IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ENVELOPES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ENVELOPES."-A com-
munication.
Sealed the 22nd July 1856, and dated the 6th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th May 1856.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ENVELOPES, to be as
follows:-
This Invention of improved machinery for making envelopes relates to the
construction and operation of a machine for folding and pasting envelopes,
wherein the sheets or blanks are fed in, the edges of the flap pasted, and the
flaps folded down, and the envelope thrown out of the machine automatically.
The machine consists of a substantial frame suitably braced and arranged
for receiving the operating parts, and provided with a double crank shaft with
a fly wheel upon it, through which motion is communicated to the machine by
hand or any other power. To one of the cranks on the main shaft is connected
by one of its ends a connecting rod, the other end of which rod is attached to a

page_text: crank on another shaft suitably supported in bearings below, and at what may
be termed the rear of the machine. By means of the above-described parts
and their connections, the revolving motion of the main crank shaft gives a
rocking motion to the second shaft, and through these two shafts all the
necessary movements are given to the various parts of the machine. At about
the centre of the main shaft is a crank which is connected to a cross head,
which moves in guides firmly attached to the top plate of the machine.
Underneath the cross head, but connected with it, is a follower, which as it
descends carries the blank or sheet to be folded (and which has been pre-
viously placed under it by the feeding apparatus) down through an opening in
the top plate, which opening being of the exact size of the envelope when
folded, and corresponding also with the follower in size and shape, folds or
bends up the flaps of the envelope, and deposits it on the folding board below,
and where it is afterwards entirely completed, as will be hereafter explained.
The blanks are fed in on a table, (which may be a prolongation of the top.
plate,) and through the centre of which longitudinally is cut a slot to receive a
plate which carries the two feeders, which are made to traverse by means of
an arm on the rock shaft below. The feeding plates have lips upon them
which catch into the corners of the blanks, and not only adjust the blank
properly as it is progressed towards the folding apparatus, but carry it there at
the exact time that the follower in its descent will take and carry it down to
the folders. Upon the feeding table are two inclined planes, one on each side
of the path of the feeding plates, and as the blanks are caught and carried.
forward by the first feeding plate, they pass over the inclined planes, and
catching under their projecting ends, there remain, whilst the said plate returns
for another blank. Just previous to the return of the first plate, or rather
while it is still carrying up the blank; two points are thrown up from below
the table which catch and. hold the. blank; these points fitting into the front
corners of the: blank, so that. there are four devices at the four scollops or.
corners of the blank, all tending to place it in the exact position required to
pass through the upper plate to the folders. on the plate below it.:
There are two feeding, plates, and the first. one only carries up the blank
half way from where it received the blank, and returns: for a second one. From
the point where the first one leaves the blank, it. is: again caught and carried.
up the remaining distance by the second. feeding plate, which leaves it imme-
diately over the opening of the top plate, and held in readiness for the follower?
whilst the second plate returns to bring up the succeeding blank: The object::
in having two feeding plates, each one carrying up the. blank one-half the dis-
tance,. instead of a single feeding plate carrying it up the whole. distance, is this;

page_text: that the product of the machine is only limited by the quantity of sheets that
can be fed to it, the feeding being the most difficult portion of the operation.
If a single feeding plate were used, there would not be time sufficient at
its return movement to lay on the sheet; besides, whilst the envelope is
being made, at which period there might be a momentary stoppage of the
feeding plate without detriment, it (the feeding plate) is not in any convenient
position for receiving the blank, as it has not yet returned clear of the moving
parts of the machine; the long distance it would have to travel would require
it to be kept in constant motion to keep pace with the other parts of the
machine, with which it must keep perfect time. When the blank is brought
and deposited immediately over the opening, through which it is after-
wards to pass, the paste is applied which fastens the flaps together after
they are folded down. Two supporting brackets are pivoted to the top plate
of the machine, and support the gum or paste box. To the said paste
box is attached one end of a rod, the other end of the said rod being con-
nected to the upper end of a lever, which is pivoted in an arm projecting from
the lower or folding plate of the machine. A bent arm on the rocking shaft
below throws or carries the paste box forwards and upwards, until the paste
rolls are brought in contact with the pasters, which receive a portion of the
paste or gum, and carry it down and place it upon the edge of the large flap,
which afterwards is folded down upon the end flaps, and thus pastes the whole
together.
The blank envelope having been furnished with the paste to stick its flaps
together, is pushed through the opening in the top plate by the follower, and
has its four flaps partially turned or folded up by the operation, and laid upon
the moveable block of the folding plate, where four folders 1, 2, 3, 4, imme-
diately fold down the flaps in the following order, viz. :—when the end flaps are
not long enough to overlap each other, the folders 1, 2, may come down
together; next, the folder 3 falls, which bends down the pasted flap; and, lastly,
folder 4 falls, and completes the envelope. The four holders are all operated
from the rocking shaft before mentioned, and the variable motion they have is
given to them by the peculiar shape or lead of the cams operating them.
Should the end flaps overlap, then the folders should come down in their
numerical order, which can readily be done by a slight variation of the cam.
slots operating them.
The folders are provided with what an ordinary butt hinge would be when
the hinged portion was shielded. It is found that when one part of the hinge
moves and the other is stationary, it will drag upon the half-made envelope,
and turn or twist it out of its place. Besides there is the liability of the

page_text: edges of the paper getting into the joints of the hinge, and clogging up the
machine. This is avoided by so forming the hinge that it offers none of its
joints to the paper, and presents a uniform moving surface to the envelope.
The folding block is hinged to the underside of the folding plate, and by
closing up entirely the opening through the said folding plate, becomes the bed
upon which the envelope is folded. When the envelope is folded the hinged
block is caused to drop, and allow the finished envelope to drop out and fall
upon an inclined board, by which it is directed into a receptacle, where the
finished envelopes are counted into regular packages.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William Edward Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Edward Newton, 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 Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING
ENVELOPES," being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 performed,
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 William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention of improvements in machines for making envelopes," relates
to the construction and operation of a machine for folding and pasting
envelopes, wherein the sheets or blanks are fed in, the edges of the flap pasted,
and the flaps folded down, and the envelope thrown out of the machine auto-
matically, in a manner that will be hereafter described.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use this Invention, I will
proceed to describe the same with reference to the Drawings, in which Fig. 1
represents a perspective view of the entire machine. Fig. 2 represents in
perspective the folding plates and the parts in immediate connection with
them. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section through the operative parts of the
machine, showing their different positions or movements by dotted and black
lines. Fig. 4 represents in perspective, and on an enlarged scale, the pasting
apparatus detached from the machine. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of
the cam plates detached, which operate the folding leaves to turn down the
flaps of the envelope. Fig. 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of
one of the folding leaves detached. Similar letters where they occur in the
several Figures denote corresponding parts in all.
A represents a substantial frame suitably braced and arranged for receiving
the operating parts of the machine; B is a double crank shaft with a balance
or fly-wheel C upon it, through which motion is communicated to the machine
by hand or any other power. To one of the cranks D on the main shaft B is
connected by one of its ends a connecting rod E, the other end of which rod
is attached to a crank F on the shaft G suitably supported in bearings H
below, and at what may be termed the rear of the machine. By means of
the above-mentioned parts and their connections the revolving motion of the:
main crank shaft B gives a rocking motion to the second shaft G, and through
these two shafts all the necessary movements are given to the various parts of
the machine. At about the centre of the main shaft B is a crank I, to which
is attached one end of the pitman or connecting rod J, the other end of which
is connected to a crosshead K, which moves in guides L, L, firmly attached:
to the top plate M of the machine. Underneath the crosshead K, but con-
nected with it, is a follower N, which as it descends carries down the blank or.
sheet to be folded (and which has been previously placed under it by the
feeding apparatus). The sheet passes down through an opening O in the top
plate M, which opening being of the exact size of the envelope when folded,
and corresponding also with the follower in size and shape, folds or bends up:
the flaps of the envelope and deposits it. on the folding board P below, where it!

page_text: is afterwards entirely completed, as will be hereafter explained. The blanks
are fed in on a table Q, which may be a prolongation of the top plate M, and
through the centre of this table is cut longitudinally a slot R to receive a
plate S, which carries the two feeders T, T, which are made to traverse along
the table Q, the plate S receiving its traversing movement from the arm U on
the rock shaft G below by means of the connecting rod V, which is attached
to the said arm U and to a piece W projecting from the underside of the
plate S, as seen in Fig. 3. The feeding plates T, T", have lips a, a, upon
them which catch into the corners of the blanks, and not only adjust the
blank properly as it is progressed towards the folding apparatus, but carry it
there at the exact time that the follower in its descent will take and carry
it down to the folders. Upon the table Q are two inclined planes b, one on
each side of the path of the feeding plates, and as the blanks are caught and
carried forward by the first feeding plate T they pass over the inclined planes
b, b, and catching under their projecting ends there remain whilst the plate T
returns for another blank. Just previous to the return of the plate T, or
rather while it is still carrying up the blank, two points c, c, Fig. 3, are thrown
up from below the table, and catch and hold the blank. These points fit into
the front corners of the blank as the lips a, a, do in the rear corners, so that
there are four instruments at the four scollops or corners of the blank, all
tending to place it in the exact position required to pass through the upper
plate to the folders on the plate below it. d, d, are guards, under which the
extended end flaps of the envelope pass to keep it from rising from the
feeding plates or from leaving them. The points c, c, are operated as
follows: Underneath the front end of the table Q are lugs or ears e, e,
Fig. 3, in which rests a rock shaft having two long arms f extending there-
from, and each terminating in one of the points or stops c. Upon the same
shaft is also placed a cam-shaped bar g, against which the projection W
strikes as it comes back, and by giving to the shaft to which it is attached
a partial rotation, draws the stops c, c, down through the table; the stops are
held in this position so long as the projection W remains upon the bar g, but
as soon as the projection W leaves the bar, a coiled spring pulls the shaft
back again, and throws up the points c, c, in time to catch the blank when it
arrives there.
It will be perceived that there are two feeding plates, and that the first
one T only carries up the blank half way from where it received the blank,
and returns for a second one. From the point where T leaves the blank it is
again caught and carried up the remaining distance by the second feeding.
late T¹, which leaves it immediately. over the opening Q in the top plate in:

page_text: readiness for the descent of the plunger or follower N, whilst the plate T
returns to bring up the succeeding blank. The object in having two feeding
plates, each one carrying up the blank one half the distance, instead of a single
feeding plate carrying it up the whole distance, is this, that the product of the
machine is only limited by the quantity of sheets that can be fed to it, the
feeding being the most difficult portion of the operation. If a single feeding
plate were used, there would not be time sufficient at its return movement to
lay on the sheet; besides, whilst the envelope is being made, at which period
there might be a momentary stoppage of the feeding plate without detriment;
it (the feeding plate) is not in a convenient position for receiving the blank;
as it has not yet returned clear of the moving parts of the machine: the long
distance it would have to travel would require it to be kept in constant motion:
to keep pace with the other parts of the machine, with which it must keep
perfect time. But by using the double plates it will be seen that the one T
is ready to receive the blank when the other T has only travelled half way
between the folding apparatus and the feeding point h, and that each one
travelling but half the distance need only have half the velocity that a single
feeding plate would require to move through the whole distance. Besides
the plate T, which receives the sheet or blank, is always under the eye of the
operator, and can the better be kept pace with on that account.
When the blank is brought and deposited immediately over the opening
through which it is afterwards to pass, the paste is applied which fastens the
flaps together after they are folded down as follows:-X, X, are two supporting
brackets, attached to the top plate M. To these brackets are pivoted, at i, i,
(see Fig. 4,) the arms j, j, which support the gum or paste box Y; to said
paste box is attached one end of a rod k, the other end of said rod being con-
nected to the upper end of a lever Z, which is pivoted in an arm 7, projecting
from the lower or folding plate of the machine; a bent arm m on the rocking
shaft G below strikes against the lower end of the lever Z and throws or
carries the paste box forwards and upwards until the paste rolls n, n, (Figures'
1 and 4,) are brought in contact with the pasters o, o, which receive a portion
of the paste or gum and carry it (by a movement that will be hereafter
described) down and place it upon the edge of the large flap, which afterwards
is folded down upon the end flaps, and thus pastes the whole together. The
paste rolls n, n, rotate in the paste for bringing up to the pasters o,. o, a fresh
supply; this rotation is achieved through the ratchet wheels p, p, on the shafts:
of the rolls and the stationary pawles 2, q, against which said ratchets strike as:
the paste box is drawn downwards and backward by the contraction of the
coiled spring r connected to the lever, Z after the said lever is released from

page_text: the action of the arm m. The pasters o, o, are operated as follows:-On the
main shaft B (see Fig. 1) is a cam s, which, as it revolves with the shaft B,
strikes against a friction roll t at the upper end of bar u. The lower end of
bar u is attached to an arm v, on a rocking shaft w, and imparts to this shaft
its rocking motion. On the shaft w is another arm a, to which the pasters
are attached by a stirrup y. The frame carrying the pasters is pivoted at ;
thus the paste box operated from the rocking shaft G, and the pasters operated
from the main shaft B, keep perfect pace with each other, and with the other
moving parts of the machine. The raising up of the pasters after they have
deposited the gum on the flap of the envelope is done by the contraction of
the coiled spring u* connected to the bar u. The blank envelope, having been
furnished with the paste to stick its flaps together, is pushed through the
opening o in the top plate by the follower N, and has its four flaps partially
turned or folded up by the operation and laid upon the moveable block P of
the folding plate, where the four folders 1, 2, 3, 4, immediately fold down the
flaps in the following order, viz:-When the end flaps are not long enough to
overlap each other, the folders 1, 2, may come down together, next the folder 3
falls, which bends down the pasted flap, and, lastly, the folder 4 falls and com-
pletes the envelope. The four folders are all operated from the rocking
shaft G before mentioned, and the variable motion they have is given to them
by the peculiar shape of the cams that operate them. Should the end flaps
overlap, then the folders should come down in their numerical order, which
can readily be done by a slight variation of the cam slots operating them.
The folding and delivering devices are arranged and operated together as
follows: Underneath the folding or lower plate A¹ are grooved ways B',
Fig. 5, in which cam-slotted plates C', C', are made to reciprocate by means
of the arms D', D', on the rocking shaft G, and the rods E', E', connecting
them together. On top of the plate A¹ are pivoted, at the opposite corners,
two straight levers F¹, F, and two bell crank levers G', G', Fig. 2. In the
points of the straight levers F' are pins H', which pass through openings I'
in the plate A', and thence into the slots a¹ in the plate C', Fig. 5. The
slots a are so made that the plate may move through the greater part of its
path without moving the stud or pin H', or until the sharp or abrupt part of
the cam slot a takes it, when it is suddenly moved, and then rests until that
part of the cam returns again. On the other arms of each of the bell cranks
are studs c¹, c', to which are attached rods d', d', extending to the folders 3, 4,
and in like manner operate them at proper times.
At Fig. 6 an enlarged view of one of the folders is given to show its par-
ticular construction. The folders are provided with what an ordinary butt

page_text: hinge would be when the hinged portion was shielded. It is found that, when
one part of the hinge moves and the other is stationary, it will drag upon the
half-made envelope and turn or twist it out of its place; besides, there is the
liability of the edges of the paper getting into the joints of the hinge and
clogging up the machine. This is prevented by so forming the hinge that it
offers none of its joints to the paper, and presents an uniform moving surface
to the envelope. The folding block P, (Fig. 3,) is hinged at 6 to the underside
of the folding plate A', and by closing up entirely the opening through the
said folding plate it becomes the bed upon which the envelope is folded, and
the swell of the hinges of the folders moving in the are of a circle fit up closely
against the four edges of this block P. The lever 10 is operated by an arm 14
on the rocking shaft G, through the intervention of a slotted bar 15, having a
stop or pin at 16 against which the arm 14 strikes and trips the lever 10.
When the envelope is folded, the hinged block P is caused to drop and allow
the finished envelope to drop out and fall upon the inclined board 17, by which
it is directed into a receptacle, where the finished envelopes are counted into
regular packages. When the arm 14 returns to the end of the slot, Fig. 1,
in the bar 15, it draws back the said bar and throws the lever 10 into a
vertical position, as seen in Fig. 3, and raises the block P into position to
receive the next envelope, the vertical position of said lever 10 sustaining the
block P against the action of the folders when they come against it to press
down the flaps of the envelope. The blank is carried up horizontally and
placed over the opening O, and there paste is put upon it. From this point it
is driven down vertically, completed, and thrown out, thus having but two
movements in feeding, pasting, folding, and delivering the envelope. The
black lines in Fig. 3 show the positions of the several parts when the machine
is ready to receive a blank, and the dotted lines represent the positions of the
same parts when the finished envelope is thrown out of the machine.
Having thus fully described the nature of the Invention that has been com-
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, as aforesaid, I claim as new,
and desire to secure by Letters Patent,―
First, the general arrangement of the mechanism herein shewn and de-
scribed, or any mere modification thereof, in which the feeding, gumming,
partial and complete folding, and delivering devices are operated from two
shafts so connected together that the rotary motion of one shall give a rocking
motion to the other.
I also claim the feeding up of the blanks by the two feeding plates, each
one carrying it forward a portion of the distance, and delivering it against stops

page_text: or guides, from whence it is carried through the machine and completed, as
herein described. .
I also claim the combined operation of the paste box and pasters, the
former operated from the rocking shaft, and the latter from the revolving
one.
I also claim, in combination with the block P, the folders 1, 2, 3, 4, the
hinged joints of which are covered and the swell of the hinges facing each
other for the purpose set forth.
I also claim, in combination with the folders 1, 2, 3, 4, tlie sliding cams. C',
with their several connections for operating said folders, in the order and
manner substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)