Improvements in Gumming Machines for Envelopes and Stationery.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left. 26th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gumming Machines for Envelopes and Stationery.
We CAROLINE NEWMAN BINTCLIFFE of 42 Hilldrop Crescent, Camden Road,
Stationer, and JOHN WALKER of Farringdon House, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Manufacturing Stationer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention has reference more particularly to the application of gum
or other adhesive material to already folded envelopes, in such a manner, that the
adhesive material may be applied in any desired position.
Hitherto the gum or other adhesive material for sticking down the closing flap of
envelopes has been applied at or near the edges of the said flap, and difficulties have
been found in applying it, except by hand, in any other position.
The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical device for applying
the gum or other adhesive material in any desired position, and more particularly in
such a position on the body of the envelope, that the closing flap, ungummed, and
merely moistened, will fold down on the gummed body, and adhere thereto.
In constructing a machine according to this invention, a table or platform is
provided furnished with guides for receiving a pile of envelopes to be gummed. The
adhesive material is contained in a vessel having a downward discharge, closed by
pieces of felt or similar material, which become saturated with the adhesive solution.
This vessel is supported on a pendent telescopic rod, which permits of the
depression of the vessel towards the work. The vessel has also a to and fro movement,
to bring it precisely over that part of the work intended to receive the gum or other
adhesive material so that when the depression of the gum vessel takes place the
adhesive material is applied in the desired position.
The movements of the machine may conveniently be effected through the agency
of treadles the operation of which leaves the hands of the operator free to manipulate
the work.
Improvements in Gumming Machines for Envelopes and Stationery.
We CAROLINE NEWMAN BINTCLIFFE, 42 Hilldrop Crescent, Camden Road, Stationer,
and JOHN WALKER, of Farringdon House, Warwick Lane, E.C., Manufacturing
Stationer, 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 :-
The present invention has reference more particularly to the application of gum,

page_text: or other adhesive material, to already folded envelopes, in such a manner that the
adhesive material may be applied in any desired position.
Hitherto the gum, or other adhesive material, for sticking down the closing flap of
envelopes, has been applied at or near the edges of the said flap, and difficulties have
been found in applying it, except by hand, in any other position.
The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical device for applying
the gum, or other adhesive material, in any desired position, and, more particularly,
in such a position on the body of the envelope, that the closing flap, ungummed, and
merely moistened, will, when folded down on the gummed body, adhere thereto in the
manner described in the Specification relating to the application in our names dated
7th August, 1896, No. 17473, the said Specification being filed at the Patent Office
simultaneously with the present description.
The accompanying drawing shows a machine constructed in accordance with the
present invention.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation ;
Fig. 2 a front view; and
Fig. 3 a plan.
Fig. 4 shows an envelope which has been gummed by the machine, as herein
shown.
The machine comprises a table or platform A, furnished with adjustable guides or
gauges a, a¹, for registering the position of the envelope or other work to be gummed.
Upon the table A is mounted a framework B, from the cross bar 6 of which,
depends the telescopic rod C. This rod C, which is placed immediately over the place
to be occupied by the envelope, supports the gummer D, which is a vessel containing
the adhesive material. This vessel need not be of any particular form, but is adapted
in shape to the work in hand. To this end, means are provided for detaching one
gummer, and substituting another, of different form, when a change in the character
of the work is contemplated. In cross section, the gumming vessel D is V shaped,
and has a slit at the bottom, through which the adhesive material issues. The slit is
wrapped with flannel and edged with felt, which, becoming saturated, provides a
suitable gumming surface for applying the adhesive material to the work to be
gummed.
When the work is in position to be gummed, the gummer D is caused to descend
by elongating the telescopic rod C, which may be effected by hand, by the hook c, or
by means of a treadle, not shown in the drawing. The return of the gummer to its
position of rest is effected by a spring, indicated in dotted lines, within the tubular
telescopic rod C.
Besides the up-and-down motion, the gummer has a to-and-fro motion, to provide
for a wiping action of the gummer on the work.
This is provided for by carrying the cross bar b on the ends of sliding arms b, b³,
which are inserted in tubes f2 forming part of the frame B. These arms are
elastically held within their tubes by means of springs, as indicated in the drawing,
but are capable of being drawn out, when pulled, to provide for the wiping action
referred to. An adjusting screw e is furnished for limiting the movement to the
desired extent.
A supply of adhesive solution is carried in the vessel F, which is furnished with a
tap f and a trough fi, for replenishing the gumming vessel D, when required.
It will be seen that, with the aid of this machine, gum may be applied to the
work in any desired position. As the gummer always descends and moves with
accuracy and precision, it will only be necessary in order to ensure that the gum is
applied at the part or parts required, to adjust the position of the work beneath the
gummer, which will have an outlet of suitable form, and to fix the screw e, in order
to limit the wiping action of the gummer to the desired extent.
Instead of the telescopic rod, it is obvious that some other form of reciprocating
carriage for the gummer may be used, if preferred.
:

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The hereinbefore described gumming machine, comprising a table and guides for
the work, and a gummer supplied with adhesive material for acting thereon, the said
gummer having up-and-down and to-and-fro movements, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of April 1897
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.