IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue &
Birkbeck, Patent Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES." -A communication from abroad by
David McConell Smyth, of Orange, in the County of Essex, New
Torsoy United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th May 1869.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue & Birkbeck,
Patent Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR
MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery or apparatus for the
manufacture of envelopes. A series of swinging shears are so applied

page_text: as to cut out the envelope blanks by a series of shearing cuts from one
thickness, sheet, or long strip of paper so that there is little or no
waste except at the necessary gores removed at the angles of the
envelope to allow the flaps to lap in folding. Shears arranged in this
manner cut out one blank envelope at a time, the cutting edges
remaining in working order for some time, and when dull they can
easily be ground. By the employment of these shears the envelope
blank is cut out with smooth edges and very handsomely.
In carrying this Invention into practice a long sheet or strip of paper
of the proper width is passed over a suitable bed, upon which there is a
stationary gauge and a moveable feeding feeding bar slide endwise in an
adjustable guides which can be moved or adjusted so as to accomodate
different widths of paper. Upon the feeding bars there is a spring pawl
or clamping tooth which grasps the paper to carry it forward, and slides
freely over the surface on the return motion, and there is a similar
pawl on the adjustable guide to hold the paper from moving back.
The feeding bar is moved endwise when necessary by means of suitable
mechanism. Suitable stops and adjustments may be provided to render
the feed of the paper accurate, so that only the proper amount will be
passed into the machine. The diamond shape of the envelope blank
results from a cut which is diagonal to the strip of paper. This is
effected by a pair of shears which have a bend in them so as to cut
the gore or notch near the centre of the diagonal cut. Other gores or
notches are cut on each of the other sides of the envelope blank by
suitable pairs of shears arranged to act for this purpose; and in order
to clip off the points of the diamond shaped blank other shears are
employed acting upon the edge of the strip of paper before the same
arrives at the shears for cutting off the blank. Each shear is composed
of two blades, one stationary and fastened to the bed, the other a
swinging lever blade actuated by suitable cams and levers. At the
same time the Invention is not limited to any particular means for
actuating these shears. The strip of paper in approaching the shears
which cut off the blank slides under a bar which keeps it smooth, and
the paper rests upon suitable supports. Paste holders are arranged so
as to act upon the envelope blank at the parts required. These pasters
are so mounted and actuated as to paste the proper parts as the
envelope is cut out. A follower is supported above the envelope blank
when cut off, and such follower is capable of being raised and lowered
by a cam or otherwise. The shape of the cam for actuating the

page_text: follower is such that it holds the follower just above the paper whilst it
is being cut out, so as to prevent its buckling or moving under the
action of the shears, and directly below the said follower there is a second
follower, and the parts are so timed that the under follower is elevated
when the cutting of the blank by the shear is complete, then the cam
allows the upper follower to descend, carring the envelope blank in
between four swinging flap folders. These flap folders are of the
usual construction, and are actuated by suitable cams and other
mechanism. The parts are so timed that the upper follower rises, then
one of the flaps is first turned, followed by another flap bringing its
pasted end over upon the previous flap, then a third flap is turned over
upon them, the fourth flap being then turned over all. This done the
under follower descends with the envelope, and a pusher actuated by
suitable mechanism slides the envelope off the under follower upon a
table, and beneath the preceding envelope, the last flap folded over
turning up in a suitable position for the succeeding envelope to slide
under it. The envelopes are carried from the machine by an endless
belt, passing around rollers and moved along progressively by a ratchet
lever and pawl, or otherwise. Over this endless belt is a roller in a
swinging frame pressed towards the belt by a spring or weight, and
endless bands. pass from this roller over another roller to act on the ends
of the envelopes to cause them to travel along with the endless belt.
The delivering roller and endless apron or belts are so arranged that
as the pusher slides the envelope in between the belts its rear edge
will be slightly elevated, so that the next envelope will slide in beneath
it, and as the envelopes are carried along beneath the upper delivery
roller they are pressed sufficiently to properly fold them, causing the
pasted surfaces to adhere and the flaps to lie one over the other, lapping
so that narrow surfaces are left exposed for gum or adhesive material
be applied as they lie upon the apron or belt, and this belt may be
extended a sufficient distance to allow the mucilage to dry by natural or
artificial means,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Garrett Tonguė,
Her special licence that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Garrett Tongue, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES," a communication to me from abroad
by David McConell Smyth, of Orange, in the County of Essex, New
Jersey, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my exécutors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, do hereby
declare, the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery or apparatus for the
manufacture of envelopes. A series of swinging shears are so applied
as to cut out the envelope blanks one at a time, by a series of shearing

page_text: cuts from one thickness, sheet, or long strip of paper so that there is
little or no waste except at the necessary gores removed at the angles
of the envelope to allow the flaps to lap in folding. Shears arranged
in this manner cut out one blank envelope at a time, the cutting edges
remaining in working order for some time, and when dull they can easily
be ground. By the employment of these shears the envelope blank being
at the same time cut out with smooth edges and very handsomely.
Other gores or
In carrying this Invention into practice a long sheet or strip of paper
of the proper width is passed over a suitable bed, upon which there is
a stationary gauge and a moveable feeding bar fitted to slide endwise in
adjustable guides which can be moved or adjusted so as to accomodate
different widths of paper. Upon the feeding bars there is a spring
pawl or clamping tooth which grasps the paper to carry it forward, and
slides freely over the surface on the return motion, and there is a similar
pawl on the adjustable guide to hold the paper from moving back. The
feeding bar is moved endwise when necessary by means of suitable
mechanism. Suitable stops and adjustments may be provided to render
the feed of the paper accurate, so that only the proper amount will be
passed into the machine. The diamond shape of the envelope blank
results from a cut which is diagonal to the strip of paper. This is
effected by a pair of shears which have a bend in them so as to cut the
gore or notch near the centre of the diagonal cut.
notches are cut on each of the other sides of the envelope blank by
suitable pairs of shears arranged to act for this purpose; and in order to
clip off the points of diamond shape blank other shears are employed
acting upon the edge of the strip of paper before the same arrives at
the shears for cutting off the blank. Each shear is composed of two
blades, one stationary and fastened to the bed, the other a swinging
lever blade actuated by suitable cams and levers.
vention is not limited to any particular means for actuating these shears.
The strip of paper in approaching the shears which cut off the blank
slides under a bar which keeps it smooth, and the paper rests upon
suitable supports. Paste holders are arranged so as to act upon the
envelope blank at the parts required. These pasters are so mounted
and actuated as to paste the proper parts as the envelope is cut out.
follower is supported above the envelope blank when cut off, and such
follower is capable of being raised and lowered by a cam or otherwise.
The shape of the cam for actuating the follower is such that it holds
the follower just above the paper while it is being cut out, so as to
At the same the In-
A.

page_text: prevent its buckling or moving under the action of the shears, and
directly below said follower there is a second follower, and the parts are
so timed that the under follower is elevated when the cutting of the
blank by the shear is complete, then the cam allows the upper follower
to descend, carrying the envelope blank in between four swinging flap
folders. These flap folders are of the usual construction, and are actuated
by suitable cams and other mechanism. The parts are so timed that the
upper follower rises, then one of the flaps is first turned, followed by
another flap bringing its pasted end over upon the previous flap, then a
third flap is turned over upon them, the fourth flap being then turned over
all. This done the under follower descends with the follower, and a
pusher actuated by suitable mechanism slides the envelope off the under
follower upon a table, and beneath the preceding envelope, the last flap
folded over, turning up in a suitable position for the succeeding envelope
to slide under it. The envelopes are carried from the machine by an
endless belt, passing around rollers and moved along progressively by a
ratchet lever and pawl, or otherwise, over this endless belt is a roller in
a swinging frame pressed towards the belt by a spring or weight, and
endless bands pass from this roller over another roller to act on the
ends of the envelopes to cause them to travel along with the endless
belt. The delivery roller and endless apron or belts are so arranged that
as the pusher slides the envelope in between the belts its rear edge will
be slightly elevated, so that the next envelope will slide in beneath it,
and as the envelopes are carried along beneath the upper delivery roller
they are pressed sufficiently to properly fold them, causing the pasted
surfaces to adhere, and the flaps to lie one over the other, lapping so
that narrow surfaces are left exposed for gum or adhesive material to
be applied as they lie upon the apron or belt, and this belt may be
extended a sufficient distance to allow the mucilage to dry by natural
or artificial.
And in order that the nature of these improvements in machinery
or apparatus for the manufacture of envelopes may be most fully
understood and readily carried into practice, I will proceed to describe
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of the anachine, the strip of paper and the envelope
blank not being shown. Thisuma 2 is n cida olivation andorian of the nuin
Figure 1 is a plan of the anachine, the strip of paper and the envelope
blank not being shown; Figure 2 is a side elevation endwise of the main
shaft; Figure 3 is an elevation of the machine at the end where the

page_text: paper is fed in; Figure 4 is a partial section of the followers and folders
at the line x, x, illustrating the manner in which the envelopes are folded
and lap one under the other as they pass out of the folders upon the
delivery belt; Figure 5 represents the strip of paper and the envelope
blank in its proper relation thereto. Similar marks of reference denote
the same parts.
Envelopes have heretofore usually been cut out by knives shaped like
the outline of the envelope; several sheets are cut out at each stroke of
the knives; they, however, have to be separated subsequently, folded, and
gummed. In practice it is impossible to make use of dies or knives for
cutting out one envelope at a time from a sheet, because after a very few
strokes of the knife or die the paper ceases to be cut clean and smooth
at the edge, there being nothing of a shearing cut to keep the edges in
good condition, the smallest imperfection in the cutting edge will cause
the paper to tear or leave the edge of the envelope blank rough.
This Invention obviates all the said difficulties that have been ex-
perienced in practice, and consists in a series of swinging shears arranged
and applied so as to cut out the envelope blank from a sheet or long
strip of paper, so that there is little or no waste except at the necessary
gores removed at the angles of the envelope to allow the flaps to lap in
folding. Practically it is found that shears arranged to cut out one
blank envelope at a time will not become dull except by very long use,
and then can easily be ground, and that the envelope blank is cut out
with smooth edges and very handsomely.
I will now proceed to describe the successive operations of the
machine.
paper
In the Drawing, A is a frame of suitable size and shape carrying the
main shaft B, to which the actuating power is applied that moves the
respective parts; C is a bed over which a long sheet or strip of of
the proper width is passed; C¹ is a stationary gauge, and D is a moveable
feeding bar fitted to slide endwise in the adjustable bar 1, 1, that can
be moved to accomodate different widths of paper. Upon the feeding
bar D there is a spring pawl or clamping tooth 2 that grasps the paper
to carry it forward and slides freely over the surface on the return motion,
and 3 is a similar pawl on the bar 1 to hold the paper from moving back.
The feeding bar D is moved endwise by the links D', levers D', and con-
necting bar 4 to the crank pin of the disk 5. Suitable stops and adjust-

page_text: ments may be provided to render the feed of the paper accurate, so that
only the proper amount will be passed into the machine.
Upon reference to Figure 5 it will be seen that the diamond shape of
the envelope blank results from a cut that is diagonal to the strip of
paper at the line 6, 6. This is effected by the shears E which have also
a bend in them so as to cut the gore or notch 7. The gore or notch 8 is
cut by the shears F, the third gore 9 by the shears I, the fourth gore 10
by the shears K, and in order to clip off the points of the diamond shape
blank at 11 and 12 I employ the shears L and G, the shears G acting upon
the edge of the strip of paper before the same arrives at the shears E.
Each shear is composed of two blades, one a stationary one fastened to
the bed, the other a swinging lever blade, and I would remark that this
Invention is not limited to any particular means for actuating these shears,
I have, however, shown the following devices :-The cam 13, lever E¹, and
connecting rod 14 are employed to close the shears E and G, and the
springs 15 and 16 to open them, the rear end of the shears G rests upon
a flange on the handle end of the shears E so as to be actuated thereby.
The shear K is also actuated from the lever E by the link K¹. The
shears F, I, and L are actuated by the lever F', sliding rod L', and
cam 17, the return movement proceeding from the spring 18. The
lever F is connected by the rods 19 to the respective shears F and I, and
the shear L is actuated by an arm 20 from one of the rods 19 and a
link 21 to the outer end of the shear. The strip of paper in approaching
the shear E slides under the bar N that keeps it smooth, and the paper
rests upon the supporting portions 0, 0, 0, 0, and at P and P¹ are pastę
holders fitted to act upon the envelope near the end 11 and at the
flap R of the envelope blank. These pasters are upon the slide and
arm P that is drawn down by the lever E' as the envelope is cut out.
The follower 8 is sustained by the head 22 and rod S₁ to the cam S².
The shape of this cam is such that it holds the follower S just above the
paper while it is being cut out, so as to prevent its buckling or moving
under the action of the shears, and directly below said follower S is a
second follower T upon the upper end of the rod L', and the parts are
so timed that the under follower T is elevated when the cutting of the
blank by the shear is complete, then the cam S2 allows the follower S to
drop carrying the envelope blank in between four swinging flat folders,
two of which u, u, are shown in Figure 4. These flap folders arc of
usual construction and are actuated by the cams V, arms V', and rods V³
to the cranks of the folders. The parts are so timed that the follower S

page_text: rises immediately, then the flat R' is first turned, next the flap R³,
bringing its pasted its end over upon R', then the flap R³ is turned over
upon R, R, and flap R is then turned over all. This done the
follower T descends with the envelope and the pusher W actuated by the
bent lever W, and a projection on the lever D slides the envelope off the
under follower T upon a table Y and beneath the preceding envelope,
the flap R turning up as shown in Figure 4. The endless belt Z passes
around the rollers 25, 26, and is moved along progressively by the
ratchét 27, levers and pawl 28, and connecting rod 29 to the lever Fi,
and over the belt Z is a roller 30 in a swinging frame 31, kept towards
the belt Z by the spring 32, and the bands 33 pass from 30 to a roller 34.
These act on the ends of the envelopes to cause them to travel along
with the belt Z. The roller 30 is a little to the rear of the roller 25 so
that as the pusher W slides the envelope in between Z and 30 its rear
edge will be slightly elevated so that the next envelope will slide in
beneath it, and as the envelopes are carried along beneath the roller 30
they are pressed sufficiently to properly fold them, causing the pasted
surfaces to adhere, and the flaps R lie one over the other, lapping so that
narrow surfaces are left exposed for gum or adhesive material to be
applied as they lie upon the apron or belt Z, and this belt may be
extended a sufficient distance to allow the mucilage to dry by natural or
artificial means. This Invention produces the envelopes complete one at
a time, and the edges are cut smoothly and accurately, and there is not
the waste of paper usual in other machines.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and the manner
in which the same is carried into practice, I would have it understood
that what is claimed and desired to be secured under the above in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement of a swinging shear placed diagonally to the
strip of paper for forming envelopes in combination with a feeding
mechanism that causes said strip to progress successively the amount
required for each envelope, substantially as herein-before described and
shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second. The arrangement of a scries of swinging shears arranged so
as to cut out the envelope blank of required shape from a strip of
paper, substantially as herein-before described and shown in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.

page_text: Third. The arrangement of the followers S and T in combination with
the folders U and pusher W, the parts being arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shown in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth. The arrangement of the belt Z and rollers 25 and 30 mounted
and actuated substantially as herein specified in combination with the
folding and delivering mechanism for passing the envelopes suc-
cessively to the belt, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
specified.
And, lastly. The general combination and arrangement of machinery 1
or apparatus for the manufacture of envelopes, substantially as herein-
before described and shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty- 1
nine.