IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BAGS OR ENVELOPES OF PAPER, CALICO, OR TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wright, of Camberwell, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BAGS OR ENVELOPES OF PAPER, CALICO,
OR TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 1st July 1858, and dated the 3d March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3d March 1853.
:
I, JOHN WRIGHT, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BAGS OR ENVELOPES
OF PAPER, CALICO, OR TEXTILE FABRICS " to be as follows:-
The principal object of this Invention is the manufacture from paper
or other materials of such bags as are generally used in retail trade to
hold light dry articles; paper or other envelopes may, however, be
made by a similar arrangement of machinery. Hitherto it has been
the practice in the manufacture of paper or other bags to paste and
fold such bags by hand without the aid of machinery.. I proposć now

page_text: manner.
to effect this object by mechanical means in the following manner :-
The paper or other material of which the bag is to be made is wound
on a horizontal roller or cylinder, and is passed from thence between
two rollers or cylinders, which are covered with india-rubber or other
soft or yielding substance, and are driven or turned in any convenient
On the ends of the top cylinder are affixed brushes or other
soft substances, which, as they revolve, receive a supply of paste, gum,
glue, or other glutinous material, so that by rotating in contact with
the paper they may be made to paste the edges thereof. Behind these
rollers is fixed a vibrating knife or cutter, for the purpose of separating
the paper into a proper length to form a bag. A piece of paper of
the required dimensions having been cut off the long length or roll of
paper a pair of forceps or jaws are by a crank movement made to move
forward and take hold of the paper so cut, and bring it over two other
cylinders, which are placed longitudinally, that is, at right angles to
the feeding-in rollers. One of these cylinders is partially covered with
two bands of india-rubber or other soft-yielding substance, and between
these bands are mounted stereotyped plates, or type, or any ornamental
figuring or device may be affixed to the cylinder, and as the cylinder
revolves the type receives a supply of ink or other colouring matter
from an inking roller. The other cylinder or roller is covered with india-
rubber, and revolves with the type-roller. Above and between these
rollers is placed a tube or hollow box with a longitudinal slot or
opening, which tube has a valve or cock. The operation of the
apparatus is as follows: One end of the roll of paper is passed between
the two first rollers; which, as they revolve, take the paper off the
paper roller, and paste or gum the two edges thereof; then the knife
or cutter is made to cut off a portion of the paper the requisite length
for making a bag, and the forceps or jaws will take the piece of paper
so cut, and deposit it on the top of the other two rollers; then a strong
current or stream of air is forced from the tubo or hollow box above
through the narrow slit made therein, and the paper is thereby forced
down between the rollers, which, as they revolve, draw in the paper,
fold the same, and press the edges thereof together, and also causes the
name or other inscription or device to be printed or transferred from

page_text: the type upon one side of the bag in the manner required. The bag
then falls out from between the rollers in a perfect state, with the
name printed thereon, or otherwise, as may be wanted. For thin sub-
stances, such as light paper, the stream or current of air forced from
the tube or box above on to the top of the paper is sufficient for the
purpose of taking or forcing it between the rollers. In thick materials
I sometimes use a plunger or folding bar instead of the tube and
current of air; and as the plunger or folding bar descends, it takes
the paper between the rollers, and causes it to be folded and printed.
The above apparatus is intended for making the commonest kind of
bags, but when a better article is required; I make the joint or seam
down the middle, and at the bottom, whereas in the former case
they were made at the sides. To effect this modification the machine
must be somewhat different in its construction. The paper or other
material is wound on a cylinder or roller as before, and instead of
being passed direct between a pair of rollers, it is passed through
a long hollow cylinder, which at one end is flattened; by this means a
long length or tube, of the width of the bag required, is produced.
A long slit or groove is cut along the top of this cylinder, and one of
the edges of the paper is made to protrude therefrom; and brushes or
other soft substances which are supplied with gum, paste, or other
glutinous substance are made to bear against the protruding edge of
the paper, and thereby gum or paste one edge of the paper in its
passage along the cylinder. The pasted edge of the paper, after its
exit from the cylinder or tube, is then pressed down on to the other
edge, and made to adhere thereto so as to form a long cylinder of
paper. This cylinder is flattened as it comes out at the opposite end
of the hollow cylinder, and there is a knife or cutter which cuts off' a
piece of paper of the requisite length. Contiguous to the cutter is a
creaser, to which is attached a band or strap supplied with paste or
gum, and as the paper passes along the end, which is to form the
bottom of the bag, receives 'the paste or other glutinous or gummy
substance; and as the knife or cutter descends it creases the end of the
bag, folds it over, and again pastes the end; it is then taken away by

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Wright, in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 3d September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN WRIGHT, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Wright, Her special licence that I, the said
John Wright, any executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Wright, 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 law-
fully 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 FOR MANUFACTURING BAGS
OR ENVELOPES OF PAPER, CALICO, OR TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Wright, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 Scal
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 Wright, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto an-
nexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):

page_text: The object of this Invention is to manufacture paper and other bags
or envelopes with great economy and expedition, and when it is
required to print a name, title, or other device upon the bag or
envelope during the progress of the manufacture.
.
In carrying out this Invention, I employ the machinery shewn in the
accompanying drawing; Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the improved ma-
chinery; Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, is a longitudinal
sectional elevation taken in the line A, B, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, is a cross
section taken in the line C, D, of Fig. 3, when looking towards the right
hand. a, a, is the main framing of the machine. b, is the main driving
shaft which receives motion from a strap from any first mover passing over
a pulley c, keyed to the shaft. This shaft forms the axle for a roller d,
which is the lower one of a pair of rollers d, e, that are geared together
and rotate with the same surface speed. The upper roller c, is weighted
so as to bear upon the roller d, and draw up and pass forward the
paper or other material of which the bags or envelopes are to be
formed. On a drum f, which turns in bearings carried by brackets at
the back of the machine, the paper or other material is wound in a
continuous length, and carried upwards between the rollers d, e. In
the upper roller e, annular recesses are formed to produce on the
periphery two rings, which are intended to receive from a gumming
apparatus connected with the roller a continuous supply of liquid gum
or other adhesive substance, and impart it to the edges of the paper
under operation. The circumferential measurement of these rollers
will correspond with the length of the paper which is to form one bag,
and for every revolution therefore of these rollers paper to form one
bag will be gunmer. A notch is made in the gumming surfaces of
the roller e, so as to make breaks in the lines of gum or other adhesive
matter imparted to the paper, which breaks will mark the points at
which the paper is to be intersected by shears, as will be presently
explained. As the paper passes from between the rollers d, e, it is
received on to an endless sheet g, which passes over a drum h, mounted
on an axle that turns in adjustable bracket bearings, and over a small
roller carried by a frame i, bolted to the main framing. To this
5. frame i, a blade k; which forms the under blade of a pair of shears, is

page_text: bolted. Working on a fulerum pin, which has its bearing in the
frame i, is a blado 7, which forms the upper jaw of the shears. This
blade carrics at its extremity a lug, through which a connecting rod m,
jointed to a crank lover n, and carrying at its upper end an adjustable
nut, is passed. The crank lever n, rocks on a fulcrum pin o, and it is
provided with a cam piece n", to receive the pressure of a tappet p,
keyed to the driving slinft b. A spring q, connects the tail of the
crank lever with a fixed stud on the framing a, and thereby gives the
lever a tendency to retain the elevated position shewn at Fig. 3, which
figure represents the shears as open to allow of the paper being
traversed forwards. When, however, by the revolution of the endless
sheet 9. a length of paper sufficient to make a bag is fed past the shears
on to a table r, provided to receive it, the tappet p, will bear against
the cam piece n, and thereby cause the lever n, to rock and bring
down the blade 1, of the shears on to the paper. By this means a
length of paper suflicient for making a bag will be cut off. For the
purpose of keeping the blades k, l, in close contact, an elastic band 1º, is
strung on to two horns connected one with each blade, by which
means the proper working of the shears is ensured so long as the edges
remain in order. The next operation is to fold the paper in the
middle of its length, so as to bring the gummed edges together and
cause them to adhere. To this end the table r, which receives the
paper, is composed of two plates, set at a distance apart sufficient to
allow of the free play of a folders, between them. This folder is a
thin metal plate supported by two rods s°, s", which are jointed to a
forked rocking lever t, t, having its fulcrum at o, and weighted at its
pendent end. In order that the folder may retain its vertical position,
it is provided at its extremities with guides which slide over guide
rods u, u, standing up from the main framing. The up and down
motion is given to the folder by the tappet p, striking against a cam
piece on the lever, and thereby depressing the forward end of the
lever. When the folder is brought down upon the paper it will crease
it in the middle of its length, and drive it through the slot in the table
into the bite of a pair of pressing rollers v, situate immediately below
the slot. The axle of one of these rollers carries a two-grooved

page_text: pulley w, over which a band from a pulley c*, on the shaft 6, passes
for the purpose of driving the roller, and from this pulley w, a band
passes to a small pulley on the axle of the drum h, to communicate
motion to the endless sheet 7. During the passage of the folded
paper under the bite of the rollers v, the gummed edges are pressed
together, and the bag is formed. But in order the more effectually to
secure the edges, the bag is carried down between a pair of creasing
rollers x, x, shewn detached and in plan view at Fig. 5, by which the
elges are creased and gummed simultaneously. To effect this operation
the roller a, is provided with flanges at its edges, which take into
chamfered grooves formed in the roller a, and by the side of the
flanges of the roller a, grooves extending half way round the roller are
formed. A pair of gumming discs y, which dip into a trough z,
containing gummy matter in solution, revolves in contact with a pair
of discs y, which bear against the periphery of the roller a, and on
rotary motion being communicated to this roller through the cranks
and rod 1, which connect it with the driving shaft b, the gummy discs
will be caused to revolve by friction of contact (making one half
revolution for every whole revolution of the roller x,) and impart the
gummy matter, which they have taken up from the trough to those
portions of the periphery of the roller with which the dises y*, come in
contact. As, therefore, the bag passes between the rollers a, a, the
flanges of the roller a, will press the edges of the bag into the grooves of
the roller, and crease the bag to the form shewn at Fig. 6, ready
to be folded over. At the same time the gummy matter taken up by
the roller x, will be imparted to the bag, and in order to finish it
it will only then remain to fold over and press down the turned up
edges of the bag on to the lines of adhesive matter. This is effected
by the aid of a guide plate 2, set up vertically immediately below the
rollers 2, z, and provided with turned over edges, which form guide
channels, and by contracting gradually in their capacity towards the
lower end of the plate fold over the edges of the bag as it is passed
down. It then comes under the bite of a pair of pressing rollers 3, 3*,
(one of which is driven by gearing 4, 4, receiving motion from the

page_text: axle of the roller a,) and the turned over edges are pressed against
the gummy matter, and the sides of the bag are thereby firmly
secured.
From the foregoing description, it will be understood that when
paper or other suitable material is supplied to the drum f, and con-
ducted up to the rollers d. c, and the gum troughs are properly
provided by applying rotary motion to the shaft b, the paper or other
material under operation will be drawn continuously forward and
gummed. It will then be carried forward by the endless sheet g, and
when a length of paper equal to the circumferential measurement of
the roller d, is laid upon the table r, the blade 1, will descend and cut
off that length. The tappet p. which causes this descent of the blade 1,
will then depress the lever t, and bring down the folder on to the
length of paper which has just been cut off, whereby the paper will
be creased along the middle of its length, and brought under the bite
of the rollers v, v. The paper now formed into a bag, as shewn
at Fig. 7, by the gummed edges meeting, will then pass under tho
action of the rollers a, a, as just explained, which rollers will force it
down the guide plate 2, to the rollers 3. 3°, which will deliver it
out of the machine in a finished state.
When it is desired to print a device on the bags or envelopes, this
operation may be performed simultaneously with the manufacture of
the bags or envelopes. To this end I construct the pressing roller 3*
(Fig. 8,) in such a manner that it may receive type or any stereotyped
device or other raised printing surface, as represented in the diagram
(Fig. 8,) and I apply thereto a system of ink distributing rollers 5, 5, 5,
which, taking up ink from the trough 6, will deliver it on to the
surface of the pressing roller 3*, and thereby enable that cylinder
when pressing down the folded edges of the bag to print a device
thereon corresponding to the printing surface with which the roller is
provided.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,- .

page_text: First, the general arrangement of machinery as above described for
gumming, cutting, creasing, folding, and pressing paper, calico, and
other textile fabrics for the manufacture of bags or envelopes; and,
Secondly, I claim applying to one or more of the pressing rollers of
bag or envelope making machines, types, stereotypes, blocks, or other
raised printing surfaces, for the purpose of imparting any required
levice to the bags or envelopes while under the process of manu-
facture.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN WRIGHT. (L.B.)
Witness, J. W. MOFFATT, 66, Chancery Lanc.