Apparatus for Making Square or Equivalent Shaped Bags from Sheets of Paper.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Applica'ion, 21st Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Making Square or Equivalent Shaped Bags from
Sheets of Paper.
I, Francis GeoRGE FRICKER, of Lammas House, South Hackney Common,
County of London, Paper Bag Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to make sheet paper into bags of square or
equivalent shape mechanically.
For the purpose of my invention, I arrange sheets of paper on edge in proximity
to a suction trough which has a throw over action to fetch the sheets in succession,
this trough carries the sheet to a horizontal position within range of grippers
which take the paper along under a
"
"former say of square shape in cross section.
As the grippers terminate their travel, two rising blades fold the sides of the
paper vertically against the sides of the "former," and two other blades moving
towards each other throw the projecting flaps down to overflap. A roller then
has a forward movement over the overflap and presses them into contact, the
overlap edging having been pasted by contact with a paste roller while approaching
the "former."
"
Two spring pushers which are lodged against the "former are at the back end
of the square roll of paper and by an end on motion push the roll along to a given
distance where it receives paste for the bottom by means of a dabber working
against a paste roller. Two other pushers now move the roll forward leaving
sufficient paper exposed from the end of the "former" for forming the bottoin, this
being performed by a couple of blades moving one upwardly and the other
downwardly, and simultaneously with this folding, two strips of nietal are projected
from the inside of the "former," which strips hold the paper, and as the folders
act, the paper becomes sheared and leaves the parts held by the two strips free,
said two strips now go back to their normal position.
By two other spring pushers, the so far made bag is now moved clear of the "former "
and by suction of air through the "former," the end being perforated, the two
sides of the bag are sucked inwardly so that the upper and the lower sides can
approach each other, a pair of segmental revolving blocks now descend upon the
partially flattened hag and crease it a short distance from the base and roll it into
a pair of rollers which grip and draw the bag along pasting the flaps at the same
time with a pair of sectors fixed to sides of the rollers which take their paste from
paste rollers, a pair of lateral folders now press the two flaps on to the bottom of
the bag and the rollers completing the flattening and discharging it on to an
endless belt, or into a shoot for collection.
The mechanism for effecting the foregoing operations are self contained upon a
bed plate and partake of their various motions and actions by sliding rods, cams,
and tumblers from a shaft and gear wheels.
The sheets of paper to be made into such bags may be plain or coloured, they
nay be printed in any desired manner, the invention is however devised to supply
long felt want i.e. the manufacture of square or equivalent shaped bags with all
he four long sides printed on with the ordinary trade indications of kind and
uality of substances to be placed in them, as well as devices, names, and the
ke.

page_text: I have specially referred to sheets of paper but sheets of foil or material in sheet
form comes within the scope of my invention, whether in single or in compound
condition, such as when tin or lead foil has been previously cemented to paper.
Dated this 21st day of September 1895
H.
GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Francis George Fricker.
Apparatus for Making Square or Equivalent Shaped Bags from
Sheets of Paper.
I, FRANCIS GEORGE FRICKER, of Lammas House, South Hackney Common,
County of London, Paper Bag Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention, is to make sheet paper into bags of square or
equivalent shape mechanically.
My invention will be clearly understood upon reference to the accompanying
drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the
several figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete machine with part of the side framing
removed to more clearly show the action of the mechanism.
Figure 2 is a part sectional elevation of the hollow "former" viewed from the
opposite side of the machine to that indicated in Figure 1, thus enabling the side
folding levers and connections to be shown.
Figure 3 is a plan of the end of the hollow "former"
guides by which the bag is prevented from bulging cutwardly during the end
showing position of the
folding operation.
Figure 4 is an end view of the "former" and top and bottom end folders.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan on the line a, a, of Figure 2, also showing mitre wheels
in gear by which the top right and left side folders are operated.
Figure 6 is a part sectional plan of the suction trough showing its connection with
the suction orifice.
Figure 7 is an under plan of the final folders.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are various enlarged sectional and
detail views showing the manner in which the different parts are operated and the
successive relative stages through which the paper passes in making a complete
bag, while the diagrams A, B, C, D, illustrate in plan or section, as the case may
be, the state of the folding of the figure below it.
Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, aud 24 are enlarged face views of the various
cams employed to operate and produce the different mechanical actions required.
In order that the description of this invention may be rendered as clearly and
concisely as possible, I will proceed to describe separately and in sequence from
first to last the function and mechanical connections of each cam as embodied in
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.
The feed cam 1, gripper and right and left side top folder cam 2, plunger cam 3,
dabber cam 4, final pusher cam 5, slitter cam 6, top end folder cam 7, and bottom
end folder cam 8, are all with the exception of the final pusher cam 5 mounted and
fixed in their proper order and position upon the shaft 10 supported in suitable
bearings on each side of the machine, and to which motion is imparted by a train of
gear wheels from the driving shaft 11, as indicated by the dotted pitch lines 12, 12. !
The cam 1 engages with one end of the lever 13 pivoted to a pedestal 14, the other

page_text: end being connected by a link 15 to the arm 16 fixed to the spindle 17 that also
carries a trough 18 having perforations or slots 19 (see Figure 6) on its upper face,
the interior of said trough being in communication by means of the port 20 with the
pipe 21 which is in connection with an exhauster, such as a fan, with the result that
a continual suction is taking place through the perforations or slots 19 of the
trough 18, so that when the said trough is moved up into contact with the
undermost sheet of the pile of properly cut papers 22 it will on the return movement
fetch it down to the position indicated at 23, the air suction being sufficient to hold
it in position for the grippers to grasp it in the succeeding operation.
The spindle 17 to which the trough 18 is fixed is mounted in a bearing 24 within
the suction pipe on one side, the opposite side being supported by a bearing formed
in the cheek 25 of the side frame shown in Figure 2.
The pile of papers 22 are adjustable as regards height by the sliding support 26,
and the angle at which they lie can also be regulated by the rod 27 that is movable
through the screw trunnion 28. It is obvious that by feeding the machine by the
undermost sheet of the pile I am enabled to continually add to the number of the
pile without stopping the machine.
The movable jaws 29, 29, of the grippers are pivoted to the side of gudgeons 30, 30,
the top part 31 of which form fixed jaws and have angular faces 32, 32, upon and
over which the movable jaws 29, 29, move to firmly hold the paper when they
engage upon it. The gudgeons 30, 30, are connected by rods 33, 33, to
gudgeons 34, 34, at the hinder end through which a spindle 35 passes as shown
in Figure 9.
"
The duplicate gudgeons 30, 34, and rods 33 are slidable between guides 36, 36,
arranged on each side of a "former
37 under the action of a slotted fork 38
pivotted at 39, and operated backwards and forwards by means of the crank 40 and
connecting rod 41, the carriage formed by the duplicate gudgeons 30, 34, and
rods 33 having a travel equal to the distance between the points 42, 42, indicated
by the dotted lines.
The cam 2 during its rotation imparts an oscillating movement to the lever 43
pivoted at the point 44 and by means of the link 45, bell crank lever 46 and rod 47
transmits motion to the arm or lever 48 fixed to the spindle 49 for operating the
inclines 50 arranged in duplicate on said spindle 49 just under the rollers 51, said
rollers being pivoted at the outer end of the legs 52 forming part of the movable
grippers 29 which under the action of any suitably arranged springs 53 have
a tendency to close down upon the fixed jaws 32.
During the forward movement of the carriage and gripper, the inclines 50 are in
such a position that the rollers 51 by contact with the said inclines force the
jaws 29 open against the tension of the spring 53 as shown in the drawing but upon
a continued movement forward the gripper faces 32 will be pushed under the
overhanging edge of the sheet laying upon the suction trough, and the grippers 29
by reason of the rollers 51 travelling down the inclines 50 will under the tension
of the springs 53 bite upon and grip the paper and draw it from under the pile
during the backward movement of the carriage.
The cam 2 meanwhile will have moved the inclines 50, 50* out of the path of the
rollers 51, thus allowing the grippers to maintain their hold upon the paper until
the rollers 51 are moved into contact with the fixed inclines 54 to open the grippers
and release the paper, it being understood that the inclines are arranged on each
side of the "former" 37.
During the forward movement of the carriage, the paper is drawn over a paste
roller 55, see Figure 8, its position being indicated in Figure 2 by dotted lines.
This roller is revolved in a paste trough by any desired means such as a gut band
from any moving part of the machine, the pulley 56 being of such diameter
in relation to the driving speed, that the circumferential travel of the roller 55 is
equal to the rate of travel of the paper as it is being drawn along by the carriage
and grippers whereby it picks up a narrow strip of paste on its under side, as
indicated by dotted lines 57 in Figure 2.

page_text: The paper when released from the gripper lies immediately over the plunger or
right and left side folders 58 and under the "former" 37.
The plunger consists of two blades 58, 58, uprising from a plate 59 to which
they are attached the said plate 59 being connected by the parallel link
motion 60, 61, to a pedestal 62 arranged immediately beneath the "former" 37.
The link 60 is pivoted to the top of the pedestal 62, and the arm 61 is fixed to a
sleeve 63 that oscillates in a bearing 64 (Figures 5 and 10) under the action of the
plunger cam 3 and pivoted lever 65, which by means of the link 66 vibrates the
arm 67 fixed at the outer end of the sleeve 63 on the side opposite to that shown
in Figure 1, as indicated at Figure 2. When the cam 3 by its rotation and action
of the various levers 65, 67, and link motion 60, 61, raises the blades 58, 58, it
doubles or folds the sides of the paper against the bottom and sides of the
"former" 37 in the manner shown at Figure 9. It should be here explained that
the grippers in the previous operation do not lay hold of the paper at equal
distances from the edges, the paper having been arranged on the feed board in
such a position that when folded up as just described one side is preferably longer
than the other.
The previously described bell crank lever 46 in addition to operating the
inclines 50, 50, is also utilised to operate the left and right top folders 63, and 69
respectively which successively folds first one side and then the other down upon
the top of the "former" as indicated in Figures 10 and 11. To accomplish this,
the bell crank lever 46 is fixed to one end of a spindle 70 that passes right
through the sleeve 63 and has fitted upon each end a bevil pinion 71, 71, for
engaging similar pinions 72, 72, fixed to short spindles 73, 73, arranged in bearings
at right angles to the spindle 70 and carrying the arms 74, 74. The arm 74
carrying the folder 69, which consists of a broad flat plate, is fixed to its spindle 73
but the arm 74 on the left side of the "former" 37 is mounted loosely upon the
spindle but with the folder 68 in advance of the right hand folder 69.
"
Motion is imparted to the spindle 70 by the bell crank lever 45 from the cam 2
as before described which is communicated by the mitre gear equally to the
spindles 73, 73, and arms 74, 74, on each side of the "former" 37 but the folder 68
on the left side being in advance is moved to fold the flap of paper down upon the
❝ former 37 by an extra arm 75 fixed to the spindle 73, the top end of which
pulls upon the spring 76 (Figure 10), the function of the spring being to stretch
during the necessary continued movement while the right side top folder turns the
flap of paper down against the "former" 37 and on the top of the previously
pasted and folded flap.
The carriage now moves forward for the grippers to Jay hold of a fresh sheet of
paper.
The rollers 77 are covered with rubber band 78 or other resilient material and
pivoted to adjustable blocks 79 fixed at intervals along the bar 80 which is
arranged longitudinally over the "former" 37 and fixed by a screw to a transverse
bar 81 secured to the ends of pillars 82, 82, uprising from an adjustable socket
piece 83, 83, on the rods 33 of the carriage. The rollers therefore partake of the
same forward motion as the carriage to roll the edges firmly together in the manner
that can be easily understood upon reference to Figure 11. In order that the
pressure of the rollers upon the paper may be varied, the pin 84 upon which they
revolve (see Figure 11) is an eccentric which can be turned to move the axis
nearer to or further away from the "former 37 and be clamped in any desired
position by the screw 85.
"
The plunger or side folders 58, 58, is or are now lowered, the left and right top
folders 68, 69, open outwards and the inclines 50, 50* simultaneously recede from
the roller 51 for the grippers to grasp the second sheet of paper, the carriage being
in such position that the spring pushers 86 arranged on each side of and, in contact
with the former" and carried by pillars 87 from the rod 33 of the carriage
engage the edges of the paper which is now in the form of a tube surrounding the
"former" so
that upon the second backward movement of the carriage the

page_text: pushers 86, while the rollers 77 still press upon the newly made pasted seam and
prevent it from opening, push the tube along the "former" until it reaches the
position indicated by dotted lines G, G, Figure 1.
The dabber cam now draws down the lever 88 and connecting link 89 and by
means of the arm 90 causes the bent lever 91 to turn upon its pivot 92 and forces
the dabber 93 (now in contact with the paste roller 94) into contact with the top
of the tube a short distance from the end in the manner indicated by dotted lines 95
of Figure 1. The carriage has meanwhile returned to grip the third sheet of
paper and the rollers still bearing upon the paste seam while the second tube is in
course of formation.
The return movement of the carriage for the grippers to fetch the third sheet of
paper allows the second set of spring pushers 96, also attached to the carriage
and arranged on each side of the "former," to engage behind the tube and push it
along the "former" to the third position shown at Figure 2, the second tube being
pushed to the position just vacated by the first tube. The slitter cam 6 now comes
into action and causes the rocking lever 97 which is pivoted to the pedestal 14 to
lift the arm 98 by means of the link 99 and move the cranked lever 100 inwards
in order that the rod 101 by means of the block 102 may project the slitters 103, 103,
beyond the end of the "former" to the same distance as the paper tube overhangs
as will be seen upon reference to Figure 2. These slitters lie flush with the sides
of the "former" (see Figures 1 and 3) and offer no obstruction to the passage of
the paper tube over them.
The right and left sides of the paper tube as it is moved beyond the end of the
"former" 37 pass between the slitters 103, 103, and the side guides 104, 104, see
Figure 3, not shown in Figure 1 for clearness, so that when the top end
folders 105, 105, which now come into action by means of the lever 106 engaging
the top end folder cam 7 the lever 106 draws down the link 107 and cranked
lever 108 pivoted at 109 to the side frame represented in Figure 4 by the
line 110.
The folders 105, 105, are narrow blades on their edge but of curved formation
on the flat and are adjustable upon the rod 111 projecting from the cranked
lever 108. These folders in their downward movement turn down the overlap of
the top of the tube that projects beyond the end of the "former." A portion of
the right and left sides are also doubled down over the slitters 103, 103, as
indicated at Figure 4, which slits or cuts it along a distance more or less
according to the amount of overlap that is to be turned down.
The bottom end folders 112, 112, adjustable on the rod 113 projecting from a
cranked lever 114 in all respects are similar to 108 but turned downwardly for
connection to the link 115, lever 116, and bottom end folder cam 8 and pivoted
at 117 to the opposite frame indicated by the line 118, Figure 4.
The folders 112 are of curved blunt form and move upwardly to turn up the
bottom overlap projecting beyond the end of the "former" just as the top end
folders 105 are receding, the sides being doubled over the slitters and cut in
precisely the same manner as before described, and the upward folded in part is
pressed flat against the previously downward folded and pasted (pasted by the
dabber 93) part by the folders 112 which then quickly recede for the next operation
to proceed. It is to be here noticed that the former" 37 is hollow, the after endl
thereof being fitted with a perforated or slotted plate 119, see Figure 2, and the
front end being connected by a pipe 120 to an exhauster for the purpose of
obtaining a continual suction through the end of the "former" to assist in
collapsing the bag as hereinafter described but if advantageous I may dispense
with the suction and fold the sides of the bags mechanically.
The paper tube has now assumed the shape shown at diagram A and
Figure 12.
The final pusher cam 6 by means of the bell crank lever 121 and connecting
rod 122 operates the supplementary carriage 123 sliding on a bar 124 fixed to a
cross spindle 125 so that the pushers 127 adjustable on the rod 128 of the
.

page_text: carriage 123 pushes the paper bag still further beyond the end of the “former
into the space formed by the flat faces of the segmental rollers 129.
"
The air suction now comes into action to draw the sides of the bag inwards, and
the upper and lower segmental rollers 129, 129, between the flat faces 130, 130, of
which the bag now lies, close together and crush in the top and bottom faces of the
bag in the manner shown in Figure 13, the diagram B above it being a cross
section on the line x, x, and very clearly showing the manner of fold of the body
of the bag.
By the continued rotation of the segmental rollers 129, 129, the body of the bag
is completely flattened, in folded form, drawn off the "former" 37 and passed
through to the next roller 132 which is arranged immediately in the path of the
bottom of the bag and consequently causes it to assume an angular position as
indicated in Figure 14 for the edge 133 of the upper segmental small roller 134 to
bite upon it and by rotation to flatten out the bottom wings b, b, and pass them
horizontally into another set of rollers 135, 136, in the manner indicated at
Figure 15 and diagram C.
The roller 135 has two grooves 137, 137, at a distance apart a little greater than
the width of the body of the bag, the whole roller being preferably of the same
width as the extended wings b, b.
The bottom roller 136 is narrow and has two segmental plates 138 for engaging
the grooves 137, 137, so that when the flattened bag is drawn between the two
rollers, a crease is made along the underside of the wings .b, b, as indicated by the
dotted lines 139 (diagram C).
Mounted upon the same spindle as the roller 136 are two sectors 140, 140, the
outer faces 141 of which during oue part of their revolution engage upon and pick
up paste from the roller 142 which is transferred to the underside of the wing
pieces b, b. After being pasted, the wing pieces by reason of the crease have a
tendency to turn downwards as shown at Figure 16 and in which the bag is shown
just about to enter the adjustable plate folders 142, 142*.
The curved turn over 143 of one plate is longer than the other consequently the
wing on entering that side is folded inwards first and the other is folded in upon it
by its entry through the short curved turn over 143*, from which it emerges to
pass through the pressure rolls 144, 145 in its complete form as indicated at
diagram D which is an under plan of the bag with the bottom doubled flat against
the side for packing purposes.
The top rollers 128, 134, 135, and 144 are all mounted in sliding bearings to
enable said rollers to rise and facilitate the passage of paper of varying thickness
against the pressure of springs held within the caps 146, said pressure being
regulated by screws 147 in the ordinary manner.
By the use of the above machine, I am enabled to manufacture bags from single
sheets of paper or other material which has previously been printed and lined out
with trade indications or devices and paste and fold them so accurately that the
trade indications or devices appear in correct register on the four long sides and of
the bottom of the completed bag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement and combination of the
various cams and levers by which the various foldings are effected as it is obvious
these may be varied to suit circumstances without departing from the peculiar
features of my invention but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for making square or equivalent shaped bags, a long square or
equivalent shaped "former" upon which paper can be folded and pasted into the
form of a tube, and the use and combination with said "former" of spring pushers
for pushing the tube along said "former" in successive stages in the manner
described, the said pushers being operated in the manner substantially as shown.
2. In a machine for making square or equivalent shaped bags, the adjustable

page_text: ollers covered with india rubber or other resilient material so arranged upon a
sliding carriage that they roll upon the edges of the pasted seam of the tube in
course of formation when moved in one direction and move back simultaneously
while still pressing upon the seam with the movement of the tube under the action
of the spring pushers, as and for the purpose described and arranged and operated
in the manner substantially as shown."
3. In a machine for making square or equivalent shaped bags, the combination
with a square or equivalent shaped "former" of a double set of spring pushers,
adjustable upon a moving carriage, and of supplementary spring pushers adjustable
upon a second moving carriage for successively moving the paper tube along the
"former" to be pasted and end folded, as described and operated in the manner
substantially as shown.
4. In a machine for making square or equivalent shaped bags, the combination
with a square or equivalent shaped hollow "former" having a perforated plate at
one end aud connected to an exhauster at the other of side slitters and top and
bottom end folders, all operated as and for the purpose described and arranged
substantially in the manner shown in the drawings.
5. In a machine for making square or equivalent shaped bags, top and bottom
segmental rollers arranged to receive the paper bag betweeen the flat faces of said
rollers and in their rotation to crush in and fold the top and bottom long sides of
the bag without injuring the bottom thereof, as described and shown with reference
to Figures 12 and 13.
6. In a machine for making square or equivalent shaped bags from sheets of
paper or other like material, the means for presenting the sheets singly to the
grippers consisting of a pivoted and perforated or slotted trough so formed and
arranged in connection with a suction pipe and operating mechanism that said
trough will fetch the undermost sheet of the pile of papers for entry into the
machine, as described and shown.
7. In a machine for making paper bags, covering the pressure rollers with india
rubber or other resilient material, and mounting same upon sliding blocks by an
eccentric pin, which can be set and fixed by a set screw to regulate the pressure of
said rollers upon the pasted seam, as described with reference to Figure 11.
8. An apparatus for making square or equivalent shaped bags from sheets of
paper or other like material in which the parts are so arranged in relation to each
other and to an exhauster that the said sheets of paper are automatically and
successively fed into the machine and seam pasted, side folded, top folded, seam
rolled and pushed along a square or equivalent "former," to be pasted by a dabber,
and be end folded, cut by slitters, and inwardly collapsed by air suction, top and
bottom side folded by segmental rollers and be wing pasted and finally folded and
rolled, and delivered in the shape, as described and illustrated in the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 20th day of o une 1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for F. G. Fricker.