Improvements in Mechanism for Applying Adhesive Substances to Paper, Cloth, or other Materials.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Mechanism for Applying Adhesive Substances to
Paper, Cloth, or other Materials.
I, HENRY EYSTER SMYSER, of Germantown, in the City of Philadelphia, and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to what are called glueing or pasting mechanisms for
applying glue, paste, gum or other adhesive substance to paper, card board, cloth, etc.
Such mechanisms are applicable for use in machines for making paper bags, paper
boxes, envelopes, etc.
My invention is especially designed for use with adhesive substances having
considerable viscosity, such as glue, mucilage, etc., which occasion difficulty by
reason of their tendency to draw into threads or filaments which accumulate and
obstruct the proper operation of the mechanism.
The objects of this invention are to overcome the tendency of the glue to draw
into threads; to prevent the glue or other adhesive from drying prematurely and
choking the mechanism; and to enable the glue or other adhesive to be applied
with exactness over a prescribed surface, and of a graduated thinness of coating.
My invention may be applied in different ways, examples of which are given in
the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive illustrate one construction or embodiment of my invention;
Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive illustrate a second embodiment of my invention;
Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a third embodiment thereof;
Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive illustrate more in detail the construction of the latter;
Figs. 23 to 28 illustrate the mode of operation in applying glue.
I will first describe the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, wherein,
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section affording a general view of the entire
mechanism;
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof partly in horizontal section;
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are elevations showing the operative parts in different successive
positions;
Figs. 6, 7 and 9 are enlarged detail views of the dabbers;
Figs. 8 and 10 are enlarged plan views of the plunger;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the scraper.
A is the tank or vessel containing the adhesive material, which I will assume to
be glue. B is the sheet of paper, card board, muslin, or other material to which
the glue is to be applied, and which I will assume to be paper. This paper sheet
is sustained by any suitable means not shown.
The plunger C is movable up and down, descending into the glue (Fig. 4) and
rising out of it (Fig. 1). D is what I call the "dabber" which takes glue from
the plunger and applies it to the sheet of paper.
Starting with the position shown in Fig. 4, the plunger first ascends out of the
glue to the position shown in Fig. 5, where it pauses to permit the excess to drain
off.
A scraper or wiper F then moves across the upper face of the plunger to
remove the excessive thickness of glue from its surface, and reduce the film of glue
on top of the plunger to uniform thickness. This scraper F is constructed with a
blade attached to a horizontally moving slide G, and is adjustable by a

page_text: screw g (Fig. 11). After a sufficient pause, the plunger again rises until it comes in
contact with the dabber D, which stands above it as shown in Fig. 1, so that it
applies a film of glue to the under surface of the dabber. The plunger then
descends until it is again submerged in the glue. The dabber D then moves away
to apply the coating of glue to the paper B.
The movement of the plunger down into the mass of glue at every stroke, keeps
the glue thoroughly stirred, and prevents any of it from drying upon the surface of
the plunger. The removal of the excess of glue from the plunger by causing it to
pause and drain, and also by scraping the excessive thickness from its surface,
avoids the transferring of an excessive quantity of glue, and also tends to avoid
the drying of the glue into threads. By interposing the dabber D for transferring
the glue from the plunger to the paper (instead of bringing the paper and plunger
into direct contact) has the effect of still further reducing the thickness of the filin
applied to the paper, since the dabber takes off only about half the thickness of
glue left upon the plunger; and by restricting the surface of the dabber to the
exact area upon which the glue is desired to be applied to the paper, and having
this surface alone come in contact with the glue-coated surface of the plunger, a
neatly defined coating of glue is applied to the paper, without the presence of any
marginal ridges of partly dried or caked glue, and without the application of any
such thick portion of glue to the paper as would form drops, or run, or spread
themselves over the paper. All drawing of the glue into threads or filaments is
effectually prevented by the avoidance of any excess of glue, and by the means for
severing the glue-coated surfaces which I will later describe.
I will now describe the special constructions of mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 11.
The plunger C is connected by a post a to a vertical slide E, which slide is
connected by a link b with a lever C₁ fulcrumed at c and carrying a roller c', which
is engaged by a groove in a cam C2. The slide G carrying the scraper F is
connected by a link d¹ to a lever F1 pivoted at d, and acted on by a cam F.
The dabber D is of peculiar construction, and has several movements. The
dabber consists of two wings pivotally connected so as to either turn out horizontally
(Fig. 1), or to swing against each other to embrace the paper between them, as
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows an intermediate position. The
movements of the dabber wings are as follows :-Starting from the fully open
position shown in Fig. 1, where they receive glue from the plunger, they first
move bodily to the left to the position shown in Fig. 3; they then move downward
to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, where they stand close above the
upper edge of the sheet of paper; the two wings then swing inward around their
common pivotal axis until they embrace the upper edge or portion of the sheet of
paper between them and apply the glue thereto. They then unfold or swing open
and then rise bodily, and then move bodily to the right, stopping again in the
position for receiving glue.
The detailed construction of the dabber thus described is as follows:-The two
wings consist of flat plates having projections i wherever it is desired to apply
the glue. Both wings are pivoted to turn around the same axial stud j, which is
fixed to and projects from the outer end portion of a horizontally moving slide H.
The wingh has a hub which is keyed upon a sleeve or tubular shaft k which
turns freely on the stud j, and on the inner end of which is formed a pinion k².
The other wing is mounted directly on a sleeve / which turns freely around the
sleeve k, and on the end of which is formed a pinion . The wings are caused to
turn out and in by a pair of racks m and m' engaging the respective pinions and 12,
these racks being fixed to a vertically moving slide I guided in slideways formed
on the slide 1. The movements of this slide are imparted by a cam 12 acting
through a lever I and link m². The lever I is pivoted at n and has an antifriction
roller n engaged by the cam-groove in said cam.
k2
The horizontally moving slide H is for the purpose of moving the dabber from
the glue receiving position to the position over the paper. This slide is moved
from a cam H arranged behind the cam 12, its cam-groove being shown in dotted

page_text: lines in Fig. 1. This cam-groove engages a roller on the end of a lever H' pivoted
at n, the other arm of which is connected by a link n² to the slide H.
The vertical bodily movements of the dabber over the paper are imparted by
means of a vertically moving slide J having slideways carrying the slide H. The
slide J derives motion from a cam J' arranged behind the cam C2, its cam-groove
being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and engaging a roller on a lever J¹ pivoted
at o, and its end connected by a link o' to the slide J.
The several cams H2, 13, C2, J and F' are all revolved synchronously in the
direction indicated by the arrows, being driven through any suitable driving
mechanism.
When working with glue it is usually preferable to apply the glue in small dots,
for which purpose I prefer to provide the wings of the dabber D with small
isolated projections i, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. The shape of the wings of the
dabber will of course depend upon the shape of the space to which it is desired to
apply glue on the paper. If glue is to be applied to only one side of the paper,
only one wing of the dabber must receive glue from the plunger, to accomplish
which result that portion of the plunger which otherwise would come in contact
with the other wing may be cut away. This is indicated in Fig. 10, where the
portion indicated in dotted lines is entirely removed, so that it cannot carry any glue
to the wing . In this case this wing serves solely as a presser or platen for holding
the paper while the wing presses against it to apply glue to its other side.
some cases it is desirable to apply only a narrow band of glue, in which case the
wing which applies the glue will have its projecting surface i formed in a narrow
band as shown at in Fig. 9, and in such case the plunger may correspondingly be
cut away so as to leave only that portion shown at in Fig. 10.
h
In
Figs. 12 to 15 show a construction which is especially adapted for the application
of paste.
In these figures the paste vessel is lettered A, the plunger is lettered C³,
and the dabber is lettered D³. The scraper is lettered F. All the operative parts
are shown in Fig. 12, but I have not deemed it necessary to show the cams and
mechanical connections for imparting motion to them. The plunger C³ moves
vertically as before, having přecisely the movements already described, except
that it does not rise so high. It is shown immersed in the paste in full lines in
Fig. 13, and in dotted lines it is shown as having risen just above the mass of
paste, though still within the vessel A3, in which position it dwells while the
scraper F3 slides over it to remove the excess of paste. The scraper in this
construction is mounted on a radial arm projecting from an oscillating shaft F, its
After the scraper has
movement being otherwise the same as before described.
passed out of the way, the plunger Crises to the position shown in full lines in
Fig. 12, where it dwells while the dabber D³ descends upon it and picks up the
paste from its surface. The dabber then rises to the position shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 12, at D', then moves or swings over to the position shown at D³ and
then descends to the position shown at D, where it comes upon the paper B lying
on a table K, so that it applies the paste to the paper, after which it rises to the
position D³, moves again to D, and descends again into contact with the plunger,
which meanwhile has redescended into the paste to receive a fresh coating.
In the construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17, which is especially designed for
applying glue, the scraper is omitted, being unnecessary when only a limited
number of small dots or points of glue are to be applied. The glue is applied by
the pins p on plunger C. The dabber arms D' take the glue from these pins, and
then swinging around to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17, apply the
glue to the paper. The dabber consists of arms D' on a rock shaft d'.
The construction is more completely illustrated in Figs. 18 to 22, wherein,
Fig. 18 is a front view corresponding to Fig. 16;
Fig. 19 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 17 and partly in section.
Fig. 19 shows a cam which is hidden in Fig. 19;
Fig. 20 is a horizontal section on the line 20-20 in Fig. 19, but showing the
dabber in the act of applying adhesive to the paper;

page_text: Fig. 21 is a fragment of Fig. 19, showing the same position as in Fig. 20;
Fig. 22 is a similar fragmentary view showing the plunger applying glue to the
dabber.
In these figures, the glue box A is shown with a steam jacket a¹ by which to
warm the glue. The plunger C is formed as a cross arm projecting from an
upright slide E', which is moved up and down by a cam C acting through a
lever E2 and link 6. The lever is pivoted at 2, and has a roller c³.
The dabber D is constructed with two arms D' fixed on a rock shaft d', which
carries a pinion d8 which meshes with rack teeth d on an upright slide M, which
is moved up and down by a cam D' acting on a roller n³ on a lever M' pivoted at c²,
and connecting by a link m² with the slide M. The paper sheet is suitably
supported at B against a platen K¹.
In operation, the plunger C first descends into the mass of glue, as shown in
Fig. 21, then ascends to the position shown in Fig. 22, where it presses the ends of
its pins p p against the dabber arms D', thereby transferring a part of the glue to
the latter, after which the plunger again descends, and after it has moved out of
the path of the dabber arms, the latter are swung down and back to the position
shown in Fig. 21, where they press upwardly against the paper B to transfer the
glue thereto. The dabber then swings back to the position shown in Fig. 19, and
the plunger (having meanwhile re-entered the bath of glue) again rises and applies
glue to the dabber. In this instance only two dots of glue are applied to the paper,
but the projections p on the plunger, and the glue applying projections on the
dabber, may be made more or less numerous, and of any desired shape, according
to whatever surface of the paper it is desired to coat with glue.
I now come to describe a very important feature of my invention. In the use
of glueing mechanisms for applying viscid adhesive such as fish glue for example,
great difficulty has been experienced because of the drying of the glue into threads
or filaments between the glue-applying and glue-receiving surfaces during the time
that they are mutually receding. Thus the plunger after applying glue to the
dabber, and while moving away from the latter, is liable to draw a thread of glue
between them, and by the rapid attenuation of this thread, it becomes dried in
the air sufficiently to give it considerable strength. During the forward swinging
movement of the dabber, one end of this thread is carried forward with it, and
during the successive movements the successive threads thus formed constitute in
time such a mass or tangle of accumulated filaments as to seriously obstruct the
operation of the machine. Threads are also liable to be formed during the
separation of the dabber from the paper, so that the paper while being fed on over
the successive portions of the machine (in an envelope or bag machine for example),
carries these adhesive threads with it, and applies them to the subsequent
mechanisms, which become gummed and obstructed by the threads and rendered
adhesive, so that they cling to and soil or perhaps tear the paper. These difficulties
have proven so serious that the employment of glue or viscid gum has been largely
abandoned in favor of paste and other adhesive substances which have not this
tendency to draw into threads, notwithstanding the superior advantages which in
other respects are inherent in glue or such other strong viscid cement.
I have succeeded in entirely overcoming this difficulty by the simple expedient
of causing the glue-applying and receiving surfaces as they mutually recede, to
pause when only slightly separated, and remain relatively stationary for an instant
to afford sufficient time for the cchesive attraction of the glue to draw the masses
thereof on the two surfaces apart, and thereby sever the incipient string or thread
connecting them. This action which constitutes the gist of this part of my inven-
tion, is best shown in Figs. 23, 24 and 25. In Fig. 23 the plunger C has ascended
covered with glue .c, which is dripping off from it at y underneath, and has brought
this glue into contact with the glue-receiving surface of the dabber D, the two
being pressed sufficiently together to insure the adhesion of the glue to the dabber.
The respective parts are then separated to approximately the extent indicated in
Fig. 24, which may be done by moving the plunger downward or the dabber

page_text: upward, or by both movements simultaneously. The parts then rest in this
position, remaining immovable or nearly so with reference to one another, for a
sufficient time to cause the glue to part, as indicated in Fig. 25. In Fig. 24 is
clearly shown the incipient string or thread of glue uniting the upper mass r to
the lower mass s. By the mere pause or dwell of the parts in this position, the
cohesive attraction of the glue in connection with its adhesion to the respective
surfaces, is made effective to sever the intervening string v, the upper mass r
drawing upwardly and the lower mass s downwardly, until the two are separated.
When this separation has occurred as shown in Fig. 25, the two parts, being
entirely disconnected, may now be moved apart at any suitable speed without
danger of thread-drawing. If, however, they had been drawn apart immediately
without introducing the pause which I have described, the incipient string & shown
in Fig. 24 would in many instances not have been severed, but would have been
drawn or spun out into a fine tenuous thread or filament, acquiring increased tensile
strength as it is drawn out by reason of its drying in the air, and this adhesive
thread or filament would give rise to the difficulties above explained.
In carrying out my invention in connection with the mechanism shown, I so
shape the cain-groove in the cams C and D (either or both) that the glue-applying
and glue-receiving parts, instead of moving apart immediately by one movement as
heretofore, are moved apart but a short distance, are caused to dwell or remain
stationary relatively to one another, and are then again moved apart to complete
their mutual recession. This result may be effected by moving either part alone
relatively to the other, the other part remaining stationary; or by imparting simul-
taneous motion to both parts, as desired. In the particular construction shown,
the pause referred to is caused by the dwell or concentric portion t of the cam C³
(Fig. 19). While my invention is not limited to any exact proportions, yet for the
guidance of those skilled in the art, I will state that I have attained the most
useful results by causing the glue-applying surface to recede about 6 mm. from the
glue-receiving surface, and then to pause for a duration equivalent to about one-
sixth of the rotation of the actuating cam, the speed of the latter being approxi-
mately 21 revolutions per minute, the glue in this instance being a viscid solution
of fish glue.
In the applying of the glue from the dabber to the paper, there is less liability
of thread drawing, but with some kinds of glue, as for example certain highly
viscid solutions of glue, some difficulty is likely to be experienced from this cause.
In such cases I apply the same principle to the operation of the dabber as shown
in Figs. 26, 27 and 28. Fig. 26 shows the dabber in the act of pressing the glue
against the paper. From this position the dabber is moved slightly away from the
paper until approximately the position shown in Fig. 27 is reached, where it pauses
long enough for the cohesion of the glue to break the intervening string. Fig. 28
shows the condition after this string has been broken. After this occurrence, the
retreating movement of the dabber may be resumed. It will be understood that
instead of the paper remaining motionless and the intermittent motion being com-
municated to the dabber, that the dabber after applying glue to the paper may
remain stationary and the paper be moved away from the dabber to the extent
shown in Figs. 27 and 28, after which at any convenient time the return movement
of the dabber may be effected.
This feature of my invention may be variously modified, provided the essential
principle which I have explained is preserved. It will be understood that during
what I have called the pause to permit the cohesive attraction of the glue to break
the string or incipient thread, the parts need not be absolutely stationary, but only
require to be stationary relatively to each other, as in fact both may be moving
with relation to other parts. It is also admissible that instead of being absolutely
stationary with relation to each other, they may during what I have called the
pause be moving very slowly, provided their motion be so slow as to permit of the
described parting action of the glue.
The same principle of causing the parts to pause after starting to intually

page_text: recede, is applicable with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 11, as well as to
that shown in Figs. 16 to 22. It is also applicable to the construction shown in
Figs. 12 to 15, whenever that construction is employed with glue or any viscid
adhesive.
Dated the 14th day of May 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS.
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Mechanism for Applying Adhesive Substances to
Paper, Cloth, or other Materials.
I, HENRY EYSTER SMYSER, of Germantown, in the City of Philadelphia, and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to what are called glueing or pasting mechanisms for
applying glue, paste, gum or other adhesive substance to paper, card board, cloth,
Such mechanisms are applicable for use in machines for making paper bags,
paper boxes, envelopes, etc.
My invention is especially designed for use with adhesive substances having
considerable viscosity, such as glue, mucilage, etc., which occasion difficulty by
reason of their tendency to draw into threads or filaments which accumulate and
obstruct the proper operation of the mechanism.
The objects of this invention are to overcome the tendency of the glue to draw
into threads; to prevent the glue or other adhesive from drying prematurely and
choking the mechanism; and to enable the glue or other adhesive to be applied
with exactness over a prescribed surface, and of a graduated thinness of coating.
My invention may be applied in different ways, examples of which are given in
the drawings, which were left with my Provisional Specification, and to which
I will now refer.
Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive illustrate one construction or embodiment of my
invention;
Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive illustrate a second embodiment of my invention;
Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a third embodiment thereof;
Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive illustrate more in detail the construction of the latter;
Figs. 23 to 28 illustrate the mode of operation in applying glue.
I will first describe the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, wherein,
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section affording a general view of the entire
mechanism;
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof partly in horizontal section ;
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are elevations showing the operative parts in different successive
positions ;
Figs. 6, 7 and 9 are enlarged detail views of the dabbers;
Figs. 8 and 10 are enlarged plan views of the plunger;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the scraper.
A is the tank or vessel containing the adhesive material, which I will assume to
be glue. B is the sheet of paper, card board, muslin, or other material to which
the glue is to be applied, and which I will assume to be paper. This paper sheet
is sustained by any suitable means not shown.

page_text: The plunger C is movable up and down, descending into the glue (Fig. 4) and
rising out of it (Fig. 1). D is what I call the "dabber" which takes glue from
the plunger and applies it to the sheet of paper.
Starting with the position shown in Fig. 4, the plunger first ascends out of the
glue to the position shown in Fig. 5, where it pauses to permit the excess to drain
off. A scraper or wiper F then moves across the upper face of the plunger to
remove the excessive thickness of glue from its surface, and reduce the film of
glue on top of the plunger to uniform thickness. This scraper F is constructed
with a blade attached to a horizontally moving slide G, and is adjustable by a
screw g (Fig. 11). After a sufficient pause, the plunger again rises until it comes
in contact with the dabber D, which stands above it as shown in Fig. 1, so that it
applies a film of glue to the under surface of the dabber. The plunger then
descends until it is again submerged in the glue. The dabber D then moves away
to apply the coating of glue to the paper B.
The movement of the plunger down into the mass of glue at every stroke, keeps
the glue thoroughly stirred, and prevents any of it from drying upon the surface
of the plunger. The removal of the excess of glue from the plunger by causing it
to pause and drain, and also by scraping the excessive thickness from its surface,
avoids the transferring of an excessive quantity of glue, and also tends to avoid the
drying of the glue into threads. By interposing the dabber D for transferring
the glue from the plunger to the paper (instead of bringing the paper and
plunger into direct contact) has the effect of still further reducing the thickness of
the film applied to the paper, since the dabber takes off only about half the
thickness of glue left upon the plunger; and by restricting the surface of the
dabber to the exact area upon which the glue is desired to be applied to the paper,
and having this surface alone come in contact with the glue-coated surface of
the plunger, a neatly defined coating of glue is applied to the paper, without the
presence of any marginal ridges of partly dried or caked glue, and without the
application of any such thick portion of glue to the paper as would form drops, or
run, or spread themselves over the paper. All drawing of the glue into threads
or filaments is effectually prevented by the avoidance of any excess of glue, and by
the means for severing the glue-coated surfaces which I will later describe.
I will now describe the special constructions of mechanism shown in Figs. 1
to 11. The plunger C is connected by a post a to a vertical slide E, which
slide is connected by a link b with a lever C₁ fulcrumed at c and carrying a
roller c', which is engaged by a groove in a cam C2. The slide G carrying the
scraper F is connected by a link d to a lever F¹ pivoted at d, and acted on by
a cam F2.
The dabber D is of peculiar construction, and has several movements. The
dabber consists of two wings pivotally connected so as to either turn out
horizontally (Fig. 1), or to swing against each other to embrace the paper between
them, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows an intermediate position.
The movements of the dabber wings are as follows:-Starting from the fully open
position shown in Fig. 1, where they receive glue from the plunger, they first move
bodily to the left to the position shown in Fig. 3; they then move downward to
the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, where they stand close above the upper
edge of the sheet of paper; the two wings then swing inward around their common
pivotal axis until they embrace the upper edge or portion of the sheet of paper
between them and apply the glue thereto. They then unfold or swing open and
then rise bodily, and then move bodily to the right, stopping again in the position
for receiving glue.
The detailed construction of the dabber thus described is as follows:-The two
wings consist of flat plates having projections i wherever it is desired to apply
the glue. Both wings are pivoted to turn around the same axial stud j, which is
fixed to and projects from the outer end portion of a horizontally moving slide H.
The wing has a hub k¹ which is keyed upon a sleeve or tubular shaft k which
turns freely on the stud ;, and on the inner end of which is formed a pinion k².

page_text: The other wing is mounted directly on a sleeve which turns freely around the
sleeve k, and on the end of which is formed a pinion 12. The wings are caused to turn
ont and in by a pair of racks m and m engaging the respective pinions and
these racks being fixed to a vertically moving slide I guided in slideways formed
on the slide H. The movements of this slide are imparted by a cam * acting
through a lever I and link m². The lever I' is pivoted at n and has an antifriction
roller engaged by the cam-groove in said cam.
The horizontally moving slide H is for the purpose of moving the dabber from
the glue receiving position to the position over the paper. This slide is moved
from a cam Harranged behind the cam 1, its cam-groove being shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1. This cam-groove engages a roller on the end of a lever H' pivoted
at n, the other arm of which is connected by a link n² to the slide H.
The vertical bodily movements of the dabber over the paper are imparted by
means of a vertically moving slide J baving slideways carrying the slide H. The
slide J derives motion from a cam J2 arranged behind the cam C2, its cam-groove
being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and engaging a roller on a lever J' pivoted
at o, and its end connected by a link o' to the slide J.
The several cams H, 12, C, J and F are all revolved synchronously in the
direction indicated by the arrows, being driven through any suitable driving
mechanism.
When working with glue it is usually preferable to apply the glue in small dots,
for which purpose I prefer to provide the wings of the dabber D with small
isolated projections i, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. The shape of the wings of the
dabber will of course depend upon the shape of the space to which it is desired to
apply glue on the paper. If glue is to be applied to only one side of the paper,
only one wing of the dabber must receive glue from the plunger, to accomplish
which result that portion of the plunger which otherwise would come in contact
with the other wing may be cut away. This is indicated in Fig. 10, where the
portion indicated in dotted lines is entirely removed, so that it cannot carry any
glue to the wing . In this case this wing serves solely as a presser or platen for
holding the paper while the wing presses against it to apply glue to its other
side. In some cases it is desirable to apply only a narrow band of glue, in which
case the wing which applies the glue will have its projecting surface i formed in a
narrow band as shown at ¹ in Fig. 9, and in such case the plunger may
correspondingly be cut away so as to leave only that portion shown at
Fig. 10.
in
Figs. 12 to 15 show a construction which is especially adapted for the application
of paste. In these figures the paste vessel is lettered A, the plunger is lettered C,
and the dabber is lettered D. The scraper is lettered F. All the operative
parts are shown in Fig. 12, but I have not deemed it necessary to show the cams
and mechanical connections for imparting motion to them. The plunger moves
vertically as before, having precisely the movements already described, except that
it does not rise so high. It is shown immersed in the paste in full lines in Fig. 13,
and in dotted lines it is shown as having risen just above the mass of paste, though
still within the vessel A, in which position it dwells while the scraper F slides
over it to remove the excess of paste. The scraper in this construction is mounted
on a radial arm projecting from an oscillating shaft F, its movement being otherwise
the same as before described. After the scraper has passed out of the way, the
plunger C rises to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12, where it dwells while
the dabber D' descends upon it and picks up the paste from its surface. The
dabber then rises to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12, at D', then
moves or swings over to the position shown at D and then descends to the position
shown at D, where it comes upon the paper B lying on a table K, so that it applies
the paste to the paper, after which it rises to the position D, moves again to D',
and descends again into contact with the plunger, which meanwhile has redescended
into the paste to receive a fresh coating.
In the construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17, which is especially designed for

page_text: applying glue, the scraper is omitted, being unuecessary when only a limited
number of small dots or points of glue are to be applied. The glue is applied by
the pins p on plunger C. The dabber arms D' take the glue from these pins, and
then swinging around to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17, apply the
glue to the paper. The dabber consists of arms D' on a rock shaft d'.
The construction is more completely illustrated in Figs. 18 to 22, wherein,
Fig. 18 is a front view corresponding to Fig. 16:
Fig. 19 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 17 and partly in section.
Fig. 19 shows a cam which is hidden in Fig. 19;
Fig. 20 is a horizontal section on the line 20-20 in Fig. 19, but showing the
dabber in the art of applying adhesive to the paper;
Fig. 21 is a fragment of Fig. 19, showing the same position as in Fig. 20;
Fig. 22 is a similar fragmentary view showing the plunger applying glue to the
dabber.
In these figures, the glue box A is shown with a steam jacket al by which to
warm the glue. The plunger C is formed as a cross arm projecting from an upright
slide E', which is moved up and down by a cam C neting through a lever E and
link . The lever is pivoted at e, and has a roller c.
The dabber D is constructed with two arms D' fixed on a rock shaft d', which
carries a pinion ds which meshes with rack teeth d on an upright slide M, which
is moved up and down by a cam D' acting on a roller n³ on a lever M' pivoted
ate, and connecting by a link m with the sli le M. The paper sheet is suitably
Eupported at B against a platen K¹.
in operation, the plunger C first descends into the mass of glue, as shown
in Fig. 21, then ascends to the position shown in Fig. 22, where it presses the ends
of its pins p p against the dabber arms D', thereby transferring a part of the glue
to the latter, after which the plunger again descends, and after it has moved out of
the path of the dabber arms, the latter are swung down and back to the position
shown in Fig. 21, where they press upwardly against the paper B to transfer the
glue thereto. The dabber then swings back to the position shown in Fig. 19, and
the plunger (having meanwhile re-entered the bath of glue) again rises and applies
glue to the dabber. In this instance only two dots of glue are applied to the paper,
but the projections p on the plunger, and the glue applying projections on the
dabber, may be made more or less numerous, and of any desired shape, according
to whatever surface of the paper it is desired to coat with glue.
I now come to describe a very important feature of my invention. In the use of
glueing mechanisma for applying viscid adhesive such as fish glue for example,
great difficulty has been experienced because of the drying of the glue into threads
or filaments between the glue-applying and glue-receiving surfaces during the time
that they are mutually receding. Thus the plunger after applying glue to the
dabber, and while moving away from the latter, is liable to draw a thread of glue
between them, and by the rapid attenuation of this thread, it becomes dried in the
air sufficiently to give it considerable strength. During the forward swinging
movement of the dabber, one end of this thread is carried forward with it, and
during the successive movements the successive threads thus formned constitute in
time such a mass of tangle of accumulated filaments as to seriously obstruct the
operation of the machine. Threads are also liable to be formed during the
separation of the dabber from the paper, so that the paper while being fed on
over the successive portions of the machine (in an envelope or bag machine for
example), carries these adhesive threads with it, and applies them to the subsequent
mechanisms, which become gunimed and obstructed by the threads and rendered
adhesive, so that they eling to aud soil or perhaps tear the paper. These difficulties
have proven so serious that the employment of glue or viscid gum has been largely
abandoned in favor of paste and other adhesive substances which have not this
tendency to draw into threads, notwithstanding the superior advantages which
in other respects are inherent in glue or such other strong viscid cement.
I have succeeded in entirely overcoming this difficulty by the simple expedient

page_text: of causing the glue-applying and receiving surfaces as they mutually recede, to
pause when only slightly separated, and remain relatively stationary for an instant
to afford sufficient time for the cohesive attraction of the glue to draw the masses
thereof on the two surfaces apart, and thereby sever the incipient string or thread
connecting them. This action which constitutes the gist of this part of my invention,
is best shown in Figs. 23, 24 and 25. In Fig. 23 the plunger C has ascended
covered with glue x, which is dripping off from it at y underneath, and has brought
this glue into contact with the glue-receiving surface of the dabber D, the two being
pressed sufficiently together to insure the adhesion of the glue to the dabber. The
respective parts are then separated to approximately the extent indicated in Fig. 24,
which may be done by moving the plunger downward or the dabber upward, or by
both movements simultaneously. The parts then rest in this position, remaining
immovable or nearly so with reference to one another, for a sufficient time to cause
the glue to part, as indicated in Fig. 25. In Fig. 24 is clearly shown the incipient
string or thread v of glue uniting the upper mass r to the lower mass s.
By the
mere pause or dwell of the parts in this position, the cohesive attraction of the glue
in connection with its adhesion to the respective surfaces, is made effective to sever
the intervening string v, the upper mass drawing upwardly and the lower mass s
downwardly, until the two are separated. When this separation has occurred as
shown in Fig. 25, the two parts, being entirely disconnected, may now be moved
apart at any suitable speed without danger of thread-drawing. If, however, they
had been drawn apart immediately without introducing the pause which I have
described, the incipient string shown in Fig. 24 would in many instances not have
been severed, but would have been drawn or spun out into a fine tenuous thread or
filament, acquiring increased tensile strength as it is drawn out by reason of its
drying in the air, and this adhesive thread or filament would give rise to the
difficulties above explained.
In carrying out my invention in connection with the mechanism shown, I so shape
the cam-groove in the cams C and D (either or both) that the glue-applying and
glue-receiving parts, instead of moving apart immediately by one movement as
heretofore, are moved apart but a short distance, are caused to dwell or remain
stationary relatively to one another, and are then again moved apart to complete
their mutual recession. This result may be effected by moving either part alone
relatively to the other, the other part remaining stationary; or by imparting
simultaneous mction to both parts, as desired. In the particular construction shown,
the pause referred to is caused by the dwell or concentric portion of the
cam C (Fig. 19). While my invention is not limited to any exact proportions, yet
for the guidance of those skilled in the art, I will state that I have attained the
most useful results by causing the glue-applying surface to recede about 6 mm.
from the glue-receiving surface, and then to pause for a duration equivalent to about
one-sixth of the rotation of the actuating cam, the speed of the latter being
approximately 21 revolutions per minute, the glue in this instance being a viscid
solution of fish glue.
In
In the applying of the glue from the dabber to the paper, there is less liability of
thread drawing, but with some kinds of glue, as for example certain highly viscid
solutions of glue, some difficulty is likely to be experienced from this cause.
such cases I apply the same principle to the operation of the dabber as shown in
Figs. 26, 27 and 28. Fig. 26 shows the dabber in the act of pressing the glue
against the paper. From this position the dabber is moved slightly away from the
paper until approximately the position shown in Fig. 27 is reached, where it pauses
long enough for the cohesion of the glue to break the intervening string. Fig. 28
shows the condition after this string has been broken. After this occurrence, the
retreating movement of the dabber may be resumed. It will be understood that
instead of the paper remaining motionless and the intermittent motion being
communicated to the dabber, that the dabber after applying glue to the paper may
remain stationary and the paper be moved away from the dabber to the extent

page_text: shown in Figs. 27 and 28, after which at any convenient time the return movement
of the dabber may be effected.
This feature of my invention may be variously modified, provided the
essential principle which I have explained is preserved. It will be understood that
during what I have called the pause to permit the cohesive attraction of the glue
to break the string or incipient thread, the parts need not be absolutely stationary,
but only require to be stationary relatively to each other, as in fact both may be
moving with relation to other parts. It is also admissible that. instead of being
absolutely stationary with relation to each other, they may during what I have
called the pause be moving very slowly, provided their motion be so slow as to
permit of the described parting action of the glue.
The same principle of causing the parts to pause after starting to mutually recede,
is applicable with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 11, as well as to that shown
in Figs. 16 to 22. It is also applicable to the construction shown in Figs. 12 to 15,
whenever that construction is employed with glue or any viscid adhesive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:-
1. The described mude of applying any viscid adhesive such as glue, by causing
the glue-applying part to come into contact with the glue-receiving part, then to
separate them slightly, then to pause sufficiently to permit the glue to draw apart
and break the incipient thread between them, and then to complete their separation,
whereby the thread-drawing of the glue is prevented.
2. A glueing mechanism comprising a plunger movable to descend into the bath
of glue and ascend therefrom, a part (as a dabber) to which it applies glue, and
driving mechanism adapted to move said plunger into contact with said part, then
to separate them slightly, then to pause sufficiently to permit the glue to draw
apart, and then to retract the plunger, to the effect described with reference for
example to Figs. 23 to 25.
3. A glueing mechanism comprising a dabber for applying glue to a paper or
other sheet, a support for the latter (stationary or movable) and driving mechanism
adapted to move said dabber into contact with said sheet, then to separate them
slightly, then to pause sufficiently to permit the glue to draw apart, and then to
retract the dabber, to the effect described with reference for example to
Figs. 26 to 28.
4. A mechanism for applying adhesive comprising a plunger movable to descend
into the bath of adhesive and to ascend above it, means for removing the excess of
adhesive therefrom, a dabber receiving adhesive from said plunger, and movable to
transfer it to the paper or other sheet, and suitable driving mechanism for moving
said parts, essentially as specified.
5. The combination of a bath of adhesive, a plunger, a scraper for removing the
excess of adhesive therefrom, a dabber which subsequently takes adhesive from
said plunger, and applies it to the paper or other sheet, and suitable driving
mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The combination of a plunger movable down into and up out of a bath of
adhesive, a dabber receiving adhesive therefrom, a slide carrying said
dabber movable laterally to carry the dabber from over the plunger to over the
paper or other sheet, and means for moving said slide vertically to cause the dabber
to descend upon the sheet, substantially as herein before described.
7. in a mechanism for applying adhesive, a dabber which receives the adhesive
and applies it to the paper or other sheet, constructed with folding wings which
open to receive the adhesive and which close together to grasp the sheet between
them in applying the adhesive to it, substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. The dabber with folding wings, combined with means for applying adhesive
to only one of said wings, when the paper or sheet is to be coated on one side only,

page_text: whereby the other wing serves solely as a support for the paper or other sheet to
press it against the coated wing, substantially as herein before described.
9. The dabber D consisting of two folding wings h h', each mounted to turn on
a pivot, and a cam (as 12) for opening and closing said wings.
10. The special construction of the dabber D with wings h h¹ turning on the
same axis j, the inner tubular sleeve & and outer sleeve l carrying said wings, pinions
on the respective sleeves, toothed racks engaging the respective pinions, and a
movable slide carrying the racks, for opening and closing said wings.
11. The mechanism comprising a dabher D with folding wings, means for
applying adhesive thereto, a slide carrying said dabber movable laterally to carry
it from over the plunger to over the paper, and movable vertically to bring the
dabber down to the paper, cams for moving said slide, and a cam for opening and
closing the wings of said dabber, all adapted to operate essentially in the manner
described.
12. The combination as described with special reference to Figs. 13 to 15, the
same being adapted for transferring a uniform coating of paste to a travelling
dabber D adapted to descend upon the sheet to be pasted supported on a
table K.
13. The means as described with reference especially to Figs. 16 to 22, for
transferring dots of glue to a sheet consisting of a plunger having pins or
projections descending into and rising above a bath of glue, with swinging dabber
arms receiving glue from said projections and turning around a shaft or axis for
carrying the glue to the paper sheet.
Dated this 1st day of February 1897
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.