US276672A - Sheet-delivery apparatus for printing-machines - Google Patents

Description

11 sheets-sheet 1.

L L B w 0 R 0 L m. d o M 0 m .SHBET DELIVERY APPARA US r013; PRINTING AcHINEs.

Patented. May 1,1883.

(no main. 11 sneak-sheep 2.

- L. c.-cRowB-LL.

SHEET APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES- mzms'zz. Patented May '1,188 3.

oft/Casi; I Ivvaniar,

(No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. c. GROWELL' SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS T0 No. 276,672.

R PRINTING MACHINES.

Patented May 1 1883 (No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 4,

L. G. GROWELL. -SHBET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

Pa en tgd av 1.1

I -,llllh) 11 shets sheet 5.

L. 0. OROWELL. SHEET DELIVERY APPARAFUS FOR PRINTING MAGHINES,

No. 276,672. Patented May 1,1883.

(No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 6'.

-L. 0. GROWELL. DELIVERY A 'PPA RATUS FOR. PRINTING MACHINES.

110,276,672. I Patented May 1,1883.

v V g i (No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 7.

L. G. GROWEL-L; SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES. No. 276.672.

Patented May 1,1883.

(No 'Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheen: 8.

r L. C. CROWELL. SHEE T DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

May 1,1883.

Patented v No. 276,672.

Irweniorj 11C. Crow/cu, 64mm #9442,

(No Model.)

L. c. OROWELL. v SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES- No. 2761672. Patented May 1,1883.

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11 Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.) 1 1 Sheets-Sheet 10.

v L. C. GROWELL. SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTlNG MACHINES.

Patented May 1, 1883.

I. C. (Framed (No Model.)

- A 11 hoaets-Shet 11.

L. Q. CROWELL.

SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES. A No. 276,672. A Patented May 1,1883.

Irixlerulor I Z.C.Croweu,

UNITED STATES PATENT O FI E.

LUTHER G. OROVVELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHEET-DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N01 276,672, dated May 1, 1883.

Application filed April 30, 1881. iNoinodcl.)

To altar/tom it may concern:

Beit known that I, LUTHER C. GRowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in'the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and-State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Delivery Apparatus i'or-Printing-Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the'accouipauying drawings, forming a part of the same.

i In said drawings, Figure l is aside elevation of so much of a printing-press having the present'improve'ment combined vjth it as is necessary to show the means for driving the principal mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is aplan view, Fig. 3 an end elevation, and-Fig.4 a longitudinal sectional elevation, of the same. Figs 5, 6, 7, and S are sectional elevations, showing theapparatus primarily actingupontheprinted sheetin various adjustments; Fig. 9, an ele vation of the gear side of amachine embodying my improvements, and showing modificatlOllSOf some of the mechanisms.

Fig. 10 is a plan view, showing more particularly the arrangement of the printing and modified fold- -iug mechauisms and the taping of the latter.

Fig. 11 is a sideel evation taken inside the frame-work to expose some of the principalworking mechanisms of the modification. Fig. 12 is a plan view of a part of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 11.' Fig. 13is a side elevation taken inside the frame, and showing a modification of some of the mechanisms and the position thereof in one operative adjustment. Fig. 14 is a planview of portions of the mechanisms adjusted as shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a side elevation taken inside theframe, showing these mechanisms in a different position of adjustment. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 17 is an end elevation, showing particularly the longitudinal folder and one form of transverse folder, the latter being in sectional-elevation. Fig. 18 is asectional elevation-of said transverse folder, showing particularly one mode of adjusting its mechauisms. Fig. 19 represents a side elevation, partly in section, showing the primary and secondary apparatus for acting upon the printed sheets. Fig. 20 is a front end elevation of secondary apparatus. Figs. 21 and 22 represent front, end, and side elevationsof the secondary apparatuswith modified taping. i

zon tally-arranged printing and impression cyl; inders capacitated to run at a high rate of 6 speed and to print the opposite sides of a web or longlengt-h of material, which printing capacity is alone limited by that of the delivery mechanism, whose function it is to divide the ,web into short lengths orsheels and deliver the same properly piled. A great variety of delivery mechanisms capable of, running at high speed, and thus-adapted to be combined with such printing-machines, have been devised, and during more recent periods these delivery mechanisms have'heen so constructed as not onlyto deliver the sheets open or fiat at high speed, but fold them one or more times during such delivery.

My improvements relate to that class of delivery mechanisms for rotary priutinginacondition. 0

It is well known to those skilled 1n the art ot'printing as carried out-in rotary web-printchiues which deliver the sheets in a folded" 'ing machines, in which the web is'cut iuto sheets after it is printed, that'the printingsurtaoe covers the'circumt'erential extentof .the cylinder, and that 'therel'orean ychange in the size of the printing-surface can only be made in the direction of the length of the cylinder.

Now, in producing newspapers and similar periodicals, for which the web-printing machine is largely used, the direction in which their first fold should be'given depends upon several conditions: first, whether the sheets are printed from columns running around or parallel with the axis of the priutin'gmylinder;

second, whether the sheet be a four-page paper or an eigh t-page paper; third, also, whether the eight-page sheethe iolded iutactjor composed of two separate four-page sheets. From this it will be seen that the first fold in some a division of an i cases should be a longitudinal one and in other cases a transverse one; and my improvements enable one and the same mechanism to fold, first,-first longitudinally, the subsequent folds being preferably at a right angle thereto and also to each other, or, second, first transversely, and the subsequent folds at a right angle thereto and to'each othera Two sheets may be collected one upon the other, and saidcollected sheets, or signature, may be folded,

first, first longitudinally, the subsequent folds being at a right ,angle thereto and to each other, or, second, first transversely, the subsequentfolds being at a right angle thereto and to each other. Ifit should be desired thatat anytime the number or width of columns should be increased or diminished, then the columns must lie parallel with the run of the paper and around the type-cylinder; but if, on the contrary, it should be desired'tolen gthen or shorten the columns, then they must lietransverse to the run of the paper and parallel with the axis of the type-cylinder. I The same printing-machine may sometimes be required to print a paper from a form the columns of which run around a cylinder, or from a form the columns of which run length,-

-wise of the cylinder, and. it may be desirable in the one case to make the first fold in one direction, and in the other case to make the first fold in theopposi-te direction.

In this invention, as'illustrated and com bined witha printing-machine, the first folding mechanism is one that gives the sheets a transverse fold, and'tbe next folding mechan ism one that gives-.thesheets a longitudinal fold; but the transverse folding device is so arranged that it may atple'asure be thrown out of operation and'beeome simply a carrier. I

Thus the first fold the sheet will receive may be either a. transverse or a longitudinal one.

In order to a ready understanding of the invention in all of its details, I will first describe the mechanisms singly. I

The :printing mechanism shown serves to illustratethe combination ofmy improvements with a well-known form ofsuch mechanism,

said improvements being adapted to. any construction of rotary printing mechanism-such, for instance, as that described in Patent No.

212,444, granted February 18, 1879. This mechauism comprises type-cylinders A Band impression-cylinders U D, (see particularly Figs. 13 to 21,) all of which are journaled in a suitable frame-work and geared together by'means, of toothed wheels, as 101 103 102 104,. so as to revolve in unison, one impression-cylinder,

as 1), being of large diameter, to operate asa set-off cylinder, as is common. -The'type-cylinders A B may be of a diameter equal to two lengths of the product to be printed twice that size, or any multiple thereof, as maybe desired, and be of a length to print one or'more products sideby side, as is common, if desired.

For the purpose of this specification I have shown the impression-cylinder B of one size in Figs. 9 and 1]. and of double that size in Figs,-.

1 3 and 15. The usual blanketing of the impression-cylinders and the common fittings of the type-cylinders, whereby they are adaptedto hold forms of type or plates, will be used and any suitable inking apparatus.

The primary folding mechanism, or that one which is capacitated to fold the paper transverse to its direction of travel, consists of a rotating carrier, E, (preferably a cylinder,) the periphery or shell of which is perforated to accommodate the protrusion of the various mechanisms it carries, the shaft 51 of which isjournaled in the frame-work and provided with a driving toothed wheel, 105, meshing with the wheel 104, whereby said carrier is caused to rotate with the same surface-speed as that of the printing mechanism, though in Figs. 1 to scribed in said patent, so that one ofits members or blades may be readily removed androplaced by any common means,'or by that described in Patent No. 214,066, granted April 8, 1879. Its shaft 31 is extended through one head of the carrier and provided with two opposed rock-arms, 10, one of whieh,during each revolution of the carrier E, engages a guideway or cam-path formed by a flying cam, 12,,

and a stationary cam, 13, that is fast to the frame-work. This flying cam 12 is mounted upon the 'face of a toothed wheel, 45, that is earriedby a short stud journaled in the framework. (See Fig. 2.) This wheel, and consequently the cam, is rotated in proper time by means of a toothed wheel or driving-pinion, 46, fast upon the shaft 51 of the carrier E, said fiying cam being thereby rotated so as to cooperate with the stationary cam in directing the rock-arm of the folding-blade through a cam-groove that will causethe blade-shaft to make a. semi-rotation, and one blade to be thereby protruded from and withdrawn into the carrier, during which movement it enters the space between the rollers 32 33 and accomplishes the folding operation, all of which is particularly described in-said Patent No. 171,196, from which description and that of Patent No. 214,066 it will be understood that although the blade'shaft' makes a semirotation at eachrevolution of the carrier E, such rotation becomes an idle or inoperative one when one blade is removed or' the folder hasa single folding-blade. At a point opposite to that in which the foldingblade is mounted the carrier E is provided with a shaft,

cases should he a longitudinal one and in othercases a transverse one; and my improvements enable one and the same mechanism to fold, first, first longitudinally, the subsequent folds being preferably ata right angle thereto and also to each other, or, second, first transversely, and the subsequent folds at a right angle thereto and to each other. Two sheets may be collected one upon the other, and said collected sheets, or signature, may be folded, first, first longitudinally,the subsequent folds being at a right angle thereto and to each other, or, second, first transversely, 'thesubsequent folds being at a right angle thereto and to each other. -If it should be desired that at any time the number or width of columns should be increased or diminished, then the columns must lie parallel with the run of the paper and around the type-cylinder; but if, on the contrary, it should bedesired tolengthen or shorten the columns, then they must lie transverse to the run of thepaper andparallel with the axis of the type-cylinder. y The same printing-machine may sometimes be required to print a paper from a form the columns of which run around a cylinder, or from a form the columns of which run length wise of the cylinder, and it may be desirable in the one case to make the first fold in one direction, and in the other case to make the first fold in the opposite direction. I

In this invention, as illustrated and combined with a printing-machine, the first folding mechanism is one that gives the sheets a transverse fold, and the next folding mechanism one that gives the sheets a longitudinal fold; but the transverse folding device is so arranged that it may at pleasure be thrown out of operation and become simply a carrier.

Thus the first fold the sheet will receive may be either a transverse or a longitudinal one.

In order to 'aready understanding of the invention in all of its details, I will first describe the mechanisms singly.

- The printing mechanism shown serves to illustrate the combinationof my improvements with a well-known form of such mechanism, said improvementsbeing adapted to any construction of rotary printing mechanism-snch, for instance, as that described in Patent No. 212,441, granted February 18,1879. This mechanism comprises type-cylinders A B and impression-cylinders U I), (see particularly Figs. 13 to 21,) all of which are journaledin a suitable frame-work and geared together by means of toothed wheels, as-101 103 102 101, so as to revolve in unison, one in:pression-cylindcr, as D, being of large diameter, to operateas a set-otf cylinder, as is common. The type-cylinders A 13 may be ofa diameter equal to two lengths of the product to be printed twice that size, or any multiple thereof, as may be desired, and be of a. length to print one or more products side by side, as is common, if desired. For the purpose of this specification I have shown the impression-cylinder B of one size in Figs. 9 and 11. and of double that sizcin Figs.

frame-work.

13 and 15. The usual blanketing of the impression-cylinders and the common fittings of the type-cylinders, whereby they are adapted to hold forms of type or plates, will be used and any suitable inking apparatus.

The primary folding mechanism, or that one which is capacitated to fold the paper transverse to its direction of travel, consists of a rotating carrier, E, (preferably a cylinder,) the periphery or shell of which is perforated to accom modate the protrusion of the various mechanisms it carries, the shaft 51 of which isjournaled in the frame-work and provided with a driving toothed wheel, 105, meshing with the,

wheel 101, whereby said carrier is caused to rotate with the same surface-speed as that of the printing mechanism, though in Figs. 1 to 8 the connecting-gearing is marked 105106102.

Theconstructiono-fthe primaryfoldingmechanism, which will preferably be used in practice because of the simplicity and compactness of its parts,is shown in Figs. 1 to 8, and will now be particularly described. Its carrier E is provided at one point of its periphery with a fold- .ing-blade,9, mounted to turn with a shaft, 31,

head of the carrier and providedwith two opposed rock-arms, 10, one of which, .(llllllllg each.

revolution of the carrier E, engages a guideway or cam-path formed by a flying cam, 12, and a stationary cam,13, that is fast to the This flying cam 12 is mounted upon the face of a toothed wheel, '15, that is carried by a short stud journaled in the framework. (Sce Fig. 2.) This wheel, and consequently the cam, is rotated in proper time by means of a toothed wheel or driving-pinion, 46, fast upon the shaft 51 ofthe carrier B, said flying cam being thereby rotated so as to cooperate with the-stationary cam in directing the rock'arm of the folding'bladc through a cam-groove that will cause the blade-shaft to make a semi-rotation, and one blade to be thereby protruded from and withdrawn into" the carrier, during which movement it enters the space between the rollers 32 33 and.

accomplishes the folding operation, all of which is particularlydescribed in said Patent No. 171,196, from which description and that of Patent No. 214,066 it will'be understood that although the bladeshaft makes a semirotation at each revolution of the carrier B, such rotation becomes an idle or inoperative onewhen one blade is removed or the folder has a single folding-blade. At a point opposevering this second sheetin'like manner as it' ation, although the gear-wheel carries two cams, land 2, it is apparent that the wheel 60 or the cam 1 might be secured in a fixed position, so that one cam would cause the movementof the fingers each time that they pass the rollers 32 33. In consequence of the otheroperations carried on by this mechanism, in which it is necessary that the fingers 5 be operated at only every second revolution of the cam E, the actuatingcams'l 2 are secured to the wheel 60, which is twice the size of its driver, said driver being a tooth-wheel,59, secured to the shaft of carrierE. Therefore the carrier IE will make two revolutions while the wheel 60 makes but one, thus presenting the same cam, as 1, in acting position at every alternate revolution of the carrier E. v

If, now, it be desired, to change the arrangement of the printing-platescarried by the type cylinders and so place them that each sheet printed thereby will be the component half of a complete product, in which case it would be desirable to bring two successive sheets one upon the other, or if, for any other reason, it is desirable to collect two sheets one upon the other, it is but necessary to remove one of the cams, as 2, from the wheel-60, when the apparatus will operate as follows: When the first of this pair of sheets, whose forward end is carried by the pins 6, approaches the point occupied by the rollers 32 33, that side of the wheel 60 whence cam 2 was removed is then presented toward said rollers, and consequently permits the rock-arm of the fingers to pass that point withoutbeing moved. Thepins consequently retain their hold upon said sheet and carry it forward in the relative movement of the carrier E. It thus carries the first sheet entirely around with the carrier, and causes the same to receive the second sheet upon it, the two then being impaled on the pins-6, and the cutting instrumentalities of thecarriers E and F did thefirst. When the forwardedges ofthese combined sheets held by the pins 6 approach the rollers 32 33. the wheel 60 will then have the rock-arm llof the fingers 5 and vibrate the same outwardly, thereby stripping the ends of the two combined sheets from'the pins and entering them simultaneously into the bite of the rollers 32 33, from'whence the sheets will pass out for subsequent treatment, as before described.

Although from this description it will appear that the carrier E, when provided with pins and mechanisms governing the control of the paper,-together with the conductors 48, constitute a gathering or controlling mechanism, such' a gathering mechanism is not herein claimed as novel, the sameforming the'subjec t-m'atter of another application.

It, now, it is desired to fold the sheets trans versely, either singly or'in gathered pairs, the same may be accomplished by bringing into action the folding-blade 9, which maybe done by simply restoring its flying or actuating cam 12 into its operative position, as shown in Figs;

1 and 2, the conductors 48 then being raised out of action, and the position of the camwheel 60 (now provided with both its earns 12) will be changed to that shown in Figs. 7 and 8, its carrying-stud being secured to the frame 'in the hole shown by dottedlines in Fig.2,

where it will rotate, as before described.- In this arrangement of the parts the cams 1 and 2 upon the wheel 60 will so operate that at each revolution of the carrier E the fingers 5 will be vibrated outwardly to release the'end blades!) be protruded between the rollers 32 33 at each rotation of said carrier. It will therefore be understood that each sheet engagcd by the pins will be carried past the rollers 32 33 and be folded by the operation of the folding-blade into the nip of said rollers,

the fingers being vibrated at the proper. time to release the forward end of said sheet to enable it to pass between the rollers 32 33 in a once-folded condition, which fold will be transverse to the run of the web, and each folded sheet may then be delivered by thetapes shown for subsequent operations.

If it is desired to'collect two sheetsone upon the other and to fold the same simultaneously with a transverse told, one cam, as 1, is removed from the cam-wheel 60 and one blade from the folding-blade, as is shown in Fig. 8. The first sheet will be carried. by the pins around with the carrier E, the cam-wheel 60 then so rotating as to admit the rock-arm of said fingers to pass by it without being acted upon and the folding-blade shaft making that half of its revolution which turns the single blade it then carries inwardly as the rollers 32 33 are passed. The second sheet is received upon the first, as heretofore explained with reference to Fig. 6, the web is severed, and the two sheets impaled upon the pins 6 are carried onward .past the rollers 32 33, and when the middle portion or folding-point of such collected sl1eets arrives before said rollers, that ,that the projection on carrier F may be reinoved wh cn the cylinders EF would be empt y carriers.

A modified construction of devices for ef-' fectiug these same operations is shown in the primary apparatus, more particularly by Figs. 9 to 20, which will now be explained. arrangement the carrier E isprovided with a single folding-blade, 9, that projects from the shaft 31, which shaft is now adapted to be vibrated, so as to swing the toldin'g-bladqsuch movement arm, 10, whereby said blade is protruded at proper times beyond the periphery of the carrier for coactioh with therollers 32 33, which are here shown in form of pulleys and as provided with pinions 61 62. whereby they are 'drivenby the pinion 61 from the wheel 105. The longitudinal row of pins 6 is arranged to A be automatically protruded beyond and drawn within-the periphery of the carrier, or to be fixed'iiieither their protruded or withdrawn positions. For this purpose they may be secured to a plate or bar,"34, as in Fig. 11, arrangedtto slide in ways provided within the carrier, which plate or bar is provided with a rack or racks, with which a pinion or pinions, 35, fixed upon a shaft, which may be the shaft 30,engage. In this structure a spring, as 48,0r a spiral spring, will be arranged to so rock the shaft 30 as to. cause it to. protrude the pins, its rock-arm 11 being actuated 'to cause the pins to withdraw at proper times by a cam mechanism equivalent in its function and operation to the cams carried-by the cam-wheel 60. The carrier E is further provided at a point opposite to the pins 6 with another setof pins,

as 17, (see Figs. 13 and '15,) that are curved to project from a rock-shaft, 93, journaled in the carrier-heads, which shaft has at one end a rock-arm, 43, that maybe moved into a position to protrude the pins through apertures in the bladeil, or withdraw the same within thecarrier. Thesepinsinaybesecuredineither of such positions by means of spring-seated pins, as 38, projecting through ahole in the carrier-head and engaging a hole in said rockarm 43. (See detached view, Fig. '17.) The pins 6 may be maintained in their withdrawn or protruded position b'ylike means, andboth or either sets of these pins may besecured in either of their positions by any other means. This carrier E is furthermore provided at points near the projecting points'ot the pins 6 and that of the blade 9 with longitudinal cutting-grooves 'ffilltl 12, which will preferably be provided with cutting-blades; or one wall of the groove edge of'the-shell of the carrier'and the other with by the edge of the blade 9, with which cutting-blades 2S and 29, supported by the carrierF, cooperate. The cutting-blade 28 is arranged so that it may be removed bodily from the c'arrier,in manner similar to that described in the Patent No. 189,966, August 8, 1876, which blade, when in place, however, cooperates during each turn of the carrier with the cutting slot or blade 7. This removability In this.

being imparted by a single rock or upon a short shaft,

12 may be formed by the renders it convenient to provide the carrier F with a blade having a cutting'edge th'atwill make a complete severance, or with one having portions of its cutting-edge removed. The cutting-blade 29 has portions of its edge removed, and is arranged to he carried constantly by. the carrier, but constructed so as to be thrown 'into or out of action, as may be required. Thus it is mounted so as to slidein w'aysprovided within the carrier, and has one or more racks that are engaged by a pinion or pinions, 39, (see Fig. 15,) fast 11 one. shait journaled in the heads of the carrier, and provided at one end with a rock-arm, 40, by the movements of which said rock-arm this out ting-blade may be protruded from or withdrawn within the periphery of said carrier, as may be required. It maybe secured in either of these positions by means of a pin or screw passed through ahole inthe rock-arm and entered into holes, as-4l, in the carrier-head, or it may be-arranged to be secured in manner siini!ar to that shown and described for securing the pins of the carrier. 1 Its two positions are shown in Figs. 111and13. Any other cutting mechanism'may, however, be used, and all of the cutting instrumentalities should be constructed so that they may be removed or rendered inoperative, and thus cou= vert the carriers E and Finto simple conducting rolls or cylinders.

The mechanisms for controlliu g the action of the devices supported by the carrier E are as follows: A tripping lever bar, 50, which is branched to properly support tripping-dogs 22 23, is arranged so as to be capable of longitudinal or sliding movement, being for this purpose provided with an elongated guide-sl'ot,25,

whereby it may move on a guide-pin, 26, projecting from the frame-work, and be guided by its forked end,thatembraces ashaft which carries an adjustable cam, 99, in the path 19 of which a stud or-roller,2 0, projecting from the bar 50, enters. This bar 50 is furthermore pro-' vided with means for securing it in stationary forward or rearward positions,,the same being in one eonstruction (see Fi s. 11. and, 12) a screw, 69, tapped through the rame iind adapted to be entered into one of the holes 70 71, with which the bar is provided, and in another construction the cam 99 is made the means for securing the proper adjustment, as will presently appear. This cam may be mounted to revolve upon the shaft 109 of the cylinder 1), 80, projecting from the framework. In the latter case its appropriate timely rotation is produced by means .of a toothed wheel,107, fast on the shaft 100, which engages apinion, .63, turning freely on said short shaft 80, to which-wheel the cam is socured. This cam may be adjusted so as to turn operatively, and thus reciprocate the bar 50, as in Figs. 11 and 12, where its movement is shown to be accomplished by means of the grooved sleeve 3 of the cam carrying pinion 63, which grooved sleeveis embraced by the arms of a moved by by the bar 50, may be entered intoor withdrawn from the groove in the cam and the movements of the bar be accomplished or suspended. In

Figs.13-to 15 the cam is arranged to be secured to the shaft 100, so-as to revolve therewith, by

means of ascrcw, 81, that is tapped through the hub ofthe cam and enters the said shaft. It may be secured to the side frame and thus held stationary by withdrawing the screw 81' and so turninga screw, 82, tapped through the side frame, thatits end will enter a suitable one of the holes, 91, provided in the side of the cam. When the bar 50 is in its forward position its dog 22 \villbe held so that it willintercept the rock-arm 11, and thereby cause the pins 6 to be drawn within theperiphcryofthecarrier E, thus disengaging them from .the paper which is impaled by them, and the dog 23 will be heldin position tointercept therock-arm 10 of the blade 9and cause the shaft 31 to be vibrated and swing said blade 9 outward and into the spaccbetween the rollers 32 33, as in Fig. If it is desired to hold'the rear end of a severed sheet or sheets carried by the, cylinder E when the same is operating to collect sheets, the forward ends of whichsheet or sheetsare. held as before described, a. set of pins, as 57,-(see Figs. 5 to 8,) located in front of the cutting member of said cylinder, would, when the sheetis severed, penetrate and hold the same untilthey are stripped therefrom by the-action of the rollers 32 33. I

The operation of these modified structures of the primary apparatus is as follows: .If it is desired that each sheet produced by the severing of the web into short lengths through the operation of one or of both sets of cutting devices with which the carriers E and F are provided, which in the one case will be, say, whole sheets, and in the other half-sheets, itis only necessary to adjust the cam 99 by either of the described means so thatit will hold the tripping-bar in its rearmost position and stationary. This will remove the dogs 22 23 1 become active.

so far'rearwardly that they will not cause any of the devices supported by the carrier E to In. delivering whole sheets flat, said sheets being only partially severed froin'the web by the action of the cutter 28, which has removedsport'ions, the sheets, in the form of a web partially connected at its lines of ultimate division intosheets, is simply led from the cylinder D, passed between the carriers E and F, and entered into thenip of the rollers 32 33. If it is desired that these sheets shall be entirely severed from the web, the forms may be set back in the type-cylinders,

the cutting-blade 28 removed, and the cuttingblade 29 thrown into action. The bar'50 will then be adjusted in'its forward position, and

'the pins 6 be adjusted in their withdrawn or inward position, which removes their rock-arm 11 out of the path of travel occupied by the.

dog 22. The hcathof each sheet will then be impaled upon the pins 17, and, as it is passing desired to, deliver half-sheets fiat-,both cutters 28 29 will be brought into operation, the bar 50 will be adjusted so as to render the blade!) 7 5 inoperative, and both sets of vpins in the carrier E will be fixed in their withdrawn position, and both knives 28 29 have cut-away portions. Each half-sheet will then be partially severed from the web and pass between carriersE Fand the rollers 32 33. I f both cutters 28 29 operate to entirelysever the web, it will be necessary, in order to carry'the half-sheets then produced into ,the nip of the rollers 32 33, to provide the roller 32 with pins or hooks 95, which may be 8 caused by proper devices to operate so as to enter the leading end of each sheet, strip it from the carrier E, and,.having entered the same into the nip of rollers 32 33, be withdrawn. If it is desired to collect or associate two whole 0 sheets one upon the other and deliver the same simultaneously through the rollers or pulleys 32 33, the cam 99, actuating the bar. 50, will beput into operation, so as to cause said bar to make a. forward reciprocation at each sec- 9 ond'revolution of the carrier E. This will present the dog 23 in position to operate upon the rock-arm 10 and move the swinging blade 9. The blade 28 being removed, the pins 6 secured in their withdrawn position, and the lot blade 29 thrown into action, the head of the first sheet will be impaled upon the pins 17, and will be carried around with the carrier E, receive the second sheet upon it, the blade 29 cutting the web into sheets, which sheets will, when their leading ends arrive at the roller'32. be simultaneously stripped from the pins 17 by the action of the blade 9, which at this time, is operated by the contact of its rock-arm 10* with the dog 23, which is moved'forward in proper position for this purpose, the time being that of the forward movement of the bar In this operation, of course, the pins will be out of action. It, now, it is desired to deliver each fall sheet withJatransverse fold, the pins 17 are thrown out of action, the pins 6 are thrown into action, and the blade -28{is thrown into action, and the bar 50 is adjustedin its forward position, so that its dog 22 will operate the pins 6 and its dog 23 will operate the folding-blade 9 at each rcvolutionof the carrier E. Each sheet impaled upon the pins 6'will be carried by them around to a. point opposite the rollers 32 33, at which time the dog 22 will operate to withdraw the pins from the end of the sheet, and the dog 23 will operate to swing the folding-blade 9 outward between the rollers 32 33, thus carrying the sheet with it and doubling it into the nip'of the rollers 32 33, thereby accomplishing its folding upon a line transverse to the directionof its travel. Asthis sheet is passing between the rollers 32 33 and theweb between the carriers E and F the cutter 28 operates to sever the sheet nudergoing the folding operation and leave the end of the web which is to form the succeeding sheet impaled upon the pins 6. By a slight modification of the form of the bar 50 and its cam and the provision of additional foldingblades, half-sheets might be folded in a similar manner. f 1

In the folding ope'ration the blade 9 is prevented from dragging over theperiphery of y the roller 33, or the paper thereon, in making its retiring movement, by a guard of common form, against which the arm 10 of the foldingblade 9 presses, and as soon as clear therefrom is quickly redirected'by the action of the spring to its former position in the carrier, the dog 23 simultaneously making its retiring movement.

The sheets, either extended flat or folded transversely, may be directed from the rollers 32 33 to any form of apparatus, either for further folding the same or for piling them, as is described in said Patent No. 171,196, or be manipulated by any structure of longitudinal folder composed of turners.

The secondary sheet-manipulating apparatus, as illustrated herein, consists of a structure which embodies an internal guide and external turners, by the coaction of which a sheetor web of paper drawn over said guide and through the turners has its sides brought together or lapped, so as to impart to the web or sheet the desired longitudinal fold. The web or sheet, asit enters upon this guide, is extendedflat widthwise, and its sides are gradually turned or deflected toward each other, and are finally brought together in passing between said turners. This secondary or longitudinal folding mechanism consists of an internal supporting or turning guide, G, preferably formed by bending the forward portion of the main body of a rectangular metal plate, (ofa width equal attleast to that of the fabric designed to be folded,)so thatjthe forward edges of its centrally-bent sides 1,14 18 shall be united or lie together in astraight line.- Such a structure provides beads or internal turners, 16, extending rearward from the point t, where the sides'unite with the body and flare outward toward the rear end of said body.

The external guides or turne s, 56, which may be rollers, pulleys, or fixe surfaces supported in spring-seated bearings, to permit either single or double sheets to pass between, are arranged so tha'ttheirinner surfaces stand 1 parallel with the meeting edges of the side 32. The external turners, 55 56, when made in the pulley or roller form, will preferably be I geared together and properl'ydriven to act as drawing-rollers-to draw the web or sheet through the folder. As the meeting forward edges of the inwardly-bent'sides of the plate gles to thebottom edges of the sides of said plate, and the rear edge of the plate is straight in a transverse line, such disposition will cause the central surface of the plate to stand at an angle of about forty-five degrees with respect 1S and the central surface or.main body of internal turners, 15 16,will stand at an obtuse angle with respectto each other. distance transversely upon any line drawn parallel with the said meeting forward edges from one ed ge of the side14 over the plate and to the edge of the side 18 must be the sameand equal to the length of the rear or straight edge of the plate, it follows that a sheet or web held in contact with said plates, and thus lapped or folded longitudinally,will be properlydistended widthwise; and as the internal guide is inthis case continuousfrom thepoint where theffabric passes over its rear edge through the plates 14 18, it also follows that theside sections, which are turned or deflected centrally to lap until the same leave the front edges of said hence that the web at said point of its being so lapped or folded has no slack portion, whereby it's perfect manipulation would be impaired or rupture of its body result. It will therefore be apparent that, while the meeting right angle to the folding-line or point of union internal guide maybe bent so that its rear edge will be brought nearer to the lower ends that the more it so approaches said forward edge the greater will be the acutenessot the angle of the plate with respect to its meeting forward edges, which may continue until the with each other, the angle which the bends or turners 15 16 bear to each other in like manner growingmoreobtuse. The raisingeontra bending of theplate will of course produce the opposite effect.- These angles of retraction will also vary according to the length given rearwardly to the plate, and will likewise be changed if the lines of unioiibetween the sides 14 18 and the central surface of the body of the plate, constituting the bends crturuers 15 16, be rounded instead of abrupt. In allcases, however, the same extent of bearing-surface widthwi'se for the fabric will exist upon any other of the side plates and parallel with the meeting edgesof the forward end of the plate, and the fabric will therefore be perfectly sustained in such modified forms.

It will be apparent from the foregoing de- Hence, as the,

plates, when the folding is completed, and

forward edges of the sides 14 18'are kept at a.

between the lapped sides of the fabric, the

of the meeting forward edges of said plate,aud

two stand nearly in the sameplane or parallel forming the internal guide stand at right alito said meeting edges, and the lines of union between the inwardly-bent sides or plates 14 the plate, which lines constitute the bends or upon each other,havetheirmargins supported roetransverse line drawn from one edge to the guide G its side sections will he dircted over plates, 14 18, of said guide, the sides of said web being thus gradually brought together,

55 56. In this disposition of the web it will be 5o .over the internalguide, G, while undergoing feet folding would be prevented. The internal the longitudinal fold. Assuming the tapes,

: character of a continuous web, will pass di-- ,same plane to its fullest width and flat in pass- 'tions to be positively. supported while the maseription that the internal parts of the folder I may be divided transversely into a number of narrow plates, so long as a suflicient .number of'bearing-surfaces be provided to sustain the fabric, especially its margins, and prevent it from sagging inward or otherwise becoming distortedfrom a true course, whereby its perguide may likewise be composed of a series of narrow plates or rods orwires, that start from the bar 21 and extend forward 'at the proper angles in lines coinciding with the path of travelof the sheet or web until they terminate at theperpendicularline of'the triangular form they will thus constitute. So, too, the bar 21, or an equivalent widthwise support,'being provided for the turners 1516, may be contracted. to any extent so long as the fold-forming point t is maintained, and in all cases either one of the external turners will be sufficient, provided ameansfordrawingthe sheetthrough the longitudinal folder is provided. Sucli constructions of theiongitudinal turner are within the present invention, and will operate to perfectly support the fabric and cause its side sections to be brought together to form which this longitudinal folder is shown as provided with in the drawings, to be dispensed with, the operation will be as follows: The web, either in the form of a continuous fabric, or one having lines of transverse division partially severed in it, but maintaining its rectly from the printing-mechanisms between the carriers E and If, whose mechanisms then are non-operative, and, carried between the rollers or pulleys 32 33, will enter upon this longitudinal folder and be distended in the ing onto the rear edge of the guide G or over" its-ba-rf2l. In passing over the body of the the. turners 15 16 and droop against the side and their leading edges will be tapped .so as to meetand enter between the external turners,

so disposed as to be folded upon a longitudinal line, the doubling or folding of which is at the point t.- An onward-motion being imparted to the web, its longitudinal folding will be accomplished by the direction given it in passing through this longitudinal folder. Thus, as the web runs in thesame directionas the internal guide is disposed, and the latter is a continuous plate or former, it follows that the web will be supported longitudinally and. transversely, not only during its movement the folding operation, which supporting is especially desirable, as it permits the side secterial is being deflected from acommon plane, or inpassmg over the internal guides or turners,'15 16, but 'at the point wherethe' sides of the web come within the control of the external turners, 55 56, by which construction of the parts the perfect run of the web will be accomplished and its longitudinal folding performed without danger of rupture; buckling, or

other injury from distortion.

The side plates, 14 18, may be omitted, if

desired, and the greater part of the body-plate of the external guide may also be removed, the turners 15 16 anti 55 56, in connection with the bar 21 or a guiding-roller, as 32, being suf ficient to perform the longitudinal folding, when, as in this case, the web is continuous. Although I have described this longitudinal folder as operating upon a web or continuous sheet for convenience of setting forth its operation, it is designed to have combined with it a meansforsevcringthe web into short lengths or sheets. This may be done. by a cutting mechanism operating to divide the web transversely, and located so as to perform that operation either before the longitudinal folding is accomplished, as by the cutting devices of the carriers E 1*, or be arranged to sever the.

web afterithas received its longitudinal fold, as by the devices of the carriers H I, yet to be described; but where the cutting devices of the carriers E F operate to partially sever a web, such a web, when longitudinally folded,.

may be divided into sheets by the-aetion ot' the carriers H I, when the latter are made to travel slightly faster than the printing mechanisms, and thus break the Web upon its partially-divided lines as the tail of each sheet emerges from between the turners or rollers 55 56 in the'manner common in web-printing machines, the principle of which is explained in the Patent No. 192,9i4, granted July 10, 1877, When, however, the web is to be dividedby transverse severance that forms it into the set of tapes for this purpose (illustrated more particularlyby Figs. 9 to 11, 13, 15, 19, and 20) will now be described. As shown,four sets of-endless outside tapes are employed, two of which endless tapes, a c, are arranged to pass over the former .G near the point traveled by the margins of the sheets or material, while the remaining two endless tapes, 2' o, are centrally arranged. The margin-tapes a e run-from the pulley or roller 33. Thence they-pass onto the base or rear surface of the guide G, follow near'its margin edges, pass over the bends or. turuers 15 16, follow near the margin edges of the side plates, 14 18, and return around pulleys or the inner ends of the rollers short lengths or sheets through the instru- 55 56, the. tapes a returning over the inner ends v of a roller, 88, and a roller,;8f4, or bendin g-pulf m r: 1 o

leys substituted therefor,iandabending-pulley,

85, to the pulley or roller-33, while-the tape r for,

returns in like manner to the said roller or pulley over the innerend ofa'roller, 90, and,

a roller, 86, or bending-pulleys substituted therefor, and a bending-pulley, '87 The central tapes, 1' 0, run from the roller or pulley 33, thence pass onto the base or rear surfaceof the guide G, follow near its central line, pass ends or turners-1516 near the-folds, 56, or pulleys substituted therepulley 33, while thetape 0 returns rearwardly over the outer end ofthe roller 90 and the or pulleys substituted therefor, and

roller186 a beu'di epulley, 91. The central tapes may g be omitted entirely, though it is preferable to retain at least one-- say the tape z'-a's is shown in Figs. 17, 21., 22. :It will run. from the roller 33, orapulley substituted therefor, passing onto the central portion of the former G, and extending quite near its folding-point where x i-t returns over a bending-pulleyto the roller orp'ulley 33. A set or sets of undertapes mightof course be arranged to count with these upper' tapes; but the same are unnecessary, especially when the continuous or plate form of folder is used. Wherethe material operated upon by the longitudinal folder is in the formgof a; web a single central tape may be used, and willserve to carry the leading edge of the web through the apparatus. By this structure of longitudinaifolder and its com-H.

- b'ination with rotating printing mechanisms,

sheets any distance apart or providing a time space betweenthem for the operation of the longitudinal folding mechanism, 'audthis is also the case whether the web, be severed by.

transverse cuts thatdivide it into short lengths -orsh eets perform ed before thelongitudiual foldin g is affected or after thesame is effected. .By.

this construction the printing mechanisms may run atthe highest possible speed attainable, ae-

cording to'the condition or strength of the material printed upon,which alone can limit their speed,.for thereason that since there is no separation of the sheets or distance provided between succeeding ones, and this longitudinal folder is capable of performing its function as rapidlyas the material'can be passed through it, there can be no limit to the highest rate of speed except the weaknessof the material acted upon. It is desirable to further fold the product emerging from the rollers or turners 55 56, which product may be, first, a full sheet folded longitudinally; second, two full sheets associated together and folded longitudinally;

,,and return over-the ends of the ltape' t' thence passing. rearwai'dly over the outer end of the'roller 8 8 and the. ,roller84,ora pulleysnbstitu ted therefor, thence over the bending-pulley 89 to the roller'or third, full sheet folded transversely and lon- :gitudinally; fourth',two full sheets associated together and folded transversely andlongitudinally; fifth, a half-sheet folded longitudinally. Ifa slitter, as 133,'as shown in Figs. 13and 15, is mounted, so as to bear on the paper,'upon. the internal guide, G, near its folding-point t, said slitter will operate to divide the web or sheet in its longitudinal center, so that the product emerging from the forms will be divided longitudinally, and in the caseof full sheets will be tantamount to gatheringtwo sheets printed side by side by a'lateral transference. It will thus appear that the size-ofthe'product emerging from the roll-' ers or turners 55 56'may inlength be equal to the length of a full "sheet or that of a half sheet. Con sequent] y the carriers H I are provided with rollers'or turners 55 5.6 in any of the above folding devices, which are arranged to operate upon both sizes of product,wh ich, for convenience, we will-call full sheets 'and halfsheets; and as it is iurtherapparent that when the cuttingis to be performed by the carriers H and-I, as in. case the web emerges from the turners55 56, having been transversely sev-. eredinto short lengths, it will furthermore be necessary to provide the carriers H I withproper cutting devices to sever such web into half-sheetsjor whole sheets.

The folding.

mechanism operating upon the sheets at this point may be of any of the well-known constructions, whether rotary in operation or con structed of turners, as herein described. As here shown, the rotary folding mechanisms supported by the carriers H I' are shown as well adapted for completing the folding desired. These carriers are geared together by toothed wheels 109 110, (see Fig. 10,) and will be driven in unison with the other mechanisms bymeans ofa bevel-wheel. 64, on the shaft of the carrier H, which wheel is engaged by a similar wheel, 65, on a cross-shaft, 66., that carries a toothed wheel, III, which, through an intermediate, 112,.is geared to and driven by the Wheel 106 on thesha'ft of the carrier F.

1 will. now describe the mechanisms with which these carriers are plain their operation. The carrier H (see Fig. 18) is provided with four sockets at equidistant points in its periphery, in which the removable blocks supporting the tucking .orl creasing blades 97 9S,- and other blocks carrying cutting-blades 7 6 76. and sheet-carrying pins 53 54, may be adjns'ted or removed. The carrier I is provided with sheet-seizing jaws, the vibrating members 72 73 of which are upon rock-shafts and actuated by a cam-movement in any common manner, substantially as is explained in said Patent No. 143,674, October 14, 187 The jaw 73, however, is .here arranged to be rendered inoperative, which may be done. by re moving its actuating-rock-arm or by turning its rock-shaft so as to project said jaw toward theshaftofthecarrier. (ShowninFig.l7.) This provided, and then excarrier I is also provided, at points midway be-

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