Year: 1887

page_text: We JOSEPH RICHMOND and WALTER WHITING both of 30 Kirby Street, Hatton
Garden Middlesex, Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is certain improvements in or connected with Envelope
Machines.
For the purpose of this invention the frame is made rectangular in form and has
one shaft governing all the working parts.
A pile of ready cut blanks is placed upon a platform guided by four pillars and
having on its underside a ratchet toothed bar which passes through a base plate
having the lower ends of the pillars attached. This ratchet toothed bar also passes
through a socket provided with a friction clutch, also a bolt and spring for giving the
necessary lift motion to the bar and pile of blanks at each pendulous motion of a rod
actuated by a cam on the main shaft. The socket has a tail piece the lower end of
which engages in a stationary cross bar which ensures a vertical motion in the arc of
a circle being given to the blank holder at each reciprocating movement.
The upper ends of the pillars are connected to a frame hung from an upper bar
which may be a cross bar or stay connecting the two sides of the machine so that
the frame moves about said bar as from a hinge.
The whole of the above mentioned pieces of mechanism are termed a blank holder
and are supported by the main shaft and cam in conjunction with the hinge working
in a swell of the bar so that the whole of the blank holder moves about a pivot pin
attached to the main frame and when this blank holder is lifted it puts the back flap
of the blank into contact with the fixing flap gunmers and then into contact with
the sealing flap gummers these being divided but capable of being separated for
scraping themselves over the surface of the gummed sealing flap when at the back of
the machine for being released from contact with the sealing flap. The sealing flap
dividable gummers are connected to arms carried by a cross bar the ends of which
ride in parallel horizontal slots formed in the side frames of the machine, the
movement of said bar with the sealing flap gummers being effected by side connecting
links from cam wheels in the grooves of which on either side of the machine rollers
of said connecting links work.

page_text: :
When the lowering of the blank holder takes place the inner end of the upper
frame and the pile of blanks lower from the inner end first, by reason of the frame
moving from the hinge joint and this motion causes the pile of blanks to be peeled
away from the blank adhering to the dividable gummers which allows air to enter in
between the blank adhering to the gummers and the next top blank of the pile
whereby a positive separation of the two topmost blanks takes place.
The same action of peeling the second top blank of the pile from the sealing flap
end occurs so that only one blank is taken by the gummers at each movement and
held to the gummers by the adhesiveness of the gum.
The gummers with the blank adhering, then move towards the rear of the machine
and place the blank over a press plate this having edge strips standing up a small
distance above the level of the press plate, their distance apart corresponding to the
size of the envelope to be made. Above the press plate, which is a fixture, is a press
head having a motion under the direction of a cam down slots in cheek pieces of the
frame which press head when lowered carries the blank into the pocket formed by the
raised edge strips whereby the creasing of the blank is effected for constituting
the four flaps, the gummers still having hold of the fixing and sealing flaps
respectively.
Simultaneously with the fall of the press head four corner strips as creasers drop
and occupy positions in the corners of the now creased blank.
The arms of the dividable or sealing flap gummers are of curved shape and the
opening between the arms is sufficiently large for a cam or template encircling the
lower portion of the press head to come into said hollow when the press head is
lowered so that as the arms are about to be drawn back to their first position, rollers
on the ends ride against the cam and the arms open outwards or away from each
other which gives a sliding action to the dividable gummers for spreading or scraping
the gum on the sealing flap of the blank. At the same time the fixable flap gunmer
only scrapes backwards and as the two dividable gummers pass over the widest part
of the cam a spring connecting the two arms draw them gradually together again.
During this motion a gumming roller has been actuated by its cam and put into
contact with the fixable flap gummer for gumming its surface and as the dividable
gummers come together again when leaving the cam or template they also in their
back travel pass in contact with the gum roller for gumming their surfaces the
gumming roller then retiring into contact with the feed roller for a fresh supply
of gum.
The press head under the action of its cat is then lifted clear of the blank which is
still on the press plate the cam or template going up with it but the four corner pieces
are left in contact with the blank and the operation of folding the flaps commences
that is to say the end flaps folding blades are operated by quadrant and pinion gear
and at this instant the press head having been lifted to its greatest height. lifts the
corner strips with it the end folding blades passing in between the uprising corner
strips to press the end flaps into contact with the body of the blank.
The fixing flap folding blade is next operated whereby the fixing flap is laid upon
the two end flaps putting its gummed portion into contact with the end flaps. The
other broad folding blade next folds the fly or sealing flap over, with pressure at the
creased part only, so that the gummed portion does not come into contact with the
fixed flap, said fly or sealing flap being prevented doing so by a pin on the top of
the fixing flap blade. The four folding blades then turn back and the thus far made
envelope remains on the press plate.
While these motions are being performed the blank holder has been operated for
putting a fresh blank forming the top one of the pile into contact with the gummers
and after the blank holder drops again the gummiers with their fresh blank move
towards the rear of the machine for a repeat of the foregoing operations but in the
backward travel of the gummers two prongs projecting from the ends of the arms and
moving in advance of the dividable gummers enter under the sealing flap of the last
made envelope which is still upon the press plate and lifts it from the press plate and
as the arms continue their travel they lodge the envelope in the path of and upon the

page_text: Figure 4 is a detail view of a single colour printing apparatus.
Figure 5 is a detail view of a two colour printing apparatus and
Figure 6 is a detail view of a type carrier when two colours are to be used
but one of said type carriers only will be necessary when only one colour is
required.
A is the frame of the machine. B the main shaft from which the various cams and
levers are operated C is the table on which the pile of blanks is placed, this working
between say four guide rods D under the action of a reciprocating arm E which is
attached loosely to a leg F of a base plate G which supports the four pillars D. To
the leg F is jointed a double ended lever H the long end of which bears against a
transverse bar I as the lever H moves to and fro governed by the movement of the
rod E.
The upper end of this lever H moves in the segment of a circle from its joint under
the action of the rod E the upper end of the pillars D being connected to arms N
pivotted on a transverse bar P so that the arms N with the uprights have a descending
motion to remove the pile of blanks from contact with the gummers so that the blank
which adheres is so to speak peeled away from the pile.
The short arm J of the lever H is socketed for a bar K of the blanks carrying
table to pass through, said bar being supported for an upward motion by the friction
clutch L but is released therefrom in its downward moving motion. The platform C
by its bar K is caught by the paul A taking into the teeth formed on the edge of
said bar K.
The upper ends of the guide rods D are connected to arms N, N, working loosely.
on a cross bar P forming one of the stays of the machine so that said bars N,N, move
as on a hinge joint to partake of a circular up and down movement from the outer
end corresponding to the rising and falling motion of the base plate G under the
action of the rod E which when moved in one direction causes the friction stud L to
nip the steun K to press the top blank of the pile into contact with the sealing flap
gummers QQ, these being divided and on arms R, R, which gummers QQ and also
the fixing flap gummers S S are carried to the rear of the machine by a transverse
bar T which rides in parallel horizontal slots in the upper part of the frame A the
movement being effected by the levers U U pivotted at VV through a bowl on a short
arm riding in a groove of cam wheels W W.
The envelope blank carried by the adhesiveness of the gummers to the rear of the
machine is placed upon or over a press plate X and the four creasers Y, Y, two only
of which are seen, are brought down upon the blank to mark it where the folding
has to be effected, almost simultaneous with the descending motion of the

page_text: creasers Y, Y, a press head Z is brought down into contact with the body of the
envelope blank.
The press head Z when brought down brings the template or cam a down over an
opening formed by the two guminer carrying arms N, N so that as the envelope blank
is left upon the plate X and the press head Z is in contact the transverse bar T has a
forward or reverse motion imparted to it to take up its first position, and in doing this,
rollers b, b, on the ends of the arms R, R ride against the back curved portion of the
template a and open outwards, in doing so the sealing flap gummers on these arms
scrape themselves away from the sealing flap of the envelope blank, the fixing flap
gummers scraping themselves away simultaneously, and the sealing flap gummers after
passing round the broadest part of the template close towards one another under the
action of a spring c and continue their motion to the front of the machine; during
this travel and while the gummers are approaching one another a gumming roller d is
raised from contact of a ductor or bath roller e by the lever fand rod g for gumming
the gummers.
The downward travel of the press head is rather more than that of the creasers and
the press head first leaves the envelope and then in its upward motion lifts the creasers
by means of the two pins on the press head which ride in vertical slots of the stems
of the creasers.
As the creasers Y, Y, are rising the folding blades for the two end flaps are turned
over by means of pinions h, h, on the ends of the folding blade carriers on
quadrants i, i, the fixable flap folding blade j is now turned over by means of its
pinion and rack to put the fixing flap of the envelope blank into contact with that
portion of the end flaps which it covers, the pressure exerted being sufficient to cause
the gumming portion of the fixing flap to adhere to the end flaps.
The loose or sealing flap folding blade m is next turned over by its pinion p
and rack said blade m pressing only on part of the flap next the creasing line the
gummed portion being kept raised and out of contact with the fixed flap by a small
stud n which stands up from the now upper side of the fixable flap folding blade j.
The table carrying the pile of blanks is next lifted to put the top blank of the
pile into contact with the gummers S, Q, and then by a releasing motion, the table with
the pile drops leaving what was the top blank in contact with the gummers ready for
their next backward travel and during this operation the folding blades retire or are
turned back to their first position leaving the made envelope upon the press plate X,
which when the transverse bar T has its next backward motion causes a couple of
prongs..which are in advance of this arms R, R, to run under the now made
envelope and lift it from the press plate X a continued movement of the arms R. R
to the rear causing the prongs », r to carry the made envelope into an open space
between the leaves of a vertically arranged ladder s, s this having a step by step
motion imparted to it so that the leaf under the envelope rises and takes the envelope
from the prongs . r.
Simultaneously with this movement the blank adhering to the gummers is directly
over the press plate X and a repeat of the operations carried on.
The foregoing operations are carried on successively and as cach newly made
envelope is received by the leaves of the ladders (the scaling flap been loose) they
are held in the ladder a sufficient time for the gum on the loose or sealing flap to
become dry from which ladder on the return or descending motion they discharge
themselves into a kind of trought and fall edgewise into a box or receiver u in which
they are knocked up by the strip v for after collection and labeling.
The table holding the blanks has a drop motion after each lift by the friction
piece L the distance of drop being limited by a paul M on the lower plate G, the paul
taking into teeth on the front edge of the stem K as the blanks corresponding to the
distance between two teeth are taken by the gummers in succession the pressure
exerted by the table against the gummers which are unable to rise from their
connection with the cross bar P causes the friction stud L to give, so that although
the rod E by its oscillatory motion lifts the table, the yielding action of the friction
piece L is overcome, which allows the top blank of the pile to be put into contact with

page_text: just sufficient pressure to be taken by the gummers. By this means as the pile is
reduced the table and stem work upwards the paul taking into the teeth of the stem
successively.
The degree of frictional contact or pinch of the friction piece L against the side of
the stem K is regulated by the screw nut w.
In the drawings we show an inking and printing apparatus the type being carried
on vertical stems x, y, for printing in two colours, or one of them only if for printing
in one color on the face of the envelope, this being effected while the press head Z is
down upon the envelope blank under the action of the cam or cams which are so
arranged on the main shaft B that the stems x, y, have an independent motion for
receiving colour on the type, if two colours be used.
At Figure 4 we show the inking appliance composed of an ink trough a¹ having a
roller within it for feeding an intermediate roller c¹ with ink, this roller c¹ having a
lifting action to put it into contact with the distributing roller by means of a paul
at each descending motion of the type carrier, the reverse motion of the type carrier
causing another paul to move the roller & a distance of one tooth so as to bring a
fresh supply of ink to the rollers c¹, d¹ the two pauls being on the same lever for this
double motion.
The distributing roller d' coincides with the face of an inking table over which
inking rollers e¹, e¹, are caused to travel by a traversing bar f, said rollers e¹, e¹
inking the type on the head of the bars a or y.
If two colours be used two sets of inking apparatus are arranged as indicated at
Figure 5 the inking rollers for each colour being made by their arms f¹, to pass
over the type portions of the bars a, y, when raised above the level of one another by
their cam motions.
Among the features of novelty constituting the machine before described are
1. The table on which the blanks are laid having a ratchet bar K attached to the
underside thereof, and extending through the bottom of blank holder to which is
fixed a pawl M pivotted on a pin and engaging in said ratchet bar K. A friction
clutch L provided with compression bolt and spring through which said ratchet bar K
passes, one end of said friction clutch being pivotted on underside of blank holder and
having a tail rod H engaging on a stationary cross bar I for imparting a vertical
motion to blank table at each reciprocating movement of the blank holder.
2. The combination with the holder of an envelope machine of a blank holder fitted
with a frame N near the top having lugs protruding on which said blank holder is
pivotted for oscillation on a cross bar P. Also the attachment on the underside of
the blank holder" to a cam on the main shaft of machine to give the aforementioned
rocking motion and thereby cause the successive blanks to be pressed against the
gummed pickers Q. S. and recede from same thereby imparting a peeling action
between the blank that is held in suspension by the pickers and the receding pile of
blanks in the blank holder.
3. As a means for gumming, picking up, and conveying envelope blanks one by one
from the blank holder to the folding mechanism of an envelope machine, a transverse
bar T with slides fitted into and sliding in slots on the side frames of machine moving
horizontally and alternately from the blank holder to the folding bed by means of side
levers receiving motion from cams on the main shaft B of machine aforesaid
transverse bar T being fitted with two pickers S. Q one in front and one at the back
of table, each picker having a gumming pad on its underside. The back picker S is in
one.and attached to the transverse bar T. The picker Q being divided in the centre
and connected to two curved arms R. R. pivotted on upright pins fixed on the upper
side of transverse bar T and free to open and shut precisely in the same manner as a
persons arms when swimming the aforesaid curved arms R being closed together by
means of a helical spring c attached to pins on their top side, and having at the front
ends above the gumming pads two rollers b, b, placed one on each arm R, such rollers
engaging with a cam a fitted on the vertical platen Z over the folding bed X, and
causing the aforesaid curved arms R to open on the return stroke of the transverse
bar T, the aforesaid curved arms folding together again in time to receive gum on

page_text: their gumming pads Q, S, from a vibratory roller d, over which they pass on the
return stroke of the transverse bar T, the transverse bar, curved arms and pickers..
4. As means for imparting the opening and closing motion to the aforesaid curved
arms R carrying front pickers Q an edge cam a fitted round and moving with the.
vertical platen Z over the folding bed X of an envelope machine the aforesaid edge
cam a retiring when the transverse bar T advances, and coming down and engaging
with rollers b, b, on aforesaid curved arms R when the transverse bar T returns thereby
opening the curved arms R outwards and allowing them to close together again by
means of an aforementioned helical spring c (The said cam may be fitted with an
independent means to give it its vertical motion if desired).
5. As means for creasing the envelope blank a folding box X placed horizontally
in the same plane as the transverse bar T carrying pickers Q, S, the said folding box X
having slightly raised projections or knife edges all round it and a vertical platen
directly over and fitting in the recessed portion of the folding box. The said platen Z
having a vertical reciprocating motion imparted to it by means of cams on the main
shaft B. One or more of the said projections or knife edges may be made to rise and
fall to admit of the envelope being ejected when folded.
6. As means of folding the envelope blank four thin bars or creasers Y attached to
the aforesaid cam a for operating pickers, one creaser at or near to each corner of the
blank such creasers and cam remaining down and holding the blank on the folding
table while the aforesaid platen Z retires upwards, the said creasers holding the blank
at each corner and admitting the flaps or folders to operate between them.
7. The folders having horizontal shafts with wings of the desired form fitted thereto
and operated by means of racks gearing into pinions fitted on such shafts, said racks
receiving motion by means of cams on main shaft.
8. As means of ejecting the blank from the folding box two prongs or pushers ",",
composed of thin metal affixed to the aforementioned curved arms R, R carrying
front pickers Q, Q, said prongs r,, on the advance of the transverse bar passing under
the slightly raised and gummed flap of the folded envelope and to push it out from the
folding box into the carrier or chain s, s.
9. The blank holder having the frame with protruding lugs N pivotted on the cross
bar P the blank table and ratchet bar K attached thereto engaging with the pawl M
and passing through the friction clutch L. The attachment on the underside of blank
holder to engage with cam rod E coming from main shaft B. The tail rod H in one
with arm J carrying the friction clutch L engaging with the stationary cross bar I.
The transverse bar T carrying the curved arms R, R, fitted with the pickers Q and
sliding to and fro in the horizontal slots. The prongs r, r, affixed to the arms R, R,
the spring e, for closing pickers Q, Q, together. The edge cam a fitted round the
reciprocating platen Z and having creasers Y, Y, to hold blank while in folding bo: X
by wings or folding flaps.
10. The rising and falling type plunger which can be solid or divided as described
passing vertically through perforation in folding box X and pressing against the
envelope between it and the underside of platen Z the said plunger passing through
the bed of the folding box X inside the knife edges or creasers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. In an envelope making machine the table C, ratchet bar K, paul M, friction
clutch L, carried and operated by an arm J of a reciprocating circular motioned lever H
arranged substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the annexed
drawings.
an
2. In an envelope making machine, the frame N moving on pivot P and having
oscillatory motion in conjunction with the table C as and for the purposes described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
3. In an envelope making machine, the to and fro travelling transverse bar T
guided by slots in the side frames A A, the pivotted arms R with gummers Q, Q, all
operated as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 4. In an envelope making machine, a pair of gummers Q, Q, carried by arms which
have an opening out motion after delivery of an envelope blank as and for the purpose
described.
5. In an envelope making machine the employment of corner creasing fingers Y, Y,
in combination with a press head Z arranged and acting in the manner described with
reference io Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.
6. In an envelope making machine the prongs for removing the folded envelope
from the press plate and placing it within the leaves of a movable ladder as and for
the purposes described.
'
7. In connection with an envelope making machine the appliances shown at
Figures 4, 5 and 6 and their method of operation as described.
8. The combination of the various parts hereinbefore described and shown in the
annexed drawings constituting an envelope making machine as set forth.
Dated
Dated this day of November 188
Tatted THIS HOLY OI November 1887.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. Richmond
and W. Whiting.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. Richmond
and W. Whiting.