IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTING OF ENVELOPES, PARTS OP WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OP STATIONERY, AND IN THE MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GATHERCOLE, of Eltham, in the County of Kent, Envelope Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of
January, in the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said James Gathercole, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James
Gathercole, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
James Gathercole, my exors, adññors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
also in Her Majesty's Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTING OF ENVELOPES, PARTS
OP WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OP STATIONERY,
AND IN THE MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS TO BE USED THEREIN;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said James
Gathercole, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, shall

page_text: particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and shall cause the same to
enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Gathercole, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and in
what the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by this present Specification in writing as follows, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto attached, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon; that is to say:-
My said Invention relates,-
First, to various arrangements of machinery, apparatus, or means for the
manufacture or production of envelopes from the plain flat blanks, wherein
the several processes of gumming and carrying to the creasing table, embossing,
creasing, and discharging, are or may be accomplished in one machine, the
creasing being performed without the use of a folding box or mould by the
adoption of an elastic creasing surface for the pressing action of the creaser.
Second, to the manufacture of paper bags or other enclosures of paper or
other material from flat blanks, whereby bags or receptacles of various kinds
may be completed from the original blanks in one machine.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Drawings hereunto
attached.
Fig. 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a vertical longitudinal section of my
improved machine for the manufacture or production of envelopes from the
plain flat blanks, the several processes of gumming, embossing, creasing, and
cementing being accomplished in this single machine. Fig. 2 is an external
end elevation of the machine, corresponding to Fig. 1, and drawn at right
angles to it. Fig. 3 is a corresponding plan of Fig. 1, shewing the table with
all the upper mechanism removed; and Fig. 4, on the same Sheet, is a
transverse vertical section of the table and portions of the framing, shewing
the adaption thereto of my system of dry gumming in detail. The main
framing of the machine consists of the two side standards A, on the top of
which is placed the operating table B, as well as the two end transverse
standards C for the overhead movements. The whole of the movements are
actuated by the horizontal first-motion shaft D, on the projecting end of which
are keyed the fast and loose pulleys E, outside the frame. This shaft is
carried in a bearing in each of the standards, its opposite end having upon it a

page_text: fly wheel F. At I on the same shaft is a bevil wheel, in gear with a similar
wheel I on the lower end of a vertical shaft J, the upper end of which has
upon it a second bevel wheel K. This shaft is carried in upper and lower
collar bearings L, M, in brackets bolted to the framing, and its upper wheel K
gears with another bevel wheel N, fast on the end of the horizontal cam and
of scroll-pulley shaft O. This shaft works in bearings in end standards C,
and has upon it a spur wheel P, in gear with a similar wheel Q, keyed on
the upper main cam shaft R, carried in bearings in the apices of the two
standards C. The wheel Q again drives a similar wheel S on the shaft ― on
the opposite side of the framing, and working another cam action in con-
nection with the dry gumming apparatus. The blanks, cut to the proper
shape for folding into envelopes, are placed in a pile of convenient height upon
the small moveable platform U, fast on the upper end of a vertical spindle V,
capable of vertical motion on the two fixed guides W in the cross bars of the
framing. The pile so placed is held in position by four guide pins X on the
platform, so that, as the top blank is passed off by the working of the machine,
the succeeding one is always left in the position assigned to it. The spindle V
is actuated by the cam Y, fast on the the first motion shaft, the periphery of
which cam bears on a stud, pin, or pulley Z on the curved lever a, which is
attached to the lower ends of the links d, jointed to the adjustable collar e in
the spindle V; thus each time the cam comes round it depresses the pile of
the blanks to the required point, the subsequent use of the platform, after the
cam action, being effected by the helix f surrounding the spindle and abutting
between the collar e and the bottom guide W. The feeding slide j is actuated
by the large bell-crank lever G, which works loose between two collars on the
fixed shaft c. The short arm of this lever is actuated by a suitable cam 6 on the
driving shaft D. This cam is not shewn in Figure 1, in order that the machine
may be more clearly understood and prevent unnecessary complexity. The long
arm of the bell crank passes upwards through a slot in the table, and above the
surface of the latter it is jointed at h to a short link, the opposite end of
which is hinged at i to the feed slide j. The feed slides works in guides
on the table, and receives its movement, as already described, from the
bell crank. One end the feed slide has a projection rib, the upper end of
which carries a reservoir k of liquid gum or other adhesive matter, from
which two horizontal pipes 7 project forward and terminate in the gummers m,
shaped so that their under surfaces shall correspond to the contours of the two
end flaps of an envelope, and having their gumming faces formed by the
insertion therein of a piece of sponge, flannel, or other permeable material for
the percolation through of the gumming fluid from the reservoir. The gum

page_text: reservoir is hinged to the fluid slide by a joint n, and the same joint also
carries one end of a short lever o, the opposite end having a transverse rim p
fitting into the double inclined or endless groove q, against the upper side of
which it is constantly pressed by a blade spring r. By this means the pipes,
with their gummers, in conjunction with the short arm o, form a single lever,
carrying the gum reservoir close to the centre of oscillation, and contrived to
actuate the gummers throughout their necessary movements by the traverse
of the pin p along its differentially inclined guide. When the machine is first
set in action with a pile of blanks on the platform, the movements commence
with the feed slide j drawn back in the direction of the arrow, the longer arm
of the bell crank taking up the position of the dotted line, so that the
gummers m are brought directly over the pile of blanks and a position
suited for gumming the proper parts of the two end flaps, as is delineated at
the central action of the machine above the creasing table. Then as the cam Y
comes round until its shortest radius is opposed to the pin Z, the helix f presses
up the platform of blanks U until the top one of the series comes in contact
with the pair of gummers. The platform continues this stationary pressure
until the onward revolution of the cam Y causes the larger radius of the
latter to bring the platform down again, together with the pile of blanks,
merely leaving the top one adhereing to the gummers. The blank so adhering
is then conveyed to the creasing table, as shewn in Fig. 1 of my Drawings,
by the action of the cam which morks the bell crank g and feed slide; during
this traverse the inclined guide q allows the pin p to rise gradually until on
the arrival of the gummers to near the end of their stroke, the latter are
made to press down their carried envelope upon the creasing table. At this
moment the creaser s descends, and just as it touches the blank laid beneath
it, the quick incline t of the guide g, bearing down the pin p, starts the gum-
mers upwards and slightly forward, leaving the envelope held down below the
creaser. The feed slide is now traversed back to its first position by the same
me hanism which brought it forward, and in this movement the gummers are
elevated clear of every thing beneath them by the traverse of the pin p along
the lower portion of the guide groove q, into which it is pressed by the spring u.
As this is going on the embosser v is brought down to emboss the seal flap w
of the envelope on the die x supported on the table beneath, the dry gumming
being effected at the same time. The pressure or embosser v is brought down
by the pressure of the revolving cam y on the upper neutral shaft r, the cam
being made to bear at the proper moment upon the antifriction pulley z in the
top of the slide spindle 1, passing through the central frame 2, and elevated after
each descent by a helical spring coiled on the spindle beneath; the latter is

page_text: guided by the bracket 3, which contains the spring, and a screw 4 affords the
power of adjustment to its embossing surface. Immediately after the embossing
has taken place the gum is applied by the joint effect of the two cams or
notched discs, Fig. 4, fast on the respective shafts P and O. These cams are
5 sit opposite to each other, and are made to actuate a pair of bell crank levers 6
by means of transverse pins carried in the upper shorter arms of the crank
levers. These levers oscillate on centres 7 carried in short brackets, attached
one on each side of the frame 2, their longer arms being jointed at 8 to short
links 9, whose lower ends are jointed to tubular slides 10 and 11, arranged to
slide in inclined guides in the bracket 3 on each side the guide for the
embosser. The tube 10 is fitted with a stopcock and filled with water, and
its bottom open end is filled up with sponge or other porous medium to allow
the contained fluid to moisten the flap when pressure is applied. The other
tube 11 is precisely similar, except that it is supplied with powdered gum or
other adhesive material, whilst its open lower end is covered with a piece of
fine gauze or other permeable material, close enough to support the column of
gum, but so permeable as to allow a sufficient sprinkling of gum to descend
when the tube receives a shake. Both tubes are actuated by blade springs
12, 13, which tend to keep them constantly pressed downwards, the concentric
peripheries of the discs retaining the bell crank pins in an elevated position
until, as the discs revolve, the notches 14 and 15 therein permit the springs to
force the lever pins down into them, and thus bring down the tubes to the
position of the tube 10, in Fig. 4 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, and the
onward revolutions of the discs then force the pins out of the notches so as to
keep up the tubes until the notches again come round. The arrangement of the
cam y, and the two discs 5, 5, is such that the embosser first descends and
imprints the required device upon the flap, and, as it ascends, the notch 14
coming round allowes the water tube 10 to come down upon or near the
embossed surface by means of its inclined guide, thus bringing its moist face
down upon the paper. The departure of the notch 14 then takes up the tube,
and the arrival of the notch 15 in the opposite discs allows of the descent of
the
gum tube 11, which shakes out a fine layer of the gum upon the already
moistened surface. This system of gumming the seal flaps affords the
important advantage of securing the parts from sticking together when the
envelope is folded and pressed, inasmuch as the sprinkled gum presents a dry
surface. In connection with this portion of the Invention I may mention that I
am aware that Letters Patent have been granted to Amedée Francois Rémond,
bearing date on or about the Fifteenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty, for Improvements in the Manufacture of Envelopes, in which he

page_text: claims the application of dry cement to envelopes, and I would, therefore, have it
distinctly understood that the novelty of my process consists in its application to
the manufacture of envelopes in a folding and stamping machine and in com-
bination therewith.
The whole of the gumming and embossing processes having now been
accomplished or nearly so, the envelope blank, which is still flat, is being
creased by the descent of the creaser upon the india-rubber table 16. This
creaser consists of a rectangular hollow frame suited to the size and shape
of the intended envelope, and having its lower edge bevelled off pretty sharply.
It is screwed to the lower end of a vertical slide spindle 17, passing up through
a guide in the bar 2, and having at its upper end a projecting stud pin and
pulley, fitting a suitable scroll or eccentric groove in the face of the revolving
disc 18 fast on the shaft whilst the embossing operation is going on. This
creaser is brought down by its actuating disc upon the envelope blank on the
elastic table, and the elastic nature of the table permitting the paper to be
creased or forced down slightly into it, it follows that the rectangular outline
of the finished envelope will be thus formed, the descent of the creased outline
forcing up the four flaps to a considerable angle with the horizontal line, as
delineated in Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings. After this action the revo-
lution of the cam 19 again elevates the creaser for its subsequent action on the
succeeding blank. The creased blank is now ready for transmission to the
attendant (who may complete the fold by hand, or to any suitable folding
apparatus. This conveyance is effected by the scroll pulley or deferential
grooved cylinder 21 fast on the shaft 20. This groove has fitted into it a
pin 22 in the shorter arm of a bell crank lever turning on a fixed centre at 23,
in the framing, the longer arm having a joint at 24 to connect it with a
descending link jointed at its opposite end 25 to a short lever 26, on a stud
ɛhaft 27. This shaft also carries a longer lever 28, the small eye of which is
connected by a cross link 29 to a second similar lever 30, both the latter
levers working on distinct centres. This forms a species of parallel motion
for the conveying nippers, which, in Fig. 1 or Sheet I., are represented in red
lines as traversed over towards the creasing table in readiness for grasping the
projecting flap 31 of a creased envelope, whilst in the same Figure they are
shewn in blank lines as having just deposited an envelope on the finishing
platform ready for the attendant or folder. The link 29 carries a long pro-
jecting stud 32, the end of which forms a centre 33 for the nippers, consisting
of the three arms 31, 35, 352, forged in one piece, and arranged to act in con-
cert with a fourth and 35¹ depending from and fixed to the end of the long
stud 32. As fast as the blanks are creased the nippers are brought forward to

page_text: the position delineated in red lines, when the front lever arm 34 strikes against
the side of the creaser whilst the latter is still down. This pressure of the
arm 34 pushes back its corresponding arm 35 against the spring 36, opening
the nippers one on each side of the envelope flap. By this time the creaser
commences to rise, and its elevation releases the arm 34, so that the spring 36
pushes forward the arm 35 against the fixed arm 35¹ on the link, and the
two arms 35 and 352 thus grasp the envelope flap. Having taken hold of
the envelope in this way it is now carried forward to the platform 37
by the reverse action of the scroll pulley 21 elevating the lever 20, and
thus turning back the two parallel levers 28 and 30 to the position shewn
in black lines. When the upper vertical arm 35 strikes against the adjust-
able stop 38 in the fixed bracket 39 on the table, this action brings
forward the arm 35 against the spring pressure, and lets fall the creased
blank upon the platform 37, in readiness for the attendant, thus completing the
movements of the machine. By simply lengthening the machine, it is evident
that any amount of blanks of different sizes and shapes may be gummed,
cemented, and creased at one and the same time.
Fig. 1 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents an external side elevation of my
machine for the manufacture of paper or other bags from flat blanks or sheets
of the required material. Fig. 2 is a corresponding external view of the deliver-
ing end of the machine. Fig. 1 on Sheet 3 is a vertical longitudinal section
through the centre line a, b, in Fig. 2, on Sheet 2, shewing the internal details.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the pasting or cementing roller on a larger scale, detached.
Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the folding box, hole, or cylinder,
for square or rectangular bags, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same
corresponding, and Fig. 5 is a similar section of another form of cylinder.
Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of a folding box for cylindrical bags,
with square ends or bases. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the folder in its
place, with one of the pressers open. Fig. 8 is an external elevation of the
folder or mandril, and Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the mandril, looking on its
square end. Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the longitudinal
doors or folding flaps of the folding apparatus for rectangular bags. Fig. 11
is a side elevation of the folding case or box with its flaps closed. Fig. 2 is a
corresponding plan of the same, and Fig. 13 is a plan of the back flap for
folding on the end of the mandril. The machinery is supported within the
rectangular framework A, at the top of which is the adjustable table B for
the paper blanks, supported by the upper and lower centres c, by means of
arms D, E, hinged at F, G, to the under side of the table. The damped
blanks, cut to the size and shape required for any desired size or shape of

page_text: bags, are placed on this table in a pile at H, whence they are successively
passed between the gumming cylinder I and the upper carrying or pressing
roller J, which latter revolves freely in slotted guides k, whilst the cylinder I
rests in the bearings L, being actuated from the long crank beneath in
connection with the projecting cylinder M. It is in passing between these
rollers or cylinders that the blank receives the gum or cement necessary for
securing the bottom and side junction of the bags. The gum printing or
impression cylinder is formed and fitted like the cylinders of calico printing
machines, being engraved as at N, in Fig. 2 on Sheet 3 of my Drawings, with
the necessary sunk figures or devices corresponding to the size and position
of the portions of the blanks requiring gumming. It revolves in the stationary
gum or cement trough o, carried on the top of the framing, and thus takes
up its supply of the cementing material, so as to fill its sunk figured
portions, whilst superfluous gum is cleared off by a "doctor" or scraper P,
and whatever cementing matter reaches the upper roller, is prevented
from permeating its pores by a fluid-proof coating. The whole of the
movements are actuated by the main horizontal driving shaft Q, sup-
ported in bearings in each side standard, and projecting therefrom on
one side to carry the fly wheel R, with a winch handle S, by which it is
driven. This shaft carries a spur pinion T in gear with the spur wheel U
fast on the end of the second motion shaft V beneath, carrying the differentially
grooved discs W, the four scroll pulleys or cams X, Y, Z, and the crank b on
its opposite end. This crank gives motion to the gumming movement through
the short link c attached to the crank pin, and hooked to the lower end or tail
d of a thin flat spring piece e, which is wound round the pulley f loose on the
shaft m attached to the pulley f; and also loose on the shaft is another
pulley g, round which is passed a cord with a counterweight j; this cord is
wound round the pulley g in a direction opposite to the spring piece e, and it
is passed over the guide pulley k; a hinged catch h is attached to one side of
the pulley g, and this catch gears with a notch or tooth on the disc i, which is
keyed on the shaft M. As the spring e is drawn down by the action of the
crank b, it is unwound from the pulley, thereby giving the pulley a rotatory
motion in the direction of the arrow, and taking the catch h round with it.
This catch being hooked on to a projecting tooth on the disc i draws the disc
round with it, and with the disc the gumming roller, which by this action has
thus made one revolution and gummed one sheet of paper. By this time the
crank has arrived at the position shewn in the Drawings, and commences to
rise agian which movement slackens the spring e and allows it to be rewound
on the pulley f (preparatory to the next down stroke of the crank) by the

page_text: action of the cord and counterweight j, which gives a contrary direction to the
loose pulley, and brings the catch h round again to the tooth on the disc i.
In this way the gumming cylinder receives an intermittent circular motion or
revolution on its centre.
In Fig. 1 on Sheet 3 the feeding table is represented in red lines, as swung
back on its carrying centres to admit of attention to the gumming apparatus,
but when in proper position for work it is hooked up to the position delineated
by the sharp lines by the link to the framing. In this condition the blanks
are passed off individually from the top of the pile by the hand of the
attendant and fed in between the gumming cylinder and its upper roller, as
at m, where a single blank is being introduced. The edge of the feeding
table is brought to a nice acute angle, so as to enter close in to the rolling
junction of the two cylinders, and as the sheet passes through and emerges on
the other side, it is acted on from beneath by the spring n, which is curved
forwards and bears upon the gumming cylinder. In this way each sheet is
borne upwards. The springs bear the paper up off the roller, and then it
turns down and is guided to enter between the outside of the endless travelling
sheet o, passing over the upper and lower rollers p, q, and the surface of the
fixed bar n, the pressure between which carries down the blank until it enters
between the contact surfaces of the endless travelling tapes s, t. The set of
tapes or bands s is carried upon the upper and lower sets of pulleys or rollers
u, v, and the other set is similarly carried upon the three sets of pulleys w, x, y.
Both sets work in concert by causing the tapes t to bear against the pulleys v,
and the whole is actuated by an endless hand from the pulley z on the first motion
shaft. The blank is carried down by the tapes until it reaches the table 1,
when the folder 2 traverses forward to press the blank into the folding cylinder.
The action of the folder is derived from the revolution of the deferentially grooved
cam W, fast on the shaft V, which groove traverses a pulley on a stud in the
end of a short link piece 3, adjustable by a nut and slot, in the end of a
lever 4. This lever is fast on the rocking shaft 5, on which are also carried
two long vertical levers 6, the upper ends of which are jointed at 7 to a pair of
links connected at their opposite ends to the cross bar 8. This bar traverses
in horizontal guides 9 in the top frame, and has bolted to its centre the upper
end of the folder 2. This is a species of mandril composed of four rectangular
corner pieces of metal 10, the top and bottom ends of each of which have
internal inclines in the same direction, and corresponding with inclined
dovetailed projections 11 on the top and bottom of the central socket piece 12,
which is entred loosely on the spindle 13, bolted to the cross slide 8, and has
at its lower end a nut 14, for the adjustment of a helical spring 15 against a

page_text: shoulder 16 in the interior of the socket. The dovetailed connections between
the sockets and the four corner pieces bind the whole together, and when the
several parts are in the position indicated by the details, Figures 3 and 4 on
Sheet 3, the folding mandril is in the proper condition for entering, its folding
box 17 being expanded to the required internal dimensions of the intended
bag. The folding box is in this instance a long case of rectangular section,
just large enough to receive the mandril, one side being left open for that
purpose. This side is formed by two doors or flaps 18, opening down the
centre, and each hinged to the two opposite sides of the box by the angular
link pieces 19, turning on centres at 20. Each door has an eye 21, from
which a link passes to a joint pin 22, in the end of a horizontal lever 23, fast
on the vertical shaft 24. The doors are actuated by connections precisely
similar, each of their vertical shafts 24 having a short lever at its lower end, a
pin from which enters the groove of the differential scroll pulleys x and a;
when the mandril traverses horizontally against the loosely-held blank, it
presses the blank before it down into the box, leaving the two sides of the
paper projecting outwards. The revolution of the scroll pulleys x and a,
which are so set on the shaft that one may act slightly in advance of the other,
now shuts the two doors 18 down on the flaps, pressing them together upon
the elastic surface 25 of the mandril, and causing them to adhere together,
owing to the presence on the one of them of a narrow strip of cement which
has been laid on by the ring groove 26 of the gumming cylinder. As this
vertical fold is taking place, or immediately afterwards, the bottom of the
bag is begun to be formed by the folding down of the two bottom flap
pieces 27, which are in one piece, with bent arms hinged at 28 to the
folding case. These flaps are actuated by the revolution of the pair of
scroll pullies y, z, into the grooves of which are fitted transverse pins in
the lower ends of a pair of upright levers set on centres at 29. The upper
ends of these levers are hinged at 30 to short links jointed to eyes on the
back of the flaps. These flaps thus close down two opposite sides of the
paper which is left overhanging the end of the mandril for the purpose, and
the remaining two sides, completing the bottom of the bag, are folded down
by the other pair of flaps 31, 32, worked by the pair of scroll pullies or
grooved discs 33, 34, on the main pulley or cam shaft below. The back flap
folder 32 is exactly similar to the other two already described, and is worked
by the scroll disc 34 acting on a pin on the lower end of the lever 35 set on
a fixed centre 36, and linked at its upper end to the flap at 37. The corre-
sponding front flap is contrived so as not to be interfered with by the opening
of the two doors 18, by hinging half of it to each of the doors at 38, and

page_text: fitting it with a back hook 39 for an elastic connection, by a band 40, with a
higher part of the door, so that it shall always tend to remain open or
unfolded. This flap is actuated after the closing of the door 18, which brings
it into proper position for the purpose by the pressure of the upper end of a
lever set on a fixed centre at 41, and having a pin at its lower end fitting the
groove in the scroll disc 33. Thus the projecting portion of the paper
cylinder is folded down into four flaps, which have been previously gummed
by the parts N of the gumming cylinder, to form the square bottom of the
bag, the series being folded individually one after the other to prevent their
conflicting. Instead of the arrangement lastly described the flaps or folders
may be actuated directly by cams, so as to dispense with the lever arms. The
bag is now completed, but requires removing from its mandril, which has
remained stationary in its case during the folding actions by reason of the
concentric portion 42 of the scroll disc having come round to the pin of its
lever. But so soon as the pin enters the sharp bend 43, the whole of the
folders having by this time again opened by the action of their several scroll
pullies, the lever 6 draws back the mandril along its slides, when the two
transverse pins 44, which are fast in the upper end of the socket 12, but
free to traverse through a vertical slot in the spindle, and projecting through
the side of the case at the two opposite junctions, come in contact with the
under surface of the fixed inclines 45. The onward traverse of the mandril
against the inclines thus causes the socket 12 to descend, and by its inclined
dovetailed surfaces to cause the collapse of the mandril, the transverse sectional
area of which is thus sufficiently reduced to allow the completed bag to drop
from it down on to the endless discharging cloth 46 beneath. On the occur-
rence of the succeeding action the reaction of the helix 15 expands the
mandril to its original size. The endless discharging band is carried upon the
pair of rollers 47, 48, the latter of which is actuated by an endless band from
the pulley 49 on the shaft V, or by the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1, Sheet 1,
various forms of mandrils may be adopted for producing bags of varying
shapes.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, on Sheet 3 of my Drawings, represent detailed views
of a folding apparatus for producing bags of cylindrical transverse section, but
with square bottoms or closed ends. In these Figures the general arrange-
ments and action are the same as those of the rectangular folder. The case A
has in it a semicircular recess corresponding to one half of the cylindrical
surface of the mandril B, which is fitted with inclined dovetails for expanding
and contracting, and has one end square or rectangular in transverse section,
for the folding down of the sides of the paper to produce square-bottom bags.

page_text: As the mandril is traversed into the recess in its case the two projecting
parallel sides or edges of the blank which it carries in are pressed towards the
mandril surface by the longitudinal slips of metal C, backed by springs D
between them, the interior surface of the case. The longitudinal folding flaps
E are actuated in the same manner as in the arrangement which I have
already described, but the pressing surfaces of these flaps are concave, so as
to press down the flaps evenly upon the mandril surface.
Having now described and particularly ascrtained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the general arrangements and combination of machinery or apparatus
for gumming, carrying, embossing, creasing, and discharging envelopes in one
continuous operation, as herein-before described.
Second, the application to moistened flaps of envelopes, or to that portion
thereof which have been previously embossed for the seal, of adhesive or
cementing material in a dry state in combination with and forming part of a
folding and stamping machine.
Third, the application and use of the gummer or gumming action for con-
veying the envelope blanks to the creasing bed.
Fourth, the system or mode of manufacturing or producing envelopes
wherein the gumming and conveying of the blanks are simultaneously
carried on.
Fifth, the application and use of a creasing surface of caoutchouc or other
soft elastic substance in combination with a knife-edged creaser or plunger,
for creasing the blanks and elevating the envelope flaps.
Sixth, the system or mode of creasing envelope blanks and elevating the
flaps thereof by the pressure of a sharp edge on blanks laid on a soft elastic
surface.
Seventh, the system or mode of manufacturing or forming bags or recep-
tacles of a similar nature as herein-before described.
Eighth, the application and use of an engraved or figured roller or block
surface for connecting the junctions of bags.
Ninth, the application and use of a mandril or core of the section of the
completed bags for folding and shaping bags.

page_text: Tenth, the application and use of a core or mandril in combination with a
folding case for folding and shaping bags, as herein-before described.
Eleventh, the application and use of an expanding and contracting mandril
or core for folding bags.
Twelfth, the manufacture or formation of bags by means of an internal core
combine with end and sides folders.
Thirteenth, the application and use of indian rubber or caoutchouc as a
folding or cementing surface in the manufacture of bags.
Fourteenth, the general arrangements of the machinery or apparatus for
folding bags, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gathercole, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.