Method and Apparatus for Making Envelopes (Patent No: 790322)

Inventor: Weisshuhn, Peter

Location: Hinton

Comments: N/A

Description: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a method of making envelopes from a strip of foldable material moving in the direction of its length, the steps of:
(a) effecting a longitudinal cut in the moving strip dividing it into two adjacent individual strips,
(i) the individual strips having alternate uniformly spaced wide and
narrow portions,
(ii) the wide portions being adapted to be folded to form side flaps of the
envelope;
(b) folding the wide portions on lines defining side edges of the envelopes to form the side f1aps;
(c) causing such motion of one individual strip relative to the adjacent individual strip as to align the folded flaps to be opposite one another;
(d) cutting the individual strips along transverse cut lines intermediate the aligned flaps, dividing the individual strips into envelope sections,
(i) having a generally rectangular back portion an outer edge of which is defined by a transverse cut line aforesaid,
(ii) a front portion between the folded flaps,
(iii) and a generally rectangular closure flap an outer edge of which is defined by a transverse cut aforesaid;
(e) applying an adhesive to exposed side flap faces, and to an inner surface of the closure flap adjacent the outer edge thereof;
(f) folding each envelope section transversely on a line joining ends of the folded flaps adjacent the back aforesaid, and placing the back in contact with the glued side flap surfaces.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein; the envelope sections are further cut so that the closure flaps are generally triangular having apices which, before folding, extend outwards of the front portion.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein; the envelope sections are further cut to provide finger cutouts of the back portion, the further cutting being effected substantially simultaneously with the transverse folding.

4. A method as set forth in c1aim l, 2, or 3, and the additional steps of;
(g) folding the flaps inward,
(h) stacking the folded envelopes.

5. In an apparatus for making envelopes from a strip of foldable material moving in the direction of its length, the combination of:
(a) means continuously to divide the moving strip into two adjacent individual strips,
(i) the individual moving strips being divided to have alternate uniformly spaced wide and narrow portions,
(ii) the wide portions being adapted to form side flaps;
(b) a first folding means constructed and arranged to fold the wide portions on lines defining side edges of the envelopes, to form side flaps;
(c) means to cause motion of one individual strip relative to the adjoining individual strip aligning the folded side flaps;
(d) means to cut the .individual strips along transverse cut lines intermediate the aligned side flaps, dividing the individual strips into envelope sections
(i) having a generally rectangular back portion an outer edge of which is defined by a cut line aforesaid,
(ii) a front portion between the folded flaps,
(iii) and a generally rectangular closure flap, an outer edge of which is defined by a transverse cut line aforesaid;
(e) means to apply an adhesive to exposed faces of the side flaps, and to an inner surface of a closure flap adjacent the outer edge thereof;
(f) a second folding means adapted to fold each envelope section transversely on a line joining ends of the folded side flaps adjacent the back portion, placing side edges of the back in contact with the glued side flap surfaces.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5; and means to cut a closure flap to generally triangular shape having an apex which, before folding, extends outward of the front portion.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6; the second folding means having a further cutting means adapted to provide a finger cutout of the back portion substantially simultaneously with the transverse folding.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 5, 6, or 7; and means
(g) to fold the flaps inwards,
(h) and means to stack the folded envelopes.