Improvements in Machines for Sealing Envelopes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Machines for Sealing Envelopes.
I, LAURITS MARIUS NIELSEN, residing at 1395, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, in
the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, In-
ventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to means for sealing envelopes, and the object thereof
is to provide an improved machine for this purpose by means of which the
flap of the envelope is moistened and the envelope sealed as it passes through
the machine.
!
In the practice of my invention, I provide a machine for the purpose herein
described, which comprises a main frame preferably composed of two similar
side plates.
Mounted between the side plates of the frame of the machine are three pairs
of rollers, said pairs of rollers being especially arranged and being designated
by the reference numerals. These pairs of rollers are each arranged in a ver-
tical plane, and the distance between the first and second is preferably about
twice as great as the distance between the second and third pairs.
Each of the rollers of each of the pairs, is provided with a central shaft and
a covering of felt or other suitable material designed to give said rollers a
yielding and slightly elastic character.
Below and rearwardly of the front rollers is placed a tank or receptacle
designed to receive water, and mounted over said receptacle and in the down-
wardly and backwardly inclined position is a support having a vertically arranged
front portion and a similar back portion.
The front and back portions of the support terminate within the front and
back portions respectively of the tank and in practice I pass over the support
a sheet composed of lamp wicking or other suitable capillary substance, and
the sides of which hang within the tank.
Rearwardly of the tank is placed a shaft provided with two arms which are
connected by a cross plate provided with a fabric covering of lamp wicking or
other suitable capillary substance which normally rests on the covering of
the support which is also composed of similar material as herein before described.
As thus constructed the sheet or covering of the support together with the
covering of the plate will be constantly moistened by the water in the tank.
Arranged transversely of the machine above and slightly in front of the shaft
in a plate the upper edge of which is slightly below the bottom of the upper
rollers of each of the pairs and above and to the rear of the plate is a shaft
on which is mounted a downwardly and upwardly inclined shield provided at
each end with a flange said shield being projected forwardly, and the flanges
thereof being provided at their forward ends each with an outwardly directed
pin and pivoted to each of the side plates at the ends of the upper roller and
between said ends and said side plates, are downwardly and backwardly curved
arms each of which is provided with an upwardly and backwardly directed
extension and a downwardly and backwardly directed extension the down-

page_text: wardly and backwardly directed extension of the arms being connected by a
cross plate.
:
Each of the upper rollers of each of the pairs are spring depressed, the shafts
of said rollers at each end being provided with a hearing mounted in a ver-
tical recess formed in the sides of the casing and each of said bearings is
provided with an upwardly directed pin and wound on each of said pins, within
each of said recesses is a spiral spring and the springs are held in place at each
side of the machine, by a crossbar and said cross bars are held in place by bolts
provided with thumb nuts.
The upper rollers of the two rear sets are each provided at one side of the
machine with a gear wheel between which is placed an intermediate gear wheel
and the shaft of the lever roller is provided at the end thereof opposite the
gear wheel with a pinion.
The shaft which carries the shield is provided at the end thereof adjacent to
the pinion with a downwardly directed arm the lower end of which is curved
forwardly and downwardly and the corresponding end of the shaft of the lower
forward roller is provided with a pinion a portion of the teeth of which at one
side, are preferably cut out.
It will be understood that the pinion the arm and the piniou are on the outer
side of one of the sides of the frame or casing of the machine, and said side of
the frame or casing of the machine is provided in front of and slightly above
the shaft with an opening through which passos a lug or projection formed on
or secured to the adjacent arm of the shaft.
The said side plate of the frame or casing is provided on the side thereof
on which the pinion the arm and the pinion are located, with a bracket which
together with the said plate, supports a short shaft and mounted on said shaft
is a large double gear wheel which is adapted to operate both of the pinions.
A portion of the teeth on the gear wheel are cut away on the inner perimeter
of said wheel at different points, the object of which is to give the pinion an
intermittent movement, but said gear teeth are continuous on the outer peri-
meter of said wheel and the pinion is operated continuously when the gear
wheel is in motion.
The alternate spaces where the teeth are cut away are longer than the others,
thus varying the time during which the pinion together with the roller on the
shaft on which it is mounted, will stand still, as the wheel revolves, and these
spaces are equidistant on the perimeter of said wheel.
The wheel is also provided on its inuer side with three lugs or projections
which operate the arm as herein before described; and said wheel is provided
on its outer side with three pins the purpose of which will be hereinafter
described, and the lugs and the pins are each arranged in a circle, on said wheel
and are equidistant.
:
Pivoted below the shaft and the gear wheel is a lever arm provided at its
upper end with a handle and said lever arm adjacent to its pivoted support
is provided with a backwardly directed yoke shaped portion and adjacent to
its lower end with a lug or projection and at the upper end of the yoke shaped
portion with a slot through which passes a pin secured to or formed on an arm
rigidly secured to the shaft.
The arm projects radially of the gear wheel and is provided with a pivoted
pawl, which operates in connection with a ratchet disk which is also secured
to the shaft and the perimeter of which is provided with three equidistant teeth
of projections and I also preferably connect with the lever arm a strong con-
tractile spring one end of which is secured to the sides of the frame or casing.
The front of the machine is provided with a plate or table which extends
backwardly and is intended to guide an envelope between the front pair of
rollers as hereinafter described, and the rear of the machine is also provided
with a corresponding plate or table which is intended to receive the sealed
envelope from the rear rollers.

page_text: The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description and
the following statement thereof.
The envelope with the flap open is placed on the plate or table shoved until
the flap enters the space between the rollers the lever is then pulled forwardly,
and the rollers are revolved by the wheel. At each forward movement of the
lever arm the gear wheel is revolved through one-third of a revolution, and this
movement of said wheel and said lever is limited by one of the pins on said
wheel coming in contact with the lug or projection on the lower end of said
lever arm. After each forward movement of said lever arm the spring returns
it to normal position or it may be returned to said position by hand. The first
forward movement of the lever arm carries the envelope inwardly until the
flap thereof strikes and passes downwardly in front of the front of the plate.
In this operation the flap of the envelope first strikes the downwardly curved
portion of the shield and is directed downwardly against the plate.
During the first forward movement of the lever arm as above described, after
the flap of the envelope has been turned down in front of the plate the arms of
the shaft are moved upwardly throwing the moistening pad against the gummed
side of the flap this operation being accomplished by one of the lugs or pro-
jections striking the lug or projection on one of said arms. These lugs or
projections remain in contact only long enough to actuate the arms the lug
or projection passing over the lug or projection in the continued movement of
the wheel and the moistening pad drops back into the normal position imme-
diately after the envelope has been moistened as above described, and during
the same forward movement of the lever arm, one of the lugs or projections
comes in contact with the lower end of the arm the shaft is turned, "the shield
raised and the pins which are carried by the shield operate on the branch arms of
the arms to raise the cross plate carried by the branch arms of the arms and
this cross plate comes in contact with the lower side of the envelope and forces
it upwardly against the bottom of the shield and the rollers are again put in
motion, and the envelope is passed between the upper edge of the plate the
bottom of the shield and backwardly between the separate sets of rollers.
Each forward movement of the lever arm seals and envelope and leaves said
envelope between the separate pairs of rollers and said envelope is discharged on
to the plate at the second forward movement of the lever arm, which second
forward movement also seals and passes another envelope between the separate
pairs of rollers. The object of the last pair of rollers is to more securely seal
the envelope by pressing the moistened flap into contact with the back thereof.
It will be apparent however, that this operation may be performed by a single
pair of rollers.
In the operation of the machine as above described, the rollers are in motion
until the flap of the envelope is turned downwardly adjacent to the plate the
said rollers are then stationary, while the wheel is turning through one of the
short spaces.
At the end of this tims one of the pins operate the shield as
described, and the rollers are again put in motion and are turned until the
pinion reaches one of the long spaces at which time the envelope has passed
between the rear sets of rollers from which it is discharged at the next forward
movement of the lever arm.
It will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention, by means
of a machine which is simple in construction and operation, and preferably
adapted to produce the result for which it is intended.
Dated this 5th day of Jane 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Sealing Envelopes.
I, LAURITS MARIUS NIELSEN, residing at 850, De Kalb Avenue, Brooklyn,
formerly of 1395, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State
of New York, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to means for sealing envelopes, and the object thereof
is to provide an improved machine for this purpose by means of which the
flap of the envelope is moistened and the envelope sealed as it passes through
the machine.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved machine;
Fig. 2 a front end view thereof;
Fig. 3 a plan view with the top plate of the machine frame removed;
Fig. 4 a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 and 6, are sectional views similar to Fig. 4, showing only parts of
the machine, and showing said parts in different positions so as to illustrate the
operation thereof; and,
Fig. 7 an inside view of a gear wheel which I employ.
In the drawing forming part of this specification the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the
views, and in the practice of my invention, I provide a machine for the purpose
herein described, which comprises a main frame preferably composed of two
similar side plates 7.
Mounted between the side plates 7 of the frame of the machine are three
pairs of rollers, said pairs of rollers being especially arranged as shown in
Figs. 3 and 4 and being designated by the reference numerals 8, 9, and 10.
These pairs of rollers are each arranged in a vertical plane, and the distance
between the first and second is preferably about twice as great as the distance
between the second and third pairs.
Each of the rollers of each of the pairs 8 and 9, and 10 is provided with a
central shaft 11, and a covering 12 of felt or other suitable material designed
to give said rollers a yielding and slightly elastic character.
Below and rearwardly of the front rollers 8, is placed a tank or receptacle 13
designed to receive water, and mounted over said receptacle as shown in Fig. 4,
and in the downwardly and backwardly inclined position is a support 14, having
a vertically arranged front portion 15, and a similar back portion 16.
The front and back portions 15 and 16 of the support 14 terminate within
the front and back portions respectively of the tank 13, and in practice I pass
over the support 14 a sheet 17 composed of lamp wicking or other suitable
capillary substance, and the sides of which hang within the tank 13, as clearly
shown in Fig. 4.
Rearwardly of the tank 13 is placed a shaft 18 provided with two arms 19 as
shown in Figs. 2 and 4 which are connected by a cross plate 20 provided with
a fabric covering 21 of lamp wicking or other suitable capillary substance which
normally rests on the covering of the support 14 which is also composed of
a similar material as herein before described.
As thus constructed, the sheet or covering 17 of the support 14 together with
the covering 21 of the plate 20, will be constantly moistened by the water in
the tank 13.
Arranged transversely of the machine above and slightly in front of the
Ε

page_text: shaft 18 is a plate 22, the upper edge of which is slightly below the bottom of
the upper rollers of each of the pairs 8 and 9, and above and to the rear of the
plate 22 is a shaft 23 on which is mounted a downwardly and upwardly inclined
shield 24 provided at each end with a flange 25, said shield being projected
forwardly, and the flanges 25 thereof being provided at their forward ends each
with an outwardly directed pin 26, and pivoted to each of the side plates 7 at
the ends of the upper roller 8 and between said ends and said side plates, as
shown at 27, are downwardly and backwardly curved arms 28, each of which
is provided with an upwardly and backwardly directed extension 29, and a
downwardly and backwardly directed extension 30, the downwardly and back-
wardly directed extension 30 of the arms 28 being connected by a cross plate 31,
is best shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the normal position, when not in operation,
being shown in Fig. 4.
Each of the upper rollers of each of the pairs 8 and 9 and 10 are spring
depressed as shown at 31 shafts of said rollers at each end being provided with
a bearing 32, mounted in a vertical recess 33 formed in the sides 7 of the casing,
and each of said bearings is provided with an upwardly directed pin 34, and
wound on each of said pins, within each of said recesses is a spiral spring 35,
and the springs 35 are held in place at each side of the machine, by a cross
bar 36, and said cross bars are held in place by bolta 37 provided with thumb
nuts 38.
The upper rollers of the two rear sets 9 and 10, are each provided at one
side of the machine with a gear wheel 39 between which is placed an inter-
mediate gear wheel 40, and the shaft of the lower roller 9 is provided at the
end thereof opposite the gear wheel 39 with a pinion 41.
The shaft 23 which carries the shield 24 is provided at the end thereof
adjacent to the pinion 41 with a downwardly directed arm 42 the lower end of
which is curved forwardly and downwardly as shown at 43, and the corresponding
end of the shaft 11 of the lower forward roller 8 is provided with a pinion 44,
a portion of the teeth of which at one side, are preferably cut out as shown
at 45.
It will be understood that the pinion 41, the arm 42, and the pinion 44 are
on the outer side of one of the sides 7 of the frame or casing of the machine,
and said side of the frame or casing of the machine is provided in front of
and slightly above the shaft 18 with an opening 46 shown in full lines in Fig. 2,
and in dotted in Fig. 1 through which passes a lug or projection 47 formed on
or secured to the adjacent arm 19 of the shaft 18.
The said side plates 7 of the frame or casing is provided on the side thereof
on which the pinion 41, the arm 42 and the pinion 44 are located, with a
bracket 48, which together with the said side plate, supports a short shaft 49,
and mounted on said shaft is a large double gear wheel 50, which is adapted
to operate both of the pinions 41 and 44.
An inside view of the gear wheel 50 is given in Fig. 7, and a portion of the
teeth on the gear wheel are cut away on the inner perimeter of said wheel at
different points as shown at 52, the object of which is to give the pinion 44 an
intermittent movement, but said gear teeth are continuous on the outer peri-
meter of said wheel and the pinion 41 is operated continuously when the gear
wheel 60 is in motion.
The points on the perimeter of the gear-wheel 50 where the teeth are cut
away at the inner perimeter thereof are designated by the numeral 52 in dotted
lines in Fig. 2 and in full in Fig. 7; and the alternate spaces where the teeth
are cut away are longer than the others, thus varying the time during which
the pinion 44 together with the roller on the shaft on which it is mounted, will
stand still, as the wheel 50 revolves, and these spaces 52 are equidistant on the
perimeter of said wheel.
The wheel 50 is also provided on its inner side with three lugs or projec-
tions 53, which operate the arm 42 as hereinafter described, and said wheel is

page_text: provided on its outer side with three pins 54, the purpose of which will be
hereinafter described, and the lugs 53 and the pins 54 are each arranged in a
circle, on said wheel and are equidistant.
Pivoted at 55 below the shaft 49 and the gear wheel 50 is a lever arm 56
provided at its upper end with a handle 57, and said lever arm adjacent to
its pivotal support is provided with a backwardly directed yoke shaped portion 58,
and adjacent to its lower end with a lug or projection 59, and at the upper end
of the yoke-shaped portion 58 with a slot 60 through which passes a pin 61
secured to or formed on an arm 62 rigidly secured to the shaft 49.
The arm 62 projects radially of the gear wheel 50 and is provided with ä
pivoted pawl 63 which operates in connection with a ratchet disc 64, which is
also secured to the shaft 49, and the perimeter of which is provided with three
equidistant teeth or projections G5, and I also preferably connect with the lever
arm 56 at 66 a strong contractile spring 67, one end of which is secured to the
sides 7 of the frame or casing 68.
:
The front of the machine is provided with a plate or table 69 which extends
backwardly and is intended to guide an envelope between the front pair of
rollers 8 as hereinafter described, and the rear of the machine is also provided
with a corresponding plate or table 70 which is intended to receive the sealed
envelope from the rear rollers 10.
The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description, and
the following statement thereof, it being understood that the normal position
of the machine is shown in Fig. 1.
The envelope with the flap open is placed on the plate or table 69 and shoved
forward until the flap enters the space between the rollers 8, the lever arm 56
is then pulled forwardly, and the rollers 8 are revolved by the wheel 50. At
each forward movement of the lever arm 50 the gear wheel 50 is revolved
through one-third of the revolution, and the movement of said wheel and said
lever is limited by one of the pins 54 on said wheel coming in contact with the
lug or projection 59 on the lower end of said lever arm. After each forward
movement of said lever arm the spring 67 returns it to the normal position,
or it may be returned to said position by hand. The first forward movement
of the lever arm carries the envelope which is clearly shown at 71 in Figs. 5
and G, inwardly until the flap 72 thereof strikes and passes downwardly in
front of the plate 22. In this operation the flap 72 of the envelope first strikes
the downwardly curved portion of the shield 25, and is directed downwardly
against the plate 22, as shown in Fig. 5.
During the first forward movement of the lever arm as above described, after
the flap 72 of the envelope has been turned down in front of the plate 22, the
arma 19 of the shaft 18 are moved upwardly throwing the moistening pad
against the gummed side of the flap as shown in Fig. 5, this operation being
accomplished by one of the lugs or projections 53 striking the lug or pro-
jection 47 on one of said arms. These lugs or projections remain in contact
only long enough to force the arms into the position shown in Fig. 5 the lug
or projection 63 passing over the lug or projection 47 in the continued move-
ment of the wheel 50 and the moistening pad drops back into the position
shown in Fig. 6, immediately after the envelope has been moistened as above
described, and during the same forward movement of the lever arm, one of the
lugs or projections 53 comes in contact with the lower end of the arm 42, the
shaft 23 is turned the shield 24 raised as shown in Fig. 6 and dotted in Fig. 1,
and the pins 26 which are carried by the shield 24 operate on the branch
arms 29 of the arms 28 to raise the cross plate 31 carried by the branch arms 30
of the arms 28, and this cross plate comes in contact with the lower side of the
envelope and forces it upwardly against the bottom of the shield 24, and the
rollers 8 are again put in motion, and the envelope is passed between the upper
edge of the plate 22, the bottom of the shield 24, and backwardly between the
separate sets of rollers 9 and 10.

page_text: Each forward movement of the lever arm 56 seals an envelope and leaves
said envelope between the separate pairs of rollers 9 and 10, and said envelope
is discharged on to the plate 70 at the second forward movement of the lever
arm, which second forward movement also seals and passes another envelope
between the separate pairs of rollers 9 and 10. The object of the last pair of
rollers 10 is to more securely seal the envelope by pressing the moistened flap
into contact with the back thereof. It will be apparent however, that this opera-
tion may be performed by a single pair of rolls, such as the rollers 9.
In the operation of the machine as above describe the rollers 8 are in motion
until the flap 72 of the envelope is turned downwardly adjacent to the plate 22,
as shown in Fig. 5, the said rollers are then stationary, while the wheel 10 is
turning through one of the short spaces 52. At the end of this time oue of
the pins 53 operate the shield 24 as described, and the rollers 8 are again put
in motion and are turned until the pinion 44 reaches one of the long spaces 52
at which time the envelope has passed between the rear sets of rollers 9 and 10,
from which it is discharged at the next forward movement of the lever armı.
It will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention, by means of
a machine which is simple in construction and operation, and perfectly adapted
to produce the result for which it is intended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted therein, devices for folding the flap of an envelope as it
passes between said pairs of rollers, means for operating said devices, moistening
devices mounted below said pairs of rollers and provided with a pivoted member
adapted to moisten the flap of the envelope and means for operating said
pivoted member, substantially as shown and described.
2. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted in the top thereof, a stationary plate mounted between two
pairs of said rollers and projecting downwardly and backwardly, moistening
devices mounted in front of and below said plate, and means for feeding an
envelope through said pairs of rollers, and means for moistening the flap as
it rests against said stationary plate and for folding it as it passes between "said
pairs of rollers, subtantially as shown and described.
3. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted in the top thereof, a stationary plate mounted between two
of said pairs of rollers and projecting downwardly and backwardly, moistening
devices below said plate and operating in connection therewith, a pivoted down-
wardly curved shield mounted above said plate, a pivotally supported cross plate
below said shield, and adapted to be operated thereby, and means for operating
said rollers said moistening devices and said shield, substantially as shown and
described.
4. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of paira
of rollers mounted in the top thereof, the rollers of each pair being in vertical
planes, moistening devices mounted between two pairs of said rollers and below
the same, a stationary plate mounted above said moistening devices, and in
connection with which said devices operate, and means for feeding an envelope
between said pairs of rollers and turning the flap downwardly over said plate,
and for operating said moistening devices, and folding the flap of said envelope,
substantially as shown and described.
5. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted in the top thereof, the rollers of each pair being in different
vertical planes, a stationary plate mounted between two pairs of said rollers
and projecting downwardly, moistening devices below said plate and operating
in connection therewith, devices for folding the flap of the envelope as it passes

page_text: between said pairs of rollers and a single hand lever by which said rollers and
said device for folding the flap of the envelope are all operated, substantially
as shown and described.
6. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted in the top thereof, a pivoted shield mounted between said
rollers, a pivotally supported cross plate mounted below said shield and adapted
to be operated thereby, a stationary plate mounted between said pairs of rollers
and projecting downwardly, moistening devices mounted below and in front of
Baid stationary plate, and means for operating said moistening devices, said rollers
and said shield, substantially as shown and described.
7. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted in the top thereof, a pivoted shield mounted between said
rollers, a pivotally supported cross plate mounted below said shield and adapted
to be operated thereby, a stationary plate mounted between said pairs of rollers
and projecting downwardly, moistening devices mounted below and in front
of said stationary plate, and means for operating said moistening devices, said
rollers and said shield, and for giving the first pair of rollers intermittent
motion, substantially as shown and described.
8. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame provided with a
plurality of pairs of rollers mounted in the top thereof and in different vertical
planes, devices for folding the flap of an envelope and for moistening the same
as it passes between said rollers, and devices for operating each of said pairs
of rollers, comprising a double gear wheel, a pinion on one of each of said
pairs of rollers, in connection with which said double gear operates, said double
gear wheel being provided with two sets of teeth, one of which is continuous
and the other of which is partially cut away whereby one of said pinions is
given a continuous and the other an intermittent motion, and means for operating
said gear wheel and the folding and moistening devices, substantially as shown
and described.
9. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of ver-
tically arranged pairs of rollers mounted in the top thereof, a shaft mounted
between said rollers and provided with a downwardly, forwardly and upwardly
curved shield, a pivotally supported cross plate mounted below said shield and
adapted to be raised thereby, a stationary plate mounted below said shield and
projecting downwardly, a shaft mounted below said stationary plate and provided
with a moistening pad which operates in connection with said plate, and means
for moistening said pad, and for operating said rollers, said shield and the pad
shaft, substantially as shown and described.
10. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of ver-
tically arranged pairs of rollers mounted in the top thereof, a shaft mounted
between said rollers and provided with a downwardly, forwardly and upwardly
curved shield, a pivotally supported cross plate mounted below said shield and
adapted to be raised thereby, a stationary plate mounted below said shield
and projecting downwardly, a shaft mounted below said stationary plate and
provided with a moistening pad which operates in connection therewith, and
means for moistening said pad, and for operating said rollers, said shield and
the pad shaft, comprising a double gear wheel mounted adjacent to one end of
said rollers and pinions with which two of said pairs of rollers are provided,
said pinions operating in connection with said double gear wheel being pro-
vided with two sets of teeth, one of which is cut away partially and one of said
pinions being provided with a set of teeth partially cut away so as to give said
last named pinion an intermittent motion, substantially as shown and described.
11. A machine for sealing envelopes provided with a plurality of pairs of
rollers, and devices mounted between said pairs of rollers for folding the flap
of the envelope and for moistening the same, a double gear wheel mounted
adjacent to the ends of said rollers and adapted to operate in connection with
pinions with which the adjacent ends of one of the rollers of each pair is pro-

page_text: vided, said double gear wheel being provided with two sets of teeth one of which
is continuous and adapted to give one of said pinions a continuous and the
other of which is partially cut away, an intermittent motion, devices connected
with said gear wheel for operating the moistening devices and the devices for
folding the flap of the envelopes, and a pivotally supported lever arm and devices
connected therewith for operating said gear wheel, substantially as shown and
described.
12. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame provided with a
plurality of pairs of rollers, mounted in the top thereof, and in different vertical
planes, devices for folding the flap of an envelope and for moistening the same
as it passes between said rollers and devices for operating each of said pairs
of rollers, comprising a double gear wheel and a pinion on one of each pair of
rollers in connection with which said double gear operates, said double gear
wheel being provided with two sets of teeth, one of which is of continuous
formation and the other of which is partially cut away, whereby one of said
pinions is given a continuous and the other an intermittent motion, and means
for operating said gear wheel, and the folding and moistening devices, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
13. A machine for sealing envelopes, comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs
of rollers mounted vertically therein, devices for moistening the flap of the
envelope and folding the same as it passes between said pairs of rollers, the
bottom rollers of each pair being provided with a pinion, a double gear wheel
mounted adjacent to said pinions and operating in connection with each and
provided with two sets of teeth one of which is continuous and the other par-
tially cut away and respectively adapted to give one a continuous and the other
an intermittent motion, devices connected with said gear wheel for operating
the moistening and flap folding devices, and means for turning said gear wheel
in one direction, consisting of a lever arm pivoted below said gear wheel, an
arm connected with the shaft of said gear wheel and provided with a pin passing
through a slot formed in said lever arm, a ratchet connected with the shaft
of said gear wheel, and a pawl connected with said arm and operating in connection
therewith, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of September 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.