US1760819A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1930. V c. E. CHRISTOPHEL 1,760,819

' FOLDING MACHINE Filed 06%.. 2, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS May 27, 1930. c. E. CHRISTCPHEL FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1925 7 sheets-sheet '2 INVENTOR ml EMMMIZ ATTORNEYS y 2 1930- c. E CHRISTOPHEL 1,760,819

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1925 7 Sheets-Shwt 3 Iii Ill

- 'Pllll May 27,- 1 930.

c. E. CHRISTOPHEL 1,760,819

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 19 25 '7 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS y 1930. c. E. CHRISTOPHEL 1,760,819

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 y c. E. CHRISTOPHEL 1,760,819

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1925 Y 7 sheets-sheet 7 INVENTOR Z76 BY ATTORNEYS Patented May 27, 1930 barren stares rarest oFFic E.

i CARL E. OHEISTOPHEL, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FOLDING MACHINE Application filed Gctober 2, 1925. Serial No. 60,108.

The present invention is an improvement in folding machines, and the particular object'of the invention is to provide a universal folding machine on which, by a simple and ready adjustment, sheets of paper canbe folded in any desired manner.

Heretofore commercial folding machines have been limited in their output with respect tothe number of difierent folds that could be made thereon; and for this reason it has been necessary to manufacture a large number of different types of folders in order to meet the requirements of the trade for sheets folded in all of a large variety of styles.

By the present invention there isprovided a single folder on which sheets can'be folded in any of numerous varieties of ways; for example, parallel folds may be followed by right-angular folds, or vice versa, or the folds may be all right-angular folds or all parallelfolds. In short, any combination of folds which'have heretofore required a large number of special folding machines may be readily and satisfactorily performed on the present device.

The objects of the i nvention are secured, generally, by the provision of a pluralityof folding tables adjustably mounted with respect to one another, with means for transferring the sheets from one table to another until the final product having the desired number of folds isdelivered from the machine.

Numerous features of invention will appear as the machine is described in detail.

The invention will be betterunderstood by referenceto the accompanying drawings, il-' lustrating one expression of the inventive idea, and wherein* Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved device, with the folding tables arranged at right angles to each other so that the final product with the machine so adjusted will have four right angular folds;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken through the central standard;

ingtable with associated mechanism for reg.- is'tering and folding the 7 Fig. 4: is a detail of one form of the sheet- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mechaf nism for elevating and depressing the folding blades;

Fig. 8 isa side elevation, with various parts removed, showing the tables arranged'in position to form four parallel folds in the sheets,

' and showing the sheet delivery mechanismbetween the 'severalfolding tables;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Fig. 8, with the sheet delivery means between the tables swung to different posit-ions to give different types of parallel folds; V

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of one of the castings which is mounted on the central column and to which a folding table is se-- cured; i

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a second form of sheet-feeding or sheet-positioning device which op'eratesto push rather thanpull the sheet into engagement with the guides Figs. 13 and'l l are details of the same;

Fig. 15 is asection on theline 15-15 looking in the direction of the arrow;

'Fig. 16 is a modified form of sheet delivery device between the tables; 7

Figs. 17 and 18 are details of the drive for the antifriction rollers carried by the tables ber of folding tables may; be employed, but Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the top foldfour have beenfound to'ineet the reasonable and normal requirements j f Each ef the tables i preferably; secured to a support or casting 27 (Fig. 11) which casting is rotatable with the table secured thereto into any desired position of adjustment about the column 21, and means are provided for securing the casting and its associated table in any. desired position of adjustment. As here shown, lock screws28 and29pass through lugs 30 and 30' integralformed on said casting, and are tightened to hold the casting in the desired position on the column.

Each folding table is preferably provided with means for feeding or positioning the sheets with respect to the folding mechanism, here shown as a pair of folding rollers 31 and 32 and a folding blade 33' (Fig. 3), and each table has associated therewith sheet delivery m eans for conveying the'sheets sue cessively from one table to the next. The sheet conveying means ,for carry ng the sheets-fromone table to anotheris preferably in the form of a pluralityof sets of rollers 34, 35, 36 and 37; and as shownpartlcularly in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, these sheet delivery means maybe moved to differentpositions dependent, upon the nature of the folds that it isdesiredto make and the relative positions of the several folding tables. Suitable registering .mechanism is associated with the several tables in order to properly position the sheets with respect tothe fold ing rollers; though it will be unders-toodthat for parallel foldsthe necessity for side registeris removed.

fter the tables are moved into the desired position of adjustment for effecting the desired fold, the folding blades 33 are pref era-bly simultaneously operated. All of these folding bladesand their associated actuating .inechanlsmare preferably of the same construction. 7 As here shown each blade is elevatedby a cam 38 keyed to a shaft 39 mounted in hearings in the base 20. This shaft carries a gearO. which. is driven by a pinion 41 mounted on the armature shaft of a motor thereto in. any suitable manner.. One such clislris provided for each foldingbla'de 33.

. As here shown; slots 48 and 49 are provided in the column 21 through which slots project brackets 50 and 51, whichbrackets are suitably secured-to the rod 44. Each disk 471s mounted on apair of said brackets. The

disks f? participate in the upward and downward'movement of the rodta, and according impart to'the folding blades corresponding movements, through suitable connections: Ashere shown an ad ustmg screw 52 passes through the end-of a casting 53 on which the folding blade 33 is mounted, and this adjusting screw 52 engages the upper surface of the disk 4.7. It will therefore be seen that through these connections all of the folding blades are simultaneouslyelevated and depressed so that the sheets, intheir various conditions on the several tables, are simultaneously operated upon by the several folding blades? Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, it will be .noted that the folding blade 33 is mounted on a casting 54: through which casting asha-ft 54 passes. This casting is provided with bearing surfaces 55 and 56, the former engagingin'a guide bracket 57 mounted on the side of the table, and the latter, in

guidebrackets 58 carried by plate59secured on the top of casting 27. These guidebrackets 57 and 58 insure'the accurate positioning of the folding blade in proper'position above the folding rollers 31 and;32. V

In order to maintain thefolding edge of the blade33 in .the 's'ame horizontal plane, means are provided for insuring that both extremities of the blade 33 shall be positively controlled in its movement. 7 This is pref.-

erably effectedby means of a pair of segments 60 and 61 secured in any suitable man-j. ner on the shaft 5 f, said segment 60 meshing with a stationary rack 62 mounted on the sideof thetable, and a rack 63 (Fig. 3) mounted on the opposite side of the table. As the folding blade 33 is elevated and lowered, the'engagement of segments 60 and 61 posite end of shafth66 meshes with'a gear 69 1 10 carried by shaft 70, the other end of which shaft carries bevel-gear 71 that meshes with a similar bevel gear 72 carriedon the upper end ofa shaft 7 3 mounted inbearings 7a and 7 5 (Fig. 11') of'casting27. The lowerendlof shaft 7 3 carries a pinion 7.6 that meshes with gear teeth 77 formed on the same gear withgear'teeth '18.. g Y Y j Each table is provided Withmeansfor feeding the sheets into position over the folding rollers and underv the folding blade; and

preferably two sets of such feeding meansare employed,one on each side of the folding rollers, in order to provide for positioning the sheet in either direction on the table according to the nature of the fold to be 'madeu As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and ,4, each feeding means is in the" form of a chain conveyorfprovided with sheet engaging means that operate to automatically close to seize the sheet and to automatically open when the sheet is registered against the gauges. The.

' rying a cross rod 81, on which rod thesheet engaging member is carried. As shown in Fig. 3, two sheet-positioning grippers are employed although one may be used. As here shown, this sheet-positioning gripper is composed of an upper member 84 pivoted at 85 to a lower member 86. The upper member car-' ries a roller 87 that is adapted to be engaged by a cam surface 88 provided on the end of an arm pivoted at 89, the other end of said arm having a socket 90 in which the rod 81 engages. The said arm is preferably formed in two parts 91 and 92 and these parts are secured together by means of a rod 93 which is screw-threaded into part 92 and passes through an opening in part 91, the parts 91 and 92 being held together and in intimate engagement with the cross rod 81 by means of spring 94. l Vhen it is desired to separate the parts 90 and 91 to place the arm on the opposite side of the table, the arm can be readily disengaged from the red by means of the fingerhold 94 whereby the part 92 can be readily separated from the part 91.

The upper jaw 84 is normally held in its closed position as shown in Fig. 4'by means of a spring 95 carried by a pin 96. Any desired adjustment of said spring, one end'of which bears against the lower face of aw 86, may be had by means of adjusting-nut 9'2. The upper surface of each folding table is provided on each end thereof with a plurailty of slots 98, these slots being positioned for proper spacing of the grippers, to accommomate sheets of any desired size, the slots 98 receiving the lower member 86 of the sheetpositioning gripper. The slots extend to the ends of the table so as to permit ready engagement and disengagement of the grippers.

' The conveyor chains '79 and 80 at the left.- hand side of the machine as seen in Fig. 3 are driven from gear 69 which meshes with a. gear 99 carried on shaft 100. Shaft 100 carries a gear 100 that meshes with pinio'nlOl on shaft 102, the latter carrying sprocket wheel 103 around which the chain 80 passes. The sprocket chain80 passes around sprocket wheel on stud105'; On the other end of shaft 100 is carried a gear 99,corresponding to gear 100, which gear 99" meshes with a gear 101 mounted on a shaft 102' which also carries a sprocket 103 around which passes the sprocket chain 79. Said chain passes around a sprocket-106 mounted on a stud 106.

The drive of the sheet-conveyingmechanism on theright-hand side of the table as seen in Fig. 3 is effected through gear 107 mounted on shaft 108carrrying bevel gear 109' that meshes .with bevel gear 110 on shaft 111. This shaft 111 carries a pinion 112'that meshes with-gear teeth 77. Gear 197meshes with a gear 113 mounted on a shaft 113 extending across the table and carrying a gear 99 which meshes with a gear 101" mounted on a shaft 102 carrying a sprocket 103" 7 that drives the chain 7 9 on the right-hand end of the table. Shaft 113 ,carries a gear 113 that meshes with a pinion 101 carried by shaft 102 on which is mounted sprocket 103 around which the sprocket chain 80 on theright-hand side of thefltable passes. In

other words, as here shown, the driving connections on the two ends of the table are preferably the same.

t will be understood that, in the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 3, the sheets will be fed from a pile 118 automatically or manus ally into position to be engaged by the sheetpositioning gripper or grippers 84. The

tering gauge is provided on thefirst or topmost table, though one could be provided if desired. The sheet having been properly positioned over the folding rollers 31 and 32,

the folding blade 33 descends and the folded sheet passes downwardly on the sheet-delivering mechanism 34 into position on the next folding table 24. This sheet delivery mechanism is the same between the, several tables. It preferably consists of a plurality of seriesbf rolls 124 (Figs. 2, 8 and 16) lIlQOLlIltQd on shafts 125 carried in arms 126 and 1 7. whichpreferably carries a guide or'deflecting plate 129 that projects rearwardlyto' guide the sheet from the folding rollers 31 and 32 onto rollers 124. The shafts 125 are preferably driven by sprocket chains 124 'engag' ing sprockets 125 carried by shafts 125, from shaft 128 that carries on one end thereof a gear 130 (Fig. 16). This gear130 meshes with a gear 131 that is mounted on a stud 132 carriedby a swinging arm 133 pivoted arm 133 is secured in any desiredfposition of These arms are pivoted on a shaft 128 then meshed with gear 64. .Theswinging adjustment by the pin and slot connection V 134, it being understood that the sheet de livery means are to be held securely in any desiredadjusting' position. I f

Referring to Fig. 1, as the folded edge of engages-the gauge135'm'ounted'on rods 136 "125. a the sheet passes downwardlyfrom the sheet vdeliverymechanism 34 ontoi'thetable 24, it

.upper end a gear 148 meshing'with gear teeth 7 8 on thedouble gear which is also rods 136 and 137 to compensatefor sheets of varying size. Thereupon the sheet-positioning gripper 84" will seize the sheet and position it beneath thefolding blade 33, the sheet being brought by the sheet-positioning gripper 8 1 into engagement with the gauge 138 which is adjustable lengthwise of the table 2 1 in one of the slots-98.

From thetable 24: the sheet, provided with two folds, at right angles to each other, is

delivered to table by means of the sheet delivery mechanism 35. 1 The advancing folded edge of the sheet engaging the gauge 139 mounted on rods 1 10, 1 11, and the sheetpositioning gripper moves the folded sheet parallel with the gauge139 until the sheet engages the gauge 1 12, and is properly positioned beneath the folding blade 33 Thereupon the folded sheet, providedwith three folds at right angles to each other, is fed downwardly on the table26 where it receives its fourth fold, and is thereupondelivered to any suitable delivery meclmnism. Such a delivery mechanism hasvbeen convention ally shown as an endless belt 1 13 (Figs. 1

and 8) which may be'moved'in any suitable manner as by the usual ratchetmechanism. A stop 144: (Fig. 8) is indicated as being associated with said belt 14:3, the delivered sheets engaging said step they pass onto the belt 143..

Power is transmitted to the various movable parts associated with each of the tables in such amanner that the driving connections are unaffected by the relative adjustment of the tables. Power will be trans mitted just as efficiently if the machine is making all of the folds parallel, all of the folds at right angles to each other, orcany combination of folds. This is effected generally by a planetary arrangement of the power transmitting elements. 7

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the folding rolls and the sheet-positioning mechanism and the sheet delivery mechanism are driven from shaft 39 (Figs. 1 and 2) through bevel gears 145 and. 1 16, the latter being mounted on a shaft 147 that carriesat its provided with gear teeth 7 which latter v mesh with and drive a gear 149 carried by a shaft-150 that also carriesa' bevel gear 151 7 meshing witha bevel gear 152 which bevel 157 power is transferred to the mechanismv gear 152 corresponds'to bevel gear. 71 or 109 (Fig. 3). On theupper end of' sha ft 150.

(Fig. 2) is mounted a pinion 153 that meshes with the gearteeth 154 on thelower half of a double gear 155, the upper half of which carriesgearteeth 155 that mesh with a gear 156'0n shaft 157. From this shaft associated with table 25,v through bevel gear T158; The upper end of shaft'157 carries a pinion-159 that meshes with' the gear teeth shown on Fig. 3, through shafts 7 3 and 111,

to the mechanism on. both ends of the feed table,is duplicated in connection with the other tables 2 1, 25 and 26; for example, there are two shafts 161,two shafts 157 and two'. shafts 150, each pair of these shafts corresponding to shafts 7 3 and 111.

As heretofore stated, theseveral tables 23, 2a, 25 and 26 areeach secured many suitable I manner, as bybolting or otherwise to its respective support or casting 27 and four suchcastings inthe device as illustrated herein are shown on; Fig. 2. These castmgsare spaced along y the hollow column 21 by means of bronze or other suitable bushings, which bushin are somewhatwider than the double gear with which they are associated. Preferably, these bushings have a driving fit with the coluinn 21 and they act tospace the'castings 27 from each other as clearly illustrated. These bushings are also utilized as bearings for the double gears. In assembling the de-* vice, it will be understood that the lowermost bronze bushing163 is first placed about the column (being preferably pinned thereto) and that thereupon the lowermostdouble gear is'then positioned about the bushing, one face of the gear resting on the flange 21 of the column 21. Thereupon the-lowermost casting 27 is slipped over thec'olumn 21 and rests on the top of the bronze bushings 163:,

leaving a slightclearance between said caste ings and the double gear that'rest-s on the flange-21. 1 Thereafter the. second bronze bushing 16?) is positioned on the column21 in engagement with thecasting 27 this sec:

ond bushing supporting the castingi27 in the same m'anner;'and so. on'untilthe complete numberof bushings, double gears and castings have been assembled on the column 21, the whole being held in place by the cap plate 21. I

In order. that the sheets may be readily fed I into position, with'respect tothefolding knives and rollers on the several tables, I prefer to-mount on each end of eachtable a set of rollers 170 .(Fig. Each roller ismountedon a shaft 171 having suitable bears ingsin the table, and the rollers are'arranged table. The rollers of each set are preferably driven positively andin the same direction.

' Tothis end each shaft 171 carries a sprocket 17 2'around which passesa sprocket chain173,

125. to project slightly above the surface of the V said chain also passing around idlers 174.

- one end of ashaft 176, carried in suitable hearings on the side of the table. A bevel gear 17 7 keyed to the other end of shaft 176 meshes with a bevel gear 178 compounded with gear 99 which is loosely mounted on shaft 100 (Figs. 17 and 18).- Accordingly, when gear 99 rotates, the rollers 170 will be driven.

In order to adjust the positionof grippers 84 for different sizes of sheets, and in order to disconnect the grippers 84 on one end of the table when those on the other are in operation, a clutch is provided between the shaft 100 and the gear 99 which, as above noted, is loosely mounted on the right-hand end of shaft 100. Shaft 100 is only driven through gears 69 and 99 when the clutch is closed. As shown in Figs. 17 and 18, clutch teeth 180 on gear 99 are adapted to be enga ed by clutch teeth 181 on the collar 182 which is pinned to shaft 100. In Figs. 17 and 18, the clutch is shown disengaged, this being effected by a longitudinal movement of the shaft 100 from the dotted line positionto the full line position (Fig. 17 The shaft 100 will be driven through gear 99 when it has been returned to the dotted line position of the knob 183, thus engaging the clutch teeth 180 and 181; The gears 99 and 100 are secured to the shaft 100 by slot and key connect-ions 184 and 185 (Fig. 18) which permit the longitudinal displacement of the shaft 100 without disturbing the connection between the shaft 100 and said gears. Stops 186 and 187, secured to the frame of the machine, prevent longitudinal displacement of gears 99 andlOO.

lVhen the clutch is disengaged, the

sprocket chains 79 and 80 will not be driven.

At this time any, desired adjustment of the position of the grippers 84 can be effected simply by turning the shaft 100 manually through the knob 183, and then closing the clutch; or, the clutch being opened, the drive to the sprocket chains 79 and 80 will be broken, though, as shown, the rollers 17 0 will continue to be rotated through the connections described.

As heretofore described, the grippers 84 on each ofthe tables operate to seize the sheet and pull it into engagement with the gauges. I preferably, however, provide means at the third and fourth fold mechanism on tables 25 and 26 for pushing the sheet into engage ment with the gauges. A preferred form of such a pusher device is shown in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15, in which 190 is a carriage that slides in one of the slots 98 and is secured to cross rod 81. A pusher 191 is mounted on said and the pusher 191 so that the latter will rise to engage and push the-sheet and will then be lowered and returned to position to engage the next sheet. This movement is effected by means of arms 193 and 194, connected to a U-shaped member 194 that engages the rod 81 and is removably held in place thereon by a plate 195 pivoted at 196 to arm 194 and held in the position shown in Fig. 12 by spring 197. The pusher can be readily removed from the rod 81 by moving the plate 195 away from the member 194 against the tension of the spring. Arm 193 is pivotally' connected at 198 to the U-shapedmember. The other end of said arm is bifurcated and is provided with alined openings 199. and 200. A pin 201 that acts as a fulcrum passes through openings199, through alined elongated slots 202 in the carriage 190 and through a slot 203 in the pusher 191. A second pin 204 passes through the openings 200 and slot 203, but not through any openings in the carriage 190. The free end of, arm 194 is perforated, the perforation being alined with openings 205 in the carriage 190. A pin 20.6 passes through the alined openings 205, the perforation in the arm 194, and also through an opening in one end of a pair of short horizontal links 207 and 207 the other end of which links is carried by a pin 208 that passes through a perforation 209 in alug 210 on said pusher 191. It will be observed that the carriage .190 and the pusher 191 participate in the movements of the cross rod 81 and that, through the connections describedbetween the rod 81, the carriage 190 and the pusher 191, the latter will be elevated to engage the edge of the sheet-and push it forward, into engagement with the gauge, and then de pressed after its pushing action iscompleted;

It is pointed out that, by the use of the device of the present invention, any known fold can be made that is made on any of the machines now in commercial use. In this connection it is to be'understood that more or less than four tables maybe had. If the, tables are arranged as illustrated'in'Fig. v1,.

in Fig. 1, would be delivered toward the left onto table 25 as shown in that figure; in other words, the sheet delivery mechanism 35 would be swung out of the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position to deliver the sheet onto the table 25 in its new position.

If tables 23, 24 and 25 were left in the position shown in Fig. 1 and table 26 was swung beneath and parallel to table 25, there would thus be secured a folded'sheet with three folds at right angles to each other and the fourth fold parallel with the third. This is known as parallel 32 2 up work. If table 25 were swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 under and parallel to table 24, and the use of table 26 discontinued, the resulting Work would be what is known as 2 right angles followed by 1 parallel or parallel l6 2 up work. Iftable 24 should be swung around under and parallel to table 23 and table 25 should be swung around at right angles to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and the use of the table 26 discontinued the work produced would be known as two-fold parallel'followed by one right angle or oblong or catalog folding.

If the tables and the sheet-feeding mechanisms are arranged as shown in Fig. 8, the sheet would be provided with four parallel folds, every other fold of which would be a turnover fold. WVith'this same arrangement of the feed tables andthe sheet-convey ing mechanism, if the sheet were folded one quarter off at the first fold and'one quarter off at each succeeding fold, the work produc'ed would be what is known as accordion folds. If the tables were arranged parallel with the feeding devices between the tables also parallel, the work produced would be known as straight over and over' parallel folds (Fig. 9).

As shown in Fig. 1, it-is noted that the sheet in the process of folding is progressed in an anti-clockwise direction around and through the folder. It will be readily appreciated that the tables can be positioned so that the sheets are fed around and through the machine in a clockwise direction. This Would give a difierent arrangement of the make-up of "the folded product. 7

The foregoing areonly a few illustrations of the many folds that can be made on this device. Dependent upon the position of the au es and of the sheet deliver mechanisms between the tables and thelocation of the particular sheet-positioning gripper that is used on each table, the device is adapted to make any combination of folds that may be desired.

It will beunderstood that after the machine has been adjusted for the particular type of fold to be made, the first sheet will be fed downwardly between the uppermost set of folding rollers 31 and 32 by the fol-ding blade 33, the other three folding blades at this time performing an idle movement. /V hen the first sheet is positioned beneath the second folding blade, another sheet will have been fed to the first folding blade, and when the first sheet is under'the-third folding-blade a sheet will be under the second and first folding'blades and so on until all of the folding blades'are simultaneously operating on sheets in different stages of folding.

l/Vhile for the purpose of illustration oneexpression of the inventive idea has been herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of various mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

IVhat is claimed is I 1. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables arranged one above the other, means for positioning said tables angular-1y with respect to one another, folding means carried by said tables, delivery means between said tables, and means for changing the direction of said delivery means.

2.111 a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables arranged one above the other, means for positioning said tables angularly with respect to one another, foldlng means carried by said tables, delivery means between said tables, and means for swinging said delivery means to change the direction of delivery of the sheets. 3. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables arranged one above the other, means'for positioning said tables angularly with respectto one another, folding means carried by said tables, delivery mechanism pivoted to the underside of each table, and means for changing the direction of delivery of the sheets.

4. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables arranged one above the other, means for positioning -said tables angularly with respect to one another, folding means carried by said tables, delivery mechanism pivoted 'tothe underside of each table, and a deflector associated with the folding and delivering means. 1

5. In a folding machine, a plurality of superposed folding tables, a central standard on which said tablesare mounted and about which they are movable, a folding blade associated with each table and a common'actuating element carried by said standard for simultaneously raising and lowering said folding blades. i Y r 6. In a folding machine, a plurality of su-' p-erposed folding tables, a central column on which said tables are mounted and about which they are adjustable, a folding bladeassociated with each table, and a common actuating element associated with said column for simultaneously raising and lowering said folding blades in all angular positions of adjustment of the same.

7. In a folding machine, a pair of folding rollers, a folding blade, means for raising and lowering said'blade, means for guiding said blade in its movement, and a gear connection at each end of the knife for maintaining its folding edge in a horizontal position.

8. In a folding machine, the combination of a column, a plurality of supports mounted on said column, spacing bushings interposed between said supports, a table mounted on each of said supports, and folding mechanism carried by each table.

9. In a folding machine, the combination of a column, a plurality of castings mounted on said column, spacing bushings interposed between said castin s, a folding table mounted on each of said castings, folding rollers and sheet-positioning means carried by each table, and a driving gear for each table engaging one of saidbushings.

10. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of folding tables, folding rollers carried by said tables, sheet-positioning means mounted on each side ofthe folding rollers on said tables, means for driving the folding rollers andone set of sheet positioning means, and independent means for driving the other set of sheet-positioning means.

11. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of folding tables, folding means and sheet-positioning means carried by each table, means for driving said folding rollers and sheet-positioning means, and means for changing the angularrelationship of said tables without breaking the driving connection.

12. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of folding tables, folding means and sheet-positioning means carried by each table, a plurality of driving gears arranged one above the other, means for transmitting power from one to the other and-to said folding means and sheet-positioning means, and

means for changing the angular relationship of said tables without breaking said power connections.

13. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables adapted to receive sheets in successive stages of folding, means for adjusting said tables angularly with re spect to each other, folding mechanism associated with each table, and common means for actuating said folding mechanism.

14:. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables adapted to receive sheets in successive stages of folding, means for adjusting said tables angularly with re spect to each other, folding mechanism associated with each table, and common means for simultaneously actuating said folding mechanism.

15. In a folding machine, the combination of a plurality of tables adapted to receive sheets in successive stages of folding, driving mechanism, means for adjusting said tables angularly with respect to each other about said driving mechanism, a folding knife associated with each table, and continuously maintained driving connections between the driving mechanism and the folding knives for simultaneously moving said knives to operate on a series of sheets in difierent stages of foldin rangedin parallel planes, means for adjustingsaid mechanisms with respect to each other in said planes, and planetary driving connections for operating said mechanisms in any adjusted position.

18. In a fol ling machine,the combination of a plurality of folding mechanisms each including a folding blade and folding rollers arranged in parallel planes, means for adjusting said mechanisms with respect to each other in said planes, and planetary driving means for operating said blades and rollers in any adjusted position.

19. In a folding machine, the combination ofa plurality of folding mechanisms arranged in parallel planes,'m eans for operating said mechanisms, and means for adjusting said mechanisms with respect to each other in said planes without breaking the operating connections.

20. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism arranged thereon, sheet-positioning means carried by endless conveying means arranged on each side of said folding mechanism, and means for delivering the folded sheet from the under side of said table.

21. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism carried thereby, sheet-positioning means associated with said folding mechanism, a shaft, a driving gear loosely mounted thereon, and a clutch between said gear and shaft.

22. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism carried thereby, sheet-positioning means associated with said folding mechanism, a shaft, a driving gear loosely mounted thereon, a clutch between said gear and shaft, and means for longitudinally moving said shaft to open said clutch.

23. In a folding machine, a pair of tables, folding mechanism carried by one of said tables, and means for delivering the folded sheet to the other table comprising a conveyor secured to the underside of said first table and movable to difierent angular positions.

2%. In afolding machine, a pair of tables, folding mechanism carried by one of said tables, and means for delivering the folded 1n 0 1 1' snect to the othei table compiising a Irame pivoted to said first table and a plurality of positively driven rollers mounted in said frame. a r

25. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism carried thereby,means for positioning the sheet with respect to said mechanism including a carriage, a pusher mounted thereon, and means for reciprocating said carriage and pusher and elevating and depressing the latter.

26. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism arranged on the table between opposite extremities thereof, means for selectively moving sheets in opposite directions past the folding mechanism to position the sheets with respect thereto, and means for delivering the folded sheets from the under side of said table.

27. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism arranged on the table between opposite extremities thereof, means for select'ively moving sheets in opposite directions past the folding mechanism to position the sheets transversely thereof, and two sets of positively driven rollers extending at right angles to the folding mechanism on opposite sides thereof respectively and adapted to position the sheets longitudinally of said folding mechanism.

28. In a foldingmachine, a table, folding mechanism arranged on the table between opposite extremities thereof, and means for selectively moving sheets in opposite directions past the folding mechanism to position the sheets with respect thereto.

29. In a folding machine, a table, folding mechanism arranged on the table between opposite extremities thereof, means for selectively moving sheets in opposite directions past the folding mechanism, to position the sheets transversely thereof, and means for positioning the sheet longitudinally of said folding mechanism. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. r

CARL E. CHRISTOPHEL.

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