Improvements in Envelope Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1392
COMPLETE DIEUITIATION.
Improvements in Envelope Machines.
I, FRANK AUGUSTUS JONES of Hackensack, Bergen County, State of New
Jersey, United States of America, 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 that class of envelope machines in which blanks
previously cut the desired shape and size are gummed and folded to form the
envelopes; and is intended to produce a machine in which the gumming and
folding mechanism may be regulated or adjusted so that envelopes of different
sizes can be made on the machine without changing the several parts of the
same.
In the drawing illustrating my improvements, in which like letters indicate like
parts:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine.
Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the machine.
Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the upper part of the machine, showing the
gummers and folding device, and part of the mechanism for operating the same.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the formers around which the flaps of the
envelope are folded and the bed on which the envelope blank rests showing the
method of adjusting the same.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the gummers, showing the method of adjusting
the same, in position on the bed, with the envelope blank attached to the gummers,
and held between the formers and bed.
Figure 6 is a side sectional view of the upper part of the machine, similar to Fig. 3,
with the formers and bed raised under the gummers; and the mechanism for
operating the same, and for moving the gummers.
Figure 7 is a side sectional view of the folding device, showing one of the moving
vertical plates and the mechanism for operating the same and for moving the end
folding roller and the detaching finger.
Figure 8 is a view of one of the vertical plates in position in the frame of the
folding device, and the end of the lever for moving the same.
Figure 9 is a front sectional view of the folding device, showing the mechanism
for operating the side folding roller, and the vertical plates.
Figure 10 is the same as Fig. 9 showing the side folding rollers moved in to fold
the side flaps of the envelope blank, and all the vertical plates drawn down.
Figure 11 is a view looking upward of the upper part of the machine showing
the plate C constructed narrower, and the gummers enlarged and lowered to take
up the envelope blank, and the former raised to receive the latter; and the device
for applying gum to the gummers and showing the gum-roller F shortened to apply
gum to a part of the gummers only.
Figure 12 shows a modification of the former H.
Figures 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate a modified construction and operation of
the grippers or nippers P.
Figure 18 is a top view of a portion of the table, with the pile of blanks in
position on it, showing the guides for keeping the blanks in order, and the separators
for preventing more than one blank being lifted from the pile at a time.
Figure 19 is a side view of the pile of blanks on the table, showing the
separators, and the presser foot J.
My invention consists essentially in constructing and arranging the gumming
and folding mechanisin of the envelope machine so that they can be altered or

page_text: adjusted to gum and fold different size blanks; and thus enable the machine to
manufacture envelopes of various sizes without changing the parts; and furthermore
consists in a novel construction and operation of the various parts of the machine.
In my improved envelope machine, the blanks, previously cut the required size
and shape, are lifted from the table on which they are placed by adjustable
gummers, adapted to apply the gum to various size blanks; and are conveyed
by the gummers in position over a bed or folding plate on which the blanks
are folded over adjustable formers by rollers arranged to pass over the sides and
ends of the former, and turn down the flaps of the blank and seal the same.
In the construction of the machine, shown in the drawings, A is the frame
supporting the various parts of the machine, and B is the main shaft on which the
several cams are mounted, and which is turned by the pulleys B' by means of the
cog-wheels B and B
The envelope blanks, cut the desired shape and size, are placed in a pile on a
vertically moving table R at the front of the machine, which is arranged to raise
automatically as the blanks are removed, in order to keep the top of the pile of
blanks always at the same level and in the right position to be acted upon by the
gummers C. The top blank is removed from the pile by the gummers,
come down on the blank and apply the necessary quantity of gum to the edges of
the flaps. As the gummers recede they carry the gummed blank up and back in
position to be received by the folding device.
which
These gummers, shown more at large in Figs. 5, 6 and 11, consist of movable
pieces C attached to, and arranged to move or slide on, the flat plate C¹, so as to
be adjustable on the same. The plate is attached to or formed into the inclined
sleeve C² at the centre, which encircles and loosely slides on the bar D, as will be
seen from Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The gummers C, which are of the desired shape to
apply the gum to the proper place on the flaps of the envelope blank, move loosely
on the plate C¹, as will be understood from Figs. 5 and 11, and are secured on the
latter by the thumb-screws c. The gummers can therefore be moved away from or
towards each other at pleasure, and thus adjusted to apply the gum to blanks of
different sizes. As will be readily understood any other mode of securing the
gummers C so they will be adjustable may be used in place of that shown in the
drawings. The gummers C are suspended from the inclined bar D by means of
the sleeve C2, so as to readily slide back and forth or up and down on the latter.
The bar D is situated at the top of the machine and extends from the back to the
front of the same, and is of sucli a length, and so situated with respect to the several
parts of the machine, that when the gummers C are at the lower end of the bar,
as shown in Fig. 2, they will rest on top of the pile of blanks on the table R;
and when raised to the upper end of the bar as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the
gummer will be above and directly over the folding device. The gummers thus
move from the front of the machine back and up over the bed or folding plate,
described further on. The gummers C are moved up and down on the inclined
bar D by the parallel arms C³ (Figs. 1 and 11) the outer ends of which are
secured to the long arm of the bell crank C connected to the sleeve T which
revolves on the shaft U and which is turned by means of the rod C³ and arm C*
by the cam 7 on the main shaft B, as is shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 6.
As will be understood from Fig. 2, as the cam 7 revolves and lowers the arm C
engaging with it, the latter, which is connected at its front end and with the shaft S,
draws down the vertical rod C³ attached to its rear end, and thus turns the bell
crank C, connected to the upper end of the rod C³ so that the long arm of the
crank pushes the arms C³ towards the front of the machine, and hence slides the
gummer C down to the lower end of the bar D. As is shown in Figs. 3 and 6,
when the cam raises the arm C the latter pushes up the vertical rod C³, and thus
turns the bell crank C4 so as to throw the long arm of the bell crank back and
draw the arms C³ towards the rear of the machine, and thus raise the gummers to
the upper end of the bar D. Hence as the arm C is raised by the cam the
gummers are moved to the upper end of the bar D, and as the arm is lowered the

page_text: gummers are moved down to the lower end of the bar. The shape of the cam 7
and its position on the shaft B is such that the gummers C are held at the upper
end of the bar D while the envelope blank is being folded, and remain in their
lower position at the bottom of the bar and on the pile of blanks only long enough
to apply the gum to the blank and take hold of the latter to convey it; thus
sliding down and back almost immediately, and resting in their upper position at
the top of the bar D. While the gummers C are raised and held in their upper
position at the top of the bar D, the gum is applied to the bottom of the gummers
by the gumming mechanism. This consists of the ordinary gum-boxes G situated
on each side of the machine, and the gum-rollers F arranged to move from the
gum-boxes directly under the gummers and apply the gum to the lower edges of
the latter. Within the gum boxes are the usual rollers G' (Fig. 2), which
distribute the gum evenly on the surface of the rollers F. These rollers G' are
caused to revolve by the shafts G2 which are turned by the belts G³, passing over
the pulleys 9 on the main shaft B. On the inner ends of the shafts G2 are bevelled
cog-wheels g which engage with similar wheels on the ends of the rollers G¹, as
is fully shown in Figs. 1 and 11. As will be understood from these figures, as the
shafts G are revolved by the belts the rollers Gin the gum-boxes are turned
and apply the gum evenly to the rollers F. The gum-rollers F are supported at
each end, so as to freely revolve, by the horizontal parallel arms f, shown in
Fig. 1, the outer ends of which are connected to the loose sleeves or rings F
which rest and slide on the parallel rods Fat the front and rear of the machine.
As will be understood from Fig. 1, as the rings F2 slide in on the rods F¹ towards
the centre of the machine the arms f connected to the rings carry the rollers F
inward under the gummers C and as the rings slide back towards the frame of
the machine the rollers F are carried away from the gummers and against the
rollers G' in the gum-boxes. The rod F' at the rear which is omitted in Fig. 1 to
make the drawing more distinct, extends across the machine, as shown in Fig. 11,
the front rod, as will be seen from Fig. 1, extending inward from each side of the
machine for such a distance as will ensure the rollers F when the rings F2 are at
the inner ends of the rods passing under the gummers. The rings F² which are
connected together by the transverse bar 3, shown in Fig. 2, are moved back and
forth on the rods F' on each side of the inachine by the arm F³ connected to the
long arm of the bell crank F This crank, which is pivoted to a suitable
projection V on the frame of the machine, is turned by the cam 2 on the main
shaft B, which engages with the vertically moving rod F³, the upper end of which
is connected to the short arm of the bell crank, as shown in Fig. 1, and more
fully in Figs. 9 and 10. As is seen in the latter figures the vertical rods F³ slide
in the brackets V attached to the frame of the machine. As will be understood
from the drawings, when the cams 2 revolve and push the vertical rods F³ upward
the long arms of the bell cranks F are thrown out from the sides of the machine,
and in moving slide the rings F2, by means of the arm F, to the outer ends of the
rods F¹ and thus carry the gum rollers F away from the gummers and against the
gum boxes. As the cams draw the rods F5 down the arms of the bell cranks are
turned in towards the machine, and the rings F2 moved in on the rods F and thus
the rollers F carried by the arms f2 under the gummers.
The arrangement of the cams 2 which move the gum-rollers F with respect to
the cam 7 which raises the gummers C is such that the rollers are moved in toward
the centre of the machine after the gummers have been raised to their upper
position at the top of the bar D, and immediately before the gummers descend to
take up a fresh blank. The rollers F, which should be just large enough to touch
the lower edges of the gummers in passing under the same, are held in the arms f
so they can be readily removed and new rollers inserted when it is desired, to apply
the gum to different parts of the gummers. In place of inserting new rollers, any
convenient arrangement of gum-rollers may be employed to apply the gum to the
parts of the gummers desired. The gummers C described above perform the office
of gummers, pickers and conveyors; applying the gum to the envelope blank,

page_text: picking up the blank from the pile on the table, and conveying it to the part
of the machine where it can be acted upon by the folders.
In my invention the envelope blank is folded over a former by rollers arranged
to pass over the former and turn down the flaps; and the folding apparatus consists
essentially of a vertically moving bed or folding plate which receives the blank
from the gummers, and on which it rests while being folded; adjustable formers,
adapted to move up and down, and hold the blank on the bed and crease the flaps
where they are to be folded; rollers arranged to pass over the sides and ends of
the formers and turn down or fold the flaps of the blank over the same; and
mechanism for raising the ends of the flaps to insure the rollers folding them over
the formers.
In the construction of the machine shown in the drawings, the former over which
the flaps of the blank are folded, consists of two flat strips of metal H (Fig. 11)
attached at one end to the cross piece or head H' so as to be movable on the same.
As will be seen in Fig. 4 the strips H are secured to the head H' by screws / which
pass through slots in the head, and consequently the strips or formers H can be
moved away from or towards each other in the head H' and thus adjusted to fold
different sized blanks. In place of the formers shown in Figs. 1 and 11, consisting
of the straight strips, the formers H H may be constructed as shown in Fig. 12,
so as to interlock or fit into each other, and thus extend over the entire surface of
the blank. The former head H¹ is attached to the lower end of a vertical bar H²
which freely slides in the head I at the top of the machine and is prevented from
turning in the same by the feather and which serves to steady and control the
movement of the former, and hold it directly over the bed or folding plate. The
former is located directly below the gummers C when the latter are raised to
the upper end of the bar D, and moves up and down between the gummers
and the bed or folding plate K. This vertical movement is imparted to the
formers by the rod H³ the upper end of which is secured to the former head II',
and the lower end to the lever H, which turns on the shaft S and engages with
the cam 5 on the main shaft B, shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6. As will be seen from
Figs. 2 and 6, as the cam raises the inner end of the lever H, the latter pushes up
the rod H³, and thus moves the former H H' to the top of the machine; as the
cam revolves and lowers the lever H the latter draws down the rod H3 and moves
the former H H¹ to its lower position between the folding rollers as is shown
in Fig. 3.
The former H is so situated with reference to the gummers C that when both are
in their upper positions at the top of the machine they will be in the same plane
with each other and the formers H H will occupy a position within the gummers C
as is shown in Fig. 5.
The arrangement of the cams 5 and 7 on the shaft B is such that the former H
is raised to its upper position before the gummers C raise from the pile of blanks as
will be seen from Fig. 2. The former is thus in position at the top of the machine
before the blank is carried up from the table, and hence as the blank is conveyed
upward by the gummers it passes under the formers H H where it is held by
the gummers C.
the
Immediately below the formers, and moving up and down like the latter,
bed or folding plate K, on which the envelope blank lies as it is being folded.
This bed K when in its lower position rests on the frame N¹ between and just
below the folding rollers L and M, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10. The
bed K is moved up and down by the rod K', the lower end of which is forked and
engages with the double cam 6 on the shaft B. As will be understood from the
drawings, as the cam 6 revolves the rod K' is pushed up and raises the bed K from
its position between the folding rollers until it comes in contact with and rests
against the formers H H, as shown in Fig. 6. As is seen in the latter figure, the
envelope blank E is now held between the formers H H and the bed K. The cam 6
then lowers the bed at the same time that the cam 5 draws down the formers H H.
The bed and formers thus descend together, with the envelope blank between them,

page_text: the former stripping the blank from the gummers as it goes down, until the bed
and former rest in position between the folding rollers L and M, as shown in Fig. 3.
The arrangement of the cam 6 which moves the bed K with respect to the
cams 5 and 7 which move the formers H H and gummers C, is such that the bed
is raised after the gummers C, and hence after the formers H are in their upper
positions, and is lowered at the same time, and together with the former H. The
envelope blank as it is held between the former and the bed lies in position to be
folded by the folding rollers, with the bottom flap El extending out from the ends
of the formers H H towards the front of the machine as shown in Fig. 6, and as
the pile of blanks is held in the same place on the table R and each blank is picked
up and conveyed by the gummers in the same manner, the blanks always lie with
the bottom of the envelope as folded in the same position on the bed K. In the
construction shown in Fig. 3, as the bed and former descend with the blank, the
outer ends of the formers H H pass close to a flat bar on the frame L' of
the bottom folding roller, and thus crease or turn up the bottom flap E' of the
blank in position to be turned over and further folded by the roller. This method
of creasing the bottom flap is not necessary, however, and the flap may merely rest
on the roller when it will be turned over and folded by the roller as the latter passes
over the former.
The bed K and former H having descended between the rollers Land M, so that
the bed rests on the frame N₁ the blank is held on the bed in position to be folded
over the former H. The bottom flap E' of the blank, having been creased or
turned up by the ends of the former in descending, as shown in Fig. 3, or merely
resting on the roller, is first turned or folded over the ends of the formers H by the
bottom roller L. This roller L is situated just in front of the outer ends of the
formers H as the latter descend with the bed K, as is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6,
and is arranged to pass from the front to the rear of the machine over the formers
as will be seen from Fig. 7. The roller L is supported and turns in journals on a
frame L' (Figs. 1, 9 and 10) which rests and slides on the two parallel bars L², at
each side of the machine. The frame I' is moved back and forth on the bars I.2
by the arms L' connected at one end with the rock shaft U at the rear of the
machine (Fig. 1) and pivoted at their other or lower ends to the curved rods I³,
which are secured to the ends of the frame L'. The rock shaft U is turned by
the crank L³ the outer end of which is connected with the vertical rod L*, which
is attached at its lower end to the lever L' which turns on the shaft S and
engages with the cam 4 on the main shaft B. As will be understood from Fig. 7
when the cam revolves so as to lower the lever L' the crank L' is drawn down by
the vertical rod L and the rock shaft U turned so as to swing the arms L' back-
ward from the machine. The latter in moving by means of the rods L³ slide the
frame L' on the parallel bars L² towards the rear of the machine and thus move
the roller L from its position in front of the formers H H over the latter so as to
turn down and fold the bottom flap E' of the blank. As the lever L' is raised by
the cam the crank L' is pushed up and the rock shaft U turned in the opposite
direction so as to swing the arms I forward, and slide the frame L' on the bars L
toward the front of the machine, and thus move the roller L back to its position
in front of the formers H H as is shown particularly in Fig. 2.
The form of the cam 4 which moves the roller L is such that the roller remains
stationary in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, at the outer ends of the
formers H H until the bed K and former together with the blank descend behind
the roller, when the roller moves across the formers towards the former-head H¹
or towards the rear of the machine, as shown in Fig. 7, and remains there until the
side flaps of the envelope are folded.
To prevent the bottom flap of the envelope raising after it has been folded, and
to hold it down on the former until the side flaps are turned down upon it, a wire
or strip of metal " is attached to the frame L' and extends towards the front of
the machine where it may be connected with the finger P. As the roller L turns

page_text: down the flap and passes over it, the metal strip rests on the latter and holds
it down, as will be seen from Fig. 7.
In the construction shown in the drawing, the bottom folding roller is double, as
shown in Figs. 1, 9 and 10, consisting of the two rollers L L mounted on the
journal. The rollers L L may be made adjustable on the journal if desired, and
in place of the two rollers one long roller can be used.
The bottom flap of the envelope having been folded by the roller L and being
held down by the metallic strip ", the side flaps of the blank are turned down
and folded over the sides of the formers H H, by the side rollers M, situated on
each side of the former and arranged to roll towards each other over the latter.
The rollers M are mounted on movable frames m, which are connected by flexible
rods or narrow metallic strips m' (Figs. 9 and 10) with sliding plates M on each
side of the roller, arranged to slide back and forth in the recesses M². As will be
seen from Figs. 9 and 10, the sliding plates M' are pivoted to the long arms of the
bell cranks M³, which turn on the brackets V, the short arms of which are connected
with the upper end of the vertical sliding rods M, arranged to move up and down
in the brackets. The lower end of these rods engage with the cams 3 on the main
shaft B, so that the rods are moved up and down and the bell cranks turned by the
revolution of the cams. As is shown in Fig. 9, when the rods M are raised the
long arms of the bell cranks M³ are thrown outward and the sliding plates M¹
moved towards the sides of the machine, and the frames m and rollers M drawn
back to the sides of the bed K and of the formers H H, in position to turn down
the flaps of the envelope. When the cams 3 lower the rods M₁ the long arms of the
bell cranks are thrown inward and the sliding plates M' moved towards the centre
of the machine, and the rollers M pushed over the bed K and formers towards each
other, as shown in Fig. 10, thus turning down the side flaps of the envelope. The
construction and operation of cams 3 which move the side rollers M with respect to
that of cam 4 which moves the bottom roller L is such that the latter roller, after
it has moved over the formers and turned down the bottom flap of the envelope
remains stationary at the back of the bed, or at the former-head H' until the side
rollers M move across the bed and formers and back again to their position at the
side of the latter, when the roller L moves back to its position at the front end of
the formers. The bottom roller thus moves over the bed and formers, remains at
the back of the latter, as the side rollers move across the bed and formers and back
again, and then returns to its first position in front of the formers. As the frames m,
and hence the rollers M, are held by the flexible rods or strips m³, the rollers are
capable of raising as they pass over the formers and envelope blanks, as shown in
Fig. 10, and thus accommodating themselves to blanks of different thickness; and
the spring of the rod or strips m¹ presses the rollers on to the formers with sufficient
force to crease and fold the blank and seal the flaps.
These folding rollers L and M may be constructed of soft rubber, or metal
covered with rubber, or of other material as is found desirable.
Where the envelope blank is of such a small size that the side flaps do not rest on
the rollers M, as the blank lies on the bed K but lie within the rollers, it is necessary
to lift the outer ends of the flaps from the bed to insure the rollers M passing under
them so as to turn the flaps over the sides of the formers; and prevent all danger
of the rollers passing over the gummed or inner side of the flaps. In the con-
struction of the machine shown in the drawings, this is accomplished by the vertical,
sliding plates N, shown in Figs. 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10, which are supported and move in
the frames N' immediately below the bed K and on each side of the latter and are
arranged to pass up through slots in the bed in front of the rollers M, and thus lift
the ends of the flaps over the latter and to be drawn down below the bed as the
rollers pass over the bed and formers and held there so as not to interfere with the
free movement of the rollers. As will be seen from Figs. 7 and 8, the central part
ef the plate N extends through and below the frame N', and the plate rests or is
supported on the rods N2 attached to the plate and inserted in the holes n' in the

page_text: frame. At the bottom of the holes n' are springs n² on which the irons N² rest, and
by means of which the rods and consequently the plates are pushed up in the
frame N' through the slots in the bed, as is shown in Fig. 8. The tendency of the
springs n², therefore, is to move the vertical plates N up through the slots in
the bed K as soon as the downward restraining force on the plates N is removed.
The vertical plates N are drawn down through the slots in the bed K or caused to
slide downward in the frames N' by the hooks O, shown more clearly in Figs. 9
and 10. These hooks which are pivoted to the bottom of the frames N' are situated
on each side of the frames, and are arranged to turn or swing towards and away from
each other, or towards the centre and the sides respectively of the machine. The
upper part of the hooks, which are curved as shown, are adapted to enter and engage
with slots O¹ (Fig. 8) in the plates N, as the hooks swing towards each other; and
thus draw down the plates successively below the bed K. The slots O' in the several
plates are arranged in a line corresponding with the curve of the upper part of the
hook O, so that when the latter has drawn down the plates the tops of all the plates
will be in a horizontal line, and immediately below the bed K as shown in Fig. 10,
and the hook O is so situated with respect to the slots O', that when the hook is
withdrawn from the latter, and the plates are pushed up by the springs n², the
points o of the hooks will be just above the bottom of the slots and thus ready to
enter the latter as the hooks swing forward, as will be seen from Fig. 9. The
hooks ( are connected to and moved by the long arm of the bell cranks M³ which
move the side rollers M, by means of the arms 02. The hooks O are thus moved
forward at the same time with the side folding rollers, and the plates N drawn
down as the rollers M fold the flaps of the envelope. The operation of the hooks O
will be readily understood from Figs. 9 and 10. As is shown in Fig. 10, when the
long arm of the bell crank M³ swings forward and moves the roller M over the
bed K and formers H H to fold the envelope, it swings the hook O inward toward
the plates N, and the point of the hook entering the slots O¹ in the plates suc-
cessively draws the plates down until the hook has passed through all the slots when
the plates will all have been drawn below the bed K. The point of the hook, as
the latter swings inward, is situated just in front of the vertical plane of the
roller M, hence the hook euters the slot and draws down each plate as the roller
approaches it, and just in time to clear the roller and allow it to pass over the
bed K. As the arm of the bell crank swings outward and draws back the roller M
to its position at the side of the former H, it withdraws the hook O from the slots O'
and swings it back, as is seen in Fig. 9, and holds it in position to enter the slots
again when it is moved inwards.
The plates N are thus drawn down through the slots in the bed K separately,
as the curved hook enters the slot in each; the plate next to the roller being drawn
down first, hence the inner plate remains up until the roller approaches it, and
thus keeps the flap of the envelope raised until the roller is in a position to turn
it over and fold it.
In order not to interfere with the movement of the bottom roller L over the
bed K the plates N after they are drawn down by the hooks O are held below the
bed K until just before the rollers M move to fold the envelope, when the plates N
rise up through the slots in the bed to lift up the side flaps of the envelope and permit
the rollers M to pass under them.
The plates N are held down by the two horizontal levers N³ shown in Figs. 2
and 7 which are connected to the rock shaft W at the rear of the machine, and are
arranged to move up and down in a vertical plane under the frames N¹. The inner
or forward ends of the levers N³ are attached to the lower ends of the several
plates N in the two frames N' by the pin n³, shown also in Figs. 8, 9 and 10,
which passes through the elongated holes or slots n' in the lower ends of the plates,
as will be seen in Fig. 8. The plates N can thus move up and down on the
pin n³ independently of each other, but are all held down together when the pin n³
is drawn down to the bottom of the slot n', as will be understood from Fig. 10.

page_text: The rock shaft W is turned and the inner end of the lever moved up and down by
the crank N, the lower end of which engages with the cam 8 on the main shaft B,
Figs. 1 and 7. When the cam lifts the end of the crank N the rock shaft is
turned so as to raise the inner end of the levers N³ and slide the pins n³ up in the
slots; the downward hold on the plates N is now released and the plates are
pushed up in the frames N¹ through the slots in the bed K by the springs n² under
the rods N2. As the cam 8 revolves and lowers the crank N the rock shaft is
turned and moves the end of the levers N³ down and slides the pins n³ to the bottom
of the slots n¹. The plates N are now held down and prevented from rising by
the levers N³. The arrangement and operation of the cam 8 with respect to cam 3
which moves the rollers M and hooks O is such that the levers N³ are raised and
the hold on the plates N released just before the cams 3 move the rollers M to
fold the side flaps of the envelope and thus the plates N are allowed to be pushed
up by the springs in time to lift the flaps above the rollers; and the lever N³ is
lowered and the pin 2 moved down in the slots n immediately after the hooks O
have passed through the slots O' and drawn down the plates N and just before
the cains 3 withdraw the hooks O from the slots O¹ and inove back the rollers M.
The plates N are thus raised and moved upward through the slots in the bed K by
the springs n², the hold of the levers N³ having been released, and are drawn down
by the hooks O and are afterwards held down by the levers N³ after the hooks O
have been withdrawn from the slots in the plates.
These vertical plates N may be of any number found desirable. The formers H H
as they are adjusted to fold different size envelopes, may lie within all the slots on
the bed K, and thus allow all the plates N to raise through the slots, or they may
cover some of the slots, as shown in Fig. 9, and thus prevent the inner plates from
raising or may cover all the slots, in which latter case the blank would be of such
a size that the side flaps would rest on the rollers M.
The bottom and side flaps of the envelope blank having been folded over the
formers H H by the rollers L and M, the completed envelope is removed from the
bed K, and pulled off from the formers H, over which it is folded, by the gripper P,
shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7. This gripper is attached to the bar P₁ suspended at each
end from the movable rings or collars P2 which are arranged to slide back and forth
on the parallel rods L²; and are connected and move with the frame L' by the
side bars P3 shown in part in Fig. 6.
In the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 the gripper P consists of the two
jaws pp, the lower of which p₁ is hinged to the upper one so as to open and
close, and is provided with the projections p² and p³; a small spring p* between the
jaws holds them closed when not opened by the projections p² and p³. As the
collars p² are connected to the frame L' on which the roller L is mounted by the
side bars P³, the gripper P moves back and forth with the roller L; hence as
the roller passes over the formers and turns down the bottom flap of the envelope,
the gripper P moves after the roller and the length of the bars P³ is such that
when the roller L has passed across the formers and is at the head and H' of the
latter, the gripper P will be at the bottom of the envelope and will have grasped
the same ready to pull it from the bed, as is shown in Fig. 7.
As will be seen from Figs. 3 and 7, as the gripper moves toward the bed plate K
and just before it reaches the envelope on the latter, the projection p² strikes the
latch Q fastened on the frame N¹ and opens the lower jaw p of the gripper so that
the two jaws slide above and below the envelope; as the gripper reaches the
envelope the projection p* drops down on the other side of the latch, and the jaws
seize the envelope and hold it as is shown in Fig. 7. The gripper remains in this
position while the side flaps of the envelope are folded by the rollers M and until
the envelope is completed. The roller L and consequently the gripper P are then
moved back to their former positions and as the latter moves back it carries the
envelope back with it, just in advance of the roller L until the gripper has reached
its first position and the envelope is moved clear of the bed K. The projection P

page_text: now strikes a pin on the frame of the machine, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and opens
the lower jaw of the gripper and the envelope drops out into a suitable receptacle
beneath.
In place of the gripper shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 I prefer the construction of the
gripper illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. The gripper there shown
consists of the two movable jaws p and pl hinged on or around the rod P¹. A
spring p holds the jaws together when they are not separated or forced apart 'as
described below. The jaws are opened or separated by the rod, which is
pivoted to the rod P' on one side of the gripper and passing through the jaws
terminates on the other side in the curved end p8, as will be understood from
Figs. 14 and 15. When this rod po lies at the bottom of the jaws and next to the
rod P as in Fig. 16, and jaws p and p¹ of the gripper are held together or in
contact with each other by the spring p. When the rod po is pushed out or away
from the rod P the jaws are forced open or separated as shown in Fig. 17. On
the rod is a pin p' which pushes the envelope out of the jaws and thus assists in
removing it. The operation of the gripper is as follows:
The gripper is drawn toward the folded envelope on the table, as above
described, with the jaws held open by the rod p³. As the gripper arrives in front
of the table with the jaws on each side of the envelope, the rod p³ strikes a pro-
jection Q on the frame of the machine as is shown by the dotted lines at the top
of Fig. 13, and is pushed in or towards the rod P'; the jaws pand p¹ are then
closed and held on each side of the envelope by the spring p. The rod P₁ now
moves back carrying the envelope in the jaws of the gripper until the curved end p*
of the rod på strikes the frame at A, as shown in Fig. 13, when the rod p' is pushed
out, as in Fig. 14, thus opening the jaws and freeing the envelope, the pin p²
assisting the envelope to leave the gripper.
J
The table or platform R on which the pile of blanks rests and from which they
are removed by the gummers C, is the ordinary table, having an intermittingly
upward movement used in this form of envelope machines where the gummers do
not descend below a fixed point, and is arranged to raise automatically as the
blanks are removed from the pile in order to keep the top of the pile at the same
level to insure the gummer always coming down upon and resting on the top blank
of the pile.
As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 the table R is supported on the movable
posts R', which are provided with cogs, which engage with the cog-wheels R² on
the rod extending across the machine. On one end of this rod is a ratchet
wheel R³ by which the rod is turned and the table raised.
The table is moved up automatically by the vertically moving rod R* at one side
of the machine, the upper end of which operates the ratchet, which engages with
and turns the ratchet wheel R³. The rod R is connected at its lower end with the
horizontal lever R' which is supported and turns on the fulcrum Y and whose
inner end engages with the cam 1 on the shaft B. As will be understood from
Figs. 1 and 2 as the cam raises the inner end of the lever, the outer end draws
down the rod R*; and as the inner end of the lever is lowered the outer end raises
the rod. The ratchet is attached to the lowest end of the hook which is
moved up and down in the frame A near the upper end of the rod by a collar on
the latter, as is shown in Fig. 2. As the rod R is drawn down the collar on the
latter presses down the hook 3 and causes the ratchet to engage with one of the
teeth on the ratchet wheel R³ and turn the latter, and by means of the wheel
the rod, by which the posts R' and the table is raised. As the rod R' is
raised the ratchet is moved up in position to engage with the next tooth on the
wheel R.
A pawl-stop engages with and holds the wheel R³ as the ratchet r¹ releases
the same to engage with another tooth on the wheel. The pawl is withdrawn
from the wheel R3 by the rod R' which is operated by the foot-lever R². When
it is desired to lower the table R to insert a fresh supply of blanks, the lever R' is
depressed and the pawl withdrawn from contact with the wheel R³ by the rod R*
i
B

page_text: +
and the ratchet withdrawn from the wheel, when the table can be pushed down
or lowered as far as is desired. A crank or wheel not shown in the drawing may
be connected to the other end of the rod by which the table can readily be
lowered to insert a fresh supply of blanks and afterwards move the table up in
position under the gummers.
It may not always be necessary or desirable to raise the table every time a blank
is removed from the pile by the gunmers. Where the envelopes are of thin paper
a number of blanks may be removed from the pile without lowering the top of the
latter below the gummers; and hence the table need not be raised until a sufficient
number of blanks have been removed to render it necessary to move the pile up to
meet the gummers. To control the movement of the table and prevent it being
raised by the rod R and ratchet every time the rod is moved down by the
lever R, I employ a stop or presser-foot J which is operated by the rod R* in such
a manner that the foot is brought down and presses upon the pile of blanks as the
rod commences to raise, and prevents it moving up far enough to operate the
ratchet wheel as long as the top of the pile of blanks can be reached by
the gummers. As will be seen from Fig. 1 the presser-foot J is secured to the
oscillating rod J' which extends across the machine, and is supported in journals on
the frame A. One end of this rod J' is connected with the top of the rod R* by
the crank J. As will be understood from Fig. 2 when the rod is drawn down the
crank J2 turns the oscillating rod J' and raises the presser-foot J from the pile of
blanks so that the top blank can be removed by the gummers. As the rod R is
raised by the lever R³ the crank J2 brings the presser-foot J down on the pile of
blanks as shown in Fig. 2, and, when the blanks are at the right height to be acted
upon by the gummers, the foot J pressing on the pile arrests the further movement
of the rod, or prevents it moving up so far as to allow the ratchet to engage with
the next tooth on the ratchet wheel in order to move the latter. When, however,
the top of the pile of blanks is below the level of the gummers, the foot J is turned
down so far before it rests on the pile that the rod R can move up and permit the
ratchet to operate the ratchet wheel and thus raise the table.
A spring on the lower end of the rod R' allows the lever R³ to move upward
when the rod is held down by the foot J.
The drawing shows but one presser-foot J, but there may be two or more if
desired.
To prevent more than one blank being raised at a time by the gummers, I employ
the separators X, Figs. 17 and 18. As shown in these figures, these separators
consist of bent wires or rods X attached to the guides Z at each side of the table R,
so as to be adjustable on the same.
The wires or rods X-which are bent up and around, as shown in Fig. 18, so as
not to interfere with the pile of blanks E on the table, are connected at their free
or inner ends with the separators proper X'. As will be understood from Fig. 18
the inner edges of these separators ✗I rest against the edge of the blanks, and as
one blank is removed hold back the others and thus prevents more than one blank
being raised by the gummers at a time. The separators X' are adjustable on the
wires X, so they can be moved to accommodate blanks of different widths and the
wires X may be adjusted where they are secured to the guides Z to accommodate
blanks of different depths and vice versa. As the blanks lie on the table, they are
held between the guards Z and the separators X', as will be seen from Fig. 17 and
are thus kept in the right position to be acted upon by the gummers. As shown in
the drawings the guides Zare, fastened to the table so they can be adjusted on the
same to accommodate different size blanks.
The operation of my improved envelope machine constructed as above described,
is as follows:
While the gummers C are raised to the top of the bar D as shown in Fig. 3, and
just before they descend, the gum rollers F are moved below the gummers and
apply gum to the lower edges of the latter. The gummers then descend to the
lower end of the bar D and rest on the pile of blanks on the table R, as shown in

page_text: Fig. 2, and apply the gum to the edges of the side flaps of the envelope blank. As
the gummers descend, the formers H rise from the folding bed K to their upper
position at the top of the machine (Fig. 2). The gummers now ascend (the
presser-foot J raising from the pile of blanks to permit the top blank to be
removed) to the upper end of the bar D carrying the top blank E from the pile on
the table with them, and bringing the blank immediately below the formers, as the
latter remain in position between the gummers and in line with them, as will be
seen from Fig. 5. The bed K is next moved upward from between the folding
rollers until it rests against the formers H, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
The blank E is now held between the formers H on top and the bed K below
The formers and bed now descend stripping the blank from the gummers and
carrying it down between the folding rollers to be folded. As the blank is thus
carried down the bottom flap E rests on the bottom roller L ready to be folded by
the latter. The bed K together with the formers having descended to its position
between the rollers, the bottom roller L moves over the formers to the head H' of
the latter, turning the bottom flap E' of the envelope over the ends of the formers
and holding it down by the spring strip at the same time as the finger P moves
towards the envelope and scizes it, as shown in Fig. 7. The vertical plates N now
rise through the slots in the bed K, Fig. 9, and lift the ends of the side flaps above
the rollers M as the latter move across the former H and turn over and fold the
side flaps of the envelope and gum them down on the bottom flap as shown in
Fig. 10, the plates N descending through the slots as the rollers M approach them.
The rollers L and M now having folded and sealed the envelope, the rollers M
move back to their position at the sides of the bed K and the roller L moves back
to the front of the formers H, the finger P drawing the completed envelope out
from the formers until clear of the latter when it allows it to fall into the
receptacle below. Fresh gum is then applied to the gummers and the operation
repeated as before.
I do not wish to confine myself to the particular form of the mechanism described
above, as the same may be varied slightly from that shown.
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:
1. In an envelope machine in which blanks previously cut are gummed and
folded, the combination of the gummers or pickers, arranged and adapted to apply
the gum to the edges of the blank and convey the blank to the folding apparatus;
the folding bed which receives the apparatus and on which it lies as it is
folded; the former over which the flaps of the blank are folded and the folding
rollers arranged to turn and fold the flaps over the former and seal them, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In an envelope machine in which blanks previously cut are gummed and
folded, the folding apparatus, consisting of a bed or plate on which the blanks rest,
a former which holds the blank on the bed and over which the flaps of the blank
are turned and folded; and rollers for turning and folding the flaps over the former
and folding and sealing them, substantially as described.
3. In an envelope machine in which the blanks are previously cut the required
size; the combination of the gummers C adapted to be adjusted to suit envelope
blanks of different sizes, and arranged to apply the gum on the blank and convey
the latter over the folding apparatus, the former H, adapted to be adjusted to fold
blanks of different sizes and arranged to move up and down and strip the blank
from the gunimers and carry it in connection with the bed K down to the folding
rollers; the bed K arranged to move up and down under the former and receive the
blank and hold it while it is folded; and the folding rollers M and L, arranged to
move over the bed and former, and turn down and fold the flaps of the blank and
seal the same, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. In an envelope machine in which blanks are fed up to the gummers, the com-
bination with the table R, having an intermittingly upward motion on which the
pile of blanks rest, of the slanting bar D and the adjustable gummers C, adapted
and arranged to slide on the bar, and apply gum to the blank, pick up and convey
the same in position over the folding apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
5. In an envelope machine, the combination with the adjustable gummers C.
arranged to move on the slanting bar D, and the bar D, of the gum-rollers F
mounted on the arms f2 and adapted to receive gum from the gum-boxes and
pass under the gummers and apply the gum to the latter, substantially as
described.
6. In an envelope machine the gummers C consisting of the frames C, arranged
and secured in the head C so as to be adjustable in the same and adapted to
move up and down on the slanting bar D to receive the gum and apply it to the
blank, in combination with the slanting bar D, substantially as described.
7. In an envelope machine, the combination of the adjustable former H arranged
and adapted to move up and down in a vertical direction, and carry the blank in
connection with the bed K, and the bed K arranged to move up and down under the
former and descend with the latter, substantially as described.
8. In an envelope machine, for gumming and folding blanks, the combination of
the gummer C constructed to be adjustable and the former H, arranged to strip the
blank from the gummers, substantially as described.
9. In a machine for folding and gumming envelope blanks the bed K arranged
to move up and down in a vertical direction and receive the blank and descend
with it to the folding rollers below, substantially as described.
10. In a machine for gumming and folding envelope blanks, the combination of
the adjustable gummers C the adjustable former H, arranged to move up and down
and strip the blank from the gummers and convey it in connection with the bed K,
and the bed K arranged to move up under the former and descend with the latter,
substantially as described.
11. In a machine for folding and gumming envelope blanks, the combination of
the adjustable former H, arrauged to move up and down, and convey the blank in
connection with the bed K to the rollers; the bed K arranged to move up and
down under the former and descend with the latter, and the folding rollers arranged
and adapted to turn over the side and bottom flaps of the blank, substantially as
described.
12. In a machine for folding and gumming envelope blanks, the combination of
bed K, arranged to move up and down, and provided with the slots substantially
as described; with the vertically moving plates N, arranged to move up through
the slots in the bed and be drawn down below the same, substantially as
described.
13. In a machine for folding and gumming envelope blanks, the combination of the
adjustable former H, arranged to move up and down and strip the blank from the
gummers and convey it in connection with the bed K to the folding rollers; the bed K
arranged to move up under the former H and descend with the latter, and provided
with the slots substantially as described; the vertically moving plates N; the
roller L having the strip / adapted to move over the end of the former and turn
and hold down the bottom flap of the blank; and the rollers M, adapted to move
over the sides of the former and fold the side flaps of the blank; and the gripper P
adapted to seize the envelope while on the bed K and draw it from the same, sub-
stantially as described.
14. In an envelope machine, the combination of the gripper P, having the jaws p
and p² and connected to the bar Pl; with the rod p³ provided with the pin p' and
the spring p, and arranged and adapted to open and close the jaws, as and for the
purpose set forth.
15. In an envelope manhine, in combination with bed K, provided with the slots

page_text: substantially as described, the rollers L, M, adapted to move over the bed, and the
plates N arranged to pass through the slots and recede as the rollers move over the
Bame, substantially as described.
16. In an envelope machine the combination of the former H, the plates N
adapted to raise the flaps of the blank and the rollers M and L adapted and
arranged to turn over and press and seal the side and bottom flaps of the blanks as
and for the purposes set forth.
17. In an envelope machine, the combination of the vertically moving former H,
the vertically moving bed K, the frames M' and rollers M connected to the frame
by the flexible rod m, and adapted and arranged to pass over the former with
regular pressure, and turn down and press the flap of the blank, as and for the
purposes set forth.
18. In an envelope blank, in combination, the vertically moving former H, a
support on which the blank rests, and the rollers L, M, arranged to move over the
former and support and turn the flaps down parallel to the body of the blank and
press and seal the same.
19. In an envelope machine the separators X' attached to the table on which the
blank rests, and arranged to be adjustable, and press against the pile of blanks as
and for the purposes set forth.
20. In an envelope machine the combination of the adjustable guides Z and
separators X' as and for the purpose set forth.
21. In an envelope machine, the combination of the vertical sliding plates N
mounted on the springs n' in the frame N', and provided with the slots O', the
hooks O adapted and arranged to enter the slots O' and draw down the plates; and
the levers N³ secured to the lower ends of the plates by means of the pins n³ and
slots n, and arranged and adapted to move down and hold the plates, substantially
as described, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of January 1892.
FRANK AUGUSTUS JONES.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.