US3770263A

US3770263A - Demand feed hold down means

Info

Publication number: US3770263A
Application number: US00204954A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Parups; J Conti
Original assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Current assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date: 1971-12-06
Filing date: 1971-12-06
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06

Abstract

The movements of several paired spring fingers from inoperative to operative positions are controlled by escapement mechanisms acting in response to sensing fingers which sense the passage of the leading and trailing edges of each insert, incident to translating them in succession to an envelope loading station, whereat their trailing edges are in alignment. One spring finger of each pair is automatically released to move to its operative position and thus hold down the trailing edge of each insert upon arrival at the loading station, preparatory for engagement by the ram of an inserting machine acting to stuff the inserts into an envelope.

Description

United States Patent Parups et al.

DEMAND FEED HOLD DOWN MEANS Inventors: Eriks Parups, Norwalk, Conn.;

Joseph A. Conti, Whitestone, N.Y.

Assignee: Pitney-Bovves: iiil; $755366,

Conn.

Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 Appl. No.: 204,954

US. Cl. 270/58, 271/50 Int. Cl B65h 39/00, B65h 9/03 Field of Search .Q 271/50, 60, 75, 46,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerJames W. Miller Attorney-William D. Soltow, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The movements of several paired spring fingers from inoperative to operative positions are controlled by escapement mechanisms acting in response to sensing fingers which sense the passage of the leading and trailing edges of each insert, incident to translating them in succession to an' envelope loading station, whereat their trailing edges are in alignment. One spring finger of each pair is automatically released to move to its operative position and thus hold down the trailing edge of each insert upon arrival at the loading station, preparatory for engagement by the ram of an inserting machine acting to stuff the inserts into an envelope. i

11 Claims, 9 Dravving Figures PATENTEUHHV si n I 3,770,263

SHEET 10F 4 FIG. I

INVENTORS ERlKS PARUPS JOSEPH A. CONT! ATTORNEY PMFNTEUHuv 6 ms SHEEI 3 OF 4 INVENTORS ERIKS PARUPS JOSEPH A. com

BY ffm ATTORNEY PAIENTEUNnv emu 3710.263 SHEET U UF 4 INVENTORS ERIKS PARUPS JOSEPH CONTI ATTORNEY DEMAND FEED HOLD DOWN MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the operation of automatically filling envelopes with inserts, such as booklets, cards and typically folded paper sheets, etc. This invention particularly relates to apparatus for use in an inserting machine to hold down the trailing edges of an insert collation in position at a'loading station preparatory to being stuffed into a waiting envelope. I

In one type of envelope inserting machine, the inserts are moved from insert feeding station to insert feeding station by gripper fingers and are ultimately delivered as an insert collation to a loading station with their trailing edges in alignment. The inserts are then stuffed into an envelope through engagement of their trailing edges by a ram apparatus. In another type of envelope inserting machine, the inserts are successively delivered to a loading station, where the leading edges of each insert engage different stops adjustably positioned,

to produce trailing edge alignment of the insert collation prior to engagement by the ram apparatus. In both envelope inserting machine types, it is important and, in fact critical, that the trailing edges of the several inserts are not only aligned with each other, but also lie together in planes aligned with the stroke of the ram apparatus. This insures that the trailing edges of all of the inserts are engaged by the ram apparatus and that the inserts offer maximum rigidity while being forceably inserted into the waiting envelope. It will be appreciated that if the ram'apparatus fails to enable the trailing edge of one or more of the inserts, incomplete insertion will result and the machine typically becomes jammed. If the trailing edge portion of one of the inserts is permitted to curl out of alignment with the in sertion stroke, it is likely to be crumpled and its insertion into the envelope is either improperly effected or effected not at all, thus creating a jam r-equiringmachine shutdown.

In the type of envelope stuffing machine where the inserts arrive successively at the loading station, the trailing edges of each insert must be individually controlled or held down upon its arrival thereat so as not to interfere with the approach and positioning of the next successive insert at the loading station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided apparatus for individually holding one or more sheet material'inserts in a position for insertion into an envelope, or the like, by'tlie ram mechanism of an envelope inserting or stuffing machine. More specifically, the apparatus of the invention is adapted to individually control the trailing edge portions of inserts successively arrivingat a receiving or loading station, preparatory to forceable insertion into a waiting envelope. The nature of the control on the trailing edge portion of the several inserts is such as to maintain them substantially together and commonlyialigned with the insertion stroke of a ram mechanism included in the inserting machine.

The apparatus includes, according to the invention, means for conveying the inserts, one at a time, along a predetermined path to a loading station for collation. A sensor, actuated by the leading and trailing edges ,of each insert, controls latch means which, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, is in the form of an escapement mechanism. The latch means releasably retains hold down elements, one for each insert, in inoperative positions against the force of biasing means urging them to their operative positions in overlying, controlling engagement with the trailing edge portion of each insert upon its arrival at the loading station. Upon sensing the't railing edge of each insert, the sensor announces its arrival at the loading station by releasing one of the hold down elements from the latch means for movement by the biasing means to its operative position.

After the last insert-for. each envelope has arrived at the loading station, the trailing edge portions of the several inserts are individually held by the hold down elements in aligned relation with the ram mechanism. The

ram mechanism is actuated to execute an insertion stroke and .thetrailing edges of the inserts are engaged to shove the inserts from the loading station into the waiting envelope. As the inserts are removed from engagement by the hold down elements, the latter are returned by the biasing means to their inoperative positions, again releasably retained thereat bythe latch means preparatory tothe next insertion cycle.

Further in accordance with the invention, plural sets of holddown elements are provided to individually control the trailing edge portions of the several inserts at plural, laterally spaced locations.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for delivering several inserts in succession to the loading station of an envelope inserting machine and, while thereat, individually controlling them prior to their insertion into a waiting envelope. Y I

.Another object of thepresent invention is to provide apparatus of the above character for maintaining the trailing edge portions ofthe several inserts, while at the loading station, in substantial alignment with the forthcoming invention stroke.

A further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the above character for controllingeach insert upon its arrival at the loading station so as not to interfer with the arrival of the next insert.

An additional object is to provide apparatus of the above character which is reliable in operation, simpli- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention'will be more readily apparent from an understanding of the following detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in thevarious figures, and in which:

1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus constructed according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. I in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1'; and FIG. 5 m9 are schematic views of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the operation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus of the invention, generally indicated at 1 in FIG. 1, is intended for use in a high speed envelope inserting machine. Inserts (not shown), arriving successively from the right, are conveyed by apparatus 1 to a loading station, generally indicated at 2. The loading station includes, as also seen in FIG. 2, a pair of loading platforms 3 straddling a ram mechanism, generally indicated at 4. The several inserts, stacked at the loading station in trailing edge alignment, are supported by platforms 3 and the plate portion 4a of ram mechanism 4. Suitable apparatus for providing trailing edge alignment of several inserts delivered successively to an envelope loading station is disclosed in the commonly assigned, co-pending application entilted Apparatus For Trailing Edge Alignment, Ser. No. 74,253, filed Sept. 22, 1970. Upstanding gripper fingers 4b, carried by plate portion 4a engage the trailing edges of the several inserts as the ram mechanism reciprocates to the left, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, pursuant to shoving the inserts into a waiting envelope, not shown. A suitable ram mechanism is that disclosed in Parups, U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,995.

Still referring toFlGS. l and 2, apparatus 1 includes a mounting frame consisting ofa top plate 5 and depending sideplates 6 terminating in feet 7 for facilitating mounting to suitable. frame members (not shown) of the envelope inserting machine. A pair of drive pulleys 8 are mounted on a drive shaft 10 which is journalled in sideplates 6. These drive pulleys, one located on the outboard side of each sideplate, receive drive input from suitable means, such as a drive pulley 12 mounted on one end of drive shaft 10 and driven by a belt 16 off the inserter drive train. I

Stub shafts 22 mounted by the sideplates-journal a pair of first driven pulleys 20, one vertically spaced above each drive pulley 8. Separate shafts 26, also mounted by sideplates 6, journal a pair of second driven pulleys 24 in longitudinally spaced relation to the first pair 20. A conveyor belt loop 28 is wrapped around the three

pulleys

8, 20 and 24 on each side of the apparatus frame. It is thus seen that each conveyor belt loop' 28 runs in a triangular path with the upper horizontal reach of each spaced somewhat above top plate 5, thus being effective to convey successive inserts from right to left to loading station 2, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Idler pulleys 30, journalled on stub shafts 32 mounted by the sideplates,may be provided to assist in supporting the horizontal reach of the conveyor belt loops 28.

Hold down elements in the form of

spring fingers

36, 38 and 40 are supported by each shaft 26 adjacent loading station 2, as best seen in FIG. 2. More specifically, a sleeve 37 is journalled on the portion of each shaft 26 extending between each driven pulley 24 and the adjacent sideplate 6. Each sleeve 37 is joined with the adjacent drive pulley 24 such that it rotates therewith. In addition, each sleeve 37 is formed with a pair of annular, side-by-side grooves 37a to provide reduced diameters about which the ends of

spring fingers

36 and 38 are wrapped. The driven pulleys 24 also rotate sleeves 39 journalled on the end portion of each shaft 26. Each sleeve 39 is grooved adjacent its outer end, as indicated at 39a in FIG. 2, to provide reduced diameters about which spring fingers 40 are wrapped. The

various grooves formed in

sleeves

37 and 39 serve to fix the lateral positions of the various spring fingers.

As will be seen, the spring fingers serve to control the trailing edge portions of the successive inserts delivered to the loading station 2 by holding them substantially flat against the loading platforms 3. The trailing edges of the inserts are thus maintained in engagable relation with the gripper fingers 4b of the ram mechanism 4 when the latter acts to shove the inserts into a waiting envelope. Also, the spring fingers serve to control the trailing edge portion of an initial insert delivered to the loading station 2, such as not to interfere with the delivery thereto ofa subsequent insert. The various spring fingers are normally held in inoperative positions by an escapement mechanism, generally indicated at 44, and

are released in coordination with the successive delivery of the inserts to loading station 2 to assume operative positions in overlying relation with the trailing edge portion of each insert as supported on the loading platforms 3. Preferably there are two such escapement mechanisms, one for controlling the spring fingers located on each side of the apparatus frame.

Each escapement mechanism includes latching means in the form of a tandem starwheel, generally indicated at 46, rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 48 extending laterally from each side plate 6. As best seen in FIG. 3, each tandem starwheel consists of two

separate starwheels

50 and 52 joined together for rotation in unison on shaft 48. Each .starwheel 50 carries four equally angularly spaced tabs 51 which extend inwardly toward the apparatus frame. Each starwheel 52 also carries four equally spaced tabs, with adjacent tabs extending in opposite directions. Thus, diametrically opposed tabs 53 of each starwheel 52 extend inwardly toward the apparatus frame, while diametrically opposed tab 54 extend outwardly away from the apparatus frame. As best seen in FIGS. 2 through 4, the inwardly extending tabs 53 of starwheels 52 are adapted to latch the innermost spring fingers 36 in their inoperative positions while the outwardly extending tabs 54 of starwheels 52 latch spring fingers 38 in their inoperative positions.

Each escapement mechanism, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, also includes a control member, generally indicated at 56, which acts on the associated tandem starwheel 46 to effect the release of

spring fingers

36 and 38 from their inoperative position in coordination with the delivery of successive inserts to loading station 2. Each control member is mounted on an elongated shaft 62 journalled at its inner end in each of the sideplates 6 and journalled adjacent its outer end by a sideplate mounted bracket 78. Each control member carries an upstanding sensing finger which is engaged by each insert being conveyed to the loading station 2 by conveyor belt loops 28. The control members are rocked in the counterclockwise direction to actuated positions (FIGS. 5 and 6) during the passage of an insert and are released upon the passage of the trailing edge of each insert to be rocked in the opposite direction to their essentially upright, normal positions by return springs 69 anchored at one end to hooks 71 struck from the sideplates. Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each control member 56 carries a lower trip pawl 64 and an upper stop pawl 66 which act on the various tabs 51 of the associated starwheel 50. With each rocking or oscillatory motion of control members 56 in response to the passage of an insert, the tandem starwheels 46 rotate through an increment of 90 under the constraint of the

pawls

64 and 66. Incident to this 90 rotation, one of the spring fingers, 36 and 38 on each side of the apparatus frame is released for movement from its inoperative position to its operative position holding down the trailing edge portion of the insert at two laterally spaced locations.

Movement of the

spring fingers

36 and 38 from their inoperative to their operative positions is induced by virtue of theirmounting on the continuous rotating sleeves 37 in wrap spring clutch fashion. As long as the free ends of the

spring fingers

36 and 38 are engaged by the tabs on starwheels 52 the frinctional engagement of their other ends wrapped around sleeves 37 is relaxed to permit slippage. When the free ends ofthe spring fingers are released by starwheels 52, their other ends tighten on sleeves 37 and the spring fingers are pivoted by sleeves 37 to their operative positions pressing the trailing edge of an insert against the loading platforms 3. Here again the frictional engagement of through notches 3a in the loading platforms 3 for re-' turn to their inoperative positions wherethey are intercepted and again held by the tabs on starwheels S2.

The movements of the outsidespring fingers 40 from their inoperative to operative positions are controlled by still other starwheels 76" mounted on the outer ends of shafts 62. The starwheels 76 are provided with a pair of

tabs

72 and 74 which, under the control of control members 56, selectively detain spring fingers 40 at and release them from their inoperative positions. As will be seen, spring fingers 40 are released in response to the delivery of the first insert to the loading station 2 to assume their operative positions holding down the trailing corners of the initial insert against the loading platforms 3 so as not to interfere with the delivery of the second and last insert. It is seen thatwhen spring fingers 40 are released from their operative positions upon withdrawal of the inserts by the ram mechanism 4, they return through notches 3a in the loading plat forms to their inoperative positions where they are detained by their associated starwheels 76.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention will now be described in conjunction with FIGS. 4 through 9. Since the operations of the escapement mechanisms on each side of the apparatus frame are identical, the following operating description will refer to the components situated on the one side shown in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 4, prior to the arrival of an initial insert 34 in an insertion cycle, control member 56 is biased by spring 69 to its essentially upright, normal positions, determined by engagement of the tip of trip pawl 64 against shaft 48. V

The curved edge 64a of trip pawl 64 also engages one of the tab 51 carried by strawheel 50, so as to prevent clockwise rotation of the tandem starwheel 46. The free end of spring fingers 36 is latched in its inoperative positions due to engagement with the upper inwardly extending tab 53 of starwheel 52. The tabs on starwheel 52 will be designated 53a, 53b, 54a and 54b, in order that the motion of tandem starwheel 46 may be observed through the successive views of FIGS. 4 through 9. As also seen in FIG. 4, the free end of spring finger 38 is latched in its inoperative position by engagement with the outwardly extending tab 54b on starwheel 52. Since driven pulley 24 is rotating, the clutching action of

spring fingers

36 and 38 is urging the tandem starwheel assembly to rotate in the clockwise direction. However, its rotation is resisted by the engagement of the inwardly extending tab 51 of starwheel 50 aligned with tab 54a of starwheel 52 against the curved edge 64a of trip pawl 64.

As seen in FIG. 5, the leading edge of the insert, constarwheel momentarily releases spring finger 38. It

should be noted at this point that catch pawl 66 of control member 56 is now in intercepting relation with the next inwardly extending tab 5lon starwheel 50, which is aligned with tab 54b, such that, as seen in FIG. 6, the rotation of the tandem starwheel is limited to an increment less than 90/Spring finger 36 pivots upwardly into engagement with a tab 80 carried by control member'56 where it is temporarily latched in an intermediate, armed position awaiting the release of sensing finger 70 upon passage of the insert trailing edge. Tab 54b on starwheel S2 isreengaged by spring finger 38 to retain the latter essentially in its inoperative position.

Upon passage of the insert trailing edge, control member 56 is returned to its upright, normal position by spring 69, and tab carried thereby releases spring finger 36, which then'pivots in the counterclockwise direction into overlying relation with the trailing edge portion of the insertjust deposited on loading platforms 3. It will be noted that the upper surfaces of loading platforms 3 lie substantially in a plane tangent to the circumference of sleeve 37 about which the end of spring finger 36 is wrapped. Thus, spring finger 36 is adapted to hold down the initial insert against the loading platform with a considerable portion of its length. In the meantime, the return of control member 56 to its normal position has reintroduced trip pawl 64 to restrain further rotation of the tandem starwheel. It will be noted that the increment of rotation of the tandem starwheel incident to fully releasing spring finger 36 for movement to its operative position is essentially which is insufficient to release spring finger 38 from its inoperative position. Thus, tab 54b of starwheel 52 continues to engage spring finger 38, retaining it in its inoperative position. v

Returning momentarily to FIG. 3, prior to the arrival of the leading edge of the first insert, the vertical orientation of control member 56 has the operative effect of orienting starwheel 76 such that tab 72 carried thereby latches spring finger 40 in its inoperative position. When control member 56 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the initial insert 34, starwheel 76 is also rotated in the counterclockwise direction to release spring finger 40 from tab 72. However, tab 74 of starwheel 76 has moved into intercepting relation with the free end of spring finger 40 to detain it in an intermediate, armed position awaiting the passage of the insert trailing edge. Upon the occurrance of this event, control member 56 is returned to its normal position by spring 69, and starwheel 76 is rotated back in the clockwise direction, moving tab 74 out of engagement with the free end of spring finger 40. This spring finger is thus freed to pivot in the counterclockwise direction to its operative position in overlying relation with a corner of the initial insert lying on the loading platforms 3. Thus the two inside spring fingers 36 and the two outside spring fingers 40 insure that the trailing edge of the initial insert is held flat against the loading platforms 3 along substantially its entire length, and thus not interfere with the approach of the second and last insert to the loading station 2.

The passage of the second insert again rocks control member 56 in the counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 8, thereby releasing spring fingers 38 from retention by tab 54b of starwheel 52. Spring finger 38 pivots upwardly to its armed position, where it is detained by tab 80 awaiting the passage of the trailing edge of the second insert. As the second insert leaves the ends of the conveyor belt loops 28 and drops onto the loading platforms 3, the control member is released and is rocked back in the clockwise direction by return spring 69. Spring finger 38 is thus released from tab 80 and it pivots around into overlying relation with the second insert lying stop the first on loading platforms 3. The pairs of

spring fingers

36 and 38 on opposite sides of the ram mechanism 4 serve to maintain the central portions of the inserts trailing edges in positions aligned with the insertion stroke. The trailing edges of both inserts are thus in position to be engaged by the gripper fingers 4b as the ram mechanism reciprocates to the left, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, pursuant to shoving the inserts into the waiting envelope.

As the inserts leave the right end of the loading platforms 3, the

spring fingers

36, 38 and 40 are released and pass through notches 3a in the loading platforms for return in the counterclockwise direction to their inoperative positions, where they are intercepted by the tabs on

starwheels

52 and 76. Specifically, spring fingers 36 are intercepted upon arrival at their inoperative positions by inwardly extending tabs 53b, while spring fingers 38 are intercepted upon arrival at their inoperative positions by the outwardly extending tabs 54a of starwheels 52, which are prevented from rotating by virtue of the engagement of trip pawls 64 with the inwardly extending tabs 51 of starwheels 50 aligned with tabs 54b of starwheels 52. The apparatus of the invention is thus prepared for the next insertion cycle.

It will be readily apparent that the disclosed embodiment of the invention is capable of handling a single insert during each insertion cycle, since the

spring fingers

36 and 38 will automatically operate alternately in consecutive insertion cycles. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus of the invention may be readily modified to handle more than two inserts in each insertion cycle.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for holding inserts in position at a loading station for insertion into an envelope or the like by engagement of an inserting mechanism with the trailing edges of the several inserts, said apparatus comprising:

A. a mounting frame;

B. feeding means supported by said frame for conveying inserts successively along a predetermined path to the loading station;

C. sensing means located in said path for sensing the passage of the leading and trailing edges of successive inserts; i

D. separate hold down elements supported by said frame for movement between inoperative and operative positions in which said hold down elements are disposed in overlying relationship with the trailing edge portion of each insert delivered to the loading station;

E. latching means movably mounted on said frame for normally maintaining said hold down elements in their inoperative positions; and

F. control means operatively associated with said latching means and said sensing means to selectively release said latching means for controlled movement so as to release different ones of said hold down elements for movement to its operative position in response to the passage of each insert, whereby with the passage of a first insert, a first hold down element is released to properly position the first. insert at the loading station and with the passage of a second insert a second hold down element is released to properly-position the second insert in overlying relationship with the first insert at the loading station thereby presenting a properly positioned set of. inserts for engagement by an inserting mechanism.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

A. said latching means comprises a member rotatably mounted by said frame and having separate first tabs engaging each said hold down elements to retain them in their inoperative positions; and

B. said control means comprises a control member mounted for oscillatory movement by said frame and a pawl means carried by said control member for normally inhibiting rotation of said latching means, whereby oscillatory movement of said control member induced by said sensing means acting in response to the passage of each insert disengages said pawl to permit intermittent rotary movement of said rotatable member to successively release them for movement to their operative positions.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are at least two sets of hold down elements with one of said hold down elements of each set being released by said. latching means .under the control of said control means to assume operative positions in overlying relationship with the trailing edge portion of each insert at laterally spaced locations.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, which further includes a pair of hold down elements, one located on each side of said sets of hold down elements, said hold down element pair being detained in inoperative position by said latching means and released by said latching means under the control of said control means acting in response to the passage of a first insert in an insertion cycle to the loading station to assume operative positions in overlying relationship to the trailing edge portion of the first insert at locations adjacent the corners thereof.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, which further means biasing said hold down elements for movement toward their operative positions.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 5, wherein said biasing means includes: A. an annular member rotated by said feeding means;

and i B. wrap spring clutch means mounting each said hold down element to said annular member so as to permit slippage there between while said hold down elements are in their operative and inoperative positions and to automatically provide drive coupling there between when said hold down elements'are released from their operative and inoperative positions.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said latching means includes a starwheel rotatably mounted" by said frame.

8. The apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said latching means is in the form of a tandem starwheel having a first starwheel operatively associated with said hold down elements and an interconnected second starwheel operatively associated with said control means.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein:

A. said latching means comprises'a latch member rotatably mounted by said frame, said latch member carrying:

l. a series of first tabs for individually engaging said hold down elements to retain them in their inoperative positions, and

2. a series of second tabs; and

B. said control means comprises a control member mounted for oscillatory movement between first and second positions by said frame, said control member carrying l. a first pawl adapted to engage one of said second tabs to inhibit rotation of said latch member while said control member is in its first position and to release said latch member while said control member is in its second position, and

2. a second pawl adapted to assume a position of intercepting relation with another of said second tabs while said control member is in its second position, thus to limit the rotation of said latch -'member such as to release one of said hold down elements from its inoperative position.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said sensing means is in the form of a sensing finger carried by said control member for extension into said predetermined path for engagement by each insert being said control member from its first position to its second position in response to the-passage of the insert leading edge and to release said control member for return to its first position in response to the passage of the insert trailing edge,

11.- The apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein said control member carries a tab adapted, while said control member is in-its second position, to assume a position of intercepting relation with the one of said hold down elements released from said latch member, such as to detainsaid released hold down element in an intermediate armed position from which it is released for movement to its operative position upon the return of said control member to its first position incident to the passage of the insert trailing edge; I

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding inserts in position at a loading station for insertion into an envelope or the like by engagement of an inserting mechanism with the trailing edges of the several inserts, said apparatus comprising: A. a mounting frame; B. feeding means supported by said frame for conveying inserts successively along a predetermined path to the loading station; C. sensing means located in said path for sensing the passage of the leading and trailing edges of successive inserts; D. separate hold down elements supported by said frame for movement between inoperative and operative positions in which said hold down elements are disposed in overlying relationship with the trailing edge portion of each insert delivered to the loading station; E. latching means movably mounted on said frame for normally maintaining said hold down elements in their inoperative positions; and F. control means operatively associated with said latching means and said sensing means to selectively release said latching means for controlled movement so as to release different ones of said hold down elements for movement to its operative position in response to the passage of each insert, whereby with the passage of a first insert, a first hold down element is released to properly position the first insert at the loading station and with the passage of a second insert a second hold down element is released to properly position the second insert in overlying relationship with the first insert at the loading station thereby presenting a properly positioned set of inserts for engagement by an inserting mechanism.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A. said latching means comprises a member rotatably mounted by said frame and having separate first tabs engaging each said hold down elements to retain them in their inoperative positions; and B. said control means comprises a control member mounted for oscillatory movement by said frame and a pawl means carried by said controL member for normally inhibiting rotation of said latching means, whereby oscillatory movement of said control member induced by said sensing means acting in response to the passage of each insert disengages said pawl to permit intermittent rotary movement of said rotatable member to successively release them for movement to their operative positions.

2. a second pawl adapted to assume a position of intercepting relation with another of said second tabs while said control member is in its second position, thus to limit the rotation of said latch member such as to release one of said hold down elements from its inoperative position.

2. a series of second tabs; and B. said control means comprises a control member mounted for oscillatory movement between first and second positions by said frame, said control member carrying

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are at least two sets of hold down elements with one of said hold down elements of each set being released by said latching means under the control of said control means to assume operative positions in overlying relationship with the trailing edge portion of each insert at laterally spaced locations.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 5, wherein said biasing means includes: A. an annular member rotated by said feeding means; and B. wrap spring clutch means mounting each said hold down element to said annular member so as to permit slippage there between while said hold down elements are in their operative and inoperative positions and to automatically provide drive coupling there between when said hold down elements are released from their operative and inoperative positions.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said latching means includes a starwheel rotatably mounted by said frame.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein: A. said latching means comprises a latch member rotatably mounted by said frame, said latch member carrying:

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said sensing means is in the form of a sensing finger carried by said control member for extension into said predetermined path for engagement by each insert being conveyed to the loading station, whereby to oscillate said control member from its first position to its second position in response to the passage of the insert leading edge and to release said control member for return to its first position in response to the passage of the insert trailing edge.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein said control member carries a tab adapted, while said control member is in its second position, to assume a position oF intercepting relation with the one of said hold down elements released from said latch member, such as to detain said released hold down element in an intermediate armed position from which it is released for movement to its operative position upon the return of said control member to its first position incident to the passage of the insert trailing edge.