DISPENSING DEVICE FOR POCKETED ENVELOPES
United States Patent 3705664
An envelope dispenser for uniformly retaining and flexing pocketed envelopes in a manner which automatically maintains the envelope pockets sufficiently open for efficient insertion of material therein. An adjustable support, slidably mounted beneath the envelopes in the dispenser, applies appropriate flexing force thereto and, in addition, makes it possible for the dispenser to satisfactorily accommodate different types of envelopes therein.
US Patent References:
Bag holding and dispensing rack
Greer - July 1950 - 2513474
Napkin holder
Solomon - January 1948 - 2435104
Bag-dispensing cabinet
Korth - April 1924 - 1490070
Memorandum card holder
Otto - December 1958 - 2863675
Bag holding and dispensing rack
Greer - July 1950 - 2513474
Napkin holder
Solomon - January 1948 - 2435104
Bag-dispensing cabinet
Korth - April 1924 - 1490070
Memorandum card holder
Otto - December 1958 - 2863675
Application Number:
05/134787
Publication Date:
12/12/1972
Filing Date:
04/16/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester, NY)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
B65H1/04; G03B17/26; B43M3/00
Field of Search:
221/55,33,47,63 312/60,61,50 248/95 53/188,384 206/57A,63
Primary Examiner:
Tollberg, Stanley H.
Claims:
I claim
1. A dispensing device for providing efficient access to the pockets of the topmost one of a number of pocketed envelopes to be retained therein, said device comprising:
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said flanges are spaced apart by a distance equal to 93±3 percent of the envelope height.
3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said support member further includes:
4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said inverted J-shaped support member comprises:
5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said support means further comprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lower support segments for minimizing rotational movement of said segments with respect to each other.
6. The device according to claim 3 wherein said support means further comprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lower support segments for minimizing rotational movement of said segments with respect to each other.
1. A dispensing device for providing efficient access to the pockets of the topmost one of a number of pocketed envelopes to be retained therein, said device comprising:
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said flanges are spaced apart by a distance equal to 93±3 percent of the envelope height.
3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said support member further includes:
4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said inverted J-shaped support member comprises:
5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said support means further comprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lower support segments for minimizing rotational movement of said segments with respect to each other.
6. The device according to claim 3 wherein said support means further comprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lower support segments for minimizing rotational movement of said segments with respect to each other.
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference is hereby made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 134,791, entitled Apparatus For Correlating Rejected Photographic Prints With Corresponding Photographic Negatives, filed in the name of Gerald C. Smith on Apr. 16, 1971; U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,786, entitled Apparatus For Facilitating The Packaging And Pricing Of Photographic Prints, filed in the names of Thomas W. Bracken, Thomas C. Laughon and Gerald C. Smith on Apr. 16, 1971; U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,789, entitled Control Circuit For Automating The Operation Of A Film Cutter Or Like Apparatus, filed in the names of Gerald C. Smith and Raymond J. Williams on Apr. 16, 1971; and U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,788, entitled Bimodal Film Cutter Adapted To Handle Different Film Widths, filed in the name of Thomas W. Bracken on Apr. 16, 1971.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a dispensing device and, more particularly, to an envelope dispenser which accepts and flexes pocketed envelopes for efficient insertion of material therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dispensers of various types are known in the prior art. These prior art dispensers were designed to deliver such items as paper bags, folded napkins, cleansing tissues and moistened sheets. Certain applications, however, required the use of pocketed envelopes which could not be conveniently, economically or efficiently dispensed by any of the known devices.
In those applications where a pocketed envelope is employed, it is highly desirable from an efficiency and cost standpoint to provide a device which would permit an operator to load material into such envelopes without having to expend effort in opening the pockets. One such application is encountered in the field of photofinishing where processed prints and their corresponding negatives are delivered to an operator for insertion in a pocketed customer envelope.
In the past, such envelopes were stacked adjacent the photofinishing apparatus being used and, as the finished prints and negatives were delivered, the operator would insert them into appropriate pockets of the envelope along with descriptive literature, called "stuffers" in the trade. It was found that this highly repetitive insertion operation, which required the operator to manually open each pocket, was time consuming, fatiguing, inefficient and costly, especially as many phases of the photofinishing process were automated. In fact, it soon became evident that the insertion operation was a bottleneck which prevented the processor from reaping the benefits of automating his processing facilities. Unfortunately, none of the prior art devices provided or disclosed an envelope dispensing device which could be readily adapted by the photofinishing field and also solve the problems noted above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and efficient dispenser for pocketed envelopes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a dispenser in which the envelopes are retained in a flexed position wherein the pockets are at least partially open to facilitate insertion of material therein.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and efficient dispenser for multi-pocketed envelopes which retains the envelopes in a flexed and fully accessible position with all pockets of the envelope maintained at least partially open for efficient insertion of material therein.
Accordingly, there is provided a frame member for retaining the envelopes, two opposing walls of which have inwardly extending flanges for retaining the top and bottom portions of the envelopes as they are fulcrumed over the top surface of a support member adjustably mounted in the frame member beneath the envelopes. The predetermined height of the support member forces the retained envelopes to assume an outwardly bowed or convex shape which, at least, partially opens the envelope pockets to facilitate insertion of material therein. The adjustably mounted support member permits location of the fulcrum point in an optimum plane at a location therein which yields maximum pocket opening. In addition, the support member can be appropriately biased to provide uniform flexing of the envelopes regardless of the number of type of envelopes inserted in the frame member.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein there is set forth by way of illustrative example certain embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a photofinishing console which includes an envelope dispenser according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-pocketed envelope of a type employable in the envelope dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the envelope dispenser shown in FIG. 1 which has been loaded with a number of envelopes of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, into the pockets of which photographic material is being inserted.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the loaded envelope dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line A--A thereof.
FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the envelope shown in FIG. 2 is folded.
FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the mounting arrangement utilized for the support member illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective an alternative embodiment of the support member shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective another alternative embodiment of the support member shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the flange portion of a sidewall shown in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used in the several views for like elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a photofinishing console 10 which includes an envelope dispenser 11 according to the present invention. A detailed description of the photofinishing console 10 is not necessary for purposes of this description. Rather, it is sufficient to know that individual prints 7 and negative strips 9 are cyclically delivered at locations 12 and 13 respectively. For a more detailed description of photofinishing console 10, reference should be had to the previously identified U.S. Pat. applications Ser. Nos. 134,791, 134,786, 134,789 and 134,788.
Upon delivery of the prints 7 and negative strips 9 to locations 12 and 13, the prints 7 are quickly scanned by the operator for defects, if any, and, if acceptable, are inserted along with their corresponding negative strips 9 into the topmost envelope 14 in dispenser 11. Withdrawal of the negative strips 9 from location 13 causes initiation of the next cycle of console 10 operation, which is completed by the time the operator has finished packing the immediately preceding delivery of prints 7 and negative strips 9. In addition, if desired, the operator can insert in envelope 14, together with a processed customer order, descriptive material or "stuffers" conveniently located in compartments 15 of storage means 16. It should be noted that extra envelopes 14 and other materials, such as pricing labels, negative covers or the like, can be stored in storage means 16.
In the preferred embodiment described herein, the particular envelope 14 employed contains two pockets, a print pocket 17 and a negative pocket 18. It will be appreciated by those having skill in this art, that envelope 14 could contain only one pocket or more than two, the number being dependent upon the particular task involved. The details of envelope 14 are illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, pockets 17 and 18 are of differing height with the mouth 18a of negative pocket 18 lying just below the mouth 17a of print pocket 17. The envelope flap 19 is normally extended in the same plane as the envelope back 20 and remains so extended, though slightly bowed, upon insertion into the dispenser 11. Upon insertion of the customer order into pockets 17 and 18, the filled envelope 14 is removed and flap 19 is bent along fold line 21 and assumes the position indicated by the dashed lines 22 in FIG. 5.
As shown in FIG. 3, a number of envelopes 14 are inserted into dispenser 11 with their pockets 17 and 18 facing up. The top portion 23 and bottom portion 24 of the envelopes 14 are tucked beneath edging 25, which asthetically masks the opening 26 of table 27 into which dispenser 11 fits.
The envelope dispenser 11, as best shown in FIG. 4, comprises a unitary frame member 28 having an inclined or sloped floor 29 which terminates at each end thereof in upright wall portions 30 and 31, respectively. A slot 37 is cut in floor 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The distance between wall portions 30 and 31 is obviously slightly greater than the width of the properly bowed envelopes 14 and slightly smaller than the opening 26 in table 27. Each of the walls 30 and 31, have a flange, 32 and 33 respectively, formed at the top thereof which fits beneath edging 25, as shown in FIG. 4. It has been empirically determined for the particular types of envelope used in the photofinishing field, that the spacing between walls 30 and 31, or the rearmost portion of flanges 32 and 33, should be equal to from 90 to 96 percent of the envelope height. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the spacing between walls 30 and 31 has been chosen to be about 93 percent of the envelope height. In the particular frame member 28 described above and illustrated in FIG. 4, unitary construction was chosen for both economic and structural reasons. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the respective flange, wall and bottom portions of frame member 28 can be formed of separate, independent pieces which are ultimately joined by one of several known joining techniques. It will also be appreciated that in fabricating frame member 28, the wall portions 30 and 31 thereof can be bent slightly outwardly so that upon insertion into opening 26, they will be forced towards each other into a substantially vertical position which simultaneously biases them against the sides of table opening 26, thereby securing frame member 28 in opening 26. Such biasing action assumes the choice of a suitable and appropriate material for frame member 28 from among the many known in the art. Alternatively, frame member 28 can be secured by spot welding flanges 32 and 33 at appropriate locations to edging 25. Still another alternative joining technique achieves the securing of frame member 28 within table 27 by employment of conventional nut assemblies (not shown) through holes (not shown) cut for that purpose in flanges 32 and 33 and edging 25.
Support member 34, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, is slidably mounted to the floor 29 of frame member 28 by passing two carriage bolts 38 through openings 35, in its bottom portion 36 and through slots 37. The position of support member 34 is then fixed by tightening nuts 39. Bottom portion 36 of support member 34 is bent to angularly coincide with and is therefore parallel to floor 29. This insures, regardless of its position with respect to slot 37, that support member 34 is substantially vertical. Alternatively, the openings 35 in bottom portion 29 could be elongated to form a slot, while slots 37 could be reduced to a rounded opening merely sufficient to accept bolts 38. Then, an adjustment in the position of support member 34 would be effected by sliding support member 34 along floor 29 rather than by sliding bolts 38 along slots 37. The actual arrangement chosen is not critical, as long as the support member 34 can be readily moved with respect to floor 29 as the need therefor arises. An exploded, clarified view of the mounting arrangement of support member 34 to floor 29 is illustrated in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 6, square shoulders 51 are provided on the underside of the heads 52 of bolts 38. Since the width of the opposing shoulders 51 is chosen just slightly smaller than the width of slots 37, full tightening of the carriage bolts 38 will positively secure support member 34 to floor 29. In this manner, any tendency of support member 34 to move relative to floor 29 once positioned is minimized. The use of redundant attachment means, bolts 38 and nuts 39, also serves to maintain the position of support member 34 relative to floor 29. It will be appreciated, however, that the use of the particular means described above for slidably attaching support member 34 to floor 29 is not necessary to practice the invention herein disclosed and its description is therefore merely exemplary. It will be further appreciated and understood that other suitable and conventional arrangements for slidably mounting support member 34 to floor 29 could be readily employed.
The top portion 40 of support member is, as shown in FIG. 4, bent over to provide a surface over which the envelopes 14 can be fulcrumed. The uppermost surface 41 of top portion 40 is located, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, in the same plane as the top of edging 25. The location of surface 41 obviously determines the degree to which the envelopes 14 are flexed since their top 23 and bottom portions 24 are tucked under fixed flanges 32 and 33, respectively, beneath edging 25. It will be appreciated that the selected height of support member 34 and the location of surface 41 is, in great measure, a function of such factors as envelope stiffness, the maximum number of envelopes to be loaded, the horizontal location of flanges 32 and 33 and the amount of flexure needed to sufficiently open the envelope pockets 17 and 18. In each instance, therefore, it is necessary that the surface 41 be located in an optimum plane which will result in enough envelope flexure to insure that the envelope pockets are opened by an amount sufficient to promote ready and efficient insertion of material therewithin. In the embodiment described herein, for the type and number of envelopes used, the optimum plane has been determined to be coextensive with the top of edging 25. It should be noted, however, as illustrated in FIG. 9, that the flange 33 (or flange 32) itself can be appropriately shaped so that no edging 25 is required. In such an instance, the location of the optimum plane may not change, but the element to which it is referenced will.
Should a change in the type of envelope used be necessary, such as, for example, a change in the position of pockets 17 and 18, then not only will the location of the optimum plane change, but the fulcrum point, that point in the optimum plane where contact is made between the envelopes 14 and surface 41, will also change. In order to achieve maximum pocket opening under such a condition, it will be necessary to slide support member 34 along floor 29 in whatever direction is appropriate. Arrows 42 indicate, in FIG. 4, the directions in which support member 34 can be moved to achieve the desired result.
As shown in FIG. 7, support member 34 can be modified to achieve vertical displacement of surface 41 without the necessity of horizontal movement, that is, without the need to slide support member 34 along floor 29. The incorporation of this modification would eliminate the need to have floor 29 slope between walls 30 and 31. Thus, floor 29 would be generally perpendicular to side walls 30 and 31 and bottom portion 36 of support member 34 would extend generally perpendicular therefrom. This change is achieved by forming support member 34 from two pieces, an upper segment 42 and a lower segment 43. The segments 42 and 43 are slidably mounted to each other by a carriage bolt 44 and nut 45 through opening 46 in upper segment 42 and an opening (not shown) in lower segment 43 cut respectively therein in a similar manner to the mounting arrangement of support member 34 to floor 29 illustrated in FIG. 6. Either one or both of these openings in segments 42 and 43 can be elongated to achieve a desired range of vertical movement for top surface 41. The stability of support member 34, when fabricated as illustrated in FIG. 7, is greatly improved by providing lugs 53 on top segment 42 which are bent back around the sides of bottom segment 43 thereby minimizing any tendency of rotational movement between top and bottom portions 42 and 43. In addition, as previously described with respect to the mounting of support member 34 to floor 29, a second bolt and nut assembly and appropriate openings could be provided to further positively stabilize the slidably joined top and bottom portions 42 and 43.
The versatility of the envelope dispenser described herein can be enhanced even further, as shown in FIG. 8, by providing biasing means between segments 42 and 43. In the illustrated alternative embodiment of FIG. 8, such biasing means is conveniently selected to be the springs 48 which are mounted in compression between flanges 49 and 50 extending respectively from the upper and lower segments 42 and 43. The biasing action of springs 48 tend to apply optimum flexing to envelopes 14, especially in those instances where a great number of or stiffer envelopes are employed.
The springs 48 are held in place by pins 54 which are fixedly mounted between flanges 49 and 50. Top segment 42 is slidably joined to bottom segment 43 by rivets 55 or like elements, the shafts of which extend through and ride in slots 56 cut in top portion 42. The ends (not shown) of the rivets 55 are peened over or otherwise arranged so that the top and bottom segments 41 and 42 are held in slidable engagement. With the FIG. 8 embodiment of support member 34 incorporated in the dispenser 11, the pressure exerted by the compressed springs 48, which are chosen with appropriate spring constants, tends to maintain the pockets of the topmost envelope 14 sufficiently flexed and open so that material can be readily and efficiently inserted therein.
This invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiment; however, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.
Reference is hereby made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 134,791, entitled Apparatus For Correlating Rejected Photographic Prints With Corresponding Photographic Negatives, filed in the name of Gerald C. Smith on Apr. 16, 1971; U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,786, entitled Apparatus For Facilitating The Packaging And Pricing Of Photographic Prints, filed in the names of Thomas W. Bracken, Thomas C. Laughon and Gerald C. Smith on Apr. 16, 1971; U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,789, entitled Control Circuit For Automating The Operation Of A Film Cutter Or Like Apparatus, filed in the names of Gerald C. Smith and Raymond J. Williams on Apr. 16, 1971; and U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,788, entitled Bimodal Film Cutter Adapted To Handle Different Film Widths, filed in the name of Thomas W. Bracken on Apr. 16, 1971.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a dispensing device and, more particularly, to an envelope dispenser which accepts and flexes pocketed envelopes for efficient insertion of material therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dispensers of various types are known in the prior art. These prior art dispensers were designed to deliver such items as paper bags, folded napkins, cleansing tissues and moistened sheets. Certain applications, however, required the use of pocketed envelopes which could not be conveniently, economically or efficiently dispensed by any of the known devices.
In those applications where a pocketed envelope is employed, it is highly desirable from an efficiency and cost standpoint to provide a device which would permit an operator to load material into such envelopes without having to expend effort in opening the pockets. One such application is encountered in the field of photofinishing where processed prints and their corresponding negatives are delivered to an operator for insertion in a pocketed customer envelope.
In the past, such envelopes were stacked adjacent the photofinishing apparatus being used and, as the finished prints and negatives were delivered, the operator would insert them into appropriate pockets of the envelope along with descriptive literature, called "stuffers" in the trade. It was found that this highly repetitive insertion operation, which required the operator to manually open each pocket, was time consuming, fatiguing, inefficient and costly, especially as many phases of the photofinishing process were automated. In fact, it soon became evident that the insertion operation was a bottleneck which prevented the processor from reaping the benefits of automating his processing facilities. Unfortunately, none of the prior art devices provided or disclosed an envelope dispensing device which could be readily adapted by the photofinishing field and also solve the problems noted above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and efficient dispenser for pocketed envelopes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a dispenser in which the envelopes are retained in a flexed position wherein the pockets are at least partially open to facilitate insertion of material therein.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and efficient dispenser for multi-pocketed envelopes which retains the envelopes in a flexed and fully accessible position with all pockets of the envelope maintained at least partially open for efficient insertion of material therein.
Accordingly, there is provided a frame member for retaining the envelopes, two opposing walls of which have inwardly extending flanges for retaining the top and bottom portions of the envelopes as they are fulcrumed over the top surface of a support member adjustably mounted in the frame member beneath the envelopes. The predetermined height of the support member forces the retained envelopes to assume an outwardly bowed or convex shape which, at least, partially opens the envelope pockets to facilitate insertion of material therein. The adjustably mounted support member permits location of the fulcrum point in an optimum plane at a location therein which yields maximum pocket opening. In addition, the support member can be appropriately biased to provide uniform flexing of the envelopes regardless of the number of type of envelopes inserted in the frame member.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein there is set forth by way of illustrative example certain embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a photofinishing console which includes an envelope dispenser according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-pocketed envelope of a type employable in the envelope dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the envelope dispenser shown in FIG. 1 which has been loaded with a number of envelopes of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, into the pockets of which photographic material is being inserted.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the loaded envelope dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line A--A thereof.
FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the envelope shown in FIG. 2 is folded.
FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the mounting arrangement utilized for the support member illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective an alternative embodiment of the support member shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective another alternative embodiment of the support member shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the flange portion of a sidewall shown in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used in the several views for like elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a photofinishing console 10 which includes an envelope dispenser 11 according to the present invention. A detailed description of the photofinishing console 10 is not necessary for purposes of this description. Rather, it is sufficient to know that individual prints 7 and negative strips 9 are cyclically delivered at locations 12 and 13 respectively. For a more detailed description of photofinishing console 10, reference should be had to the previously identified U.S. Pat. applications Ser. Nos. 134,791, 134,786, 134,789 and 134,788.
Upon delivery of the prints 7 and negative strips 9 to locations 12 and 13, the prints 7 are quickly scanned by the operator for defects, if any, and, if acceptable, are inserted along with their corresponding negative strips 9 into the topmost envelope 14 in dispenser 11. Withdrawal of the negative strips 9 from location 13 causes initiation of the next cycle of console 10 operation, which is completed by the time the operator has finished packing the immediately preceding delivery of prints 7 and negative strips 9. In addition, if desired, the operator can insert in envelope 14, together with a processed customer order, descriptive material or "stuffers" conveniently located in compartments 15 of storage means 16. It should be noted that extra envelopes 14 and other materials, such as pricing labels, negative covers or the like, can be stored in storage means 16.
In the preferred embodiment described herein, the particular envelope 14 employed contains two pockets, a print pocket 17 and a negative pocket 18. It will be appreciated by those having skill in this art, that envelope 14 could contain only one pocket or more than two, the number being dependent upon the particular task involved. The details of envelope 14 are illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, pockets 17 and 18 are of differing height with the mouth 18a of negative pocket 18 lying just below the mouth 17a of print pocket 17. The envelope flap 19 is normally extended in the same plane as the envelope back 20 and remains so extended, though slightly bowed, upon insertion into the dispenser 11. Upon insertion of the customer order into pockets 17 and 18, the filled envelope 14 is removed and flap 19 is bent along fold line 21 and assumes the position indicated by the dashed lines 22 in FIG. 5.
As shown in FIG. 3, a number of envelopes 14 are inserted into dispenser 11 with their pockets 17 and 18 facing up. The top portion 23 and bottom portion 24 of the envelopes 14 are tucked beneath edging 25, which asthetically masks the opening 26 of table 27 into which dispenser 11 fits.
The envelope dispenser 11, as best shown in FIG. 4, comprises a unitary frame member 28 having an inclined or sloped floor 29 which terminates at each end thereof in upright wall portions 30 and 31, respectively. A slot 37 is cut in floor 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The distance between wall portions 30 and 31 is obviously slightly greater than the width of the properly bowed envelopes 14 and slightly smaller than the opening 26 in table 27. Each of the walls 30 and 31, have a flange, 32 and 33 respectively, formed at the top thereof which fits beneath edging 25, as shown in FIG. 4. It has been empirically determined for the particular types of envelope used in the photofinishing field, that the spacing between walls 30 and 31, or the rearmost portion of flanges 32 and 33, should be equal to from 90 to 96 percent of the envelope height. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the spacing between walls 30 and 31 has been chosen to be about 93 percent of the envelope height. In the particular frame member 28 described above and illustrated in FIG. 4, unitary construction was chosen for both economic and structural reasons. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the respective flange, wall and bottom portions of frame member 28 can be formed of separate, independent pieces which are ultimately joined by one of several known joining techniques. It will also be appreciated that in fabricating frame member 28, the wall portions 30 and 31 thereof can be bent slightly outwardly so that upon insertion into opening 26, they will be forced towards each other into a substantially vertical position which simultaneously biases them against the sides of table opening 26, thereby securing frame member 28 in opening 26. Such biasing action assumes the choice of a suitable and appropriate material for frame member 28 from among the many known in the art. Alternatively, frame member 28 can be secured by spot welding flanges 32 and 33 at appropriate locations to edging 25. Still another alternative joining technique achieves the securing of frame member 28 within table 27 by employment of conventional nut assemblies (not shown) through holes (not shown) cut for that purpose in flanges 32 and 33 and edging 25.
Support member 34, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, is slidably mounted to the floor 29 of frame member 28 by passing two carriage bolts 38 through openings 35, in its bottom portion 36 and through slots 37. The position of support member 34 is then fixed by tightening nuts 39. Bottom portion 36 of support member 34 is bent to angularly coincide with and is therefore parallel to floor 29. This insures, regardless of its position with respect to slot 37, that support member 34 is substantially vertical. Alternatively, the openings 35 in bottom portion 29 could be elongated to form a slot, while slots 37 could be reduced to a rounded opening merely sufficient to accept bolts 38. Then, an adjustment in the position of support member 34 would be effected by sliding support member 34 along floor 29 rather than by sliding bolts 38 along slots 37. The actual arrangement chosen is not critical, as long as the support member 34 can be readily moved with respect to floor 29 as the need therefor arises. An exploded, clarified view of the mounting arrangement of support member 34 to floor 29 is illustrated in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 6, square shoulders 51 are provided on the underside of the heads 52 of bolts 38. Since the width of the opposing shoulders 51 is chosen just slightly smaller than the width of slots 37, full tightening of the carriage bolts 38 will positively secure support member 34 to floor 29. In this manner, any tendency of support member 34 to move relative to floor 29 once positioned is minimized. The use of redundant attachment means, bolts 38 and nuts 39, also serves to maintain the position of support member 34 relative to floor 29. It will be appreciated, however, that the use of the particular means described above for slidably attaching support member 34 to floor 29 is not necessary to practice the invention herein disclosed and its description is therefore merely exemplary. It will be further appreciated and understood that other suitable and conventional arrangements for slidably mounting support member 34 to floor 29 could be readily employed.
The top portion 40 of support member is, as shown in FIG. 4, bent over to provide a surface over which the envelopes 14 can be fulcrumed. The uppermost surface 41 of top portion 40 is located, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, in the same plane as the top of edging 25. The location of surface 41 obviously determines the degree to which the envelopes 14 are flexed since their top 23 and bottom portions 24 are tucked under fixed flanges 32 and 33, respectively, beneath edging 25. It will be appreciated that the selected height of support member 34 and the location of surface 41 is, in great measure, a function of such factors as envelope stiffness, the maximum number of envelopes to be loaded, the horizontal location of flanges 32 and 33 and the amount of flexure needed to sufficiently open the envelope pockets 17 and 18. In each instance, therefore, it is necessary that the surface 41 be located in an optimum plane which will result in enough envelope flexure to insure that the envelope pockets are opened by an amount sufficient to promote ready and efficient insertion of material therewithin. In the embodiment described herein, for the type and number of envelopes used, the optimum plane has been determined to be coextensive with the top of edging 25. It should be noted, however, as illustrated in FIG. 9, that the flange 33 (or flange 32) itself can be appropriately shaped so that no edging 25 is required. In such an instance, the location of the optimum plane may not change, but the element to which it is referenced will.
Should a change in the type of envelope used be necessary, such as, for example, a change in the position of pockets 17 and 18, then not only will the location of the optimum plane change, but the fulcrum point, that point in the optimum plane where contact is made between the envelopes 14 and surface 41, will also change. In order to achieve maximum pocket opening under such a condition, it will be necessary to slide support member 34 along floor 29 in whatever direction is appropriate. Arrows 42 indicate, in FIG. 4, the directions in which support member 34 can be moved to achieve the desired result.
As shown in FIG. 7, support member 34 can be modified to achieve vertical displacement of surface 41 without the necessity of horizontal movement, that is, without the need to slide support member 34 along floor 29. The incorporation of this modification would eliminate the need to have floor 29 slope between walls 30 and 31. Thus, floor 29 would be generally perpendicular to side walls 30 and 31 and bottom portion 36 of support member 34 would extend generally perpendicular therefrom. This change is achieved by forming support member 34 from two pieces, an upper segment 42 and a lower segment 43. The segments 42 and 43 are slidably mounted to each other by a carriage bolt 44 and nut 45 through opening 46 in upper segment 42 and an opening (not shown) in lower segment 43 cut respectively therein in a similar manner to the mounting arrangement of support member 34 to floor 29 illustrated in FIG. 6. Either one or both of these openings in segments 42 and 43 can be elongated to achieve a desired range of vertical movement for top surface 41. The stability of support member 34, when fabricated as illustrated in FIG. 7, is greatly improved by providing lugs 53 on top segment 42 which are bent back around the sides of bottom segment 43 thereby minimizing any tendency of rotational movement between top and bottom portions 42 and 43. In addition, as previously described with respect to the mounting of support member 34 to floor 29, a second bolt and nut assembly and appropriate openings could be provided to further positively stabilize the slidably joined top and bottom portions 42 and 43.
The versatility of the envelope dispenser described herein can be enhanced even further, as shown in FIG. 8, by providing biasing means between segments 42 and 43. In the illustrated alternative embodiment of FIG. 8, such biasing means is conveniently selected to be the springs 48 which are mounted in compression between flanges 49 and 50 extending respectively from the upper and lower segments 42 and 43. The biasing action of springs 48 tend to apply optimum flexing to envelopes 14, especially in those instances where a great number of or stiffer envelopes are employed.
The springs 48 are held in place by pins 54 which are fixedly mounted between flanges 49 and 50. Top segment 42 is slidably joined to bottom segment 43 by rivets 55 or like elements, the shafts of which extend through and ride in slots 56 cut in top portion 42. The ends (not shown) of the rivets 55 are peened over or otherwise arranged so that the top and bottom segments 41 and 42 are held in slidable engagement. With the FIG. 8 embodiment of support member 34 incorporated in the dispenser 11, the pressure exerted by the compressed springs 48, which are chosen with appropriate spring constants, tends to maintain the pockets of the topmost envelope 14 sufficiently flexed and open so that material can be readily and efficiently inserted therein.
This invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiment; however, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.