IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
"
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS Communicated to him from Felix
Edouard Bilon a person resident at Paris in the Republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1882.
"
& Com-
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS
munication to me from Felix Edouard Bilon a person resident at Paris in the
Republic of France
This Invention relates to Machinery for the manufacture of paper bags such as
are known in the trade as satchel bottom paper bags and it consists in certain
improvements hereinafter described in the construction and arrangement of the
Machinery whereby the manufacture is enabled to be carried on with greater
facility and rapidity than heretofore.
I will first describe in general terms the progress of the paper through the
machine and its conversion into bags and afterwards take the several improvements
one by one and as far as possible in the order in which they take part in the
manufacture.
The paper is unwound from a roll or beam and after having a suitable advertise-
ment printed upon it if desired is pasted along one edge then cut and placed upon
a mandril in the usual manner the sides being folded over so as to form a tube
whose dimensions correspond with those of the finished bag. This tube is carried
forward by a feeding device which pushes it to the end of the mandril in the
required position for making the bottom.
An upper folder and a lower folder are then caused by means of cams and levers
to move forward and form the upper and the lower fold of the bag bottom. When
this operation has been performed a paster supplies the required amount of paste
and another pair of folders advance and form the side folds which they press
against the end of the mandril.

page_text: The bag thus formed then passes to a creasing device which flattens it and
delivers it between pressing rollers which send it quickly forward either to the
drying apparatus when such is employed or direct to the carrier of the packer.
Having thus described in general terms the sequence of the operations I wilk
proceed to explain the several improvements in succession.
The paper is drawn from a roll or beam near the floor by feed rollers revolving
at a uniform speed. The rate at which the paper is unwound from the beam is
liable to vary according to the description of paper employed and this strains the
paper and interferes with the proper action of the Machine.
According to this Invention however this defect is obviated by causing the feed
rollers to supply the paper somewhat faster than it is wanted and connecting the
upper roller which has no positive motion imparted to it with a system of
compensating levers as hereinafter described
On leaving the feed rollers the paper passes under a tension roller suspended
loosely in the fold or bight formed by the excess of paper and when the excess of
paper supplied by the feed rollers exceeds a certain limit this roller rests on one
end of a lever which thereupon lifts the upper feed roller out of contact with the
paper and thus stops the feed until the excess of paper has been so far drawn into
the machine that the tension roller is lifted and the upper feed roller is thus again
brought into action The weight of the upper feed roller may be compensated for
if desired by a suitable counterweight.
The paper which may be printed with an advertisement at this part of the
Machine is then pasted along one edge and presented to the cutting device which
is provided with a curved blade in order to cut the paper in such a manner that
the edges of the mouth of the bag when the latter is flattened do not exactly
coincide and thus greatly facilitate opening the bag when required for use.
The several lengths of paper or blanks are moved forward by a reciprocating
feeding device having a central action as well as a parallel lateral action whereby
a more regular parallel delivery is obtained. This feeding device works in a slide
so constructed as to admit of being readily changed when worn out.. The claw at
the forward end is modified in order to facilitate the separation of the bag pro-
ceeding to the creaser from the succeeding bag blank the bottom of which is next
to be formed. This modification consists in jointing the three claws at the end and
connecting them to a pendant lever the lower extremity of which when the feeder
is at the end of its stroke comes in contact with a fixed abutment or stop and
causes these claws to travel somewhat farther than the other parts of the feeder
A counter spring is provided for returning the claws to their original position when
not acted on by the abutment
The Mandril upon which the bags are formed is of square or rectangular section
and is made in two parts hinged together and also hinged to the frame of the
Machine so as to enable access to be readily obtained to the reciprocating feeder.
With the same object the sides are formed with sliding plates which impart the
requisite rigidity to the mandril when working.
The bag blank when severed is brought under the mandril and its sides are
turned up on both sides of the mandril and then folded over the upper surface of
the mandril by means of rollers which work across the mandril being operated by
cams acting on the said rollers by the intervention of a combination of bell crank
levers and connecting rods acting in conjunction with guides or folders
The bearings of the rollers may be provided with springs to enable them to act
on the paper with an elastic pressure. These rollers are composed of tubes covered
with India rubber and each roller contains a coiled spring one end of which is
connected to the fixed axis whilst the other end is connected to the tube forming
the roller so that during the forward motion when the rollers fold over the edges of
the blank these springs are wound up but uncoil themselves during the return
stroke and then impart a positive motion to the cylinders in the opposite direction
thus assisting to keep the paper well down on the mandril.
When the upper and lower folds of the bag bottom have been formed as herein-

page_text: before described the pasting device comes into action and deposits the exact
quantity of paste required in the following manner upon the bottom folds A paste
reservoir is.intermittently placed in communication with a hollow arm carrying.
the paster and oscillating on a horizontal axis at the base of the reservoir. This
hollow arm is operated by a cam by the intervention of suitable connecting links
and levers One arm of the said levers being operated by the cam and the other
being connected to the hollow arm by a set screw. The paster describes an arc
when operated by the levers and thus applies paste to the bottom of the bag.
When the paster is moved away from the bag bottom the hollow arm communi-
cates with the paste reservoir through a port near the centre on which it turns but
when the paster is brought in contact with the bag the communication is
intercepted.
In order to cause the exact quantity of paste required to be delivered through
the holes of the paster a small pump cylinder is provided at about the middle of
the hollow arm this cylinder contains a piston carried on a rod the ends of which
protrude through the sides of the arm and when the arm is moved these protruding
ends alternately strike an inclined surface fixed to the reservoir above and an
adjustable stop below and thus cause the piston to move in opposite directions
alternately first drawing paste into the cylinder and then discharging it into the
hollow arin
When the piston is drawing in paste the arm and cylinder are in
communication with the reservoir but when the paste is being forced out of the
cylinder the communication with the reservoir is cut off by the movement of the
arm and the excess of paste is consequently compelled to exude through the holes
in the paster at the extremity of the hollow arm and is thus applied to the lateral
flaps or folds of the bag bottom which are pressed against the said paster at this
moment by the lateral folders. A valve serves to prevent the paste at the
delivery end of the arm from returning to the pump cylinder on the return of the
piston.
The adjustable stop hereinbefore referred to may be made to project more or less
by means of a screw in order to regulate the stroke of the pump piston so that the
latter may deliver the exact quantity of paste required according to the nature of
the paper.
The working of the pasting mechanism can be controlled by the attendant at
several points. The hollow arm may be thrown out of action by setting back the
screw which connects the said arm with the lever by which it is moved and then
causing the screw to engage with the reservoir.
The supply of paste may also be cut off by turning a hollow plug which thus
shuts off the communication between the hollow arm and the paster or perforated
extremity which applies the paste to the bag bottom. When the paster has moved
away from the bag bottom after depositing paste thereon the lateral folders after
receding to allow the paster to pass close down the side folds and press them
against the end of the mandril Whilst the bag bottom is being made the upper
fold or lap of the tube or blank is held in position by means of a suitable spring
roller or pressing device.
The creaser is provided with a large plate which covers the upper side of the bag
when the latter is moved onwards and separated from the succeeding blank by the
action of the reciprocating feeder after the bottom has been formed as hereinbefore
described the bag bottom then overhangs the edge of a creasing plate lying in a
recess in the table and capable of moving in a horizontal direction. Behind this
creasing plate is another plate or folder turning on a centre and capable of swinging
up against the underside of the creasing plate when acted on by an inclined or
cam surface connected to and moving with the said plate or creaser.
The large covering plate is actuated by suitable levers and descends vertically
upon the bag so that the part of the bag between this plate and the creasing plate
is pressed flat, the creasing plate is then moved forwards by means of forked
levers and continues the flattening action, at the same time the oscillating plate
or folder is acted upon by the cam surface as bereinbefore described and turns over

page_text: the bag bottom against the underside of the creasing plate. During this operation
a part of the bottom of the bag projects beyond the covering plate but the folds at
this part are prevented from being loosened or deranged by means of a guide or
support of such a form as to continually press down these folds and retain them in
the proper position. The bag being thus flattened, the creaser plate still continues
its horizontal motion carrying forward the bag until the latter engages between a
pair of pressing rollers which press out air holes and smooth down the folds. The
pressure of the upper roller is regulated by means of counterweights. Whilst one
bag is passing through these rollers, the pasting device is applying the paste to the
bottom of the succeeding bag.
The packer is connected to and forms part of the bag making machine and serves
to sort and arrange the bags as far as they are made. This apparatus is divided
into two portions, namely, the carrier and the receiver. The carrier is in a line
with the centre of the machine and presents an inclined plane upon which the bags
fall on issuing from between the pressing rollers and turns upon pivots for the
purpose of transferring the bags to the receiver. The sides of the chute in which
the carrier works and the edges of the carrier are provided with spring fingers
which move out of the way to allow the bags to pass and then turn down and
retain them in position when introduced into the receiver.
A vertically sliding plate worked by levers connected with the levers actuated
by the cam surface on the creaser hereinbefore described descends in front of the
receiver to allow the bags to pass and then rises again to retain them in position at
the same time pressing the bottoms together and preventing the folds from
becoming loosened.
The receiver is made with two compartments which are alternately placed
opposite the shute and carrier in order to receive the bags in the course of being
creased or pressed. the bags have a small hole punched in their sides for a purpose
hereinafter explained. Each compartment of the receiver contains a moveable
partition which recedes on being pressed back by the bags as the latter are
introduced by the carrier. A hole is formed in the moveable partition coinciding
with the holes in the bags and a long needle bearing against the back of the
compartment is passed through this hole so that the bags are threaded on to this
needle until the compartment is full. The full compartment is then moved to one
side and the empty compartment placed in position to receive the bags. A thread
or string having been drawn through, the bags in the full compartiment by means
of the needle and tied, the packet of bags is then ready for removal.
If preferred, a drying apparatus, constructed as hereinafter described may be
This apparatus
employed between the bag making machine and the packer.
consists of a pair of polyganol drums partaking of a continuous or intermittent
rotary motion and carrying an endless chain the links of which are provided with
fingers or grippers which lay hold of the bags issuing from between the pressing
rollers and after carrying the bags through a current of hot air drops them on an
inclined plane at the rear of the machine or into the chute of the packer. The
fingers being at right angles to the links of the chain close automatically to grip
the bag as the chain straightens itself to pass from one drum to the other and open
to release the bag when the chain is bent, in passing round the drum at the farther
end of the apparatus. An inclined plane may be employed to direct the bags from
the pressing rollers to the drying apparatus.
The apparatus for starting the machine and controlling the speed is arranged in
the following manner: Two parallel Shafts arranged transversely in the frame or
base of the machine carry the cams which impart the requisite motion to the levers
and other parts of the machine herein before described. One of these shafts carries
a pulley driven by a belt actuated by a counter-shaft provided with a conical drum
receiving motion by means of a belt from a similar drum on another shaft turned
by the prime mover.
The large end of the first drum is arranged opposite the small end of the second
drum and the speed of the machine is thus enabled to be regulated by shifting the

page_text: belt along the conical drums by a sliding fork connected to a rack actuated by a
pinion turned by means of a crank placed in a convenient position on the machine.
A stationary pointer indicates on a graduated disc the number of turns made by
the machine and the rate of production of the bags which may be regulated in
accordance with the nature of the paper employed.
The machine is provided with a break consisting of a tension pulley acting on
the driving belt and connected with a lever, by means of which the attendant is
enabled to start or stop the machine.
The hand lever is connected with a counter-weight which balances the normal
resistance of the machine but when an abnormal resistance is encountered, the
balance is destroyed,-the lever and its counterweight are moved in such a direction
as to shift the tension pulley which throws the belt out of action and stops the
machine. Breakage of the parts is thus automatically prevented and the machine
rendered to a certain extent independent of the attendant.
After passing between the pressing rollers and before entering the packer the
bags may be caused to pass between another pair of rollers connected with &
counter The lower roller of this pair has a positive motion imparted to it whilst
the upper roller is connected with a counting or registering apparatus and is rotated
solely by the passage of the bags-The spoilt or imperfect bags being removed by
the attendant before they reach the roller connected with the counter the numbers
registered by the latter consequently correspond to the number of perfect bags
turned out by the machine

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th May 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman 'IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS " & com-
munication to me from Félix Edouard Bilon a person resident at Paris in the
Republic of France
This Invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of paper bags such
as are known in the trade as satchel bottom paper bags and it consists in certain
improvements hereinafter described in the construction and arrangement of the
machinery whereby the manufacture is enabled to be carried on with greater
facility and rapidity than heretofore. The essential features of this invention are
as follows:-
First. The mechanism hereinafter described in connection with the feeding
rollers whereby all strain upon the paper in feeding the same into the machine is
obviated.
Second. The cutter having a curved blade for producing uneven edges at the
months of the bags to facilitate opening the latter when required for use as
hereinafter described.
Third, The device for feeding or propelling the paper having separable working
parts to facilitate repairs and having two lateral claws with parallel action for
supplying the paper in a uniform manner as hereinafter described.
Fourth. The arrangement for connecting the mandril or former to the frame by
a hinge and constructing the same with two parts hinged together for the purpose
of enabling it to be moved out of the way in order to obtain access to the feeder as
hereinafter described.
Fifth. The mechanism hereinafter described for actuating the levers and rollers
for folding over the paper on the upper side of the mandril.
Sixth, The application of springs as hereinafter described to the said folding over
rollers for the purpose of preventing the folds of paper from being dragged back
across the mandril after being folded and pasted down.
Seventh. The mechanism hereinafter described for applying paste to the bottom
of the bag and provided with a pump and valve for accurately adjusting the supply
of paste.
Eighth. The creaser with folder plates supports and rollers for uniformly
flattening the bags and smoothing out air bubbles and wrinkles as hereinafter
described.
Ninth. The mechanism hereinafter described for packing or arranging the bags in
parcels of any desired number.
Tenth, The employment in combination with the bag making machine of a
counter or registering apparatus arranged as hereinafter described so as to record
the delivery of perfect bags only.
Eleventh, The employment of mechanism hereinafter described for receiving and
drying the bags as they are turned out by the machine.
Twelfth. The combination of mechanism hereinafter described for automatically
and instantaneously stopping the machine when an abnormal resistance is
encountered.
Thirteenth. The mechanism hereinafter described for starting and stopping the
machine and for regulating and indicating the speed of the machine.
By means of these improvements one machine is enabled to manufacture, crease,

page_text: dry, register and pack satchel bottom paper bags at the rate of about fifty or sixty
per minute.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section and figure 2 is a plan of a machine
constructed according to this invention and show the general arrangement of the
parts.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the upper part of the machine.
Figures 4 and 5 represent the bag in course of manufacture.
Figure 6 represents a drying apparatus hereinafter described.
Figures 7. 8. 9 and 10 are details hereinafter explained
I will first describe in general terms the progress of the paper through the
machine and its conversion into bags and afterwards explain the several improve-
ments hereinbefore enumerated, individually, and as far as possible in the order in
which they take part in the manufacture.
In the accompanying Drawing a, figures 1. 2 and 9, is the paper which as in the
machines ordinarily employed is unwound from a roll or beam E at one end of the
machine and has a suitable advertisement printed upon it if desired at I. The
paper is pasted along one edge at F is cut off to the required length by a curved
knife or cutter S and is placed upon a Mandril M in the usual manner the sides
being thus folded over so as to form a tube whose diameter corresponds with that
of the finished bag. This tube is carried forward by a feeding device G which
pushes it to the end of the mandril at M³ where the paper is folded for the purpose
of making the bottom.
An upper folder and a lower folder p² are then caused by means of cams and
levers to nove forward and form the upper and the lower fold of the bag bottom
When this operation has been performed a paster C supplies the required amount
of paste and another pair of folders advance and form the side folds which they
press against the end of the mandril.
The bag thus formed then passes to a creasing device Q which causes it to
assume the form illustrated in figure 5 and delivers it between flattening rollers G G¹
which send it quickly forward either to the drying apparatus illustrated in figure 6
(when such is employed) or direct to the carrier T of the packer. Two driving
shafts B and B carry the requisite cams or eccentrics for operating the working
parts of the machine.
Having thus described the sequence of the operations in general terms I will
now describe the several improvements in succession.
The paper is drawn from a beam or roller E figure 9 near the floor by feed
rollers g g figures 1. 2 and 9 revolving at a uniform speed The rate at which the
paper is unwound from the roller E is liable to vary according to the description of
paper employed and this sometimes strains the paper and interferes with the proper
action of the machine.
According to this invention however this defect is obviated by causing the feed
rollers to supply the paper somewhat faster than it is wanted (the driving gear of
the feed roller g being suitably adjusted with this object) and connecting the upper
roller which has no positive motion imparted to it with a system of compensating
levers as hereinafter described.
On leaving the feed rollers the paper passes under a tension roller a suspended
loosely in the fold or bight formed by the excess of paper and when the excess of
paper supplied by the feed rollers exceeds a certain limit this roller is automatically
lowered and allowed to rest on one end of a lever f turning on a centre f¹ which there-
upon by the intervention of a rod f' lifts the upper feed roller g' out of contact with
the paper and thus stops the feed until the excess of paper has been so far drawn into
the machine that the tension roller a¹ is lifted and the upper feed roller is therebý

page_text: again brought into action. The weight of the upper feed roller g¹ may be
compensated for if desired by a counterweight f³.
The paper which may be printed with an advertisement at this part of the
machine is then pasted along one edge at F by a suitable pasting device not shown
in the drawing and presented to the cutting device which is provided with a
curved blade S in order to cut the paper in such a manner that the edges of the
mouth of the bag when the latter is flattened do not exactly coincide (figures 4
and 5) and thus greatly facilitate opening the bag when required for use.
The several lengths of paper or blanks are moved forward by a reciprocating
feeding device G acting upon the paper at both sides as shewn at a and b figure 3
whereby a more regular parallel delivery is obtained. This feeding device works in
a slide so constructed as to admit of being readily changed when worn out.
The claw at the forward end is modified in order to facilitate the separation of
the bag proceeding to the creaser from the succeeding bag blank the bottom of
which is next to be formed. This modification consists in jointing the three
claws 2 figure 1 at the end and connecting them to a pendant levert the lower
extremity of which when the feeder is at the end of its stroke comes in contact
with a fixed abutment or stop t' and causes these claws to travel somewhat farther
than the other parts of the feeder. A counter spring t is provided for returning the
claws to their original position when not acted on by the abutment.
The Mandril M figures 1. 2 and 3 upon which the bags are formed is of square
or rectangular section, may be made in two parts hinged together, and is hinged to
the frame of the machine as shown at m so as to enable access to be readily
obtained to the reciprocating feeder G in case the latter becomes choked or
deranged. With the same object the sides of the mandril are formed with sliding
plates which impart to it the requisite rigidity.
The bag blank when severed is brought under the mandril M and its sides are
turned up (see figure 3) on both sides of the mandril by suitable mechanism and
then folded over the upper surface of the mandril by means of rollers c c¹ which
work across the mandril being operated by cams not shewn in the drawing acting
on the said rollers by the intervention of connecting rods connected at o¹ with
levers o imparting motion by means of links o³ to lever arms o fast on an
axis o forming the centre of oscillation for arms of carrying the rollers c c¹ herein-
before referred to.
The bearings of the rollers may be provided with springs as shewn at o' to enable
them to act on the paper with an elastic pressure. These rollers are composed of
tubes covered with india rubber or other elastic or yielding material and each
roller contains a coiled spring one end of which is connected to the axis fixed to
the arm of whilst the other end is connected to the tube forming the roller so that
during the forward motion of the levers in the direction of the arrows (figure 3),
when the rollers fold over the edges of the blank these springs are wound up but
uncoil themselves during the return stroke and then impart a positive motion to
the rollers cc¹ in the opposite direction thus assisting to keep the paper well down
on the mandril M.
When the upper and lower folds of the satchel bottom have been formed in the
usual manner a pasting device C comes into action and deposits on the side folds of
the bag bottom the exact quantity of paste required for cementing the bottom For
this purpose a paste reservoir R (shewn in figure 10 in section on the line 9. 10
Figure 1) is intermittently placed in communication with a hollow arm b carrying
the paster C and oscillating on a horizontal axis at the base of the reservoir. This
hollow arm is operated by a cam on the shaft B by the intervention of suitable
connecting links and lever arms the arm being operated by the connecting
link and the lever being connected to the arm b by a set screw v
The paster
describes the arc indicated by the dotted line in figure 1 and thus applies the paste
to the bottom of the bag.
l
When the parts are in the position illustrated in the drawing a port c³ on the

page_text: reservoir R coincides with a port c figure 10 on the arm b which is now in commu-
nication with the reservoir R but when the paster is brought down in contact with
the bag this communication is intercepted.
In order to cause the exact quantity of paste required to be delivered through
the holes of the paster a small pump cylinder 6' is provided at about the middle of
the arm b this cylinder contains a piston p' carried on a rod 6' the ends of which
protrude through the sides of the arm and when the arm is moved these protruding
ends alternately strike an inclined surface fixed to the reservoir at 7 and an
adjustable stop below and thus cause the piston to move in opposite directions
alternately first drawing paste into the cylinder b' and then discharging it into the
hollow arm b When the piston is drawing in paste the arm and cylinder are in
communication with the reservoir R but when the paste is being forced out of the
cylinder the cominunication with the reservoir is cut off by the movement of the
arm and the excess of paste is consequently compelled to exude through the lateral
holes in the paster C at the extremity of the hollow arm and is thus applied to
the lateral flaps or folds of the bag bottom which are pressed against the said paster
at this moment by the lateral folders figure 2. A valve s serves to prevent the
paste at the delivery end of the arm from returning to the pump cylinder on the
return of the piston p³.
The adjustable stop hereinbefore referred to may be made in the form of a
screw as shown so as to enable it to project more or less in order to regulate the
stroke of the pump piston p so that the latter may deliver the exact quantity of
paste required according to the nature of the paper This arrangement presents
the important advantage of enabling the supply of paste to be effectually
controlled.
The working of the pasting mechanism can be controlled by the attendant at
several points The hollow arm b may be thrown out of action by setting back
the screw which connects the said arm b with the lever by which it is moved
and then causing the scrow to engage with the reservoir R.
The supply of paste may also be cut off by turning a hollow plug e figure 1
which thus shuts off the communication between the hollow arm b and the paster
or perforated extremity C which applies the paste to the bog [sic] bottom.
When the paster has moved away from the bog [sic] bottom after depositing pasto
thereon the lateral folders v after receding to allow the paster to pass close down
Whilst the bag
the side folds and press them against the end of the mandril M'.
bottom is being made the upper fold or lap of the tube or blank is held in position
by means of a suitable roller u and spring r.
The bag is next operated on by the creaser Q which is provided with a large
plate q covering the upper side of the bag when the latter is moved onwards and
separated from the succeeding blank by the action of the reciprocating feeder after
the bottom has been folded and pasted as herein before described.
The bag bottom then overhangs the edge of a creasing plate q' lying in a recess
in the table and capable of moving in a horizontal direction. Behind this creasing
plate is another plate or folder fi turning on a centre y and capable of swinging
up against the underside of the plate q by successively assuming the positions
shewn in figures 1, 7 and 8, when acted on by an inclined or cam surface z
connected to and moving with the plate or creaser q'.
The large covering plate q is actuated by suitable levers and rods L and descends
vertically upon the bag so that the part of the bag between this plate and the
creasing plate q is pressed flat and the bottom overhangs the plate q¹ as shewn in
figure 7.-The creasing plate q¹ is then moved forwards by means of forked
levers L' and continues the flattening action. At the same time, the oscillating
plate flis acted upon by the cam surface z, as herein before described and turns over
the bag bottom against the under-side of the creasing plate q as shewn in figure 8.
During these operations a part of the bottom of the bag projects beyond the plate q,
but the folds at this part are prevented from being loosened or deranged by means

page_text: of a guide or support H of the form represented in figure 2, and which serves to
continually press down these folds and retain them in the proper position.
The bag being thus flattened, the creaser plate q¹ still continues its horizontal
motion carrying forward the bag until the latter engages between a pair of pressing
rollers G, G which press out air bubbles and smooth out creases or wrinkles-
The pressure of the upper roller G¹ is regulated by means of counterweights, p,
figure 2. Whilst one bag is passing through these rollers, the pasting device is
applying the paste to the bottom of the succeeding bag.
The rollers G G¹, deliver the bags to the packer, figures 1 and 2, which is con-
nected to and forms part of the bag making machine and sorts and arranges the
bags fast as they are made. This apparatus is divided into two portions, namely a
carrier Z, and a receiver I. The carrier is in a line with the centre of the machine
and is provided with a reciprocating plate Z presenting an inclined plane when in
the position indicated by dotted lines in figure 1 upon which the bags fall on
issuing from between the pressing rollers G and capable of turning upon a centre Z¹
for the purpose of transferring the bags to the receiver. The sides T of the shute
in which the carrier plate Z works and the edges of this plate are provided
respectively with springs w and fingers or flaps w³ figure 2. The springs w move
out of the way to allow the bags to pass and then project so as to retain them in
position when introduced into the receiver.
A vertically sliding plate u worked by the levers L' by the intervention of
levers u and connecting rods u³ descends in front of the receiver I to allow the
bags to enter and then rises again to retain them in position at the same time
pressing the bottoms together and preventing the folds becoming loosened.
The receiver. I is made with two compartments J and J₁ figure 2 which are
alternately placed opposite the shute and carrier in order to receive the bags.
In the course of being creased or pressed the bags have a small hole o figure 4
punched in their sides for a purpose hereinafter explained. Each compartment
of the receiver contains a movable partition Y which recedes on being pressed back
by the bags as the latter are introduced by the carrier. A hole coinciding with
the holes in the bags is formed in the movable partition Y and a long needle i
supported by the back 1' of the compartment is passed through this hole so that
the bags are successively threaded on to this needle until the compartment is full.
The full compartment is then moved to one side and the empty compartment
placed in position to receive the bags. A thread or string having been drawn
through the bags in the full compartment by means of the needle and tied the
packet of bags is then ready for removal.
If preferred a drying apparatus constructed as hereinafter described with
reference to figure 6 may be employed between the pressing rollers G and the
packer. This apparatus consists of a pair of polygonal drums T T partaking
of a continuous or intermittent rotary motion and carrying an endless chain the
links of which are provided with fingers or grippers & which lay hold of the bags
issuing from between the pressing rollers at S and after carrying the bags through
& current of hot air drop them on an inclined plane c d at the rear of the machine
or into the shute of the packer. The fingers being at right angles to the links
of the chain close automatically to grip the bag as the chain straightens itself
to pass from one drum to the other and open to release the bag at St when the
chain is bent in passing round the drum T at the farther end of the apparatus.
An inclined plane a b may be employed to direct the bags from the pressing rollers
to the drying apparatus. The fingers 82 may be of equal length or be arranged so
that the long fingers follow the short fingers, if desired.
The apparatus for starting the machine and controlling the speed is illustrated
in figure 9. Two parallel shafts B. B. arranged transversely in the frame or base
of the machine carry the cams which impart the requisite motion to the levers and
other working parts of the machine as hereinbefore described. The shaft B carries
'a pulley b² driven by a belt c² actuated by a pulley b³ on a countershaft B' beneath
the floor of the apartment. This countershaft also carries a conical drum b driven

page_text: by a belt c which is passed round a corresponding conical drum 63 on a shaft B³
receiving motion from a suitable prime mover. The large end of the first drum
is arranged opposite the small end of the second drum and the speed of the
machine is thus enabled to be regulated by shifting the belt c³ along the conical
drums by a sliding guide j connected to a rack actuated by a pinion j¹ turned by
means of a crank figures 2 and 9 placed in a convenient position on the machine.
A stationary pointer indicates on a graduated disc j³ the number of turns made by
the machine and the rate of production of the bags which may be regulated in
accordance with the nature of the paper employed.
The machine is provided with a break also illustrated in figure 9 and consisting
of a tension pulley K carried on an arm and acting on the driving belt c². By
means of a lever k² connected to the arm k¹ the attendant is enabled to control
the tension of the driving belt and thus start or stop the machine.
The hand lever k acts as a tumbler being provided with a counterweight k³
which balances the normal resistance of the machine but when from any cause
an abnormal resistance is encountered and an extra strain placed on the belt the
balance is destroyed the lever and its counterweight are jerked in the direction
of the arrow in such a manner as to throw the tension pulley K out of action and
stop the machine. Breakage of the parts is thus automatically prevented and the
machine rendered to a certain extent independent of the attendant.
After passing between the pressing rollers and before entering the packer the
bags may be caused to pass between another pair of rollers connected with a
counter or registering apparatus. The lower roller of this pair has a positive
motion imparted to it whilst the upper roller is connected with the counting or
registering apparatus and is rotated solely by the passage of the bags. The spoilt
or imperfect bags being removed by the attendant before they reach the roller
connected with the counter the numbers registered by the latter consequently
correspond to the number of perfect bags turned out by the machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is:
The several improvements herein before set forth as constituting the essential
features of this Invention and also their combination to constitute an improved
machine capable of manufacturing satchel bottom paper bags with rapidity and
precision all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of May One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)