Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
I, ROBERT WANLESS, of 39, Lochend Road, West, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, Scotland, Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:
My invention consists in a new or improved bag making machine and for the sake
of this specification I shall describe by way of a type or example one contemplated
form of my invention.
In my apparatus there is a block approximating in size and shape to that of the
bag which it is desired to make, over which the operator places the already gummed
or pasted paper in the usual well known manner.
This block is capable of being moved in an up or down direction through an
orifice, corresponding to the size of the block, in the base plate of my apparatus.
The up and down movement of this block is actuated by the operator through
suitable mechanism, which however forms no part of my present invention.
In addition to the before mentioned block and working in conjunction with it are
two thin plates corresponding in width to that of the block. The height of these
plates is different, the difference being such as to correspond approximately to one
half the width of the bag so as to permit of the due folding over of the bottom.
These plates are mounted upon slides which travel upon the top surface of the base
plate and can be pressed flat against two opposite sides of the block so that block
and plates can be enveloped by the previously gummed paper blank. The function
of these plates is to support the bag when the block is drawn downwards from
between them.
The bag which is thus supported on the plates has now to be folded and this is
accomplished by means of (a) two fluting knives which are mounted upon slides
travelling upon the upper surface of the base plate, but at right angles to the
direction of the thin pressing plates (b) two folding slabs, also working upon slides
travelling however in the same direction as these of the pressing plates. One of the
folding slabs carries at its upper extremity a hinged flap, which flap has a tendency
to fall, under gravity, from a vertically upward position (in which it forms a
prolongation of the pressing slab so that flap and slab together come to the same
height as the shorter of the two pressing plates) to one inclined to the horizon at
about 45 degrees. These folding slabs face towards and press against the before
mentioned pressing plates while the fluting knives face towards the remaining two
sides.
The hinged flap mentioned above is caused to assume the upright position as the
slab to which it is attached approaches the block by means of a chain, cord or lever
attached to a counterpoise. When however the flap has assumed the vertically
upright position the chain or cord now draws forward the counterpoise till the
folding slab has travelled up against the pressing plate, while upon the backward
motion of the folding slab the counterpoise is carried backward to its initial
position.

page_text: The bottom of the bag as it hangs upon the pressing plates is folded over upon
the side of the bag by means of a movable plate or leaf, which is carried by a rod
the ends of which are supported at the outward ends of two bell crank levers which
in turn are mounted upon two uprights fixed to and participating in the motion of the
slide upon which the folding slab carrying the hinged flap is attached. One of
the other arms of the bell crank levers has fixed to it a pin or roller which works
in a race or slot formed in a metal upright carried upon the base plate of the
apparatus. The race or slot is so designed that on the forward motion of the folding
slab the bell crank levers cause the movable plate or leaf to travel forward in a
horizontal position and direction until the front end of the plate or leaf is over the
top.of the other or second folding slab, after which the formation of the slot or race
causes the levers and plate to dip downwards so pressing the movable plate or leaf
against the bottom of the bag whereby the desired result of folding over is accom-
plished. The action of folding is however completed by the still further forward
motion of the slide which carries the movable plate with the result that the movable
plate is flattened against the face of the folding slab. On the return motion of the
slide the movable plate-now occupying an approximately vertical position-is carried
backward, and after travelling a certain distance it passes a stop or catch which
releases a detent affixed to it whereby it is caused by the action of a spring to assume
the horizontal position ready for the forward journey.
The action of my apparatus will now he clearly seen, for when the operator has
placed the already gummed paper blank upon the block with its accompanying
pressing plates the, actuating mechanism is set in operation causing the block to
descend. The folding slabs close up upon the pressing plates and cause them to come
together, while at the same time the fluting knives press into folds the sides of the
bag, and the bottom of the bag is folded down over the hinged flap by means of
the folding mechanism.
The same mechanism which caused the forward motion of the various elements can
now be reversed by the operator so that the folding slabs and fluting knives recede
from the pressing plates on which the bag hangs leaving a clear space round the
pressing plates for the operator to remove the bag. Upon the removal of the bag
the mechanism is again set in operation causing the separation of the pressing plates
and the ascension of the block.
My apparatus can be adapted to construct bags of various sizes, as the block can
be replaced by another of different size, pressing plates of corresponding dimensions
being fitted to correspond.
1
When bags of different height are made I employ a series of supporting arms the
vertical position of which is adjusted by means of a clamp or binding screw attached
to one of the folding slabs.
Dated the

page_text: 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 my invention is a new or improved bag making machine by which
certain advantages are obtained.
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine with part of the supports removed.
Figure 2 is a plan of the top of the machine.
Figure 3 is a end view of the said machine.
Figure 4 is a side view of the machine as shown in Figure 1 but with the various
parts of the mechanism closed relative to one another.
Figure 5 is a drawing on an enlarged scale showing the upper parts of my
machine.
It will be noted that the drawings represent a form of my invention suitable for
being worked by the foot but it is clear that without departing from the spirit of my
invention the mechanism could be actuated by other means.
In my machine I make use of a block A approximating in size and shape to
that of the bag which it is desired to make, over which the operator places the
paper blank which is to be formed into a bag. The pasting together of the sides
of the paper blank round the block is performed in the usual well known
manner.
The block just described may be of wood or other suitable material.
This block A is capable of being moved in an up and down direction through an
orifice in the top of the machine corresponding to the size of the block. The
downward movement of the block is actuated by the operator pressing the foot
upon the treadle B while the return or upward movement is caused by the action
of the spiral spring C.
The spring C encircles the shaft or column D which has its upper end fixed to the
top of the block A. The length of the said column is such that (when the block A
is occupying its lowest possible position as shown in Figure 1) it extends below the
cross bars E of the machine.
The lower extremity of the shaft D has a screw thread upon it on which works a
nut abutting against the bottom of the hollow casing E¹ so as to allow of adjusting
the spring, and also to prevent the shaft D along with the block A being raised to too
great a height under the action of the spring. The lower extremity of the spring C
abuts against a portion of the cross bars E.
The upper end of the spring C presses against the top of the block and tends to
raise the block into the position shown in the dotted lines in the Figure 1. The
shaft or column D) is surrounded by the hollow casing E' on which casing the block
is made to work up and down.
The block just described is supported when in its highest position by means of the
catch F. This catch F is pulled from under the block when the treadle is pressed
down by the foot of the operator.
Attached to the hollow casing E¹ is the pulley block G in which are formed the
two small pulleys g¹ g². Cords H H are attached to the lower part of the block A
and pass through the pulleys g¹ g² from which they ascend to the framing of the
upper part of the machine where they pass over the wheels 12. The ends
of these cords are then attached to the springs J, J¹.
Attached to the catch F are the ends of two other cords Q Q which pass down-
wards and under the wheels K K' which wheels are supported on the treadle B. After
passing round these wheels the cords are carried upwards and are attached to the
lower part of the pulley block G.
On the upper part or table of my machine are two thin plates a a¹ of metal or
other suitable material corresponding in width to that of the block. The height of
these plates is different, the difference being snch as to correspond approximately to
one half the width of the bag so as to perinit of the due folding over of the bottom.
These plates are mounted upon slides bb¹ which travel on races fixed upon the table
or top of my machine. These plates which I term the pressing plates can be pressed

page_text: close against the two opposite sides of the block, so that the block and plates can be
enveloped by the paper blank. The function of these plates is to support the bag
when the block has been drawn down from between them. The bag which is thus
supported on the plates has now to be folded and this is accomplished by means of
two agents (a) the fluting knives working at right angles to the direction of
travel of the pressing plates and (b) two folding slabs M MI also
working upon slides mm² the vertical section of which is shown in Figure 1,
from which it will be seen that each is provided with a projection n n' which serve
the double purpose of forcing together the slides bb₁ and of serving as means of
attachment to the cords H H. These folding slabs face towards and press against
the pressing plates while the fluting knives face in a direction at right angles to their
line of travel. The fluting knives are carried by long standards o o¹ pivoted at their
lower ends. The desired motion is given to them by means of the races P P¹ working
on the rollers p p affixed to the standards. The races P P¹ it will be noticed form
an integral part of the pulley block G.
The above mentioned race is so designed that the fluting knives will press the
sides of the bag in at the proper moment, and will then recede leaving the bag free to
be removed by the operator.
Consider now that the block occupies its highest position as shown in dotted lines
in Figure 1 and that the paper blank has been duly pasted round it. The operator
then places the foot upon the treadle, with the result that in the first place the
catch F is pulled from under the edge of the block, which is then only supported by
the pressure of the spring C. The downward pressure of the treadle being continued
the block A is caused to descend by the tension of the cords Q Q and H H until it
reaches its lowest position shown in Figure 1. Upon still further continuing the
downward pressure of the treadle the pulley block G continues to descend with the
result that the folding slabs M M¹ travel towards one another and ultimately act
upon the pressing plates a a¹ until these are pressed close together as shown in
Figure 4. The downward motion of the pulley block G at the same time actuates
the fluting knives by means of the races P P₁. The pressing plates remain pressed
together after the fluting knives have withdrawn for such a time as to enable the
operator to remove the bag.
On the completion of the above operation the sides of the bag will be duly folded
by means of the pressure of the folding slabs and the fluting knives. It now remains
however to describe the means by which the bottom of the bag is folded down over
the side. This is accomplished as follows:-
Attached to and participating in the movement of the slide m is the frame work R
consisting of vertical supports upon which are mounted the pulleys vv. To
the rear of these supports is the guide S in which a sliding piece s works. The
sliding piece has a cross piece 8' which acts as a stop by abutting against R.
Attached to this sliding piece is the band T which passes round the lower pulley v
and is then carried round and fixed to the upper pulley v¹. The upper pulley v¹
is fixed to the spindle V1 which projects beyond the vertical supports so as to allow
of the arms u u¹ being attached to their projecting ends.
To the lower extremities of these arms are attached the springs v³ which tend to
raise them to the position shown in Figure 1, beyond this position they are prevented
from going by the band T having pulled the cross piece 8¹ hard against the framing R.
Pivoted to the upper extremities of the arms u u¹ is the movable plate or leaf V. This
plate Voccupies the practically horizontal position shown in Figure 1 when the machine
is in its initial position, such a horizontal position being maintained by means of a
projection upon the arm u on which the stop w rests. Upon the fixed part of the
table are placed two stops x x against which the cross piece 8¹ strikes when the
slide m is moved inwards. The position of the stops is so arranged that the forward
part of the plate V overlaps the top of the thin pressing plates before the cross
piece s strikes them. It will now be seen that upon the slides being still further
moved in, the cross piece is held back by the stops the frame R with all that it
supports is however carried forward with the result that the plate V is compelled to

page_text: occupy the almost vertical position shown in Figure 4. As soon as the operator lifts
the foot from the treadle the plate V is brought back to the horizontal position
through the action of the springs v² v³ acting during the backward movement of the
frame work R to the cross piece s¹.
In order to insure the accurate folding of the bottom of the bag I employ a plate W.
This plate which is the same height as that of the lower of the two thin pressing
plates is hinged at its lower extremity to the slide 6 and when the machine is in its
initial position it rests against the top of the pressing slab M. When the folding
slabs and accompanying mechanism have moved forward to the final position shown
in Figure 4 it will be seen that the plate W presses close against the outside of the
paper bag and that the plate V when it folds down the bottom does so over the upper
edge of W whereby ensuring an accurate fold. This is clearly shown in Figure 5 where
the bag is shown folded over the upper edge of W.
Without departing from the spirit of my invention it would be possible to construct
my machine in such a way that one of the pressing plates was a fixture on the top of
the machine while the whole amount of travel necessary was accomplished by the
remaining member. If this form was adopted it becomes obvious that only one
folding slab is absolutely necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. In a bag making machine the combination of a rising and falling block in con-
junction with thin pressing plates of unequal height substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In a bag making machine the combination of the elements mentioned in
Claim 1, in conjunction with fluting knives substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a bag making machine the combination of the elements mentioned in
Claim 2, in conjunction with folding slabs substantially as described and illustrated.
4. In a bag making machine the combination of the elements comprised in Claim 3
with the mechanism for folding the bottom of the bags substantially as set forth.
5. In a bag making machine the combination of the elements comprised in
Claim 4 in conjunction with the hinged plate W, substantially as described and
illustrated.
D
DAVI
30
3000