IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ENVELOPES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Keith, of Eltham, in the County of Kent,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING
ENVELOPES."A communication from the first and true Inventor.
Sealed the 3rd February 1857, and dated the 5th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Keith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th August
1856.
I, JOHN KEITH, of Eltham, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING
ENVELOPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of mechanism for manu-
facturing envelopes, the object being to simplify the machinery and to
expedite its operation. The paper blank is fed into the machine by hand,
and creased by the descent of a plunger into the creasing box, as usual; a
partial exhaustion is then effected under the creased paper, to hold it securely
in the box, and the box is then traversed forward along suitable guides under
a second plunger, of peculiar construction, for the purpose of folding over the
flaps or lappets of the blank, and pressing them down previous to discharging
the finished envelope from the machine. As the creased blank is carried
forward, with its flaps standing vertically or nearly so out of the box, the end
flaps meet elastic or yielding projections, which turn the flaps inwards, and
thus bring them under a second plunger. This plunger consists of a rectan-
gular frame fitted with a sliding piece, which projects (by reason of spring
pressure) so far below the frame as to turn inwards the forward side flap, while
the creased blank is moving into position, and bring it under the end flaps. A
pendent curved spring, which is caused to advance slightly by the pressure of

page_text: the descending plunger, turns over the fourth flap, and the plunger pushing
aside the projections which turned in the end flaps, then comes down on the
envelope to give it the final pressure; before this takes place the exhaustion
below the envelope is removed. The plunger is also provided with an exhaust
arrangement, by means of which the plunger when rising is enabled to draw
up the envelope out of the box. The box then returns to be fed by a fresh
blank, and the exhaust being cut off immediately the box has passed away, the
envelope is free to fall by its own gravity out of the machine. The gumming
of the envelope is effected by any of the ordinary means, and the driving of the
machine inay be by hand or steam power, all the movements above explained
being automatic with the exception of the feeding.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
_by the said John Keith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
KEITH, of Eltham, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Keith, Her special license that I, the said John Keith, my executors,.
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Keith, 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 lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Chanuel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING
ENVELOPES," being a communication from the first and true Inventor, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Keith, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal 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 Keith, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of mechanism for manu-
facturing envelopes, the object being to simplify the construction of the
machinery and to expedite its operation.
In this improved machine the gumming of the envelope blank and the
stamping of a crest or other device upon the outer lappet or flap may be
effected without interfering with the speed of performing the successive creasing
and folding operations, but the arrangements for gumming and stamping I
would have it understood form no part of the present Invention.
The paper blank is fed into the machine by hand, and creased by the
descent of a plunger into the creasing box as usual. A partial exhaustion is
then effected under the creased paper to hold it securely in the box while the
plunger rises. The box is then traversed forward along suitable guides, under
a second plunger of peculiar construction, for the purpose of folding over the
flaps or lappets of the blank, and pressing them down previous to discharging
the finished envelope from the machine. As the creased blank is carried
forward with its flaps standing vertically or nearly so out of the box, the end
flaps meet elastic or yielding projections which turn the flaps inwards, and thus
bring them under the second plunger. This plunger consists of a hollow
rectangular frame fitted with sliding pieces, which act in consecutive order,
first turning inwards the forward side flap (while the creased blank is moving
into position), and then laying the end flaps over it. A pendent curved spring,
which is caused to advance slightly by the pressure of the descending plunger
turns over the fourth flap, and the plunger pushing aside the projections which
turned in the end flaps then comes down on the envelope to give it the final
pressure; before this takes place the exhaustion below the envelope is removed.
The plunger is also provided with an exhaust arrangement, by means of which
the plunger when rising is enabled to draw up the envelope out of the box;
the box then returns to be fed by a fresh blank, and the exhaust being cut
off immediately the box has passed away, the envelope is free to fall by its own
gravity out of the machine.
Having thus briefly pointed out the nature of the Invention by explaining
the functions of the chief parts of the machinery, I will proceed to describe, in
detail, the arrangement of mechanism whereby I am enabled to obtain the
above-mentioned results.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 shews the improved envelope folding
machine in side elevation, the creasing box and part of the framing being in
section, the better to explain the construction of some of the parts; Figure 2

page_text: ;
is a sectional elevation taken at right angles thereto through the creasing box;
Figure 3 is a partial elevation, shewing the feeding end of the machine.;
Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of the machine taken in the line 1, 2, of
Figure 1 and Figure 5 is a plan view, taken in the line 3, 4, of Figure 1.
a, a, is the main framing of the machine, carrying a table b, to which the
standards are secured that support the guides for several slide rods hereafter
referred to. On the underside of the table ba tramway is formed to receive
the wheels of a travelling creasing box c, which is moved up under the
creasing plunger d, to receive a blank and sustain the pressure of the creasing
plunger, and is then traversed forward together with the blank under the
folding plunger e, by the descent of which the folding of the envelope is
completed. The creasing box is made-hollow, and it. is pierced with holes in
its upper face as shewn. The closed chamber in this box is brought into
communication with an exhaust pump f, by means of a flexible pipe g, covering
the feeding end of the table 6, and supported by it is a feed board ', and to it
is fitted a metal guide 3, formed to receive the envelope blanks as they are
severally fed into the machine. In this guide the blank will rest (borne up
in part by the slides c, c, attached to the travelling creasing box) until the
box comes into the position to receive it. Bolted to the underside of the table
b, is a strong cross beam h, which carries a counter die h¹, used in embossing
a crest or other device on the fourth lappet of the envelope. Immediately
above this counter die a drop rod 2 is mounted, which slides freely in a guide
in the cross-head h³, carried by pillars attached to the table b. To the lower
end of this rod a die corresponding to the device on the counter die is fitted,
and the rod is weighted at its upper end in order that it may in its descent
receive the proper percussive force required to emboss the paper.
The rod h² is provided with a projecting pin h', which rests at times on a
sliding spring catch d', mounted on a cross bar d³, which is carried by pillars
bolted to the table b. When this catch is pressed back the weighted rod falls
and imparts the required impress to the lappet of the envelope blank placed
beneath it. The cross bar d³ forms a guide for the three guide rods d of the
creasing plunger d, which rods are secured together by the cross heads d, one
above and the other below the table b.
a rod which carries a saddle piece d'.
keyed to the main driving shaft i, and
guide rod is attached which works through a guide bar a' (attached to the
main framing), and serves to steady the motion of the creasing plunger as it is
worked up and down by the rotation of the cam . The rod of this plunger
during its up and down movements gives motion to the drop die rod h³, and
Pendent from the lower cross head is
This saddle piece encloses a cam d³,
at the lower end of the saddle piece a

page_text: also to the presser of the gumming apparatus, which is situate adjacent
thereto. This presser is secured to and pendent from the cross bar d³, (see
Figure 1.) It consists of a barrel k, in which works a sliding rod k', carrying
at its lower end the pressing pad. A coiled spring in the barrel gives the rod
a tendency to rise and remain in an elevated position. Attached to the rod is
a sliding catch, which is pressed forward by a spring bearing on the rear
end thereof, and when in that position it stands so as to catch against a stop
de, carried by the rod of the plunger d, when that plunger is descending, but it
will slide back and allow the stop to pass on the ascent of the plunger rod.
Another stop on the plunger rod lifts (on its ascent) a hinged piece on the
slide d', and passes beyond it without moving the slide, but on the descent of
the plunger to crease a blank the stop will press upon the hinged piece
and thrust back the catch d', thereby causing its disengagement from the stop
h', and allowing the rod h³ to fall and emboss the required device on the
fourth lappet of the envelope. The rise of this rod to the position shewn in
the Drawing may be effected in any convenient manner. For example, a
weighted rocking lever h³ (Figure 3) may be employed to lift the rod, its
upper and weighted end taking on to a pin on the rod, and its other end being
jointed to a link which connects with a collar he, that slides on one of the
guide rods of the creasing plunger. The cross head to which this guide rod is
attached will as it descends depress the collar and cause the rocking lever to
rise and lift the rod h, until it is caught by the catch d'.
I will now explain the manner in which the creasing box c is actuated, in
order that it may come up at the right moment to receive the blank to be
creased, and then carry away the creased blank and submit it to the action of
the folder, first premising that the gumming trough (which is supplied with
and discharges the gum on the well-known fountain principle) is attached
thereto and moves with the creasing box. Projecting from the under side of
the box c are lugs c', to which is jointed a link c³, secured to a bell crank
lever . This crank lever is supported on a bracket attached to the main
framing, and by means of a link it is jointed to a saddle piece c', pendent from
which is a guide rod that works through the guide bar a'. A pin carried by
this saddle piece enters the groove of a face cam c, keyed to the driving
shaft i. On rotary motion therefore being given to the shaft i, through its
driving pulley, the crank lever c³ will be caused to rock and traverse the
creasing box along the race made for it in the table b. Antifriction rollers
(see Figure 5) are applied to this box to equalize the lateral pressure and
ensure smoothness of motion.
When the creasing box c has arrived with the creased blank at the proper

page_text: position for the folding to be effected, the plunger e is caused to descend and
complete the operation. This plunger is carried by a cross head e', the vertical
guide rods of which are connected (below the table 6) by a second cross head.
Pendent from this cross head is a rod that carries a saddle piece e², and from
the saddle piece depends a guide rod which works in the guide bar a¹.
A pin projects from the face of the saddle piece e, and enters the groove of a
face cam keyed to the driving shaft i; the rotation therefore of this cam will
cause the descent and rise of the plunger e.
I will now describe the construction of this plunger, the functions of which
are to fold down the flaps of the envelope in their proper order, and then to lift
the folded envelope out of the creasing box and discharge it from the machine.
Figure 6 shews in cross section, and Figure 7 in longitudinal section, the
folding plunger e, acting upon the envelope blank which lies in the creasing
box, shewn also in section. The plunger consists of a hollow rectangular frame,
having an air chamber extending around three sides thereof. The under face
of this frame is pierced with fine holes which communicate with the bottom of
the air chamber. Projecting upwards from the top of the chamber is a tube
e, with a lateral opening in it. This tube works through a bracket guide
supported by a pillar on the table b, and also through a collar which forms the
termination of an air pipe es, leading to the exhaust pump f, by the action of
which the finished envelope is caused to adhere to the plunger and rise with it
out of the creasing box. Fitted to the underside of the plunger is a plate e",
supported by sliding rods which pass through the plunger and through the
cross head which carries it. This plate projects downwards some distance in
advance of the under face of the plunger frame, and is intended to catch the
forward lappet as the envelope blank moves forward, and bend it inwards.
At opposite sides of the plunger frame loose slotted plates e, e, are fitted,
their object being to take hold of the side lappets (which have previously been
bent inwards by running in contact with bent spring levers m, m,) jointed to
the table b, and to turn them down over the first lappet. These plates are
supported each by a slot screw, and their lower edges drop below the under
face of the plunger frame. A front plate e completes the plunger. Pendent
from the bracket guide before mentioned is a bent spring, which is passed
behind the plate e, and is intended to press forward the last or fourth lappet,
and turn it under the plunger. As the plunger descends it will straighten the
All
bent spring, and thereby extend its reach and cause it to act as stated.
the lappets being now gathered under the plunger, the plunger descends to com-
plete the fold. In doing this it first strikes on one side the bent levers m, m,
which are provided with inclined projections to receive the pressure of the

page_text: plunger. As the pendent parts of the plunger move down into the creasing.
box they will recede and allow the plunger frame to press upon and finish.the
envelope.
During this downward movement of the plunger frame e, the lateral opening
in the vertical tube will come opposite the mouth of the pipe e, and thus
communication is established between the exhaust pump and the air chamber
of the plunger. The exhaust pump being now set in action in the way to be
hereafter explained, the chamber in the plunger is partially exhausted, and
the envelope is caused to adhere to the plunger, which on its ascent carries
with it the envelope out of the creasing box. As soon, however, as the lateral
opening in the tube e rises above the collar at the end of tho pipe, the
exhaust ceases, and the envelope falls by its own weight out of the machine;
the creasing box having in the meanwhile moved back to receive another
blank. In order to assist the discharge of the finished envelope from the
creasing box c, a plate co is provided, which is supported on guide rods on the
underside of the box, and carries vertical pins, which enter the bottom of the
box, and receive a vertical sliding motion when the plato is forced upwards.
These pins are kept down below the face of the box by coiled springs, which
press on the plate c, as shown at Fig. 2. On the guide rods of the plunger e
are spring catches, which on the descent of the plunger pass the edges of the
plate c without acting upon it, but on the ascent of the plunger they will lift
the plate and cause the pins thereof to raise the envelope out of the creasing
box. The alternate exhaust of the creasing box and the plunger is effected, as
before stated, by the double action of the air pump; whenever, therefore, one
chamber is being exhausted, the other will be filling with air, and thereby
facilitate the operation at that moment required to be effected. The piston
rod of the pumpf receives its motion from a crank arm f' on the shaft i. To
this crank a crank lever f (which has its fulcrum on the main frame) is
connected by a link, and another link completes the connection with the piston
rod. The arrangement of the air pipes will be readily traced by reference to
the several Figures. The disposition of these pipes is, however, immaterial, so
long as a proper communication is maintained between the pump and the
creasing box on the one hand, and the pump and the plunger e on the other.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the envelope
blank is placed in the machine, and the driving shaft is set in motion (the
plunger & being up to admit of the insertion of the blank in the creasing box),
the plunger d will first descend, thrust back the sliding catch, and release the
drop die, and thus the embossing will be effected. The plunger will next force
down the gumming pad, which will press the lappet to be gummed into the

page_text: gumming trough, and the plunger will then complete its descent and crease the
blank. It will now rise, and the creasing box previously exhausted by the
pump will move forward to take up a position immediately under the folder.
During this traverse the side lappets will be encountered by the bent levers or
stops m, m, and inclined inwards, and similarly the forward lappet will be
inclined inwards by coming in contact with the plate e, pendent from the
folder. Immediately the creasing box has reached the end of its course the
folding plunger will descend and exhaustion will commence to take place in it,
while the exhaustion will be cut off from the creasing box, the action of the
pump being at that time reversed. The plunger e will now, in completing its
descent, force down the lappets of the envelope, and then rising will bring with
it the finished envelope. As soon as the exhaust action is stopped, as above
explained, the envelope will drop and be conducted away by an inclined trough
out of the machine. By a repetition of these motions envelopes will be
completed with great rapidity and precision.
Having now described the Invention of improved machinery for making
envelopes, as communicated to me, and explained 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:-
First, the use of a travelling creasing box for carrying the creased blank from
under the creasing plunger to the folder.
Secondly, securing the creased blank in position in the box during the traverse
thereof by the pressure of the atmosphere, as explained.
Thirdly, effecting the inward inclination of the first three lappets of the
blank (ready for the action of the folder) during the forward traverse of the
blank, as explained.
Fourth, the peculiar construction of folding plunger above described, whereby
the folded envelope will be caused to adhere thereto, and rise with it out of the
creasing box.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Keith, have hereunto set my band
and seal, the Fifth day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOHN KEITH. (L.S.)