IMPROVE. MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING ENVELOPES AND PAPER BAGS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING ENVELOPES AND PAPER
BAGS." A communication from abroad by Robert Parks and John
Armstrong, both of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
Sealed the 20th November 1866. and dated the 5th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johuson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th June 1866.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING ENVELOPES AND
PAPER BAGS," a communication to me from abroad by Robert Parks and John
Armstrong, both of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar combination and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus for making envelopes and paper bags from a
[Price 8d.]

page_text: continuous sheet or roll of paper, the mechanism being such that the paper
is delivered to the machine at a proper speed, guiding laterally, cut,
creased, pasted, folded, and converted into envelopes or paper bags, the
flaps of which if required to be gummed are properly gummed and dried
in an accurate and expeditious manner. The envelope made by this macbine
consists of two main rectangular portions creased and folded together, the
portion forming the front or main body of the envelope having the usual
flaps formed thereon, as well as. two small lateral flaps which are folded
inwards and are pasted on the upper surfaces so as to enable them to be
cemented to the other half forming the back of the envelope, which is also
pasted at its edges where it comes in contact with tho lateral pasted flaps.
An obtuse angled cut is made in the edge of the back half of the
envelope, and this cut coincides with the projecting portion of the
closing or gummed flap of the adjoining envelope in the continuous sheet.
will now proceed to describe the part of the machine by which the cutting,
creasing, pasting, and folding of the paper to convert it into envelopes is
accomplished, leaving the mechanism for delivering and guiding the paper to
the machine, and for gumming and drying the gummed flaps of the envelope,
for subsequent description. To a cranked portion of the ma'n driving shaft
there is adapted a block, which is fitted to and arranged to slide in a yoke or
rectangular slotted frame, and on each end and forming a part of the latter is
a cross bar, to each of which are secured the lower ends of two guiding
rods, the four rods passing through and being guided by the table or bed
plate of the machine and by tubular projections beneath the said plate, which
is secured to the top of two opposite side frames or standards, the upper ends
of the rods being secured to lugs on a cross head situate above the surface of
the bed plate or table. From the under side of this cross head project four
creasing plates arranged in a rectangular form. Adjacent to each end creaser
are two inclined knives, and a short distance in the rear of one of the side
creasers are two short knives. It should be understood that the above-
described knives and creasers by which the preparatory steps in the formation
of the envelope are effected are not permanently secured to the cross head but
to a plate which can readily be detached from the cross head to make way for
another plate having differently arranged knives and creasers. From another
portion of the cross head project an angular knife and two side knives which
are also secured to a plate detachable from the cross head. These detachable
plates are most important features, as by their use the machine may be adjusted
to make envelopes of different sizes and forms. To the table or bed plate of
the machine there is secured a removeable bed plate, in which are formed

page_text: shallow grooves arranged in a rectangular form, and so as to receive the creasing
blades of the cross head, inclined openings being formed in this plate and
arranged to receive the four inclined knives of the said cross head while the
two short knives of the cross head pass through corresponding openings in the
said removeable plate. It should be understood that near each opening a
steel piece with a sharp cutting edge is let into the removeable bed plate. A
plate with cutting edges is so secured to the fixed bed plate of the machine as
to be readily detached therefrom; this plate projects into an opening in the
bed plate, and is furnished with cutting edges adapted to the knives of the
cross head. Another detachable plate is secured to the bed plate of the
machine, and is furnished with an angular knife, the edge of which coincides
with that of the angular knife on the cross head, there being a suitable
angular space intervening between the cutting edge of the knife and the
rear edge of the cutting plate. From the cross head projects a bar carrying
at the end a blade, the lower edge of which is caused to thrust the partly
formed envelope between two folding rollers which aro caused to revolve by
any suitable system of gearing. In suitable bearings on the fixed bed plate
turns a shaft carrying a feeding pulley, which bears against the periphery of
a second pulley on a shaft turning in the opposite side frames of the machine,
and being furnished at one end with a ratchet wheel to which an intermittent
rotating motion is imparted by a crank on the driving shaft through the
medium of an adjus' able connecting rod, lever, and pawl, which is maintained
in contact with the periphery of the ratchet wheel by a suitable spring. The
point of contact of the two pulleys is on a level or nearly so with the upper
surface of the bed plate. Two lateral bars are employed, to each of which
a simultaneous but intermittent reciprocating motion from and towards each
other is imparted by a vertical lever hung to the framework of the machine,
and passing through the end of the bar, the lower arm of the said lever
being provided with a curved slot through which passes the beut end of a
pin projecting from the yoke before referred to. By the vertical reciprocating
movement of the yoke such a vibrating movement is imparted to the vertical.
levers that the sliding bars are suddenly moved towards each other, the said
bars owing to the form of the slots in the vertical levers retreating from
each other after remaining in their advanced position but a short time.
Adjacent to each of the sliding bars there is a stationary butdetachable folder.
consisting of a plate having a projection secured to the removeable bed plate.
The rear of each folding plate is flat and nearly in contact with the remove-
able bed plate, while the opposite end is turned upwards and outwards; a set
screw passes through each folder and bears against the removeable bed plate,

page_text: so that the flat portion of the folder may be accurately adjusted to and from
the said plate to suit the paper of which the envelopes have to be made.
Two receptacles containing paste are so secured to a slotted cross bar as to
be readily adjusted on the same from and towards each other. Each end
of the cross bar is secured to a rod which passes through and is guided by
the fixed bed plate of the machine. Each rod has an arm resting on a
cam secured to the driving shaft. These cams are so formed that the rods
and their cross bar are maintained in an elevated position during the greater
portion of the revolution of the driving shaft, the cams permitting the cross
bar with its receptacles to be depressed for a short time only. Each receptacle
consists of a cylindrical casing, the lower end of which is nearly closed by a
roller, a rotatory motion being imparted to the rollers of the two receptacles
by cog wheels on a shaft caused to revolve in projections on t'e cross bar by
any suitable system of straps or gearing. To the front of each receptacle
there is secured a spring plate, which is rendered adjustable to and from the
roller by a small set screw. This plate can be readily so adjusted as to pre-
vent more paste than is absolutely necessary from being transferred from the
receptacle by the periphery of the roller to the envelope. In making
envelopes by this machine, the paper is submitted to the machine in a con-
tinuous strip from aroller, and is passed between the peripheries of the feeding
pulleys before referred to. The first operation in the formation of the envelope
is the cutting of incisions in the sheet by the two short knives before referred
to, the formation of the rectangular crease and the severing of the paper at
the edges to form the two narrow lateral flaps. The incisions are made by the
short knives of the cross head passing through the openings of the removeable
plate beneath, and the cutting of the paper at the edges is effected by the
inclined knives of the cross head also passing into corresponding openings,
while the rectangular crease is effected by the blades of the cross head passing
into the grooves of the plate beneath. This rectangular crease in the paper
is a preparatory step of much importance, as it determines accurately the size
of the envelope and the certain position of the folds in the same. It also
serves to turn up the opposite folds or narrow lateral flaps. It should be
understood that during the above described operation the paper is stationary,
the motion of the feed wheels having been for the time arrested; but after
this operation has been completed the movement of the paper is continued.
Immediately on the commencement of this movement the lateral sliding bars
are simultaneously moved towards each other so as to temporarily cover the
corners left by the incisions or cuts at the edge of the paper; but for this
provision to keep down these corners they might turn up and seriously

page_text: interfere with the subsequent proper operations of the machine on the paper;
after accomplishing the desired duty the sliding bars retreat again. As the
movement of the paper is continued the lateral turned-up folds or narrow
flaps pass beneath the stationary folders, and are by the latter turned down
on to the surface of the paper. During the continued movement of the paper
the pasting receptacles are permitted to fall and to remain in a depressed
position so long only as their rollers impart a coating of paste to the opposite
edges of the paper, that is to say, on the turned-down folds, and the portions
of the paper which has to be secured to them, care being taken that no paste
is imparted to any other portion of the envelope. After a further movement
of the paper its motion is again arrested and subjected to the shearing action
of the knives of the cross head in conjunction with the knives on the bed
plate of the machine, one set of knives severing from the edges of the paper
the superfluous strips, and the other severing the paper transversely so as to
form an obluse-angled cut, which forms the edge of the closing flap. The
severed and pasted strip is now struck near the centre by the folding blade,
which thrusts it between the folding rollers, the latter folding the strip so that
it will assume the form of an envelope, and at the same time pressing the
pasted edges of one fold forming the back of the envelope against the lateral
pasted folds. The envelope is now complete with the exception of being
dried and having its flap gummed. Although for the sake of convenience
the operations have been described as being accomplished progressively, it
should be understood that during one descent of the cross head the preliminary
cutting and creasing the folding, pasting, and severing are all accomplished
at the same time but on different portions of the strip of paper.
Having now described the manner in which the envelopes are manufactured,
I will proceed to explain the mechanism by means of which the gumming and
drying of the flaps is effected.
Beneath the folding rollers there is a curved plate, and beneath the latter
are two other rollers, and beneath these are guide rollers. At the rear of the
machine and in suitable brackets secured to the frame turns a shaft carrying
a pulley; and at a suitable distance from the machine and in appropriate
standards secured to the floor or in hangers suspended from the ceiling turns
a shaft carrying a large drum on which the envelopes are gummed and dried,
and over the top of which extends a casing, the space between which and the
periphery of the drum communicates with the casing of a fan blower, which
discharges a blast of air through the space between the periphery of the drum
and its casing, this space being made as air-tight as possible at the sides as

page_text: the edges of the drum revolve close to but not in absolute contact with the
side of the casing. As each envelope after receiving its last fold, but while
the flap is still open, leaves the folding rollers it is directed by the inclined or
curved plate between endless carrying bands or tapes passing round the
several rollers and conveying the envelopes over the large drying drum to
the point where the two sets of bands or tapes diverge, at which point
the envelopes are delivered on to an inclined board at the rear of the large
drum. The desired rotatory motion is communicated to the above-described
system of rollers, pulleys, and drum from the driving shaft of the machine by
any suitable system of belts and pulleys, and the carrying bands are caused to
traverse at such a speed compared to that with which the envelopes are
manufactured that the latter shall overlap each other, the open flap of one
envelope projecting a short distance beyond that of the next. To brackets at
the rear of the machine is secured a trough containing a supply of gum
mucilage or other adhesive cement, and in the edges of this trough revolve
the journals of a roller, on one end of which is a ratchet wheel to which an
intermittent rotary motion is imparted by an eccentric and arm and a pawl
on the said arm. The eccentric is secured to a shaft turning in suitable
bearings on the brackets, and derives its motion from the driving shaft of the
machine by a suitable band and pulleys. To the last-mentioned shaft is
secured a brush, which is so arranged that as it revolves with the shaft its
bristles will take from the roller a portion of the gum which the said roller has
taken up from the trough and will transfer the same to the inside of the flaps
of the envelopes on the large drum before referred to. The bands which con-
fine the envelopes and with which the latter traverse pass over the large drum
near the opposite edges of the same, the inside of the open flaps between these
bands being exposed to the action of the gumming brush which imparts to the
said flaps the desired amount of gum, the extent of the gummed surface of
the flap of one envelope being limited by the flap of the adjacent envelope.
As the gummed envelopes pass slowly with their confining bands over and
with the large drum they are subjected to a blast of air produced by the fan
and directed through the space between the casing and the periphery of the
said drum, the air acting directly on the gummed flaps which are thus
effectually dried before the envelopes are delivered on the inclined board,after
reaching which the envelopes are in a condition for their flaps to be folded
down on to the bodies of the envelopes, an operation which may rapidly be
accomplished by a simple folding machine. After this the envelopes are
suitably packed for sale or transportation.
[t may be remarked that in frout

page_text: of the gumming roller there is an adjustable scraper which prevents the
said roller from taking up from the trough too much gum and prevents the
brush from being overcharged with the same.
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the continuous strip of
paper is delivered to the machine. The paper is wrapped round a roller, the
journals of which turn in bearings fitted to standards secured to the opposite
side of the frames of the machine. The journals of another roller below turn
in bearings which are arranged to slide in the same standards, a coiled spring
in each standard intervening between the two sets of bearings so that the
second roller may be forced against a third roller, the journals of which turn
in permanent bearings; these two last-mentioned rollers act as delivery
rollers. The paper passes between these rollers, which are caused to revolve
at such a speed that they will deliver the paper as fast as the machine requires
it. After leaving the delivery rollers it passes alternately under and over 3
transverse parallel rods to the machine, these rods imparting the desired
tension to the paper, which is thus maintained in a stretched and flat state asit
passes on to the removable bed plate of the machine. It should, however, be
understood that between the tension rods and the delivery rollers a portion
of the strip of paper hangs down freely, so that if there should be a slight
irregularity in the relative movements of the feeding or drawing rollers first
referred to and the delivery rollers there can be no fear of the paper being
torn. It is important that the paper should be maintained in a proper lateral
position as it approaches the first cutting and creasing knives; this is insured
by two lateral guiding pieces, which are arranged to slide on the parallel
tension rods, and between which the paper traverses. One guiding piece iš
connected to the long arm of a lever, and the opposite guiding piece to the
long arm of an opposite lever, the two arms being connected together by a
slight coiled spring, and both levers being arranged to turn loosely on pins
secured to the frame of the machine. The short arms of the two levers are
connected together by a rod, so that it one guiding piece be moved inwards or
outwards a simultaneous and similar movement must be imparted to the
opposite guiding piece, hence should the paper have a tendency to crowd
against one guiding piece and to move the latter outwards, the opposite
guiding piece will also be moved outwards and permit the paper to recover
its proper position.
It should be understood that the circumference of the pasting rollers for
the side flaps should revolve at the same speed as that with which the paper
is drawn through the machine by the feed pulleys.
It will be evident that envelopes of different shapes may be made by the

page_text: machine by changing the form and arrangement of the knives and creasers,
for instance, elongated envelopes in the form of bags with plain instead of
curved flaps may be made.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed-
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING
ENVELOPES AND PAPER BAGS," a communication to me from abroad by Robert
Parks and John Armstrong, both of Philadelphia, in the State of Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John l'enry Johnson, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer'ained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
The said Invention relates to a peculiar combination and arrangement of

page_text: is
machinery or apparatus for making envelopes and paper bags from a con-
tinuous sheet or roll of paper, the mechanism being such that the
paper
delivered to the machine at a proper speed, guided laterally, cut, creased,
pasted, folded, and converted into envelopes or paper bags, the flaps of which
if required to be gummed are properly gummed and dried in an accurate and
expeditious manner. The envelope made by this machiue consists of two
main rectangular portions creased across and folded together, the portion
forming the front or main body of the envelope having the usual flap formed
thereon, as well as two small lateral flaps which are folded inwards and are
pasted on their upper surfaces so as to enable them to be cemented to the
other half forming the back of the envelope, which is also pasted at its edges
where it comes in contact with, the lateral pasted flaps. An obtuse-angled
cut is made in the edge of the back half of the envelope, and this cut
coincides with the projecting portion of the closing or gunmed flap of the
adjoining envelope in the continuous sheet.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose. I
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all
the Figures..
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a vertical section of the improved
machine for making envelopes Figure 2, a vertical section of the apparatus
for drying the gummed flaps of the envelopes; Figure 3, a front view of part
of the drying pulley or drum; Figure 4, a transverse section of part of the same;
Figure 5, a view of part of the device for gumming the flaps of the envelopes;
Figure 6, a plan view of part of the machine; Figure 7, an inverted plan view
of the cross head; Figure 8, a transverse section taken along the line 3, 4, in
Figure Figure 9, a vertical section of one of the pasting reservoirs drawn
to an enlarged scale; Figure 10, a detached view of part of the machine;
Figure 11, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, is a plan view of the machine;
Figure 12, a side view of the same; Figure 13, a vertical section taken along
the line 1, 2, in Figure 12; Figure 14, a perspective view of an open
envelope; and Figure 15 a diagram illustrating the operation of the machine
in making envelopes from a continuous strip of paper.
I.
Before describing the machine it will be necessary to refer to the peculiar
character of the envelope inade by it. This is illustrated by the perspective
view, Figure 14, in which 15 represents the body of the envelope; 9, 9, two
narrow folds on to which the fold 19 is pasted to complete the envelope,
18 being the gummed flap to be folded over and secured to the fold 19,

page_text: after the envelope has received is contents.
A cut is made on the fold 19 of
a form coinciding with the projecting portion of the gummed flap 18. It
will be seen hereafter that this cut made in the fold 19 of one envelope forms
the edge of the flap of the next envelope as the machine acts on the paper.
I will now proceed to describe the part of the machine by which the
cutting, creasing, pasting, and folding of the paper to convert it into an
envelope is accomplished, leaving the mechanism for delivering and guiding
the paper to the machine, and for gumming and drying the gummed flaps of
the envelope for subsequent description.
F
A and A' are the opposite frames of the machine, and in these frames turns
the main driving shaft B, best observed on reference to Figure 8. To the
cranked portion a of this shaft there is adapted a block b, which is fitted to
and arranged to slide in a yoke or rectangular slotted frame C, and on each
end and forming a part of the latter there is a cross bar c, to each of which
are secured the lower ends of two guiding rods D, D, the four rods assing
through and being guided by a plate E, and by tubul r projections c' beneath
th said plate, which is secured to the top of the opposite side frames or
standards, the upper ends of the rods being secured to lugs d on the cross
head F, as seen in Figures 1, 11, and 12, and in the inverted plan view,
Figure 7, on reference to which view the peculiar construction of the said
cross head with its knives and creasers will be best observed. From the
under side of this cross head project the four creasing plates e and e', and f
and f, arranged in the rectangular form illustrated, and determining the
size of the envelope as described hereafter. Adjacent to the end creaser f
are the two inclined knives g and g', and adjacent to the end creaser f¹ are
two similar inclined knives g" and g. A short distance in the rear of the
creaser e are the two short knives and h. It should be understood that
the above described knives and creasers, by which the preparatory steps in
the formation of the envelope are effected, are not permanently secured to the
cross head but to a plate (, which can be readily detached from the cross
head to make way for another plate having differently arranged knives and
creasers. From another portion of the cross head project the angular
knife i, and the two side knives j and, which are also secured to a
plate G, detachable from the cross head. These detachable plates G
and G¹ are most important features, as by their use the machine may
be adjusted to make envelopes of different sizes and forms. To the
upper plate E of the machine there is secured a detachable plate H. in
which are formed shallow grooves k, h, k, arranged in the rectangular
form illustrated, and so as to receive the creasing blades e and e¹ and f

page_text: and of the cross head inclined openings and being formed in the
plate H and arranged to receive the knives g and g¹ of the cross head and
inclined openings m and m³ in the same plate to receive the kuives g"
and g, while the two shorter kuives and of the cross head pass through
corresponding openings n and n' in the plate H. It should be understood
that near each opening a steel piece with a sharp cutting edge is let into the
plate . I is a plate so secured to the plate E of the machine as to be
readily detached therefrom, this plate I projecting into an opening p in the
said plate E, and being furnished with cutting edges q, q, adapted to the
knives j,, of the cross head. Another detachable plate J is secured to
the plate E of the machine, and is furnished with an angular knife r, the
edge of which coincides with that of the angular knife i on the cross head,
there being a suitable angular space s intervening between the cutting edge
of the knife r and the rear edge of the plate I. From the cross head F
projects a bar K (Figure 1), carrying at the end a blade L, the lower edge
of which is caused to thrust the partly formed envelope between the two
folding rollers L and L", which are caused to revolve in the direction of
their arrows by any suitable system of gearing. In suitable bearings t, t,
(Figure 11) turns a shaft t¹, carrying a pulley which should bear against the
periphery of a pulley (Figure 1) on a shaft u, the latter turning in the
opposite side frames of the machine, and being furnished at one end with a
ratchet wheel a (Figure 12), to which an intermittent rotating motion is
imparted by a crank M on the driving shaft B through the medium of the.
adjustable connecting rod M', lever N hung loosely to the shaft u, and the
pawl N which is maintained in contact with the periphery of the ratchet
wheel o by a suitable spring. It will be seen on reference to Figure 1 that
the point of contact of the two pulleys " and " is on a level or nearly so
with the upper surface of the plate E. P and are two sliding bars.
(best observed on reference to Figure 6) to which a simultaneous but
intermittent reciprocating motion from and towards each other is imparted by
the devices illustrated in Figure 13. The upper arm of a vertical lever 'Q
hung to the framework of the machine passes through the end of the bar, the
lower arm of the said lever Q being provided with a curved slot through
which passes the bent end of a pin Q' projecting from the yoke C before
referred to. By the vertical reciprocating movement of the yoke such a
vibrating movement is imparted to the levers Q that the bars P and P¹ are
suddenly moved, one towards the groove / in the plate H (Figure 6), and the
other towards the groove, the bars owing to the peculiarity in form of the
slots in the lever Q, retreating from each other after remaining in their

page_text: advanced position but a short time. Adjacent to each of the bars P and P¹ is
a stationary but detachable folder consisting of a plate K, having a
projection K' secured to the plate H. The rear of each plate K is flat and
nearly in contact with the plate H, while the opposite end is turned upwards
and outwards as illustrated in Figure 6. A set screw v passes through
each folder and bears against the plate H so that the flat portion of the
folder may be accurately adjusted to and from the said plate H to suit the
paper of which the envelopes have to be made; two receptacles i and w
(Figure 11) containing paste are so secured to a slotted cross bar a as to
be readily adjusted on the same, from and towards cach other, each
end of the cross bar is secured to a rod y (Figures 1 and 10) which passes
through and is guided by the upper plate E of the machine. Each rod has
an arm T resting on a cam U secured to the driving shaft B (see Figure 10),
these cams are so formed that the rods y and their cross bar a are maintained
in an elevated position during the greater portion of the revolution of the
driving shaft, the cams permitting the cross bar. with its receptacles to be
depressed for a short time only. The construction of the receptacles is
illustrated by the enlarged view Figure 9, each receptacle consists of a
cylindrical casing, the lower end of which is nearly closed by a roller w¹, a
rotary motion being imparted to the rollers of the two receptacles by cog
wheels on the shaft a", caused to revolve in projections on the cross bar x,
(Figure 11) by any suitable system of straps or gearing. To the front of each
receptacle w (Figure 9) there is secured a spring plate v', which is rendered
adjustable to and from the roller w' by a small set screw w. This plate v
can be readily adjusted so as to prevent more paste than is absolutely necessary
from being transferred from the receptacle by the periphery of the roller to the
envelope. In making envelopes by this machine the paper is submitted to
the machine in a continuous strip from a roller as described hereafter, and is
passed between the peripheries of the pulleys ", and ", the width of the
strip being represented by the red lines 3, 3, Figure 6.
The operation of the machine may be best observed by reference to the
diagram, Figure 15, which illustrates the progressive formation of theenvelope
from a strip of paper 3.
The first operation in the formation of the envelope is the cutting of the
incisions 4, the formation of the rectangular crease defined by the lines 5, 5',
and 6, 6, and the severing of the paper at the inclined lines 7, 71, and 8, S¹.
The incisions 4, 4, are made by the knives and of the cross head passing
through the openings n, n, of the plate H, and the cutting of the atthe
points 7, 7, and 8, 8', is effected by the inclined knives g, g', g, and g, of
paper

page_text: the cross head passing into the openings l. l, and m, m³, of the plate H, while
the rectangular crease is effected by the blades e and o¹, and fand f', of the
cross head passing into the grooves k, k¹, k", and ", of the said plate H.
This rectangular crease in the paper is a preparatory step of much importance,
as it determines accurately the size of the envelope and the certain position
of the folds in the same. It also serves to turn up the opposite folds 9, 9,
(Figure 15).
It should be understood that during the above described operation the
paper remains stationary, the motion of the feed wheels " and " having.
been for the time arrested, but after this operation has been completed the
movement of the paper is continued. Immediately on the commencement
of this movement the bars P and P¹are simultaneously moved towards each
other so as to temporarily cover the corners 10), 10, (Figure 15) made by the
incisions 7, 7, 8, 8'; but for this provision to keep down these corners they
might turn up and seriously interfere with the subsequent proper operations.
of the machine on the paper, after accomplishing the desired duty the bars P
and P¹ retreat again. As the movement of the paper is continued the turned
up folds 9, 9, pass beneath the stationary folders K, K, and are by the latter
turned down on to the surface of the paper, as shewn at 91, 91, (Figure 15).
During the continued movement, of the paper the pasting receptacles are
permitted to fall and to remain in a depressed position so long only as their
rollers impart a coating of paste to the opposite edges of the paper from the
point 11 to the point 12 (Figure 15), both the turned down folds 91, 9¹, and
the paper which has to be secured to them being thus coated with paste,
care being taken that no paste is imparted to any other portion of the
envelope. After a further movement of the paper its motion is again arrested
and it is subjected to the action of the knives j,, and i of the cross head
in conjunction with the knives q, q', and on the plate E of the machine,
the knives and severing from the edges of the paper the superfluous,
strips 13, 13, shown by dotted lines (Figure 15), and the knife i severing
the paper at the angular line 14. The severed and pasted strip 15 is now
struck on the line 16 by the blade 4, which thrusts it between the rollers L'.
and L", the latter folding the strip so that it will asssume the form shown at
17 (Figure 15), and at the same time pressing the pasted edge of one fold 19
against the pasted folds 91, 91. The envelope is now complete with the
exception of being dried and having its flap 18 gummed. The object of the
incisions 4, 4, Figure 10, may be described as follows:-These incisions
appear at different points 4, 4", and 4 during the progressive operations
in the manufacture of the envelope, and they are in fact a preparatory step

page_text: for determining the length of the fold 19, and for removing the superfluous
corner pieces 20. Although for the sake of convenience the operations have
been described as being accomplished progressively, it should be understood
that during one descent of the cross head the preliminary cutting and
creasing the folding, pasting, and severing are all accomplished at the
same time but on different portions of the strip of paper.
Having now described the manner in which the envelopes are manufactured
I will proceed to explain the mechanism by means of which the gumining
and drying of the flaps is effected.
Beneath the folding rollers L' and L" thero is a curved plate 21
(Figure 1), and beneath the latter are two rollers 23 and 24, and beneath
these are guide rollers 25, 26, and 27. At the rear of the machine, and
in suitable brackets secured to the frame, turns a shaft carrying a pulley 25,
and at a suitable distance from the machine, and in appropriate standards
secured to the floor or in hangers suspended from the ceiling, turns a shift 28'
carrying a large drum 29, over the top of which extends a casing 30, the
space between which and the periphery of the drum communicates with the
casing 31 (Figure 11), in which the vanes 32 of a fan revolve and discharge
a blast of air in the direction of the arrow through the space between the
periphery of the drum and the casing 30, this space being made as air-tight
as possible at the sides as the edges of the drum revolve close to but not in
absolute contact with the side of the casing, see Figure 4. Two endless
bands 33 and 34, shewn by red lines in Figures 1, 2, and 3, pass in the
direction of the arrow (Figure 1) in contact with the guide roller 35 over
the pulley 24, thence to the pulley 28, partly round the latter over the large
pulley 29, round the guide rollers 36, 37, 38, and 39 to the first guide
roller 35 (see Figure 2). Two similar endless bands 40, shown by blue lines,
pass in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) over the roller 23, thence in
contact with the roller 24, or rather with the bands on the same, to the
pulley 28, over the large pulley 29, thence in contact with the rollers 36
and 41, round the guide roller 42 (Figure 2) to a similar guide roller 27,
round the rollers 26 and 25 to the first roller 23 (Figure 1). As each
envelope after receiving its last fold, but while the flap is still open, leaves
the folding rollers L and L', it is directed by the inclined or curved plate 21
to the point where the bauds or tapes 33 and 40 converge in passing round
the rollers 23 and 24, after leaving these rollers the envelopes are carried
between the two sets of bands round the pulley 28 over the large drying
drum 29 to the point where the two sets of bands or tapes diverge after leaving
the rollers 36 and 41, at which point the envelopes are delivered on to the

page_text: inclined board 45 at the rear of the large drum 29 (Figure 1). The desired
rotary motion is communicated to the above described system of rollers and
drum from the driving shaft of the machine by any suitable system of belts
and pulleys, and the carrying tapes or bands are caused to traverse at such a
speed compared to that with which the envelopes are manufactured that the
latter shall overlap each other, the open flap of one envelope projecting a
short distance beyond that of the next, as best observed on reference to
Figure 3.
To brackets 44 at the rear of the machine there is secured a trough 45,
containing a supply of gum mucilage or other adhesive cement, and in the
edges of this trough revolve the journals of a roller 46, on one end of which
is a ratchet wheel 47 (Figure 5) to which an intermittent rotary motion is
imparted by an eccentric 50 and arm 45 on the shaft 46 and pawl 49 on the
said arm. The eccentric is secured to a shaft 51 turning in suitable bearings
on the brackets 44, and derives its motion from the driving shaft of the
machine by a suitable band and pulleys. To the shaft 51 is secured a brush 52
which is so arranged that as it revolves with the shaft its bristles will take
from the roller 46 a portion of the gum which the said roller has taken up
from the trough, and will transfer the same to the inside of the flaps of the
envelopes on the drum 19. It will be seen on reference to Figure 3 that the
bands or tapes which confine the envelopes, and with which the latter traverse,
pass over the large drum 29, near the opposite edges of the same. The inside
of the open flaps between these bands are exposed to the action of the gum-
ming brush 52, which imparts to the said flaps the desired amount of gum,
the extent of the.gummed surface of the flap of one envelope being limited by
the flap of the adjacent envelope. As the gummed envelopes pass slowly with
their confining bands or tapes over and with the large drum 29; they are sub-
jected to a blast of air produced by the fan 32, and directed through the space
between the casing 30 and the periphery of the said drum 39, the air acting
directly on the gummed flaps which are thus effectually dried before the
envelopes are delivered on the inclined board 43, after reaching which the
envelopes are in a condition for their flaps to be folded down on to the bodies
of the envelopes, an operation which maybe rapidly accomplished by a simple
folding machine. After this the envelopes are suitably packed for sale or
transportation..
It may be remarked that in front of the gumining roller 46 there is an
adjustable scraper 53 which prevents the said roller from taking up from the
trough 45 too much gum, and prevents the brush from being overcharged
with the same.
"

page_text: I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the continuous strip of
paper is delivered to the machine. The paper 54 is wrapped round a roller 55,
the journals of which turn in bearings 56 fitted to standards 57 secured to the
opposite side frames of the machine at the front of the same, one standard to
each frame. The journals 58 turn in bearings 60 which are arranged to slide
in the same standards, a coiled spring61 in each standard intervening between
the bearings 56 and 60, so that the roller 58 may be forced against the
roller 59, the journals of which turn in permanent bearings. The paper
passes between these rollers 58 and 59, which are caused to revolve in the
direction of their arrows at such a speed that they will deliver the paper as
fast as the machine requires it. After leaving the delivery rollers it passes
under the rod 62, over the rod 63, and under the rod 64 to the machine,
these rods imparting the desired tension to the paper, which is thus maintained
in a stretched and flat state as it passes on to the plate H (Figure 1) of the
machine. It should be understood, however, that between the tension rods
and the delivery rollers a portion of the strip of paper hangs down, as shewn in
Figure 1, so that if there should be a slight irregularity in the relative move-
ments of the drawing rollers and delivering rollers there can be no fear of the
paper being torn. It is important that the paper should be maintained in a
proper lateral position as it approaches the first cutting and creasing knives.
This is insured by the guiding pieces 65 and 66, which are arranged to slide
on the rods 62, 63, and 64, and between which the paper traverses. The
.guiding piece 65 is connected to the long arm of a lever 67, and the opposite
.guiding piece to the long arm of the lever 68, the two arms being connected
together by a light coiled spring 69, and both levers being arranged to turn
loosely on pins secured to the frame of the machine. The short arms of the
.two levers are connected together by a rod 70, so that if one guiding piece be
moved inwards or outwards a simultaneous and similar movement must be
imparted to the opposite guiding piece, hence should the paper have a tendency
to crowd against the guiding piece 65 and to move the latter outwards the
.opposite guiding piece will also be moved outwards and permit the paper to
recover its proper position. It should be understood that the circumference
of the pasting rollers w¹, Figure 9, should revolve at the same speed as that
with which the paper is drawn through the machine by the pulleys t
and t
The above-described machine will make one hundred and fifty envelopes of
the ordinary size per minute.
It will be evident that envelopes of different shapes may be made by the
machine by changing the form and arrangement of the knives and creasers;

page_text: for instance, elongated envelopes in the form of bags with plain instead of curved
flaps may be made.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before-in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly, the application and use of the reciprocating cross head F, having.
knives and creasing plates arranged and operating substantially as described
and illustrated by the Drawings.
Secondly, the combination of the cross head F, guide rods D, yoke C, and
crank shaft B.
Thirdly, the employment of the plate G, made detachable from the cross
head and provided with cutters and creasing plates, arranged substantially as
herein-before described.
Fourthly, the employment of the plate G¹, with its knives, the whole being
detachable from the cross head for the purpose specified.
Fifthly, the use of the plate H with its grooves and openings, the whole
being detachable from the permanent plate E of the machine, for the purpose
herein-before described.
Sixthly, the combination of the detachable plate I and its cutting edges
with the detachable plate J and its knife r.
Seventhly, the combination of the cross head, its knives, and creasing plates
with the grooves, openings, and cutting edges in the upper plate of the
machine, the whole being arranged for simultaneous action on thecontinuous
strip of paper, substantially in the manner herein-before-described.
Eighthly, making the incisions 4, 4, (Figure 15) in the paper by knives
h, h, on the cross head, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Ninthly, the mode of turning up the folds 9, 9, (Figure 15) by forcing the
paper
into grooves k, k¹, by means of creasing plates on the cross head, as
herein set forth.
Tenthly, the application and use of the bars P, P¹, arranged and operating
in the corners 10, 10, (Figure 15) of the paper as herein set forth.
Eleventhly, the application and use of the stationary folders R,constructed,
arranged, and operating on the folds 9, Figure 15 of the paper, substantially
as herein-before described.
Twelfth, the application and use of the paste reservoirs wand their rollers

page_text: w',arranged to operate and transfer paste to the traversing paper, substantially
as herein-before described.
Thirteenthly, the combination of the slotted cross bar x with its adjustable
paste reservoirs w, shaft, and wheels to operate the paste rollers, the
whole being arranged to reciprocate together as described, for the purpose
specified.
Fourteenthly, the application and use of the drawing pullies t" and t",
arranged on the machine as described, in combination with mechanism con-
structed substantially as set forth for imparting an intermittent motion to the
said pulleys.
Fifteenthly, the combination of the folding rollers Land L', the inclined or
curved plate 21, the rollers 23 and 24, and the bands 33 and 34, and 4",
40, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixteenthly, the application and use of the large drum 29 and bands which
pass over the same, in combination with the casing 30 and fan 32, the whole
being arranged for the rapid drying of the gummed envelopes substantially as
described.
Seventeenthly, the system or mode of so regulating the speed of the large
drum 29 and the bands in respect to that of the machine, that the flaps of
the envelopes confined between the said bands shall overtake each other to a
limited extent, as set forth for the purpose specified.
Eighteenthly, the peculiar gumming device, consisting of a trough 45,
roller 46, and revolving brush 52, the whole being arranged and operating on
the envelopes confined between the bands on the drum 29, substantially as
set forth.
Nineteenthly, the combination of the drum 29 and its bands with the
rollers 86 and 41, whereby the envelopes are delivered on to the board 43, or
other suitable receptacle.
Twentieth, the application and use of the rollers 58 and 59 for feeding the
continuous web of paper to the machine at a proper speed.
Twenty-first, the application and use of the tension bars 62, 63, and 64
situated between the feeding rollers and the first cutting and creasing
mechanism, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Twenty-second, the application and use of the guiding pieces 66 and 67,
connected together and arranged to operate in unison for the proper guidance
of the paper as herein-before described.
Twenty-third, the general combination and arrangement of machinery or
apparatus for making envelopes and bags from a continuous web of paper,

page_text: paper cloth,or other suitable material,substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)