Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Closing or Fastening of Envelopes, Wrappers, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Closing or Fastening
of Envelopes, Wrappers, and the like.
We, JOHN MACFARLANE, of 112 Dalry Road, Edinburgh, N.B. Engineer, and
OLIVER PRESCOTT MACFARLANE, of 4 Cheverton Villas Hornsey Rise, in the
County of Middlesex, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the closing or fastening of
envelopes, wrappers and the like.
Our said invention is equally advantageous whether large or small numbers of
envelopes, or the like have to be dealt with.
One method heretofore practised of facilitating the closing of envelopes, wrappers
or the like when large quantities have to be dealt with is to arrange the envelopes
or the like in a pile with the flaps or portions to be damped spread or fanned out so
as to display a continuous series of gummed surfaces to be damped and then to pass
a wet sponge, cloth or brush over the exposed surfaces, thus damping the whole
series in one operation. This method necessitates the taking of considerable care in
spreading the envelopes or the like if the damping is to be performed satisfactorily
and consequently occupies much time.
Our invention obviates the necessity of using a wet sponge or cloth in the manner
above described and also dispenses with the trouble of spreading or fanning out the
envelopes or the like and thereby saves considerable time.
An important feature of our said invention is that in the use of our apparatus
each envelope or the like is treated separately and the gummed surface is not
damped until the moment it is required to be closed or fastened. We thereby
obviate the possibility of a number of envelopes becoming fastened together, as is
sometimes the case in the process above described.
According to our invention we arrange the envelopes, wrappers or the like one
upon another in close proximity to the damping mechanism, and in such relation
with the said mechanism that the act of withdrawing the uppermost envelope or
the like of the series, damps the gummed surface of the said envelope and leaves
the next below in a position to be damped in the same way when it in turn is
withdrawn, the damping mechanism being always in the same position relatively to
the uppermost member of the series. After each envelope or the like is damped on
its gummed edge as above described it is according to our invention placed under
a press to which lever power may be applied. In the act of placing the envelopes
or the like under the said press the flaps will be turned down, and when a number
of letters or the like have been placed in the said press, the lever power is brought
to bear on the same which securely fastens the whole of the envelopes or the like
at the same time.
One method of carrying our invention into practice is as follows; we employ a
hollow cylinder of wire gauze closed at the ends by discs of. metal or of other
suitable material and having its periphery covered with felt, cloth or the like.
The said cylinder forms a damping roller and is mounted on a spindle so as to be
capable of rotation in suitable bearings provided for the purpose. The said bearings
are preferably secured to a cylindrical metal case which is constructed in two parts
hinged together and in which the damping roller is contained. The said metal
case is attached to two vertical rods which slide in two metal sleeves or guides
secured to a suitable framework. We sometimes arrange spiral springs in the said
guides so that the metal case and damping roller are continually pressed downward.
The damping roller is either entirely filled with water or it may be partially filled

page_text: up with a rod or bar of any convenient section, and the space remaining around
such rod or bar filled with water. The water contained in the roller is distributed
upon the periphery thereof through the interstices of the wire gauze cylinder.
Portions of the cloth or felt covering of the damping roller may be cut so as to be
capable of being turned back to enable the cylinder to be replenished with water
when necessary. Or one of the metal ends of the cylinder may be made removable
to allow of the cylinder being refilled with water. The metal case only covers a
portion of the surface of the damping roller leaving a part exposed, and a plate is
suitably pivoted on the framework so as to continually press towards the uncovered
portion of the damping roller. The envelopes or the like have their gummed
portions bent up at an angle and are piled on the base board so that the bent up
or folded portions come between the damping roller and the pivoted plate above
mentioned. The case which contaius the damping roller may have on its lower
Hinged. portion studs or projections arranged to bear on the top of the pile of
envelopes or the like.
The said lower hinged portion of the casing forms a receiver for any water which
may drain from the surface of the damping roller and thus prevents such water
from falling upon the pile of envelopes or the like.
-
In some cases we dispense with the springs for giving a downward pressure to
the cylinder, and we weight the said cylinder instead to give the required pressure
upon the envelopes or the like in the apparatus.
When the top envelope or the like is withdrawn from the pile, the folded flap in
being pulled out from between the pivoted plate and the uncovered portion of the
damping roller is damped. In the act of withdrawing the said envelope or the like,
the roller is caused to rotate, and therefore every part of the gummed surface is
brought into contact with a fresh part of the roller surface and the damping is
consequently efficiently done. As each envelope or the like is removed, the roller
and its case descend and rest upon the next envelope or the like in the series, so
that the casing of the said roller always remains in contact with the uppermost
member of the series of envelopes or the like, and retains the said series in position.
It is obvious that we may by our said apparatus apply liquid gum to envelopes
or the like instead of merely damping already gummed envelopes.
Dated this 13th day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Closing or Fastening
of Envelopes, Wrappers, and the like.
We, JOHN MACFARLANE Engineer and OLIVER PRESCOTT MACfarlane,
Accountant both of 4 Cheverton Villas, Hornsey Rise, in the County of Middlesex,
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:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the closing or fastening of
envelopes wrappers and the like.
Our said invention is equally advantageous whether large or small numbers of
envelopes or the like have to be dealt with.
One method heretofore practised of facilitating the closing of envelopes, wrappers
or the like when large quantities have to be dealt with is to arrange the envelopes
or the like in a pile with the flaps or portions to be damped, spread or fanned out
so as to display a continuous series of gummed surfaces to be damped and then to
pass a wet sponge, cloth or brush over the exposed surfaces, thus damping the
whole series in one operation. This method necessitates the taking of considerable

page_text: care in spreading the envelopes or the like if the damping is to be performed
satisfactorily and consequently occupies much time.
Our invention obviates the necessity of using a wet sponge or cloth in the manner
above described and also dispenses with the trouble of spreading or fanning out the
envelopes or the like and thereby saves considerable time.
"
An important feature of our said invention is that in the use of our apparatus
each envelope is treated separately and the gummed surface is not damped until the
moment the envelope or the like is required to be closed or fastened, we thereby
avoid the possibility of a number of envelopes becoming fastened together as is
sometimes the case in the process above described.
According to our invention we arrange the envelopes, wrappers.or the like one
upon another in close proximity to the damping mechanism, and in such relation to
the said mechanism that the act of withdrawing the uppermost member of the series
damps the proper portion of the said member and leaves the next below in a position
to be damped in a similar manner when it in turn is withdrawn, the damping
mechanism being always in the same position relatively to the uppermost member
of the series. After each envelope or the like is damped on its gummed side as
above described it may be placed under a press to which lever power can be
applied. In the act of placing the envelopes or the like under the said press the
flaps will be turned down, and when a number of letters or the like have been
placed in the said press, the lever power is brought to bear on the same which
securely fastens the whole of the envelopes or the like at the same time. In
general the pressure of the hand alone will be found sufficient to firmly close the
envelope.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a front view of our improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a side view partly sectional of the same.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are detail views of the damping roller.
A is a base to which is secured the frame B which supports the damping
mechanism by means of sleeves B' which are either connected by a hinged joint B
or form part of or are firmly secured to, the upper portion of the said frame.
C, C are rods which are secured to the upper part C¹ of a cylindrical casing the
lower portion C of the said casing being hinged at C to the upper part thereof.
The damping roller is formed of a wire gauze cylinder D which is surrounded with
a covering D¹ of cloth, felt or the like and is supported by or encloses a prismatic
core D' which may be of any suitable shape the core D' has discs D³ secured to its
ends to which the gauze cylinder is fastened in any suitable manner and which are
furnished with thumb screws D' to hold the cloth or felt covering in place. The
roller is mounted on a spindle D' which is supported in bearings C in the ends of
the cylindrical casing. Care spiral springs the upper ends of which bear against
caps B' screwed on or otherwise secured to the sleeves B' their lower ends press on
the upper part of casing C¹ and thereby exert a continual downward pressure on
the said casing and damping roller. We provide tubes Co which are secured to the
said upper part of the casing and slide in the sleeves B¹ the said tubes cover the
springs when they are extended. In some instances when the core D' of the damping
roller is solid and heavy we may dispense with the said springs. We provide a
simple catch by means of which the roller is held in its uppermost position while
the envelopes or the like are being piled as hereinafter explained. This catch may
be of any suitable form and is not shewn in the figure. The cylindrical casing C₁C
only covers a portion of the damping roller leaving a part exposed as shewn at D'
and a plate E pivoted on the frame at continually presses towards the uncovered
portion D of the damping roller. The envelopes or the like I have their gummed
portions F1 bent up at an angle and are piled on the base as shewn so that the said
gummed portions come between the damping roller and the pivoted plate, a strip A¹
secured or formed on the base serving as a stop or guide in piling the said envelopes
or the like. Studs or projections Care provided on the lower hinged portion C*

page_text: of the cylindrical casing so as to bear on the top of the pile of envelopes or the
like. The space D' between the core D' and the gauze cylinder D of the damping
roller is filled with water which is distributed upon the periphery of the said
damping roller through the interstices of the ganze cylinder. The lower hinged
portion of the casing forms a receiver for any water which may drain from the
surface of the damping roller and thus prevents such water from falling on the pile
of envelopes or the like.
When the top envelope or the like is withdrawn from the pile the folded flap Fl
in being pulled out from between the pivoted plate E and the exposed portion D
of the damping roller is damped. In the act of withdrawing the said envelope or
the like, the roller is caused to rotate, and therefore every part of the gummed
surface is brought into contact with a fresh part of the roller surface and the
damping is very efficiently done. As each envelope or the like is removed the
roller and its case descend under the action of the springs C or owing to the weight
of the parts and rest upon the next envelope or the like in the series, so that the
casing of the said roller always remains in contact with the uppermost member of
the series of envelopes or the like and retains the said series in position.
In order that the roller may be replenished with water when necessary one of the
discs D' may be made removable and the roller filled from the end, or we may cut
a portion of the cloth or felt covering of the roller so as to be capable of being
turned back as shewn at D in Figure 5 the roller is then placed in a pan of water
which then soaks in through the opening in the cloth or felt covering until the
space in the roller is filled with the same.
It is obvious that we may by our said apparatus apply liquid gum to envelopes
or the like instead of merely damping the already gummed surfaces of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A machine for damping or gumming envelopes or the like, said machine
having a roller which contains the damping or gumming medium and which is so
arranged that as each envelope or the like is withdrawn from a pile the edge of the
flap passes under the said roller and is thereby damped or gummed.
2. A. machine for damping envelopes or the like so constructed and arranged that
in the act of withdrawing the envelopes or the like from the pile every part of the
gummed surface of the same is brought into contact with a fresh part of the
damping roller substantially as described.
3. A damping roller constructed substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
4. A. machine for damping envelopes or the like constructed substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as specified.
Dated this 13th day of August 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.