Improvements in Envelope Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD WAKEFIELD BLACKHALL, 93, Wood
Street, of Toronto, County of Ontario, Canada, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Envelope Machines.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of envelope machines which are provided
with a vertically movable table or clevator for supporting a pile of blanks, a feed
device for automatically raising the said table as the blanks are picked off from the
top of the pile, a gum box resting upon the pile of blanks and provided with a
discharge opening in its bottom for gumming the seal flaps of the blanks, a
vertically reciprocating gummer for gunming the bottom flaps and lifting the top
blank from the pile, horizontally reciprocating grippers whereby the blanks are
carried to the folding mechanism and an endless conveyor or carrier which receives
the envelopes from the folding mechanism.
The said invention has for its objects to improve the construction of the pile
supporting table and the gum box for gumming the seal flaps of the blanks, the
gum box with its discharge opening resting upon the pile of blanks being auto-
matically adjusted to conform to the position of the top blank by the movement of the
table whereby a uniform and regular discharge of gum upon the seal flaps is obtained,
also to overcome the excess or over feed of the pile supporting table independently
of the movement of the gummer or picker, and to provide a simple means for con-
trolling the movement and discharge of the envelopes from the endless conveyor or
carrier.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of part of an envelope machine embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the plunger whereby the gummied
blank is creased and delivered to the folding mechanism.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the grippers.
Figure 4 is a detached elevation of the independent depressing lever and its
actuating mechanism.
Figure 5 is a sectional top plan view of the machine with the gummer and
plunger broken away.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the gum box and its supporting parts, on an
enlarged scale, showing the position of the gum box when the blanks are but
lightly buckled.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of the same, showing the position of the gum
box when the blanks are buckled considerably.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the gum box and its supporting devices.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of part of the machine, showing the endless
conveyer and the mechanism for removing the envelopes from the conveyer.
Figure 10 is a sectional top plan view of the conveyer and connecting mechanism
or controlling the movement of the envelope from the conveyer.
Figure 11 is a vertical transverse section in line y y Figure 10.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the side frames of the machine connected at their upper ends by á
orizontal ton plate

page_text: B represents the vertically movable elevator or table which supports the pile of
envelope blanks. This table is provided on its underside with a depending
plate B' which is guided between upright guides or ways bb secured to the frame
of the machine. The table with its pile of blanks is elevated or raised by means of
a strap c the lower end which is secured to the depending plate of the table and its
upper end is wound around a drum c¹ mounted upon a shaft c³ journalled in bearings
secured to the stationary guides b b.
D represents a frictional gear rim which is mounted on the shaft cand rotated
by a pinion d mounted on a driving shaft d' which latter is rotated from any
suitable moving part of the machine.
E represents a vertically reciprocating gummer arranged above the table and
secured to the free end of a curved rock-arm E. The opposite end of the arm E
is secured to a transverse rock-shaft e which is journalled in bearings formed in
brackets secured to the top piate of the machine. A vertical reciprocating
movement is imparted to the gummer E from its rock-shaft and on each downward |
stroke of the gummer it descends upon the pile of blanks pressing the latter
slightly downward and gumming the lower flap on the uppermost or top blank.
As the gummer ascends it picks up the top blank from the pile by the adhesion of
the gum, preparatory to the blank being seized by the grippers which convey it to
the folding mechanism.
³ represents a stationary gum fountain secured to the front side of a standard eª
arranged centrally above the top plate. This gum fountain is provided with a
gum-roller which is journalled in the sides of the stationary gum-fountain and.
immersed in the gum. The gum is carried from this roller to the gummer or
picker by means of an oscillating gum-carrying roller or by any other suitable
means.
The upward feed of the pile supporting table is continuous and is always in
excess of what is necessary to maintain the top of the pile at the proper height,
but the gummer in bearing down upon the pile, at each downward stroke slightly
depresses the table to its normal position, thereby automatically controlling the
overfeed of the table and retaining the top of the pile of blanks at the same
elevation at all times.
The depression of the feed-table, while its elevating mechanism is in operation, is
permitted by the frictional connection between the shaft and the gear rim D,
which allows the latter to slip back on said shaft. It has been found in practice
that the gummer arm is sometimes slightly bent or sprung when the gummer
presses down upon the blanks, which allows the feed-table to gain in its upward
movement and permits an uneven feed of the blanks and unduly strains the gummer
arm. To avoid this an independent pressing lever F is provided which is pivoted
to a lug on the upper side of the bracket e and bears with its inner end against
the top of the pile, while its outer end rests on the upper side of a cam fl secured
to the rock-shaft e. Every time the gummer descends to pick up a blank the inner
end of the pressing lever is forced downwardly upon the pile of blanks by the cam
of the rock-shaft bearing underneath the outer end of the lever. The leverage of
the pressing lever is greater than that of the gummer arm and therefore exerts a
greater pressure upon the pile of blanks, thereby relieving the gummer-arm of
excessive strains and causing the feed table to be depressed to its normal
position.
G represents a gum-box which is provided in its bottom with a slotted mouth g
which latter rests upon the front or seal flap of the pile of blanks and causes a thin
deposit of gum to be placed upon each blank when the latter is withdrawn from
underneath the gum-box.
The upper front side of the elevator or feed-table is provided with an inclined
block or raised portion b', whereby the front-flap portion of the pile of blanks
resting thereon is slightly elevated or raised so as to form a slight transverse
depression or buckle in the pile of blanks. The open mouth of the gum-box is
inclined inwardly and rests upon the pile of blanks in front of this depression or

page_text: buckle. In drawing the envelope blank from underneath the gum-box, its upwardly
buckled front flap will be depressed or deflected out of a straight line as it passes
across the open mouth of the gum-box, thereby straightening out any wrinkles in
the blank and causing a uniform deposit of gum upon the front or seal flap of the
blank.
The weight of the envelope blanks causes the lower portion of the pile to bear
firmly on the inclined portion of the feed-table whereby the lower blanks are
buckled or deflected to a greater extent than the upper blanks are buckled and the
effect of the incline or raised portion of the table in buckling the blanks diminishes
in proportion to the height of the pile. It is therefore necessary to adjust the
position of the inclined mouth of the gum-box while the blanks are being fed from
the top of the pile, so as to retain the proper relative position between the latter
and the mouth of the gum box. To effect this, the inclination of the gum box is
automatically adjusted while the blanks are fed from the pile as follows:-
H represents a transverse crank shaft journalled at its opposite ends in bearings
formed in the brackets e. h represents a U-shaped frame provided at its ends
with sleeves or collars which fit loosely on the crank shaft and whereby the
U-shaped frame is pivotally connected therewith. The cross-bar ³ of the frame h
is provided centrally with a bearing and the gum box G is attached to the
U-shaped frame by a horizontal pin or journal g formed on the front side of the
gum box and engaging in the hearing h³. The pin g' is held in the bearing /³ by a
set screw h².
I represents a depending arm secured with its upper end to the crank portion of
the shaft H and provided at its lower end with a roller which engages in a longi-
tudinal slot i formed in an inclined bar I. The latter is provided at its upper end
with a transverse segmental slot and is secured to the depending plate of the feed
table by an adjusting screw passing through the segmental slot and a pivot
bolt connecting the lower end of the inclined slotted bar I' with a bracket .*
secured to the lower end of the depending plate of the feed table. The lower end
of the depending arm I engaging with the longitudinal slot of the inclined bar I',
is gradually forced outwardly as the feed table is elevated, and this movement of
the depending arm causes the crank shaft H to turn in its bearings which adjusts
the position of the frame h and the inclination of the gum box G which is secured
thereto.
When the feed table is in its lowermost position and supplied with a pile of
blanks, the transverse buckle or depression in the top blanks is very slight and in
this condition of the blanks the roller of the depending arm is arranged in the
upper portion of the slotted bar which causes the gum box to be tilted forwardly
just sufficient to present its mouth squarely to the buckled or raised portion of the
top blank. As the blanks are fed off from the top of the pile, the angle of the
buckle or depression increases gradually toward the bottom of the pile, and the
table which is gradually rising, moves the depending arm outwardly and actuates
the crank shaft so as to throw the outer side of the gum box upwardly and tilts its
mouth in the same proportion in which the angle of the buckle in the blank
changes thereby retaining the mouth of the gum box squarely in contact with the
buckle or raised portion of the blank at all times and insuring a uniform deposit of
gum thereon. In very thin or soft paper the angle of the depression in the top
blank would be nearly the same as the angle of the depression in the bottom blank,
whereas in thick or stiff paper the variation would be more marked. By providing
the upper end of the slotted bar with the transverse segmental slot i³, the inclina-
tion of the slotted bar can be readily changed by loosening the adjusting screw &³
so that the degree of movement of the depending arm I and the gum box can be
adjusted and nicely regulated as may be necessary in accordance with the quality
and thickness of the paper that is being acted upon.
The mouth of the gum box resting upon the pile of blanks is preferably shaped
to conform to the contour of the front flap of the blank and is provided with a

page_text: sliding gate J whereby the discharge of gum from the box is regulated. This gate
is secured to the underside of the gum box, bottom by means of screws jj secured
to the gum box and passing through transverse slots formed in the gate.
3 represents a horizontal shelf arranged transversely above the pile of blanks
and supported at its ends on the brackets e'. The front side of this shelf is 5
provided with a notch or recess in which the rear portion of the gum box is
arranged. represent elbow levers which are pivoted at their elbows to the
opposite sides of the gum box and provided at the ends of their inwardly extending
arms, with rollers which rest upon the upper side of the shelf. These rollers
are retained in place upon the shelf by means of guide plates, secured to the 1
upper side of the shelf and overhanging the rollers so as to bear against the upper
side of the latter. Each elbow lever is provided below its pivot with a downwardly
projecting arm or knuckle, which engages with a socket formed in a lug ♬
extending laterally from the side of the sliding gate J.
The rollers of the elbow levers are held against vertical movement by means of 1
the guide plates but are capable of horizontal movement whereby the gum box can
be tilted to suit the inclination of the paper without materially affecting the
position of the sliding gate.
In lowering the feed table to replenish the supply of blanks, the gum box is free
to drop until its downward movement is arrested by the elbow levers. When the 2
gum box descends, the rollers secured to the inner arms of the elbow levers hold
the latter against downward movement which causes the lower knuckle arm of the
elbow levers to actuate the sliding gate and close the latter. The weight of the
gum box tends to retain the sliding gate in a closed position and thereby effectually
prevents the flow of gum from the box. When the pile of blanks is again elevated
it raises the gum box and opens the sliding gate through the medium of the elbow
levers. In this manner the flow of gum from the box is automatically controlled
by the rising and falling movement of the pile of blanks.
Krepresents the grippers which seize the top blank as it is lifted from the pile
by the reciprocating gummer, and carry the same to the creasing box K¹ to be a
folded. The grippers are arranged upon two parallel bars supported in a
horizontal position on opposite sides of the creasing box and a similar bar 48
arranged centrally between the two side bars. The gripper bars are connected at
their outer ends by a cross bar, . A reciprocating motion is imparted to the
gripper bars by means of an upright rock arm secured at its lower end to a
transverse rock shaft and connected at its upper end with the central portion of
the cross-bar by a link . As shown in Figure 3 each gripper consists essentially
of a grip lever pivoted centrally between upright lugs formed on the inner
portion of the gripper bar. The inner arm of the grip lever is held in an elevated
position by a catch pivoted to the gripper arm and provided with a shoulder
which engages against the under side of the inner arm of the grip lever. The
upper end of the catch passes through a slot in the grip lever and its shoulder is
held in engagement with the grip lever by a spring . is a spring interposed
between the outer arm of the grip lever and the gripper bar whereby the front arm
of the grip lever is depressed when released by the catch F.
In the forward movement of the grippers the inner ends of the gripper bars pass
underneath the gummed blank which has been previously picked up by the gummer.
Before the grippers have completed their forward movement the catches come in
contact with stops secured to the lower side of the stationary gum fountaineª
whereby the inner arms of the grippers are released and the blank is clamped
between the gripper bars and the inner arms of the grip levers. The grippers on
their return or backward movement carry the blank until the latter is deposited
over the creasing box. Before the grippers have entirely completed their return
movement the blank is released from the grippers by trip arms which engage
against and depress the outer arms of the grip levers. This causes the inner arms
to rise and the catches to spring underneath the inner arms and hold them in a

page_text: arm.
raised position thereby releasing the blank. The outer arm of each grip lever is
preferably provided with an antifriction roller to receive the impact of its trip
The inner ends of the two side gripper bars are provided with hooks to
which engage against the outer edge of the blank. The upper side of the creasing
5 box is preferably provided with notches or recesses which receive the central
gripper bar whereby the latter is guided in its reciprocating movement. By
employing a central gripper in addition to the two side grippers the envelope blank
is carried from the pile to the creasing box more accurately and positively.
This is particularly desirable in envelope blanks of large dimensions in which case
the blank is apt to sag at the centre and prevent its proper delivery to the
creasing box.
M represents a vertically-reciprocating plunger arranged over the creasing box
and guided on the standard &.
The gummed blank deposited on the creasing box is carried through the latter
by the plunger and delivered upon a drop-table m arranged in the top plate directly
underneath the creasing box. The plunger is provided with a vertical slot m¹
arranged in line with the central gripper, whereby the plunger can begin its down-
ward stroke and bear on the paper before the central gripper has fully completed
its backward movement, thereby enabling the plunger to bear on the paper the
instant it is released by the grippers.
nn'n' represent the wings whereby the flaps of the envelope are folded. An
Oscillating movement is imparted to these wings by any well known and suitable
mechanism whereby the blank deposited upon the drop-table by the plunger is
folded and its flaps pasted together with the exception of the front or. seal flap.
After the envelope has been pasted, the drop-table descends and deposits the
envelopes upon the endless conveyor O arranged underneath the folding mechanism.
The drying conveyor consists essentially of an endless chain belt o' arranged
lengthwise of the machine with its inner portion below the folding mechanism and
passing around a sprocket wheel mounted upon a transverse shaft o journaled in
the side frames of the machine. The links of the chain are pivotally connected by
transverse pins and are provided with outwardly, projecting carrying arms of
between which the pasted envelopes are deposited and carried outward in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 1.
P represents the supporting frame of the conveyor secured at its inner end to the
side frames by brackets p. The arms of of the conveyor belt in passing upwardly
around the sprocket wheel are spread apart which enables them to conveniently
receive the envelopes from the drop table. The envelope rests on the links of the
upper advancing portion of the chain belt and during the return movement of the
lower portion of the conveyor belt the envelopes are supported by longitudinal
guide bars pl arranged underneath the lower portion of the conveyor. Upon
reaching the inner ends of these guide bars which terminate underneath the
sprocket wheel the envelopes are delivered upon a receiving table g by knocker
arms g secured to a transverse rock shaft which is journaled in bearings gʻ
formed in the outer ends of the brackets. An oscillating movement is imparted
to these knocker arms at regular intervals whereby the envelopes are delivered
upon the receiving table below. To insure a proper delivery of the envelopes from
the conveyor to the receiving table I provide two retaining belts R R which are
arranged on opposite sides of the lower portion of the conveyor belt so as to
impinge against opposite sides of the envelopes for the purpose of retaining
them in an elevated position after leaving the guide bars. The envelopes are
retained in this elevated position until they are struck by the knocker-arms which
cause them to drop upon the receiving table. The retaining belts pass around
vertical drive pulleys and horizontal guide pulleys. The drive pulleys r r
are mounted on opposite ends of a drive shaft journalled in bearings secured to
the conveyor frame. The drive shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel which
meshes with the transverse connecting pins of the chain belt whereby the latter is
caused to rotate the retaining belts in unison with the conveyor.
T

page_text: The inner pulleys are journaled in bearings arranged at an angle to the
drive pulleys so as to give the retaining belts a quarter turn and present the flat
sides of the belts against the envelopes. The drive pulleys rr supporting the outer
portion of the retaining belts are arranged a short distance from the sides of the
conveyor belt, so that the outer portion of the retaining belt will not touch the
sides of the envelopes. The bearings supporting the inner guide pulleys are
preferably secured to the upper side of the brackets by pivot bolts S which enables
the inner portion of the retaining belts to be adjusted so as to beer against the sides
of the envelopes with greater or less tension as may be desired.
t, t represent depending fingers secured to the opposite sides of the conveyor
frame and bearing against the inner portion of the retaining belts. Each of these
guide fingers is provided with a notch or recess u on its inner side which is adapted
to engage with the inner front portion of the retaining belt some distance in advance
of the inner guide pulleys whereby the inner front portion of the retaining belts in
contact with the sides of the envelopes are caused to travel parallel and in line with
the lower front portion of the conveyor. When the envelopes are carried underneath
the outer ends of the knockers the latter deliver a downward blow against the upper
edge of the envelope, whereby the latter is released from the retaining belts and
delivered upon the receiving table.
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 :-
First. The combination, with the feed-table provided with a raised portion or
elevation, whereby a crease or depression is formed in the pile of blanks supported
on the said table, of a gum-box provided with a discharge-opening in its bottom
and resting upon the pile of blanks above the raised portion of the feed-table,
substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination, with a vertically-movable feed-table having an incline
or raised portion, whereby the pile of blanks supported by said feed-table is
inclined or raised at one end to form a crease in said pile, of a pivoted gum-box
supported above the pile of blanks and provided with an inclined bottom having
a discharge-opening resting upon the top blank of the pile, substantially as
set forth.
Third. The combination, with a vertically-movable feed-table, provided at its
upper side with a raised portion, whereby one end of the pile of blanks supported
on said table is raised above the level of the pile, of a pivoted gum-box having a
discharge opening in its bottom and resting upon the pile of blanks, and mechanism
connecting said gum-box with the feed-table, whereby the position of the gum-box
is automatically adjusted by the vertical movement of the table, substantially as
set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the vertical-movable feed-table supporting the
pile of blanks and having an incline on its upper side whereby one end of the pile
is raised, of a gum-box having an open mouth resting on the raised end of the pile
of blanks, an incline bar connected with the table, and intermediate mechanism
connecting said arm or cam with the gum-box, whereby the gum-box is tilted by
the movement of the table, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination, with a vertically-movable feed-table supporting a pile
of blanks, of a pivoted gum-box provided with a discharge-opening in its. bottom
and resting upon the pile of blanks, an inclined bar secured to the table, and a rod
connecting the pivot of the gum-box with the incline arm or cam of the feed-table,
whereby the gum-box is tilted by the movement of the table, substantially as
set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with the vertically movable feed-table supporting the
pile of blanks of a gum-box provided with a discharge-opening in its bottom and
resting on the pile of blanks, a crank-shaft, a supporting-arm connecting the gum-
box with the crank-shaft, and a depending arm secured to said crank-shaft and

page_text: engaging with a cam for incline connected with the feed-table, substantially as
set forth.
Seventh. The combination, with the vertically-movable feed-table supporting the
pile of blanks, of a gum-box having an open mouth resting upon the pile of blanks, a
crank-shaft, a supporting arm mounted loosely on said shaft and connected with said
gum-box, an inclined bar pivotally connected with the feed-table and provided with
a cam slot, a depending arm secured at its upper end to the crank-shaft, and a
roller secured to the depending arm and engaging with said cam-slot, substantially
as set forth.
Eighth. The combination, with the vertically-movable feed-table for supporting
the pile of blanks, of a movable gum-box supported by the pile of blanks and
provided with a discharge-opening in its bottom, a sliding gate for closing said
discharge-opening, a lever pivoted to the gum-box and connected with said sliding
gate, and a stationary support against which said lever engages for closing said
gate, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination, with the vertically-movable feed-table for supporting
the pile of blanks, of a movable gum-box resting upon the pile of blanks and
provided in its bottom with a discharge-opening, a sliding gate for closing said
discharge-opening and provided at its opposite ends with lugs or sockets, levers
pivoted to the sides of the gum-box and engaging with said lugs or sockets, rollers
mounted on the free ends of said levers, a stationary support for said rollers, and
guide-plates secured to said support and bearing against said rollers, substantially
as set forth.
Tenth. The combination, with the vertically-movable feed-table for supporting
the pile of blanks, of a rock-shaft carrying a vertically reciprocating gummer for
gumming and picking up the top blank from the pile, and a pressing lever arranged
above the pile of blanks and actuated by the rock-shaft of the gummer, whereby
the pile of blanks and the supporting-table are depressed with the descent of the
gummer, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination, with the feed-table supporting the pile of blanks, of
a rock-shaft carrying a vertically-reciprocating gummer for gumming and picking
up the top blank from the pile, a lever arranged above the pile of blanks, and a
cam secured to said rock-shaft and engaging against said lever, whereby the pile of
blanks and the supporting-table are depressed with the descent of the gummer,
substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. In an envelope-machine, the combination, with the endless conveyer or
carrier adapted to receive the folded envelopes, of retaining-belts arranged on
opposite sides of said conveyer and moving with said conveyer, whereby the
envelopes are carried forwardly after being released from the conveyer, and
knocker-arms whereby the envelopes are released from the retaining-belts,
substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination, with an endless carrier or conveyer of an envelope-
machine adapted to receive the folded envelopes, of a retaining belt arranged on
each side of said conveyer and adapted to bear against the edges or ends of the
envelopes, a transverse drive-shaft provided with pulleys, over which said retaining-
belt runs, and a sprocket-wheel secured to said shaft and engaging with the
retaining carrier or conveyer, whereby the retaining belts are driven from the
conveyer, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination, with the endless carrier or conveyer adapted to
receive the folded envelopes, of retaining belts arranged on opposite sides of said
carrier, pulleys adjustably supporting said belts, whereby the latter are adjusted
toward and from the sides of the carrier, and a knocker whereby the envelopes are
released from the retaining-belts, substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the endless carrier or conveyer of an envelope-
machine adapted to receive the folded envelopes, of the endless retaining-belts
arranged on opposite sides of said carrier, pulleys supporting said belts, and guides

page_text: whereby the inner portions of said belts are held against the edges or ends of the
envelopes, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of September 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.