Patent GB-190405396-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Making Envelopes.
Inventor: GRANT SIDNEY AUSTIN
Filed: 1904-03-04
Granted: 1904-06-16
Abstract: 5396. Grant, S. A., Grant, F., and Grant, R. M. March 4. Envelopes.-A machine for folding, creasing, and gumming envelopes consists of a frame supporting a table B having a central aperture, below which a pile of blanks is supported on a suitable elevator which keeps the top of the pile always at the same level. A vertical shaft E sliding in an arch D carries two pneumatic suckers for raising the end flaps, and two gummers G for the front and rear flaps, the flap which is left free being termed the rear flap. The shaft E is actuated by a cam E<2> on the shaft X through a lever E<3> and rods E<4>, 20. The rods E, 20, E<4> may be hollow and connected with a pump F<2>, which actuates the pneumatic suckers F. The gummers G are pivoted to forks 24 carried by a bracket 23 fixed to the shaft E. They are held vertically by springs k, but, as the shaft E descends, projections n meet fixed rods o and turn the gummers into a horizontal position. The gum boxes M are supported on brackets, and have rollers i, i<2>, the latter i<2> overhanging the edge of the box and supplying the gummers G as they descend. Retainers H hold the blank in position while the end flaps are being folded. They are pivoted on shafts 28, and have extensions 29 united by a link 30. They are actuated by a cam 34 connected by a rod with a projection on one of the shafts 28. Gauge-posts h are employed to keep the edges of the pile of blanks even. The end flap folders I are plates having their inner edges slightly upturned, and are guided in ways 37 formed in the table B. They are connected by links to bell-crank levers actuated by cams 42, and are so operated that one flap is folded over slightly in advance of the other, the creases being determined by the straight-edged portions of the retainers 35. The front flap folder J is a flat plate, is tapered and upturned at the inner end, and slides in apertures formed in the table. It is linked to a lever 43 connected to which is a lever 44 working on a cam 45. The rear flap folder J<2> is operated a little later by a cam 45<a> and levers 44<a>, 43<a>. The front flap folder J carries a roller h projecting through an aperture 46, which presses down the gummed part of the flap. The clips 47 may be of spring metal to allow the roller to yield slightly in an upward direction. The envelopes are discharged from the machine by a pair of rods 50 operated by a cam 53, rod 54, and lever 52, and then pass down a plate d to a chain K of usual construction for supporting the envelopes during the drying process. A modified form of retaining-device is shown in Fig. 7. The retainers H<2> having straight edges on one side are fixed to four vertical shafts 62 which may turn in stationary gauge-posts h. The ends of the shafts are supported by a frame P which is caused to rise and fall periodically by cams 64 on the main shaft X. Pinions 65 on the shafts engage with racks 66 formed on two bars Q which are united at their ends by other bars, forming a rectangular frame which is reciprocated by a lever 68 and face cam 69 aided by a retracting spring at the other end of the frame. The two racks at the other end of the frame are formed on the outside of the bars Q so as to cause the two end pairs of shafts to turn in opposite directions. In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the retainers are dispensed with, two telescopic shafts E<1>, E<2> being employed. The gummers G are pivoted to ear pieces carried by the shaft E', and have toothed sectors G' which gear with racks G<3> fixed to the inner shaft E'. The shaft E' ends in a foot piece 80 to which is attached a rectangular plate which comes upon the middle of the blank. Above this plate are a pair of thin plates 83 having studs which are engaged by anglelevers 85, pivoted to the shaft E<1>, and carrying a block 87 on the inner face of which is a horizontal groove. The two shafts descend together to the position shown in Fig. 8, and the inner shaft then stops, fixing the blank. The outer shaft then descends and operates the gummers, and a projection 90 engages with the groove in the block 87, causing the levers 85 to throw forward the plates 83, the outer edges of which form the creases of the end flaps, which are folded by folders I as before. As the outer shaft ascends, the plates 83 are withdrawn and the gummers raised. The inner shaft then rises and allows the front and rear flaps to be folded.