IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lyle Nelson, of Lombard Street, in the City of London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS."
A communication from abroad by George H. Mallary, of New York City, in
the County and State of New York, in the United States of America,
Sealed the 24th May 1878, and dated the 27th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lyle Nelson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1877.
<s
LYLE NELSON, of Lombard Street, in the City of London. IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS." (A communication from abroad by George
H. Mallary, of New York City, in the County and State of New York, in the
United States of America.)
The object of this Invention is to form from a continuous strip of paper a
succession of paper bags, the width of the bags being determined by folding the
said strip of paper, and the length of the bags by the length of paper cut off
from the strip; also, after cutting and folding the paper, closing the end and side
seams by pasting.
The construction of the machine is as follows:-Upon two frames of iron or
other suitable material are attached the working parts of the machine. At
the front end of the machine is a pasting device for applying the paste to the
side of the strip of paper as it is drawn into the machine by feeding rolls. The
top feed roll is made shorter than the lower one for the purpose of allowing the
pasted portions of the paper to pass through them without being disturbed. These
feed rolls are driven by gearing, and are geared together by spur wheels, which
prevent the surfaces of the rolls from slipping upon each other.
A bevel wheel and
pinion drive the feed rolls, and are changeable for each length of bag inade by
the machine.
A full revolution of the lower feed roll is necessary to make the longest bags,
and for shorter bags a partial revolution only is required. A cam shaft through
bevel gear drives two inclined shafts, which I will call for distinction V and V.
Dains 071

page_text: The shaft V by bevel gear controls the motions of the feed rolls, and the operation
of the side pasting box and the shaft V₁ by means of bevel and spur gearing at its
upper end operates a feeding belt, and the bottom or end folding and pasting
apparatus, and also the finishing and discharge rolls of the machine. A pinion on
a short shaft or stud which connects with a spur wheel on the cam shaft is driven
by another pulley which thus communicates motion to the entire machine. One
cam (I will call it G) on the cam shaft is correctly shaped to give a variable
reciprocating movement to the knife carriage, and governs the proper action of the
cutting knife. This knife is for cutting the paper, and its action is controlled by
two cams, which I will call them for distinction E, E, on the cam shaft acting on
suitable levers and links and by springs for raising the knife after cutting off.
The sliding carriage for carrying the knife is operated by the cam G through a
rocker shaft, arms, and links; and as the machine commences the formation of a
bag the knife carriage starts from a state of rest, and gradually increases its speed
until it has the same speed as the paper to be cut, when the knife is caused to
descend and cut off the paper by the action of the cams E, E, and intermediate
parts, and from the point of cut-off to the end of its forward motion the knife
carriage moves with a gradually decreasing speed. It is important that on the
return movement of the carriage it shall have a gradually increasing and decreasing
speed at the extreme limits of its motion.
The paper is guided to the folders by means of gauge pieces and a belt; these
gauge pieces are formed of thin spring steel, and are placed at a distance apart
.corresponding to the width of the bag being folded, and extend from a point near
the knife to near the rear roll which operates the feed belt, and serves to press the
paper firmly to the surface of the belt. The friction produced by this pressure
causes the motion of the said belt to carry the piece of paper of which the bag is
to be formed toward the rear end of the machine, where it is folded and pasted to
form the end of the bag.
Scroll folding pieces, formed of any suitable material, are secured to the stationary
table or bed of the machine at a distance apart corresponding to the width of the
bag to be made.
Those portions of the folders nearest the knife, and which first act on the paper
to fold the same, are enlarged gradually and vertically with a gradually expanding
twist, so that when the sheet of paper is drawn under them by the feed belt the
-sides or edges of the said sheet will be gradually folded over, and laid down under-
neath the lips of the folders, and carried onward to the end or bottom folder and paster.
The lips of the folders are formed on the edges of the folders by grooving out
their under inside surfaces, and continue to their farthest ends. These lips act
with the stationary gauge pieces to hold and guide the folded paper as it passes
around the gauge pieces between the said lips and the travelling feed belt, sufficient
space being provided between the said lips and belt to permit the introduction
of the gauge pieces and the passage around the latter of the two thicknesses of
paper necessary to the formation of the bag. The folding pieces are made to fold
the paper right and left, and the right-hand one is placed further from the knife
than the left-hand one, so that the pasted edge may be turned or folded last. The
feed belt has a continuous motion in one direction by means of its rollers, which
are driven by intermediate gearing from the cam shaft.
The speed of the feed belt is slightly in excess of the paper coming from the feed
rolls so as to slightly separate the bags before reaching the end paste box, which I
will call for distinction A¹
The feed belt between its end rolls is supported by a number of small rolls.
Some of these small rolls are secured to the table of the machine and a few nearest
the knife are attached to a swinging frame as is also one of the feed belt rolls.
To the swinging frame is attached an arm having a roller attached at one end
which rolls on a cam, which I will, for distinction, call I, which latter is fixed
between the cams E, E, on the cam shaft.
By means of the cam I, swinging frame, and intermediate parts, one of the end

page_text: rollers of the feed belt, also the feed belt itself, are lowered from the paper at the
proper time to allow the paper to enter between the said belt and the gauge pieces,
and also at the proper time raises against the paper to carry it through the
folders to the end folder and paste box A¹.
The paste box A' is constructed so as to revolve about a fixed centre, and is
operated by a train of gearing connecting it with the cam shaft. On one side of
this paste box is attached a creasing knife, so adjusted that as the paste box A¹
revolves, and with it the creasing knife, the edge of the latter comes in contact with
an elastic rubber roll secured to the table of the machine under the paste box A¹
The relation between the creaser and the elastic roll is such that when they meet
the said creasing knife is forced slightly into the elastic roll, and the paper passing
between them is creased or folded. Immediately following the creasing knife, and
attached to the paste box A¹ is a small roll of any suitable material projecting into
the interior of the said paste box. On one end of this roll is a milled piece which, as
the paste box A¹ revolves comes in contact with a stationary frictional surface of
the leather or other material attached to the table of the machine and turns the
small roll part of a revolution in order to bring fresh paste with which to seal the
next bag.
To the side of the revolving paste box A¹, and opposite to the creasing knife is a
segmental frictional piece rigidly attached, and so formed that as the paste box
revolves the said piece has a sufficient frictional contact with the paper to feed
through a short bag that would not reach between the rolls at the respective sides
of the paste box.
A sliding gate introduced between the said segmental frictional piece, and the
revolving paste box A¹ is provided with two vertical slots, through which the bodies
of screws pass into the front side of the said paste box A¹, and firmly hold the said
gate to the said box A'. This gate acts to govern the supply of paste from an
opening in the bottom of the box A¹ to the small paste roll herein-before described.
Upon loosening the screws just referred to and turning the milled heads of two
other screws the lower ends of which latter are attached to the gate, the lower
edge of the said gate can be made to advance and recede to and from the paste roll,
and the supply of paste to the latter may thus be accurately regulated, after
which operation the screws first named can again be tightened.
Between the creasing knife and the side of the paste box A' is a thin plate or bar,
somewhat longer than the creasing knife, and having at each end, near the table, a
pin working into grooved pieces, the grooves in which are nearly parallel to the
table. When the said pins pass out of the grooved pieces the thin plate or bar is
brought back to its first position by means of suitable springs, the thin plate or bar
acts to remove the end of the bag from the paste roll after the end of the bag has
been pasted, and insures the entering of the bag between the rolls at the rear end
of the machine.
Connected with the revolving paste box A¹, and at the end opposite to the gearing,
is a reservoir which supplies the paste to the said paste box. This reservoir is
attached to a standard, and between it and said standard is placed a sliding
piece or valve, by which the supply of paste through a hollow journal or bearing to
the paste box may be shut off when desired. The object of the reservoir is to feed
the paste to the revolving paste box A¹ under pressure, keep the latter constantly
filled, and thus always ensure an even distribution of the paste over the entire
length of the paste roll, and consequently over the lap of the bag being formed; it
would be impossible to thus evenly distribute the paste without the pressure from
the reservoir upon a full revolving paste box A¹, as were the latter itself only filled
on starting the machine the paste could not be drawn therefrom by the paste roll.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The paper being wound upon a
reel, and placed in some convenient position in relation to the machine, the end of
the roll of paper is passed to the front end of the machine and under the side paster.
The side paster deposits a line of paste near the right-hand edge of the paper, which

page_text: is then passed on to the feeding rolls, and from them delivered to the knife to be
cut into the proper length for the bag.
The length of the paper cut off is determined by the movement of the feeding
rolls during one revolution of the cam shaft, and for each length of bag to be made,
a different set of feed gears is used. The proportion between the said feed gears
determines the inotion of the feed rolls, and consequently the size of the bags. The
paper being cut off that part thereof which is to form the bottom of the bag having
entered between the stationary gauge pieces and the feeding belt, the cam I is in
such a position that it is just ready to raise the swinging frame, feed belt, roller,
and their attachments into position to feed the blank through the scroll folders to
the end folding creasing knife and paste box A'.
Just before reaching the end paste box A¹ the partly formed bag with the side seam
pasted and folded is passed under a presser roll, which rolls the side seam close
together, and creases the side folds of the bag sharply.
The next operation is to form the end of the bag, and the blank is passed between
the revolving creasing knife and the elastic roll, by the combined action of which
the lap at the end of the bag is turned up at about a right angle, and the next
movement of the machine brings the bottom paste roll into position, and the paste
for the end of the bag is deposited thereon.
The next movement of the machine advances the bag to the creasing rolls, and
causes the thin plate or bar to remove the bag from the paste roll by the pins on
said plate or bar entering the grooves in the grooved pieces herein-before mentioned,
and by the action of the parts on each other the thin plate or bar is moved down-
ward in relation to the paste roll, and forces the bag from the said paste roll.
As the machine moves on, the pins on the thin plate or bar pass out of the grooves
in the grooved pieces, and the thin plate or bar is returned to its natural position
by the action of the springs. The bag has now to pass through the outer creasing
rolls, where all the seams and folds are rolled down under pressure, when it will be
completed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Lyle Nelson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th May 1878.
LYLE NELSON, of Lombard Street, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR MAKING PAPER BAGS." (A communication from abroad by George
H. Mallary, of New York City, in the County and State of New York, United States
of America.)
Fig. 8, cross section of revolving paste box.
Fig. 9, longitudinal section of paste box.
Fig. 10, cross section of side folders.
The object of this Invention is to form from a continuous strip of paper a suc-
cession of paper bags, the width of the bags being determined by folding the said
strip of paper, and the length of the bags by the length of paper cut off from the
strip; also, after cutting and folding the paper, closing the end and side seams by
pasting.
The construction of the machine is as follows:-Upon two frames A, A, of iron
or other suitable material are attached the working parts of the machine. At the
front end of the machine, as shewn at B, Fig. 1, is a pasting device for applying the
paste to the side of the strip of paper as it is drawn into the machine by the feeding
rolls C, C. These feed rolls are shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. It will be noticed that
the top roll C is made shorter than the lower one for the purpose of allowing the
pasted portion of the paper to pass through them without being disturbed. These
feed rolls C and Care driven by gearing, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3.
The spur
gears c, c, prevent the surfaces of the rolls C, C', from slipping upon each other.
The bevel gear C' and pinion c² drive the feed rolls, and are changeable for each
length of bag made by the machine.
A full revolution of the lower feed roll C¹ is necessary to make the longest bags,
and for shorter bags a partial revolution only is required.
On the cam shaft F is fixed a bevel gear F', which drives into bevel pinions f. f
which latter drive inclined shafts Vaud V. The shaft V by bevel gear c¹ and c²
controls the motions of the feed rolls C and C³, and the operation of the side pasting
box B, and the shaft V, by means of bevel and spur gears at its upper end, operates
the feeding belt J, and the bottom or end folding and pasting apparatus, and also the
finishing and discharge rolls of the machine. The pinion U on a short shaft or stud u
which connects with the spur gear U₁, is driven by the pulley W, which thus com-
municates motion to the entire machine. The cam G on the shaft F is correctly
shaped to give a variable reciprocating movement to the knife carriage D, and
governs the
proper action of the cutting knife D'; this knife D' for cutting the paper
is shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, and its action is controlled by the cams E, E, on the shaft
F acting on the levers d' and links d², and the springs & for raising the knife after
cutting off.
The sliding carriage D for carrying the knife D' is operated by the cam G, rocker
shaft e', arms e², and links d², and as the machine commences the formation of a
bag, the knife carriage D starts from a state of rest, and gradually, increases its
speed until it has the same speed as the paper to be cut, when the knife D'is caused
to descend and cut off the paper by the action of the cams E, E, and intermediate
parts, and from the point of cut-off to the end of its forward motion, the knife
carriage Domoves with a gradually decreasing speed. It is important that on the
return movement of the carriage D it shall have a gradually increasing and de-
creasing speed at the extreme limits of its motion.

page_text: The paper is guided to the folders K, K, by means of gauge pieces H, H, and the
belt J. These pieces H, H, are formed of thin spring steel, and are placed at a
distance apart corresponding to the width of the bag being folded, and extend from
a point near the knife to near the rear roll M¹, which operates the feed belt J, and
serves to press the paper firmly to the surface of the belt J. The friction produced
by this pressure causes the motion of the said belt to carry the piece of paper of
which the bag is to be formed toward the rear of the machine, where it is folded
and pasted to form the end of the bag.
The scroll-folding pieces K, K, are formed of any suitable material, and are
secured to the stationary table or bed L of the machine at a distance apart corres-
ponding to the width of the bag to be made.
Those portions of the folders K nearest the knife D¹, and which first act on the
paper to fold the same, are enlarged gradually and vertically with a gradually ex-
panding twist, so that when the sheet of paper is drawn under them by the belt J,
the sides or edges of said sheet will be gradually folded over and laid down under-
neath the lips k of the folders, and carried onward to the end or bottom folder and
paster.
These lips are formed on the edges of the folders K by grooving out their under
inside surfaces, and continue to their farthest ends. These lips act with
the stationary gauge pieces H, H, to hold and guide the folded paper as it passes
around H, H, between said lips h, k, and the travelling belt J, sufficient space being
provided between said lips and belt to permit the introduction of the gauge pieces
H, H, and the passage around the latter of two thicknesses of paper necessary to
the formation of the bag. These folding pieces K, K, are made to fold the paper
right and left, and the right-hand one is placed further from the knife than the left-
hand one, so that the pasted edge may be turned or folded last. The feed belt J
has a continuous motion in one direction by means of the rollers M and M', which
are driven by intermediate gearing from the cam shaft F.
The speed of feed belt J is slightly in excess of the paper coming from the
feed rolls C, C¹, so as to slightly separate the bags before reaching the end paste
box A¹.
The feed belt between the rolls M. and M¹ is supported by a number of small
rolls m, m.
Some of these small rolls m are secured to the table L, and a few
nearest the knife are attached to the swinging frame P, as is also one of the belt
rolls M.
To the swinging frame P is attached an arm p, having a roller pl attached at one
end, which rolls on the cam I, which latter is fixed to the shaft F.
By means of the cam I, swinging frame P, and intermediate parts, the roller M
and feed belt J are lowered from the paper at the proper time to allow the paper to
enter between the said belt J and the gauge pieces H, H, and also at the proper
time raised against the paper to carry it through the folders K., K, to the end folder
and paste box A¹.
The paste box A' is constructed so as to revolve about a fixed centre, and is
operated by a train of gearing connecting it with the shaft F. On one side of this
paste box is attached a creasing knife a', so adjusted that as the paste box A¹
revolves, and with it the creasing knife a¹, the edge of a' comes in contact with the
elastic rubber roll C2 secured to the table L under the paste box A¹. The relation
between the creaser a¹ and roll C2 is such that when they meet the said creasing
knife a¹ is forced slightly into the rubber roll C, and the paper passing between
them is creased or folded. Immediately following the creasing knife a¹, and
attached to the paste box A', is a small roll a² of any suitable material projecting
into the interior of the said paste box. On one end of this roll a² is a milled
piece a³, which as the paste box A¹ revolves comes in contact with a stationary
frictional surface at, of leather or other material, attached to the table L, and turns
the roll a part of a revolution in order to bring fresh paste with which to seal the
next bag.
To the side of the revolving paste box A¹, and opposite to the creasing knife a²,

page_text: is a segmental frictional piece A² rigidly attached, and so formed that as the paste
box revolves the said piece A2 has a sufficient frictional contact with the paper to
feed through a short bag that would not reach between the rolls N and N.
The sliding gate n, which is introduced between the segment A2 and revolving
paste box A¹, is provided with two vertical slots, through which the body of
screws n pass into the front side of said box A¹ and firmly hold n to A¹. This
gate n acts to govern the supply of paste from an opening in the bottom of the
box A' to the small paste roll a³.
Upon loosening the screws n¹ and turning the milled heads of the two screws n³,
the lower ends of which latter are attached to the gate n, the lower edge of the said
gate can be made to advance and recede to and from the paste roll a³, and the
supply of paste to the latter accurately regulated, after which operation the
screws n can again be tightened.
Between the creasing knife a¹ and the side of the paste box A¹ is a thin plate or
bar 0; somewhat longer than the creasing knife a', and having at each end near the
table a pin working into grooved pieces R, R, the grooves in which are nearly
parallel to the table L. When the pins on piece o pass out of pieces R the piece
o is brought back to its first position by means of springs (not shewn in Drawings).
The piece o acts to remove the end of the bag from the paste roll a² after the end
of the bag has been pasted, and ensures the entering of the bag between the rolls
N and S at the rear end of the machine.
Connected with the revolving paste box A¹, and at the end opposite to the
gearing, is a reservoir B', which supplies the paste to the said paste box. This
reservoir B¹ is attached to a standard b, and between it and said standard is
placed a sliding piece or valve b¹, by which the supply of paste through the hollow
journal or bearing a to the paste box may be shut off when desired. The object of
this reservoir B' is to feed the paste to the revolving paste box A¹ under pressure,
keep the latter constantly filled, and thus always ensure an even distribution of the
paste over the entire length of the paste roll a², and consequently over the lap of
the bag being formed. It would be impossible to thus evenly distribute the paste
without the pressure from the reservoir upon a full revolving paste box A¹, as, were
the latter itself only filled on starting the machine, the paste could not be drawn
therefrom by the paste roll a².
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The paper being wound upon a reel
and placed in some convenient position in relation to the machine, the end of the
roll of paper is passed to the front end of the machine and under the side paster B.
The side paster B deposits a line of paste near the right-hand edge of the paper,
which is then passed on to the feeding rolls C, C³, and from them delivered to the
knife D¹ to be cut into the proper length for the bag.
The length of the paper cut off is determined by the movement of the feeding
rolls C, C, during one revolution of the cam shaft F, and for each length of bag to
be made a different set of feed gears c' and c² are used. The proportion between
the said feed gears determines the motion of the feed rolls C, C³, and consequently
the size of the bags. The paper being cut off, that part thereof which is to form
the bottom of the bag having entered between the pieces H, H, and the feeding
belt J, the cam I is in such a position that it is just ready to raise the swinging
frame P, roller M, and their attachments into position to feed the blank through the
scroll folders K, K, to the end folding creasing knife a¹ and paste box A¹.
Just before reaching the end paste box A¹ the partly formed bag, with the side
seam pasted and folded, is passed under the presser roll N, which rolls the side
seam close together and creases the side folds of the bag sharply.
The next operation is to form the end of the bag, and the blank is passed
between the revolving creasing knife a¹ and the rubber roll C, by the combined
action of which the lap at the end of the bag is turned up at about a right angle,
and the next movement of the machine brings the bottom paste roll a² into position
and the paste for the end of the bag is deposited thereon.
The next movement of the machine advances the bag to the creasing rolls N¹

page_text: and S, and causes the piece o to remove the bag from the paste roll a² by the pins
on piece o entering the grooves in pieces R, R, and by the action of the parts on
each other the piece o is moved downward in relation to the paste roll a³, and forces
the bag from the said paste roll.
As the machine moves on, the pins on piece o pass out of the grooves in R, and
the piece o is returned to its natural position by the action of the springs (not
shewn in Drawings). The bag has now to pass through the outer creasing rolls 8, S,
where all the seams and folds are rolled down under pressure when it will be
completed.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying the same into practical effect, as communicated to me as aforesaid,
I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me under the Letters Patent herein-before in part
recited is,-
1st. In a machine for making paper bags a pair of feeding rollers C, C', with
connecting gears c, c, bevel change gears c¹ and pinion c², all driven from the
shaft F by bevel gearing F¹, pinions f, f, and shaft V, the whole combined and
arranged to feed variable lengths of paper to correspond to the length of the bag
required, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a machine for making paper bags, the sliding carriage D, carrying the
paper cutting knife D', which cuts off the length required for the bag while the
paper is moving through the machine, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a machine for making paper bags, the combination of the sliding
carriage D, knife D¹, cam shaft F, cam G, rocker shaft e¹, arms e², and links e³,
substantially as described.
4th. In a machine for making paper bags, the scroll folders K, K, in combination
with the raising and lowering feed belt J and gauge plates H, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
5th. In a machine for making paper bags, the combination of the feeding belt J,
rollers M, M³, small rollers m, m, swinging frame P, arm p, rollers p¹, and cam I
with shaft F, substantially as set forth.
6th. A paper bag machine which has an india-rubber surfaced roller C³, a paste
roll a³, an automatic reciprocating detaching plate o, a rigidly fastened creasing
knife a', and a continuously revolving paste holder A¹, the whole combined and
arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes specified.
7th. In a machine for making paper bags, a continuously revolving paste box A¹
moving on a fixed centre and having paste fed to it from an adjacent reservoir B',
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8th. In combination with a paste box moving on a fixed centre, a paster roll a³
and sliding gate n, substantially as described.
9th. In combination with a paste box moving on a fixed centre, the segmental
frictional piece A2, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lyle Nelson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
LYLE NELSON. (L.S.)