Improvements in Machines for Opening Envelopes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1999
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Machines for Opening Envelopes.
I, LAURITS MARIUS NIELSEN, residing at 1395, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn,
in the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America,
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for opening envelopes, and the object
thereof is to provide an improved machine of this class which is designed to
cut off the end of the envelope, and which may be placed upon a desk, table or
other article of furniture, and in addition to serving for the purpose specified,
will constitute an ornament for the desk, table or other article.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a casing comprising a back vertical
end pieces and a downwardly and forwardly inclined top, and front in which is
formed a longitudinal opening said opening consisting of a base plate and a
downwardly and backwardly directed shield between which the base plate is a
longitudinal slot and the base plate of the opening is provided at its inner edge
with a downwardly directed flange.
Within the casing at one of the back corners thereof is secured a frame plate
and mounted in the adjacent end and in said frame plate is a drum shaft on
which is mounted a spring drum provided with a ratchet wheel which is secured
thereto, and a gear wheel which is provided with a spring operated pawl which
operates in connection with the ratchet wheel and below the drum shaft is
another short shaft provided with a pinion in connection with which the gear
wheel operates, and the shaft is also provided with a gear wheel which operates
in connection with a pinion mounted on a shaft supported centrally and longi-
tudinally of the machine, and in front of the shaft.
Mounted on the shaft and rigidly secured thereto is a rectangular cutter
blade frame comprising parallel sides and parallel ends and mounted in bearings
at one end of said frame is a rod provided with a spring which bears on the
bearing and on a pin secured in said rod, and the operation of said spring is
to force the rod transversely of the cutter blade frame, and the end of the rod
which projects in the direction in which the spring operates, is pivotally con-
nected with a horizontal bar which is pivoted to the opposite end of the cutter
blade frame, the connection between the rod and the bar being made by means
of an angle iron or clip.
The end of the bar adjacent to its connection with the rod is provided with an
upwardly directed flange having a forwardly directed tooth beveled on its upper
front side. The cutter blade has one end thereof wider than the other, the front
being convex in cross section, the cutter edge being also directed downwardly,
and said cutter blade is rigidly secured to one side of the cutter blade frame
and the end of the cutter blade frame adjacent to the rod is provided at one
corner with a shoulder or projection which is adapted to operate in connection
with an arm pivoted and the lower end of which is provided with a head having
a notch or recess.

page_text: Secured to the downwardly directed flange of the bottom or base of the front
opening is a cutter bar in connection with which the cutter blade operates.
Pivoted adjacent to the end of the casing opposite the arm is an arm which
extends longitudinally of the machine, and which is held in a raised position by
a spring having a hook which catches in a notch or recess in the bottom of said
arm, and said arm is provided centrally with a downwardly directed pin and at
its free end with a downwardly directed extension provided at its lower end
with a backwardly directed foot and the upward movement of the arm is limited
by a stop secured to the adjacent end of the main casing of the machine.
In the normal position of the parts of the machine it will be apparent that
the spring drum operates at all times to turn the cutter blade frame in for-
wardly and in this position of the parts the tooth or projection rests on the
cutter bar and holds the cutter blade frame in position.
If now it is desired to open an envelope or cut off the end thereof the end of
the envelope is passed into the opening and through the slot. The end of the
envelope strikes the tooth and forces hack the bar and the spring operated rod
the spring being so adjusted as to require but very slight pressure to accomplish
this operation. The instant that the bar has been moved back the cutter blado
frame starts to revolve, and the tooth at the end of the bar strikes the foot on
the downwardly directed extension of the arm and depresses said arm so that
the point or needle passes through the envelope and prevents it from being
pushed backwardly too far into the machine and at the same time the pivoted
arm drops down, and the notch or recess in the head thereof engages the arm
and holds said arm in a depressed position.
It will be understood that the cutter blade frame is revolved instantly and
quickly by the spring drum, and as the said frame completes its revolution the
blade cuts off the end of the envelope, said blade operating in connection with
the cutter bar in the manner of a pair of shears, and the tooth or projection
strikes the said cutter bar and stops the revolution of the cutter blade frame
until the bar is again moved inwardly by the insertion of another envelope.
The cutter blade frame at each revolution also raises the free end of the
pivoted arm so as to allow the arm to be raised by the spring this operation
being accomplished by the projection operating in connection with the head of
the arm.
It will be understood that the entire operative parts of this device are enclosed
in a casing and concealed from 'view, and nothing can be inserted into said
casing except the thin end of an envelope or similar article.
It may sometimes happen when the spring drum is run down, that the cutter
blade frame or the tooth will rest on the foot at the lower end of the downwardly
directed extension of the arm, and in this event the said cutter blade and the
frame with which it is connected, must be raised in which position the tooth or
projection presses on the cutter bar before the machine can be operated.
For this purpose I pivot to the casing a lever the outer end of which projects
through the adjacent end of the casing, and is provided with a thumb piece or
handle and the inner end of said lever projects downwardly and inwardly and
terminates, and the cutter blade frame inay he raised by depressing the thumb
piece or handle of said lever, the inner end of said lever thus being forced up-
wardly and coming in contact with the end of the cutter blade frame forward
of the shaft and the inner end of the lever is normally depressed by a spring.
In a modified form of construction, the pivoted har is dispensed with, and a
stationary bar is secured to the side of the cutter blade frame, and provided with
an upwardly directed flange. In this form of construction the cutter blade is
secured to the side of the cutter blade frame directly under the bar. The cutter
bar is also employed in this form of construction, and the end of the spring
operated rod is adapted to enter a notch or recess in said cutter bar.
Pivoted adjacent to the end of the cutter bar in which the notch or recess is
formed, is a spring operated lever the end of which projects through the adjacent
5

page_text: end of the main casing and is provided with a thumb piece or handle and the
inner end of said lever is adapted to press on the adjacent end of the spring
operated rod and force it backwardly.
In the operation of this form of construction, the end of the envelope is in-
serted as herein before described and strikes the upwardly directed flange of the
bar. The lever is then operated to force the rod inwardly, and the cutter blade
frame is revolved as herein before described, and the blade operating in connec-
tion with the cutter bar as said frame is revolved, ents off the end of the
envelope.
The revolution of the cutter blade frame is instantaneous, and when the lever
is operated to release the rod the spring throws said lever back and as the cutter
blade frame comes around the rod strikes the bar and stops said frame, and this
operation is repeated as often as it is desired to cut off the end of an envelope.
My improved machine is simple in construction and perfectly adapted to
accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that
changes in and modifications of the construction described, may be made with-
out departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.
Dated this 5th day of January 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Machines for Opening Envelopes.
I, LAURITS MARIUS NIELSEN, residing at 850, De Kalb_Avenue, Brooklyn,
late of 1395, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, State of New
York, United States of America, Inventor, 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 relates to machines for opening envelopes, and the object
thereof is to provide an improved machine of this class which is designed to
cut off the end of the envelope, and which may be placed upon a desk, table or
other article of furniture, and in addition to serving for the purpose specified,
will constitute an ornament for the desk, table or other article.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which:-
Fig. is a plan view of my improvement with the top and a portion of the
front removed;
Fig. 2 a cross section with the top and front in position, said section being
taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a front view with the top and portion of the front removed;
Fig. 4 a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 a perspective view of a cutter blade which forms a part of the machine;
Fig. 6 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of construction; and,
Fig. 7 a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of
the views, and in the practice of my invention, I provide a casing comprising a
back 7, vertical end pieces 8, and a downwardly and forwardly inclined top and
front 9, in which is formed a longitudinal opening 10, said opening consisting
of a base plate 11, and a downwardly and backwardly directed shield 12,
between which and the base plate is a longitudinal slot 13, and the base płatę 11

page_text: of the opening 10 is provided at its inner edge with a downwardly directed
flange 14.
Within the casing at one of the buck corners thereof is secured a frame
plate 15, and mounted in the adjacent end 7, and in said frame plate 15 is a
drum shaft 16 on which is mounted a spring drum 17, provided with a ratchet
wheel 18, which is secured thereto, and a gear wheel 19 which is provided with
a spring operated pawl 20 which operates in connection with the ratchet
wheel 18, and below the drum shaft 16 is another short shaft 21 provided with a
pinion 22 (see Fig. 4) in connection with which the gear wheel 19 operates,
and the shaft 21 is also provided with a gear wheel 23 which operates in con-
nection with a pinion 24 mounted on a shaft 25, supported centrally and longi-
tudinally of the machine, and in front of the shaft 21, as shown in Figs. 1, 2
and 4.
Mounted on the shaft 25, and rigidly secured thereto is a rectangular cutter
blade frame comprising parallel sides 26, and parallel ends 27, and mounted
in bearings 28 at one end of said frame as shown at the right of Fig. 1, is a
rod 29 provided with a spring 30 which hears on the bearing at 28, and on a
pin 31 secured in said rod, and the operation of said spring 30 is to force the
rod 29 transversely of the cutter blade frame, and the end of the rod 29 which
projects in the direction in which the spring 30 operates, is pivotally connected
at 32 with a horizontal bar 33 which is pivoted at 34 to the opposite end of the
cutter blade frame, the connection between the rod 29 and the bar 33 being
made by means of an angle iron or clip 35.
The end of the bar 33 adjacent to its connection with the rod 29 is provided
with an upwardly directed flange 36, having a forwardly directed footh 37
boveled on its upper front side as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. "The cutter blade 38
is of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and has one end thereof wider than the
other, the front being convex in cross section, the cutter edge 29 being also
directed downwardly, and said cutter blade is rigidly secured to one side of the
cutter blade frame as shown at 40, and the end of the cutter blade frame adjaceut
to the rod 29 is provided at one corner with a shoulder or projection 41 which is
adapted to operate in connection with an arm 42 pivoted at 43, and the lower
end of which is provided with a head 44 having a notch or recess 44.
Secured to the downwardly directed flange 14 of the bottom or base 11 of
the front opening 10 is a cutter bar 45 in connection with which the cutter
blade 32 operates.
Pivoted adjacent to the end of the casing opposite the arm 42 as shown at 46
is an arm 47 which extends longitudinally of the machine, and which is held
in a raised position by a spring 48, having a hook 49 which detaches in a notch
or recess 50, in the bottom of said arm, and said arm is provided centrally
with a downwardly directed pin 51, and at its free end with a downwardly
directed extension 52, provided at its lower end with a hackwardly directed
foot 53, and the upward movement of the arm 47 is limited by a stop 54 secured
to the adjacent end of the main casing of the machine.
In the normal position of the parts of the machine is that shown in Figs. 1
and 2, and it will be apparent that the spring drum 17 operates at all times to
turn the cutter blade frame forwardly, in the direction of the arrow shown in
Fig. 2, and in this position of the parts, the tooth or projection 37 rests on
the cutter bar 45 and holds the cutter blade frame in the position, shown in said
figure.
If now it is desired to open an envelope or cut off the end thereof, the end of
the envelope is passed into the opening 10, and through the slot 13. The end of
the envelope strikes the tooth 37 and forces back the bar 33 and the spring
operated rod 29, the spring 30 being so adjusted as to require but very slight
pressure to accomplish this operation. The instant that the bar 33 has been
moved back the cutter blade frame starts to revolve, and the tooth 37 at the
end of the bar 33 strikes the foot 53 on the downwardly directed extension 52

page_text: of the arm 47, and depresses said arm so that the point or needle 51 passes ·
through the envelope and prevents it from being pushed backwardly too far
into the machine and at the same time the pivoted arm 42 drops down, and the
notch or recess in the head 44 thereof engages the arm 47 and holds said arm
in a depressed position.
It will be understood that the cutter blude frame is revolved instantly and
quickly by the spring drum, and as the said frame completes its revolution,
the blade 38 cuts off the end of the envelope, said blade operating in connection
with the cutter bar 45 in the manner of a pair of shears, and the tooth or pre-
jection 37 strikes the said cutter bar 45, as shown in Fig. 2, and stops the
revolution of the cutter blade frame until the bar 33 is again moved inwardly by
the insertion of another envelope.
The cutter blade frame at each revolution also raises the free end of the pivoted
arm 42 so as to allow the arm 47 to be raised by the spring 48, this operation
being accomplished by the projection 41 operating in connection with the head 44
of the arm 42.
It will be understood that the entire operative parts of this device are enclosed
in a casing and concealed from views, and nothing can be inserted into said
casing except the thin end of an envelope or similar article.
It may sometimes happen when the spring drum is run down, that the cutter
blade frame or the tooth 37 will rest on the foot 53, at the lower end of the
downwardly directed extension 52 of the arm 47, and in this event the said
cutter blade and the frame with which it is connected, must be raised, into the
position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the tooth or projection 37 presses
on the cutter bar 45 before the machine can be operated.
For this purpose, I pivot to the casing at 55 a lever 56 the outer end of which
projects through the adjacent end of the casing, and is provided with a thumb
piece or handle 57, and the inner end of said lever projects downwardly and
inwardly and terminates at 58, and the cutter blade frame may be raised into
the position shown in Fig. 2, by depressing the thumb piece or handle 57 of
said lever, the inner end of said lever thus being forced upwardly and coming in
contact with the end of the cutter blade frame of the shaft 25, and the inner
end of the lever 56 is normally depressed by a spring 59.
In a modified form of construction shown in Fig. 6, the pivoted bar 54 is
dispensed with, and a stationary bar 60 is secured to the side of the cutter blade
frame, and provided with an upwardly directed flange 61. In this form of
construction the cutter blade is secured to the side of the cutter blade frame
as shown in Fig. 7, directly under the bar 60. The cutter bar 45 is also
employed in this form of construction, and the end of the spring operated rod 29
is adapted to enter a notch or recess 62 in said cutter bar 45, as shown in Fig. 6.
Pivoted at 63 adjacent to the end of the cutter bar 40 in which the notch or
recess 62 is formed, is a spring operated lever (4, the end of which projects
through the adjacent end of the main casing and is provided with a thumb piece
or handle 68, and the inner end 66 of said lever is adapted to press on the
adjacent end of the spring operated rod 29 and forces it backwardly.
In the operation of this form of construction, the end of the envelope is in-
serted as herein before described and strikes the upwardly directed flange 61
of the bar 60. The lever 64 is then operated to force the rod 29 inwardly, and
the cutter blade frame is revolved as herein before described, and the blade 26
operating in connection with the cutter bar 45 as said frame is revolved, cuts
off the end of the envelope.
The revolution of the cutter blade frame is instantaneous, and when the
lever 64 is operated to release the rod 29, the spring 67 throws said lever back,
into the position shown in Fig. 6, and as the cutter blade frame comes around the
rod 29 strikes the bar 45 and stops said frame, and this operation is repeated
as often as it is desired to cut off the end of an envelope.
My improved machine is simple in construction and perfectly adapted to

page_text: accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that
changes in and modifications of the construction described may be made with-
out departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of may said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A machine of the class described, comprising a casing having a longitu-
dinal slot in the front thereof, a cutter bar secured to the inner rear wall of
said slot, a spring oporated shaft mounted in said casing, a cutter blade frame
secured to said shaft and provided with a cutter blade, which operates in con-
nection with said cutter bar, a bar pivoted to one end of the frame adjacent to
the cutter blade, and extending longitudinally thereof, a transverse spring
operated rod mounted in said frame and connected with the free end of said bar,
said bar being also provided at its free end with a tooth or projection operating
in connection with said cutter bar to stop the cutter blade frame at each com-
plete revolution, and a spring raised arm pivoted within said casing and extend-
ing longitudinally and rearwardly of said slot and provided with a pin adapted
to bind an inserted envelope against said cutter bar, and also provided with a
downwardly and rearwardly projecting foot which said projection is adapted to
engage to depress said arm and pin, substantially as shown and described.
2. A machine of the class described, comprising a casing having a longitu-
dinal slot in the front thereof, a cutter bar sccured to the inner rear wall of
said slot, a spring operated shaft mounted in said casing, a cutter blade frame
secured to said shaft and provided with a cutter blade, which operates in con-
nection with said cutter bar, a bar piroted to one end of said frame adjacent to
the cutter blade, and extending longitudinally thereof, a transverse spring
operated rod mounted in said frame and connected with the free end of said bar,
said bar being also provided at its free end with a tooth or projection operating
in connection with said cutter bar to stop the cutter blade frame at each com-
plete revolution thereof, said casing being also provided with a pivotally sup-
ported spring raised arm which extends longitudinally and rearwardly of said
elot, and which is adapted to hold an envelope when inserted through said slot
and to be depressed by said frame in the revolution thereof, substantially as
shown and described.
3. A machine of the class described, comprising a casing having a longitudinal
slot in the front thereof, a cutter bar secured to the inner wall of said slot, a
spring operated shaft mounted in said casing, a cutter blade frame secured to said
shaft and provided with a cutter blade which operates in connection with said
cutter bar, a bar pivoted to one end of said frame adjacent to the cutter blude,
and extending longitudinally thereof, a transverse spring operated rod mounted
in said frame and connected with the free end of said bar, said bar being also
provided at its free end with a tooth or projection operating in connection with
said cutter bar to stop the cutter blade frame at each complete revolution thereof,
said casing being also provided with a pivotally supported spring raised arm
which extends longitudinally and rearwardly of said slot, and which is adapted to
hold an envelope when inserted through said slot and to be depressed by said
frame in the revolution thereof, and said casing being also provided with a
pivoted catch which is adapted to hold said arm in a depressed position, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
4. In a machine of the class described, a casing provided with a slot in the
front thereof, a cutter bar secured to the inner lower edge of said slot, a
revoluble spring operated frame mounted in said easing and provided with a
cutter blade which operates in connection with said cutter bar, said frame being
provided with a spring operated device for engaging said cutter bar to stop it
at each revolution, and means for springing said frame to raiso said cutter blade

page_text: and bring said device into engagement with said cutter bar, substantially as
shown aud described.
5. In a machine of the class described, a casing provided with a slot in the
front thereof, a cutter bar secured to the inner lower edge of said slot, a
revoluble spring operated frame mounted in said casing and provided with a
outter blade which operates in connection with said cutter bar, said frame being
provided with a spring operated device for engaging said cutter bar to stop it at
each revolution, and means for swingng sad frame to rase said cutter blade
and bring said device into engagement with said cutter bar, comprising a pivotally
mounted spring depressed arm 56 provided with a thumb piece exteriorly of said
casing and the inner end of which is adapted to project beneath said frame, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
6. In a machine of the class described, a casing provided with a slot in the
front thereof, a cutter bar secured to the inner lower edge of said slot, a
revoluble spring operated frame mounted in said casing and provided with a
cutter blade which operates in connection with said cutter bar, said frame being
also provided with a spring operated pin which operates to stop said frame at
the completion of each revolution thereof, means for releasing said frame, and
means for swinging said frame to raise said cutter blade, and bring said pin
into operation, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of September 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.