Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-27
How Envelopes are Made.


opes Is apparently simple, although in
reality complicated. True there are only
three distinct Operations to be gone
through with-the cutting, cumming
and folding, but the blending of the last
two operations into one makes necessary
the use Of 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 diagonal shapes being
chosen for particular cutting dies, in
order to save waste which would follow
from the sheet not being especially
adapted to the die. Each sheet will
average thirteen envelopes, which are cut
out by dies Of innumerable sizes and
shapes, but all verging on the diamond,
500 sheets being placed on the presses at
a time. In spite Of all precautions there
is a 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 cumming ma
chimes are now brought into use, and
no more fascinating occupation can be
found for while than to watch their
lightning like motion as they turn out
finished envelopes at the rate Of seventy
five minute. There are sixty-six Of
these machines in operation, each of
which requires no other attendant than
girl who receives the envelopes as they
are forced out, bind them, and packs
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 com
mercial envelopes. The process is an in
teresting one, the machines being self
feeding, taking the paper direct from the
cutters, and turning the completed en-
velopes to the packers in lots counted out
to suit.
About gross are laid in receiving
box near the top of the machine, and
above this hangs picker" the edges
of which conform to the edges Of the en-
velope. This works up and do wn like a
flash, receiving mucilage on its edges
from little rollers that iy back and forth
between a couple of reservoirs filled with
gum-arabic. Pouncing on the top sheet,
the "picker" catching it up, gum
ming it with the same movement
Long fingers dart in, seize the
captive, and hurry it back couple of
feet to the ''plunger,n a couple Of separa-
torsn having shot in beneath the sheet to
keep the rest in place, all being done so
quickly that the top sheet of those re-
manning 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 en-
velope, works up and down like a pis-
ton, hunching the sheet down through a
square orifce that gives the correct
shape An instantaneous folding and
pressing operation is performed by some
unseen apparatus, and, almost before one
has fairly realized that the sheet has
been snatche6 out by the ''picker," it
comes out of the machine complete en-
velope, and, passing along a chain with
hundreds of others in order to dry, takes
circuitous route back under the ma
chine, where it drops into the hands Of
the folder and packer. as mentioned be-
fore. The machines which gum, fold
and print, work off only %, 600 day, or
forty-one minute, the sheet having to
receive an impression from the types just
before it reaches the "plunger. -
Springfield (Nass.) Republican.