Improvements in the Formation and Manufacture of Paper Envelopes and Bags.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
Improvements in the Formation and Manufacture of Paper
Envelopes and Bags.
We, EDMUND SQUIRE NORCOMBE Engineer WILLIAM EAGLE REEVES, Gentleman,
and JOSEPH GEORGE STEVENS, Gentleman, all of 97 Islington Row Birmingham in
the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
To make envelopes or bags in accordance with our invention we provide a roll or
web of paper of the required width and cause it to be fed automatically into a machine
between a pair of cylinders of suitable width the circumference of which must be
equal to one or more of the sheets or lengths of paper required for the formation of
an envelope or bag One of these cylinders must be furnished with a knife or knives
or with other suitable means for separating the paper into sheets of lengths of the
required size during each revolution The paper thus separated into sheets or lengths
will
pass on between a second pair of cylinders of which the lower terminates at each
end in a disc so shaped as to permit it to revolve in a trough of gum or paste These
discs are to carry the gum or paste to the edges of the envelopes or bags and must be
so shaped as to ensure the deposit of the gum or paste on such portions only of the
edges of the envelopes or bags as may be desirable The gummed or pasted sheets or
lengths of paper will pass on still automatically between another pair of cylinders so
arranged as to fold them back upon themselves in two unequal lengths or sides press
the gumined or pasted edges together and by means of a series of endless tapes or
bands deliver the partially formed envelopes or bags between a second pair of pasting
cylinders in construction similar to the first pair the object of which second pair is to
gum or paste a second time but on a fresh surface the already adhering edges of the
envelopes or bags which will now in their onward progress through the machine coine
into contact with a tool or appliance similar in its construction and action to what is
known as the hemmer of a sewing machine The object of this tool or appliance is to
turn over into a fourfold thickness the edges of the envelopes or bags and in case of
envelopes we prefer that the fold shall be made on the larger length or side of the

page_text: envelope that is to say on that length or side which carries the flap The envelopes or
bags will be finally carried on between a pair of steam drying cylinders and so drop
out of the machine.
The flaps of the envelopes are afterwards to be cut into the required shapes gummed
and folded over the shorter length or side in order that when the address shall be
written on that side and the postage stamp affixed the stamp may adhere partly to the
flap and partly to the body of the envelope and so afford additional security to its
contents Whenever it may be necessary in any of the foregoing processes a current
of air may be directed on to the advancing edge of the paper to keep it in position or
to direct its motion or other suitable means may be adopted for the purpose.
Dated this Nineteenth day of February 1887.

page_text: Improvements in the Formation and Manufacture of Paper
Envelopes and Bags.
We, EDMUND SQUIRE NORCOMBE of 97 Islington Row Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Engineer, WILLIAM EAGLE REEVES of 97 Islington Row aforesaid
Gentleman and JOSEPH GEORGE STEVENS also of 97 Islington Row Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Gentleman 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 :-
We will illustrate our invention with the aid of the accompanying drawings by
describing a machine capable of making a single envelope or bag per revolution but it
will be evident that by employing cylinders of greater capacity and with other necessary
modifications a larger output is obtainable.
The letters and figures used in the drawings are repeated where necessary to
indicate identical portions of the machinery but are employed singly only in the
specification.
To make envelopes or bags in accordance with our invention we provide a roll or
web of paper (A Fig. 1) of the required width and cause it to be fed automatically
into the machine at B B B¹ is a shaft carrying at each end a rotary slitting knife (C)
These knives work into slots in cylinder B for the purpose of cutting longitudinal slits
into the paper the object of which will presently appear Cylinder D is furnished from
end to end with a knife (E) such as is used in ordinary rotary printing machines
which works into a slot in cylinder D' and at each revolution separates the paper into
sheets or lengths Cylinder D is also furnished on the periphery and near each edge
with other knives (E¹) the object of which is to cut short rectangular slits into the
margin of the sheet or length of paper and the relative positions of these knives (E¹)
and of the slitting knives (C) on the shaft B' are so arranged and adjusted as by their
combined action to cut from the sheet or length of paper a narrow strip between each
pair of rectangular slits made by the knives (E') The sheet or length of paper thus
produced will be of the form shewn in outline at Fig. 2 the dotted line (a) indicating
the fold and the dotted lines (b) the deposit of paste.
Instead of employing separate pasting cylinders as described in our provisional
specification the pasting is in this arrangement done by cylinder D¹.
F is a pasting trough fixed against the edge and at each end of cylinder D' and
kept in close contact therewith by set screws or other suitable means.
The paste or gum is carried to the paper in grooves cut in the periphery near each
edge of cylinder D₁ or in the discs when discs are employed F¹ are scrapers to clear
off any excess of paste or gum.
The gummed or pasted sheet or length of paper will pass on still automatically
between another pair of cylinders (G G¹) so arranged as to fold it back upon itself in
two unequal lengths or sides in the case of envelopes but in the case of bags in equal

page_text: lengths and to press the gummed or pasted edges together Cylinder G has a groove
running across from end to end provided with grippers (H) actuated by cams and
springs and cylinder G₁ is provided longitudinally with a folding blade (J) arranged to
work into the groove in cylinder G When the sheet or length of paper has been
carried between the cylinders G G¹ its further course will be directed by a brush or
guide (K) until it is arrested by the fall of the folding blade (J) into the groove and
against the grippers (H) in cylinder G The grippers (H) will seize the paper by the
fold thus made and carry on the partially formed envelope or bag to the tape rollers L
when by the action of cams the grippers loose their hold of the paper and the endless
tapes or bands L' deliver the partially formed envelope or bag between a second pair of
pasting cylinders (M M¹) These cylinders with their pasting troughs (F) by the
process already described gum or paste a second time but on fresh surfaces the already
adhering edges of the envelope or bag which will now in its onward progress come
into contact with a tool or appliance N similar in its construction and action to what
is known as the hemmer of a sewing machine This tool or appliance turns over into
a fourfold thickness the edges of the envelope or bag and in the case of envelopes we
prefer that the fold shall be made on the large length or side that is to say on the
length or side that carries the flap The envelopes or bags will be finally carried on
between a pair of steam drying cylinders (O) and so drop out of the machine at P.
The flaps of the envelopes are afterwards to be cut into the required shapes and
gummed and folded over the shorter length or side in order that when the addresses
shall be written on that side and the postage stamp affixed the whole of the fastenings
may be on the address side and the postage stamp may adhere partly to the flap and
partly to the body of the envelope (Fig. 3) and the whole may be under the observation
of the post office officials from the time of posting till delivery and so afford additional
security to its contents.
Our machine may be so constructed as to gum that portion of the paper which will
eventually form the flap during its passage over cylinder B by a modification of the
pasting process already described.
When the envelope or bag is intended to carry any printed or embossed device
such device may be impressed upon it by a modification of the ordinary rotary printing
machinery applied to cylinder D¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :
1. Improvements in the formation and manufacture of paper envelopes and bags
substantially as herein set forth and specified.
2. Constructing a Rotary machine for the manufacture of paper envelopes and bags
substantially as herein set forth and specified.
3. Constructing paper envelopes in such form as that the postage stamp when
affixed may adhere partly to the flap and partly to the body of the envelope substantially
as herein set forth and specified.
Dated this 11th day of November 1887.
DAN. J. FLEETWOOD,
Agent for the Applicants.