23,515. Burn, R. May 17, [Convention date]. Folding paper.-Telegrams, circulars, &c. are foldad by the successive action of two pivoted blades to form, in conjunction with a former, three creases parallel to the top side of the circular &c. and the ends are then folded in by flap folders forming part of the former, and they may be simultaneously sealed by known devices. The former is moved about an horizontal axis between the action of the two blades, and after the folding is completed, the product is delivered by grippers on an oscillating segment. The sheet is placed printed side uppermost on a support 6, Fig. 14, which forms the top of a casing in which the folding mechanism is enclosed. The first fold is produced by an oscillating blade 8 on arms 9, Fig. 2, operated by cam mechanism from the main shaft 56 and guided by slots 10 in the casing. The blade 8 engages the sheet at a distance equal to a quarter of the length of the sheet from the bottom edge, and the folded portion of the sheet is passed between a former 12 and a pair of strips 13, a leaf spring 14, Fig. 3, serving to grip the sheet against the former, which is attached to a carriage 18, Fig. 3. The former 12 consists of a central fixed part 16 and spring-controlled hinged side parts 15, 17, which remain parallel with the part 16 as the former moves with the carriage 18 about its pivot 19 to carry the sheet into position to be engaged by the second blade 34. This blade also is actuated by cam-and-lever mechanism from the shaft 56, and is guided by pins on its carrying-arms which move in slots. It folds the paper over the edge of the former 12, as shown in Fig. 16, to produce the second fold, and then a third fold is produced by tucking the paper into spring clips 31 on the former 12. The carriage 18 then returns to normal position and as it returns the flaps 15, 17 are rotated by the engagement of pins 24 on their pivots against fixed studs 25 and with stops 26, 27 so as to fold in the edges of the folded sheet, as shown in Fig. 19, and thus to complete the folding. The carriage 18 is oscillated by cam, lever, and sector mechanism from the shaft 56, and to ensure its return to the correct position for receiving the sheet to form the first fold of the next sheet, it is fitted with a slot 33 adapted to be in alinement with the slots 10 so as to receive the blade 8, which is thus caused to coact correctly with the former 12. The folded product is delivered by grippers 46 on an oscillating segment 42, Fig. 13, which receives its motion from a slotted arm 50 on a freely mounted sleeve 49 on the shaft of the segment. The sleeve 42 is oscillated by cam- and-lever mechanism from the shaft 56 and first moves in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, and acts on a crank 51 on the grippers and opens the grippers. When the crank 51 engages a stop 52 on the segment 42, the segment also rotates and the grippers are carried to a position to receive the sheet from the former 12 which is slotted to permit of the action of the grippers. When the motion of the sleeve 49 is reversed, the grippers close and the segment 42 carries the sheet forward to be delivered through a slot in the casing. Rollers 48 assist in the delivery.