Improvements in Machinery for Folding and Gumming Envelopes and for Printing thereon either Simultaneously or Independently.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Folding and Gumming Envelopes
and for Printing thereon either Simultaneously or Independently.
I WILLIAM HENRY HOOK, of Fairholme, Elsie Road, East Dulwich, in the
County of Surrey, Envelope Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for folding envelopes and
printing at same time under one operation the machinery being so arranged that
may be used as a printing machine without folding; a folding machine without
printing, or for printing, folding and gumming down the lappets of envelopes at
one operation.
This I effect by using a hollow metal box (fixed on a table) in which ordinary
type is placed, the four sides of the box forming a solid base to receive pressure
from a plunger which is worked by a cam, this said plunger forming also a
tympanum or pressure pad, and at same time impressing a damp line on the parts
of the envelopes to be folded which causes same to yield at the damp line and the
lappits of the envelopes are easily put into their proper position.
The envelopes are gummed on the parts required at the same time by rising
metal blades acted upon by a lever.
The printing ink is conveyed to the surface of the type by suitable rollers as
used for ordinary printing, the spindles of which work in a moveable frame and
are worked forward and backward by a crank lever movement attached to disc on
shaft so arranged as to give time for placing the blanks in the guides or gauges.
Dated this 7th day of December 1892.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Folding and Gumming Envelopes
and for Printing thereon either Simultaneously or Independently.
I WILLIAM HENRY HOOK, of Fairholme, Elsie Road, East Dulwich, in the
County of Surrey, Envelope Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved machine whereby envelope blanks can be
folded, gummed, and printed simultaneously.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a stand, preferably of cast-iron,
carrying mechanism for damping, i.e. creasing, and hence folding, gumming and
printing envelope blanks; and gear for driving the same by power.
The mechanism for damping and gumming presents in its main features no
particular novelty, being such as used generally, with the exception of some details
of fitting hereinafter more fully referred to.
The characteristic feature of my invention is the combination of a printing
apparatus with the creasing and gumming mechanism hitherto used.
This printing apparatus comprises mechanism for imparting a motion to the
inking rollers which are propelled over a concave ink slab supplied with printing
ink from an ink-duct placed at the bottom of the slab, and upon the type which is
contained in the creasing-box fixed to the bed of the machine the four sides of

page_text: which box are likewise used to crease the envelopes, where they are to be folded.
This type-box is surrounded by tray containing liquid gum.
The tympanum-plate is a feature of my invention.
The plunger-box which creases and damps the envelopes contains the tympanum-
plate for giving pressure for printing and is actuated by a disk, which disk is
keyed to the main-shaft working in the head of machine and driven by gear-
wheels from the fast pulley at back. The cam is a fixture on the slide, and
imparts a vertical rise and fall to such slide, to which is fixed the creasing-box
and tympanum formed in a brass guide fixed to the framing of the machine.
The beforementioned disk is mounted on the upper horizontal shaft whereon is
keyed at the rear a toothed-wheel gearing with a pinion mounted on a stud. The
sleeve of the pinion carries a fast and a loose pulley. The inking-rollers are
driven by a weighted lever and a set of connecting-rods which receive their motion
from an upper lever actuated by the driving mechanism.
The envelope blank is placed on the creasing and type-box and at one descent of
the plunger it is creased and printed at the same time.
In the accompanying drawing where like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention, while Fig. 2 shows a side elevation
thereof.
a is the plunger carrying the printing and damping pressure-plates ; and the
tympanum plates m, the former acting on the four sides of the type-box y carried
by the stand or framing t.
b is the cam for giving the requisite motion to the inking-rollers v, v (Fig. 2) by
means of the connecting-rods s.
As the cam 6 revolves, the roller h¹ pivoted to the end of the upper lever h
rolls upon the cam-path until the said cam has revolved sufficiently to bring the
recessed portion b¹ round to the said roller ', the latter is forced to travel around
saine, being guided therein by the latch or guide 62. By this means the roller end
of the upper lever his raised and the opposite end consequently depressed, thereby
causing the inking-rollers v, v to travel up the path q by the action of the con-
necting-rods s, over the bridges P, P, and to ink the type in the box y, in their
journey, and as the cam revolves further, causing the said rollers to descend the
path again.
The springs r, r to one end of which the axle of the rollers v, v is joined,
maintain the rollers upon the path q.
The upper lever h is supported by a vertical standard h³ from the table of the
machine.
u (Fig. 2) is a ratchet-wheel which is acted upon by the pawl u¹ upon the end
of the rod s which is connected to the connecting-rods & as shown.
This ratchet and pawl movement serves to regulate the supply of the printing-
ink from the duct to the rollers.
c is the cam for giving motion to the plunger, the pin c (Fig. 1) of which cam
moves in the cam-path or slotted guide e.
fis the gumming-device. (Fig. 1) is the upper lever, s is the connecting-rods
coupled together, g is the bracket supporting the plunger. k, k, (Fig. 1) are
guides or rods supporting the gumming pressure plates 1, l. w (Fig. 1) is the
weighted lever aforesaid.
As the driving-pulley o revolves and imparts a motion to the toothed-wheel x
(Fig. 2) the cam c (Fig. 2) mounted on the same shaft as the latter, raises the
plunger to allow the removal of the creased and printed envelope-blank and the
insertion of a fresh one, while at the same time the inking-rollers r. v are moved
forward to ink the type. To prevent the said inking-rollers v. v. inking the
sides of the pressure-box, y I use four metal bridges p. p as shewn, in Fig. 2 on
the roller guides or paths q. As the pulley continues to rotate, the plunger a now
descends and with it the gumming-device f, thus damping-and hence creasing,
gumming and printing the envelope blank.

page_text: 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 :-
The combination with mechanism for creasing by damping, and for gumming
envelope-blanks, of mechanism for simultaneously printing at the back of the said
blank, substantially as herein described and shown."
Dated this 7th day of September 1893.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.