The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-04-03

The process of manufacturing en-
velopes is apparently simple, al
though in reality complicated. True
there are only three distinct opera
tions to be gone through with-the
cutting, cumming and folding, but
the blending of the last two opera
tions into one makes necessary the
use of a complex machine. There
is nothing remarkable in the first
part Of the operation. The paper
as it comes from the factories is cut
in squares Of diagonals measuring
thirty by forty inches, special diago-
nal shapes being chosen for particu
lar cutting-dies, in order to save
waste which would follow from the
sheet not being especially adapted
to the die. Each sheet viii average
thirteen envelopes, which are cut
out by dies of innumerable sizes and
shapes, but all verging on che dia-
mond, 500 sheets being placed on
the presses at a time. In spite of all
precautions there is waste Of two
pounds in every forty, and some idea
of the extent of business may be
gained from the fact that out OF
this waste fifty tons are sent away
every year. The folding and gum
ming machines are now brought in
to use, and no more fascinating Oc-
cupation can be found for a while
than to watch their lightning like
motion as they turn out finished en-
velopes at the rate of seyenty-fve a
minute. There are sixty-six of
these machines in operation, each of
which requires no other attendant
than a girl who receives the enyel-
opes as they are forced oIt, bind
them, and pack them into boxes.
Six of the machines are used entirely
for papeterie, five for cumming,
folding and printing at the same
time, and the rest for plain CONNER
cial envelopes. The process is an
interesting one, the machines being
self-feeding, taking the paper direct
from the cutters, and turning the
completed envelopes to the packers
in lots counted out to suit.
About a gross are laid in a re-
ceiving box near the top of the ma
chine, and above this hangs ''pick-
err" the edges of which conform to
the edges of the envelope. This
works up and down like flash, re-
ceiving mucilage on its edges from
little rollers that fly back and forth
between a couple of reservoirs filled
with gum-arabic. Pouncing on the
top sheet, the ''picker" catches it
up, cumming it with the same move
ment. Long fingers dart in, seize
the captive, and hurry it back a
couple of feet to the ''plunger," a
couple of separators having shot in
beneath the sheet to keep the rest in
place, all being done so quickly that
the top sheet of those remaining
seems to have been the one touched
by the picker" The 'plunger,
an iron cube, the lower surface of
which is the size and shape Of the
intended envelope, works up and
down like a piston, launching the
sheet down through a square orifce
that gives the correct shape. An
instantaneous folding and pressing
operation is performed by some I'M
seen apparatus, and almost before
one has fairly realized that the sheet
has been snatched out by the ''pick-
er," it comes out Of the machine a
complete envelope, and passing
along a chain with hundreds Of 9th
ers in order to dry takes Q circuitous
route back under the machine where
it drops into the hands of the folder
and packer, as mentioned before.
The machines which gum, fold and
! print, work off only $4,000 a day, or
forty-one a minute, the sheet having
to receive an impression from the
type just before it reaches the ''plun-
ger"