Improvements in Machines for Packaging Seeds and Powdered Substances in Envelopes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Packaging Seeds and Powdered
Substances in Envelopes.
I, WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of the Firm of Wheatley and Mackenzie,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 40 Chancery Lane, London, England do hereby
declare that I am in possession of an invention the title of which is Improvements
in Machines for Packaging Seeds in Envelopes, which invention has been com-
municated to me by Emanuel Rau, Manufacturer, of 175 Manhattan Avenue,
Brooklyn, E.D., State of New York, United States of America, and Samuel Weed
Balch, Mechanical Engineer, of 136 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, State of New
York, United States of America, and I do hereby further declare that the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is constructed to operate in conjunction with mechanism of the
customary type for forming envelope blauks into envelopes, and is so made that it
can be readily applied to such machines with but slight alteration of them. This
it does by depositing the quantity of seeds required to be packaged in each
envelope, on each blank as it is brought to the point where its flaps are folded over
and sealed. It is intended particularly for flower seeds. These are sold in minute
quantities, but the envelopes need to be of considerable size compared with the
amount of seeds enclosed, since it is customary to print on them illustrations of the
flowers grown from the seeds and other explanatory matter. On this account it is
possible to deposit the requisite quantity of seeds to be enclosed on the centre of
each envelope as it is partially formed, and keep the corners and parts underlying
the gummed edges free from underlying seeds so that the corners can be properly
creased and the seams pressed down.
The accompanying two sheets of drawings show the invention together with the
co-operating elements of an envelope machine.
Figure 1 is a side view in which the portion to the right is in elevation and the
portion to the left is broken away so as to show the folding box in section.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, and
Fig. 3 shows an envelope blank.
The envelope forming mechanism is of the customary type, and preferably pro-
vided with all the automatic devices used on such machines. It was not thought
necessary, however, that all of these should be illustrated, and accordingly the
devices for gumming the blanks and for automatically operating the flap folders
have been omitted in order that the elements which co-operate more directly
with the invention may be more clearly shown.
Conveyors actuated from a cam 2 receive the gummed blank and feed it
between a square opening made by the sides of the folding box 3 and the
plunger 4. The flaps of the envelope blanks are folded at right angles between
the edges of the square opening and the plunger, preferably by lowering the
latter into the folding box. The plunger is next withdrawn leaving the partially
folded blank in the folding box, and the four flap folders 5 are advanced into
the box and fold over and seal the flaps. The foundation 6 of the folding box
is next lowered so that the envelope can be taken out at the bottom. These
are the customary envelope-machine elements illustrated in combination with the
herein described improvements.
A seed receptacle 7 is supported preferably from the table of the machine,
but not necessarily, since it might instead have been mounted on the cross bar 8

page_text: carrying the plunger. In one side of the seed receptacle, which is trough shaped,
is a wheel 9. This wheel has pockets in its periphery, each of which will hold the
right quantity of seeds for one envelope. It is revolved in the direction of the
arrow by means of a pawl and ratchet, operated from the conveyor cam through
the rod 10 and lever 11. A fender 12 of sheet rubber covers about one third of
the periphery of the wheel, and serves, as the wheel is revolved, first, to scrape off
and level the seeds in the pockets, and second, to retain the seeds in the pockets
until they successively come opposite the inclined conduit 13 into which the seeds
are discharged. The lower end of the conduit projects into a slot in a vertical
conduit from which the seeds pass through the plunger to the envelope blank. It
will be obvious that by terminating the end of the inclined conduit lower down, the
seeds should be fed in under the plunger and a passageway through it for them
dispensed with. In fact the seeds should be discharged through a side of the
folding box, in which case the mechanism for feeding them should be timed so that
they will not reach the folding box until the plunger has forced in the blank and
partly returned.
The construction shown rotates the wheel 9 and releases the seeds as the
conveyors 2 are completing their stroke, but as some time is required for the seeds
to fall through the conduits, they will not ordinarily reach the envelope blank until
all the flaps are partially folded and the blank is near or has reached the bottom of
the folding box. It will therefore be seen that the precise time of feeding in the
seeds relative to the folding of the flaps is immaterial. It is even less important
than above indicated, for the three narrow flaps of the blank may, if desired, be
first completely folded down and the seeds deposited in the partially folded
envelope.
It occasionally happens as an envelope machine is operating, that a blank fails
to be fed into the folding box. As in such an event the seeds would be deposited
as usual in the folding box, a conduit is made through the foundation for their
removal.
The foregoing mechanism is also applicable to the packaging of substances
- analogous to seeds, as for example medicines in powdered form, and consequently
in the following claims while specifying seed receptacles, conduits, etc., I do not
mean to restrict their use merely to seeds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a machine for packaging seeds in envelopes the combination with a plunger
on which the envelope flaps are partially folded, of a folding box, a seed receptacle,
a discharge therefrom into the folding box, means for feeding seeds, means for
folding envelope blanks and means for closing down and sealing all the flaps,
substantially as described.
2. In a machine for packaging seeds in envelopes the combination with a plunger
on which the envelope flaps are partially folded, of a-seed receptacle, a conduit
therefrom through the plunger, means for feeding seeds, means for folding envelope
blanks and means for closing down and sealing all the flaps, substantially as
described.
3. In a machine for packaging seeds in envelopes the combination with a plunger
on which the envelope flaps are partially folded, of a folding box, a seed receptacle,
a discharge therefrom into the folding box, a wheel with pockets for seeds,
means for rotating said wheel, means for folding envelope blanks, and means for
closing down and sealing all the flaps, substantially as described.
4. In a machine for packaging seeds in envelopes the combination with a plunger
on which the envelope flaps are partially folded, of a folding box, a seed
receptacle, a discharge therefrom into the folding box, a wheel with pockets for
seeds, conveyors for the envelope blanks, a conveyor cam, means actuated by
said cam for rotating said wheel and reciprocating said conveyors, means for

page_text: folding envelope blanks, and means for closing down and sealing all the flaps,.
substantially as described.
5. In a machine for packaging seeds in envelopes the combination with a plunger
on which the envelope flaps are partially folded, of a folding box, a seed
receptacle, a discharge therefrom into the folding box, a conduit from the
foundation of said folding box, means for feeding seeds, means for folding
envelope blanks, and means for closing down and sealing all the flaps, substantially
as described.
Dated this Seventeenth day of April 1894
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.