to the pawl Q leaving the notch in its ratchet-wheel. By said time the supporting-pin R has been lowered the proper distance to permit said pawl R to drop down in front of one of the notches 'of ratchet-wheel R, and thereby holds the parts locked until the pin R forces the same up again in the operation of moving the pawl Q forward to engage with the next notch of its ratchet-wheel to again turn the dryingchain.

13 y the foregoing construction and arrangement of the various improved parts of an envelopunachine it will at once be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains that great compactness is obtained in the disposition of the operating parts without affecting the utility thereof, and by the application of said invent-ion to practice I am enabled to produce en velops of a superior quality and with great rapidity.

Having now described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The cranlelever H, having means connected therewith for swinging the same forward and back, stationary bed or table I, and carriage F, fitted to slide on said bed or ble, and to which the upper end of said lever His pivoted, in combination with the gripping-jaw F, the pivotspindle mounted in carriage F; friction roll or bearing F mounted on the hub of said gripping-jaw; torsion-springs F F, fitted over pivot-spin dle F, with one end of each fastened to said pivotspindle, and'their other ends bearing against the carriage F, for exerting a downward, yielding pressure to close said jaw, and tilting levers F F, pivoted respectively to frame A and bed or table I, and adapted to engage with said friction roll or bearing F when the carriage is moved forward and back with reciprocating movements, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The foldin g-bed J, provided with a series of vertical openings and the main frame A of the machine, in combination with the vertical rod g having means connected therewith for operating the same, up and down, also having the head g, with a series of pins 9 projecting up vertically therefrom of unequal lengths, so that their tops will form an inclined plane, said pins being adapted to fit in the openings, of folding-bed J and to lift and hold the envelops upon a downward incline, pitching toward the guideway L, preparatory to the forked pushers Z Z pushing the same into said guideway and the drying-chain and said guideway, forked pushers and drying-chain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The main frame. A, of an envelop-machine, and the horizontal, transverse shaft E in combination with the cam a, secured to connectin g-rod p, provided with the friction-roll 0 adapted to engage with said cam, crank-lever q, pivoted at its outer end to the upper end of rod 12, and secured at its other end to the horizontal, transverse shaft q, said shaft q fitted to rock in stationarybearin gs; means for imparting a constant, yielding power to force the rod 97 and lever q toward shaft E, crank-levers (1 also secured to shaft 7; levers 1', '1', mounted on shaft r substantially parallel to levers (1 (1 said shaft in turn mounted in stationary bearings, and the forked pushers Z, Z pivoted at their base ends to the upper ends of the parallel levers Q2, 0', r, and made fork-shaped at their other ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The folding-bed J, provided with a series of vertical openings, the main frame A of the machine, and the horizontal, transverse d riving-shaft E, in combination with rod 9 means for imparting longitudinal movements thereto, from said shaft E, the vertical pins g, secured in the head g, mounted on the upper end of rod 9 rod 19, means for imparting longitudinal movements thereto from shaft E, crank-lever q pivoted at one end to rod p and secured at its other end to shaft q; said shaft q fitted to rock in stationary bearings; means for imparting a yielding power to force lever 1, rod 1), and other parts, connected with shaft q, in the direction toward shaft E, crank-levers Q2, (1 also secured to shaft q; levers r, r mounted on shaft r substantially parallel to levers Q2 said shaft 7- in turn mounted in stationary bearings, and the forked pushers Z, Z, pivoted at their base ends to the upper ends of the parallel levers g (1 r, r, and made fork-shaped at their other ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The main frame, folding-bed and folders of an envelop-machine, in combination with the open guideways L, L, consisting of angleplates arranged, one at each side of the drying-chain, and inclined from a point outside of the front end of the folding-bed, to a point beneath said folding-bed, whereby the envelops may be guided under the folding-bed before they are discharged into the dryingchain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

0. The main frame, the folding-bed, pro-I vided with a series of vertical openings, the folders and drying chain, in combination with the vertical, envelop-supporting pins g, adapted to work up and down in said open: ings, means for operating said pins up and down 5 the forked, envelop-pushers Z, Z, means for supporting and operating the same, forward and back, longitudinally, and the guideways L, L, consisting of angle plates, arranged, one at each side of the drying-chain, upon an incline, so as to direct the envelops as they pass over the front folder 6, down, underneath the foldingbed, before they are discharged into the drying-chain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The main frame, the studs 25 25 and shaft it, having the cam t secured thereon, in combination with connecting-rod 25', provided with the friction-roll t crank-lever i pivoted to rod t, and secured to transverse shaft said shaft fitted to turn in stationary bearings; crank-levers t, i, also secured to shaft and pivoted to the outer ends of pushers t, i, said pushers '15, t, arranged, one at each side of the drying-chain, provided with the bevels t i on the under sides of their forward or inner ends, and also provided with fork-shaped front ends adapted to engage with the back edges of the envelops. and means for forcing the pushers back when the cam-pressure is released, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the main frame A. and studs t t with the longitudinally-moiprocating, forked pushers t, if, provided with the inclined or beveled under sides i adapted to slide on said supports, and means for operating said pushers to push the envelopsradially from the drying-chain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of guideways L, L, and radially-reciprocating or rocking crank-lever H, with link a, pivoted to crank-leverH, and to crank-lever u; said crank-lever 21/, secured to rock-shaft 162, said rock-shaft w. mounted in stationary bearing; crank-levers H3, H also secured to rock-shaft U and provided, at their free ends, with the rigid, upper jaws, v, v, transverse rock shaft mounted in the lower ends of crank-levers 1/9. 1L3, cranlslever "0 secured to the end of rods shaft v slotted lever '0, pivoted to cranlc lever t and also pivoted and fitted to slide on pivot-stud t in the upper, slotted end or stationary stand 0, said stand 0, springspindle e in the lower end of one of the crank-levers it movable bottom jaws "0 secured to roek-shaft Q1 and spring '0 substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of stationary stand 0. and crank-levers a a having the upper. rigid jaws v, 'v on their lower ends, with slotted lever v pivoted to crank-1ever 22 also pivoted and fitted to slide longitudinally on stud in the upper, slotted end of the stand 0, said crank-lever v secured to transverse rockshaft 122, said rock-shaft '0 mounted in the lower ends of crank-levers a M the bottom jaws t 12, secured to rock-shaft c and means for exerting a yielding pressure to close the bottom jaws against the upper ones, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination of stationary stand 0 and crank-levers U3, it having the upper.

rigid jaws o, 1;, at their lower ends, with slotted lever r pivoted to crank-lever also pivoted and fitted to slide longitudinally on stud o in the upper, slotted end of the stand 0; said crank-lever e secured to transverse rock-sl1aft 12 said rock-shaft c mounted in the lower ends of crank-levers a u?- the bottom jaws 'v, t" secured to rock-shaft '0 spring-spindle '0 mounted in the lower end of one of the crank-levers a and adapted to bear endwise against the crank-lever r. and means for exerting a yielding pressure IIO to close the bottom jaws against the upper ones, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of mechanism for pushing the envelops radially from the drying-chain, consisting of longitudinally, reciprocating pushers t, t, adapted to engage with the back edges of the envelops, with mechanism for gripping and conveying said envelops (after being thus pushed forward) to the countingbox- M, and depositing the same therein, consisting of the oscillating cranklevers n 2L3, having the upper, rigid jaws i), n on their lower ends; the transverse, rockshaft 12 mounted in the lower ends of said crank-levers aim crank-lever 12 secured to said rook-shaft '0 slotted lever r pivoted to crank-lever '0 also pivoted and fitted to slide on stud in the upper slotted end of stand 0, the bottom jaws 'v' 1; secured to rock-shaft n, spring-spindle o mounted in the lower end of one'of the crank-levers Us, and adapted to bear endwise against the crank-lever c and means for exerting a yielding pressure to close the bottom jaws against the upper ones, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. The gripping device N, consisting of the upper, rigid jaws n, 0 on the bottoms of the oscillating crank-levers 11- to, and the bottom, movable jaws '0' o, secured to transverse shaft "0 mounted in the bottom ends of said crank-levers n a and means for operating said bottom jaws, in combination with the guide-fingers or guards N, rigidly secured in position above the level of the jaws n v, 210', for guiding the envelops in between said jaws when they are pushed forward from the drying-chain by the pushers t t, and the gripping device is moved toward said envelops to grip them, and said dryingchain and pushers substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination of the folding-bed J and mechanism for supporting and elevating the envelops from said folding-bed, consisting of the vertical rod g having a suitable envelop-supporting frame mounted on its upper end, and means for imparting intermittent, longitudinal movements thereto, with mechanism for pushing the envelops from said supporting-frame, consisting of the vertical, parallel, swinging levers g cf, 0 0', means for supporting and imparting intermittent swinging movements thereto, and the horizontal pushers Z Z mounted upon and pivoted to the upper ends of said parallel levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. The combination of frame A and means for imparting intermittent swinging movements to the vertical parallel levers g (1 r r, with said levers and the horizontal push ers Z Z, mounted upon and pivoted to the upper ends thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ABRAM A. RHEUTAN.

Witnesses:

A. A. BARKER, W. 1-3. Nounsn.

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