IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF, PAPER BAGS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF, PAPER BAGS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Felix Edouard
Bilon, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 11th March 1879, and dated the 14th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th September 1878.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN." (A communication from
abroad by Felix Edouard Bilon, of Paris, France.)
The object of this Invention is to completely manufacture paper bags by means
of improved machinery or apparatus.
A continuous length of paper rolled round a beam is drawn off by the machinery
and carried successively to a knife, a "former," and a folder.
The accessory operations, such as pasting the edges forming the bottom of the
bag and sticking a ticket thereon are performed at the required moments, and
finally the finished bags are placed and grouped mechanically in a receptacle for
the purpose of counting them.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The paper of the required width is
unrolled from the beam and passed between drawing rollers which cause it to go
beneath a "former" (which is preferably a rectangular prism), and pass a little way
beyond the same. The lower roller is actuated by a toothed pinion and a sector;
the upper roller revolves by being held in contact with the lower one by means of
a spring.
The pinion is loose on the axle of the lower roller, and acts thereon only in the
required direction by means of a ratchet cylinder, so that as the sector returns the
roller does not revolve. The sector is actuated by a cam and lever.

page_text: 1
Between the beam and the drawing rollers is an arrangement for applying paste
or gum to one of the edges of the paper in a narrow line of about 'th of an inch in
width.
The table over which the paper travels is provided with a slight projection or a
spring which keeps the paper in contact with a small roller of the required width,
which is supplied with paste or gum from a suitable reservoir above, and which by
the movement of the paper is caused to revolve and deposit a thin line of paste or
gum along the side thereof.
The paper impelled by the rollers travels on to the "former," and having passed
a sufficient distance beyond is stopped, and a knife, actuated by a second cam and
lever, descends just in front of the prism or "former," and cuts the paper. That part
of the table immediately beneath the prism is made, by means of hinges, to form
the development of the sides of the "former," and is caused by means of cams and
levers to rise and surround the "former," thus folding the paper over the same. The
paper is required to be slightly wider than the exact development of the prism, so
that the edges overlap each other, and by means of a dwell in the cam which
actuates the gummed or pasted edge of the paper, this latter is folded over the
other edge and adheres thereto, and the levers and hinged sides resume their former
positions.
"
On the sides of the "former are slightly projecting ribs fitting into grooves in the
development corresponding thereto, which stamp lines or creases in the sides of the
paper bag to facilitate the folding of the same, as will be seen hereafter.
The sides of the paper bag having thus been formed, the end thereof must be
closed up, and this is accomplished by means of a folding apparatus which the
inventor terms a "lunette." This is composed of two plates, one fixed and the
other movable, and kept together by a rim behind. The fixed plate into which is
let the movable one, which is annular in shape, is bored at the centre to the form
of the prism, and is provided in front with small slides forming the shape of the
prism, each of these slides having attached to them pins, working in slots in the
fixed plate, and having at their ends rollers running in curved grooves in the
movable plate just mentioned.
The "lunette" is moved in the direction of the "former" until it almost reaches it,
thus enclosing the paper which was projecting beyond the same, and the movable
plate being turned partially round by a cam and levers, the top and bottom slides
are moved respectively down and up by means of the rollers, curved grooves, and
slots; and afterwards return to their former positions.
A side slide then makes another fold, and at this moment a pasting apparatus
deposits paste on the folded part and retires, whereupon the remaining slide makes
the last fold and sticks the ends together; the "lunette" retires, the pasting
apparatus deposits more paste at the end of the bag, and an arm bearing a ticket
rises and deposits the ticket on the pasted end, thus making this closed end still
more secure.
The bag is then pushed forward by an arrangement of cam and levers and placed
before two rollers, the lower of which is driven at twice the speed of the rest of the
machine by means of a strap or otherwise. A blade descending in an arc of a
circle catches the bag, folds it in the creases before mentioned, and at the same
instant the rollers draw it between them, press it flat, and having thus made the
adhesion of the pasted parts still more secure, throw it out into the receptacle.
This is composed of two or more compartments, and is caused to make half a
revolution (or less, as the case may be), after 50 or any other number of bags have
been made, thus counting them automatically.
The various movements of the respective parts of the machine are all or nearly
all effected by levers actuated by cams mounted upon a shaft beneath the table.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said. Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th March
1879.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN.' (A communication from
abroad by Felix Edouard Bilon, of Paris, France.)
"
The object of this Invention is to completely manufacture paper bags by means
of improved machinery or apparatus.
The fundamental principle of this machine is to obtain by mechanical or automatic
means on a "former "the same sort of flat-bottomed bag as that ordinarily manu-
factured by hand, and to imitate the several manual operations by mechanical
means; in short to obtain a perfectly flat bag ready for sale or use from either
good or inferior paper.
By means of this machine a continuous length of paper rolled on a beam is drawn
off and carried successively to a printing press, a pasting apparatus, a knife, a
"former," a flattener, and finally to a "counter," after it has been made into a bag.
The manner in which the various above-mentioned operations are effected will
be readily understood on reference to the annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the
following description thereof, that is to say:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine; Figure 2 is a general plan view
as seen from above; Figure 3 is a transvere section through the line 1-2 shewing
the printing and pasting apparatus; Figure 4 is a transverse section through the
line 3-4 shewing the knife; Figure 5 is a transverse section through the line
5-6 representing the "former," the hinged flaps, and the rollers for the formation
of the sides of the bag; Figure 6 is a transverse section through the line 7-8
shewing the flattener; and Figures 7 and 8 shew the finished bag not folded and
folded.
All the working parts of the machine are grouped on a table bolted to a frame,
the openings in which are provided with wooden panels p, p, serving to conceal the
driving gear. The shaft B, B, which carries the driving pulley P, P, transmits its
motion by means of face plates and connecting rods (as in a locomotive) to another
parallel shaft B¹, B¹. These two shafts B, B', carry the cams, pulleys, and excentric
intended to give motion to the various working parts of the machine which manu-
factures the bags. This manufacture is divided into several operations, which I
will describe seriatim.
The principal operations are, firstly, the drawing in of the paper; secondly, the
printing of any address or advertisement on one of the sides of the paper; thirdly,
the cutting of the paper to the required length; fourthly, the formation of the sides
of the bag round the "former" M, M; fifthly, the formation of the bottom by means
of suitably arranged flaps; and, sixthly, the flattening of the bags and the counting
thereof.
First. The Drawing in of the Paper. The paper x, x, of the required width is
unrolled continuously from the beam X, X; by means of the roller C, C, driven by
a band. As the machine only takes in paper intermittently a certain quantity
always remains in reserve. By this means all drag on the paper is avoided, which
has always been a desideratum in every process of the manufacture. The paper is
taken and drawn forwards by a needle-pointed feeding apparatus (Figure 1). A
carriage composed of two parallel bars, r, sliding in a groove on the table T, T,
constitutes the feeder. Towards the middle of the carriage is fixed a double spring,
the extremities of which are furnished with needles, which are raised by means of
the simultaneous action of the bell-crank levers 1, 1, and enter the paper x, x. When
the paper is thus pierced the feeder R, R, advances and carries with it, firstly, a
sufficient quantity of paper to form a bag; secondly, a bag of which the sides are
formed; and, thirdly, a bag of which the sides and bottom are complete. The con-

page_text: necting rods b, b¹, the lever L, and the cam c, c, which actuate the whole feeding
apparatus are so arranged as to produce these movements, viz., piercing and
drawing forward one after the other, the cam being provided with suitable "dwells"
for this purpose. However the carriage can only be drawn out as far as the
extremity of the catch e, e, is projected beyond the notch of the carriage. This
.projection is effected by means of a tappet fixed on the connecting rods b, which
comes in contact with the heel of the catch e during the "dwell" made for entering
the needles into the paper. On the return stroke the reverse is the case; the
needles are drawn down and the feeder goes back to its place.
Secondly. The Printing of the Paper.-On leaving the beam X, X, the paper x, x,
drawn by the feeder R, R, passes under the printing apparatus Y, Y, where it
receives any required impression, such as an address or advertisement. The printing
apparatus Y, Y, is composed of a type carrier D, D, raised and lowered alternately
by a parallel motion. The type d, d, presses and prints on the paper x, x, which is
supported beneath by a plate 0, 0, covered with a sheet of india-rubber. This plate
is hinged to the table T, T, (Figure 3,) so as to allow of the type being inspected
and changed. During the printing the inking roller o, o, mounted at the extremity
of two springs beats up and spreads on the printing table t, t, the ink which it takes
from the roller h, h; it deposits it on the type as it is lowered and raised. The
inking trough g, g, is so arranged as to furnish more or less ink according to the
nature of the paper; the roller h, h, driven by a ratchet furnishes a new quantity
of ink each time. The movements of the type carrier and the inking apparatus are
taken from the same levers L, L, actuated by the excentric E, E. The whole is so
arranged as to accomplish the result above described.
1
Thirdly. The Cutting the Paper. After having been printed, and before being
cut, as will be seen, the paper x, x, receives on one of its edges, and at a suitable
width, a coating of paste form a small "paster" i, i, (Figures 2 and 3). For
this purpose the table T, T, has a small opening, through which passes a roller j, j,
revolving at the extremity of a spring so as to be constantly in contact with the
paster i, i, the advancing of the paper and the pressure exerted by the roller j, j,
cause the paster i, i, to revolve and to deposit the paste. The quantity of paste
deposited is regulated by a small slide. The cutting of the paper is effected by
means of a saw 8, 8, with cutting teeth (Figure 4) descending vertically and parallel
to the table T, T. Four small spring pistons q, q, mounted on the saw 8, 8, reach
slightly beyond the teeth, and when they are lowered press on to the table the
paper x, x, which should be firmly held during the cutting. A knife descending in
an oblique direction to the table would serve the same purpose.
The saw is actuated by the lever L³, L², keyed on to its axis of oscillation y and
by the cam c².
Fourthly. The Formation of the Sides of the Bag.-The sides of the bag are 4
formed round a bronze "former," the shape of which varies according to that of the
bag required to be made. The form shewn as an example is that of a rectangular
prism with a square base. It will however be noticed that the upper face and the
base opposite to the saw are slightly concave, so as to augment the perimeter of the
bag and to facilitate its sliding on the "former." The former supported by an
arch bolted on to the table T, T, is completely isolated from the latter. Its length
is sufficient, and it is divided into two parts so that the sides of one bag and the
bottom of another may be made at the same time. Below the first part of the
"former" M, M, the paper cut off to length is brought by the feeder R, R, and two
brass flaps a, a, corresponding to the vertical sides of the "former" and hinged on a
to the table T, T, (Figure 5) are raised up and fold round the "former" which they
envelope, the paper x, x, which passes above them. These flaps a, a, are raised and
lowered simultaneously by the levers 7, 1, and the cam c'. The paper, which only
envelopes three sides of the "former," is then folded on to the fourth and concave
side thereof in the following manner :-Two T shaped levers 12, 12, carry at their
extremities flat springs m, m, having at their ends an india-rubber roller k, k. At
the proper moment the levers 12, 12, oscillate, and the rollers k, k, fold over the paper

page_text: which extends above the "former" M, M, and thus form the fourth side of the
bag. One of the two rollers k, k, fold over the paper before the other by reason of
the difference in the length of the springs m, m, and in order that the edges of the
paper x, x, may overlap each other. The edge which has been pasted is folded the
last. Owing to the arrangement of the parts, the rollers are pressed down more
firmly the further they advance, so as to cause a more perfect adhesion. Besides
the formation of the sides of the bag and the pasting, the former M, M, and the
flaps a, a, which envelop the same, mark out on the paper x, x, the creases necessary
for the final folding of the bags. For this purpose the former M, M, is provided
with projections (on its first part only) which force the paper x, x, to enter slightly
into corresponding grooves o', o,' in the flaps a, a. The rollers k, k, return to their
former position by means of the double levers L³, L³, and the cams C³, C³.
Fifthly. The Formation of the Bottom of the Bag.-The four sides of the bag
having been formed as above described, there remains yet to form the bottom, so
as to complete the same.
"
The partly formed bag is pushed forward by the feeder R, R, on to the second
part of the "former" M, M, where the formation of the bottom is to be effected, as
above mentioned. The bottom is made by means of the falling of a flap v, v, the
raising of the piece u, u, and the advancing of the two rollers e¹, e¹. The flap vis
first lowered and forms the first fold of the bottom, the piece u, u, is then raised
and forms the second fold, and finally the two lateral rollers e', e³, advance succes-
sively and finish the bottom by forming the third and fourth folds. The flap v is
actuated by the lever L2, L, and the cam C2, C3, which also gives motion to the
saw 8, 8. The piece u, u, is actuated by the lever L, LA, and the cam C₁, C. The
rollers e¹, e¹, are actuated by the lever L³, I³, and cam C³, C³, which give motion
to the folding rollers k, k. Before the advancing of the lateral rollers e¹, e¹, a
paster" I, I, comes and deposits paste on to the two corners, which they after-
wards fold in. One of the two rollers e¹, e¹, advances before the other so that the
ends shall overlap each other. The bottom "paster" I, I, is composed of a pad
with wings 2, 2, which a special mechanism contained in a tube causes to fly out
when the paster strikes the end of the "former." This pad z, z, is actuated by the
connecting rod 13, 13, the lever L³, L³, loose on its axis of oscillation y, and the
cam 05, 0³, cast with the pulley P. The paste reservoir N, N, is terminated by
two arms, the ends of which are provided with a ring closed by wire cloth, net, or
perforated metal plate. The paste oozes through this wire cloth every time that
the pad z, z, placed between the two arms is lowered to deposit on the bottom of
the bag the paste which it has just taken up. In order that the bottom of the bag
may be exceedingly solid, the machine places thereupon a ticket which binds the
different parts thereof together. These tickets may bear any impression; they
resemble postage stamps in their manufacture.
Sixthly. The Flattening of the Bag.-The bag completely folded and pasted is
taken from the "former" by the feeder R, R, to be flattened. It should be noticed
that the formation of the sides, that of the bottom, and the flattening should be
effected at the same time, since the feeding apparatus carries forward at the same
time a length of paper necessary for the formation of a bag, a shell pasted along
the side, and a bag completely formed and pasted ready to be flattened. As soon.
as the bag has left the "former" M, M, the flattener Q, Q, less in width than the
length of the bag, falls thereon and forces it to flatten out in the folds previously
prepared on the former M, M.
The flattener Q, Q, is connected to the table by a double hinge (Figure 6) which
facilitates the flattening of the bag and which guides it. The lever L, L, and the
cam C6, C, gives motion to the flattener. When the flattener Q, Q, is at the end of
its course a plate q, q, detaches itself therefrom, being seized and drawn forward by
the forks of the lever L, L, actuated by the cam C7, C7. This plate q, q, being
guided on the table in grooves which are continuations of those of the flattener
completely flattens out the bag and conducts it beneath the flattening rollers C¹, C².
A small plate n, n, worked by the connecting rod d', d', by means of the cam c, co,

page_text: of the flattener, when the latter is at the bottom of its course (when it has passed
the vertical dead-point), follows under the action of the spring ",, the folding
over of the bottom in all its stages. It rises up again at the same time as the
flattener.
The pasting of the bag is completed as it passes between the two pressing
rollers C¹ and C²; the lower roller C² driven by a band and running at a quicker
speed than that of the machine seizes the bag and throws it quickly out into the
counting apparatus Z, Z. This apparatus is formed of two, four, six, or more boxes,
each capable of containing 20, 50, or 100 bags. It makes a half, a quarter, or a
sixth of a revolution when one of these boxes is full actomatically by means of a
'cam. motion.
Such are the operations effected by this machine for the mechanical and auto-
matic manufacture of flat-bottomed bags.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention com-
municated to me from abroad by the above-named Felix Edouard Bilon,-
Firstly. The novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts of the
machine above described and for the purposes described, the object being to obtain
mechanically and automatically upon a "former" the same sort of flat-bottomed
paper bag as that which has ordinarily been made by hand; the arrangement of
the machine being intended to imitate by mechanical means the several manual
operations employed in the usual manufacture by hand.
Secondly. The application and use of a "former" of any shape upon which the
bag is manufactured.
And, Thirdly. The production or manufacture of paper bags in the manner and
by the means herein-before described, in which production or manufacture all sorts
of paper, whether good or inferior, as ordinarily sold, can be used, and on the bags
so produced or manufactured any impressions, designs, or characters may be printed
or impressed, and the most varied forms can be given to the bottom of the bags by
varying the shape of the "former," and such improved bags can be made of all
sizes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One-
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.