IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Sturge, of 124, Penton Place, St. Mary's Newington,
in the Parish of Lambeth, and, County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 2nd November 1877, and dated the 5th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Sturge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1877.
"
EDWIN STURGE, of 124, Ponton Place, St. Mary's Newington, in the Parish of
Lambeth, and County of Surrey, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
By this Invention I provide a frame or casting either complete, or if in part,
suitably connected and formed of iron or other material, the lower part or base of
which is firmly secured to a table or bench, the upper or vertical portion of the
frame or casting being so arranged as to be the main support of the working gear,
and I provide a horizontal bar or lever freely allowed to work in a bearing at one
end of the said frame, having at its extreine end a balance or weight formed or
attached thereto; at the other end of this lever or bar, suitably connected, is a
plunger or piston so arranged as to be able to work freely in a vertical direction by
means of a guide or guides formed and provided in the frame or casting. At the
end of this plunger, piston, or bar, I attach a die or creaser of suitable shape and
form as to give the impress to the paper blank on its downward stroke, so that
when the blank is fed or placed in position immediately under the aforesaid die or
creaser upon a folding box or receiver provided and attached to the base of the
frame or casting, that it is caused with one inovement or action of the foot, as in
the case of manual labour, to crease or impress the blank, which I cause and
arrange, in the first instance, to be gummed in a suitable manner by a previous
movement or action of the foot or treadle, as hereafter described. This is effected
by means of an ordinary treadle, crank, or other suitable movement, having a spindle
rod or connection thereto working the entire apparatus, and to the upper end of

page_text: this spindle or rod I connect it to the main horizontal or working bar or lever
which actuates the vertical plunger or piston, and the mechanism in connection
therewith, for the gumming or adhesive process, this being the first operation or
movement effected, which I cause to be done by means of a crank lever or levers or
connections, having at the extremity and actuating two gum dabbers working in a
suitable receptacle or gum cistern or receptacle provided for the purpose, openings for
which are suitably provided on each side of the folding box or receiver whereon the
blank is placed or fed, so that by the first movement of the treadle or crank and
connections they are immediately brought into contact with the blank, and are
suitably gummed or caused to receive the necessary adhesive substance or matter,
as may be desired.
.
To the upper portion of the vertical frame I attach or secure a bar having a
curved slot, in the upper part of which a stud is caused to work, by means of a slide
connected to a vertical bar or spindle having at its extremity two arms supporting
two dabbers, so arranged as to work in a vertical direction above the blank and to
meet simultaneously the uprise of the before-mentioned gum dabbers under the
blank.
At the base or lower part of the frame I provide or attach a suitable plate having
studs or guides thereon, a portion of which is recessed and suitably shaped, as
before described, to receive the blank into which the die or creaser forces it, and I
attach four or more metallic springs suitably formed and shaped to the under
portion of the vertical frame, so that the die or creaser in its second downward
movement acts immediately upon these springs, which assist in finally closing, and
in concert with the die or creaser fully and instantly completing the operation.
I propose, in some cases, to provide suitable apparatus for the purpose of assisting
in the further compressing and rapidly completing the envelope or other article in
the manner thus described, and causing the adhesive substance to quickly dry and
remain secure, which I effect by means of a series of ratchet or ratchets, rollers,
or bands, or by any other simple and well-known mechanical means, so that
after leaving the folding and gumming apparatus, as described, they become
further compressed and packed in any suitable quantity or quantities, and may
be then raised or lowered at convenience, as may be required, to any desired level or
position.
This machine or apparatus and its connections may, if required, be worked either
by steam or other power, as by manual labour.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Sturge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th November
1877.
EDWIN STURGE, of 124, Penton Place, St. Mary's Newington, in the Parish of
Lambeth, and County of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ENVELOPES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
By this Invention I provide, a frame or casting either complete, or if in part,
suitably connected and formed of iron or other material, the lower part or base of
which is firmly secured to a table or bench, the upper or vertical portion of the
frame or casting being so arranged as to be the main support of the working gear,
and I provide a horizontal bar or lever freely allowed to work in a bearing at one
end of the said frame, having at its extreme end a balance or weight formed or
attached thereto; at the other end of this lever or bar, suitably connected, is a
plunger or piston so arranged as to be able to work freely in a vertical direction by
means of a guide or guides formed and provided in the frame or casting. At the
end of this plunger, piston, or bar, I attach a die or creaser of snitable shape and

page_text: form as to give the impress to the paper blank on its downward stroke, so that
when the blank is fed or placed in position immediately under the aforesaid die or
creaser, upon a folding box or receiver provided and attached to the base of the
frame or casting, that it is caused with one movement or action of the foot, as in
the case of manual labour, to crease or impress the blank, which I cause and
arrange, in the first instance, to be gummed in a suitable manner by a previous
movement or action of the foot or treadle, as hereafter described. This is effected
by means of an ordinary treadle crank, or other suitable movement, having a spindle
rod or connection thereto working the entire apparatus, and to the upper end of
this spindle or rod I connect it to the main horizontal or working bar or lever
which actuates the vertical plunger or piston, and the mechanism in connection
therewith, for the gumming or adhesive process, this being the first operation or
movement effected, which I cause to be done by means of a crank lever or levers or
connections, having at the extremity and actuating two gum dabbers working in a
suitable receptacle or gum cistern or receptacle provided for the purpose, openings
for which are suitably provided on each side of the folding box or receiver, whereon
the blank is placed or fed, so that by the first movement of the treadle or crank
and connections they are immediately brought into contact with the blank, and are
suitably gummed or caused to receive the necessary adhesive substance or matter,
as may be desired.
To the upper portion of the vertical frame I attach or secure a har having a
curved slot, in the upper part of which a stud is caused to work, by means of a slide.
connected to a vertical bar or spindle having at its extremity two arms supporting
two dabbers, so arranged as to work in a vertical direction above the blank and to
meet simultaneously the uprise of the before-mentioned gum dabbers under the
blank.
At the base or lower part of the frame I provide or attach a suitable plate having
studs or guides thereon, a portion of which is recessed and suitably shaped, as
before described, to receive the blank, into which the die or creaser forces it, and I
attach four or more metallic springs suitably formed and shaped to the under
portion of the vertical frame, so that the die or creaser in its second downward
movement acts immediately upon these springs, which assist in finally closing, and
in concert with the die or creaser fully and instantly completing the operation.
I propose, in some cases, to provide suitable apparatus for the purpose of assisting
in the further compressing and rapidly completing the envelope or other article in
the manner thus described, and causing the adhesive substance to quickly dry and
remain secure, which I effect by means of a series of ratchet or ratchets, rollers or
bands, or by any other simple and well-known mechanical means, so that after
leaving the folding and gumming apparatus, as described, they become further
compressed and packed in any suitable quantity or quantities, and may be then
raised or lowered at convenience, as may be required, to any, desired level or
position.
This machine or apparatus and its connections may, if required, be worked either
by steam or other power, as by manual labour.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents in elevation a view of a
machine adapted for the purpose of my Invention, as herein described, in which A
is the base of the machine; B, the upper or vertical portion of the frame or casting;
C is a horizontal bar or lever, having at its extreme end a balance or weight D,
and at the other end of this lever or bar is a plunger or piston E, to which I attach
a die or creaser F, which gives the impress to the paper blank on its downward
stroke, so that when the blank is fed or placed in position upon the folding box or
receiver G (attached to the base of the frame) suitably recessed and shaped to
receive the blank, into which the die or creaser F forces it, and I attach four or
more metallic springs H, suitably formed and shaped, to the under portion of the

page_text: vertical frame or guide J, so that the die or creaser F in its second downward
movement acts at once upon these springs, which immediately assist in finally
closing, in concert with the die or creaser F, and instantly completing the desired
operation.
Figure 2 is a plan taken on the line A, B, of Figure 1, shewing the position of the
folding box or receiver G on the base of the frame A, likewise the gum well K
and dabber receptacles L, L; M is a connection to the lever C, to which motion is
given by the treadle in the ordinary manner by foot or otherwise, and serves to
actuate the moving parts; N is the lever connected to the lever or arm C for
actuating and working the gum dabbers; O is a vertical lever having at its upper
portion a connection with a stud working in a slotted curved groove formed in the
bar or support P which acts upon the springs H, as described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and illustrated the same, I
wish it to be understood that what I claim is substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Sturge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
F. H. ROBERTS, C.E.,
10, Adam St.,
W.C.
EDWIN STURGE. (L.S.)