Improvements in or relating to Envelopes and in Apparatus for Perforating and Closing the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Envelopes and in Apparatus for
Perforating and Closing the same.
I WILLIAM HENERY BLACKWELL, Waterloo Hotel, Piccadilly Manchester
County of Lancaster Patentee do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of envelopes or
in the manner of perforating or closing the same more efficiently than by adhesion
as heretofore.
In carrying out my invention it may apply to existing envelopes now in use or
envelopes may be manufactured with their folds perforated and if required with
the fasteners applied thereto (and in this manner supplied to the public). Such
folds may be manufactured unadhesive or otherwise and to have sufficient margin
or overlap at their central junction so as to allow of the whole being secured,
sealed or riveted togeather, I may apply rivets or fasteners to several parts of the
folds if required, I prefer that the revits be made of metal and after the manner of
an eyelet or tubular stud having preferably a headed or solid end, such solid
end to bear against the inner back of the envelope or letter or other matter contained
therein, the tubular or open end of the revit comeing through the aforesaid folds
at their junction may be spread or clinched after the manner of an eyelet, or
such tubular or open ended stud may be caused to engage with a suitable head, or
the end of the tube (coming through the enveloped folds) may be formed solid
when the same may be spread or clinched.
I shape suitably, instruments and sheilds for perforating for any of the aforesaid
ways and means.
I
purpose to combine the two operations (viz.) perforating the envelopes and
clinching the rivets in one machine or frame to which I connect portable and
efficient instruments for the aforesaid purpose, I obtain the necessary force for the
above by lever, percusshion or other suitable means.
2nd. The above mentioned headed stud or round eyelet may be fitted or applied
to a hollow ram such ram may be combined with a spring or other suitable arm to
carry the same. This ram carrying aforementioned stud is intended to force said
stud through envelope folds (without the same having previously been previously
prepaired or perforated to receve these studs,) the narrow end of the stud or eyelet
being forced trough the face of the envelope and comcing in contact with a
suitabley shaped portion (formed on an arm and previously applied to the inside
of the envelope) for clinching the same, the whole operation to be combined in one
instrument.
3rd. Or I may construct a similar instrument to this last mentioned, the ram
forming a die and the aforesaid as applied to the inside of the envelope, will be
perforated suitably to receve such die, this is intended to perforate the envelope
folds so as to apply studs to the same without force. I purpose to clinch or sprad
this stud on the outside or apply a headed portion thereto, by a hand instrument
or press, obtaining the necessary force by lever, percusshion or other suitable
means.
If required I may apply instruments so as to emboss name and adress on envelope
or note paper.
Date : 10L J
L M
1004

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Envelopes and in Apparatus for
Perforating and Closing the same.
1, WILLIAM HENERY BLACKWELL of the Waterloo Hotel, Piccadilly,
Manchester, Patentee, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of envelopes, or
in the means or manner of closing or sealing the same more effectually than by
adhesive material as heretofore.
In carrying out my invention, either as applied to new or existing envelopes, I
perforate the folds and flap with one or more perforations, the perforations in the
flap being in exact correspondence with the perforations in the folds, and, by
preference formed at one and the same time and by one perforating tool. Through
the hole or holes in the folds I pass one part of a metal fastening hereinafter more
particularly described, and through the hole in the flap I pass the other part.
The flap and folds of the envelope being brought together for the purpose of
sealing the two parts of the fastener aforesaid come directly opposite each other
and on pressure being applied, either by hand, lever, percussion or other power, the
part in the flap, which is of a rivet formation enters into or engages with the other
part which is of a hollow shell cap forination and which receives the spreaded end
of the rivet, and thus the flap and folds are firmly and permanently secured together
and the envelope sealed.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings
and will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures
and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a hand lever press made with interchangeable dies for effecting the
perforating of the envelopes, or for effecting the clinching or driving home of the
fastening.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 with the "head" or plunger part broken away to shew
my invention more clearly.
Figs. 3 to 5 are sectional and plan views of the various forms of fasteners I
employ.
Figs. 6 to 7 illustrate different forms of dies for clenching or pressing the
fastener.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate detachable embossing dies which are capable of being
used in connection with my invention.
Fig. 10 illustrates a percussion pressing tool.
Fig. 11 is a side view of a special, simple and cheap form of tool for punching
the envelopes only, Fig. 12 being a transverse section of the punch head in the act
of punching.
Fig. 13 is a plan of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 illustrates the tool in use and shewing how the arm of the tool, or the
matrix, is placed behind the flap and folds to receive the blow of the punch.
Fig. 15 is a transverse section of the head of a modification of the tool shewn in
Figs. 11 and 14, being a combined punching and rivetting tool.
In accordance with my invention 1 form one or more perforations in the folds or
flaps of the envelope and for this purpose I may employ the tool shewn in
Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 which consists of a curved metal arm (A) with handie (B)
and carrying the matrix (C) and hinged lever (D)..
The lever carries a punch (E) provided with knob (F) and upheld by spring (G).

page_text: Under the influence of a spring (H) the normal position of the lever (D) is as
shewn in Figs. 11, 13 and 14.
The arm (A) is so curved as to be readily passed into the envelope when the
flap is closed down as shewn in Fig. 14 and to enable the matrix (C) to support
the paper during the act of punching and when the envelope has been punched the
arm (A) owing to its shape is readily withdrawn. The parts of the fastening to
be used for securing the envelope are now passed through the holes aforesaid and
the parts of such fastening are, by preference those shewn in Fig. (3) consisting
of the shell cap (I) which fits into the hole in the fold (J) of the envelope and the
hollow or tubular rivet (K) which fits into the hole in the flap (L), the cap (J)
being threaded through the fold (J) from the inside of the envelope and the
rivet (K) being threaded through the flap from the outside, and the two parts being
relatively in the positions shewn in Fig. (3). When the parts of the envelope
to be secured have been brought together, the rivet (K) is forced into engagement
with the shell cap (I) as shewn at (M) in Fig. (3) and thus the envelope is
secured. To effect this clinching or "driving home" of the rivet I may provide the
tool shewn in Figs. 11 to 14 with the combined punching and pressing die (N)
shewn in Fig. 15 by which the holes may be first formed, and by which the parts
of the fastener after having been placed in position (without the tool being removed)
may be fixed together.
In lieu of the tool previously described 1 prefer to employ the hand lever press
shewn in Fig. 1 as being more convenient and substantial and with which I can
effect, both punching and fastening operations, and also effect a series of other
useful purposes in connection with envelopes.
This lever press acts on the usual lever press principle, but instead of having
fixed dies it is made with loose inter-changeable dies according as it is required to
punch, rivet, fasten or emboss.
All the various dies attached to the press plunger are fixed with the set
screw (0). In the drawing the die for punching the envelopes is shewn in position,
consisting of the narrow punch (P). To guide the punch and to afford a guide for
the right holding of the envelope beneath the punch I employ a metal plate (Q)
clamped by screws (R) to the base of the press, and with the horizontal part formed
with a tonge (S) with a series of holes (T) corresponding to holes (U) in the edge
of the base.
The flap of the envelope to be perforated is passed under the plate (Q) and
turned down over the edge (Q1) onto the tonge (S) the fold being simultaneously
passed over such tonge and under the flap as shewn by the dotted lines.
In this position and as regulated by the distance of the edge (Q) of the plate
from the line of the punch the holes are punched into the folds and flap of the
envelope. When this has been done the punch (P) and the plate (Q) are
removed.
One or other of the presser dies (V) and (W) is next fixed to the press plunger
according as it is required to give the part (K) of the fastener a flattened or rounded
appearance.
The parts of the fastener being placed in the holes in the flap and folds of the
envelope the same are brought beneath the presser die which on being sharply
lowered drives home the rivet portion (K) and so seals the envelope.
In lieu of the press aforesaid I may employ the hard percussion tool (X) shewa
in Fig. (10) which is held over the fastening and struck by a hammer to close the
fastener.
For embossing the envelope before or after fastening I provide my improved
press with portable embossing dies (Y) and (Z) as shewn in Figs. (8) and (9)
(shewn on a larger scale) the lower die being fixed to a plate (a) which has
pins (b) at either end taking into corresponding holes (c) in the press base. The
base of the press is formed with small wells or recesses (d) in which a supply of
the parts of the fastener may be kept.
As a further modification of my invention and as a means of affording a greater

page_text: number of perforations in the envelope flap and folds, not attainable by the
plate (Q), I may employ a curved arm similar to that of the tool, shewn in Figs. 12
to 14 fixed on the base of the press so that the envelope can be brought beneath the
punch at varying points.
It will be obvious that the tool shewn in Figs. 12 and 14 can be made to punch
holes at any point along the flap edge.
In lieu of the form of fastening aforesaid I may employ the form shewn in
Fig. (4) consisting of the tubular rivet (d) and a thin washer or ring (e), the
fastening appearing open ended on the outside of the envelope when fixed. In the
fixing of this fastening I prefer to employ the die (f) shewn in Fig. (7) which turns
over the rivet end onto the washer and so makes a secure fastening. The washer
is made with a serrated edge as illustrated.
Another form of fastening consists of the tubular rivet (d) without the washer as
shewn in Fig. (5).
Another form of fastening consists of a closed ended stud (g) (see Fig. 54) with
a small indentation at (h). The tool for fixing this fastener is shewn in Fig. (7^)
which may either be used with the press aforesaid, or made in the form of the
percussion tool shewn in Fig. (10).
Having thus 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 :-
1st. For fastening, securing or sealing envelopes and the like the use of one or
other of the fasteners shewn in Figs. (3), (4), (5) and (5), fixed by the lever press
shewn in Fig. 1 substantially as set forth and illustrated.
2nd. For perforating the flap and folds of envelopes and the like for the purpose
of fastening them together the use of the tool shewn in Figs. 11 to 14 substantially
as set forth.
3rd. The combined tool described in connection with Fig. 15 substantially as set
forth.
4th. In perforating envelopes for the fastening of the same, the use of a
curved arm (A) or its equivalent, capable of being introduced into the interior
of the envelope as and for the purposes described and shewn in Figs. 11, 13
and 14.
5th. The lever press shewn in Fig. 1 with interchangeable die or embossing
blocks substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6th. The plate (Q) with holes (T) as and for the purposes described.
7th. The hand percussion tool shewn in Fig. (10) as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 9th day of March 1895.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.