Improvements in Apparatus for Moistening and Sealing Envelopes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Moistening and Sealing
Envelopes.
A communication by ELMER GRANT LEECH, of Aberdeen, in the County or
Brown and State of South Dakota, United States of America, Telegraph
Operator, and CHARLES AMBROSE CROWL, of the City of Minneapolis, in
the County of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, United States of America,
Bookkeeper.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the Conaty of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 is a machine for sealing envelopes, its object being to provide a
machine through which the envelope is carried, its gummed flap being automatically
moistened and sealed in transit.
To this end this invention consists in providing a series of carrying rolls in
combination with a roll for moistening the gummed flap of the envelope, and a
guide or folder for closing the flap, the envelope being sealed by the pressure of the
delivery rolls.
Means are further provided for adjusting the apparatus for different sized
envelopes, and also means for preventing the envelope dropping between the pairs
of rolls.
This invention further consists in the features of construction hereinafter more
particularly described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification;
Fig. 1 is an elevation of this invention, partially broken away to show the
adjustable stop for engaging the side of the envelope;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of this improved apparatus ;
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line x-x of Fig. 1, with the handle
removed, and
Fig. 4 is a detail of the guide for closing the flap of the envelope after it has
been moistened.
In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, in which are journaled
the transverse feed rolls 2 and 3, the delivery rolls 4 and 5, and the intermediate
guide rolls 6 and 7. These rolls are operated by intermeshing gear 8, 9, 10, 11
and 12, actuated by the handle 13; or, if desired, other suitable means, such as
clockwork, may be substituted.
In order to hold the upper rolls 3, 7 and 5 with resilient pressure against the
lower rolls, vertical slots 14 are provided in the sides of the machine, to receive
the ends of the shafts of the upper rolls, and springs 15 are arranged above said
shafts. The lower roll 2 at the receiving end of the machine is considerably
shorter than the upper roll, and between it and the side of the machine is a wetting
roll 16 covered with felt or other absorbent material, said roll turning in a water
pan 17.
The intermediate guide rolls 6 and 7 extend but partly across the machine, the
lower roll 6 being supported in the bracket 18, the shaft 19 of the upper roll

page_text: extending across, and being secured in, the side wall of the machine. Arranged in
the space between the rolls 6 and 7 and the side of the machine is the guide or
folder B, by means of which the envelope flap is turned against the envelope.
This folder, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, is substantially angle shaped, its lower
side 26 being a curved surface warped or bent upward toward the delivery end, so
as to constitute a narrow slot 20 between it and the plane surfaced top 27. Thus
as the envelope passes from the feed rolls, and is engaged by the guide rolls,
the flap will strike the warped surface 26 of the folder, by which it will be
gradually turned against the envelope, so that by the time it reaches the delivery
rolls it is completely folded, and the passage through the delivery rolls completes
the act of sealing. The parts are so positioned that the flap of the envelope will
strike the warped surface 26 as the envelope is leaving the feed rolls, and since of
course the tendency of the flap is to turn under, it will be easily turned against the
envelope by the folder. The folder is formed with a downwardly projecting
standard 28, by which it is secured to the bottom of the machine, and is also formed
at its top with a laterally projecting flange 29, by which it is attached to the side
wall of the machine.
In order to prevent the end of the envelope dropping between the series of rolls,
an intermediate platform 21 is ordinarily provided. In order also to adapt the
machine to be used for different widths of envelope, a laterally adjustable stop
or strip 23 is provided having slot and screw connection 24 with the platform 25
in front of the feed rolls, or any other suitable construction of stop answering the
purpose may be used. The stop may thus be laterally adjusted so as to engage the
bottom edge of the envelope and held it in proper position between the rolls, as
shown in Figure 2, with the gummed flap in contact with the wetting roll.
It will be evident that the parts of this machine may be differently adjusted, so
as to adapt it for different lengths and widths of envelope, without departing from
the idea of this invention, and that the machine may be otherwise modified in details
of construction. The carrying rolls may be made of wood, rubber, or any other
suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, the pair of feed rolls,
the means for moistening the flap of an envelope as delivered by said feed rolls,
the means for folding the flap upon the body of the envelope, and the sealing
rolls.
2. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, the feed rolls, the
moistening roll, the folder, and the sealing rolls arranged and operating substantially
as described, whereby the envelope with the flap extended may be inserted between
the feed rolls and automatically moistened and sealed by its passage through the
apparatus.
3. In a machine for sealing envelopes, the combination with the pair of feed
rolls, of the wetting roll for moistening the envelope flap, the guide and delivery
rolls, and the folder for closing said flap upon the body of the envelope.
4. In a machine for sealing envelopes, the combination with the pair of feed
rolls, the adjacent wetting roll for moistening an envelope flap, and the guide and
delivery rolls, of the folder for closing the flap while the envelope is in transit,
and a laterally adjustable guide for adapting the machine for different sizes of
envelopes.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.