Improvements in Machines for Making and Printing Envelopes.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making and Printing Envelopes.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand
in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from James Ball of 181 Walnut Street Holyoke
in the State of Massachusetts United States of America Inventor) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention in machines for making and printing envelopes particularly relates
to improvements in the gumming mechanism for the gummer-pickers, in the ink
distributing devices for the type, and in the bed on which the printed and gummed
envelope blanks are to be folded and from which they are to be discharged.
The improvements in the gumming mechanism are to the end of securing one
which ensures the most effectual and even gumming of the pickers so that the blank
will consequently be evenly and effectually gummed; the improvements in the
mechanism for and constituting the folding bed are to the end of providing such a
bed on which the printed blanks are to be folded that all liability of the faces of
the envelopes becoming smooched with ink, or defaced, is avoided; and due to the
improvements in the ink distributing devices the latter are rendered unusually
advantageous for their efficient action; and to the ends as above indicated the
invention consists in the construction and combination or arrangement of parts all
substantially as will hereinafter more fully appear and be set forth in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which such illustrations
of the present invention are given as, in connection with the following particular
description, will readily disclose to persons skilled in the art, the composition and
operation of the mechanism of the present invention and
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation taken from front to rear and about centrally, of a
machine for making and printing envelopes.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section and plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of enough of the machine to include and illustrate the
improvements in the gumming mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a view in perspective on a larger scale illustrating some of the mechanism
co-acting with the movable folding bottom.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view also on a large scale in illustration of parts of the
inking mechanism.
Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
The envelope machine will not be described except as to the particular features
of the present invention, further than to state that the blanks are supported and
automatically elevated into the right relation to the gummer-pickers B, on and by
the table A.; the blanks are then taken upon the conveyor C, and carried to the
action of the printing machinery, the type-bed being indicated at D and the platen
at E, both being movable to and from each other by suitable mechanism as is
common or desirable; the blanks are successively further rearwardly conveyed,
after being printed, to the creasing-box F, being forced therethrough by the
plunger G, onto the novel folder bed H, and then the flaps are folded down by the
folder wings slightly indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, at a, after which the bed
is tilted to permit of the envelopes falling or being discharged into the drier chain.
The novelty in the gumming mechanism consists primarily and essentially in the
combination with the gummer-picker having the usual reciprocatory movement, of
a gum-box, having a gum-bearing or supplying surface or member, located at one
side of the line of the picker's movement, and a pair of rolls and a suitable carrier
therefor for moving said rolls so that both thereof will roll over the face of the

page_text: picker-gummer, the one roll in advance of the other and said rolls will be
periodically moved to a bearing with the said gum-bearing and supplying surface
er member. Said gumming contrivance however, preferably, and furthermore,
embodies two gum-boxes, rolls of the said transversing pair of rolls alternately
passing to receive by one or the other thereof gum from the one or the other of the
two gum-boxes.
In the drawings J, J, represent gum-boxes suitably mounted on the machine
frame at each side of the gummer, and of any of the usual constructions, each
employing therein a gum-roll, indicated by d.
represent two gum-distributing rolls, with their axes at right angles to their
movement of traverse from the one gum-box to the other, said rolls being
mounted, with the upper portions of their peripheries in the same horizontal plane
and coincident with the face of the gummer when the latter is in its uppermost
position, on suitable bearing supports b, which are mounted and guided on the
runner-rods C, which latter are horizontally ranged at the front and to the rear of
the gummer.
The traversing motion of the said rolls is ensured at cach time that the
guminers B, B, dwell momentarily in their uppermost position by having the link
or connecting rods e, e, each attached by its one end to one of the roll supports b,
each of said connecting rods by its other end being connected to an arm g, on the
rock-shaft K. The rock-shaft receives its rocking movement through means of
connections and parts intervening between same and the cam h, on the shaft I,
(which shaft is suitably geared to the driving-shaft J) which parts and connections
consist in the intermediated rock-shaft i, having the two radial arms; and j', the
radial arm k, on the rock-shaft K, the disk 1, between arm j³, and arm k, and the
thrust-rod n, receiving a reciprocatory motion in a usual manner from the cam h,
and having by its upper end a connection with the said arm j.
In the running of the machine, while the picker-gummers B, are rising, the pair
of gummer rollers are at either the one side or the other of the gummers,
resting by the one of said rolls f, which is then farthest from the gummers on the
roll d, of the gum-box which is off at such side of the gummer. As is well known
under the ordinary modes of gumming, as the blank, raised by the gummer-picker,
is detached therefrom the surface of the gummer from which the blank has been
forcibly stripped is left lumpy or hubbly, for as the blank is detached it draws a
portion of the gum which is not taken up by the blank, but remains on the gummer,
down from the face of the gummer to remain as an uneven surface onto which the
next coating of the gum is usually applied by the freshly supplied roller.
Now it will be seen that under the present improvements the one of the rolls f
which next first passes over the face of the elevated gummer is the one which had
last run over said face and imparted the gum thereupon, and therefore the said roll
(running in advance of the one of the rolls, which had last rested on the gum-box
roll and which is plentifully supplied with gum) smooths down the gum on the
face of the gummer so that the other, and fully gummed roll, following closely
behind, spreads its gum upon a smooth and even gummer face so that consequently
the flaps of the envelope will be correspondingly evenly and completely gummed.
I am aware that it has been proposed in the gumming of the gummer to pass a
single roll from one gum-box with gum thereon past and upon the gummer and
thence to the other gum-box to receive gum for supplying the gummer on the
return movement of the roll over the face of the gummer. The method of
"roll
gumming is devoid of the advantage arising from the "smoothing-down
which is alternately constituted by the one or the other of said pair of rolls when
the pair is used as set forth under this invention. Another feature of practical
advantage arising out of the said improved mechanism consists in the fact that each
one of the rolls, contacts with but one of the gum-box rolls d. In practice where a
single roll had a shuttle motion between the opposite gum-boxes, the effect, unless
great care and intelligence was observed in adjusting the parts regulating the gum
delivery was that the reciprocating roll will receive an overplus of gum from one

page_text: roll, and would in fact deposit gum onto the roll in the other box, which latter
instead of becoming depleted would in fact become excessively filled with gum
at the expense of the opposite gum-box and also results in the unsatisfactory
gumming action upon the picker gummer.
Any such undesirable action is of course rendered impossible under the mode of
proceedure consequent upon the present provision and arrangement of the parts.
Describing now the improvements in the ink-distributing devices for the printing
mechanism of the machine, L represents an endless apron which is mounted
horizontally upon the two shafts or rolls 10, 10, which are ranged in parallelism
behind the printing bed D, with their axes extending from front to rear of the
machine as will be understood on reference to Fig. 2, and so that as one of said
rolls 10, is turned the said endless apron L, will be moved to present different
portions thereof back of and in line with the said type-bed.
M represents an inkwell or supply located at one side of the machine which is of
an ordinary construction and is arranged above and in relation to the ink carrying
roll 12 so as to impart to the said roll suitable portions of ink from time to time as is
demanded.
The said roll 12 is supported and guided for a horizontal movement. on
horizontal runner rods 13. 13, and a back and forth movement is imparted to
the said roll 12 so that it may, receiving ink from the ink supply M convey ink to
and upon the endless apron, and then return to its position under the ink supply.
Such back and forth movement of the roll 12 is secured through the connecting
rods 14, 14, which are united with the radial arms 15, 15, upon the rock shaft K.
p represents a distributing roll and y represents an inking roll for the type bed and
the said rolls p and q are united to move in unison, the one pacross the upper
surface of the endless apron on to the receiving roller --which receiving roller
is just in advance of the forward edge of the said endless apron, and has a position
under the roll when said roll is in its normal position, and the said roll 9 (as
the roll p moves as just above described) moves forward upon and across the face
of the type. The face of the type, when the type bed is in its lowermost position
is in a plane which is co-incident with the under surface of the said inking roll q.
The ink receiving roll has its arbor extended to the side of the machine as
shown in Fig. 2, and is there provided with a pulley upon which to belt, for the
rotation of said roll from any shaft or rotatable portion of the machine.
The endless apron L is given a step by step movement by means of the pallet 19
which is pivotally mounted on the radial arm 20 that is loosely supported on the
axial tud 22, of one of the rolls 10, with the ratchet wheel 23 which is fixed upon
the end of the said roll 10. A reciprocatory movement is imparted to the pallet
carrier 20 by the connection therewith of one end of a connecting-rod 24 which by
its other end has an engagement with a radial arın 15, on the rock-shaft K. The
concurrent movements of the rolls
from rear to the front of the machine,
and
P
and return, is secured through means of the connection with the arbor of the one
or the other of said rolls, or with the rigid tie-pieces which unite them, of the
link 26, which by its other end is pivoted to an arm 27, affixed to and radially
extended from the rock-shaft 28. This rock shaft has a radial arm 29, thereon to
which a connecting or thrust-rod 30, is secured, the lower end of said rod being
pivoted to a swinging lever-arm 32, pivoted on the frame and swung by the cam 33,
in one direction, said arm 32, being swung in the other by the retracting-spring 34.
The said rollers p and 7, are supported and horizontally guided upon the runner
rods 35, substantially as shown in the drawings Figs. 1 and 2.
While the operation of the mechanism above described is undoubtedly apparent
without further description or explanation it will be briefly mentioned, however,
that the roll 12, conveys ink from the ink-well or supply M, to and upon the end-
less apron L, above one of the rolls 10; the said endless apron has a step by step
movement so that the inked portion thereof has a suitable traverse, and is brought
in the line of the run of the distributing roller p, which in addition to effecting a
complete and even distribution and spreading of the ink upon the endless apron

page_text: also conveys portions of the ink therefrom to and upon the receiving roll r, and the
roller 7, periodically carries the ink to, and inks the type.
三
The endless apron L described is in itself a novelty of much utility especially in
a machine substantially such as the present one; and the said endless apron
consists of a belt 37, of canvas or other textile material, or in fact any suitable
flexible material, and a comparatively thick layer of the ordinary printer's roll
composition which is placed evenly and uniformly upon the said belt 37, having an
engagement therewith by the permeation of the interstices of the said belt
material. This endless apron is very tough and elastic, unusually durable and
permits of the advantageous employment of an ink receiving apron where
otherwise inconvenient expedients would necessarily have to be resorted to to
accomplish the results here attained.
The bottom H, on which the gummed, printed and creased envelopes are folded,
consists of a long slab having an upper plane surface which is horizontally about
coincident with the upper surface of the main table a of the machine, the said slab
being transversely supported upon the carrier N. The said carrier N, is provided
with a dove-tailed way 40, in which the said slab H, is free to move, and the
movement of the said slab transversely of the machine is to be imparted so that at
each envelope-formning operation of the machine a fresh surface on which to fold
may be presented by any suitable mechanism, a form of mechanism for the purpose
stated being shown in the drawings, and the same will now be described.
50 represent a cord, or other form of a flexible connection which by its end
portion is connected to the said slab at or near the end of the latter, the said cord
by an intermediate portion thereof having one or more turns for a frictional
engagement around the drum 52, which is mounted upon table a adjacent the said
slab, for rotation with its axis horizontally. The said friction drum 52, has on one
side thereof a ratchet 53, having double faced teeth substantially as shown in
Fig. 4. 54 represents a lever intermediately pivoted as at 55, carrying upon its
upper arm the pivotally hung double toothed pallet t, which is provided with the
extended and weighted arm 56. The tendency of the weight upon the pallet is to
maintain the same, whether the lever arm carrying same is tilted forward or back,
so that when once swung to present one of the pallet points 60, into engagement
with one set of faces of the double faced ratchet-wheel 53, continuously in such
engagement, the opposite pallet point being then, of course, swung out of
engagement with the other set of faces of the said peculiarly formed ratchet-
wheel. The lever 54, receives its swinging motion through the connection with the
lower end of the same of a radial arm 62, affixed on the before-mentioned rock-
shaft K.
With particular reference to the perspective view Fig. 4, it will be apparent
that at each swinging movement of the lever 54, the ratchet 53, and drum 52, will
be partially rotated in the direction of the arrow 7, and said drum having its axis
immovable, and cord 50, being under tension around the drum will ensure the
movement of the slab in the direction of the arrow 8, and this direction of feed of the
slab H, will be continued, under the running of the machine, until the pallet t, is
reversed so as to ensure the working of the ratchet-wheel by the engagement of
the other pallet-point.
The reversal of the run of the slab after it has been brought to present a
portion thereof which is near its end to the folding position of the machine, is to be
automatically effected; various contrivances for which purpose may be employed,
and they are within the range of the knowledge of skilled mechanics, but I have
here illustrated one form of means for ensuring the reverse movement of the slab,
which will be now described. At each side of the axis of the drum and
ratchet 52, 53, are provided levers u, u, which by their bottoms are pivoted upon
ugs 64, that are formed on or secured to the top of the table of the machine.
Said levers are provided with limiting toe-pieces 65, so that each may be normally
under the tension of the spring 66, which is applied thereto, held in the inclined
position substantially as shown. Each of said levers u, is provided with an eye-

page_text: formed member 67, through which the portions of the said cords 50, which are
extended from either side of the drum 52, loosely pass. The said levers, are
formed at their extremities with extensions 68, which extend across the plane of
swinging movement of the double-pointed pallet t. The cord 50, at its portions
that are suitably near the ends of the slab H, has the dogs or buttons 69, see
Figs. 2 and 4.
Now noting Fig. 4, it will be seen that after the slab has been moved a short
distance, beyond the position in which it is shown, in the direction of the arrow 8,
the right hand dog or button 69, on the cord will come to an engagement with the
member 67 of the lever u, which is at the right of the drum and ratchet. The said
lever will consequently be swung against the spring 66, ensuring the tilting of
the pallet so that the same works by its other tooth, securing, without any change
in the swinging movement of the pallet carrying lever 54, a reversed rotation of
the drum and ratchet-wheel and consequently a reversed rectilinear movement of
the slab H.
At the completion of each envelope-folding operation the carrier N, and with it
the said slab H, is swung downwardly so that the slab occupies a position more or
less nearly like the one indicated by H', in Fig. 1, and this swinging motion of the
said carrier N, and downwardly, and also the return movement, are secured through
the thrust-rod V, which has a suitable engagement with the cam 70, on the rotary
shaft I.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In an envelope machine, the combination with a reciprocatory picker of a
pair of rolls and means for supporting, guiding and moving same whereby said
rolls may move the one in advance of the other across the face of the raised picker
and a gum supply with which the roll that is rearmost as the said pair proceed to
move across the face of the pickers contacts, for the purpose set forth.
2. In an envelope machine, the combination with a reciprocatory picker, of a
pair of rolls and means for supporting, guiding and moving the same recipro-
catorily whereby said rolls may move the one in advance of the other across the
face of the picker when raised, and a pair of gum-boxes at each side of the picker,
with each of which one or the other of said rolls has a bearing at each traversing
movement thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a machine for making and imprinting envelopes, the combination with a
type-bed of an endless apron and supports therefor and means for imparting a
motion to said apron, and a roll located intermediately of said apron and the type-
bed, a roller running from said roll across the face of the type and returning to a
contact with said roll, and another roll moving across the face of the said apron to
contact with the said intermediate roll, and means for imparting to said rolls the
said movements, for the purposes set forth.
4. In a machine for making and imprinting envelopes the combination with a
type-bed and the endless apron and means for supporting same and for imparting a
progressive movement thereto, a well or ink-supply and a roll, for taking ink
therefrom and conveying same to the surface of said endless apron, and means for
guiding and impelling the said roll; and rolls, and actuating mechanism therefor,
for distributing the ink upon the surface of the said endless apron and for receiving
ink therefrom and inking the type-face, substantially as described.
5. In a machine for making and imprinting envelopes, the combination with the
type bed the rolls 10, 10, and the endless apron mounted thereon, one of the said rolls
being provided with a ratchet-wheel and a pallet and carrier therefor, and means
for imparting a swinging motion thereto, of the roller r, between the type bed and
apron, the rolls and
sq p, arranged as described and united to move in unison and the
runner-rods 35, 35, on which they are supported and guided, and means for moving

page_text: said rolls q and p, forward and back, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
6. In an inking mechanism for a machine for making and imprinting envelopes,
an ink apron which consists of a belt of flexible material and a superposed layer of
printer's roll composition, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for making and printing envelopes, the combination with the
type bed of a pair of separated rolls and an endless inking apron supported on
said rolls which consists of a belt or endless band of flexible materials and a
superposed layer of printer's roll composition and rolls for distributing and spreading
ink upon said apron and for conveying ink therefrom to the type, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
8. In a machine for making envelopes, the combination with the folders, of a bed
mounted under the said folders, and movable to present different portions thereof
which are in the plane coincident with the top of said bed directly under the folders
to constitute a fresh surface on which to fold and means for imparting to said bed
an intermittent movement whereby the said different portions thereof which are in
the same plane may be successively brought into operative relation with the folders,
for the purpose set forth.
9. In an envelope machine, the combination with the folders, of a folding bed
which consists of a slab supported under said folders and a carrier upon which the
said slab is supported and guided for a movement coincident with the plane of its
upper surface, said carrier being mounted to swing downwardly and means for
intermittently imparting the specified movement to the said slab, and a means
for imparting the swinging movement to the said carrier, for the purposes set
forth.
10. The combination with the folding bed or slab and a support on which the
same is movable, of a ratchet wheel and a drum, a cord having an engagement
with the said drum and also with said slab and a pallet and means for supporting
and imparting a swinging motion to said pallet, for the purposes set forth.
11. The combination with the folding bed or slab and a support on which the
same is movable, of a ratchet-wheel having double faced teeth, and a drum, and
cord connections between and connected to said drum and the end portions of said
slab, and a double toothed pallet and a carrier therefor and means for imparting to
said carrier a swinging movement, substantially as described.
12. The combination with the folding bed or slab and a support on which
the same is movable, of the drum and ratchet-wheel having the double faced
teeth, the cord connections between and connected to said drum and the end
portions of the said slab and having the dogs or buttons 69, the double pointed
pallet having the weighted arm and the carrier therefor and means for swinging
same, and the levers u, having extensions adapted to engage with and shift said
pallet and located to be engaged by said dogs, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 24th day of November 1891.
HORN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.