IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Sturge, of 124, Penton Place, St. Mary's,
Newington, in the Parish of Lambeth and County of Surrey, Engineer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND
OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Sturge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1880.
EDWIN STURGE, of 124, Penton Place, St. Mary's, Newington, in the Parish of
Lambeth and County of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
By my present Invention I provide an ordinary frame or casting of iron or other
material, the base or lower part of which is so arranged as to be able to be firmly secured
to a table or bench, the upper portion forming the main support of the working gear,
and I provide a horizontal bar or lever working in a bearing at one end of the
said frame, and instead of employing a balance or weight at the other end I propose
to employ springs at either side of the bar or lever either of a C or other suitable
form or kind, fixed at one end to the lower or mid portion of the body or frame,
and at the upper part permitted to bear on the under side of a stud or studs to
assist in returning the lever or bar to its normal position after being pressed or
forced downwards by the action of the treadle for the purpose and in the manner
hereafter described. To the end of this lever or bar is attached a plunger or piston
arranged to work freely in a vertical direction within a guide or guides provided
in the frame or casting, and having a die or creaser of suitable shape for the purpose
intended attached thereto to give the impress in its downward movement to the
paper blank, so that when the blank is placed in position immediately under the
die or creaser upon a folding box or receiver secured to the base of the frame that
it is caused with one movement or action of the foot, in the case of manual labour,
to crease or impress the blank, which I previously cause to be gummed in a suitable
manner by a movement or action of the foot. This I effect by means of a spindle
or spindles and rods connected to the treadle or crank at its lower end, and at the

page_text: upper to the horizontal lever arm or bar which actuates the vertical plunger or
piston and the mechanism connected therewith for the gumming or adhesive process,
this being the first operation, which I cause to be done in an entirely novel manner
by means of a lever or crank connection or connections working a bellows or other
suitable means to produce and force a current of air under pressure, and so led or
diverted as to impinge immediately over that portion of the blanks and the gum
printers or rules, having a small groove formed in their length so as to contain
sufficient adhesive matter, and brought up into action by means of a rod or spindle
actuated by the treadle through the intervention of a lever working in a fulcrum
on the standard or frame. I provide suitable openings on each side of the folding
box or receiver whereon the blank is fed to enable the gum printer with the first
movement of the treadle or crank to rise in position from the gum cistern or
receptacle wherein it dips under that portion or portions of the blank to be treated,
and at the same instant the force or current of air immediately above, as described,
causes the blank to be compressed and come in contact with and receive the
necessary impress of adhesive matter contained in or on the gum printer or rule,
and with the aid of the die or creaser it is folded into position, and ready for the
second or downward movement, acting upon four or more metallic springs, two of
which are suitably jointed with a view to compress and permit the following or
consecutive folding taking place, and fixed to the under portion of the upright
frame, which assist in finally closing, and in concert with the die or creaser instantly
completing the operation.
For the purpose of assisting in the further compressing and completing the
envelope or other article, and causing the adhesive substance to quickly dry and
remain secure, I provide a receptacle or packer at the side of the frame, into
which they can be rapidly passed, and arrange a balance weight and spring or
other suitable means to keep them firmly packed in position until required to be
emptied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Edwin Sturge in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 4th September 1880.
EDWIN STURGE, of 124, Penton Place, St. Mary's, Newington, in the Parish of
Lambeth and County of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
In carrying out my Invention I provide an ordinary frame, made by preference
of cast iron, the base of which is firmly secured to a table or bench. This frame is
the support of the working-gear of the machine-proper. Beneath the table and
attached to its supports is fixed the treadle arrangement for working the
machine.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the entire machine "at rest," with its table drawn
one-fourth full size; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine proper; Fig. 3 is a
plan of the same, omitting the creaser and guide; and Fig. 4, a plan of the under-
side of the die or creaser. These three Figures are drawn one half-size. Letters
of reference are added, the same letters indicating identical parts throughout the
Figures.
A, Fig. 1, is the table-frame, braced together back and front; B is the table-top
firmly secured to the frame. As a rule I intend to use iron, wrought and cast, for
the frame and table, altho' I may use wood when more convenient. The lower
part of the frame carries, when it is desired to work the machine by the operative's
foot, a treadle B with its addenda as illustrated in Fig. 1, and described further on.
Should it ever be desired to work the machine by power the treadle motion may
be replaced by a suitable pulley, shaft, and crank arrangement, or its equivalent;
C is the frame mentioned in the penultimate paragraph, as carrying the working gear
of the machine proper; D is a lever centred at one end on a pin passing through a recess
formed in the projecting top of C, and carrying at its other end the plunger or piston
E, which works in a guide F. Both D and E may be made of either malleable or
wrought iron. The guide F I prefer to make of gun-metal or similar bard metal;
it is made in two pieces, and firmly bolted to the face of C. D¹ is a steel C spring
of several plates (four in the Drawing) looped together, and bolted down to a small
shelf D projecting from the side of the frame C. The other end of the spring
bears against the under side of a stud D³ fixed in the lever D. This spring replaces
the balance-weight described in my Patent, No. 1745, dated May 5th, 1877. (I may
use two C springs if I choose, one on either side of the frame, with two shelves
and a double stud or its equivalent.) This spring is connected with the treadle by
a rod D, passing downwards through the frame C. The part next to be described
is the gum-printer or dabber. In my Provisional Specification I say, speaking of
the methods which may be employed to gum the flaps of the envelope blank, "this
I effect by means of a spindle, etc., connected to the treadle at its lower end, and at
the upper to the horizontal lever or bar which actuates the vertical plunger or
piston." Further on, in the same Specification, I say that "the gum-printers are
brought into action by means of a rod actuated by the treadle through the inter-
vention of a lever working on a fulcrum on the standard or frame." Now, altho' I
may still work my dabber or printer mechanism direct from my horizontal lever or
bar (D, Fig. 1), as described in my Provisional Specification, yet I prefer the
mechanism illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, which I find by trial to be
more efficient and simple. I therefore say no more about working my dabber
mechanism from the lever D, but at once proceed to describe the mechanism I have
found to be the best adapted to my purpose.
The dabber or gum-printer lever H, Fig. 1, working on a fulcrum on the side of
the frame C has one end connected with the treadle by a rod H', and spring-bar

page_text: and block H. This lever is cranked, as shewn at a, to allow its front end to
coincide with the vertical centre line of the machine. If preferred it may be made
double i.e., a lever may be mounted on each side of the frame C, meeting each
other where cranked. The connection with the spring-bar would then be by
means of a loop or sling passing downwards through the base and table top. The
other end of the dabber-lever H terminates in a clutch working in a clutch-block H³
fastened to the top of the dabber-frame H*, Figs. 1 and 2. To compel the dabber-
frame to always move in a vertical direction there springs from the centre of
the top of clutch-block a guide rod H³, Fig. 1, working in a tubular guide H
fastened to the under side of the frame C. From the bottom bar of the dabber-
frame H spring the dabber-rods H7, H7, Figs. 1 and 2, cranked as drawn five
times. The reason they are cranked in this way is to enable them to pass over the
partitions I, I', Figs. 1 and 2. The end of each dabber-rod carries a dabber H®, H³,
made in sheet brass, or other suitable material, made with either a plain or grooved
face. The length and width of the dabber faces are proportional to the size of
the gum-streak to be printed or "dabbed" (hence their name) upon the flaps of the
envelope-blank. They rise and fall through dabber-parts H, H, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
formed in the platform G, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and base of C, Figs. 1 and 2. When
the machine is at rest the dabbers are immersed in the gum.
I, Figs. 1 and 2, is a vessel made of sheet brass, or other suitable material, and
fastened to the under side of the base C¹, as drawn in the Figures, or it may be
attached to the under side of the table-top A¹. Two partitions I', I', Figs. 1, 2,
and 3, standing up to within a quarter of an inch of the top of I, divide it into
three compartments, two of which 12, 12, are the gum-cisterns. The third, 13, is a
well for the dabber frame to ride in without coming in contact with, and thereby
wasting the gum or whatever adhesive material may be used. These cisterns are
of about a pint capacity each, and are replenished at the ports H, H°. The height
of the gum in the cisterns is controlled (i.e., kept down) by means of two vertical
overflow pipes, one in each cistern, see I, 1. They are alike in height, and
passing through the sides of the cisterns terminate in a common duct I', to which
is hung a waste can 16, Figs. 1 and 2.
To the bottom end of the piston E is firmly attached the creaser J, Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 J, J, Figs. 1 and 2, are the end-folders, made of thin sheet steel, or other
suitable material, about 5/8" wide. They are mounted at the lower ends of two
bars J, J, Figs. 1 and 2, depending from the guide E. Each of these folders has
at its outer angles a round bar of brass J³, J³, J, J4, in length equal to the
uncovered widths of the end flaps of the envelope-blank where they fall. Thus,
J³, J³, are always shorter than J, J. These bars are brazed in their respective
positions. The outline to which the end folders are bent is of considerable
importance, and admits of variation to suit the various shapes of envelopes to be
made. The sides b, b, receive their impulse from the descending creaser, and the
further these are in outline from a concave the more rapidly are the two folders made
to turn open their centres c, c, and to assume a vertical position. The sides d, d,
when the folders are in a vertical position press evenly upon the folded-down
end-flaps. J, J, are two recovering springs fixed to the bars J, J, and serve to
raise the end folders as the creaser rises from the folding box G1, Figs. 1, 2, & 3;
J and Je are respectively the front and back folders made of the same material
as the end folders, and fastened to the under side of the guide F. The length
and sweep of these two folders is regulated so that the creaser shall bring them
into operation in proper order, i.e., the back one before the front one, and both after
the end folders. For, from the shape of my new end folders, and the novel and
effective way in which they are mounted, it follows that they must almost complete
their work before the back and front folders have changed their position much.
The lower ends of the back and front folders are left as drawn or bent slightly to
avoid injuring thin material.
The creaser J is attached to the piston E at such a point that in travelling
upwards to an "at rest" position it cannot come into contact by about " with the

page_text: under side of the piston-guide F. Fig. 4 is a plan of the under side or working face
of the creaser used to produce an envelope from the blank shewn by the dotted
line e, e, e, e, Fig. 3. The corners are hollowed out and the sides bevilled off to
allow the front (or adhesive) and the back flaps (f and g, Fig. 3), with their
bold convex corners, to be folded over without catching the corners of the
creaser, which would be the case if the creaser face were made with thick edges
all round. The inner outline of the creaser face is always shaped by beviling the
edges or hollowing out the corners, or both, to suit the boldness of the corners of
the flaps to be folded over.
To the frame of the table is fixed a bellows K, Fig. 1, actuated by a rod K'
springing from the treadle; K is a small pipe of iron or brass leading from the
bellows, carried in any convenient position, branching out right and left, Figs. 2
and 3, and terminating in two small mouths K³, K³. These mouths stand
immediately over the dabber-ports H, H; they are narrow, about 1/16" wide, and
in length more than the dabber ports. The vertical distance separating them from
the platform G, Figs. 1, 2, & 3, is not more than suffices for the end flaps to be
folded over without inconvenience.
The lower part of the frame C, its base C¹, Figs. 1 and 2, is in front extended
laterally right and left; and to the top of this extension is screwed the platform G,
Figs. 1, 2, & 3. In the centre of this platform is formed the folding-box or
receiver G¹, in area equal to the finished envelope. The bottom of the folding-box
is lined with india-rubber or other similar material combining a suitable degree of
firmness with elasticity. Through the bottom of this folding-box and platform, etc.,
are made several holes or air vents G³, G2, etc. At the four corners of the folding-
box are fixed as many vertical guides G³, G³, G³, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Their inner
angles h, h, h, h, are sometimes made slightly convex at the top to allow of the
blank being more readily placed in position. The inner faces G, G, etc., are not
always as drawn, and very rarely are the inner faces of the two back guides of the
same outline as those of the front guides. The outline of the envelope flaps decides
the outline of these faces. The dotted lines e, e, e, etc., indicating an envelope-
blank in position, see Fig. 3, demonstrate this relationship.
To the front of the machine table, preferably at its left-hand corner is attached a
vertical receptacle of wood (or other suitable material) L, Fig. 1. Through its
bottom L' works a rod L³ carrying at its top a platform L³. A spiral spring L' is
coiled round this rod and keeps the platform up to its work, which is the support of
the envelopes as they come from the folding-box; L³ is a slant communicating with
the receptacle, and Le a loose top or presser.
Having now fully described the several parts of the machine I will now describe
its action.
The operator provided with a supply of blanks places one upon the platform G,
Figs. 1, 2, & 3, as shewn in Fig. 3, with the adhesive flap next him. He presses
down the treadle B, Fig. 1, with his foot. The motion is continued through D*,
D, and E, Fig. 1, to the creaser J, which is driven downwards towards the folding-
box G¹; but before the creaser has touched the blank the treadle has by the rod
H¹ and lever H, Fig. 1, set in motion the dabber-frame; at the same time a puff
of wind is emitted from each mouth K³, K³, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, impinging upon that
part of each end-flap lying immediately over each dabber-port. These puffs of wind
hold the flaps close to the platform face while the dabbers H8, H8, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
rising at the same time through their ports H³, H, apply to the underside of
each flap a quota of gum. It is at this stage of the process that the spring-bar
H2, Fig. 1, makes itself felt advantageously. It expedites the action of the
dabbers, so that they complete their duty while the creaser has still a portion of
its downward travel to complete. The descending creaser J, Figs. 1 and 2, forces
the four folders J¹, J¹, J³, Jo, towards its vertical axis (altho' they do no work this
travel), and as it falls into the folding box G' drives the blank before it and
creases (hence its name) the junction lines of the envelope-back and flaps. The air
previously in the folding-box is driven out at the air-vents G³, etc., Figs. 2 & 3.

page_text: If it were allowed to remain in the folding-box it would be impossible, because
of its practical incompressibility to produce a perfect envelope. The four flaps are
now nearly vertical. The operator raises his foot, and the C spring D¹, Fig. 1,
bearing against the stud in the lever D lifts lever, piston, and creaser into their
"at rest" position. The four folders are moved into a corresponding position, the
back and front folders by their own elasticity, and the two end folders by their
recovering springs J7, J, Fig. 2. The dabbers have already descended into the
gum-cisterns. The foot is again applied to the treadle, and all the previously
described motions of the several parts of the machine are gone through again,
altho' this time no useful effect is produced by either the dabbers or the puffers.
The creaser again forces the folders inwards and downwards. The end folders
J, J, Fig. 3, are set in motion first, and their feet d, d, Fig. 3, fold down, and with
the assistance of the round bars J³, JS, J', J4, bold down fairly and evenly the
end-flaps, whose former under sides properly gummed by the dabbers now lie
uppermost. The back folder Je, Figs. 1 and 2, folds down the back-flap g, Fig. 3,
upon the gummed flaps and holds it there, and lastly, the front folder J' folds down
the front or adhesive flap f, Fig. 3. The operator removes his foot; the C spring
again comes into action with the same effect as before, and the finished envelope is
removed from the folding-box to be placed upon the platform L³ of the receptacle L,
Fig. 1, under the loose presser L° to dry.
Having now fully described my Invention and the best method of carrying the
same into effect, what I consider to be new and therefore protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The improvements on the methods described by my Patent of 1877 in the
dabbing and folding mechanism, the gum cistern, and corner guides, and in the 2
creaser or die, the arrangement of bellows and puffers (which is entirely new).
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Sturge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our Lord 1880.