IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS." SP
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Harris, of the Firm of Skidmore & Harris, of the
City of Manchester, Paper Manufacturers, and Joseph Fletcher, of the same
Place, Foreman in the employ of the said Firm, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BAGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Harris and Joseph
Fletcher at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1877.
CHARLES HARRIS, of the Firm of Skidmore & Harris, of the City of Manchester,
Paper Manufacturers, and JOSEPH FLETCHER, of the same Place, Foreman in the
employ of the said Firm, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF PAPER BAGS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon an Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to the said Charles Harris on the 26th day of August
1873, and Numbered 2804, and the present improvements have for their object the
manufacture of square or rectangular bottomed bags, or what are commonly known
as block bottomed bags.
In carrying out our Invention, we employ the same arrangement as that described
in the Specification of the said Letters Patent for supporting the roll of paper and
forming it into a continuous length of paper tube, and then drawing it forward by
means of rollers to the front of the machine, where an oscillating knife working
against a stationary blade cuts off the bag to the desired length.
In this Invention both the blades of the cutting off shears oscillate, so as to afford
more room for the action of the requisite folding mechanism. A reciprocating
pointed plate is also applied to the gauge plate, which immediately the cutting off
blades diverge or retire after performing their cutting off operation is caused to
advance so as to support the upper side of the mouth of the paper tube during the
action of the folding mechanism, whilst at the same time the lower side of such paper
tube is pressed down and caused to gape by means of a suitable spring tongue
attached to such reciprocating pointed plate. The folding mechanism in this case
consists essentially of a pair of diagonal folders acting simultaneously and at right
angles to each other, and which fold under the cut off edge of the paper tube in such
T

page_text: a manner that such edges meet together and overlap on the under side of the paper
tube, but at right angles to their original position. The front extremity of the
paper tube thus forms a square or rectangular point, having a corresponding part
folded back close against the under side of the paper tube. In this position a lower
folder, which acts at right angles to the length of paper tube, comes into operation,
and first creases, and after allowing the diagonal folders to retire, then folds over the
point of the corresponding part just mentioned, so as to be met in the centre by the
front or pointed extremity of the paper tube, which is next brought round and
folded over by the action of a top folder slightly overlapping each other.
The parts which require to adhere together have been meanwhile pasted by the
action of an endless cord carrying paste in a similar manner to that described in the
aforesaid Specification, of Charles Harris; the bottom of the bag is now completed.
The bag being now cut off, is carried by means of an endless apron between pressure
rollers, and then, if deemed necessary, over a heated surface or otherwise, and being
thus pressed and dried is received upon a table.
Motion is communicated to all the folders by suitable connecting rods, the
extremities of which are furnished with bowls which work in suitable continuous
grooves formed in a pair of cam plates or wheels, to which revolving motion is
imparted by the driving shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Harris and Joseph Fletcher in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th September 1877.
CHARLES HARRIS, of the Firm of Skidmore and Harris, of the City of Manchester,
Paper Manufacturers, and JOSEPH FLETCHER, of the same Place, Foreman in the
employ of the said Firm. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE S
OF PAPER BAGS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon an Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to the said Charles Harris on the 20 day of August
1873, and Numbered 2804, and the present improvements have for their object the
manufacture of square or rectangular bottomed bags, or what are commonly known. ;
as block bottomed bags.--
In carrying out our Invention, we employ the same arrangement as that described
in the Specification of the said Letters Patent (which is herein-after referred to as
the former Specification) for supporting the roll of paper and forming it into a
continuous length of paper tube, and then drawing it forward by means of rollers.to.
the front of the machine, where an oscillating knife working against a stationary-
blade cuts off the bag to the desired length. In this Invention both the blades of
the cutting off shears oscillate, so as to afford more room for the action of the
requisite folding mechanism. A reciprocating pointed plate is also applied to the
guage plate, which immediately the cutting off blades diverge or retire after per- 4
forming their cutting off operation is caused to advance so as to support the upper.
side of the mouth of the paper tube during the action of the folding mechanism,.
whilst at the same time the lower side of the paper tube is pressed down and
caused to gape by means of a suitable tongue attached to such reciprocating pointed.
plate. The folding mechanism in this case consists essentially of a pair of diagonal
folders acting simultaneously and at right angles to each other, and which fold
under the cut off edge of the paper tube in such a manner that such edges meet
together and overlap on the underside of the paper tube, but at right angles to their
original position. The front extremity of the paper tube thus forms a square or
rectangular point, having a corresponding part folded back close against the under
side of the paper tube. In this position a lower folder, which acts at right angles to-
the length of paper tube, comes into operation, and first creases, and after allowing..

page_text: the diagonal folders to retire, then folds over the point of the corresponding part just
mentioned, so as to be met in the centre by the front or pointed extremity of the
paper tube, which is next brought round and folded over by the action of a top folder
slightly overlapping each other.
The parts which require to adhere together have been meanwhile pasted by the
action of an endless cord carrying paste in a similar manner to that described in the
aforesaid Specification of Charles Harris; the bottom of the bag is now completed. The
bag being now cut off is carried by means of an endless apron between pressure
rollers, and then if deemed necessary over a heated surface, or otherwise, and being
thus pressed and dried is received upon a table.
Motion is communicated to all the folders by suitable connecting rods, the
extremities of which are furnished with bowls which work in suitable continuous
grooves formed in a pair of cam plates or wheels to which revolving motion is
imparted by the driving shaft.
And in order that this our said Invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect, wo have hereunto annexed 2 Sheets of Drawings
illustrative of our improvements in machinery for the manufacture of square or
block bottomed paper bags, similar letters marked upon the several views being used.
to indicate similar parts.
Fig. 1 represents a side view, Fig. 2 a front clevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of our
improved machine.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are diagrams showing the bottom of a bag in various
stages of forination in accordance with this Invention.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan, Fig. 12 a side view, and Fig. 13 a front view of
parts of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fig. 14 is a detached plan view of the gauge plate and spear herein-after described
and seen in Figs. 11, 12, and 13; Fig. 15 is a sido sectional view of Fig. 14, across
the line a, b; and Fig. 16, a front sectional view of Fig. 14 across the line c, d.
Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of the cam plate herein-after described, shewing
the relative positions of the cam grooves, which perform important functions in the.
machine.
·
In all the views A, A, are the cast-iron sides of the framework of the machine
bolted together by the cross piece A¹, and supporting the table A²; B is the driving
shaft, to which a continuous revolving motion is imparted either by a strap or
toothed gearing, or such shaft may be turned by hand by means of a winch handlo
or in any other convenient manner. This driving shaft carries a spur pinion B
(seen dotted in Fig. 1), gearing into the spur wheel C securely keyed upon a
spindle C revolving in bearings, one of which is formed in the cast-iron frame-
work A, and the other in the bracket C bolted to such framework as illustrated.
The outer extremity of this spindle C¹ carries a tappet for actuating the hinged knife
in the same manner as described in the former Specification, and the same mechanism
is employed for imparting the requisite adjustable and intermittent motion to the,
drawing rollers D through the spur wheel E. This intermittent motion is, however,
in this case also communicated by the same spur wheel E through the spur.
pinion E¹ to a pair of endless blankets or aprons, seen dotted in Fig. 1, and in
partial outline in Figs. 2 and 3, one of such blankets being marked F, and following
the direction of the arrows over and around the rollers F', F2, F³, F, F, and F, and.
the other blanket marked G following the direction of the dotted arrows over and
around the rollers F2, F³, and G¹, C, and G³. The shaft of the blanket roller G¹
carries upon its outer extremity a spur wheel H which gears through a pair of idle
spur wheels H¹ and H with a friction wheel H³ which rests in frictional contact
with the roll of paper H', and so assists the unwinding of such roll of paper in
exactly the same surface speed as the periphery of the drawing rollers D. In this
Invention the sheet of paper as it is unwound from the roll G becomes pasted along
its edges and is afterwards folded longitudinally, one edge overlapping the other, so
as to form a continuous length of paper tube, in precisely the same manner as
described in the former Specification. The cutting off operation also only differs
·

page_text: from the former Invention in both blades I and I' of the shears being mounted upon
the fixed stud 12, and in each blade having motion imparted to it, so as to afford
more room for the action of the folding mechanism herein-after described, by being
connected to arms (marked Is and I respectively) of the bell-crank lever 15 which is
actuated by the tappet, as herein-before mentioned.
We will now proceed to describe the mechanism employed for forming the
bottom of the bag. J is a pointed plate (herein-after called the spear) mounted in a
cavity J¹ formed in the stationary gauge plate J2 (which gauge plate is otherwise
the same as that described in the former Specification), so as to be capable of a
forward motion, and to project beyond the front edge Js of the gauge plate
immediately the blades I and I¹ of the shears diverge or retire after performing
their cutting off operation. This is effected by connecting such spear by means of
a flat bar J passing through the inside of the paper tube (a small piece of which is
seen in Fig. 11) to a cranked bar Jo branching from the sleeve Jª mounted upon
the rod J. This sleeve Je in its turn is caused to make the necessary fraction
of a revolution to give the motion required to the spear J by its arm J8 being con-
nected by a link Jo to a lever J10 mounted upon the stud J" affixed to the framework,
and which lever is provided on its inner side with a friction bowl or stud J¹ taking
into a cain groove J¹s formed in a plate K (seen in Figs. 1, 3, and on an enlarged
scale in Fig. 17) affixed on the outside of the spurwheel C and revolving therewith.
The spear J, when in its foremost position as indicated in Fig. 14, completes the
point of the gauge plate J, and and serves to support the upper side of the mouth of
the paper tube during the action of the folding mechanism, whilst at the same time
the lower side of such paper tube projecting beyond the front edge of the plate X is
pressed down and caused to gape (as seen in perspective in diagram Fig. 5) by
means of a hinged tongue J14, which being hinged at j in a cavity J¹ formed in
such spear, and by coming in contact with a projection J₁ upon the stationary
gauge plate J, has thus been compelled to turn down (as seen in Fig. 15) as the
spear Jhas advanced to its foremost position (seen in Fig. 14). The front of the paper
tube is thus prepared and slightly bent over the diagonal point or extremity of the
gauge plate and spear (as seen in diagram Fig. 5), to ensure the proper proper action
of the diagonal folders which now come into play. These diagonal folders, marked L
(scen best in Fig. 11, and broken off in Fig. 3), are mounted at the extremity of the
diagonal shafts L' with their under surface above the top surface of the paper tube,
and have a half revolution imparted to them at the proper instant for the purpose
of folding under the corners of the paper tube marked a and b in diagram Fig. 4, to
the position indicated by the same letters in diagram Fig. 7, and which completes
what may be termed the first folding operation.
That portion of the lower side of the paper tube which projects beyond the front
edge of the plate X herein-after described has thus by the action of the diagonal
folders I been turned back and round the front edge of the plate X, and now lies
up
close against the under surface of such plate, where it forms a corresponding half
of a square to that formed by the upper side of the paper tube, which remains still
supported by the gauge plate. Diagram Fig. 6 shews the paper tube as it appears
on the upper side, and Fig. 7 as it appears on the under side, upon completion of
this first folding operation.
Each, of the diagonal shafts L' is geared by means of a bevil pinion L² with a
bevil wheel L mounted upon the cranked shaft L. This shaft L' is mounted in
bearings Lo affixed to the framework A, and is caused to partially revolve by being
provided with an arm Le connected by a rod L' to a lever L³, working upon a fixed
stud L inside the bracket C³, and which lever is provided with a friction bowl or
stud L10 taking into a suitable cam groove L¹ formed in a plate M affixed on the
inside of and revolving with the spur wheel C, this cam groove L₁ been shewn
dotted in Fig. 17; the necessary half revolution to the diagonal folders is thus
simultaneously imparted to them by such cam groove.
It should be here remarked that the spear J commences to retire at the same
instant as the diagonal folders have performed half their motion, and that such

page_text: spear has assumed the position seen in Fig. 3 by the time such folders have finished
their half revolution. In drawing back the spear the spring tongue J" becomes
raised to the horizontal position by having to pass over the bar J16 affixed across
the gauge plate for this purpose. The figures marked at the several angles of the
diagonal folders L, and which also appear upon the same parts indicated by the
dotted lines in Fig. 12, will readily enable the position of such folders to be traced
when they have completed their half revolution, and from which it will be seen
that the side edges of such folders are turned back at right angles to their former
position, viz., up to the line marked f, f, which corresponds with the line indicated
by the same letters in diagrams 7, 8, and 9, and where they for the present remain
stationary.
Beneath the gauge plate, and projecting from the front edge of the table A², as
seen more clearly in Fig. 12, is a plate X between which and the gauge plate the
under portion of the paper tube passes; the front edge of this plate terminates in a
line e, c, drawn through the side angles of the gauge plate, and which line corre-
sponds with the line indicated by the same letters in all the diagrains. The second
folding operation now commences, and consists in bending back and folding under
the back point of the square marked c in diagram Fig. 7 to the position indicated
by the same letter in diagram Fig. 8, and this is performed by a back folder con-
sisting of a cranked bar N (of peculiar shape, as illustrated, in order to avoid coming
in contact with the diagonal folders) mounted in bearings N¹, and carrying at its
centre a plate N2, which as it sweeps round first creases the back point of the square
marked cover the sides of the diagonal folders and across the line f. f, and then returns
sufficiently out of the way to allow the diagonal folders to make their return move-
ment (the reason of this only partial return movement will appear hereafter), and as
soon as they are out of the way such back folder again sweeps round and completes
the folding under of the back point c of the square to the position indicated in
diagram Fig. 8, and thus completes the second portion of the folding operation.
The final folding operation consists in folding under the front portion of the square
marked d, in diagram Fig. 8, and this is effected by means of a front folder con-
sisting of a bar O mounted in bearings N¹, carrying at its centre a plate O¹, which
as it sweeps round in the opposite direction to the back folder folds under the front
portion of the square marked d, slightly overlapping the back portion, as indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 11, and in diagram Fig. 9. Motion is communicated to
the back folder by its cranked bar N having a pinion No at one extremity gearing
with a toothed segment No mounted upon fixed stud N', and provided with an
arm Ns to which is connected a rod No having its outer extremity jointed to an
arm N10 depending from a rocking shaft N₁ (scen dotted in Fig. 3), and which in
its turn is connected by another arm N" and by a link N¹³ to a lever N¹ working
upon a stud N15 affixed to the framework A. This lever N is provided with a
friction bowl or stud N10 taking into a suitable cam groove N" formed in the plate K
herein-before mentioned. Motion is also communicated to the front folder in a similar
manner by its bar O having a pinion 0° at one extremity gearing with a toothed
segment 0 mounted upon a fixed stud O' and provided with an arm 05, to which
is connected a rod 0° having its other extremity jointed to a lever 07 working upon
a stud 08 affixed to the bracket C³, this lever O' being provided with a friction
bowl O taking into a suitable cam groove 010 formed in the plate M herein-before
described, and seen dotted in Fig. 17.
The necessary pasting of the parts which require to adhere together is effected by
the action of a pair of endless pasting cords P and P¹, which pass through a trough
P containing paste, and thence over the pulleys P³ upon the stud 15, and round
their respective pulleys P', P³, and P6, mounted upon the back side of each of the
blades of the shears shewn separately in Fig. 2, intermittent motion being com-
municated to these pasting cords by the bevil wheels P' gearing with the shaft of
the blanket roller G³. It will thus be readily apparent that immediately after the
blades I and I have performed their cutting off operation the pasting cords carried
by such blades are brought in contact with the upper and lower sides of the

page_text: extremity of the paper tube, and thus lay a streak of paste thereon at the required
distance from and parallel with the newly cut off edge of such paper tube, and as
indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 11.
We will now proceed to describe the action of the ontire machine:---The hinged
knives having descended and cut off a bag and pasted the succeeding length of
paper tube, as just described, then rise up to make way for the folding mechanism,
and at the same time the spear J is advanced to its foremost position, as seen in
Fig. 11 and 14, and the mouth of the paper tube caused to gape, as herein-before
described. The cam groove L" is now "timed" to give a half revolution to the
diagonal folders, which assume the dotted position seen in Fig. 11, and the cam
groove J1s in its turn has meanwhile withdrawn the spear, as seen in Fig. 3. The
first folding operation in forming the bottom of the bag is now completed. While
the diagonal folders remain in this last-named position the first action in the second
folding operation commences, vizt., the folding back of the point of the square
marked c, in Fig. 7, to the position seen in diagram, Fig. 8; this is effected by the
cain groove N' causing the back folder plate N³ to make a complete throw, as
indicated by the dotted arc in Fig. 12. The back folding plate N now retires for
an instant to make way for the return movement of the diagonal folders L, but it
will be obvious that in the absence of some special means of supporting the paper
tube, whilst no longer held by either the diagonal folders or the back folder, the
same might partially fall, and to prevent this we provide a pair of spring fingers h
and i mounted upon the pivots on the under side of the plate X. By the pull of
a spring or weight these fingers always tend to move upwards into contact with
the under plate X to the position seen dotted in Fig. 12, but when the back folder
has fully returned it comes in contact with, and overcoming the pull of the spring or
weight so draws down such fingers into the position seen in Fig. 12. It will thus
be obvious that as the back folder makes its first movement, the spring or weight
being relieved, the fingers go up with it and support the under side of the bag in
course of formation. As the diagonal folders are returning the back folding plate N¹
only retires sufficiently far to allow them to pass, the fingers in the meantime
remaining in the dotted position seen in Fig. 12 to support the bottom of the bag.
The next sweep round of the back folder then perfects the folding under of the back
point of the square marked c, and completes the second folding operation. The
back folding plate N¹ now remains up in contact with the paper, in order that its
front edge may serve as a support, around which edge the front point of the squaro
marked & in the diagrams is bent by the action of the front folding plate O¹, which
now comes into play. The bottom of the bag being thus completed the front folder.
now resumes its first position, and the drawing rollers D commencing to revolve, as
in the former Specification, cause the bag to be advanced through the now open
shears, and to be received between the travelling blankets F, G, at which instant
the back folder retires, and the knives then immediately close and cut off such bag
to the desired length. The cut-off bag then continues to travel between the blankets,
and thus whilst carried by such blankets around the rollers is pressed together to
ensure the proper adhesion of the pasted parts, and is finally ejected from such
blankets on to the table Z.
Fig. 10 shews a bottom view of the bag when opened out.
* From the foregoing it will be apparent that the various movements of the folding
mechanism are all imparted by the cam-plates K and M affixed to and revolving
with the spur wheel C, the shape of the cam grooves being clearly indicated in
Fig. 17.
In conclusion, we would remark that, as in the former Specification, this machine
is adjustable in all necessary parts, so as to be capable of manufacturing various
sizes of bags.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the

page_text: various parts of the mechanism herein-before described and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be considerably variod without departing
from the Invention, but what we claim is,-
"
1st. The general construction and arrangement of mechanism for the manufacture
of square or block bottomed bags from a continuous roll of paper, substantially as
heroin-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The diagonal folders and back and front folders in combination with the
spear" and tongue and method of actuating the same for forming the bottom of
square or block bottomed bags, and pasting the same together, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Harris and Joseph Fletcher, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office,
71, Market Street,
Manchestor.
CHARLES HARRIS.
(L.S.)
JOSEPH FLETCHER. (L.S.)