IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Hook of No. 5 Chancery Lane, London-
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Hook at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1883.
WILLIAM HENRY HOOк of No. 5 Chancery Lane, London-" IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES "
My Invention has for its object a rapid and simple mode of pressing over the
flaps of envelopes previous to them being closed.
It consists in the use of a machine or apparatus having a vertically reciprocated
dio or plunger formed of a square, rectangular, or other shape corresponding to
that of the envelopes to be made-In combination with this die or plunger is a
similarly shaped box or recess of slightly larger size than the die or plunger and
formed in or fixed on a table beneath and over this box or recess is placed a pad
or sheet of India rubber or other flexible substance combined or not with metal.
The die or plunger may be formed on or attached to the lower end of a bar
reciprocated vertically in guides attached to the framework of the machine by a
treadle and weight arrangement or otherwise as found most suitable.
The India rubber pad or sheet being first placed over the box or recess of the table,
the envelope to be pressed is laid on the pad or sheet immediately beneath the dio
or plunger which is then brought down upon the envelope and presses it with the
India rubber pad into the box or recess By this means the flaps of the envelopo
are effectually pressed over and the die or plunger being then raised or removed
therefrom, the spring of the rubber pad lifts the pressed envelope from the box or
recess ready for removal. The sizes of the die or plunger and the box or recess
are capable of being adjusted or altered to suit various sized envelopes.

page_text: For gumming the edges of the envelopes I raise the gumming blades by lovers
actuated by a trigger arm or lever which is struck by a projection from the dio or
plunger or bar carrying the same at such time and in such manner that the
gumming blades are lifted and strike and leave the edges of the envelopes
instantaneously before tho die or plunger comes down upon the envelopes-The
end flaps of the envelopes aro temporarily kept flat on the on the table whilst their
edges are being gummed by a light steel wire or other spring projecting from the
die or plunger and of sufficient tension to give the necessary temporary pressuro
without preventing the flaps from leaving the table directly the dio or plunger
strikes the envelope.
My Invention is also applicable for making boxes, and other purposes where
paper or pasteboard folding is roquired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Hook in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th July 1883.
WILLIAM HENRY HOOK, of N° 5 Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
5 THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN [ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES]"
My Invention has for its object a rapid and simple mode of pressing over the
flaps of envelopes previous to their being closed.
It consists in the use of a machine or apparatus having a vertically reciprocated
O die or plunger formed of a square, rectangular, or other shape, corresponding to
that of the envelopes to be made-In combination with this dio or plunger is a
similarly shaped box or recess of slightly larger size than the die or plunger, and
formed or fixed on a table beneath-Over this box or recess is placed a pad or
sheet of India rubber or other flexible material combined or not with metal and
5 which being first placed over the box or recess of the tablo, the envelope to bo
pressed is laid on the pad or sheet immediately beneath the die or plunger which
is then brought down upon the envelope and presses it with the India rubber pad
into the box or recess- By this means the flaps of the envelope aro effectually
pressed over and the die or plunger being then raised or removed therefrom, the
spring of the rubber pad lifts the pressed envelope from the box or recess ready
for removal.
And in order that my said invention may be well understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, like letters of reference indicating corre-
sponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine-Figure 2 a side elevation,
and Figure 3 a plan thereof with part of table broken away.
a represents a rectangular (or other) shaped die or plunger corresponding with
the size of envelope required and attached to the lower end of a dovetailed (or
other shaped) bar b which is arranged and reciprocated vertically in guides o formed
in or attached to the head or framework d of the machine-The requisite move-
ment is imparted to the bar b by a crank plate e fixed at the front end of a
horizontal shaft f, and the pin g of which takes into a slotted yolk h attached to
the back of the bar b-The crank plate shaft f is mounted in a bearing in the head
or framework & and rotated by spur wheel i geared into by pinion on the shaft
or spindle of which are fast and loose riggers j. j. the former being driven by
belting from pulley which is mounted with fly wheel on shaft or stud spindle m
and actuated by treadle lever n and rod o as shewn. Or the bar b may be reciprocated
vertically by any other arrangement of gearing as found most suitable-In com-
bination with the die or plunger a is a similarly shaped box or recess p into which
the die or plunger a dips and which is formed in (or fixed on) a table g beneath.
Over this box or recess p is placed a pad or sheet r of India rubber or other flexible
material which may be combined, or not, with metal and on which the envelope to
be pressed is laid (as shown in dotted lines figure 3) immediately beneath the die
or plunger a which being then brought down upon the envelope presses it with the
India rubber pad or sheet r into the box or recess p-The effect of this is to cause
he flaps 1. 2. 3 and 4 of the envelope to fly upwards or be pressed over and the
lie or plunger a being then withdrawn therefrom the spring of the pad or sheet r
ifts the pressed envelope from the box or recess p ready for removal-The shape
nd size of the die or plunger a may be adjusted or altered to suit different sized
nvelopes.

page_text: For gumming the edges of the flaps 1. 2. (figure 3) of the envelope, the gumming
blades 8, which are immersed in the adhesive liquid contained in the interior or
hollow of the table g, are raised automatically by levers t which are actuated by a
trigger arm or lever u which is struck by a projecting arm v carried by the dio or
plunger a (or the bar b) at such time and in such manner that the gumming blades &
are lifted and strike and gum the edges of the flaps 1. 2. of the envelopo
instantaneously before the die or plunger a completes its descent upon the
envelope-Tho flaps 1. 2. of the envelope are temporarily kept flat upon the table g
whilst their edges are being gummed by light roller arms w carried by the die or
plunger a and of sufficient weight to give the necessary pressure without preventing
the Haps 1. 2. from leaving them and the table g directly the die or plunger a
presses upon the envelope. Or in lieu of the roller arms w I may use wire or other
springs for the purpose.
My Invention is also applicable for making boxes and other articles where paper
or pasteboard folding is required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the hercinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent, is :-
The general construction, combination and arrangement of machine for pressing
over the flaps of envelopes, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said William Henry Hook have hereunto set my
hand and Seal this 27th day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
ET HUGHES
5 Chancery Lano
London
WILLIAM. HENNI, HOA