IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS."
-A communication from abroad by Benjamin Spencer Binney, of
Somerville, Middlesex County, State of Massachusetts, United States
Sealed the 13th July 1866, and dated the 23rd January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd January 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
BAGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manu-
facture of paper bags, which I will herein-after designate as the first,
second, and third machines.
1ST. MACHINE.
The Invention consists, firstly, in making the cutter which cuts the
paper from the roll or piece of a peculiar and irregular form, whereby it is
caused by the operation by which it cuts the paper to impart to it a form
A

page_text: which permits it without further cutting out to be folded into a bag; for
this purpose the cutter is set back at each end, so as in cutting to leave a
projecting piece on the end of the blank, the sides thus reduced forming
laps wherewith to make the bag. The cutter' has a serrated edge, and
works through a narrow slot of corresponding form in the table of the
machine, upon which the paper is deposited in proper lengths for the
blanks from a roll, or direct from a paper-making machine by any suitable
arrangement of intermittent feed rollers.
The paper is left of the full
width, being cut transversely only. The front edge of the table is also of
a similar form to the cutter, which latter is attached to a horizontal bar
working in suitable guides, receiving upward vertical motion from two
cams on the main shaft; the cutter descends by its own weight, which is
sufficient to cause the cutting of the paper, the descent taking place during
the intermission between the feeding movements of the paper.
The Invention consists,, secondly, in the attachment of the "former,"
round which the paper is folded to form the bags to the cutter which cuts
the paper from the roll or piece. The "former" consists of a plate of metal,
of a width and length equal to that required for the bag, secured to the
cutter bar before mentioned, so as to rise and fall with the same. Said
plate occupies a horizontal position, and comes down close upon the table
at the back of the cutter as the latter completes its descent and cuts off the
blank from the roll of paper.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in applying and arranging a paster in
combination with the "former," attached to the cutter for the purpose of
pasting the lap which closes the bottom of the bag. As the paper for the
blank is fed on to the table, it is pasted along one edge by passing over a
paste roller, so as to cause the two side laps to adhere to form the seam,
when the sides of the blank are folded over by the lappers herein-after
described. The bottom lap is also pasted by means of a paster attached
by a spring arm to the upper front rail of the framing. This paster is
forced by the elasticity of a spring arm down into a paste box, suitably
arranged below the table of the machine at the proper time, viz., after the
side lappers before mentioned are raised, to apply the paste to the over-
hanging lap of the partly folded blank on the "former," "by the action on
the spring arm of a cam on the main shaft.
The Invention consists, fourthly, in a certain construction of two side lap-
pers operating in combination with the "former." to fold the bag, whereby
the bottom lap is partly folded by the act of folding the side laps. These
side lappers are hinged to the table on each side of the "former," and

page_text: may be operated in the same manner as the lappers in other bag and
envelope making machines; they however differ in one respect, in having
the ends bent at a right angle, or nearly so, so that as they fold the sides
of the blank they will also partly fold the bottom lap, that is to say, will
turn it down at right angles to the body of the bag. These ends may also
be attached to the other parts by hinge joints, and be operated so as to
complete the folding of the bottom lap.
The Invention further consists in a contrivance applied and operating
so as to start the folded or partly folded bag from the "former." This
contrivance, which I term the "knock-off," for starting the bag consists
of a straight-edged plate arranged between the "former" and the table,
and attached to a curved arm working in a slot in the back of the table
and pivotted to a lever working on a fixed fulcrum below the main shaft.
This lever is operated on so as to raise the knock-off, as or directly after
the former rises by the downward pressure on its rear end of an arm
attached to the horizontal rock shaft of a vibrating frame herein-after
described, said arm being operated to throw forward the vibrating frame
by the action of a cam.
As the knock-off is thus raised its curved arm is
caused to move back, when the edge of the knock-off will strike the turned
down lap of the bag, and thus start it from the "former."
The Invention further consists in a pair of rollers arranged in a vibrating
frame, and operating to remove the bag from the "former," close the laps,
and discharge the bag from the machine. These rollers are arranged at
the back of the machine in a vibrating frame, between which rollers the
bag is caused to enter, so as to press the laps close together and discharge
it from the machine. The rollers are driven in opposite directions by
belting in communication with the main shaft and with the rock shaft
before mentioned. The action of the cam on the rock shaft brings forward
the vibrating frame to meet the bag, so that the rollers may seize it, and
this being done the cam allows the vibrating frame to be thrown back by
a spring; the frame thus moving back with its rollers in motion draws the
bag completely off the "former," and causes it to pass right through
between said rollers under suitable pressure, and be discharged at back of
the machine. The spring above mentioned at same time as it throws back
the vibrating frame draws down the knock-off in advance of the descent
of the "former," so that the feeding forward of the paper for the next
bag may not be interrupted. The several parts of the apparatus niay also
be arranged in the same manner in combination with rollers for folding the
sides of the bag, instead of with lappers as before described.

page_text: 2ND. MACHINE.
The second machine of this Invention in its general form and in many
features resembles the one before described, but with the following.
additions:-
The Invention relates, firstly, to an improved pasting apparatus for apply-
ing the paste to the edge of the paper for the purpose of forming seams in,
paper bags. This pasting apparatus consists of a wood or metal roller fitted
to work in an opening in the bottom of the paste box, the periphery of.
which roller may be grooved or roughened, and projecting below the box
for the purpose of applying paste to the paper by its revolution through.
the paste and in contact with the paper as it passes along under it con-
tinuously at a speed corresponding to the movement of the paper. The
paste roller is inserted in the box through an opening in the side closed by an
adjustable stopper, which regulates the supply of paste to the roller. Below,
this roller is attached a spring, serving to hold the paper up to the roller to
receive the paste; the spring may also be fitted with a roller to press,
against the paper.
It also relates to an improved system of feed and measuring rollers for
supplying the paper from a roll or continuous piece or web to the cutting
and folding machinery. These rollers are arranged near the paste box, and
revolve at such a velocity relatively to the movement of the knife as to
draw from the roll of paper a sufficient length to form a bag during each,
revolution of the main shaft. The lower one of these rollers is driven.
from the main shaft, while the upper one turns by the friction of the paper;
a band from the lower roller also drives the paste roller. A pair of feed
rollers having intermittent motion take the paper from the measuring rollers
and deliver it on the table, said rollers being stationary during the greater:
part of every revolution of the main shaft for the purpose of holding up the
paper that has passed the measuring rollers, and then revolving at a greater
speed than the rollers so as to take up all slack in front of the latter and
leave it flat, after which they are allowed to slip on the paper. These
rollers may either be driven by the friction of a cam on the main shaft or.
by means of a friction roller deriving continuous rotary motion from the
lower one of the measuring rollers.
It also relates to a drop applied in combination with the cutter which
cuts the paper from the roll or sheet to the proper shape to form the bag,
for the purpose of holding the paper close to the knife during the cutting
operation. This drop bar or plate of metal is arranged close behind the

page_text: cutter, with its lower edge parallel with the face of the table, its ends
working in guides close to the cutter bar guides. Two hooked projections
are arranged near the end of this plate; over the cutter bar, in such manner
that as the edge of the cutter rises above the table said bar will lift the
drop to permit the rollers to feed the paper forward on to the table. As
the cutter descends the drop descends with it, and before the cutter touches
the paper the drop comes down on it, holding it flat and preventing its
advance during the continued descent of the cutter to produce the cut.
It also relates to the employment, to fold the paper upon in the formation
of the bag, of a plate or its equivalent narrower than the bag, or of a plate
the same width as but shorter than the bag. This plate is attached to the
cutter bar in a similar way to the "former" described in the first machine,
but differs from it in being made narrower and shorter than the bag to be
folded on it; but, as these improvements are applicable in part with a
"former" of the full width of the bag, I may extend the plate on one side
only and sufficiently for the paper to fold close upon its edge.
. It also relates to certain improvements in the creasing and folding appa-
ratus for the sides of the bag. This apparatus consists of folding plates
arranged one on each side of the "former" or narrow plate above men-"
tioned, each hinged to levers working transversely to the direction of the
feed; the other edges of the plates rest on the folding table. The folders
operate by the vibrating motion of the above levers in connection with two
other levers having fixed fulcra and driven by cams on the main shaft, and
also by means of two inclines on each side of the folding table. The in-
clined plane used in combination with a former of the full width of the
bag is stationary, the folder having the blank deposited on it producing the.
fold by simply running up the inclined plane and over the "former," which
constitutes a creaser and determines the line of the fold. The inclined
plane to be used in combination with the narrow plate before mentioned,
although of the same form as the previous one, is made of a separate piece
hinged to the table, being held close up thereto by a spring, the junction
of the two forming the line of the crease. The creasing of the paper is
effected by the aid of a creasing blade or blades working on a fulcrum and
caused to rise and fall at intervals by gearing driven by a cam on the main
shaft. The creasing blade when down on the paper enters with it a little
way between the inclined plane and the edge of the table, the folder work-
ing precisely the same as the one above described. The folders may also
be fitted with rollers to run over the paper. The closing of the seam, to.
produce the adhesion of the two laps, is produced by means of a "drop":

page_text: or straight-edged bar connected to a lever working on a fixed fulcrum,
which is held up till the proper time for the descent of the drop by a suit-
able connecting arm in communication by a chain, cord, or link with the
lever carrying the folder, which latter in rising up the inclined plane allows
the drop to fall. The drop is raised by the cutter bar in such manner that
when the latter descends the arm above referred to falls on to the frame and
holds up the drop till the folder again operates.
The Invention further relates to an improvement in the folding apparatus
for the bottom of the bag. The knock-off, or part assisting in the folding
of the bottom lap of the bag, and to knock off the folded bag from the
"former" or plate, is somewhat differently applied to the one described in
the first machine of this Invention, while the roller frame for removing and
finishing the bag is the same as before, except that it is provided with a bar
extending right across in front of the first pair of rollers. The knock-off"
is attached to a heavy upright stem connected to a lever working on a fixed
fulcrum, the upper part of said stem being connected to the table by a
spring, while the weight of the stem and knock-off is supported by a lever
in communication with a rock shaft to which the roller frame is attached.
During the folding of the side laps the roller frame is stationary at a distance
from the knock-off, while the latter is close to the end of the table, with its
upper face level therewith; but after the side laps have been folded as
before described the roller frame is caused to move towards the "former"
by the action of a cami, while the arm on the rock shaft raises the knock-off
along with the table. This action causes that portion of the tube of paper
or partly formed bag which hangs over the knock-off to be bent over the
end of the same by the combined action of the knock-off and bar before
mentioned, bringing the paper in contact with the lower edge of the said
bar. The roller frame with its rollers arrives very near the knock-off just
as the latter rises to a position directly opposite thereto; it is then moved
away from the "former," and so caused to start the partly folded bag
towards the rollers and drive the end lap between said rollers, which operate
as before described in the first part of this Specification, so as to complete
the bag, afterwards passing through the several pairs of rollers, and so
finished.
3RD. MACHINE.
Further improvements consist, first, in employing side cutters of an
irregular curve at or near their inside ends in such manner that the form
of the paper cut by their action. and the corners produced by folding said
paper are of such a shape that the paste shall come upon the paper where.

page_text: it is single, and be thus enabled to hold better than it does when applied in
the ordinary way.
The Invention further consists in a "former" made of three parts, one
in the centre and two on the sides, in such manner that by moving the
side parts closer to or further from the middle the width of the "former
can be adjusted to the width of different bags, and bags of different sizes
can be made on the same "former." The middle part of the former is
stationary, while the position of the side parts can be adjusted according to
the size of bag to be produced, thus one and the same former serves to
make bags of different sizes. From the "former" the folded paper passes
to measuring rollers, the circumference of which is equal to the length of
the bag to be made, or nearly so; these rollers have intermittent motion
imparted in any suitable manner. A cut-off cutter is applied to sever the
bag after the sides are folded, while the side cutters and the knife for
turning up the bottom flap move simultaneously.
The Invention consists, finally, in an oscillating paster connected to a
shaft which has its bearings in the ends of arms extending from a rock
shaft, and applied in combination with an adjustable strap and with a
revolving paste roller in such a manner that the quantity of paste applied
to a bag is regulated according to its size. The bearings of this paster
run in slots, so that when it strikes the roll it can rise and allow the knife
to strike down between the rolls and fasten the lap. The bearings of the
paster are connected to a rod and elastic cord, by the action of which the
paster is turned downwards, while at the other end of said rod an adjustable
cord is wound in such manner that by raising an arm in connection there-
with the rod is caused to turn, the paster being thrown outwards and brought
in contact with the paste roller. This latter receives motion from the
measuring rollers and runs in the paste so as to take up sufficient to paste
each bag, it being transmitted to the paper by the paster above described..
30 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters. Patent,
filed by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,. I,. WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,. Engineer and
35 Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters

page_text: Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed; should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands; and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF PAPER BAGS," a communication to me from abroad by Benjamin Spencer
Binney, of Somerville, Middlesex County, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the three Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS REPRESENTED IN SHEET 1.
Figure 1 is
a central longitudinal section of a machine with these
improvements; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a transverse
vertical section of the same in the line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 4 exhibits
the shape of the paper blank of which the bags are formed by the machine
before it is folded; Figure 5 exhibits the bag folded.. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
This Invention consists, firstly, in making the cutter which cuts the
paper from the roll or piece of the peculiar irregular form herein-after
described, whereby it is caused by the operation by which it cuts the paper
from the roll or piece to give it the form herein-after specified, which
permits it without further cutting out to be folded into a bag. Secondly,
it consists in the attachment of the former, round which the paper is folded

page_text: to form the bags, to the cutter which cuts it from the roll or piece. Thirdly,
it consists in a certain mode of applying and arranging a paster in com-
bination with the former attached to the cutter for the purpose of pasting
the lap which closes the bottom of the bag. Fourthly, it consists in a
certain construction of two side lappers operating in combination with the
former to fold the bag, whereby the bottom lap is partly folded by the act
of folding the side laps. It also consists in a contrivance applied and
operating, as herein-after described, to start the folded or partly folded bag
from the former. It also consists in a pair of rollers arranged in a vibrating
frame and operating, as herein-after described to remove the bag from
the former, close the laps, and discharge the bag from the machine. And it
further consists in the general arrangement and combination of the several
parts of the machinery to operate-substantially as herein-after described.
To enable others to make and use this Invention I will proceed to
describe its construction and operation.
A is a square framing which supports all the working parts of the
machine; B is the cutter which cuts the paper from the roll or piece and
producing the edges a, a, of the blank. The edges b, b, are not cut at all,
as the blank between those edges is the full width of the paper. Before
proceeding further with the description of the machine it will be well to
explain how the bag is produced from this blank represented. The cutting
of the edges a, a, with two jogs 8, 8, provides a lap 10, 10, to close the
bottom, and one 11 to cover the mouth of the bag when the blank has
been folded in the dotted lines 12, 12. These lines 12 are so situated that
the edges b, b, will lap each other, as shown in Figure 5, to form a seam
down the middle of one side of the bag. The two parts 10 combine to
form a lap for the bottom when the blank has been folded in the lines
12, 12, and this lap is to be folded in the opposite direction to the fold in
the lines 12, 12, that is to say, if the side parts outside the lines 12, 12, are
folded over on the top of the central portion the parts 10 are to be folded
under the central portion, as illustrated in Figure 5. The cutter B is of
the form of the edges a, a, shown in Figure 4, as may be seen by reference
to Figure 2, where. its back is represented. This cutter has a serrated
edge, which works through a narrow slot d of corresponding form in a table
C, upon which the paper is deposited in proper lengths for the blanks from
a roll or direct from a paper-making machine by suitable intermittently
operating feed rollers, which I have not thought it necessary to represent
as such rollers are used in most paper bag machines, the front edge of the
said table C being also like the cutters of the form of the edges a, a. The

page_text: cutter is attached to a horizontal bar B₁ which works within vertical guides
c, c, erected on opposite sides of the machine, and which derives an upward
vertical movement from the two cams D, D, on a constantly rotating
horizontal main shaft E, and then descends by its own weight, which
is sufficient to cause the cutting of the paper by the cutter, the descent
taking place during the intermissions between the feeding movements of
the paper. I is the former, consisting of a plate of metal of a width and
length equal to the desired width and length of the bag secured to the
cutter bar. B', so as to rise and fall with the cutter, said plate occupy-
ing a horizontal position and coming down close upon the table C
at the back of the cutter as the cutter completes its descent and cuts off
blank from the piece or roll of paper, the side edges of the said former
coming on the lines 12, 12, of the blank. The cutter and former remain.
stationary after their descent long enough to permit the operation of the
side lappers G, G, which are hinged to the table C, one on each side of the
foriner, and which are thrown quickly over the former to fold over the
side portions of the blanks from the lines 12, 12, and as quickly thrown
back again to permit the raising of the cutter and former, one of the said
lappers operating slightly in advance of the other to permit one edge of
the blank to be lapped over the other without any danger of their meeting.
1 liave not represented in the Drawing any mechanism for operating these
lappers, as they may be operated in the same manner as the lappers in other
paper bag and envelope making machines. The said lappers, however,
differ in their construction from the lappers in other machines in one
particular, viz., in having the ends which are next the extremity of the
former bent at a right angle or nearly so, as shown at e, e, in Figure 2,
so as they fold the sides of the blank they will also partly fold the bottom
lap, that is to say, will turn it down at right angles to the body of the bag.
The parts e, e, of the lappers may be attached to the other parts by hinge
joints and be operated so as to complete the folding of the bottom lap. It
might have been before observed that as the paper for the blank is fed on
to the table C it is pasted along one edge b by passing over a paste roller
which I have not represented, as it constitutes no part of this Inventior,
and hence the lap of the two edges b, b, is caused to adhere to form the
seam when the sides of the blank are folded over by the lappers. The
bottom lap is pasted by means of a paster, which is attached by a spring
arm g to the upper front rail of the frame. This paster is forced by the
clasticity of the spring arm g down into a paste box H suitably arranged
below the table C, but at the proper time, viz., after the operation of the

page_text: side lappers G, G, is raised to apply the paste to the overhanging lap
10, 10, of the partly folded blank on the former by the action upon the
arm g of a cam h on the main shaft E. I is what I call the knock-off, for
starting the bag from the fornier and causing its entrance between the
pair of rollers i, i, which are arranged at the back of the machine in the
vibrating frame J to take the bag and complete it by pressing the laps
close together and discharge it from the machine. The knock-off I
consists of a straight-edged piece of plate arranged between the former and
the table C, and attached to a curved arm I' which works through a slot m in
the back of the table, and is pivotted by a pin K to a lever L which works
on a fixed fulcrum j below the main shaft E. The said lever L is operated
upon to raise the knock-off, as or directly after the former F rises, by the
downward pressure upon its rear end of an arm 7 attached to the horizontal
rock shaft K of the vibrating frame J, the said arm being operated to throw
forward the vibrating frame by the action upon it of the cam h. As the
knock-off is thus raised its curved arm I', which is held in contact with the
front end of the slot m by a spring t connecting with the upper front rail of
the frame, is caused by the action of its curved front edge in the said slot
to move back and to cause the edge of the knock-off to strike the turned
down lap 10 of the bag, and thus to start it from the former and cause it
to enter between the rollers i, i, which are kept constantly revolving in the
direction of the arrows shown upon them in Figure 1 by the two belts
n, o, one of which runs from a pulley p, which is fast on the main shaft E,
to a pulley q which is loose on the rock shaft K, and the other from the
latter pulley to the pulley r, on the lower of the two rollers. The action.
of the cam upon the arm at the same time as it caused the knock off
to rise and strike the bag brought forward the vibrating frame J to meet
the bag, that the rollers i, i, might seize it, and this being done the cam
allows the vibrating frame to be thrown back by the upward pull upon the
arm of a spring S connecting it with the upper front rail of the frame, and
the frame thus moving back with its rollers i, i, in motion on their axes,
draws the bag completely off the former F, and the whole length of the
bag is caused to pass right through or between the said rollers and be dis-
charged over the back of the machine, receiving such pressure from the
rollers in passing between them so as to flatten its folds and laps and cause
the perfect adhesion of the laps. The spring S above mentioned is con-
nected with the rear end of the lever L, and at the same time as it draws
up the arm to throw back the vibrating frame draws down the knock-
off in advance of the descent of the former F, so that the feeding forward

page_text: of the paper for the next bag may not be interfered with. I will remark
that the former F applied attached as described to the cutter so as to be
operated by the same simple means, the bottom lap paster, the knock-off,
and the vibrating frame J and its rollers i, i, may be arranged in the same
manner in combination with rollers for folding the sides of the bag instead
of with lappers like G, G.
:
What I claim as of the Invention herein-before described and repre-
sented in Sheet 1 of the Drawings forming the first part of these
improvements is,-
First, making the cutter which cuts the paper from the roll or piece of
the form herein described, that in cutting off the paper it also cuts to the
required form to fold into a bag without further cutting out.
Secondly, the attachment of the former F directly to the cutter to
operate in combination therewith, and with a folding table C, substantially
as herein described.
Thirdly, the within-described mode of applying and arranging the
paster F to operate in combination with the folding table C and former F.
Fourthly, the construction of the side lappers with angular ends e, c,
substantially as described, for the purpose of partly folding the bottom lap
by the act of folding the sides of the bag.
Fifthly, the knock-off I operating in combination with the former sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
Sixthly, the vibrating frame J, with its rollers i, i, operating in com-
bination with the former and the knock-off substantially as and for the
purpose herein described..
Seventhly, the arrangement of the table, the cutter, the former, the side lap-
pers, the bottom paster, the knock-off, and the vibrating frames J, to operate
in relation to and in combination with each other substantially as described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS REPRESENTED IN SHEET 2.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a paper bag machine with
these improvements; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a trans-
verse vertical section of the same; Figure 4 is a vertical section at right
angles to Figure 1 of the pasting apparatus of the side lap of the bag.
Figure 5 is a side view of the same. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the several Figures..
The second part of this Invention relates, first, to an improved pasting
apparatus for applying the paste to the edge of the paper for the purpose
of forming seams in paper bags. It also relates to an improved system of

page_text: feed and measuring rollers for supplying the paper from a roll or continuous
piece or web to the cutting and folding machinery. It also relates to a
drop, applied substantially as herein-after described in combination with the
cutter which cuts the paper from the roll or sheet to the proper shape to
form the bag, for the purpose of holding the paper close to the knife during
the cutting operation. It also relates to the employment, to fold the paper
upon, in the formation of the bag, of a plate or its equivalent narrower
than the bag, or of a plate the same width as but shorter than the bag.
It also relates to certain improvements in the creasing and folding appa-
ratus for the sides of the bag. And it further relates to an improvement
in the folding apparatus for the bottom of the bag.
To enable others to make and use this Invention I will proceed to
describe the construction and operation of the machine represented in the
Drawings, which machine in its general form and in many of its charac-
teristics is like the machine described in the first part of this Specification,
and cuts the paper to the same form and folds it in the same way to form
the bag; but it differs from that machine in the before-recited particulars.
A is the framing of the machine; B is the curved cutter, having a serrated
edge, which works through a slot d in the stationary table C; B' is the
cutter bar, to which the cutter is attached; and D, D, are the cams on
the constantly revolving main shaft E, for operating the said cutter bar and
cutter at proper intervals. The above-mentioned parts are all like the
corresponding parts of the former machine, and therefore need no par-
ticular description. Near the end of the machine where the paper enters
is situated the paste box F, from which paste is supplied all along one
margin of the paper while in the piece as it passes on towards the cutter.
The paper passing into the machine is shown by the red lines in Figures
1, 2, and 3, but the roll from which it is supplied is not represented. G is
a roller of wood or metal fitted to work in an opening in the bottom of the
paste box F, and having its periphery, which may be grooved or roughened,
protruding below the said bottom for the purpose of applying paste to the
paper by its revolution through the paste and in contact with the paper, as
the paper passes along under it continuously, the velocity of its revolution
corresponding with the velocity of the movement of the paper. The said
roller is inserted in the paste box through a circular opening in one side
thereof, and this opening is closed by a bung or stopper a, Figures 2, 4,
and 5, which also serves to regulate the supply of paste, letting more or
less pass out with the roller, according as it is screwed or pushed in more
or less. Below the roller G there is attached to the framing of the machine

page_text: a spring H, whose duty it is to hold the paper up to the said roller to
receive the paste; this spring may be fitted with a roller to press against
the paper. I, 1 are a pair of rollers, which I call the measuring rollers;
arranged not far from the paste box. F, and revolving continuously at such
a velocity relatively to the movements of the knife as to draw from the roll
of paper a sufficient length to form a bag during each revolution of the
main shaft E. The lower one I derives its motion through a band b. from
a pulley K on the main shaft E, and the upper one I', which is made suffi-
ciently beavy, or loaded with weights or springs, is made to rotate by the
friction of the paper. A band c running from the roller I to a pulley g on
the paste roller G serves to drive the latter at the required velocity. J, J¹,
are a pair of intermittently revolving feed rollers, which take the paper
from the measuring rollers I, 1, and deliver it on to the table C, said roller
being stationary during the greater portion of every revolution of the main
shaft E, for the purpose of merely holding up the front portion of the paper
that has passed the measuring rollers, and then being caused to revolve at
a much higher velocity than the measuring rollers so as to take up all slack
paper in front of the latter and leave it flat. These rollers J, J¹ do not bite
upon. the paper so hard as the rollers I, I', so that as they continue to
revolve, after having drawn up the slack, they slip upon the paper. The
said rollers J, J, may be driven in various ways, two of which are repre-
sented in the Drawing, see Figure 1, viz., one. by the friction of a cam P
on the main shaft coming in contact with the surface of the lower roller J,
and the other by the friction of the roller L attached to a lever M, the said
roller deriving a continuous rotary motion through a band e from the lower
ineasuring roller I, and being lifted up into contact with the roller J by the
connection of the said lever M with the cutter bar B. N is the drop, opera-
ting in combination with the cutter to hold the paper fixedly upon the table
C'during the operation of the cutter, said drop consisting of a bar or plate
of metal arranged close behind the cutter, with its lower edge parallel with
the face of the table and with its ends working in fixed vertical guides f, f,
close to the cutter bar guides. Near the end of this plate there are two hook-
like projections h, h, overhanging the top of the cutter bar B' in such a
manner that as the edge of the cutter rises above the upper surface of the
table C the said bar will lift the said drop to permit the rollers J, J', to feed
the paper forward on to the table when their revolution takes place. As the
cutter descends the drop descends with it, and before the edge of the
cutter touches the paper the drop comes down upon the latter and so by
its pressure holds the same flat upon the table and effectually prevents its

page_text: advance during the continued descent of the cutter to produce the cut.
Q is the flat plate narrower than the bag, upon which the blank is folded to:
form the bag attached to the cutter bar in the manner as the "former" of
the machine mentioned in the first part of this Specification; this plate differs
from this "former " in being narrower and shorter than the bag to be folded.
upon it, but as the improvements in the side creasing and folding apparatus,.
which constitute part of this present Invention, are in part applicable in com--
bination with a former of the full width of the bag, I have, for the sake of
illustrating the application of these improvements both in combination with.
the former and narrower plate, represented the plate Qas extended on one;
side, viz., the side nearest the top of Figure 2 and towards the left hand
in Figure 3 sufficiently for the paper to fold close upon its edge, and have
represented the proper position of the margin of the narrower plate by a
blue line in Figure 2. The folding of the sides of the bag is performed,,
whether the former or the narrower plate Q is used, by means of folders:
consisting of plates R, R¹, one for each side, each hinged at one edge by a
hinge i to one of two levers S, S¹, working transversely to the direction in
which the paper is fed into the machine, on two fixed fulcrum pins j, j",
secured in the lower part of the framing, and the other edges of the said;
plates resting upon and working over the edge of the folding table C.,
The operation of these folders is produced partly by the vibrating move-
ments of the levers S, S¹, effected by their connection by two rods k, k¹;
with two levers Y, Y', which work each on a fixed fulcrum t, and are,
operated upon by two cams T, T', on the main shaft E, and partly by two.
inclines 1, 1, Figure 3, one on each side of the folding table C. The
inclined plane for operating in combination with a former of the full
width of the bag is stationary, and commences its descent from a line corre-
sponding with the side edge of the former, and requires no creaser to
operate in combination with the folder R, which having had the blank
deposited upon it while resting on the lower part of the said inclined
plane produce the fold by simply running up the inclined plane and
over the former, whose edge constitutes a creaser and determines the line.
of the fold. The inclined plane for operating in combination with the
narrower plate Q, though combining with the feeding table C in the same.
form as 1, is made of a separate piece hinged to the table by a hinge m,
and has a spring n applied which tends to hold it close up to the side of
the table, the junction of the said piece with the table being in the line
where the fold is desired to take place, and at some distance from the edge
of the plate Q. The creasing of the paper is effected by the operation in

page_text: combination with the detached inclined plane of a creasing blade U.
attached to a lever V, Figures 2 and 3, which works on a stationary ful-
crum pin p, which is caused to fall and rise again very quickly at suitable.
intervals of time by its connection by à rod q with another lever W, which
works on a fixed fulcrum (Figure 2), and is operated by a cam X on the
main shaft E. The edge of the creasing blade U descending upon the
paper and entering with it a little way between the inclined plane and
the adjacent edge of the table C creases the paper, so that when the
folder R¹ (which operates precisely like R) runs up the said inclined plane
and over the edge of the plate Q, after the ascent of the creaser, it folds
the paper in the line of the said creaser. The folders R, R', may be fitted.
with rollers to roll over the paper. The folders R, R¹, have not a precisely
simultaneous action, but the one R which folds the lap with the pasted
edge must operate a little after the other one in order that the pasted lap
may be laid over the other one and the seam along the side of the bag be
properly made. The closing of the seam to produce the adhesion of the
two laps is effected by means of a drop Z, Figures 1 and 3, consisting of
a straight-edged bar attached to a lever 16, 17, which works on a fixed
fulcrum 12, and which is held up till the proper time for the descent of the
drop by means of a leg 13, which is jointed to the said lever by a pin 14,
and which rests upon the side of the framing in the manner shown in
Figure 3. This leg 13 is connected by a cord 15 or by a chain or link
with the lever S, which in carrying the folder R up the inclined plane
pulls the said leg off the framing and lets the lever 16 fall with the drop.
The drop is raised again by the cutter bar B', which acts upon the short
arm 17 of the drop lever which overhangs the said bar, and when it is
raised the leg 13 falls back by gravitation over the framing A, so that when
the cutter bar descends it drops on to the frame and holds up the drop Z
till the folder It operates again. U, Figures 1, 2, and 3, is the knock-off,
whose duty it is to assist in folding the bottom lap of the bag, and to knock
off the folded bag from the former or plate Q upon which it has been
folded; and v is a vibrating roller frame for taking the bag from the knock-
off and finishing it. The knock-off is in most respects like that described.
in the first part of this Invention, but somewhat differently applied and
operated. The roller frame is precisely similar except that it has the addi-
tion of a bar 21 extending all across it just below the entrance between its
first pair of rollers 22, 22. The knock-off is attached to a heavy upright
lever-like stem w, which is attached by its fulcrum pin 17* to the end of a
lever which works on a stationary fulcrum pin 18. The upper part of

page_text: the stem w is connected with a table C by a spring 23, Figure 1, which
pulls it towards the table, and the weight of the said stem and the knock-
off is supported by the lever a resting upon the arm 19 of the rock shaft y,
to which the roller frame v is attached. This rock shaft is operated upon
to give the roller frame the necessary movements to take the bag from the
former or plate Q, by the action upon its arm 20 of the cam P on the main.
shaft E. At the time when the folding of the side laps takes place the
roller frame is stationary at a distance from the knock-off u, and the latter
is close to the end of the table C, and, has. its upper face on a level or
nearly so with the face thereof; but after the side laps have been folded
and the former or plate Q has risen from the said table, in the manner
described in the first part of this Specification,, the roller frame is caused to
move towards the said former or plate by the action of the cam. P, and the
arm 19 of the rock shaft y is caused to lift up the lever and so to. raise
the knock-off along with the table. This elevation of the knock-off being
accompanied by the advance of the roller frame towards it, causes that
portion of the tube of paper constituting the partly formed bag which
hangs over the knock-off to be bent over the end of the knock-off by the
combined action of the knock-off and the bar 21, the knock-off with the
overhanging paper passing up nearly close to the said bar bringing the
paper in contact with the lower edge of the said bar. The roller frame
arrives with the entrance to its rollers 22, 22, very near the knock-off just
as the latter has risen to a position directly opposite to the said entrance,
and the knock-off is then moved away from the former or plate Q by the
'action upon the lower part of its stem of an arm 19*, which branches off
from the arm 19, and so causes to start the partly folded bag towards the
rollers 22, 22, which are combining their advance towards it, and to drive
the partly folded end lap between the said rollers, which operating like the
corresponding rollers described in the first part of this Specification
quickly seize it and complete the fold. The bag is afterwards carried
between the several pairs of rollers in the frame v and so finished.
What I claim as of the Invention herein-before described and repre-
sented in Sheet 2 of the Drawings, forming the second part of these
improvements is,-
First, the pasting apparatus, consisting of the roller G fitted to work in
an opening in the bottom of a paste box, the spring H or its equivalent,
and the adjustable stopper a, all combined to operate substantially as
herein described.

page_text: Secondly, the combination of the continuously revolving measuring
rollers I, I', and the intermittently revolving feed rollers J, J', operating
substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Thirdly, the drop N operating in combination with the cutter B and
the feed rollers, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Fourthly, folding the paper around a plate Q or flat piece of any material
narrower than the bag itself, or of the same width as but shorter than the
bag itself, substantially as herein specified.
Fifthly, the folders R, R¹, applied and operating in combination with
the inclined planes 1, 11, at the sides of the folding table C, substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Sixthly, the combination with the folding table and with a plate Q
narrower than the bag upon of one or more movable inclined planes l' and
creasing blades U, operating substantially as herein described.
Seventhly, the drop Z applied and operating substantially as and for the
purpose herein described.
Eighthly, the bar 21 applied to the vibrating roller frame and operating
in combination with the knock-off' U, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth,
DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS REPRESENTED IN SHEET 3.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this Invention, the
line,, Figure 2, indicating the plane of section; Figure 2 is a plan
or top view of the same; Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating the
form of bag made by this improved machine. Similar letters of reference
indicate like parts.
The third part of this Invention consists, first, in giving to the side
cutters an irregular curve at or near their inside ends in such a manner
that the form of the paper cut by their action and the corners produced
by folding said paper are of such a shape that the paste shall come upon
the paper where it is single, and be thus enabled to hold better than it
'does when it is applied in the ordinary. way. It consists also-in a former
'made of three parts, one in the centre and two on the sides, in such a
manner that by moving the side parts closer to or further froin the middle
the width of the former can be adjusted to the width of different bags, and
bags of different sizes can be made on the same former. It consists,
finally, in an oscillating paster connected to a shaft which has its bearings
in the ends of arms extending from a rock shaft, and applied in combina-

page_text: tion with an adjustable strap and with a revolving paste roller in such a
manner that the quantity of paste applied to a bag is regulated according
to the size of the bag.
A represents a frame made of wood or other material of any suitable
form or shape, and arranged to support the various working parts of the
cutting-off, folding, and pasting mechanism of a paper bag machine. The
side cutters B, which serve to cut the paper so that the sides may fold and
make the seam in the centre of the bag, are secured to the ends of arms a
which extend from a rock shaft 6 that rises by the action of a cam c on
the driving shaft d and falls by its own gravity or by the action of a spring
or weight. These cutters or knives are bent in an irregular curve near
their inner ends, so that the paper cut by their action and the corners
produced by folding said paper are such that the paste shall come upon
the paper where it is single, and that it will hold better than it does when
applied to the paper in the usual manner. After having been cut by the
side cutters B the paper passes under the former C, over which the paper
is folded so that it produces a bag of the requisite size. The means by
which the sides may be pasted and folded upon the former C constitute
the subject of the first part of this Specification; it will therefore be
unnecessary to give a description of the folding devices here. This former
is made of two or more parts, three being shown in the Drawing, the middle
one of which is stationary, while the side parts may be so arranged that
they can be adjusted in any known manner towards and from the middle
part according to the size of the bag to be produced. If the side parts
are adjustable one and the same former serves to make bags of different
sizes. From the former C the folded paper passes to the measuring
rollers D, the circumference of which is equal to the length of the bag to
be made or nearly so, and which have an intermittent motion given to
them in any known manner. The cut-off cutter E serves to sever the bag
after the sides are folded; and the arm F is to move simultaneously with
the side cutters B and with the knife G that turns up the bottom flap;
said cut-off cutter is secured to a stationary cross bar e, and the arm F
extends from a rock shaft f which receives an oscillating motion by a
suitable mechanism connecting it with the rock shaft 6 that carries the
side cutters. In the Drawing a shaft g extends throughout the entire
length of the frame A, having its bearings in suitable hangers or boxes, and
this shaft connects by a rod h with an arm i extending from the rock
shaft b, and by a rod j with an arm k extending from the rock shaft f, and

page_text: by these means the oscillating motion of the shaft fand the arm F is made
to move simultaneously with the side cutter B. The knife C which turns'
the end flap is suspended from a rod which is rigidly connected to the
outer ends of two arms n extending from a rock shaft o, as clearly shown
in the Drawing. This rock shaft connects by an arm p and rod with
the 'longitudinal shaft g, and by these means motion is imparted to it from
the rock shaft b. The outer ends of the arms n form heads which are
provided with slots s to form the bearings for the rod t, to which the
paster 'H is secured. The bearings of the paster H are allowed to play in
slots in order that when the paster strikes the roll it can rise in said slots
so as to allow the knife to strike down between the rolls to fasten the lap.
The ends of the rod t extend through the slots 's, and one end connects to
an elastic cord u in such a manner that by the action of said cord the
paster is turned down to the position shown in Figure 1. From the other
end of the rod 7 extends a strap v to a screw w, whereby it (the strap) can
be lengthened and shortened at pleasure, and the upper end of said strap
is wound round the rod t in such a manner that when the arms n rise the
rod t turns and the paster H is thrown out and brought in contact with
the paste roll I. This roll is intended to derive its motion from the
measuring rollers, and it is calculated to run in the paste so that it takes
up a sufficient quantity for pasting each bag, and the paste taken up by
the roll I is transmitted to the paper by the action of the paster H. By
lengthening or shortening the strap the paster is caused to take up less or
more paste as may be desirable. By these improvements the mechanism
requisite for folding and pasting paper bags is materially simplified, and
one and the same machine can be easily arranged to make bags of different
sizes. The operation of making the bags, or, more properly speaking, so
much of it as is concerned in the present Invention, has been incidentally
described in the course of the above description. It will be understood
- that the present Invention does not relate to the means of feeding the
paper to the machine shown or to the means for applying the paste to the
centre of the bag, neither does it, as before stated, include the devices for
turning the sides of the bag over the former C.
In Figures 3 and 4 the form of the bag is shown; in Figure 3 the form
of the blank is given; and in Figure 4 the bag complete. The lines 1, 1,
designate the cuts made by the side cutters B; and 2, the cut which
is made by the knife E after the side flaps of the bag have been folded
together; 3 is the bottom flap which is turned up by the knife C².

page_text: What I claim as the Invention herein-before described and represented
in Sheet 3 of the Drawings, forming the third part of these improvements,
is,
First, making the side cutters B with curved ends substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Secondly, making the former C in two or more parts substantially as and
for the purpose described.
Thirdly, the paster H in combination with the adjustable strap v, knife G,
and paste roll I, constructed and operating substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourthly, the arrangement and combination of the side cutter B,
former C, measuring rollers D, cutter E, oscillating arm F, paste roller I,
paster H, and knife G, all constructed and operating in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)