AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR PACKING, MOULDING, AND COMPRESSING FLOUR, TEA, TOBACCO, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES INTO PACKETS OR PARCELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Joyce, of Mile End Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
FOR PACKING, MOULDING, AND COMPRESSING FLOUR, TEA, TOBACCO, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES INTO PACKETS OR PARCELS."
Sealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 8th August 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Joyce at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1877.
JOHN JOYCE, of Mile End Road, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR PACKING, MOULDING, AND COMPRESSING
FLOUR, TEA, TOBACCO, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES INTO PACKETS OR PARCELS."
My said Invention relates to the construction of an improved machine for
packing, moulding, and compressing flour, tea, tobacco, and other substances into
packets of any desired weight and size with great facility and rapidity.
I will in the first place give a general description of the machine:-The main
body of the machine consists of a frame, on the upper part of which is placed a bed
plate of any desired shape and size. Beneath the bed plate, and within the frame
of the machine are fixed two or more brackets or bearings, in which a main
horizontal shaft is mounted so as to rotate freely therein, and by which the
mechanism employed is actuated, and for which purpose two main cams, and also a
spur wheel, are keyed or otherwise secured to the said shaft. Upon the upper side
of the bed plate are fixed two vertical columns or pillars which act as guides to a
horizontal cross head, the latter being provided with suitable collars or cylindrical
attachments, which enable it to work upwards and downwards upon the said
columns or pillars. A rammer or piston is attached to the cross head, and is capable
of being raised or depressed therewith, and also two vertical rods of any required
length, the lower ends of the same being provided with rollers, which respectively
work in the sides of the cams so as to give the requisite raising and lowering action
to the rammer or piston. Upon the upper face of the bed plate are mounted three
or more rollers, on which is placed a circular feed ring capable of revolving on the
rollers. The said circular feed ring carries any desired number of moulds, which

page_text: '
are respectively fitted into recesses in the said ring, and bolted thereto. The ring is
caused to revolve by means of a rack and pinion, which are carried on the under
side of the bed plate, and by which a shaft running vertically with the ring and
bed plate is driven. The said vertical shaft is provided with a horizontal lever and
pawl, which are so arranged as to move the feed ring round any desired portion of
a revolution to one revolution of the main shaft, and which movement brings one of
the moulds under the centre of the cross head to receive pressure from the rammer
or piston. The rammer or piston having been caused to descend and to compress
the substance in the mould, and having been withdrawn by the action of the before
mentioned mechanism, the feed ring is moved by the lever and pawl in one move-
ment to the folders, which turn in the top of the paper and thus complete the packet
or parcel.
The folding portion of the apparatus is constructed as follows:-Two columns or
brackets are screwed on or otherwise attached to the bed plate, and by which they
are supported. Two slides are also arranged to work opposite each other, and in a
line with the mould which contains the packet or parcel to be folded. The first
folder is constructed with two moveable or expanding arms or levers fitted to one of
the said slides, into which slide is also fitted a spindle carrying a circular disc, or an
equivalent therefor, from which motion is given to the before-mentioned arms or
levers. The disc is moved by a crank or lever, which engages into a latch or catch
fastened on to the end of the pillar or bracket. A metal plate or blade, of the width
of the packet or parcel to be folded, is fixed to the slide of the second folder. On
the packet or parcel reaching the folder, the arms or levers are forced forward by a
spring; and turn in one side of the packet or parcel. The slide supporting the arms
or levers is then withdrawn by means of a gut or chain worked by a cam and a
lever on the main shaft. Whilst being withdrawn the arms expand by the above
mentioned means and throw out the ears or corners of the packets. The second
folder then comes into operation, the same being actuated by a gut, lever, and cam
on the main shaft in the manner before mentioned, and levels the top of the packet
or parcel, and holds the same whilst two swinging levers or an equivalent therefor
(constructed to relieve themselves from the packet or parcel on the return motion)
worked by a rack and pinion beneath the bed plate, close down the two remaining
corners and finish the packet. The next movement of the feed ring brings the
packet or parcel over a square hole or aperture which is formed in the bed plate.
A rod which is actuated by the mechanism below the bed plate, as herein-after
mentioned, then passes through the said hole or aperture and forces out the finished
packet or parcel which has been folded or finished as before mentioned. The said
last-mentioned rod is driven by a stud on the edge of the before-mentioned spur
wheel, or by a separate cain which is attached to the main shaft.
For the working of the machine a sufficient number of funnels of the proper size
and shape are provided, round which an attendant folds the wrappers and then
places then in the moulds. The attendant weighs or measures the substance to be
packed, moulded, and compressed, and places it in the funnels which are inserted in
the interior of the moulds. When the substance has received the requisite pressure
from the rammer or piston, the funnels are alternately lifted out of the moulds by
two vertical rods having T-shaped ends, and which work through the bed plate, and
are raised by a stud on the spur wheel, or by a separate cam attached to the main
shaft. Upon the funnels being lifted clear of the top of the moulds they are caught
by a forked horizontal lever, which is carried by a vertical shaft worked by a rack
and pinion on the under side of the bed plate, and are swung round to the position
for again folding the wrappers. The racks for driving the feed-ring shaft and funnel
A first-motion shaft
shaft receive their motion from stud cams on the main shaft.
carries a pinion which gears into the spur wheel, and on the other end of such shaft
are fast and loose riggers.
A lever is attached to the cross head for the purpose of obtaining a longer stroke
from the main cams when required for large packets or parcels. The rammer or
piston is adjusted to the requisite length by a screw which is cut along its length,

page_text: as shewn in the annexed Drawings. On the feed ring arriving each time at its
required distance it is automatically locked by means of a pin working vertically
through the bed plate and feed ring, the same being actuated by means of levers
worked by a cam or tappet on the main shaft.
For the purpose of driving the machine, steam, manual, or any other suitable
motive power may be employed.
I will now proceed to refer to the two annexed Sheets of Drawings, in which the
several Figures are numbered seriatim, and from which the nature of my said
Invention will be more clearly understood. The same letters of reference indicate
similar parts in the several Figures.
Figure 1 is a top view of the machine; Figure 2 is a front view, and Figure 3 a
side view of the same; Figure 4 is a detached view of the end of one of the before-
mentioned swinging levers for completing the folding of the packets or parcels; and
Figure 5 is a view of the folder herein-before described, with moveable or expanding
arms.
A is the bed plate; a, lever for unlocking the feed ring herein mentioned; B is a
spring attached to one of the before-mentioned rods with T heads for releasing the
rammer or piston when it is desired to clear the same when the forked lever removes
the funnel, the rammer or piston having previously been held by a bolt and spring b.
C are the brackets for supporting the main shaft; D is the main shaft, and E the
main cams, E being balance weights attached thereto; F are the pillars which
serve as guides to the crosshead; G is the crosshead; H the rammer or piston; H'
the feed ring; I are the moulds; J, J', are the pinion and rack for actuating the
lover J2 which rotates the feed ring; K is the first folder, and K¹ the moveable or
expanding arms thereof; K2 is the crank or lever for working the rotating disc L,
and engages into the latch K³; M is the second folder, having the metal plate or
blade M'; N, N¹, shew the guts for actuating the folders, and which are worked by
the levers 0¹, 0%, governed by the cams 0,0; P, P, are the swinging levers for
completing the folding operation; Q, the rod for ejecting the packet or parcel from
the mould; and R is the stud or edge of the spur wheel S for actuating the latter;
T is a funnel; U, U, the T headed rods before mentioned, and V the cam working
the said rods; W is the forked lever; W₁, W2, are the rack and pinion for working,
the same; X is the first-motion shaft, with the pinion X'; and Y, Y¹, are the fast
and loose riggers before mentioned; Z is the pin stop for the feed ring.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that I do.
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein-before described, inasmuch
as variations may be made therefrom without departing from the main principles
of my said Invention, neither do I claim all the several parts of the mechanism
herein-before described separate and apart from each other as being of my Invention,
but what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting my said
Invention are,—
First. The folding apparatus above mentioned, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth.
And, Secondly. The combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism herein-
before mentioned, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Joyce, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN JOYCE. (L.S.)