Improvements in Machines for Making Envelopes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Envelopes.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a
communication to me from abroad by Peter Barr Sweeny, of No. 41 East 68th
Street, in the City of New York, State of New York, United States of America,
Consellor at Law), 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 object of the invention is to gum, print and manufacture envelopes from a
continuous roll of paper at one operation, preferably in a single machine, and to
this end, the invention consists of certain improved organizations hereinafter
specifically described.
The general operation of the machine is substantially as follows:-
The paper from a roll is gummed along one edge (the edge that forms the
closing flap of the envelope) the gum being dried by causing the paper strip to
travel through a suitable distance exposed to the air, and if desired, one or more
heating devices may be provided over which the paper strip is drawn, or the
space through which the paper strip, after being gummed, travels may be enclosed
and suitably heated. The paper roll then passes through the printing devices,
and the desired matter is printed upon that face of the strip which forms the
back and frout of the envelope. The envelope blanks are then severed from the
strip by a transverse cut of such shape as to form small side flaps at each edge
of the portion which forms the face of the completed envelope, and after these
side flaps are folded over, and their then exposed faces gummed or pasted, the
back is folded up against them and finally the closing flap of the envelope is
properly folded down. In the operation of the machine the creases which mark
the lines upon which the back of the envelope is folded, and the closing flap of
the envelope is folded are preferably impressed into the paper as it leaves the
printing rolls, and prior to the severance of the envelope blank from the strip.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention in the form now best known
to me, and one that is practical and efficient for the economical, rapid and perfect
manufacture of envelopes of the class indicated. Obviously, however, the details
of construction may be more or less varied by those skilled in the art, without
departing from the principles of my invention.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine partly in section on the line X X of
Figure 2;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine,
Figure 3 a transverse section on the line Y Y of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 and Figure 3" detail views showing parts of the mechanism by which
the severance of the envelope blank from the continuous strip is effected ;
Figure 4 is a plan view;
Figure 5 a transverse section on the line Z Z of Figure 4, of the modification,
of the blank severing mechanism and illustrates the organization which I prefer,
and which is specifically claimed ;
Figure 6 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the side of the rear end of the
machine, i.e. of the right hand end as seen in Figure 1;
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the rear end of the machine, and
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are views illustrating the envelope blank in
different stages of the formation of the envelope.

page_text: In the various views, A indicates the frame work, B the main driving shaft,
and B the driving pulley. The necessary gearing and shaft connections for
accomplishing the movements or operation hereinafter described are plainly
illustrated and as such construction is obvious, detailed description is unnecessary.
The directions of rotation of the different gears and rolls is indicated by arrows.
C indicates the roll of paper. which is shown as mounted beneath the machine,
its spindle being mounted in swinging brackets C' having suitable supports. on the
frame work of the machine. The continuous paper strip a passes under a pulley 1,
and thence between pasting rolls 2, the paste being supplied from a paste box 2. by
a roll running therein, and driven by a belt 3, from a pulley on a driven shaft 4.
The paper then passes over a pulley 5, and thence preferably over the surface of
the plate 6, heated by a gas burner or other device 7. The gunmed strip then
passes over rollers 8, and other heaters may, if desired, be arranged along its path
and finally passes from the last roller 8 up to the top of the machine, and over
rollers 99 between the printing roll D and impression roll D'. The rolls 8 are
disposed on opposite sides of the roll of paper and so located that the strip. passes
over the inner rolls 8 first and entirely around the paper roll a number of times,
the different parts of the strip surrounding the paper roll being concentric, or
substantially so. By this arrangement the ungummed face of the strip is always
towards the rolls over which it passes and the gum on the outer face of the strip
bas full opportunity to dry and never comes in contact with any of the rolls.
The rolls D, D₁ are driven in the direction indicated by the arrows. The ink
fountain is indicated at D' and ink is distributed therefrom.to a ducking roll D' by
a roll D running in the ink and worked by a pawl and ratchet and suitable
connecting links or levers from the cam D. The ducking roll D' is carried at
the ends of arms extending from a rock shaft De from which another arm projects
that is operated upon by the cam D' so that at intervals the roll D is pressed
against the roll: D' from which the ink is distributed by rolls D' to the surface of
the inking roll D. The paper strip a passes under the impression roll D' and is
thence. drawn horizontally forward by feeding rolls E E. On the same shafts
with the drawing and feeding rolls E E are creasing rolls F F, and F1 F¹. As shown
in the drawings, the upper creasing roll of each pair is formed with an annular
creasing edge, and the lower roll is formed with a corresponding annular recess.
The rolls FF form. the crease a', which marks the line on which the back and
front of the envelope are folded against each other, while the creasing rolls F
mark the line a on which the closing flap of the envelope is folded.
As the paper
strip passes forward from the creasing rolls, the envelope blank indicated in Figure 8
is severed therefrom, and such severance of the blank may be accomplished in the
following manner. A frame G, moving on ways g g is reciprocated parallel with.
the movement of the paper, by cams gi on the shaft G³, that carries the lower.
drawing and creasing rolls. The forward speed of reciprocation of this frame is.
exactly equal to the speed of movement of the paper strip. The cross-piece G³
of this frame, over, which the continuous strip passes, has formed therein a die of
the shape indicated by the dotted lines g', Figure 2, such shape being that required
to give formation to the side of the blank indicated in Figure 8. The frame also
carries a vertically reciprocating cutter or male die H, under which the paper
passes, carried by cross-piece H supported by side. bars H2 sliding in ways H' in
the frame, and having projections which engage transverse grooves or recesses.
in vertical sliding bars on the main frame and reciprocated vertically by cam
grooves II in disks on the main shaft B, driven as indicated in the direction of the
arrow.. As the paper strip passes forward therefore, the severing mechanism
moves with it at the same speed, and the downward reciprocation of the cutter H
is so timed as to sever the blanks indicated in Figure 8 at the proper intervals.
The severed blank b is caught between a lower roll K, and an upper D-shaped.
roll K' and also between tapes 11, passing over pulleys L L on the shafts carrying
the roll K and D-roll K'. At the rear end of the machine these tapes Il pass
over idle rolls L' L' carried by adjustable spring arms L³, pivoted on the rear end

page_text: of the machine, the purpose being of course to maintain a proper tension on the
tapes. The tapes 11, and rolls K K' are driven at a greater speed than that at
which the continuous strip is carried along, and consequently the envelope blank is
carried forward away from the paper strip at a greater speed until it reaches the
stop M. When the blank comes to rest at M, it has passed under a D-roll N and
is drawn out at right angles to its forward movement, in the direction indicated by
the arrow in Figure 2, by the rotation of such roll co-operating with its mate N
beneath the blank. Arms 00, carrying creasing rolls o extend from the side of
the main frame over the envelope blank when it is in position against the stop M.
These rolls co-operate with other creasing rolls o' beneath the blank, and the arms
upon which the creasers o are mounted are attached to a rock shaft O', which by a
spring O is normally held so as to elevate the creasing rolls. As the D-roll N
draws the blank at right angles to its former movement, a cam 0³ on the shaft
carrying the roll N' operates upon an arm 0' carried by the rock shaft O', and
throws the upper creasing rolls down upon the blank, and as the blank is drawn
forward the creases a' a Figure 9, are formed on each side thereof and mark the
lines upon which the small side flaps attached to the back of the envelope are folded
inwardly into position as indicated at Figure 10.
As the blank is forced or drawn forward by the D-roll N, it passes under au
apron or shield P secured to a rod supported in studs p, and over the face of a
plate on each side of which are inclined folders that turn over the side
flaps a a, Figure 9, into the position shown in Figure 10, where they are ready to
receive the paste or gum indicated in Figure 11. As the blank passes through
these folders, the forward edge of the closing flap as is caught between rolls R R
and is further drawn forward, the paste at this movement being applied to
the exposed faces of the overfolded flaps at, and this may be accomplished as
follows:-
:-
S indicates the paste boxes, S¹ the rollers running therein; S³ the belt for
driving the same from a pulley on the shaft S. The paste is transferred to the
idle paste rollers S* and from them to the pasting rolls S', carried in the ends of
arms S connected with a rock shaft S', froin which extends an arm S8 carrying a
small roll S, that is connected by a cam S10 on a shaft T. The movement is so
timed that the pasting rolls S³ on the arms S are thrown down upon the overfolded
flaps a as they merge from the folders 4. The paste is applied thereto as indicated
at Figure 11, and the cam S' causes the elevation of the pasting rolls at the proper
moment. The blank is carried forward by the rolls R R until the folding line a¹ is
brought immediately beneath a vertical reciprocating blade U, and over the bite of
tapes U. These tapes at the top pass around folding rolls u, driven by gear u²
from wheel on shaft of roll R and at the bottom around driven rolls u¹ operated by
a gear on the shaft S. The blade U₁ is carried by a vertically sliding frame U'
moving in vertical ways in the main frame, and reciprocated vertically by a
cam U on the shaft T. The side pieces of the reciprocating frame are provided
with elongated slots at U through which the shaft T passes. The downward
movement of the blade U is so timed that when the blank comes into the position
last described, the blade descends upon it, and folds it on the line a forcing the
edge of the fold upon the bite of the tapes Ú, between which the blank shown at X
is carried down into the position shown at X', where its bottom, i.e., the bottom
edge of the completed envelope rests upon the table or part of the main frame.
The envelope at this stage is indicated in Figure 12.
A horizontal reciprocating blade V carried by a frame V₁, moving in ways V* is
reciprocated by a cam groove V and when the envelope has reached the position
of rest last referred to, the blade V is moved forward in the direction indicated by
the arrow, and folds the closing flap on the line a³, the edge of this fold being
forced into the bite of one of the lower tape rolls u', of the corresponding roll v, so
that the closing flap is folded down into the position indicated in Figure 13, and
the completed envelope is ejected from the machine.
The blank severing devices which I prefer to employ are shown in Figures 4

page_text: and 5. In this construction the upper creasing rolls are carried at the ends of
arms attached to a rock shaft f¹ on which a spring acts to normally press the
rolls against the paper strip. The arrangement of cams G¹ for reciprocating the
frame G is as before described, but instead of using a vertically reciprocating
cutter or male die, I employ a revolving cutter whose edge is shaped to correspond
with the die. This revolving cutter f is connected with the shaft ƒ³, by an arm f
having a spline and feather connection with the shaft, and the shaft is driven by
bevel gears from the shaft G2 that carries the cams. The horizontally reciprocating
frame G has two arms 9 which slide on the shaft and in which the shaft f³ has
bearings, one arm being arranged on each side of the cutter arm. I prefer to
arrange under the die a curved shield. The die is indicated in Figure 4 by
dotted lines as being formed in a removable plate attached to frame G by screws.
With this arrangement I sever the envelope blanks by a shearing cut. The
operation of other parts of the machine is the same as already described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is:
1. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of paper
roll carrying devices, and paper strip drawing or feeding devices, means for
continuously gumming the edge of the paper strip that forms the closing flap of
the envelope as it is continuously drawn from the roll, means for drying the gum,
mechanism for then severing the envelope blanks by a transverse cut that forms
the flaps a' a', means for folding over said flaps, means for printing or depositing
paste thereon, and means for completing the folding of the envelope.
2. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of paper
roll carrying devices, paper strip drawing or feeding devices, means for gumming
the edge of the strip that forms the closing flap of the envelope and drying the
same, means for printing that part of the strip forming the back and front of the
completed envelope, mechanism for then severing the envelope blanks by a
transverse cut that forms the flaps a' a', means for folding over said flaps, means
for printing or depositing paste or gum thereon, and means for completing the
folding of the envelope.
3. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of means
for drawing a continuous strip of paper having the edge that forms the closing
flap of the envelope gummed, means for forming the longitudinal creases a¹, a²,
means for severing the envelope blanks from the strip by transverse cuts that form
the end flaps a' a', means for creasing the line on which said flaps fold, means for
folding the Haps over, means for depositing paste on the exposed faces of the flaps
fter being folded over, and means for folding the blank on the crease lines a' a' to
complete the envelope.
4. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of means
for drawing a continuous strip of paper whose edge shall form the closing flap of
the envelope, means for cutting envelope blanks therefrom by a transverse cut that
forms the end flaps at a', means for folding said flaps over and then depositing
paste thereon, and means for folding the blanks on the lines a¹ a² to complete the
formation of the envelope.
5. In an.
envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of means
for drawing longitudinally a continuous strip of paper whose edge shall form the
closing flap of the envelope, means for forming the longitudinal creases a¹ a² in the
strip, means for severing the envelope blanks by a transverse cut that forms
the flaps a' a', means for moving the severed blanks at an angle to the movement
of the continuous strip, means for forming during such latter movement the
creases aa in the blank, means for folding over the flaps .a a and depositing
paste on the exposed faces thereof, and means for folding the blanks on the
lines a' a, to complete the envelope.
.. 6. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, with the

page_text: paper strip drawing devices, of the longitudinally reciprocating frame carrying the
die over which the paper passes and the revolving correspondingly shaped cutter,
the shaft for operating the cutter and sliding connections between the shaft and the
reciprocating frame and revolving cutter.
7. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of means
for drawing longitudinally a continuous strip of paper whose edge shall form the
closing flap of the envelope, means for forming the longitudinal creases a¹ a' in the
strip, means for severing the envelope blanks by a transverse cut that forms
the flaps a a', means for moving the severed blanks at an angle to the movement
of the continuous strip, means for forming during such latter movement the
creases a a in the blank, means for folding over the flaps a' a', means for pasting
the blanks to secure the flaps at a, and for folding the blanks on the lines a' a' to
complete the envelope.
8. In an envelope machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of means
for drawing longitudinally a continuous strip of paper, means for severing the
envelope blanks by transverse cuts that form the side flaps, means for then moving
the severed blanks laterally away from the line of movement of the continuous strip,
and mechanism for pasting and folding the blanks to complete their formation.
9. The improved organization for making envelopes from a continuous strip,
substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1895.
SYDNEY PITT.