US1759191A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 20, 1930. G. FULK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet May 20, 1930. G. L. FULK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllll'll gmmtoz f 3W7 mm, s

May 20, 1930. G. 1.. FULK 1,759,191

FOLDIfiG MACH'I/NE Filed Se t. 21. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 rm l 46 attozmqf May 20, 1930.

(5. 1.. FULK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 SIM wanton fv fw Patented May 20, 19 30 I srArss PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE L. IULK, or CLEVELAND, onro, ASSEGNGR, BY mnsnnnssrenivinnrs, ro v nommnvewrnn FANFGR-M conrranr, me, or CLEVELAND", OHIO, A oonronm 'IIQN OF DELAWARE FOLDING MACHINE Application filed September 21,1926. Serial No. 136,798.

The present invention relates to a folding machine adapted to fold a sheet of indeterminate length along a series of longitudinal lines'into a series of superposed layers or leaves, and is designed particularly for use in producing fanforms for waybills, order blanks, invoices, collection forms and the like, which are adapted to receive carbon paper between the leaves for producing duplicate copies. p

The machine of the present invention is adapted to receive the paper directly from the printing press, which applied the printed 'inatter to successive areas in parallel row along the length of the sheet.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide means for continuously folding the sheet along longitudinal lines between the rows ofprintedmatter in such manner that the printed matter on-the superposed leaves of the folded sheet will be in perfect registry.

The invention has for a furtherobject to provide means for: forming transverse perforated lines in the superposed leaves of the sheet at' intervals along'the length thereof to permit the individual forms to be readily detached.

A further object is'to provide means for punching holes through the superposed leaves so at predetermined points along the length of the sheet.

A further object is to provide perforating and punching means adapted to operate upon the folded sheet while the same is in vcontin- W as uous movement through the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine whichcan be readily adjusted for sheets of different widths and for producing a greater or less number of folds in the sheet.

A further object is to provide a folding, perforating and punching machine in which the paper is maintained at all times under tefision so that proper registry is maintained between the printed matter on the superposed leaves.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particuti larly set forth in the appended claims, to

gether with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

cated at 4- 1 in Fig. 1;

-- co Fig. 1 isa section taken onthe line indi- I Fig.5 is a section taken on the line indicated at 55 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the'line indicated at 66 of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on a lineindicated at '77 in Figs. 2 and 4; v Fig. 8 is a section taken on a line indicated at 8-8 in Figs. 2 and 5; N

Fig. 9 is a section taken on a line indicated at 99 in Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on a line indicated at 1010 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale showing the forward folding 7 frame and the perforating device;

Fig. :12 is a view partly in side elevation I and partly in vertical section of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section taken on the line indicated at 1313 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a rear elevation of the punching mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a top plan View of the punching mechanism, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 16 is a detail view showing the adjustable connection between one of'theform supporting rods and the frame of the machine.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation partially in section showing the feed rollers and their driving connections.

Fig. 18 is a section on line 1818 of Fig. 17. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the machine of the present invention is mounted upon an elongated frarnel, the rear end of which adjoins the discharge end 2 of a printing press designed to print duplicate forms on a sheet as it passes through the press, the sheet as it passes through the delivery roll 8' of the printing press passing directly into the folding machine. The frame 1 of the 'machine is provide with a series of longitudinally spaced pairs of standards ft 5, 6 and 7, between whichare supportedf fixed folding forms 8, 9 and 10 through which' the sheet is passed and which fact up'on the sheet as the sheet is drawn through the machine to fold the sheet intoa series of superposed leaves or layers.

The number of forms employed depends upon the number of folds to be made in the sheet and While theaccompanyinlg drawing shows three forms, it is to be understood that the number of forms employed depends upon the number of foldsto'be made in the sheet. The form 8, at theventrance end of the machine has the shape of an isosceles traps-q zeid'arrangedwith its wide end or base at the-entrance end of the machine.

The form' 9 is;also substantially of the shape of an isoscelestrapezoid withits wide end-01, basefadjacent the: narrow end of'the form 8 and of substantially thesame width. 3 The form 8 is supported in a position downwardly inclined toward the front of the machine, and theform 9. is supported at an inclination reverse to that of the form 8 and W the sheet in passing through; these forms passes beneath the form 8 and along the top .olf the form'9.

f celes triangle and s arrangedwith its base The third form 10 has the shape of an isosadjacent to and of the same width'as the smalljend of the form 9, the form'ylO being inclined downwardly toward the forward end-ofth'e machine.

TllQfiI'St form8 is supported at its rear end adjacent the entrance end of the machine by Ineansof arms 11, fixedto theframe and extending j upwardly and rearwardly from' the upperside thereof and resting on a rod I .12 extending between the upper ends of the corners of theform Sand a bottom guide plate 16,.the. under surface of which is hori-' vz'ontaliand-aligned with the lower forward edge ,of the frame 8, the guide frame. 15 being suspended from a cross-rail 17 connectupon a bottom 28% toward th-e forward end of the machine and ing the upper ends of the standards 5 at op V posite sides of the supporting frame. As the paper passes beneathithe tapered form 8, the v edge portions of the sheet are turned up- -wardly into vertical'planes and are guided and held in a vertical positionas they pass along the outer side of the inner guide frame 15 by means of vertical guide posts 18 which engage the outerside of the sheet, the opposite converging sides 19 of the'form 8 l1aV- ing their outer surfaces disposed in vertical planes to assist in guiding the paper. into the and sides of space between the guide post 18 the guide frame 1:). r j

The form 9 which is'disposed at an 1ncl1- member-s20 whose outer faces are also cisposed in vertical planes-to assistin holding the portion of the sheet overlying theoppo site sides of the form in a-verticai plane.

The lower rear end of the form 9 is sup ported ad acent the lower. ends of the standw ards 5 by means of downwardly projecting ears 21 anda rod 22 extending between the standards 5 and passing through the ears 21. To permit adjustment of the form 9, the rod 22 is provided with eccentric'bearing por tic-ns 22 which are held in adj-nsted positions in bearings 22" by means of set screws 229,] the ad ustme tof the-rod in its bearings" causing the red and the rear: end of the form 9' to be raised or lowered- The upper forso" nation opposite that ofthe form 8' has side 7 ward end of the form 9 1s supported from an inner guide frame 23 by means-of ears 2st projecting fron the forward end of the frame and a rod 25 carried by the frame 23 and passing through the ears. The frame23 also serves to guide the opposite vertically disposed edge portions of the-sheet and has.

opposite side walls whose outer-surfaces are disposed in the same vertical plane as the forward corners of the form 9. The-frame T 28 also has a horizontal upper guide plate '26 whose upper surface is in the same horizontal plane as the upper forward edge of the form 9, the guide frame 23 being supported j 7 plate 27 extending between the standards 6. 4 j In passing over the form8 and between the guide posts 18 and guide frame 15, the

sheet has its opposite edge port-ions turned upwardly into a vertical plane and in passing over tl1e for1n9,.a second leaf is folded into a vertical plane within the vertical outer edge portions of the sheet. I

The trian ular form 10 is supported at its rear end from the upperends of the standards6 by means of arms 28attached; to the form and cross-rod-29 extending between the upper endsof the standardsand through thearms 28, the arms 28 being adjustably supported on the rod by means of set screws The form 10 1S inclined downwardly is supported by means of an arm 80 rigidly attached thereto and extending upwardly from the forward end of the form 10 which lies between the supporting standards 7. The forward end of the form lOis supported by means of a shaft 31 which passes through the upper end of the arm 30 and has eccentric frame. 32 adjacent thereto, so that the sheet is fed to the form 10 with the two folded leaves on the opposite sides thereof held in a vertical plane. As the sheet passes over the form 10, the central portionof the sheet passing beneath the form is doubled upon itself so that as the sheet is drawnpast the apex of the form, the central portion of the sheet is folded upon itself along a central longitudinal line and the two leaves so formed are in a vertical plane between the outer leaves folded by the preceding forms, the sheet being now folded into six superposed layers orleaves all disposed in a vertical plane immediately adjacent the apex of the form 10 where a pair of closely spaced creasing guides 33 bear against opposite sides of the folded sheet to press the leavestogether and form sharp. creases along the folded lines.

The sheet is continuously drawn through the formsby means of feed rollers 34 adjacent the forward end of the machine, these rollers being arranged in pairs and engaging opposite sides of the folded sheet adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof. The feed rollers 34 are mounted upon parallel vertical shafts 35 and 36 and the shaft 35 is driven by means of a bevel gear 37 at its lower end which meshes with a bevel gear 38 fixed to a transverse driven shaft 39, which is driven from any suitable source of power. The shaft 36 is driven from the shaft 35 by means of a gear l0 fixed to the shaft 35 and a gear 41 fixed to shaft 36 and meshing with the gear In order to keep the fold lines straight, it is essential that the sheet be kept accurately aligned with the forms and in the present invention lateral movements of the sheet are prevented by maintaining the sheet, while passing through the machine, under a uniform tension. This tension is maintained by the feed rollers which have a frictional slip connection with the shafts upon which they are mounted so that speed of rotation of the rollers can lag behind the speed of rotation of the shafts which are driven at a rate to impart a normal peripheral speed to the rollers which is slightly in excess of the speed of movement of the sheet. The rollers 34am loosely mounted upon sleeves 34% fixed to the shafts 35 and 36, each sleeve being fixed to its shaft and having a flange 34 .at one end and a nut 34 at theother. One of the rollers 34- is mounted on eachsleeve and held between flange 34 and a friction disk 345 by coil springs 34 interposed between the disk nut 34 and a collar 34 fixed to the end sleeve 34: below the disc 34 The rollers are thus frictionally gripped between the" nut 34? and flange 34", the yielding pressure of the springs b l permitting the rollers to slipion the sleeves so that excessive tens on on the The tension ofthe springs 3 can be varied by ad ustmg the paper sheet is prevented.

nut 34 and by increasing or decreasing-the rollers on the sheet can be varied.

In order that the folded sheet may be yieldably gripped between the opposed feed rolltension of the springs, the pull exerted by the ers, the shaft 36 is mounted in slidable bearing blocks 36, which are yieldably pressed toyyard the shaft 35 by compression springs 36 3 Prior to starting the machine in operation, the end of a sheet passing through the print ing press is pulled forwardly by hand beneath the form 8, the opposite edge portions being turned up along the opposite converging sides 19 of the form, as shown in Fig. 6, and'passed between the guide posts 18 and opposite sides of the inner guide frame 15, beneath thebottom guide plate 16 of the guide frame 15 and along the top of the form 9. As the sheet is drawn over the form 9, thesheet is foldedas it passes over the converging sides thereof, forming a second vertical layer within the first on each'side of the sheet, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the two superposed layers being guided between the vertical guide posts 32"and the sides of the inner guideframe 23 at the forward end of the form 9, the sheet as it approaches the forward end of the form 9 assuming the position shown inFig. 8 of the drawing. The sheet is then guided between the guide posts 32 and guide frame 23 and beneath the form 10 with 'thetwofolded leaves on opposite sidesof the sheet held in a vertical plane. As the sheet is pulled along the tapered form 10, the central portion of the sheet is folded down along the inner side of the folds at opposite edges of the sheet, as shown in Fig. 9, and when the sheet'has passed the apex 'of the form, the sheet will have been folded into sixlayers as shown in and is discharged from the machine over an:

inclined cylindrical guide member l3 which serves to turn the folded sheet into a plane at right angles to that of the foldeds'heet in the machine so that it can be conveniently vertically disposed cylinders rollers a folded along transverse lines and delivered into a suitable receiving receptacle.

Inorder toipermit the forward end of a sheetto be easily threaded through the machine by hand, the guides 33 are pivotally supported on the frame'at 33 to swing about vertical axes toward and from each other so that they can be readily separated to permit insertion of the folded sheet betweenthem. To facilitate the-insertion of the forward endiof the sheet between the feed rollers, a lever 3691s pivotally mounted on the frame in-a position such'that it may be swung into engagement with one of the movable beari Q sin s 3630f the shaft 36 to shift the shaft away from the shaft 35 in opposition to the springs 36 to separate the feed rollers;

' In addition "to the folding mechanism above described, the machine is provided with means for forming'transverse lines of erfoi'ations 'in the superposed leaves of the folded sheet at regularly spaced intervals along the length thereof. For forming the transverse lines of perforations, a pair a l and 4E5 are provided between thefolding forms and feed toreceive the folded sheet between them.

Thefcylinder leis mounted upon a vertical shaft46 which is drawnby means of a worm gear 47 fixed thereto and a worm 48 fixed to av horizontal shaft 49 which is provided at the end thereof with abevel gear 50 which meshes with a bevel51 fixed to a transverse countershaft '2- -which is driven from the main drive shaft 39 by means of a sprocket chain '53'running over suitable sprockets on .theshafts 39 and 52. The opposite cylinder is driven from the cylinder l4 by means of a spur gear fixed to the lowei-end of the cylinder 4% whichmeshes with a similar spur gear fixed to the lower end of the cylinder 4.5. The operation of the perforating cylinders is controlled by v the gear 51 on the shaft 52 so that the cyla clutch 51" coacting with inders can bethrown out of operation when desired. The cylinder 4% is the knife cylin- I metal covering 58, preferably of copper. As

the foldedsheet passes between the cylinders ll 44 and 45, the knives. 57 are successively brought into'engagementwith the sheet and v form the lines of perforations extending 7 short dist'ancein front of the creas;i

. ing guides 33 and these drums are positioned both.

transversely across eachof the leaves of the folded sheet. c

For convenience in filing the printed forms,

holes adjacent the tops thereof and to accompunching a single hole or, a pair of holesat it is desirable that they be provided with I plish this purpose, means is provided for the desired points between the rows oftr'an's verse perforations, :thepunching means being located between the perforating drums and the feed rollers 34. The sheet punching mechanism is mounted in a vertical guide frame having four vertical angle posts 59, and includes an upper punch supporting frame 60 and a lower punch support1ngframe 61, these frames being mountedfo'r independent vertical adjustment within the angle guide posts 59 and secured in adjusted position tothe posts by means of bolts 62 which are passed through'the holes 63 in the posts 59, the holes 63 belng closely spaced:

throughout the length of the post so that'each frame can be secured in any desiredposition f of vertical adjustment.

The upper frame carriesa horizontal shaft '6tand'the lower frame carries a horizontal shaft 65 and bothshafts being disposed transversely of the frame 1. The shafts 64and 65 are driven by means of worm gears 66 and 6C afiixed thereto and meshing with vertically disposed worms 68 and69 which are rotatably mounted in the frames 60 and 61; The

two worms 68 and69 are simultaneously driven by means of a vertical shaft 7 0 extending through the two worms and slidably keyed to V The slidable connection between the 7 shaft 70. and the worms 68 and 69 permit 7 adjustment of the punch frames without disturbing the driving connection.

shaft 52. V

a The shaft '70 has a bevel gear .71 at its lower end which 7 meshes with a bevel gear 72 and the counter- Punching. devices are mounted upon each a of the shafts 64: and 65 and-,since the "two punchingdevices are identical; a description ofonewill suffice for both and like parts in the two devices will be indicated by the same reference numerals. 7'

. Apair of spaced disks 73 and 74 are mount 'ed on the outer ends of each ofthe shafts 64 and 65 and the-inner disks 7 3 carry one or more punches 7 5 which are slidablymounted in bores formed in the disk adjacent the pe-' riphery and parallel with the axisof the Ydisks. The punchesare normally held in retracted positions by means of compression springs 76 which are interposed between an enlarged portion 77 of,the punch and the bottom of a counterbore in the disk in which the enlarged portion 77 slides. The punches are detachably mounted in the disks by means of removable caps 78 and each of the punches has a reduced outer'end portion 79 whichextends through a central openingin the cap.

The two disks 73and 74f of 'each'punching device are spaced apart just a sufficient distance to permit them to straddle the folded sheet and the punches are operated to perforate the leaves of thesheet by means of cam rollers 80 which are mounted in brackets 81 fixed to the frames 60 and 61.

When the projections 7 9of. the punches engage with the rollers 80, the punches are forced outwardly through the folded sheet to form the holes in the sheet, the outer disks 74: being provided with aperture-s 82registering with each of the punches so that the paper removed in punching the holes may be discharged through these apertures. The cam roller 80 of the upper punch frame is disposed immediately below the shaft 6d so that the punch is operated While the peripheral portion of the dislrcarried in the punch is traveling in the same direction as the folded sheet and the gearing for drivingthe disks is so timed with respect to the rate of movement of the sheet that. the punch and sheet are traveling at substantially the same rate during the punching operation. The cam roller of the lower punch frame is disposed directly above the shaft and the operation is identical with that of the punching device carried by the upper frame. Either or both of the punching devices can be adjusted to a position entirely clear of the sheet, either of thepunching devices may be used alone, or the two punching devicesmay be operated simultaneously. The adjustment of the punch frames permits the holes to be formed in the sheet at. any desired distancefrom the edge thereof, either punching device being operable to punch the holes in diflerent positions between the center and edge of the sheet.

The sheet as it is fed through the printing press with the proper printing matter for the fan folded forms thereon is continuously folded as it is drawn through the fixed forms along lines between the rows of printed matter on the sheet. The sheet is perforated along transverse lines to permit separation of the fan folded forms one from another and each form may be provided with one or more holes at the desired point or points in the body thereof for convenience in filing.

The forms are readily removable and may be replaced with forms suitable for wider or narrower sheets. the drawing are adapted to fold the sheet into'six leaves of equal width when the width of the sheet is equal to the width of the first form 8 at its wide end. A sheet of the width required to fold into five leaves of the. same width, as the sheet above described, may be folded into five widthsby thesame forms by feeding the paper over the first form 8 with one of its edges in alignment with one corner of the form at the entrance end thereof. A

sheet having the width of four or three leaves will pass over the central portlon of the first form and be folded inpasslng over the second The three forms shown in and third forms and a sheet of the width oftwo leaves will pass over the central portions of the first two forms and be folded by the third triangular form.

It will be apparent that by providingforms of the proper size a sheet of anywidth may be folded into the desired number of leaves.

It will be apparent that, if each form is setat'an angle to the horizontal equal to onehalf of the angle of convergence of its sides, opposite portions of the sheet after having passed over a side edge of a form will travel in vertical planes contacting with the sides of the forms, since the distance along the line of intersection of a horizontal plane with the planes of the sides of the form from any point along the length thereof to the apex or narrow end 10 is exactly equal to the distance along the line of intersection of the central vertical plane with the plane of the top or bottom guide face thereof from a corresponding central point to the apex of the-form 10,

therefore, equal tension may be maintained throughout the width of the sheet as it passes over the forms. 7 I

In passing over the forms the edgeportions of the sheet are caused to progressively bend into a plane at right angles to the central portion thereof and the central portion of the sheet is caused to change its direction of movement as it passes over the end of the form. The sheet is thus progressively flexed along two intersecting lines and since the material of a sheet, particularly a paper sheet is not perfectly flexible there is neces sarily an added strain on the material thereof in the portion passing through the points of intersection of the lines of bend at the corners of the forms. It is of course essential in a machine of this character that the design be such that the sheet will not be subjected to strains liable to tear or damage the same or which would tend to shift the sheet out p of alignment in its passage over the forms. One of the most important features of the present invention is the guide structure between adjacent forms by which the sheet is guided from one form to the other in such llO manner that the material of the sheetis not subjected to excessive strains. The horizon tal guide members 16 and 26 serve to guide the middle portion of the sheet in horizontal planes between successive forms so that the sheet, instead of passing directly from one form to the next, passes from one inclined guide portion to a horizontal guide portion and from the horizontal guide portion to the next inclined portion, and, instead of having a transverse bend equal to the angle between successive forms and single and double edge folds traveling on successive forms in substantially straight lines, has two separate transverse bends each equal to one-half of the angle between the forms and'edge portions on successive forms travelingalong lines offset with respect to each other- The side portions and 23 of the inter- I mediate guide frames and the guide posts gitudinal center line of the sheet to the wide 18 and 32 cooperating therewith serve :to

"cause the folded edge portions coming from' the inwardly convergingsides of one form to travel in a direction parallel with the lonend. of the next form. r

The small angles of bend between the inclined forms and straight guides permit the paper or other sheet material to accommodate itself'during its travel to the corners of the forms and to pass over these corners without being subjected to excessive strains, the distance between the transverse bend lines at opposite edges of thestraight guide frame 7 membersbein sufficient to permit the sheet thereby. Theintermediate guide frames also to conformthereto and be positively guided serve: to positively hold the folded edge portionsagainst shifting up or down out of the proper; line of-travel and prevent creeping of the portions of the sheet in engagement with sides of the forms, thus insuring straightfcreasesand leaves of uniform width.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim:.

1. In a folding machine, means for continuously feeding, a sheet to be folded, means actingonopposite edge portions of the sheet asmit is being fed to progressively and successively bend said edge portlonsinto a plane :atrightanglesto thebody of the sheet in alternating directions, and means acting upon the sheet between said edge portions to fold.,the same intoa plurality of layers between said edge portions.

:2. In. a foldinginachine, means for continuously feeding a sheet to be folded, means actingon. opposite edge portions of the sheet as. it is being fed toprogressively and suc-.

'ceSSiVjely bend said edge portions into a plane at right 'anglesto thebody of the sheet in aloveriwhich a sheet to be folded is drawn, said forms tapering'inj the direction in which the sheet is drawn, the first form over which the sheetpasses being of a width at its entrance 'end substantially equal to the width of the sheet, the wide end of each subsequent form being substantially equal in width to the narrow end of the preceding form, and inclined oppositely with respect thereto, the last-form over'which the sheet passes being triangular, and means for alternately drawing. the sheet through the machine over and" beneath alternateforms, and for progres-- sivelyturning the portions of the sheet passing over the tapering edges of the forms into planes at right angles to the inner portions ofthe sheet. 7 7 V 4. In a folding machine," a plurality of forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn therethrough along a plurality of longitudinal lines, means engageable with the folded sheet to draw the sheet through the forms, and means for perforating the superposedleaves of the folded sheet.

.5. In a folding machine, a plurality of forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn therethrough along a plurality of longitudinal lines, means engageable with the folded sheet to draw the sheet through the forms, and

means interposed between" the sheet drawlng means and forms for perforatingthesir perposed leaves of the folded sheet.

6. In a. folding machine, a plurality of forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn there through along a plurality of longitudinal lines, means engageable with the foldedsheet to draw the sheet through the forms, and

means for forming a. line of perforations in V the superposed leaves of the folded sheet.

7. In a folding machine, a. plurality of I I forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn therethrough along aplurality of longitudinal- 'lines, means engageable with the folded sheet to draw the sheetthrough'the forms, and means for forming transverse lines of perforations in the superposed leaves of the folded sheet at predetermined intervals along thelength thereof. p

8. In a folding machine, a plurality of forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn therethrough along a plurality of longitudinal lines, means engageable with the folded sheet to draw the sheet through the forms, a pair 7 i of opposed cylinders on opposite sides of the folded sheet between the forms and the sheet drawing means, a serrated knife carried by one of the cylinders, and means for driving the cylinders.

9. In a folding machine, a plurality of forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn therethroughalong a plurality of longitudinal V i lines, means engageable with the folded sheet to draw the sheet through the forms, and means interposed between the sheet drawing means and forms for-punching holes through the superposed leaves of the folded sheet at regularly spaced points along the length thereof. 7

10. In a folding machine, a plurality of forms adapted to fold a sheet drawn therethrough along a plurality of longitudinal lines, means engageable withthe folded sheet to draw the sheet'through the forms, a punch interposed between said drawing means and forms, andmeans for actuatingthe punch to form holes through the superposed leaves ofthe folded sheet at predetermined points along the length thereof.

11. In a folding machine, means for delivering a sheet of uniform width and indeterminate length in a horizontal plane to said machine, folding means for progressively folding the sheet along longitudinal lines and for guiding the superposed leaves as they are folded into a vertical plane, opposed vertical power driven feed rollers engageable with opposite sides of the folded sheet for drawing the same through the folding means, and means interposed between the feed rollers and folding means for perforating the superposed leaves of the folded sheet.

12. In a folding machine, means for delivering a sheet of uniform width and indeterminate length in a horizontal plane to said machine, folding means for progressively folding the sheet along longitudinal lines and for guiding the superposed leaves as they are folded into a vertical plane, opposed vertical power driven feed rollers engageable with opposite sides of the folded sheet for drawing the same through the folding means, a punch having dies upon opposite sides of the vertically disposed folded sheet between the folding means and feed rollers, and means for actuating said punch to form holesthrough the superposed leaves at predetermined points along the length of the sheet.

13. In a folding machine, means for delivering a sheet of uniform width and indeterminate length in a horizontal plane to said machine, folding means for progressively folding the sheet along longitudinal lines and for guiding the superposed leaves as they are folded into a vertical plane, opposed vertical power driven feed rollers engageable with opposite sides of the folded sheet for drawing the same through the folding means, a punch having dies upon opposite sides of the vertically disposed folded sheet between the folding means and feed rollers, means for actuating said punch to form holes through the superposed leaves at predetermined points along the length of the sheet, and means for adjusting said punch vertically to vary the position of said holes.

1 f. A folding machine having means for delivering a sheet of uniform width and in determinate length in a horizontal plane thereto, folding means for progressively folding the sheet along longitudinal lines and for guiding the superposed leaves as they are being folded into a vertical plane, opposed vertically disposed power driven feed rollers engageable with the opposite sides of the folded sheet for drawing the sheet continuously through the folding means, a pair of spaced vertically disposed disks secured together for simultaneous rotation and straddling the folded sheet between the folding means and feed rollers, means for driving said disks, a horizontally disposed punch carried by one of said disks, the other of said disks having an aperture aligned with the punch, and a stationary'cam for actuating the punch.

15. A folding machine having means for,

delivering a sheet of uniform widthand indeterminate length in a horizontal plane thereto, folding means for progressively,

the folding means and feed rollers, means for driving said disks, a horizontally disposed punch carried by one of said disks, the other of said disks having an aperture aligned with the punch, a stationary cam for actuating the punch, and means for adjusting the disks and cam vertically as a unit to vary the'posit-ion of the holes in the sheet. i

16. A folding machine having means for delivering a sheet of uniform width. and indeterminate length in a horizontal plane thereto, folding means for progressively folding the sheet along longitudinal lines and for guiding the superposed leaves as they are being folded into a vertical plane, opposed vertically disposed power driven feed rollers engagealole with the opposite sides of the folded sheet for drawing the sheet continuously through the folding means, means interposed between the feed rolls and folding means for perforating the superposed leaves of the folded sheet along transverse lines, and 'means for punching a hole through the superposed leavesadjacent each line of perforations;

17 In a folding machine having means for receiving a sheet of uniform width and indeterminate length and folding the same along longitudinal lines into a series of superposed leaves, means for perforating the superposed leaves of the folded sheet along spaced transverse lines, and means for continuously drawing the sheet past the folding and perforating means.

18. In a folding machine having means for receiving a sheet of uniform width and 1ndeterminate length and folding the same longitudinal lines comprising a plurality of angles to said surfaces,th'e wide end of one form being of thesame width and aligned with the narrow end of the preceding form, a guide frame interposed between the forms and having a face in the same plane as the end wedges of the forms, and end faces at right angles to said'first mentioned surface and in the planes of the adjacent side edges of the forms and means for drawing the sheet over said forms.

20. In a machine for folding a sheet along longitudinal lines comprising a plurality of tapering forms over which the sheet is drawn, said forms having oppositely inclined surfaces over which-thesheet travels and forwardly converging sides in planes atri lit angles to said surfaces, the wide end of one form being of the same width and aligned with the narrow end of the preceding form,

a guide frame interposed between the forms and havlng a-face in the same plane as the end edges of the forms,-and end faces at right angles to said first mentioned surface and in the planes of the adjacent side edges of the forms, guide members engaging the outside of the sheet for holding the same in engagement with the end faces of the guide frame, and'means for drawing the sheet over said forms.

21. In a folding machine, a plurality of forms through which a sheet is drawn, each having sides converging forwardly, each successive form being aligned longitudinally with'the preceding form and of the same width at its wide end as the adjacent narrow end of the preceding form, successive forms being oppositely inclined and spacedapart,

and means interposed between successive forms for guiding the sheet from one to the otherin a direction at an angle to both the adjacent forms. I

22. In a folding machine, a plurality of forms through which a sheet is drawn, each having sides converging forwardly, each successive form being aligned longitudinally withthe preceding form and of the same width at its wide end as the adjacent narrow end of the preceding forin, successive forms beingoppositely inclined and spaced apart, and a guide frame between successive forms having vertical guide faces at the sides thereof parallel with the longitudinal center line of the forms and a'horizontal guide face extending across the space between the side faces; v 23. In a folding machine, a form of trapezoidal shape, a form of triangular shape having itsfbase of the same width as the narrow end ofthe trapezoidal form, said forms being oppositely inclined, and a guide frame between said forms having a guide face in the plane of the adjacent transverse edges of the first mentioned face. l V

24. Ina folding machine, a form of trape zoidal shape, a form of triangularshape having its base of the same widthas the narrow end of the trapezoidal form, said forms being oppositely inclined, one having a flat upper guide face and the other a flat lower guide face, said forms-beingoppositelyinclined, a guide frame between said forms having a guide face in the plane of the adjacentedges of the forms and side guide faces at right angles thereto, and guide'members outside said side faces and parallel therewith.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my GEORGE L. FULK, I

signature.

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