IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wright and Edwin Sturge, of the
Cornwall Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Engineers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
Sealed the 30th March 1858, and dated the, 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wright and.
Edwin Sturge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 1st October 1852.
We, JOHN WRIGHT and EDWIN STURGE, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF ENVELOPES" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a novel construction or arrangement of
machinery whereby envelopes may be manufactured with great expedi-
tion. In the machines now employed for folding envelopes the paper
or paper cloth as it is fed into the machine is first creased, and then
folded. By our Invention these two results are effected by one and the
same operation. The paper having been cut to the required shape for
forming an envelope is laid upon a plate a, shewn in plan view at
Fig. 1, in the Drawing, having a suitable cavity cut in it to allow the

page_text: paper, to pass through when driven down by a plunger, as will be pre-
sently explained.
Immediately above the plate a, a plunger is situate, which receives a
vertical up and down motion from a crank shaft and connecting rod
for the purpose of driving down the paper through the plate a. Below
this plate a, is another plate b, (see the cross section, Fig. 2,) having a
central opening corresponding in form and size to the envelope to be
constructed. This plate b, is furnished with slots as shewn by dots in
Fig. 1 and between these two plates radial recesses are provided to re-
ceive four sliders c, c, for folding over the lappets of the envelope. The
motion of the sliders is communicated through pins which project down
(one from each slider) into corresponding curved slots in an annular
plate d, d, having a reciprocating axial motion imparted to it. The
edges of the slots will, therefore, press against the pins of the sliders c, c,
as this plate moves round, and cause them to advance at every ascent
of the plunger and recede immediately the folding is effected. By the
descent of the plunger the paper to form the envelope will be driven
down into the cavity of the plate b, and will be thereby creased; and at
the same time (the lappets being thrown up around the plunger)
gumming apparatus will advance and gum one of the side lappets, so
.that the end lappets may be secured thereto when the folding of the
envelope is completed. The sliders c, c, will now advance and fold
over the lappets.
a
Simultaneously with this motion a piston situate below these plates,
and working in a well or case affixed to the bed of the machine, will
rise and press the now folded envelope against the sliders, and thereby
complete the folding operation. The piston will then descend, bringing
with it the envelope, which, by micans of a hinged piece that forms the
top surface of the piston, and is made to rise on its hinges as the piston
descends, discharges the envelope through an opening made in the side
of the well or case. The rise of this piston and of the top plunger is
simultaneous, suitable mechanical arrangements being provided to com-
municate these motions; and the advance of the gumming apparatus
and the descent of the plunger are also simultaneous.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Wright and Edwin Sturge in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc,
JOHN WRIGHT and EDWIN STURGE, of the Cornwall Road, Lambeth,
in the County of Surrey, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said John Wright and Edwin Sturge, Her especial
licence that we, the said John Wright and Edwin Sturge, our execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns. or such others as we, the said John
Wright and Edwin Sturge, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF ENVELOPES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
John Wright and Edwin Sturge, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Wright and Edwin
Sturge, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, (that is to say):

page_text: This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery, by the
use of which the manufacture of envelopes will be greatly facilitated
and a considerable economy will be effected, owing to the great regu-
larity in the operation of the machine.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1, shews, in end elevation, a
machine calculated to manufacture four sizes of envelopes simul-
taneously. Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view taken in the line 1, 2, of
Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation taken in the line 3, 4, of
Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section of the machine taken in
the line 5, 6, of Fig. 2. a, a, is the main framing, supporting at its
upper part the table b, which carries the creasing and folding boxes.
These boxes are respectively set immediately over an opening in the
table to admit of the ascent of a pressing plate in the manner and for
the purpose to be presently explained. Each box is bolted firmly to
the table, as shewn at Fig. 4, and is composed mainly of two circular
plates c, and d, the upper one of which is cut away at the middle to
the form corresponding to that of the paper intended to be supplied
through that opening to the box, for the purpose of being converted
into envelopes, while the lower plate has a central opening correspond-
ing to the form and size of the envelope required to be made. These
plates c, and d, are secured together by pins, which form the arbors for
guide rollers e, e, (see the detached view, Fig. 5.) and they are set at
such a distance apart as to allow of the free revolution of the rollers.
Between these rollers e, e, four sliders f, f. (whose office is to turn over
the lappets of the envelopes) are placed. Motion is communicated to
these sliders by means of an annular plate g, mounted on anti-friction
rollers h, h, immediately under the box and concentric therewith. This
plate is provided with four excentric slots (as shewn in the detached
view, Fig. 6), and itself receives a reciprocating axial motion. From
the lower face of each slider f, a pin projects downwards, and carries an
anti-friction roller which works in the slots of the plate g. radial slots
(as shewn by dots in Fig. 5) being made in the plate d, to admit of
the insertion of the pins into their respective excentric slots. On the
periphery of the plate g, a segment rack i, is fixed, and into this seg-
ment rack a straight rack, extending across the machine, gears. This

page_text: rack k, is actuated by means of a reciprocating segment rack 1, carried
by a vibrating arm m, which is keyed to a rocking shaft 1. A slot is
made in the table to receive the rack k, and guide it in its backward
and forward motions, and also to allow of teeth on its under side pro-.
jecting through the table and gearing into the segment rack below.
Besides the lines of teeth already mentioned, this rack is provided with
a second line of lateral teeth to allow of its working the segment rack
plates g, of folding boxes situate on both sides thereof. Each pair of
boxes is provided with a frame for carrying plungers, whose duties are
respectively to crease and press the envelope. These frames are com-
posed of an upper and lower cross-head o, o, connected together by
rods 1, 2, which slide in journals provided for them in the table. The
vertical position of the frame during its up and down movements is en-
sured by the continuation downward of the rods, as shewn at p*, *,
such continuations working in journals carried by brackets 7, 9, affixed
to the main framing. are plungers attached to their respective
cross-heads, and intended, the upper ones r, to drive down the paper
which is supplied to the machine into the recess or central opening in
the plate d, and the latter to raise a swinging plates, suspended below
the table b, and press that plate against the folded envelope. These
plates, are respectively carried by a pair of weighted arms t, t, which
swing in slotted bearings w, bolted to the under side of the table b, and
they thus receive a tendency to retain an elevated position. Their de-
pression at the time that a folded envelope is ready to be discharged
from the box is ensured by means of the lower plungers *. These
plungers, it should be understood, in their ascent drive up the plates s,
and cause them to press upon the folded envelope, over which the
sliders, have closed; but as they descend they strike against a bent
wire or stop piece of the plates, and thereby draw them down, and
allow of the discharge of the envelopes.
The vertical movements of the plungers are obtained in the following
manner-Keyed to opposite ends of the shaft , are levers 1, v. which
are connected by links w, w, to the plunger frames, consisting of the
cross-heads and connecting rods o, o, and p. p. On the shaft 2. an
arni a, is keyed fast, and this arm is, by means of a rod and crank y,

page_text: connected to the main driving shaft, which receives rotary motion
through a driving strap and pulley from any first mover. When,
therefore, the shaft, is made to rotate, it will, through the crank
and connecting rod y, and the arm a, cause the shaft n, to rock and
vibrate the levers v, v, which levers, through the connecting links w. w.
will raise and depress the two plunger frames alternately.
In order to gum the paper before it is folded, the following con-
trivance is adopted :-Below each box is a branch fountain tube 1, (see
the detached view, Fig. 7,) which conveys a gummy solution to two
channels.or slots cut in the plate d, and keeps them constantly full
during the operation of the machine. These slots are so arranged as to
guide the gum in a proper direction to that lappet which is to be first
folded over. To ensure the contact of the paper with the gum a
presser is employed to press down that portion of the paper which lies
over the slots. This action must be performed immediately before the
descending plunger 1, reaches the paper to effect the creasing and to
ensure its timely performance; motion is communicated to the presser
by a stud projecting from the rod of the plunger r, striking against a
latch carried by the presser rod. In Fig. 3, this pressing apparatus is
shewn in elevation. To the plate c, is bolted a bracket 23which
carries à spring box 3, containing a helical spring. This spring sur-
rounds the upper end of a rod 4, which is the pressing rod, and has a
tendency to keep that rod elevated. To the lower end of the rod 4,
two clastic cushions or pressing picces are loosely attached, a helical
spring being interposed between them and the rod to allow of their
yielding to undue pressure. The rod 4, is fitted with a latch 5, which
is capable of sliding in its guide; and by means of a pin projecting
from the latch into a slot formed in the bracket 2, this latch will be
drawn back clear of the stud of the plunger when the requisite pressure
has been put on that part of the paper which lies over the slots or guni
channels in the plate d; and when clear of the stud the rod 4, will sud-
denly rise to its former elevation by reason of the expansive force of the
helical spring in the spring box.
It will now be understood that paper is fed to each box when the
top plunger is raised, and that the descent of that plunger will first

page_text: cause the gumming of the paper by means of the apparatus just
explained, and will then force the paper into the central opening in the
plate d, and thereby crease. it to the size of the envelope. By: this
action the lappets will be thrown up; and the sliders f will now advance
to turn them over, the plunger rising-in the meantime to permit of
this action.
.
It should here be remarked that it is important to the proper folding
of envelopes that the lappets shall follow each other in a given relative
order, and that they should fold over without buckling or creasing. To
ensure these conditions the sliders in this machine are arranged in the
manner shewn at Fig. 5, so that they commence to act upon the paper
at the ends of the creases instead of the middle of the lappet; as is the
common practice in envelope-folding machines, and they are so shaped
that each slider will act upon two lappets. This shape is further con-
trolled so
that those portions of the inner ends or acting edges of the
sliders which are intended to turn over the gumned-lappets shall act
first; then those parts which turn over the side lappets; and lastly,
those which turn over the lappet which usually carries the wafer, crest,
or seal. As the top plunger rises, the rack ke, by means of the vibrating
segment rack 7, on the rocking shaft m. is made to drive round the
plate g, the excentric slots of which, by acting on the anti-friction
rollers of the sliders, are made to draw the sliders inwards, and fold over
the lappets of the envelope. The lower plunger now rises and forces
up the swing plates, into contact with the envelope, whereby it is com-
pressed and rendered fit to be discharged from the machine. This is
effected, as before stated, by the descent of the lower plunger bringing
down the swing plates, and opening a passage 'for its escape. Simul-
taneously with the descent of the lower plunger is the descent of the
upper to repeat the action of creasing; the attendants have, therefore,
to feed each box immediately on the discharge of the finished envelope
therefrom. When the pressure is taken off the envelope, the axial motion
of the plate g, is reversed, and the sliders are thereby drawn back ready
to repeat the folding action on the next charge of paper. On reference
to Fig: 6, it will be observed that the extremities of the grooves in the
plate g, are made concentric; this is for the purpose of rendering the

page_text: sliders quiescent when both the pressing and the gumining operations
are being performed. To ensure the proper degree of pressing, the
bottom plungers are fitted with set screws, the elevation or depression
of which will determine the degree of pressure to be put upon the
swing plate, and by that to be transmitted to the envelope.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent we claim as of our improvements in
machinery for the manufacture of envelopes-
First, the general arrangement of the machine, as above described
and shewn in the Drawings.
Secondly, the mode of constructing and arranging the sliders, as
shewn in the Drawings, whereby the folding over of the lappets of the
envelope in their proper consecutive order is ensured.
Thirdly, connecting the upper and lower plunger together so as to
ensure their alternate action upon the envelope, for creasing and press-
ing the same.
Fourthly, the use of the swing plate which supports the paper or
other material while being folded, and through the action of the lower
plunger presses the envelope and effects its discharge from the
machine.
And, lastly, the means above set forth, whereby we are enabled to
actuate the sliders of several boxes by means of one reciprocating
rack.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Wright and Edwin
Sturge, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirty-first
day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
UHN VRIGHT.
EDWIN STURGE.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)