Improvements in Paper Bag Making Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Paper Bag Making Machines.
I, ROBERT MILLIS of Eden Street Dunedin, in the Colony of New Zealand
Printers' Machinist, do hereby declare 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a machine which will perform all the
operations necessary for manufacturing square bottomed paper bags, with a side
or centre seam, from printed or other sheets of paper.
According to my invention, I have devised a machine which first pastes one
edge of the uppermost sheet of a pile of sheets of paper, and which then, after said
uppermost sheet. has been placed in position by the operator, drives or carries said
sheet down by means of a square-shaped blank or male die (of a size corresponding
to that of the bag to be made) into a mould or female die in such a manner that the
two edges of the sheet of paper project up from between the sides of said male and
female dies. Then two horizontally sliding folder blades are moved one after the
other in such a manner as to fold first the unpasted side of the sheet of paper over
the top of the male die or blank, and then the other side, so as to fold the pasted
edge of the paper over the opposite edge and cause it to adhere thereto.
While
the sheet of paper is being formed into a square cylinder, a vertically sliding plate,
or what I term the bottom end folder, is raised so as to fold in the lower part of the
end of said cylinder, and immediately afterwards a paste roller, having previously
been moved forward by a suitable cam arrangement, delivers a small quantity of
paste along the underneath part of the top edge of the end of said bag, and then
another vertical plate, or what I term the top end folder, is lowered, and folds in
said pasted part of the end of said bag over the lower part, after which two more
sliding plates or folders are moved so as to turn in the two remaining peaks or sides
of the end of said bag, the effect of turning said peaks in being to cause them to
contact with the paste roller above referred to, so that a certain quantity of paste
is delivered on to them and they are thus caused to adhere to the bag bottom, thus
completing the manufacture of the bag, which is then removed from the blank or
male die upon which it has been formed, and is placed in position in front of a
travelling roller and endless travelling apron, when a small roller supported upon
a pair of arms above it is caused to move down so as to form a fold across the
bag near the bottom, and the movement being continued, a straight blade or knife
comes down and completes the fold in the bag, which is then guided to between
said travelling apron and roller; the square paper cylinder or bag having the block
bottom is thereby compressed into a flat shape, which is very convenient for packing
the bags in cases or other receptacles for delivery.
Referring to the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a paper bag making machine, constructed according
to my invention, whilst
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof looking from the left hand side of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan of said machine.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5, Fig. 3.
Figs. 6 to 13 are diagramatic views, illustrating the operation of the various
folding contrivances above referred to, whilst
Figs. 6 to 13 are diagramatic views, shewing the bag in various stages of
manufacture, each view being shown alongside the mechanism employed to effect
the change in the bag.

page_text: being rolled or compressed.
Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the inclined table or platform upon which the sheet
of paper
to be made into a bag is placed, showing the arrangement whereby the
width of the female die is varied to suit different sized bags.
Fig. 19 is a similar view to Figure 18, but looking from the inside of the die.
Fig. 20 is a plan of the adjusting plate forming the side of the female die an 1
its connections.
Fig. 21 is a plan of the paper, hold fast and pasting roller; and
Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the hold-fast.
Figs. 22 to 31 are diagrammatic views, showing the arrangement of the variou
cams on the cam shafts, illustrating them in their different relative positions at th
commencement of the operation.
Fig. 32 is a sectional view showing the hold-fast used for retaining the sheet of
paper in position in the female die.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 represents a pile of sheets of paper from which the bags
are to be manufactured, said sheets being cut to the required size and laid one
above the other upon the paste table a.
These sheets of paper are retained in position upon said table by means of a
hold-fast at which is arranged to press down upon the edge of the top sheet of the
pile so as to prevent it shifting, whilst said top sheet is being pasted as well
as to prevent it from lifting with the pasting roller B when the latter is moved
upwardly in order to get a fresh supply of paste as hereinafter described. The
spindle of this pasting roller is mounted in the ends of a pair of arms 61 which
are rigidly secured at their other ends to a rock shaft 2 mounted in bearings in a
small frame secured to the paste table a as shown.
a represents a stop arm which is adjustably fixed upon the rock shaft 62, and is
arranged to come into contact with a set screw a³ passing through the arm a*,
which is connected with the hold-fast a', when the paste-roller B is brought down
to paste the edge of the uppermost sheet of the pile of paper as hereinafter
described. By this means the weight of the paste roller B is thrown on to the
hold-fast a so as to cause it to hold the paper down firmly whilst the uppermost
sheet is being pasted, and after the roller has been raised out of contact with said
upper sheet to still retain a certain pressure on the paper so as to prevent it from
being carried up by said paste roller. The paste is deposited upon the upper
sheet of paper about of an inch from the edge, this of an inch being required
for the hold-fast to bear upon. After the paste roller has been raised, the upper-
most sheet of paper can be removed by the operator, and be placed in position for
the subsequent operations as hereinafter described, the next sheet being then in
position to be pasted, and so on.
6 represents a roller which rotates partly within the paste hopper 65 and whose
periphery takes up a certain quantity of paste from within said hopper and delivers
it to the paste distributing roller B, when the latter is brought into contact with
it.
This result is effected by means of a cam 6º, Figures 2 and 3, secured upon a
cam-shaft C driven by bevel gearing e¹ from countershaft c, which is driven by
spur gearing from the main shaft ct of the machine, said main shaft being fitted
with a fly-wheel c³, and fast and loose pulleys c³ which enable it to be driven by a
steam engine or other convenient source of power. The cam L is arranged to act
upon an anti-friction roller on a lever which is fulcrumed at 68 upon the frame D
of the machine, and whose other end is connected by a rod with the rear end of
one of the arms or levers b¹ carrying the paste distributing roller B. The spindle
of the paste roller is provided with a small grooved pulley 610, driven from one
groove of the three grooved pulley 6, which runs loose on the rock shaft 2, and is

page_text: driven from a pulley upon a countershaft mounted in bearings upon the side of
the frame of the machine and driven from a pulley 613 upon the main shaft c¹ of the
machine.
•
The spindle of the paste distributing roller B is also provided with a small
groove pulley which is driven from the three-groove pulley 63 which causes the
roller B to rotate while in contact with the edge of the top sent of the pile of
paper.
E represents an inclined table upon which the sheets of paper are placed one by
one by the operator after one of their edges has been pasted by the roller B.
This table is formed with an opening e in its centre, as illustrated in Figures 1
and 4, and over this opening a sheet of paper is laid in a certain definite position,
which is determined by experiment, small stops or pins el (Figure 4) being fitted
on said inclined table E in order that each sheet of paper may readily be laid in
the required position in a similar manner to the arrangement used on printing
machines for the same purpose.
F represents a male die, blank or shape, which is secured upon the end of an
arm or rod mounted or pivoted in bearings f1 carried by the frame D of the
machine and having a shorter arm f connected to a bell-crank lever fulcrumed
on a rod and provided at its opposite end with an anti-friction roller f working
upon and operated by a cam f®.
G represents a female die or space into which the male die F is lowered, said
female die or space being more clearly shewn in Figures to 13, and 18 to 20.
Said female die is situated immediately below the opening e in the inclined table E,
and can be fitted with adjustable sides to enable various sized bags to be made in
the machine as hereinafter described.
9 (Figures 2, 3, 4 and 32) represents a small spring hold-fast, having a downwardly
projecting spindle g¹ surrounded by a spiral spring 92 contained within a casing g³
which serves to retain said spring in its place and acts as a guide. The tendency
of the spring is to always keep said hold-fast in its raised position, so that when the
blank or male die F is lowered, said spring hold-fast will press the paper tightly
against said male die and retain it in position, and at the same time will automati-
cally adjust the depth of the female die or mould.
H and I represent two horizontally sliding folder plates arranged one on each
side above the level of the female die G. Each of these folder plates is arranged to
slide in grooves (such as h Figure 1, 2 and 18) formed in brackets or supports h¹
secured to the framing of the machine. The folder plate H is connected by means
of a rod to a vertically arranged lever h³, whose lower end is provided with an
anti-friction roller arranged to be operated upon by a cam on the shaft C.
The second folder plate I is similarly connected by a rod to a lever whose lower
end is provided with an anti-friction roller i, acted upon by a cam arranged upon
said shaft C alongside the cam 4. These two cams, 1 and 2, are so timed as to
cause the folder plate H to travel forward, so as to fold over one side of the
sheet of paper, as illustrated in Figure 8, and then to cause the second folder
plate I to travel forward so as to fold the second edge of the sheet of paper over on
to the first edge, and cause its pasted side to adhere to the other turned over edge
of the sheet, so as to form a cylinder as will be hereinafter more particularly
described, and as illustrated in Figure 9^.
Jis a vertically sliding folder plate which is used for the purpose of doubling in
the lower part of the projecting end of the paper cylinder upon the blank or male
die F, as hereinafter described with reference to Figure 10. This sliding folder
plate works in suitable guides ; secured to the framing of the machine, and is
connected to a rod j' whose lower end is fitted with an anti-friction roller operated
upon by a cam secured upon the shaft C, said cam being timed to cause said
folder plate J to double in the lower part of the end of the said paper cylinder, as
illustrated in Figure 10, while the folder plates H and I are in operation forming
the paper cylinder.
K represents the top end folder plate which serves to double in the upper part

page_text: of the end of the paper cylinder, said folder plate K being secured upon the end
of an arm or rod k which is pivotted upon a bracket k¹ projecting upwardly from the
rod which carries the male die or blank F. A spring is secured to this
bracket and always tends to hold the top folder plate K in its raised position.
The short-projecting arm of the rod k is, however, fitted with a small pin k³ which
projects sideways from said rod and is adapted to be operated upon by a pusher
rod which is passed through suitably arranged guides on the frame of the
machine, and is connected at its lower end to an arm k mounted loosely upon the
shaft An anti-friction roller k' on the lower end of this pusher rod is operated
upon by a cam 8 upon the shaft c².
L represents a paste roller which works partly within a paste hopper supported
against said roller by means of a bracket 11 projecting from a pair of arms 1,
projecting upwards from a shaft mounted in bearings in the frame D. An
arm is rigidly secured to and projects forwardly from the shaft 13 and is provided
with a set screw which is operated upon by a cam l' secured upon the cani shaft C,
said cam being timed to cause the paste roller L together with its paste hopper / to
move forward into the position illustrated in Figure 11. This occurs just previous
to the top folder plate K coming into operation as hereinafter described.
spindle 18 of this roller L is fitted with a small grooved pulley 19 in gear with one of
a pair of pulleys mounted loosely upon the shaft and driven by a belt from
a pulley secured upon the main shaft c of the machine.
The
M represents a horizontally sliding folder plate, which is provided for the purpose
of turning down the right hand peak which is left standing after the two folders J, K
have done their work. This sliding folder plate M is connected by a rod m with an
arm m¹ on a rock shaft m³ worked by a cam m³ on the shaft C acting upon an
arm m² on said rock shaft.
N represents another horizontal folder plate corresponding to M, and similarly
acted upon by a cam n arranged alongside the cam m³ upon the shaft C, as illus-
trated in Figures 3 and 5, said cams m³ and n being timed to move the folder
plates M and N, both at the same time.
After the bags have been manufactured they are removed by the operator from
off the male die or blank F and are placed in position opposite the folding and
pressing contrivances, which I will now proceed to describe.
○ represents an endless travelling apron working on a pair of rollers o' and o²,
whilst o represents a hollow roller which is heated by a gas jet burning inside
same. The rollers o' and o' are mounted in bearings in a frame or pair of
brackets secured to the main frame of the machine, and the roller o from which
the apron receives its motion is connected by spur gearing of with the hollow
roller o³. The roller o¹ is driven from a pulley on the main shaft of the machine as
illustrated.
P represents two levers or arms which are fulcrumed in the upper part of a small
frame composed of two upright brackets p, and which are connected at their ends by a
spindle pl passing loosely through bearings formed in the ends of said arms or levers.
From this spindle p¹ extends an arm p² whose end is fitted with a roller p³ arranged
to work against the curved surface of a guide p₁ secured upon the side of the frame
or bracket p.
The spindle p' on the end of the arms P has a folder plate p³ secured to it as
shown, so that said plate is free to vary its position relatively with the
arins P, but is guided or kept at the requisite angle or inclination by the roller p³
being held against the cam pt by the spring p which is attached to the upper
part of said plate at one end, and to some fixed part of the apparatus at the
other end as shown. A frame is arranged to slide in bearings p on the
folder plate p³, and carries at its lower end two rollers 2, 7,10 extending across from
side to side of said plate and arranged to come into contact with the bag to be
folded so as to make the first part of a fold, which is afterwards completed by the
folder plate p³.
The levers P. and folder gear may be counterbalanced as shown, and are

page_text: connected by a rod pl with a rocking lever p" fulcrummed at one end as illustrated
at p13 upon some fixed support and provided with a roller p¹ at about the centre of
its length, said roller being acted upon by a cam p¹³ upon the shaft c³.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
The sheets of paper to be fashioned into bags having been cut to the required
size and printed with any matter it. may be required to place upon them they are
laid one upon the other in a pile upon the pasting table a as clearly illustrated at A
Figure 2. The paste roller B is raised by the cam 66, so that it comes into contact
with the roller revolving in the paste hopper 66, and is thereby coated with a
small layer of paste. As the cam * continues to rotate, this paste roller is
allowed to fall on to the edge of the uppermost sheet of paper A, and thus pastes
one of the edges of said sheet as will be well understood, the hold fast a¹ meanwhile
retaining the sheets of paper in position. This sheet having been pasted is removed
by the operator and placed upon the inclined table E in a certain definite position
which is determined by the stops e. This is done whilst the male die F is in its
raised position. Said male die is then lowered by means of the cam fe through
the medium of the connections f³, f³, and presses down the sheet of paper into the
form illustrated in Figures 7 and 74. The horizontally sliding folder plate H is
then moved forward by its cam h, and folds over one of the upwardly projecting
edges of said sheet of paper as illustrated in Figures 8 and 84. The opposite
horizontally sliding folder plate I is then moved forward by its cam and turns
down the other edge of the sheet of paper as the folder H is drawn back, and said
folder I continues to fold down the remaining edge of the sheet until it has pressed
its pasted edge upon the turned down side of the sheet of paper, as clearly illus-
trated in Figures 9 and 94, thus forming an open ended square shaped cylinder as
shown in said Figure 9*.
The lower end folder plate J is meanwhile moved up by its cam j³ and is caused
to fold in the lower projecting end of the paper cylinder, as illustrated in Figures 10
and 104, leaving the other three projecting parts of the cylinder still standing.
The paste roller L is then moved forward by its cam until it occupies the position
illustrated in Figure 11. The upper end folder plate K is then moved down by
reason of its cam operating upon the pusher bark and therefore raising the free
end of the lever k by engaging with the projecting pin thereon, thus causing the
opposite end of said lever k carrying the folder plate K to descend over the edge of
the blank or die F, the effect being to fold in the top projecting part of the paper
cylinder, as illustrated in Figure 12, at the same time causing the edge of said top
projecting part of the cylinder to contact with the surface of the paste roller L, so
that when the top projecting part of said paper cylinder comes in contact with the
lower part which has been previously folded down it will adhere thereto as will be
well understood.
The side folders M and N are then moved forwards by their cams m³ n and are
caused to fold down both of these projecting peaks at the same time, the effect
being to cause said peaks to contact with the pasting surface of the roller L so as
to coat them with a layer of paste, which will cause them to adhere to the other
parts of the paper cylinder, when they are pressed down into contact therewith, as
illustrated in Figure 134, thus completing the formation of the bottom of the bag.
The bag being now completed as regards its manufacture, is removed by the
operator off the die or blank F which is timed so that it is free to rise after
the sliding folder plates M and N have done their work, and the bag thus removed
is placed in position opposite the pressing roller o upon the endless travelling
apron O, as illustrated in Figure 14. In due course the cam praises the lever i
and through the medium of the rod p" and lever P, causes the folding arrangement
to descend. The roller at the end of the arm sliding against the guide /*,
causes the creasing roller p³ to move in a circular path as it descends and directs it
on to the top of the bag near the end thereof, the effect being to partially double
up said bag as illustrated in Figure 15, the travelling apron meanwhile serving to
keep the lower front edge of the bag extended forwardly. The downward movement

page_text: of the creasing roller p is continued until the stop roller p10 comes in contact
with the roller o³, when said creasing roller is prevented from any further movement.
The folder plate or blade 2, however, continues its movement, the frame_p'
carrying the creasing roller p³ sliding up in its bearings on the folder plate. By
these means the bag is folded down in the manner illustrated in Figure 154, and is
directed to between the roller o³ and endless travelling apron O, whereby it is rolled
and flattened as shown in Figure 16, and is thus compressed into a convenient
shape for packing.
If it should be required to make smaller bags with my improved machine, it is
merely necessary to reduce the size of the male die F, which is preferably built up
with pieces of wood screwed on to a metal body which is itself secured by set screws
to the arm f. These wood blocks are cut to special sizes corresponding to the size
of bag to be made, and they are provided with holes pierced in them to admit air
and allow the bag to be easily drawu off the die when made. The folder plates K
and J can be replaced with smaller ones corresponding to the width of the bag
required, and the paste roller and hopper may be exchanged for smaller ones.
The side plates 9 of the female die and the top of the inclined table E are
rigidly fixed to each other, and are provided with two adjusting rods 9 sliding in
holes bored in brackets 9 secured to or forming part of the framing of the machine,
and adapted to be retained in position by means of set screws g' so as to hold the
sides of the female die or mould at any required distance apart.
It will be readily understood by all persons who are acquainted with the art of
manufacturing paper bags that with my invention it is possible to construct a bag
having a side seam and to print upon the sheets of paper from which such bags
are to be made, so that the printed matter will shew upon the four sides of the
bags without the seam interfering with it, and the bag will be constructed with a
block bottom and will be stronger and more convenient in use than those of ordinary
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1st. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a paste supply roller
rotating partly within a paste hopper (of a roller such as B) mounted upon the
end of a pair of arms, one of the pair being used as a lever, and operated in such
a manner as to raise said roller up into contact with the first mentioned roller,
and then allow it to move down into contact with the edge of a pile of sheets of
paper from which the bags are to be constructed, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4
of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a paper bag making machine the employment of a male die or blank
(such as F) corresponding in shape and size with the bag to be manufactured
and arranged to be lowered into a female die (such as G) substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
3rd. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a male die or blank
(such as F) the same shape and size as the bag to be manufactured of two
horizontally sliding folder plates (such as HII) arranged to fold first one side and
then the other of a sheet of paper over the top of said male die or blank,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In a paper bag making machine the employment of two vertically moving
folder plates (such as JK) one arranged to fold down the top of the projecting
part of the paper cylinder, and the other to fold the lower part of said projecting
cylinder substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and
as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
5th. In a paper bag making machine the employment of two horizontally sliding

page_text: folder plates (such as M N) arranged to fold in the projecting sides or peaks
projecting from the end of the cylinder when the bag has been partially completed,
the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 13 of the
accompanying drawings.
6th. In a paper bag making machine the employment of a creasing roller (such
as p') together with a plate or blade (such as p³) arranged to form a crease or
fold near the end of the completed bag in combination with a roller (0*) and an
endless travelling apron (O) substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the
accompanying drawings.
7th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a roller (such as b*).
supplied with paste from a hopper (such as 6³) of a roller (such as B) mounted
upon the end of an arm connected with a lever (such as 6') whose other end is acted
upon by a cam (such as 66) so as to raise the roller on the end of said lever into
contact with the roller supplied with paste from the hopper, the lever carrying
the second mentioned roller being arranged to bring said roller down on to the
edge of a sheet of paper from which the bag is to be manufactured, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
8th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a male die or blank
(such as F) the same shape and size as the bag to be manufactured, and raised or
lowered by means of suitable mechanism, of an inclined table (such as E) fitted
with stops (such as e¹), against which the sheet of paper can be placed, and having
an open ended space through which said male die or blank can pass freely, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
9th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a lever (such as f)
provided at its end with a male die or blank, the same shape and size' as the bag
to be manufactured of a bell crank lever (such as f³) connected with the lever
carrying said male die, and operated upon by a cam (such as f) substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 1,
2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
10th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a female die or
recess (such as G) of a vertically sliding spring hold-fast (such as g) arranged to
form the adjustable bottom of said female die or recess, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 32
of the accompanying drawings.
11th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a male die or blank
(such as F) the same shape and size as the bag to be made of a lever (such as k)
carrying at its end a folder plate (such as K) said lever being fulcrumed upon a
bracket projecting upwardly from the lever supporting said die or blank, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
12th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a lever (such as k)
carrying one of the end folder plates (such as K) and mounted upon a lever or
support carrying the male die or blank on which the bag is to be made of a pusher
rod (such as k) moved up and down at intervals by a cam (such as k³) so as to
cause its upper end to operate said lever carrying the folder plate, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
13th. In a paper bag making machine the employment of six folder plates, two
(H and I) being used to fold over the edges of the sheet of paper so as to form a
cylinder, and the others (J, K, M, N) being used to fold in and secure the ends of
said cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained,
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
14th. In a paper bag making machine the employment of a paste roller (such

page_text: as L) moved automatically into position between the projecting ends of the paper
cylinder from which the bag is to be made, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
15th. In a paper bag making machine the combination with a paste roller and
hopper (such as L, 1) of a pair of arms (such as 12) supported in suitable bearings
at their lower end and provided with an offset or arm (such as ) adapted to be
operated upon by a cam (such as 17) so as to cause said paste roller to move to and
fro at intervals, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained,
and as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
16th. In a paper bag making machine the employment of a paper hold fast (such
as a¹) acted upon by the pasting roller and arranged to bear upon the pile of paper
until after said paste roller is raised out of contact with the uppermost sheet of
paper, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 21, and 21ª of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of July One thousand eight hundred and ninety-two.