APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING THE PINS ON ALIGNER CHAINS OF AN ENVELOPE MACHINE

摘要

Envelope blank timing and aligning apparatus includes a support table for the envelope blanks with a pair of spaced parallel endless chains. The chains are positioned slightly below the upper surface of the table with pin members extending upwardly therefrom. The pin members engage edge portions of the envelope blank and convey the envelope blank along the table in timed and aligned relation for feeding into the other envelope-forming elements of the machine. A drive for the chains includes a drive shaft connected to a drive gear. A drive sprocket for one of the chains is secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A tubular drive shaft is coaxially positioned on the drive shaft and has a drive sprocket for the other chain secured thereto for rotation therewith. A transmission drive is provided to connect the tubular shaft to the drive shaft and to adjust the phase angle of the tubular shaft relative to the drive shaft and thereby adjust or change the position of the pins on the respective chains relative to each other. The transmission drive includes an idler shaft and meshing spur gears connecting the drive shaft and the idler shaft. Also included in the transmission is a pair of meshing helical gears connecting the idler shaft and the tubular shaft. Axial movement of the idler shaft relative to the drive shaft and tubular shaft moves the gears on the idler shaft relative to the gears on the drive and tubular shaft to rotate one shaft relative to the other and change the phase angle between the drive shaft and the tubular shaft. The adjustment of the phase angle between the respective shafts may be accomplished while the shafts are rotating to thereby adjust the relative position of the aligner pins while the envelope machine is running.