IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPE MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Mason Lester, of Norwich, in the County of New
London, and State of Connecticut, in the United States of North America, for
au Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPE MACHINES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Daniel Mason Lester at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1880.
DANIEL MASON LESTER, of Norwich, in the County of New London, and State
of Connecticut, and United States of North America. IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPE
MACHINES."
$8
My Invention relates, first, to that class of envelope-machines in which the
envelope-blanks are placed upon a-platforin underneath a gummer, which picks up
a blank at the same time that it gums its sealed flap, and after holding it up long
enough to allow the removing mechanism to pass under it, delivers it to said
removing mechanism. It further relates to the means for counting and arranging
the envelopes in packs of twenty-five as they are passed out from the folding and
gumming mechanisın. The Invention consists,-
First. In a novel arrangement of gum boxes from which the gum is carried
automatically by a moving roller to the guminer.
Second. In a new and improved construction of the pressure fingers which rest
upon the file blanks and prevent more than one being picked up at each upward
movement of the gummer; and
Third. In an automatic upward feed of the bed on which the blanks rest, so that
the gummer not only passes always through the same space, but also presses
downwardly the the blanks upon the elevator-bed itself. It further consists in
a novel arrangement of devices hereinafter described, whereby the receiver in which
the gummed envelopes are deposited is shunted to first one side and then the other
as often as twenty-five envelopes are delivered into said receiver, and in a novel
arrangement for preventing a count unless an envelope passes, as hereinafter
explained.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gummer;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a side elevation taken from the
opposite side to Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the platform or upper frame, with the
opening through which the envelope-blank elevator or bed rises and falls, showing
also the pressure fingers; Figure 5 is a side view of the post and pressure finger;

page_text: and Figure 6 represents the post in section. The foregoing Figures relate to the
gumming devices and the means for discharging the gummed blanks therefrom.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the machine or attachment for counting and
arranging the envelopes in packs; Figure 8 is a vertical cross section of the same
showing the principal working parts; Figure 9 is a detail view of a part of the
serpentine cam; Figure 10 is a detail view of the check arrangement for the pawl;
and Figure 11 shows packs of envelopes as deposited in the receiver. Similar
letters and figures of reference denote corresponding parts wherever used.
A represents the pile of envelope-blanks to be gummed upon their "scal-flaps,"
so called; B, the upper platform of the machine; C, an upright frame or bar moving
automatically in slots a, a, through mechanism to be hereinafter described, and
carrying the pawl D which at each upward movement of the bar rotates the rack-
wheel D'; E is a pawl which prevents any backward movement of rack-wheel D¹,
while the motor-pawl D goes downward to take a new bite; F is a lever by which
the pawl E is released, and the elevator or bed B allowed to drop to receive a
fresh pilo of blanks; bis the spring to keep pawl D engaged with n rack-wheel E;
b', the spring which keeps pawl E in engagement with said wheel D'; G, G, are the
rollers journaled upon the gum boxes H, H, which serve to convoy gum to the
roller I which reciprocates and touches first the one and then the other, and during
its passage passes under the edges of the gummer J leaving upon it a supply of
gum for gumming and lifting the blank; K, K, K, K, are the four posts which
confine and guide the upper part of the pile of blanks, and in each one works in a
slot the fingers L, which by gravity holds down the upper blank until the gummer
picks it up; M is the gear wheel which is upon the same rotating shaft as and
operated by the rack-wheel D¹; N is a vertical rack attached to the blank clevator
or bod, and operated by the gear-wheel M; A' is a crank, and used merely to
represent any proper power applied at that point to the shaft B' running lengthwise
of the machine; C, Figure 1, is a small gear-wheel carried by shaft B', and this
meshes into a wheel D³ upon a short shaft parallel to B'; D³ only appears in
Figure 3 where it shuts off entirely the view of C¹. In Figure 1 C¹ only is shown,
Ds being located immediately in its rear. It carries by its short shaft a cam E¹
which strikes against a roller e upon a short horizontally-lying arm, one end only
of which is seen at f. This arm through a curved link g (shown in Figure 1, and
also Figure 3) moves another short arm O, Figure 3, which rocks a shaft P, P,
(shown in Fig. 2). The shaft P, P, carries at either end an arın Q, one shown in :
Figure 1 and one in Figure 3. The arms Q, Q, carry each a horizontal arm R
pivoted thereto at h. The outer extremities of each horizontal arm R carry a
guide-block S which passes backward and forward upon guide-rods T, T. At lower
ends of guide blocks S and journaled therein is the gummer roller I mentioned
above.
i is a spring to keep the short arm and its roller e upon the surface of its
operating cam E'. The parts thus far are those used to reciprocate the gummer-
roller. The before mentioned shaft B¹ at its end opposite the movements just above
described, carries a cam F¹ upon which rides a friction roll K on connecting rod U,
which crank is slotted at the bottom end for passage of shaft B' and to allow the
necessary vertical motion. The crank U is pivoted to a short arm V attached to a
rock-shaft W journaled in an upright m. At the opposite end of shaft W is also a
rocking arm X pivoted to a short arm or connecting link n (seen in Figure 2)
which connects it with the upright post y of the gummer. The link n is seen only
in Figure 2 of Drawings. The upright y of the gummer is rigidly attached to a
cross-bar Z which carries the angular gummer J before mentioned. This second
part of the description of the Figures relates merely to the mechanism for imparting
an up and down motion to the gummer. On the horizontal shaft B₁ is a second
motor cam A which works against a roller o, Figure 3, on an arm B which is
held downward by a coil-spring . This arm B is pivoted at p, Figure 1, to
a rocking-arm C attached to a rock-shaft D" which rock-shaft carries another
short rigidly attached arm E", Figure 2, which lifts the plate C and thereby rotates

page_text: f
the rack-wheel D'. Another short arm F", Figure 2, located on shatt B' near said
arm El forces down the said plate C with its pawl D to take a new bite on the
rack-wheel D'. The pawl E, as hereinbefore set forth, holds the rack-wheel from
slipping backward while pawl D is passing down over the teeth. The wheel M
meshing in rack N at every movement upward of pawl D feeds upward the elevator
or blank bed. The above describes the Figures illustrating the mechanism for
automatically feeding upward the elevator-bed. Figures 5 and 6 show a rigid
finger bent on itself approximately at right anges. It is pivoted in the rear of the
post K, and its upper or horizontal portion moves freely in a slot G². The modo
of operation of this gummer is readily understood from the above. It is to be
understood that the improvements mentioned above can be applied and used in any
of the well-known envelope machines. Inasmuch as my said improvements do not
at all relate to or modify the usual endless aprons to carry off each blank after the
'seal-flap" so called is gummed, these parts and the driers and various other parts
are not shown in the Drawings, they are left out so as to give clearer illustrations
of my improvements than could be well done if the Figures were crowded with all
the other and well-known parts of any well-known machine to which it could be
applied. In regard to my first above described improvement it will be seen that I
have two gum boxes, one each side of the gummer, and that while the gummer is
elevated the roller passes under and supplies it with gum from one of the boxes.
On the return of this gummer roller I it also carries gum from the second box of
gum, located upon the opposite side of tho gummer from the first mentioned box.
By this means I can reduce the speed of the gumming roller while moving the
other parts of the machine at full speed. I thus give it more time to sweep across
face of the gummers, and reduce the chances of throwing and wasting gum. Of
course, with usual speed of gumming-rollers I could greatly increase the speed of
the machine generally, for the gumming-roller has to pass only once across the bed of
blanks instead of twice, as in all other machines with which I am acquainted. The
rollers G, G, distribute the gum upon the guinming-roller proper I. The usual
scraper or "doctor," as it is called, is not shown, as it is of usual form and
application. After each envelope is gummed and picked up on the angular
gummer J it is deposited in any of the usual ways upon any well-known form of
carrier to be removed for folding and drying. When the inner point of the finger L
is raised by a blank as the gummer J picks it up, it is carried inward and upward
to the inner edge of the post, moving in a rectangular slot G. As the blank passes
this finger point just at the face of the post, the said finger is in readiness to fall
upon and secure the next blank should it chance to be escaping. In most of the
machinies with which I, as a manufacturer of envelope-machines, am acquainted, the
finger is carried up perpendicularly until there is room enough for the blank to
wrinkle and pass from under said fingers. In such cases, owing to the unequal
thickness of the paper or of the gum, it frequently happens that the fingers on
account of the weight pull blanks off the gummer, and loso or skip a blank that
ought to have been picked up. This at times and with certain kinds of paper is
very troublesome.
I overcome these well-known objections, as my fingers fall back and let the
blank pass without wrinkling. At the same time my said fingers are in a position
to fall upon and hold back any blank which may have started underneath the
J
gummed one. By my automatically upward-fed elevator or bed B' the gummer
in its descent to the pile does not have to make half the distance as in the ordinary
machines; the gummer therefore can be given a much steadier and easier movement,
and at the same time the speed of the machine can be greatly increased. The
devices for counting the envelopes and arranging them in packs of twenty-five are
as follows, viz.:-1 is the platform of the attachment, which is connected with any
ordinary folder; 2 is the receiver into which the envelopes are automatically placed
in packages of twenty-five as delivered from the folder; 3 is a weighted slide to
hold the packs in place until removed; 4 is a plate which forces each envelope
separately into its place in the pack which is being formed in the receiver, and 5 is

page_text: a cam on shaft 6 which operates upon the short end of the lever 4 which carries
the push-plate 4 forward and backward; 7 is a second can on the shaft 6 for
operating a forked lever 11 which is connected with and operates a second lever 9,
carrying at its outer end a pawl 18 which operates a circular rack 8; this rack has
fifty teeth, and rotates once for each two packs of envelopes carried to place in the
receiver; this rack 8 has connected with it, or integral with it as may be preferred,
a serpentine cam; the direction of which is changed at two points 5 and 6º. In
the groove of the serpentine can is a pin 7º connected with a jointed lever 12, 13,
for shunting the receiver from side to side as stated above. One end of 12 is
secured to the frame of the machine and serves as a fulcrum, and the other end is
secured to the underside of the receiver 2; 11* is a coiled spring for forcing back
the pawl arm 9; 1, Figure 10, is a short lever attached to a rock-shaft 14 which
carries a pendent plate or projection 80 lying directly in the path of the envelopes;
this short lever 1ª is pivoted to an upright 24, which in turn is jointed to an arm 4ª
at 3; the arm 4ª carries, bent at right angles to it, a cheek-plate 15 which passes
directly under the pawl 10 filling up the tooth of the rack, so that said pawl when
moved forward will slide over without turning the rack 8 forward. Whenever the
top of an envelope in its passage forward forces the plate 8ª aside, this plate 15 is
taken out of the path of the pawl, which can then perform its function of turning
forward the circular rack one, tiftieth of its circumference. This operation of this
part of the machine is as follows:-In practice 6 may be the shaft of the folding
machine or attachment carrying the two cams 5 and 7. It will be seen that by the
revolution of cam 5 the lever 4a is reciprocated, and through it the plate 4 is pushed
forward with the envelope dropped from the folding machine in front of it. The
top of this envelope as it passes forward forces forward the plate Sa, which, through
the intermediate mechanism above described raises the cheek-plate 15 out of the
path of the pawl 10 which is operated by the smaller cam 7 through levers 11 and 9.
If by any means an envelope is not dropped before the plate 4, the plate 15
is not removed out of the path of the pawl, and so no count is made, that is to say,
the rack is not moved forward one tooth of the count of twenty-five. As soon as
the rack has turned forward twenty-five teeth, or received twenty-five forward
movements from the pawl above described, then the pin 7 is turned from its course
by either the turn 5* or 6ª in the path of the serpentine cam attached to the disc
rack 8 and moving with it.
It will readily be seen from the above that although the machine continues its
revolutions, and the plate 4 moves backward and forward, the rack-wheel cannot
go forward a single count until the top of a passing envelope forces the projection 8a
forward and lifts the obstructing, plate away from the pawl. It will also be scen
that as often as twenty-five envelopes are counted the pin 78 changes to to one side
by a turn or bend in the path of the serpentine cam, and through its lever con-
nections shunts or switches the receiver 2 an inch or so to one side. Thus while
the envelopes go forward in a direct line the receiver, as fast as twenty-five arc
passed through into it, slides an inch, more or less, to the right and left alternately.
This leaves each package of twenty-five projecting an inch or so to the right or
left of the preceding package, and facilitates the removal of the packs without
danger of mixing them. I am aware that a vibrating blade has been arranged to
constitute a divider for the envelopes, and a resistance plate for the guminer, said
dividing blade lifting up to the gummer a few blanks, and taking the pressure of
the gummer. This however in practice I find not so reliable and convenient as to
have the entire elevator or bed carry up the blanks at each revolution of the
machine; this is simpler, easier, and more reliable. Much less complication of parts
is necessary, and the same liability to skip blanks does not occur. At any rate my
automatically-elevated bed proper is substantially different from the vibrating
dividing-arm alluded to, which I hereby fully disclaim. For my substantially
different device I have a clearly-defined purpose of utility, as above set forth. I 5
an also aware that double paste boxes and rollers are not, broadly, new in machines,
nor do I claim such. I am however the first to combine double gum boxes and

page_text: rollers with the vertically-reciprocating gummer of an envelope machine, and the
horizontally-moving roller, its arms and guide-rods, and can thus, other things
being equal, get greater speed with less throwing of gum. It will be thus seen
from the above that at each revolution of the main shaft the elevator-bed, though
intermediate imechanism, is fed upward to take the whole pressure of the guminer,
and lessen materially the distance through which it must pass; a single horizontal
movement, and not two, gums the gummer properly, and that with the greatly-
increased speed which these two devices give me I secure a more sure delivery of
the blanks without skipping any. I am aware also that it is not, broadly, new to
feed up paper by a reciprocating bed or table so that the sheets may be picked up,
and I disclaim such a device, it being shown in a Patent already granted for feeding
paper to printing presses. I am not aware however that any one has utilized and
adapted this old automatically fed-up table for use with gummers, which not only
pick up but gun the envelopes at one and the same operation, nor has the bed been
regularly and positively elevated by a rack and gear-wheel, as in my machine.
Iain further aware that it is not new to forin envelopes into packages of
twenty-five, as they are fed forward by alternately depressing the edges of the
table, thereby partially rotating it about a central axis, but this construction
requires a complicated arrangement of parts, and the process is greatly simplified
by my arrangement for shunting the table or receiver from side to side in the same
horizontal plane, as explained. This leaves the envelopes also standing horizontally,
and lessens, in practice, the difficulty of removing the packages without displacing
any of the envelopes therefrom. I am further aware that it is not new to reciprocate
a table in a horizontal plane for laying out sheets of paper in piles of a certain
number, and I therefore lay claim only to the new devices or means for recipro-
cating the receiving table of my envelope machine, and I ain also aware that
devices have been employed for preventing the count unless an envelope passes, and
I therefore do not claim said feature broadly and irrespective of the particular
devices employed.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner in which the saine may be
carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that 1 do not wish to limit
myself to the exact construction as hereinbefore described, as shown in the Drawings,
as these may be varied without departing from the peculiar nature of said Invention,
but what I do claim is,―
1st. In combination with the vertically-reciprocating gummer of an envelope-
machine and its gumming roller passing backward and forward over its face upon
guides the duplicate gum-boxes and supply rollers, whereby a single movement of
the gumming roller in either direction gathers a supply from either box alternately
and places it upon the gummer, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2d. In a machine picking up and gumming envelopes the combination of the bed
or elevator, automatically fed-up, with its entire pile of blanks, by the pendent
rack and meshing gear-wheel at each revolution of the machine, with the vertically-
reciprocating gummer, which picks up and gums the envelope at one operation, all
as and for the purposes set forth.
3d. In combination with the corner guide-posts for the pile of blanks the fingers
pivoted to the rear of said posts, and bent at about right angles to pass through a
slot in said posts and rest with their front ends upon the blanks, all as aud for the
purposes set forth.
4th. In a counting attachment to envelope machines a horizontal receiver recip-
rocated to one side and the other in the same horizontal plane by a lever operated
by a serpentine cam attached to a rack-wheel having fifty teeth, said rack-wheel
being automatically moved forward through the communicated revolutions of the
operating shaft.
5th. In combination with a reciprocating push-plate of an envelope-counting
machine, in which the receiving bed reciprocates in a horizontal plane only, a pro-
jection hanging down in the path of the envelopes and operated by each as it passes,
said projection being upon a shaft which, through lever connections, operates to

page_text: remove a cheek-plate from the path of the pawl which forces forward a circular
rack and serpentine cam.
6th. In an envelope counting machine, in which the bed moves only in a
horizontal plane, a rack-wheel of fifty teeth, carrying a serpentine cam with two
breaks or bends in its path, and a pin moving in said cam and connected with a
jointed lever to reciprocate sidewise the receiver for the envelope-packs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Mason Lester, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
DANIEL MASON LESTER. (L.S.)