Abstract: This conveyor apparatus is used primarily with continuous business form processing machines to provide a means of producing a stream of overlapped blanks disposed on a continuous web. The apparatus includes upper and lower conveyors. The upper conveyor is formed from a pair of endless flexible elements having transversely aligned wedge-shaped pins disposed along the length thereof with inclined trailing flanks. Document blanks are fed onto the upper conveyor such that the leading edge rides up and beyond an aligned pair of associated pins an the trailing edge is engaged by a pair of following pins. Each of the blanks is pushed by a pair of transversely aligned pins in overlapped relation to the preceding blank. The document blanks are removed from the upper conveyor and deposited in reverse overlap relation onto gum lines provided on the continuous web carried by the lower conveyor.

Abstract: This conveyor apparatus is intended for use primarily with continuous web business form processing machines, and provides a means of accurately aligning conveyed, flat articles from a feed station for further processing. The apparatus includes a pair of endless conveyor belts flanked by endless chains, the chains having perpendicularly aligned pairs of outwardly extending aligner elements which are engageable by the conveyed articles. The linear speed of the belts is greater than that of the aligner elements so that articles are urged forwardly into engagement with aligner elements.

Abstract: This gumming apparatus is intended for use primarily with continuous web business form processing machines. The apparatus includes a gumming cylinder disposed transversely of the continuous form conveyor of the machine to apply gum at equal intervals along the length of the continuous web. The cylinder is mounted in an adjustable slide assembly which permits rapid removal of the cylinder for replacement by another cylinder of a different size to suit a different size of business form. The removable cylinder includes an end gear driven by a drive assembly which includes a swinging gear to permit rapid replacement of the cylinder. A second conveyor for depositing inserts onto the continuous web is speed coordinated with the web conveyor by means of a removable conveyor drive gear which is driven by the drive assembly and also includes a swinging gear to permit replacement of the drive gear at the same time as the cylinder is replaced.

Abstract: This device is for use for fan-folding and stacking a continuous web of business forms and operates as the last stage of such processing machine. The device includes a pair of rotatable paddle wheels disposed on each side of the processing machine frame and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame. Each paddle wheel includes a hub rotatable in a plane parallel to the axis of the frame and a plurality of radially extending lengthwise adjustable arms pivotally attached to the hub for transverse movement out of and into the plane of rotation of the hub for selective engagement with the continuous web. The transverse movement of the arms is controlled by a circular cam fixedly attached to the frame and engageable by cam followers attached to said arms.

Abstract: This turn conveyor apparatus is disposed between two conveyors having angularly related travel axes for the purpose of transporting articles, such as envelopes, from one conveyor to the other. The turn conveyor includes drive and idler sprockets having horizontal, angularly related axes of rotation, said sprockets being connected by an endless belt traversing a rotating corner disc assembly having a vertical axis of rotation and being disposed between the sprockets. The disc assembly includes upper and lower discs receiving the endless belt and said endless belt includes spaced friction pads on the outer surface. The disc assembly also includes a base disc located below the lower disc and having an annular surface disposed adjacent the endless belt and cooperating with the friction pads to grip the envelopes and transport them in an arcuate path from one angularly related conveyor to the other.

Abstract: This apparatus is used for drying the gummed flaps of envelopes and includes a drying wheel that rotates within an embracing plenum chamber from which hot air is directed across envelopes carried by the wheel. The wheel includes spaced discs having slots into which the envelopes are guided and held during the drying process, and from which the envelopes are discharged following drying. The slots are of a configuration to apply pressure to the envelopes and thereby ensure that they are retained within the slots against the action of centrifugal forces.