IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS COATES of 46 Hill Street, Totterdown in the city and county of
Bristol, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS" to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
paper bags, from webs of paper, of the form known in the trade as 'square" or
"block bottomed "paper bags, and has for its object the increase of the output from
one machine and the consequent economy in the manufacture of paper bags.
I accomplish my object by duplicating some of the parts of the present machine
and by a combination of parts as follows:-
:-
In a machine constructed according to my present improvements the paper of
required width is drawn off a roll or web placed on a spindle, by suitable rollers
actuated by convenient power. The paper on leaving the roll passes between two
plates one fixed to the iron table, and the other caused to rise and fall at timed
intervals, each plate having upon its face, raised surfaces and grooves respectively.
When the movable plate descends on the fixed plate, it creases the paper in the
direction where folds are required, after which the paper passes under a box
containing paste or other adhesive, a portion of which is deposited upon the paper
in position required for securing the sides and end of the bag. The paper is again
drawn forward between a pair of cutters, one of which is fixed and the other made
to rise and fall at intervals, which divide it at right angles to its length, into sizes
required for the bags. The severed piece of paper is deposited immediately over
one of a number of oblong rectangular blocks, or moulds, fixed upon a circular
frame of iron. Between each of these blocks or moulds and also fixed on the
circular iron frame, are two movable flaps, having return ends, and they are so
arranged that upon an intermittent rotary motion, being imparted to the mould
frame, the said flaps close upon the respective moulds between which they are
placed, and in so doing, by means of the return end of one of the flaps, a portion of
the paper last entered is folded over a mould, on the top side at the end, whilst the
other Hap, closing upon the underside of the preceding mould, the paper over the
end of the mould on the side opposite is folded. Both the moulds and flaps pass
between two vertically fixed iron plates of equal form, and being segments of
a circle, the peripheries of these plates correspond with the travel of the moulds on

page_text: their revolving between the plates. Upon the rotation of the mould frame the
paper last entered being held in position by a flap is carried between the vertical
plates by which means the paper becomes folded on three sides of the mould. Two
hinged flaps are affixed to the front ends of these iron plates respectively which
when the moulds cease to rotate close upon the underside of that mould which has
last entered between the said plates and in so doing folds over the paper on the
fourth side of the mould which operation takes effect immediately before the second
flap closes over the mould. Upon the top edges of the plates respectively are placed
in position two other hinged flaps which fall at timed intervals upon the end of the
mould immediately between them and in so doing fold over the two remaining
angular laps of paper which complete the bottom of the bag.
Upon the after part of the two iron plates in suitable position, a number of
rollers are arranged under which the revolving moulds pass, for the purpose of
holding the folded end laps in contact until the bag is removed from the mould.
This is effected by a pair of rollers, or other suitable means, fixed in position at the
end of the machine, which advance on opposite sides of the mould, both being made
to revolve in the same direction. The bag thus removed from the mould is passed
into a sliding tube or presser where it is pressed flat and delivered on to a suitable
receiver the whole operation being now completed.

page_text: Paper Bags.
I, THOMAS COATES of 46, Hill. Street, Totterdown, in the City and County of.
Bristol, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS" and in, what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
paper bags of the form known in the trade as square or block bottomed bags.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood, and readily carried
into practical effect, I have hereunto attached the accompanying sheets of drawings,
marked with figures and letters of reference; the same letters referring to the same
parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 represents a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, for
making square or block bottomed paper bags; Fig. 2 is a plan thereof; and Fig. 3
is an enlarged view in section, shewing parts of mechanisin which perform important
functions during the formation of the bag. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 represent
the varied shapes the paper assumes at different stages of its formation. A, is the
framework of a paper bag machine; B, a continuous roll of paper, placed upon a
spindle, which is supported in bearings in the side frames.
The paper from the roll is passed under a vibratory arm B¹, mounted on a stud
and actuated by pitman C2 from eccentric C¹, fixed to the second motion shaft C, to
withdraw, from the roll sufficient paper to form a bag. The paper is thus relieved
from considerable strain whilst being drawn forward, intermittently, by draw
rollers D, over the guide roller E, and between the printing blocks F and F¹, To
each side of the block F is fixed a stern or bolt, which passes down below the bed
of the machine, where the stems are connected together by a cross piece in com-
munication with the lever F2, which is mounted on stud F3, and actuated by cam
(seen in dotted lines at F), on shaft C. Beneath the block F are suitable rollers F",
moving in horizontal slots and attached by an arm F7 on each side of the machine,
to vertical lever H connected by an arm H to an eccentric or cam suitably timed on
shaft C.
The rollers F5, whilst traversing to and fro in the horizontal slots, are conveyed
under receptical F8, containing printers ink, from which it receives a portion, and
distributes the same upon the surface of type, suitably disposed in the upper
block F, which descends upon the paper, during the quiet intervals of the rollers D,
impressing any printed matter upon the paper that may be required, and effecting
the operation of printing without loss of time.
'
Immediately beyond this printing apparatus are two other blocks with raised
lines and indentations upon their surfaces; the raised lines on the surface of one
block corresponding with the indentations on the other; or, india-rubber may be
substituted, for the indentations, into which the raised lines will embed themselves,
whilst creasing the various places where folds are subsequently to be made upon
the paper. The creaser plate I is caused to move, simultaneously, and perform the

page_text: operation of creasing at the same time with that of printing; and is actuated
by side levers F and links or stems I2 (seen in Fig. 1) for this purpose.
The next operation is that of pasting, in which the side wheel J, protruding
through the lower portion of the paste receptical J', applies paste to the upper
surface of one edge of the paper only (as it is drawn along by the rollers D) to
subsequently cement the longitudinal seam during the tubular formation of the bag;
whilst the paster roller K, protruding through paste trough K¹ and vibrating at one
extremity of the lever K2, is made to deposit paste at suitable times and places,
intermittently, upon the paper to subsequently cement the bottom folds or overlaps
of the bag. The weight K³, at the opposite extremity of lever. K², causes lever K
through the medium of link K, to bear against the underside of cam K° fixed to
shaft C, (Fig. 2) which, revolving, imparts an intermittent vibratory movement to
the paster roller K, as above stated."
The intermittent movement of the paper is effected in the ordinary manner by
the rollers D, the upper one is connected to the toothed wheel D² in gear with
toothed rack D³, to which a to and fro motion is imparted by eccentric D, through
the medium of pitman D³, vertical lever Do, and link D', attached to toothed rack D³.
The rack actuates the rollers D, intermittently, in a forward direction only; a clutch,
or ratchet arrangement rendering the said rollers inoperative in a backward direction.
During which quiet interval of the draw rollers, the varied functions of printing
and creasing are performed for the next bag, simultaneously with the tubular
formation of the preceding bag, and with the forming and closing in of the bottom
folds of the bag.
I will now describe. the varied movements of the tube forming mechanism, and
the mode or manner of closing in the bottom folds of the bag. Fig. 3 represents
a series of rectangular mould blocks M, (preferably ten in number) fixed to a
circular frame of iron M³, which revolves intermittently between two vertical side
plates O, (Fig. 1) each forming the segment of a circle, the periphery of which
corresponds with the circular movement of the extremities of the mould blocks M,
(seen in Fig. 1). Between each two mould blocks are arranged two fingers or
folders N and N¹ to move on pins N2, (Fig. 3) fixed to the circular framing M¹, at
the lower extremity of the mould blocks. To the middle or thereabouts of each
folder or finger, and between each pair of mould blocks, are attached short con-
necting links O¹. The lower ends of these links are jointed to the upper end of
the rod or link U¹, which is jawed to receive them and is drawn towards the
centre of the horizontal shaft P, by spiral spring O³; whereby the folders or
fingers N and N¹ and their overlapping or projecting ends are drawn inwards as
at A and away from the upper extremities of the two adjoining mould blocks.
The pin U, fixed at the lower extremity of the arm or link U¹, projects
sufficiently beyond each vertical side plate O, (seen in Fig. 1) so as to be acted
upon by the stationary cams R, (seen in dotted lines Fig. 3) at the proper time,
and force the overlapping ends of the fingers N and N¹ respectively over one half
of each of the two adjoining blocks as at A².
Immediately before this operation, the paper, printed, creased, and pasted to the
length of one bag, is drawn by the rollers D, and conveyed horizontally upon
the upper surface of one of the series of oblong moulds M, (Fig. 1 and as shewn at
Fig. 4) which in its proper order of succession assumes a position immediately
beneath the paper, at which time, the paper is severed by shears R¹ (Fig. 1) in the
ordinary manner.
The mould blocks M now revolve, and cause the projecting ends of the pin U,
(Fig. 3) to mount the stationary cams R, whereby the projecting ends of the
fingers N and N' are made to advance over the ends of the two adjoining blocks
as at A, and hold the paper in position, which, at this time, assumes an appearance
similar to that represented in Fig. 5; the further movement of this mould block
brings the paper between the side plates O, (shewn in Fig. 1) and thereby causes
the paper to envelop the block on three sides, as shewn in Fig. 6. Flaps or
doors S (Figs: 1 and 2) are next made to close round the afterpart of the block,

page_text: and press the paper thereon (as represented in Fig. 7. The pasted edge of the
paper, being pressed upon the opposite edge, becomes attached thereto, and
completes the tubular formation of the bag. The flaps or doors S retire, to allow
the next block to pass between the vertical side plates O. (Fig. 1) The flaps S are
each provided with a short stem S', at right angles thereto, which is connected by
universal joint S2, to the upper end of the vertical lever S³, which is caused to
actuate the flaps (in the manner stated) by a cam S, suitably disposed on
shaft C.
The mould blocks are periodically moved on spindle P, one tenth of a revolution,
or more or less in accordance with the number of mould blocks used to the round.
The next stroke or movement of the mould blocks, causes the next projecting pin
or stud U, (seen in Fig. 3) to mount the stationary cams R, and shoot outwards
the two next folders between the next pair of mould blocks, that is to say, that the
folder N closes upon the paper, conveyed upon the succeeding block, simultaneously,
as the folder N₁ closes upon the afterpart of the preceding mould block. The
two opposite end folds are thus joined together of the preceding bag, which now
assumes a shape similar to that shewn in Fig. 8. Two angular projecting folds
still remain to be closed, which may be effected as herein after described.
The intermittent rotary movement of the mould blocks is effected by the pulley
or peg V¹ of the rim disc V, (seen in (Figs. 1 and 2) which enters successively each
space or notch of the star wheel V (Figs. 1 and 2) and thus at each revolution of
the said disc the star wheel, is actuated one tenth of its circumference.
It will be observed by referring to Fig. 1, that three of the mould blocks, on the
upper portion of the circle are closed in by their respective fingers or folders N
and N₁ and side frames 0; by which means, the detached portions of paper, sur-
rounding each of the three mould blocks, are retained a considerably longer time in
position, (than by the ordinary single block arrangement,) and so allow the pasto
to cement the parts more firmly together before the folders recede from their
respective blocks; the wedge piece X secured to the side plates O, by the brackets X¹,
having in the meantime expanded the two angular projecting laps of the partially
formed bag, which is now moved over to the opposite side of the vertical plates O,
and to a position diametrically opposite to that where the paper was first fed upon
the said block.
Between each intermittent change in the position of the mould blocks, sufficient
time is allowed for the two rollers Y and Y¹ to advance upon the upper and lower
surfaces of the block M, and revolving, withdraw therefrom the partially formed
bag, depositing the same between the plates Z (seen in Figs. 1 and 9). The upper
plate Z is caused to descend, and press upon the upper surface of the bag,
flattening the same, and necking its underside against the lower plate, over which
the bottom portion of the bag sufficiently projects for this purpose.
Simultaneously with the descent of the upper plate Z, the lever Z¹, having two
prongs projecting upwards, is brought between the two remaining angular laps of
paper requiring to be closed (seen in Fig. 9) and bearing gently against the bottom
of the bag, whilst advancing in the slots Z³, bends the bottom of the bag under the
lower plate Z, in a line with the body portion of the bag, and in so doing draws
inwards the remaining angular laps or folds, ultimately occupying a position level
with the bottom plate Z. The bag is now conveyed by a surface roller Z³ (seen in
Fig. 1,) projecting slightly above the surface of the underplate, and revolving
through the medium of the endless cord Z from shaft W₁ (seen in Figs. 1 and 2),
conveys the bag between the nip of the two finishing rollers W, which finally
close and press the folds and overlapping seams of the bag.
To relieve the paper from unnecessary strain and pull during its withdrawal
from the block, two surface rollers R2 and R3, (seen in Fig. 3) are inserted to act in
conjunction with the rollers Y and Y¹, whilst the slight pressure of the upper roller
upon the paper further secures the side seam.
I will now describe more fully the several parts of mechanism, which cause the
rollers Y and Y¹ to revolve, and advance at the proper time to withdraw the bag

page_text: from the block and convey it between the bag flattening plates. Z; the mode of
actuating the said plates; the means employed to impart a to and fro movement to
the fork-lever Z¹; and lastly, the manner of imparting a revolving: movement to
the laying or finishing rollers W.
The rollers Y and Y¹ are mounted at one extremity of the lever Ys, the other.
extremity of the said lever is provided with a stud, which projects into the recess
of the grooved cam Y³ (shewn mainly in dotted lines as behind, the. rim wheel)
which causes the rollers Y and Y¹ to advance and recede to and from the mould
block M, to deliver therefrom the partially formed bag. The rollers Y and Y₁ are
so set apart that they may advance and gently bear against the rollers R and R³
(seen in Fig. 3), inserted in the mould blocks, and being caused to revolve from
shaft G (seen in Fig. 1) through the medium of endless cord G³, passing under
guide pulleys on the fulcrum G₁ of lever Y2, withdraw the bags from the block,
and convey it as before stated between the plates Z. The upper plate Z is fixed to
the vertical side rod Z5, connected at its lower extremity to lever Z6, which is
actuated by cam Z on shaft 28, so as to cause the descent at the proper time of the
upper plate Z, to flatten the tubular portion of the bag, at which time, the prongs
of the fork lever Z¹ bears into the corners at the base of the angular laps, still
remaining to be closed (as in Fig. 9), causing the projecting ends of such laps of,
paper to turn inwards, and also flatten the bag, (as shewn in Fig. 10).
The traverse of the fork lever Z along the radial slots Z, is effected through the
medium of the arm. G³, which connects the fork lever to the vertical lever G+,
actuated from cam G³ on shaft Z³.
The finishing or final closing rollers W are actuated from shaft Zs, through
sprocket wheels W and W³ and chain W1, (seen in Figs. 1 and 2).
In conclusion, I would observe that several series or rounds of mould blocks may
be fixed, side by side, upon the horizontal shaft P, provided severally with pieces
of bag forming mechanism; as seen in Figs. 1 2 and 3): the blocks of one series
may also vary in size over those of the next, in which manner, various sizes and
discriptions of bags may be discharged at one and the same time, and the extent of
production considerably increased.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
Firstly, the arrangement of mould blocks with bag folding mechanism, substan-
tially as and for the purposes specified.
Secondly, the vertical plates acting in conjunction with the mould blocks,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Thirdly, the combination of printing, creasing and bag folding mechanism,
substantially as described..
Fourthly, the mode of actuating the folders, through the medium of the links,
projecting pin U and stationary cams R, substantially as described.
Fifthly, the mechanism passing between the two last folds of the bag, in com-
binaton with stationary and movable plates Z, to flatten, fold and deliver the bag
to the finishing rollers, substantially as described.
Dotad this 21st day of January 1886
THOMAS RICHMOND,
Agent for the Applicant.