Abstract: A stack of sheets or blanks are supported for individual high speed feeding from the bottom of the stack on a table positioned adjacent to a feed cylinder. An air blast from a pivotal nozzle deflects the leading edge of the bottom blank downwardly into engagement by suction force with the surface of the feed cylinder. Rotation of the feed cylinder separates the bottom blank from the stack. A plurality of rocker arms are then oscillated forwardly into the gap between the stack and the separated bottom blank. The rocker arms are independently, rotatably supported transverse to the leading edge of the stack. The position of the rocker arms is adjustable to support the stack as determined by the die cut configuration of the blanks. A fast cam actuates oscillation of centrally positioned rocker arms beneath the central portion of the stack leading edge with an accompanying blast of air between the bottom blank and the stack.

Abstract: An envelope blank forming machine for forming generally rectangular booklet envelope blanks and generally diagonal envelope blanks on the same machine includes a pair of removable turnbars, adjustable pull rolls and an adjustable cutoff device. Preselected adjustment of these components provides a generally rectangular blank or a generally diagonally shaped blank. Retractable trim devices are provided in cutting relation with the blank when diagonal blanks are being formed. Seal flap cutters and first and second flap cutters are provided to form the booklet seal flap and bottom flap on the booklet envelope blank. These cutters are removed and replaced with seal flap corner cutters, bottom flap corner cutters and diagonal trim cutters when generally diagonal envelope blanks are being formed.

Abstract: An envelope making machine includes a printer for printing material on the envelope blanks as they are being formed into envelopes in the machine. The printer has printing modules which include an impression cylinder, a plate or type cylinder, an anilox roll and a fountain roll. The fountain roll is positioned adjacent to and rotates in a direction opposite to the anilox roll and upon rotation transfers a film of ink to the surface of the anilox roll. A distributor or doctor blade is positioned below the anilox roll and has a blade edge portion that is approximately in juxtaposition with a lower quadrant of the anilox roll and faces the direction of rotation of the anilox roll to control and distribute the film of ink on the surface of the anilox roll. An adjustment device is provided to adjust the thickness of the film of ink on the anilox roll. The adjustment device is operable to make adjustments in the ink film thickness while the machine is operating.

Abstract: An envelope blank forming machine for forming generally rectangular booklet envelope blanks and generally diagonal envelope blanks on the same machine includes a pair of removable turnbars, adjustable pull rolls and an adjustable cutoff device. Preselected adjustment of these components provides a generally rectangular blank or a generally diagonally shaped blank. Retractable trim devices are provided in cutting relation with the blank when diagonal blanks are being formed. Seal flap cutters and first and second flap cutters are provided to form the booklet seal flap and bottom flap on the booklet envelope blank. These cutters are removed and replaced with seal flap corner cutters, bottom flap corner cutters and diagonal trim cutters when generally diagonal envelope blanks are being formed.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing window patches from a web of patch material includes a mechanism for applying adhesive to selective portions of the web, a pair of cooperating rolls to feed the web to the adhesive applying mechanism, a vacuum roll engaging successive window patches with adhesive, a severing mechanism cutting successive window patches of a pre-selected length from the web in spaced relation to a portion of the web engaged to the surface of the vacuum roll, a vacuum conveyor positioned between the adhesive applying mechanism and the severing mechanism to advance the web along a path from the adhesive applying mechanism toward the severing mechanism, a discharging end portion of the vacuum conveyor being spaced from the severing mechanism. The vacuum conveyor is constructed and arranged to transport the web from the adhesive applying mechanism, a pre-selected distance through the vacuum roll before the web is transferred to the vacuum roll and from the latter to the severing mechanism.

Abstract: A paper web is unwound and conveyed through an envelope making machine where a side flap cutting device forms side flaps in the side edges of the web. Scorer rollers form longitudinal scores in the side flaps and the side flaps are thereafter folded along the score lines. Other scorer rollers form transverse score lines for the top and bottom flaps of the envelope. Envelope blanks having the folded side flaps are thereafter severed from the web and separated from each other. After the blanks are severed from the web, gum is applied to the upper surface of the side flaps of the severed envelope blanks and the bottom flap is folded into overlying relation with the folded side flaps to form the pocket in the envelope. The so formed envelopes are thereafter collated into overlying relation with the edges of the top flap exposed. Gum is applied to the top flaps and dried. The top flap is then folded into overlying relation with the bottom flap.

Abstract: A transfer cylinder is rotatably mounted in a machine frame and is positioned in spaced parallel relation with a rotatable delivery cylinder. A side fold cylinder is positioned intermediate the transfer and delivery cylinders. The transfer cylinder conveys the envelope blank onto the periphery of the side fold cylinder. Rotation of the side fold cylinder with the envelope blank retained thereon folds the side flap and advances the folded envelope into engagement with the delivery cylinder. A gumming cylinder having an adhesive applicator portion is positioned adjacent the delivery cylinder and is operable to apply a strip of adhesive to the exposed bottom flap of the envelope blank as the blank is transferred from the delivery cylinder to the gumming cylinder. A selected amount of the adhesive is transferred from a reservoir by a roller to the surface of the adhesive applicator. The gumming cylinder rotates in timed relation to the delivery cylinder and in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A drive shaft of the gumming and folding section of an envelope machine rotates at a preselected speed and is drivingly connected through meshing gears to the input shaft of a variable speed drive mechanism. The input shaft is connected to an output shaft through a differential transmission so that the output shaft is driven at a preselected ratio relative to the speed of the input shaft. The output shaft is drivingly connected to a web feeding apparatus that conveys a continuous web of material from a supply roll at a preselected speed. Thus, the web feeding apparatus is driven at a predetermined ratio relative to the speed of the drive shaft. A web cutting apparatus is drivingly connected to the input shaft so that a cut off knife is rotated at a fixed speed relative to the drive shaft to cut the continuous web at preselected intervals to form envelope blanks having a bottom flap connected to a closure flap.

Abstract: A pair of rotatable cutter mechanisms are positioned on opposite sides of a moving web and are arranged upon rotation of the cutter shafts to cut notches in the side edges of the moving web. The cutter shafts are rotatably driven by a drive mechanism that includes a pair of endless timing belts connected to the cutter shafts. One of the timing belts is reeved about a drive pulley that is non-rotatably connected to a helical gear. The main drive shaft has a helical gear that meshes with the helical gear connected to the pulley. The pair of timing belts are drivingly connected to each other by means of a pair of meshing helical gears connected to separate pulleys associated with the respective timing belts. Phase adjustment of both of the cutter mechanisms is accomplished by axially moving the helical gears connected to the pulley and main drive shaft while the helical gears remain in meshing relation with each other.

Abstract: The envelope making and insert machine includes the forming of envelope blanks from an endless web or precut blanks and conveying the envelope blank upwardly along a vertical path to a folding station. The insert material is conveyed along a path that intersects the vertical path in timed relation with the envelope blank. The paths of the envelope blank and the insert material intersect at an angle adjacent the folding station. The envelope blank is engaged at the folding station by a vacuum cylinder, tucker, lifter or the like and is folded along the score line between the envelope blank body portion and bottom flap portion by the vacuum cylinder and a folding cylinder. The path of the envelope blank is changed from a vertical path to the path of the inserts during the folding operation. During the folding of the bottom flap into overlying relation with the blank body portion the insert material is inserted therebetween.

Abstract: Window panels are cut in sheet material by means of a rotatable panel cutter and the sheet material is thereafter conveyed to a location adjacent a panel or chip receiving means. A negative pressure is applied to the underside of the sheet, the cut panel or chip is conveyed away from the sheet by the negative pressure. Turnaround rollers are provided for the sheet material. Where the panel is not completely severed from the sheet, a portion of the panel will be deflected by the turnaround roller and a blade is positioned adjacent the turnaround roller to engage the panel and remove the panel from the sheet. Air blast means are provided in overlying relation with the web above the panel receiving means to dislodge the panel from the sheet so that the air blast means will also dislodge the severed panel in the sheet passing between the panel receiving means and the air blast means.

Abstract: The rotary panel cutter includes a cutter die that has a continuous upstanding knife blade. The cutter die has a body portion that is secured to a rotatable cutter shaft having a longitudinal axis. The cutter die knife blade has side edge portions that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cutter shaft and leading and trailing edge portions that are not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cutter shaft. For cutting rectangular openings in a web the continuous upstanding knife blade has the configuration of a regular parallelogram wherein the length of side edges is the same and the length of the leading and trailing edges is also the same. The rotatable cutter shaft is mounted in a machine frame with its longitudinal axis at an angle other than 90.degree. with the center line of the web. The angle that the rotatable cutter shaft deviates from 90.degree. is preferably the same angle as the angle of deviation of the knife leading and trailing edges from the longitudinal axis of the cutter shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to feed selected inserts from a plurality of secondary feed stations onto a conveyor device in accordance with the requirements indicated on a primary insert. The primary insert is removed from a stack at a primary insert feed station by a suitable knife type card feeder and is transferred from the stack to a reading station. A reading device such as photoelectric cells or fluidic sensors read the indicia on the primary insert to determine what other inserts are to be included from secondary insert feed stations with the primary insert as the primary insert is inserted into an envelope or the like. Signals are simultaneously transmitted from the reading device through suitable circuitry to control devices for suckers or suction devices associated with each secondary insert feed station. The primary insert is then conveyed by a collating belt or chain that passes beneath the secondary insert feed stations to a discharge station.

Abstract: Patches for envelope windows are cut, one per envelope, from a patch web supplied at a surface speed proportional to but lower than the speed of a travelling envelope web. The cut patches are transferred from the cut-off apparatus to the envelope web by a rotary vacuum system, at a surface speed which equals the speed of the latter web, or is accelerated to this latter speed. Steps and means are provided for insuring proper positions and motions of the cut-off patch, at points where the speed thereof changes.

Abstract: A pair of rotatable cutter mechanisms are positioned on opposite sides of a moving web and are arranged upon rotation of the cutter shafts to cut notches in the side edges of the moving web. The cutter shafts are rotatably driven by a drive mechanism that includes a pair of endless timing belts connected to the cutter shafts. One of the timing belts is reeved about a drive pulley that is non-rotatably connected to a helical gear. The main drive shaft has a helical gear that meshes with the helical gear connected to the pulley. The pair of timing belts are drivingly connected to each other by means of a pair of meshing helical gears connected to separate pulleys associated with the respective timing belts. Phase adjustment of both of the cutter mechanisms is accomplished by axially moving the helical gears connected to the pulley and main drive shaft while the helical gears remain in meshing relation with each other.