IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER BAG MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre François Prudent Pérès, of Paris, in the
Department of the Seine, and Republic of France, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER BAG MAKING MACHINES."-A commu-
nication from Bernard Douce, residing at Constantinople, in the
Ottoman Empire.
Scaled the 5th December 1874, and dated the 29th September 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Pierre François Prudent
Pérès at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition and Declaration, on the 29th September 1874, pursuant
to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
FRANÇOIS PRUDENT PÉRÈS, of Paris, in the Department of the Scine,
and Republic of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PAPER BAG MAKING MACHINES," and have made solemn Declaration that
the same is a communication to me from Bernard Douce, a person
resdent at Constantinople, in the Ottoman Empire.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Pierre François Prudent Pérès, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand
and scal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
communicated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, reference being had to the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings and to the figures and letters of reference placed thereon.
This machine constructed to manufacture single or double paper
bags and consequently with great rapidity should to achieve this end
cheaply work with the smallest possible loss of time in the various
operations that the paper must undergo before it becomes a complete
bag, which means that the working must be continuous, and that all
these operations must be simultaneous. Besides the principal parts
about to be described this machine is furnished as essential parts
with,-
1°. A single (india-rubber) endless band X or band of other analo-
gous substance, and being as broad as the paper of the largest bag
possible to be made by the machine, a new and very important result as
regards the relative speed of the working parts.
2°. A second endless band Y, also of india-rubber, and of the breadth
of the largest bag possible to be made by the machine, that is to say, in
breadth somewhat less than half of the first (X).
3°. A series of small bands Z for piling up the finished bags. Suppose
that upon the bands X, Y, driven in continuous movement, a sheet of
paper is placed, sufficiently weighted or pressed upon by a plate of polished
metal, kept in position in suchwise as not to be carried forward, the sheet
of paper will be drawn forward by the band at the same speed, and will
slide under the polished plate. It is upon this principle of adhesion of
the paper on the band, and its gliding under a polished plate bearing on
it, that is based the drawing forward and carriage of the paper for
making the bags.
Transmission of Movement.-The pullies 41 receive by means of a
band the movement of the motor. The shaft on which these pullies arc
mounted communicates its movement by means of toothed wheels to the
drum 19, which itself gives motion to the endless band Y supported by a
series of rollers (20), the height of which is regulated at will in suchwise
that the upper portion of this band presents a plane surface in con-
tinuous motion.

page_text: The band X receives its motion from the roller 11, which by means of
a shaft placed parallel to the machine and of two pair of bevil wheels is
itself driven by the shaft of the drum (19). This band is supported by by
a series of rollers (14) the height of which is regulatedso that the upper
part or portion of this band presents a plane surface having a con-
tinuous motion. The tension of these two bands is given by two rollers
13 and 17. For this purpose these rollers turn freely, cach on an axle
which traverses the machine and may slide in openings formed in the
framing. At each end of the axle is fixed a pinion gearing with a rack
fixed on the framing near the vertical openings.
At the side of each pinion is placed a catch or ratchet wheel which
turns freely on the axle, the ends of which terminate in a square piece
serving by means of a key to turn the axle, and so cause the rollers 13
and 17 to lower to stretch the bands. The tension of the bands, that is
to say, the height of the axle is maintained by the catches, one end of
which enters between two corresponding parts of the racks. The drum
19 carries two cams 39, furnished (according to the machines) with 2, 3,
or 4 points, which passing on to the friction rollers 37 cause the great
levers 36 to oscillate around their axle, communicating to the main
connecting rods 38 a horizontal rectilinial movement which is alternating,
because on each of their connecting rods 38 there is set a spiral spring,
the effect of which is to cause the friction rollers 37 to touch at all
parts the cams 39. Thus according to the number of the points 17 of
the cams, (which may be changed at need) the main connection rods
make for cach revolution of the drum 19, two, three, or four comc-and-
go, rectilinear, horizontal, and alternating movements.
The rectilinear, horizontal, and alternating movements of the con-
necting rods 38 communicate-
1°. To the framing of the series 23 a circular alternating movement
which as has been indicated in the description of this apparatus has the
effect of causing the saws to rise and cut the paper as it passes between
the cross piece m, n. The speed of this circular and alternate movement
at the height of the ends of the teeth of the saws should be exactly the
same as the speed of the paper which the saws cut in their course; it is
precisely this speed, and the course run, which decides the form of the
points of the cams 39. As is explained in the description of the lever
48, as soon as during the oscillating movement of the frame of the saws

page_text: these latter have finished their vertical course and cut the paper, they fall
again to allow the frame to resume its normal or primitive waiting
position, allowing the paper passing between the two cross pieces m, n,
to continue its run until another cut. There is therefore no loss of time
and the enforced stoppage of the paper band in the machines previously
constructed is avoided.
lifting rollers 25 cause the polished plates thereof to rise and lower.
4°. The same movement to the folder 31.
5°. The same movement to the cones 34, which in passing under the
lifting rollers 33 cause the polished plate thereof to rise and fall.
.
6°. A circular alternating movement to the lever 40 which, as shewn in
the description thereof, gives a circular movement to the small roller 21
while out of gear and causes the band Z to advance to a certain degree.
The roller 11 by means of toothed gearing communicates its circular
motion to the drawing roller 5. The office of this last roller is to draw the
paper to the saws; the length of paper which it draws depends entirely
on its speed. As the machine must make many forms of bags, and these
bags being of different lengths, power must be given to vary the speed of
the drawing roller 5. To effect this the roller 11 is fixed on its axle which
carries also a large lever 46, in the socket of which it can freely turn.
On this lever which is held in the most convenient position by a grooved
cramp fixed on the framing, is set a wheel turning freely on its axle,
and gearing with the wheel of the roller 11; on the axle of the draw
roller is placed the wheel which best suits the length of paper which
the roller should supply; the lever 46 is regulated and fixed in suchwise
that the intermediary wheel it carries gears with the wheel which has
been placed in the axle of the drawing wheel.
By quite an analogous arrangement the draw roller 5 communicates
to the draw roller 7 a circular continuous motion, the speed of which
may be varied at will as required the wheel of the roller 7.
Working of the Machine. The paper intended for making bags is
first cut to the required size by a circular shears and roller round

page_text: wooden mandrils, into which a square iron axle is introduced, terminated
by round pins, which are placed in open journals. The two rolls of
paper 1 and 2 are placed on the machine. The roll No. 1 serves to
make the exterior part, as indicated in the Drawing; the roll 1 is
placed just in the middle of the machine, whereas the roll 2 is on one
side, so that the paper of roll 2 in unrolling slightly uncovers the side
of that from roll one.
I would here observe that by dispensing with the roller No. 2 the
machine will manufacture only single bags by a succession of operations
similar to those herein-after set forth.
The paper from roller No. 1 is entered between the two rollers
7 and 8. The movement of these rollers brings the papers under the
saws, which cut them, following the line a, b, d, e, g, and at the same
time make the small oblique cuts or slits b, c, and e, f, (A, Fig. 4).
The papers continue to travel, but so that the upper paper travels with
somewhat less speed than the lower, in order that the end of this latter
may be a little exposed at the moment that the saws are about to
make a fresh cut, the papers continuing to move forward in the same
manner after the passage of the saws come under the folder 24 between
it and the driving band X. This band has a speed in excess of that of
the driving cylinders. This excess of speed has two objects:-
1°. To submit the papers to such a tension as will cause them to
separate at the moment the cut is made.
2°. To keep the sheets at a proper distance apart after the cut.
The folders 24 are set and fixed on the main connecting rods 38 in
such a manner that when a point of the cams 39 passes over the
rollers 37 exactly at the moment the cut is made, the edge of the plate
of the folder corresponds exactly with the points c, f, of the small
oblique slits of the bottom of the bags.
Previous to the shifting movement of the folder 24, in following the
papers, the ends a, b, and e, g, come over the polished plates of the
lifters 25.
At the moment of the passage of the points of the cams over the
rollers 37 and under the action of the passage of the cones 26 under
the rollers of the lifters 25 the plates of the latter rise, and con-

page_text: sequently uplift the two edges a, b, and e, g. During this movement
the plate of the folder 24 moves forward, accompanying the papers
beneath the plates of the lifters. These combined movements place the
papers so as to form the bottom fold, which is completed directly the
plates of the lifters lower at the same time that the plate of the folder
retires, the papers always continuing to be drawn forward by the
band X, Figure B.
These papers continue to move forward passing
beneath the plates of the lifter 25, which preserve and fix the folds,
and entering under the plate K, L, M, N. Issuing from the plates of
the lifter 25 one of the edges of the paper passes under the roll of the
gummer or paster 27, which lays along its entire length a coating of
paste of a suitable thickness (Fig. C).
The object of not having the two papers exactly alike superposed at
the edge is to permit the pasting roll to deposit the paste at the same
time upon both the papers.
The band y performs the same function as the band X, that is to say,
it carries forward the papers which pass under the plate K, L, M, N,
and under the side folders 29 and 30, which, as set forth in the
description of these pieces, uplifts the sides of the sheets, lowers them
the one upon the other, and pastes them together; the Figures E, F, G, 2
represent the various phases of this operation.
The sheets now brought into the form of a tube, continuing their
journey, come under the back folder 31, which is set and fixed upon
the main connecting rods 38, in such wise that when a point of the
cams 39 passes over the rollers 37, the edge of the plate corresponds
exactly with the ends e, f, of the small oblique slits at the bottom of
the bag.
Before the folder 31 effects its shifting movement in accompanying
the paper tube the end b, d, e, comes over the plate of the lifter 33.
The paster 32 is itself so set and fixed that the plate of the lifter 33
in rising comes so close as almost to touch the small cylinder charged
with the paste.
At the moment of the passage of the points of the cams 39 over the
rollers 37 and under the action of the passage of the cones 34 under
the rollers of the lifter 33, the plate of this latter rises and consequently
uplifts the end b, d, e.
During this movement the plate of the

page_text: folder 31 moves forward, accompanying the paper tube beneath the
plate of the lifter. These combined movements place the paper tube so
as to form the bottom fold, which is completed directly the plate of the
lifter lowers at the same time that the plate of the folder retires, the
paper tube continuing to be carried forward by the band Y. During
the lowering of the plate of the lifter, which itself causes the lowering
of the edge b, d, e, this edge by rubbing on the small cylinder of the
paster coats itself with paste, so that when the fold is well formed this
edge is itself pasted, and the bag is completed.
The object of not superposing exactly the two papers at the edge
b, d, e, is that the edge of the two papers may be coated with paste by
rubbing against the cylinder of the paster. The bags are nevertheless
made to pass under the grating 35, the object of which is to press upon
the pasted edges and to ensure this pasting by driving the paste to the
parts which might be without. The bags which are thus entirely
completed then go on to the small bands Z, where they pile.
Shape of the Bags.-The profile or section a, b, d, e, y, has been
adopted for the cut of the paper in order to provide a curve upon one of
the edges of the top part of the bag, which curve greatly facilitates the
opening of the bag, it never being to blow upon the two edges of the bag
in order to separate them, as happens with bags in which the edges are
on the same level.
The profile instead of being formed of straight lined parts might
equally well be composed of curved lines and straight lines, upon
condition that one of the top edges of the bag be lower than the other
edge in one or several of these parts.
As the same cut of the saw makes at the same time the top part of
one bag and the lower part of the following one the section of the cut
is the same, but reversed at the two ends of the sheet which is to form
the bag, so that there is no loss of paper.
The obliquity of the small slits b, c, and e, f, has for object to free
the ends b, c, of the part which is last pasted, so that in case of
imperfection in the folding or the pasting the two points b, e, never
pass beyond the breadth of the bag, which would expose it to the chance
of being torn or unpasted. As the corresponding oblique parts are
folded within the bag there is no loss of paper, and further these small

page_text: It will be apparent from the above description that the movement of
the machine, and consequently that of the bands and of the paper which
they carry along, is continuous, so that the bags in their various stages
of manufacture follow each other at a very slight interval and without
interruption, cach undergoing in its passage the operation undergone
by that which precedes it in the order above set forth; thus when the
machine is working all the operations are simultaneous.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING Two SHEETS OF DRAWING,
upon which the same letters and numerals indicate the same parts in
each of the Figures respectively.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a top plan view of a machine embodying this
Invention; Figure 2 (Sheet 2), a side elevation of same; Figure 3
(Sheet 2) illustrates the unwinding of the paper and the arrangement
of the rollers and bands; and Figure 4 (Sheet 1) shows the process of
both single and double bags through the machine.
In Figure 4 (Sheet 1), which shows single and double bags as the
appear in the machine during the various operations which they undergo
in the course of their manufacture.
A indicates paper unrolling and cut at its passage beneath the saw; B,
(Sheet 1), the sides g, h, and g, 1, of which are folded to form the
bottom of the bag; C, the same passing under the side paster, which
deposits paste on the edge g, 1; D, the same, having the edge a, b, half
raised, and the other edge g, 1, beginning to rise; E, the same having
the edge a, h, nearly closed and the other edge g, 1, beginning to close;
F, bag with the two sides closed; G, the same continuing its journey;
H, the same, with the bottom b, d, e, raised and then brought down
after having coated itself with paste during the operation; I, bags
finished and continuing their journey; J; bags piling at the end of the
machine.
The unrolling of the paper and the arrangement of the roller and
bands is particularly shown, Figure 3 (Sheet 2); 1 indicating a roll of

page_text: 3, rollers which pass the paper from the roller 1, their object being
to stretch this paper; 4, rollers over which passes the paper from
roller 2, and having for object to keep this paper stretched; 5 and 6,
drawing and delivery rollers serving to bring the paper from roller 2
to the saw; 9 and 10, drawing and delivering rollers upholding the
paper from roller 1 to bring it to the saw; 11 and 12, driving
rollers of the band X; 13, tension roller of band X; 14, rollers sup-
porting the band X; 15 and 16, driving rollers of band y; 17,
stretching roller of the band y; 18, supporting roller of band y; 19,
drum driving the main band y; 20, rollers supporting the band
and 22, rollers of the small band z acting as receiver.
y; 21
Figures 1 and 2 (Sheet I. and II.) of the machine for manufacturing
single and double paper bags in a continuous and of the principal
parts composing this machine.
23. Saw. This saw is composed of a frame oscillating around the
pivot V and composed of two rods q fixed upon three cross pieces
m, n, o, and of a fourth p sliding easily upon the rods 9, and carrying
at the side a saw blade, the ends of the teeth of which reach the
level of the upper part of the cross piece n. Besides the saw blade
which it carries at the side the cross piece p also carries at its upper
part two small transverse saws, the ends of the teeth of which reach
the level of the top of the cross piece n.
These two small saws placed
obliquely pass into correspond slits made in the two cross pieces m, n,
and they are so arranged that they may be brought closer together or
set further apart according to requirements. The cross piece q also
carries a rod t sliding easily in the cross piece o and resting thereupon.
Upon the rod t is fixed a socket having on each side a small almond
shaped cam r. Assuming that the upper part of the frame is drawn
towards the fly wheel of the machine the frame will oscillate around the
pivot v, the small cam » in meeting the abutments s will raise the rod t,
therefore the cross piece p, and consequently the saws, which at this
moment will cut the paper passing between the two cross pieces, which
are a fixed distance apart, and by the weight of the entire apparatus m, n,
will come down again sharply directly the cams no longer touch the
abutments.

page_text: 24. Front Folder.-This apparatus is composed of a plate of polished
metal fixed upon an iron bar carrying two vertical pieces working easily
in a cross piece fixed on the two connecting rods 38. The position of
this cross piece is regulated according to requirement. Between this
cross piece and the filling of the polished plate is placed a flat spring,
the effect of which is to make the polished plate press sufficiently upon
the paper passing between it and the band X.
25. Front Lifter. This apparatus is composed of two polished metal
plates, each fixed upon a support through which pass a round rod having
a roller at each end. Each of these supports carries a rod perpendicular
to that carrying the rollers, and which fits into a socket fixed on the
axle crossing the machine, and which may oscillate freely on its axles.
The rods passing through the supports, and the sockets being fixed by.
adjusting screws, the polished plates may be brought closer together
or set farther apart, or their position in the direction of the length of
the machine be raised at pleasure.
26. Cones. Set according to requirements, fixed upon the connecting
rods 38, and serving during the shifting movement of these connecting
rods to raise the rollers and consequently the plates of the lifter.
27. Side Paster. It is composed of a copper or tinned iron casc or
box, in which moves a roll, the axle of which carries a wheel gearing
with another wheel fixed on the roller 15. The box being filled with
thick paste the roll in turning charges itself with paste and deposits it
upon the paper made to pass beneath it. A hatch worked by a screw
regulates at pleasure the passage of the paste between it and the roll,
and consequently the quantity of paste it is desired to use.
28. Bar. Serving to regulate and fix the plate of polished metal
which serves to make the interior of the bags. This bar passes into the
cages of the cross pieces e, a, in which it is regulated at pleasure and
fixed by screws. It carries, fixed to one of its ends, a spring y carrying
a projection entering into the hole of a small block fixed on the polished
plate. The other end of the bar carries a screw which also takes into
the hole of the support of the polished plate. Between the bar and the
support of the polished plate are placed springs, the object, like that of
the spring y, is to cause the polished plate to press sufficiently upon the
paper passing between it and the band v.

page_text: 29 and 30. Side Folders.-These folders are composed of three parts.
1°. The fixed part, which may be of wood, or better of metal. This
fixed part is represented by a bar having holdfasts, with slide to fix them
as required. The end near the side paster is almost cutting, and follows
an inclined planc uniting by a curve with a vertical part, following
which is a helicoidal part joining to a horizontal plane placed above the
plate of polished metal. The inclined plane lifts the two sides of the
sheet, which passing along the vertical part reach the same vertical
position, and these same sides in passing under the helicoidal part reachi
and progressively occupy a horizontal position. 2°. The horizontal part
is terminated by flexible blades which exactly follow, it form spring and
press it sufficiently upon the paper passing between them and the band y
to well form and fix the folds of the two sides. 3°. The two blades 30,
which may be set, regulated, and fixed at pleasure, have for object
to set the one upon the other in the direction of the length of the
bag the two parts which are to be pasted together. The blade cor-
responding with that side of the bag which has no paste is as regards
the journey placed in front of the other blade in order that the
part without paste may be completely brought down before the pasted.
side in such wise that this latter comes down on to the first, upon
'which it pastes itself.
31. Back Folder.-Composed of a curved plate of polished metal,
resting by one of its ends and by its own weight either upon the band y
or upon the bags passing beneath it, its other end terminated by a fitting
carrying two hooks catching upon a rod, which is set and secured at
pleasure by the two connecting rods 38, so that the whole of the folder
may oscillate around this rod.
32. Back Paster.-It is composed of a copper or tinned iron case or
box, which is filled with thick paste, and at the bottom of which is a
small roller, which in revolving charges itself with paste. The supply
of paste is regulated by screws working picces placed on each side of the
box, which picces act as bearings for the small roller and permit its
being brought closer to or retired from the edges of the opening at the
bottom of the box, consequently regulating at will the passage and
therefore the supply of paste.
33. Back Lifter.-This apparatus is composed of a plate of polished
metal fixed upon a support to which, placed crosswise in relation to the

page_text: 48. Small forked lever, which may oscillate around the axle a, and
the other end of which rests upon a fixed cross piece b. This lever
carries two small round abutments s, upon which pass during the
oscillation two small almond-shaped cams r. When this frame comes
back to the place indicated on the Drawing, the small cams r catch
the bottom of the abutments s and lift the small lever 48, which
falls again directly the cams no longer touch the abutments. This
lever as will have been seen is loose in one direction. The object
of this arrangement is to keep the saws from rising again when they
have made their cut; K, L, M, N, plate of polished steel of the breadth
of the bags, and seving to guide the paper and form the inside of
the bags.
To sum up what I particularly claim as of this Invention and desire
to secure by Letters Patent is,―
1°. The forward movement of the paper, produced by the adhesion of
this paper upon two india-rubber bands.
2°. The simultaneousness of the various operations and continuity of
the working without any interruption.
3°. The power of producing in the same machine either single or
double bags at pleasure.
4. The cut of the paper while in motion.
.5°. The special shape given to the bags to facilitate their opening.
6°. The manufacture without any loss of paper.
7°. The general arrangement of the various parts of the machine,
reserving however the right to modify them according to the require-
ments of their construction or of their production.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre François Prudent Pérès,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.
6°. The manufacture without any loss of paper.
7°. The general arrangement of the various parts of the machine,
reserving however the right to modify them according to the require-
ments of their construction or of their production.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre François Prudent Pérès,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.