IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Lewis Daltry, of the City and County of the
City of Bristol, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS."
ealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 23rd April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Lewis Daltry at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd April 1877.
"
THOMAS LEWIS DALTRY, of the City and County of the City of Bristol, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
BAGS."
The object of my present Invention is, by improved machinery or apparatus, to
make square flat-bottomed paper bags more rapidly and perfectly than heretofore,
and thereby to cheapen their production.
In carrying out my said Invention I use a mould plate,' of about the same outline
or shape as would be employed for making the same sized bag by hand, which plate
I mount upon a frame or carriage having two parallel sides which slide in guides
and are held rigidly apart by a cross piece, to the middle of which cross piece the
said mould plate is attached by its back end, so that the axis of such plate is in
the line of motion of the carriage. The front end of the said mould plate, that is,
the end over which the bottom of the bag is formed, is thus left free all around.
The carriage, with the mould plate, is caused to reciprocate horizontally by levers
actuated by a cam fixed to the driving shaft.
When the mould plate is at the beginning of its stroke it is immediately over a
table, along which is cut a broad, shallow groove of slightly greater width than the
said plate. This table moves vertically, and its motion is arrested when the bottom
of the said grooves reaches the under side of the mould plate. In the higher sides
of the said table are recessed inclines down which work rollers and fingers, suitably
guided and actuated by cams or other equivalent means. The mould plate is
slotted longitudinally, and in such slot a spear works, the front part of which spear
completing the outline of the plate. In the said spear a narrower longitudinal slot
is formed, across which is a piece of catgut which, passing through two holes, is
finally coiled upon and kept in tension by a spring drum or other suitable means,
[Price fid

page_text: This catgut is caught up by a hook which, for that purpose, enters the slot in the
spear.
Instead of the book and catgut a finger may be employed, in which case the slot
in the spear may be dispensed with.
•
For the double purpose of providing a sharp edge over which to open out the
bottom of the bag, and for withdrawing the bag when finished, I use a plate, called
the withdrawing plate, which may be swung or slided to the proper position on the
under side of the mould plate.
Further, on each of the sides of the carriage and at right angles thereto I provide
boxes, carrying spindles capable of rotating and also of moving end wise. These
boxes I name 'fork boxes,' and to the inner ends of the spindles, called fork
spindles, forks with two prongs are secured. These spindles, with their forks, are
actuated by pinions and quadrants or other equivalent gear.
Slightly in advance of the mould plate when the latter is in its initial position
are two folders, the requisite pressure being imparted by springs; these folders
may revolve, reciprocate, or remain stationary, each method having its advantages
according to the kind and size of bag manufactured.
Finally, two rollers, driven by belting or other suitable means, are placed in
advance of the said folders and are used for completely withdrawing and finishing
off the bag.
Having described the chief and essential parts of my Invention, I will now
proceed to make the same more clear by describing the process of making a bag.
Premising that the catgut has been picked up by the hook. The paper for the
proposed bag (which may be cut by the machine from off a continuous roll of paper)
is placed upon the table, receives the requisite paste, and is raised to the mould
plate, which when the table reaches the top of its stroke it partially clasps. The
paper is made to completely cover the plate by means of the said fingers and rollers
moving down their respective inclines. The withdrawing plate is swung or slided,
so as to hold the paper between it and the mould plate which now begins to travel.
At this stage the bottom of the bag is opened out flat by the catgut, actuated by
the hook acting in conjunction with the folders, The catgut, as the plate advances,
slips off the hook and is drawn into the bag.
A finger suitably shaped and properly moved may also be used in conjunction
with the folders for opening and shaping the bottom of the bag. The square
formation of the bag bottom being thus obtained, the spear slips back, being
actuated by a spring or other suitable means, and the forks advance from their
respective boxes until the front and back corners of the bottom are between the
prongs; as the forks rotate or turn, the corners of the bag bottom get doubled up,
paste being applied during the operation or before it. After the forks have receded
to their boxes the withdrawing plate is advanced and pushes the end of the
bag between the rollers, which withdraws it from the mould plate and completes
the manufacture of the bag. The carriage now commences its return stroke for
another operation, and so on continuously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Lewis Daltry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
October 1877.
THOMAS LEWIS DALTRY, of the City and County of the City of Bristol, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
BAGS."
The object of my present Invention is, by improved machinery or apparatus,
to make square flat-bottomed paper bags from sheets of paper more rapidly and
perfectly than heretofore.

page_text: In order that my said Invention may be more fully and more clearly understood
and be more readily performed, I now proceed to explain the same with the aid of
the accompanying Two Sheets of Drawings which form part of this Specification,
reference being made thereto by the numerals and letters marked thereon, and
which reference applies to each figure of the said Drawings where the same index
numerals and letters appear.
Figure 1 is a general plan of my said machinery, showing the compound mould
plate, feeding table, folding plates and rollers, folders for making the first formation
of bottom of bag, withdrawing rollers, fork boxes, and the general mechanism for
actuating the whole.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, shewing the quadrants for revolving the forks, levers
for actuating the carriage and cam, levers for giving a rising and falling motion
to the feeding table and also to the hook, and the arrangement whereby the top
plate is slidden on the bottom one.
Figures 3 and 4 are a plan and sectional elevation respectively, shewing the
construction of my improved compound mould plate, the upper one being substituted
for a spear.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the front or feeding end of the said machine, shewing
the grooved feeding table with the pieces or platforms that support the paper over
the groove, the withdrawing plate, and guides for folding plates and roller, also the
levers for actuating them.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the back end of the said machine, shewing the
arrangements whereby the various shafts and spindles of the machine are driven
from the main shaft.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal and partly sectional elevation through the centre of
the machine on the line C, D, Figure 1, shewing the arrangement for pasting the
corners of the bag bottom, the withdrawing plate and mechanism in connection.
therewith, the hook for opening out the bag bottom with the cam and lever for
actuating it, the spring drum whereby a constant tension is maintained in the
catgut, and also the bottom folders.
Figure 8 is a section of one of the fork boxes on the line E, F, Figure 1,
shewing the pinions whereby the fork is caused to advance or recede and also to
revolve.
Figure 9 is a plan of the bottom mould plate.
Figure 10 shews the bag with its bottom opened out and folded down.
Figure 11 shews the bag as completed.
A is the frame constructed of any suitable material, and B are the guides in
which the carriage b reciprocates longitudinally; a is the main shaft which receives
its motion from a strap or belt in the usual way; α, is a cam secured to the shaft a,
which by means of the lever a, and rocking shaft a, actuates the levers a₁, and
causes the carriage b to reciprocate it its guides. On the carriage b is mounted the
compound mould plate c, composed of two metal plates, tapered in thickness towards
the points thereof; the bottom one of which plates c (see Figure 9) is secured to
the carriage b while the top one slides upon the said bottom one, actuated by the
spring c, and the levers c, and c, the motion being imparted by the bowl c, rolling
along a suitable rail o; the table d, fixed on the bracket d', is raised or lowered
in the guides d₁ by the lever d, and cam d; the rollers e and finger plates e₁, fixed
on spindles which work in and are guided by the slots in the girders & are
employed to fold the bags longitudinally. These fingers and roller are moved by
the levers e,, which are secured to shafts e, which again are simultaneously worked
by the cam e, lever &,, counterweight e,, and toothed sectors e.. The withdrawing
plate f is secured to an arm on the hollow spindle g; this spindle is capable of
working end ways in its bearings, which are in lugs cast on the carriage b. The
bowl on lever g³ works on a suitably shaped rail; when it runs down the incline
on such rail the forked lever g, advances the spindle g, and against the pressure of
the spiral spring 9, placed on it. The spindle g is hollow and slides on a shaft g.,
which shaft is grooved longitudinally for the reception of a key fixed in spindle g,

page_text: so that when the shaft g, is caused to revolve through an arc of a circle by the
instrumentality of the belt pullies g, and g, the withdrawing plate f is brought into
contact with the under side of the mould plate c; the pulley g, is on the same
spindle as the crank lever g, the bowl of which works in the groove of cam g
The fork boxes h and I, secured to the sides of the carriage b, carry respectively
the mechanism for turning over the front and back corners of the bag, a description
of the one applies to the other in Figure 8; the spindle k., carrying the fork is
grooved so that the pinion k, when made to revolve by the shaft k, causes it to
advance or emerge from the box; the shaft k, has an intermittent motion given to
it by the belt pullies k, and ka, which again are operated by the cams kr. The
spindles in the fork boxes h and are caused to revolve through suitable arcs by
means of quadrants m gearing into the pinions m₁; the quadrants m themselves
being actuated by the bowls m, on levers m,, working longitudinally in channels m
when carried along them by the motion of the carriage b. The folders n are placed
on the top of the plugs n₁, and are pressed upwards by the elastic bands n₁, a
variable pressure is thus provided for folding the paper. A piece of string o, of
suitablo material, such as catgut, is coiled upon and kept in tension by the spring
drum 01, and after passing through holes in mould plate c is received, as shewn, on
the hook 8; this hook 8 has a suitable up-and-down motion imparted to it by the
cam s, and lever 8. The paste for pasting the corners of the bag bottom is con-
tained in a trough t, see Figures 1 and 7; the brush t, is shewn upwards in Figure 7
as if in the operation of pasting; it is mounted on a short horizontal spindle t₁,
which slides vertically in guides to. This vertical motion is given to the brush to by
the lever to worked by a cam ty on the main shaft a. A small pinion t working
in a rack to, and on the same spindle t, as the brush to, causes it to dip into the
paste when at the bottom of its stroke, but as such brush is lifted from the
trough it is turned upwards, as shewn.
For withdrawing the bag the rollers p, driven by a band from a pulley P₁ on
shaft a, deposit the bag on table r, sec Figure 7.
The operation for making a bag is as follows:-Premising that the carriage bis
at its initial position, as shown, and that the string o is on the hook 8. The sheet
of paper, to which paste has been properly applied along two of its edges either by
hand or by a suitable apparatus, is placed pasted side upwards on the table d; this
table now rises, as described, until the bottom of its groove comes into contact with
the under side of mould plate c; in this process the platforms v, supported on india-
rubber bands v, stretched across the said groove, are depressed to the bottom of
such groove. The sheet of paper by the action of the sides of the groove is partly
doubled over the edges of the plate c, and is wholly folded by the finger plates &
and roller e working down inclines in the sides of the table d; this table is now
lowered, and at the same time the withdrawing plate fis swung upwards to the
under side of the mould plate c and therefore of the paper. The carriage b now
commences its advance, actuated by the levers 4, and at the same time the hook s
descends, carrying with it the string o which opens the forward end of the bag over
the point of the plate c, the forward edge of withdrawing plate of serving as a
creaser of the bag or paper. When the point of mould plate c has advanced to near
the folders n the string o slips off the hooks and is withdrawn inside the bag,
leaving the fold to be completed by the folders n; the bag is now in the condition
shewn in Figure 10. The carriage b and mould plate c still advancing bring the
point of mould plate c over the brush to which at this instant applies paste to the
front corner of the bag; by this time also the fork from box / has emerged and has
the front. corner of the bag between its prongs. The further advance of the
carriage b causes the fork spindle in box h to turn in its box, as before described,
and thus the corner of the bag is doubled over. Before this is done the top plate c
is drawn backward by the spring c₁, when the bowl c, passes down an incline on
its rail c
The paste is now applied to the back corner of the bag, which is then
turned over by the fork from box k. At this period the mould plate c is almost
immediately in front of the rollers p, and the two forks having been withdrawn

page_text: into their boxes h, k, by the action of the cams ky and h, and as the carriage b still
advances the bowl g₂, rolling down an incline on rail go, forces the spindle g end-
ways and with it the withdrawing plate f, which therefore introduces the forward
and completed end of the bag between the rollers p which completes its withdrawal
from plate c. The withdrawing plate f is now swung downwards by the cam 97, and
the carriage b makes its return stroke, during which the string o is picked up by
the hooks ready for another operation, and so on.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details now illustrated and described, providing the
means employed in making paper bags are substantially the same; for instance,
the girders e, may be secured to the carriage b so as to move along with it, and also
carry the folding roller c and plates e,; and the folders n instead of being stationary,
as described, may revolve or reciprocate; further, instead of the hook 8 and string o
for opening out the bottom of a bag, a finger, having a suitable motion, may be
employed for the same purpose; also the mould plate c instead of being moveable
may with its carriage be fixed to the frame A, and a horizontal reciprocating
motion be given to the hook 8, folders n, brush t, and rollers p; but I claim as my
Invention, and desire to secure by the before-mentioned in part recited Letters
Patent,-
Firstly. The grooved feeding table, with its platforms, for supporting the paper
over such groove, and working in conjunction with folding rollers and plates.
Secondly. The withdrawing plate or creaser, actuated as described.
Thirdly. The compound tapered mould plate.
Fourthly. The hook and string arrangement for opening out the bottom of
the bag.
Fifthly. The application of forks for turning over the corners of the bags, and the
mechanism employed to actuate them.
Sixthly. The arrangement for pasting the corners of the bags; each and all
substantially as herein described and shown in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Lewis Daltry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THOS T TATTDV
THOS L. DALTRY. (L.5.)