IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer & Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES.”
_A communication from abroad by Mr. Laurent Poirier, of Paris,
Engineer.
Sealed the 14th December 1860, and dated the 21st June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1860.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane,. in the County of Middlesex,.
Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
ENVELOPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a machine for folding & gumming envelopes.. It
is represented in the annexed Drawing.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, shows a section through the centre 1, 2, Fig. 2.
Fig. 2, Sheet 2, shows a front view.
Figs. 3 & 4, details hereinafter explained. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
a, frame of the machine formed of two standards (held together by tie bars)
having a table at the upper part; b, motive shaft deriving its movement from

page_text: hand power or machine, it is furnished with a fly wheel serving to change the
position of the piston herein-after described; c, cam fixed to the shaft b, this
cam has a curved groove in which a roller engages; d, connecting rod,
governed & actuated by the cam c to this effect, it carries a roller which works
in the cam c; this connecting rod is terminated by a slot which embraces the
shaft b, serving to guide the connecting rod; e, lever pivoted on the axis fixed
to the frame, actuated by the connecting rod d; f, link, actuated by the lever e;
9, carrier for the paper, before being formed into an envelope, this carrier slides
in a dovetail between two guide rails formed on the table, it is jointed to the
link f, and receives from it an alternate to-and-fro movement, the upper part
forms a rest, on which the workman deposits the sheet of paper; h, third arm
of the lever; i, rod jointed to the arm h, and actuated by it; j, bottom of the
folding box, this box is intended by the movement of its sides to fold the
envelope, this bottom rocks under the influence of the rod i, which governs its
movements. The rocking movement of the bottom is necessary for the escape
of the envelope when folded and gummed; k, second cam keyed to the motive
shaft b, and possessing, like the first, a groove, in which a roller runs; l, con-
necting rod actuated by the cam k, and governed by it, to this effect it carries
a roller which works in the cam k, this connecting rod is also terminated at one
end by a fork or slot embracing the shaft b, and serving as a guide to the said
connecting rod ; this rod terminates above in a screw thread serving to
regulate the position of the piston, which I will describe; m, lever jointed to
the connecting rod 1, & actuated by it; n, link serving as support to the axis
of lever m, permitting it to lower and rise vertically to follow the movement of
the piston; o, piston with square rod worked by the lever m, which rod slides
vertically in two bearings of cast iron fixed to a bracket raised from the table,
the piston in its movement enters the folding box, and rises out of it again; p,
third cam keyed as the two first on the shaft b, it has also a curved groove, which
is furnished with a roller; g, third connecting rod connected to the rod p, by means
of the roller which moves in the curved groove of the cam; it also carries a slot
or fork which embraces the shaft 6, serving to guide it; r, lever jointed to this
connecting rod, and oscillating under the table; s, frame seen in plan view Fig. 3,
it is jointed or pivoted on the lever r; t, t, t, t, four guide rods traversing 'the
frame and fixed to it by means of two nuts placed the one above, and the other
under the frame. These different elevations are requisite to be obtained at will,
in order to regulate the movement of the sides or flaps of the folding box, so
as to obtain different foldings, these rods are each terminated at their upper
ends by a small roller; u, u, socket guides to guide frame s vertically in its up
and down movement; "v, v, vertical rods fixed to the frame a, traversing the

page_text: sockets u; x, x, x, x, four hinged sides or parts of the folding box, these
sides have the form of the flaps of the envelopes, they are jointed at their
lower parts on a fixed support, which I will describe in their different move-
ments, they describe an angle of 90°, that is to say, that they pass from the
vertical position to the horizontal position, and reciprocately; y, y, y, y, four
small springs, one for each part x, bent to a right angle and fixed to the
tail piece of parts ; these springs are put in action by the rollers of the
rods e, folding down or raising the parts x, x; these springs take effect
intermediate of their movement, so as to cause them to always press on
the bottom of the box, even when accidentally the envelopes should be in
the bottom. At the extreme of their angles these springs possess a cavity
in which the roller of the rod t lodges; z, frame or fixed folder, it has for
its object to form the folds (stamp) of the envelope, it has at its four angles
small vertical guide cones, serving to conduct to the middle the envelope
deposited by the carrier g. These little guides enter the hollow spaces
of the carrier g. a', disc carrying the folding box and all its moving parts;
this plate fits into a circular rebate of the frame table. This disposition or
arrangement of folder on a disc, which can be removed at will, if necessary,
raised when it is wished to vary the dimensions of the box; by this means
another piston o, and another plate a¹, carrying another box of different
size may be substituted at pleasure; b, hopper or shoot which forms a con-
tinuation of the bottom to conduct the envelopes away; c', rectangular box
of cast iron, into which the hopper b¹ empties; it is furnished with a piston put
in movement a system of cams, connecting rods, and levers, deriving their
movement from the motive shaft in manner analogous to those before described;
d', parts hinged on the sides of the box c', they receive on their curved hori-
zontal parts each envelope which comes from the hopper, and supports it until
the piston of the box c¹ descends to compress the last envelope on all the
others, small inclined planes carried by the rod of the parts d'in the descent
of the piston of the box c¹; these inclined planes are forced back, which
separate the parts d³, and causes them to deliver the envelope which falls on
those already made where it is compressed by the piston of the said box c', when
the piston c¹¹ of the box c¹ is raised, the mass of envelopes shut in the box, as
described, tends to rise, but which are retained by the horizontal parts of d";
as soon as the piston c" of a box c¹ is raised, the parts d' return to their original
position by their weight, to which is added, if requisite,, the action of the spring.
The rod of piston c¹¹ is worked by a lever cand. guided by a guide cu fixed
to the frame a. The lever c is worked by a cam keyed on the motive shaft f¹
large wooden box placed under the box c³, and serving to contain the envelopes

page_text: completely finished; it is furnished with grooves at its upper part to empty the
box, and to regulate the horizontal position of the piston, which I will describe.
fpiston forming a bottom to the box f¹, the piston descends as the box fills; g¹
fifth cam keyed on the shaft b, it has also a curved groove, in which a roller
works; h³, connecting rod jointed to the cam g' actuated by it; ¹, lever
jointed to the connecting rod h, it oscillates on a bracket before mentioned;
j, gum or paste box formed of a cylinder terminating at its lower part by a
sponge placed on the mortise of the form to be gummed. These boxes are
fixed on a lever ¹ they are placed on a link, which permits of their changing
position according to the size of the envelope.
Supposing the parts arranged as indicated in the Drawing, the motion being
given to the apparatus, and the sheets of paper placed in position one by one
by the workman:-1st, the carrier advances to deliver the envelope to the
box, between the four little conical guides, and then retires; 2ndly, the gum
depositer deposits the gum where necessary; 3rdly, the piston o descends the
moment the gummer j¹ rises, this piston presses the envelope in the interior of
the box z which determines the four folds, and then retires; 4thly, the parts a
descend in order according to the folding desired to fold the leaves of the
envelopes, after which they return to their vertical position; 5thly, the
bottom swings to allow the envelope to escape by the hopper 6, at this instant
the carrier 9 deposits a fresh envelope on the folder; 6thly, the envelope
falls into the box c¹ to rest on the curved parts d'; 7thly, the piston of the
box c¹ lowers, separates the parts d', causes the envelopes to fall into the boxf,
and there compresses it a last time, when the piston rises the horizontal parts
of d retain the folded envelopes in the box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer & Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
.

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, or such other as I, the said William
Clark, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES," a communication from
abroad by Mr. Laurent Poirier, of Paris, Engineer, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 1, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention relates to machines for folding and gumming envelopes,
which are represented in the annexed Drawings.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, shows a section through the centre 1, 2, Fig. 2; Fig. 2,
Sheet 2, shows a front view; Figs. 3 & 4 details berein-after explained. The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
a, frame of the machine, formed of two standards (held together by tie bars)
having a table at the upper part; b, motive shaft, deriving its movement from
hand power or machine, it is furnished with a fly-wheel serving to change the
position of the piston berein-after described; c, cain fixed to the shaft 6, this
cam has a curved groove in which a roller engages; d, connecting rod, governed
and actuated by the cam c; for this purpose it carries a roller which works in
the cam c; this connecting rod is terminated by a slot which embraces the
shaft b, serving to guide the connecting rod; e, lever pivoted on an axis fixed
to the frame, actuated by the connecting rod d; f, link actuated by the lever e;
g, carrier for the paper before being formed into an envelope; this carrier
slides in a dovetail between two guide rails formed on the table; it is jointed
to the link f, and receives from it an alternate to-and-fro motion; the upper
part forms a rest on which the workman deposits the sheet of paper; h, third
arm of of the lever e; i, rod jointed to the armi h, and actuated by it; j, bottom
of the folding box. This box is intended; by the movement of its sides, to fold

page_text: the envelope; this bottom is tilted by means of the rod i, which governs its
movements. The rocking movement of the bottom j is necessary for the
escape of the envelope when folded and gummed. k, second cam keyed to
the motive shaft b, and possessing, like the first, a groove in which a roller
runs; Z, second connecting rod, actuated by the cam k, and governed by it;
for this purpose it carries a roller which works in the cam k; this connecting
rod is also terminated at one end by a fork or slot embracing the shaft b, and
serving as a guide to the said connecting rod; this rod terminates above in a screw
thread serving to regulate the position of the piston, which I will herein-after
describe; m, lever jointed to the connecting rod l, and actuated by it; n, link,
serving as support to the axis of lever m, permitting it to be raised and
lowered vertically to follow the movement of the piston; o, piston with square
rod, worked by the lever m, which rod slides vertically in two bearings of cast
iron fixed to a bracket raised from the table; the piston in its movement
enters the folding box and rises out of it again; p, third cam, keyed, like the
two former, to the shaft b; it has also a curved groove which is furnished
with a roller; q, third connecting rod, connected to the cam p by means of a
roller which moves in the third curved groove; it also carries a slot or fork
which embraces the shaft b, serving to guide it; r, lever, jointed to the con-
necting rod, and oscillating under the table; s, frame, seen in plan view Fig. 3,
it is jointed or pivotted on the lever r; t, t, t, t, four guide rods traversing the
frame, and fixed to it by means of two nuts; these rods rise to any requisite
height by means of the two nuts, placed the one above and the other under
the frame. These different elevations are requisite in order to regulate the
movement of the side flaps of the folding box, so as to obtain different foldings.
These rods are each terminated at their upper ends by a roller. u, u, two
socket guides to guide frame s vertically in its up-&-down movement; v, v,
vertical rods fixed to the frame a, traversing the sockets u; x, x, x, x, four
hinged sides or parts of the folding box; these sides have the form of the flaps
of the envelopes, they are jointed at their lower parts on a fixed support, which
I will describe, in their different movements they describe an angle of ninety
degrees, that is to say, that they pass from the vertical position to the horizontal
position, and reciprocally; y, y, y, y, four small springs, one for each flap x,
bent to a right angle and fixed to the tail pieces of parts x, these springs are
put in action by the rollers of the rods t folding down or raising the parts a, a,
these springs take effect intermediate of their movement so as to cause them
to always press on the bottom of the box, even if accidentally the envelopes
should be resting on the bottom. At the extreme of their angles these springs
possess a cavity in which the roller of the rod t lodges., frame or fixed

page_text: folder, it has for its object to form the folds of (stamp) the envelope; it has
at its four angles small vertical guide cones, serving to conduct to the middle
the envelope deposited by the carrier g. These small conical guides enter the
hollow spaces of the carrier g. a¹, disc carrying the folding box z and all its
moving parts; this plate fits into a circular rebate of the frame table. This
disposition or arrangement of folder on a disc which can be removed at will,
is necessary when it is wished to vary the dimensions of the box; by this means
another piston o, and another plate a¹, carrying another box of a different size,
may be substituted at pleasure. 6', hopper or shoot, which forms a continuation
of the bottom j, to conduct the envelope away; c', rectangular box of cast
iron, into which the hopper b' empties; it is furnished with a piston put in
movement by a system of cams, connecting rod, and levers, deriving their
movement from the motive shaft in manner analogous to those before described;
d', parts hinged on the sides of the box c¹; they receive on their horizontal
curved parts each envelope which comes from the hopper, & support it until
the piston of the box c¹ descends to compress the last envelope on all the others,;
el, small inclined planes, carried by the rod of the parts d', in the descent of
the piston of the box c¹; these inclined planes are forced back, which separate
the parts d³, and cause them to deliver the envelope which falls on those
already made, where it is compressed by the piston of the said box cl. When
the piston c of the box c¹ is raised, the mass of envelopes shut in the box, as
described, tends to rise, but which are retained by the horizontal parts of d¹. As
soon as the piston c¹¹ of the box c¹ is raised, the parts d' return to their original
position by their own weight, to which is added, if requisite, the action of a
spring. The rod of piston c" is worked by a lever c³, and guided by a guide c
fixed to the frame a. The lever c³is worked by a cam keyed on the motive
shaft; f, large wooden box placed under the box c', and serving to contain
the envelopes when completely finished; it is furnished with grooves at its
upper part to empty the box and to regulate the horizontal position of the
piston, which I will describe; h¹, piston, forming a bottom to the box f"; the
piston descends as the box fills; g, fifth cam keyed on the shaft b, it has also
a curved
groove in which a roller works; h, connecting rod jointed to the
cam g and actuated by it; 2, lever jointed to the connecting rod h¹; it
oscillates on the bracket before mentioned; j, gum or paste vessel formed
of a cylinder terminated at its lower part by a sponge placed on a mortise of
the form of the parts to be gummed. These boxes are fitted on a lever l ;
they are placed on a link which permits of their changing position according
to the size of the envelope.
Supposing the parts arranged as indicated in the Drawings, motion being im-

page_text: parted to the apparatus and the-sheets of paper placed in position one by one by
the workman, first, the carrier g advances to deliver the envelope-to the box
between the four small conical guides, and then retires; secondly, the gum
depositor deposits the gum where necessary; thirdly, the piston o descends the
moment the gummer j' rises; this piston presses the envelope in the interior
of the box, which determines the four folds, and then again rises; fourthly,
the folders a descend according to the folding desired to fold the flaps of the
envelopes, after which they return to their vertical position; fifthly, the
bottom is tilted to allow the envelope to escape by the hopper b', at this
moment the carrier 9 deposits a fresh envelope on the folder 2; sixthly, the
envelope falls into the box c', to rest on the curved parts d; seventhly, the
piston of the box c' descends, separates the parts d', and causes the envelope to
fall into the box f', and then compresses it a last time; when this piston rises
the horizontal parts of retain the folded envelopes in the box.
A second machine of this Invention is composed of a light table of small
dimensions, supported on standards, on which is a movable frame carrying
the folders intended to fold the envelope. This rectangular frame is substi-
tuted for the box herein before described for stamping and afterwards folding
the envelopes. A piston is mounted immediately above this frame working ver-
tically, being connected to a lever having its axis at a distance therefrom; this
same lever carries a second piston intended to press the envelopes in the
receiving chamber or box when finished. This lever also carries gum
vessels for gumming the flaps. The action of the four folders intended
to press down the four flaps of the envelope is produced by a treadle com-
municating motion by means of small intermediate levers. The treadle,
at the time the folders assume their original position, oscillates the part on
which the envelope rests, and forces it to descend into the receiver. The action
of this machine is very simple: the person in charge deposits the envelopes on
the table, taking them one by one by the right hand and places them on the
folder with the left hand; he then actuates the lever which stamps gums, and
presses the envelopes (previously made), then by removing his foot from
the treadle the lever returns to its original position, which completes the
operation. This machine being of very simple construction, permits of one
person folding, gumming, and piling with a rapidity which will vary according
to his aptitude.
I have represented in the annexed Drawings the second machine, being a
modification of the first. Fig. 5 shows a transverse section; Fig. 6 shows
details of the folder. In the two Figures the same letters of reference indicate
the same parts. A, piston mounted on the extremity of a long lever. B ; B,

page_text: gum-
lever jointed to an arm from the horizontal plate B¹; C, support for the
ming apparatus mounted on the axis B and sliding on the rod A¹. The
gum carrier during the descent of the lever B is arrested in its passage, but
rises again with it in the reverse movement; by this action the bottles apply
the gum to the envelopes; D, rods receiving the movement of the lever B and
communicating it to piston E of the receiving box; F, guide of piston E,
encircled by a spring for raising the lever B; B', horizontal plate carrying the
bed plate G, on which is mounted the folder; this arrangement is contrived
and adopted in order to change at will the form of the envelope; H, folders
carried horizontally on the bed plate G, on which are guides to adjust the
position of the piston A, so as to stamp the envelope accurately; I, lever fixed
to the plate G sliding underneath the folders, in order to impart motion to them;
J, india-rubber cords attached to the rod J¹, fixed to the treadle O; K, treadle
connected to the lever B by two rods L; M, vertical rod fixed at its upper part
to the rocker N. This rod is placed directly above the treadle O, and when
the treadle is released from the pressure of the foot, the rod M rises and causes
the envelope to slide into P, the receptacle for the finished envelopes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
58, Chancery Lane.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)