US1838106A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29,. 1931. w. J. NElDlG 1,833,106

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Wtneaaes:

Dec. 29, 1931. w. .1. NEIDIG FOLDING MACHINE Filed- Oct. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

Dec. 29, 1931. w. J. NElDlG 1,838,106

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct 11, 1930 '3 Sheets-Sheet s Witnesses.- Inventor:

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNETED STATES WILLIAM JONATHAN NEIDIG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOLDING MACHINE Application filed October 11, 1930. Serial No. 488,087.

My invention consists in means for folding sheets of material such as paper along one or more predetermined folding lines, and for adjusting the position and direction and sequence of the folds, and for stacking the sheets after folding.

One of the objects of my invention is to facilitate the making of certain unusual and difiicult folds.

the range of folds available to a commercial folding machine. Another object is to facilitate changing from one fold to another in office practice, so as to require less skill in the operator. Another object is to supply means of changing from a standard fold to another Without changing the adjustment of the mechanism for making such standard fold, or to change back and forth between several folds, either with no adjustment whatever or an adjustment only of the position of the sheet prior to its entering the machine. Another object is-to supply novelty folds for advertising and other uses. Another object is to supply a mechanism that can be manufactured flexibly for very simple needs, or again for needs that are special, or complex, without embodying features in the one case that are not desired, and without omitting those that are in the other. Another object is to enable the operator to turn the fold in either direction at will. Another object is to enable the operator to make a wrapping fold with either the right-hand edge or the left-hand edge on top, irrespective of the direction of the fold. Another object is to enable folded sheets on occasion to be stacked selectively.

I attain my several objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 represents an end elevation, partly.

in section, of one of the embodiments of my invention, the structure being broken away in two places to the lines B, B, Fig. 4, to show the loading and discharging action;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the same, represent ing an earlier position of sheet and gated discharging rolls; Fig. 3 represents the same parts in a position slightly later, butstill earlier than that in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a roar Another object is to increase,

elevation of portions of the mechanism, on the line AA, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, and larger to scale, of spring means conveniently employed to press rolls 6S and 69 together, and likewise rolls 86 and i 87; Fig. 6 is a plan view, on the line C'C, i Fig. 4, of portions of the mechanism, showing an entered sheet about'to receive a longitudinal fold; Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a detail of the same; Fig. 8 is an endview on the line EE,Fig. 4, showing a preliminary position of the locking mechanism; F ig. 9 represents the same arrived in looking position; Fig. 10 represents different longitudi-v nal folds within the range of the mechanism herein shown; Fig. 11 represents a later position of the parts shown in Fig. 6; Figs. 12, 18 and 14 represent type loading positions for the entering sheet, for the purpose of making clearer the folding action thereon; Fig. 15 is a view on the line DD,'Fig. 4, mostly in section, of details of the mechanism; and Fig. 16 is a plan View representing a modification in the form of certain parts for some uses.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings I make use of folding devices for making at will a preliminary transverse. fold, and of folding devices for making at will a longitudinal fold or folds. For making the transverse fold, and for advancing the sheet into the control of the longitudinal folding devices, I prefer to employ'devices of the usual knife-blade type, well known in the art, but I do not limit'myself thereto.

It will be understood that by a transverse fold is meant merely a fold made crosswise to the side edges of an entering sheet, and by a longitudinal fold is meant merely. a fold made lengthwise to said side edges. It, will be understood also that the devices described as making these folds are not nccessarily limited thereto, since the folding action is the same irrespective of theway the sheet may be turned when it reaches them. In commercial practice at present a considerable use is made of parallel folds, some of which are laid transversel'y'of the sheetand 4 some longitudinally. The embodiment of my invention herein illustrated makes all of these parallel folds by means of devices acting to fold the sheet in longitudinal direction.

The transverse folding devices referred to consist of a usual folding knife 1 attached 5 upon arms 2, which in turn are attached at the other end upon shaft 3 journaled in end frames 4. The knife is operated by a gear wheel 5 and its attached cam 6 throu h cam roller 7 on arm 8, likewise attached upon shaft 3. The cam strikes the knife clownwardly in such manner as to carry a sheet 9 lying across its path into the bite of folding rolls 10 and 11, spring-pressed together, which thereupon pull it between them, either by the folded edge or the leading edge, ac-

cording as the sheet receives a preliminary fold or is entered unfolded or already folded. Theiknife is returned into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 by spring 12, attached at one Q end upon shaft 3 and bearing at the other upon stud 13 on frame 4.

In the mechanism illustrated, folding rolls and 11 are supplied with similar gated recesses 14 to facilitate the entering of an 5 unfolded sheet by its leading edge, as described and claimed in my pending application for United States patent filed July 10, 1929, S erial Number 377 ,255, but said gated construction in some uses is dispensed with. 9' In the illustrated construction rolls 10 and 11 maintain a timed relation to each other and to gear 5 through the meshing gears 15 and 16, attached upon axles 17 and 18 respectively of said rolls, the smaller gears turnin a redetermined number of full revolutionsjat each revolution of the larger. As shown herein, axle 17 is ournaled in frames dand axle 18 in blocks 19, supported in slide ways 20.in said frames, the blocks being 0 pressed upon by springs 21, attached upon frames 4 by split studs 22. 7 Gear 5, attached upon shaft 23, which is journaled in frames I 4, is conveniently driven by gear 24, attached upon drive shaft 25, likewise journaled in frames 4:. l

The construction described will bring gated recesses 141 always into a timed relation with each other and with the downward stroke of knife 1 and thus provide agated entrance into'rolls10 and 11 for the sheet; but where "the gated construction is not used the gears are not required to act timingly. It will be noted thatthe gears described can be slipped (so ,as to throw the gated construction out of time with the knife. In such cases rolls 10 and 11 operate as if the gated construction were not present, as in older practice.

Thedevices wherebyl give the sheet a further fold, if such is required, or a plurality of parallel folds, if these are required, or pass, the sheet through to the stacker without sustaining a further fold, where it is desirable to do that,c'ontain features novel to my invention, and are described as follows: The novel folding devices I employ consist essentially of an inner forming member about which a sheet such as paper may be folded or wrapped, an outer forming member adapted to fold or wrap the sheet about the same, and devices for operating one thereof relatively to the other to cause the sheet to be folded or wrapped about said inner forming member by said outer forming member. The devices illustrated herein include unloading means for removing the folded sheet from the control of said forming members, and sealing means for sealing or pressing down the fold to the desired degree of flatness. They also include means whereby a plurality of folding units may be employed, so that one thereof may be set to make one fold and another thereof to make another fold, and means whereby said units may be used selectively, and means whereby their product may be stacked selectively.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings the inner forming member, indicated at 31, consists of finger-like blades, arranged in such manner that the sheet is supported inside the fold to be made at the folding line, and also on the other side of the paper cl annel, the preferable grouping being'by pairs, and the distance between the pairs preferably being adjustable, in this case through thumb-screws 32 sliding in slots in a cross-head fixedly attached upon the extremities of axle 34. That is to say, said inner forming member is fixed with respect to axle' 34. The outer forming member in this embodiment consists of springs 35, through stems 36 thereon pressed lightly against said inner forming member, the said stems being supported slidingly by recesses in pieces 37, which form the elbow-like extremities of a revolvable member 38, journalcd on It will be noted that I prefer to revolve an outer forming member about an inner form ing member that is stationary relatively thereto, because a movable outer member does not have to be stopped so accurately in line ll with the sheet to be loaded, the paper channel therein having a larger margin of apertures, and in some cases being omitted entirely where the sheet does not require the support of said member, and also because a smaller aperture in the gated unloading rolls 15 required to receive a folded sheet that 18 presented to it flatwise; but it is otherwise immaterial WlllCll of the two forming members is given movement relatively to the other,

nor'is movement necessarily arevolvin one. ,"It will be noted also that although prefer the-inner forming memberto be adjustable as regards width of fold, for some uses I construct it to produce a fold of a single width, as shown in Fig. '16. It will be notedealso that although I prefer through the useofslender blades to give said inner forming member a shape producing a flattened m. wrapping or folding of the sheet, it need not be so constructed. It isshowniat 31 Fig. 6, as producing a cylindrical wrapping of the sheet, mysealing devices acting later to flattfen the-cylindricalshell into the desired flat old.

m It will be noted that the outerforming member illustrated herein acts not only to bend or wrap the sheet about the inner forming member, but also to hold it in place thereifion against centrifugal or gravitational displacement, and to maintain it in folded position ready to be unloaded. It will be noted also that for some uses I employ a strap or band of'flexible material like canvas to bend 25301 wrap the sheet about the inner forming member, spring-pressed thereon by springs acting pullingly, as illustrated at85 and 35 Fig. 16, instead of springs 35 beforedescribed, but my invention is not limited to either consiifistruction, nor does the folding or bendlng element necessarily take'the form of a strap. or. band, nor is it necessarily spring-pressed against the inner forming member, nor against the sheet being folded.

:zr; In order to give the mechanism described a greater range of usefulness I supply it with an adjustable floor or loading table 40, car ried upon standard 41, which fits slidingly into the hollow center of axle 34. The pur- 40: pose of said table is to act as'a stop. or support for the sheet, so as to keep it in a pos1- tionsuitable to be actedupon by the unloading rolls, and also in a truedposition for folding. A thumb screw 42 afiords a convenient qaimeans for setting said'table' at the desired height. An extension table 43 is sometimes used to support the overhanging end, in the case of longer sheets; it is attached upon piece 37 by thumb screw 44. Springs 35 are ac correspondingly adjustable for height, their stems working in any of recesses 45 in the said piece'37, whether. higher orlower.

The mechanism for operating said folding devices is described as follows: Revolvable imember-38 has on it a beveled gear 46, ar-

ranged to rotate concentrically therewith upon axle 34, which is an arm of member 47 (Figs. 4 and 15) attached upon shaft 48, which is journaled in :end frames 4. Said G9 beveled gear 46, rotating with shaft 48, meshes with a stationary beveled gear 49, attached to one-of said frames-4 by means ofa flanged tube50 surrounding said shaft, beveled gear 65 mined numberof full revol m' y gear 46 being of a size. to be rotated a predeter common three-ply letterfold, which requires one revolution of the folding-devices during the time in which shaft 48 makes one-halfof a revolution.

, n will be noted that I have described a single folding unit mounted on shaft 48 and revolving with said shaft. I prefer to employ a plurality of such folding units, in

order that one may be'discharging while an-.

other is loading, or that one may be set to make one size of fold while another is set to make. another, so that use may be made selectively of the same, or for other reasons. In the drawings two such units are shown, mounted symmetrically opposite one another on shaft 48. It will be understoodthat the description given will apply to each, the two being similar'in-all respects, and similar reference symbols being used to signify similar arts.

The folding units just described are car ried on shaft48 and derive their operation from its movement. Said shaft is driven as follows: Gear 5 before referred to bears on it a pin 51, which is journaled in one end of rod 52, said rod being supplied near the other end with a toothed rack 53 adapted to act drivingly upon toothed segment 54 on the rocking piece 55, said piece 55 receiving a reciprocating movement therefrom using shaft 48 as an axle, and bearing upon it pin 56 on which is journaled pawl 57. Said pawl inthe present embodiment is double-ended, and is held .in working position by spring. 58, attached upon stud 58 on piece 55. According as said spring 58 is attached at its other end upon stud 59 or stud 60 on said pawl, the

pawlis pressed with one end or the other bearing against the working face of ratchet wheel 61, attached upon shaft48. ratchet wheel is supplied with depressions 62, the faces thereof acting as teeth to be engaged by pawl 57, and since the depressions are double-faced, and the pawl double-ended,

the pawl will engageitherewith in either position. of said spring58. The purpose of using a double-ended pawl is to enable shaft 48 Said I to be rotated thereby in either direction, but

this is not always necessary, and the pawl that is used, if such is employed, need not necessarily be double-ended. In the present embodiment ratchet wheel 61 is supplied with two depressions, that is to say, with two teeth, 1

to correspond with the number of folding units carried on axle 48.

The purpose of the mechanism described is to give intermittent rotation to axle 48,

and the purpose of such rotation is to oper ate the folding devices described and to ad- Vance them from loading to unloading posii tion, but the invention isnot limited to any particular -mechanism one or the other. i I

The unloading and, sealing devices Iprefer touse are described asfollows: Axles 66 and .67 of gated rolls 68 and 69 are-j'ournaled V in end frames 4 and connected-to revolve synchronouslythrough toothed'gears 70 and their pressure. somewhat. 'journaled loosely enough, or have flexibility between them.

71 attached thereon, said gears beingdriven e by gear 72, journaled on pin 73 on frame 4,

through the attached sprocket wheel 74, a drive-chain 75 connecting said sprocket wheel with sprocket'wheel 76 attached on drive shaft 23 before referredto. Said axles are pressed toward each other adjacent to the ends of said gated rolls by springs; and attached thereon toward the inner frame are the overlapping,lockewheels 77 and 7 8,to be described later, which cooperate with arms 79through anengaging portion 80 in a 106k.

ing" action. The spring's pressing upons'aid axles 66 and 67 are indicated at 82, being adjustable in blocks 83 by set-screws 8 k to vary Said axles are enough, orboth, toperniita slight separation of said gated rolls'as the. folded sheet passes ing or gateway 'in-thefpatli of the folded sheet. In the drawings both rolls are shown as thus supplied, to permit of presenting the folded sheet to them from either direction, but it is not in all c'ases necessarythat both should be gated, nor is it necessary that the discharging devices should be ofa gated type in all cases. The gated devices shown act not only as discharging devices but as seal ing devices, the unbrokenportions of their periphery pressing down the folds on the folded sheet to any desired degree of flatness. Their size is notnecessarily limited;

The present embodimentillustrates a means of increasing'the range of fold without in creasing their diameter, through the use of supplementary spring pressed sealing rolls to seal or flatten the longer-folds, but for ordinary con'imercial uses supplementary rolls are not required. Iii-the drawings these supplementary rollsare indicated at 86, 87,

and'their axles at 88, 89 and they are driven" by gear 72 before mentioned throughgears 9O and '91 attached on said axles. Like rolls 68 N and 69 they are spring-pressed togcther by springs 82 attached in blocks 83. 1

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe drawings I make use of certain locking devices for locking'the foldingjdevices in loading and unloading position.

' These are described astfollows: Lock-wheels 77 and 78, referred-to as-attached upon axles 66 and 67, are supplied with openings or gateways adapted to admit the swinging ends 80 of arms7-9. into locking position. Arms 79 are attached uponshaftAS; when locked for doing either the The rolls are referred to as gated because they are supplied with an openby said gated lock-wheels, shaft 48 is also looked. The approach "into locking position is illustratedin Fig. 8. A further rotation of. the lock-wheels, illustrated in Fig.1 9, closes the path of the swinging ends 80 of saidarms andlocks the arms as shown until full revolutions for tions for each revolution of said wheel 5,0r

two and one-half revolutions for eaehhalf revolution thereof, while shaft 48 is standing stationary; I c 3 The. invention is notlimited: lathe use 6f the locking mechanism described, nor to the use of any. It will be noted also that the-unloading action of gated rolls 68 and 69 will in itself in some uses lock the devices involved, and that the constructionof'the fold- L mg devices tends to hold them against displacement at the loading moment, through their inertia, and throughthe combined pres sure of springs 35 againstthe flattened sides of forming member 31. v i

The stacking mechanism I'prefer to em-l ploy is described as followsrRatchet wheel 61 bears thereon a pin 92 journaled-in one end of rod 93. Said rod has journaled in it at the'other end a pin 94 attached upon arm 95, which in turn is attached upon shaft 96 ournaled in end frames 4. Said shaft-bears attached upon it a fly 97, the fingers of which move in slots provided-for them'in a-stacking table 98, conveniently supported on frames 4;.

An alternative threaded seat 99 on ratchet wheel 61 may'beused to receive pin"92,to" modify the loading position of the fly. Side supports for the folded sheets are indicated. at 100; These may be of any approved type I and need not be shown in detail, formingno part of my invention, although they assist- .110 r The devices described operate as followsf As toothed wheelffi revolves, sheet 9, fed to in explaining its action.

usual guides, is given a transverse fold b the knife and folding rolls, oris entered into the HltLClllIlG unfolded, thereafter advancing into the control ofthe formingmemb'ers, in-' ner and outer,-

channel therein, suitably positioned tobe acted on thereby. During this 'loadingacof one of-the folding units carr ed on'shaft 18 (Figs; 1, 4'and 6), and. coming to rest against the end of the paper" tion shaft 48 remains stationary. As toothed wheel continues revolving; rod 5 2 passes from' its'idle stroke into its Working stroke, and through pawl'57 and connecting partsacts to rotate ratchet wheel 61, and through' it shaft481and the devices thereon, thereby causing torotate upon another axis through.

bevel gears the outerformihg member of said'folding unit just loaded, the action serve.

ing tobend or fold the sheet wrappingly about the inner forming member thereof. In the meantime the loaded folding unit has been carried on shaft 48 toward unloading position, and an empty folding unit toward loading position. As the said, loaded folding unit approaches the end of its journey, the end of the folded or wrapped sheet passes into the opening in thegated unloading rolls as, in Fig. 2, coming to rest at a point midway between their axles; said rolls continue to revolve, bringing the edges of their unbroken peripheral segments closingly thereon, as in Fig. 3; and the folded sheet is flattened or pinched thereby and drawn through the rolls, thereby unloading the folding unit. The pressure of the said rolls at the same time presses down the folded or bent-over edges of the sheet and sealsthe fold. It will be noted that this flattening action is inaugurated back from the. entering edge of the fold, and therefore does not tend to alter the. alignment of the edges even of a thick fold, so that if the folded or bent-over edges areparallel when presented thereto they will remain parallel when sealed. It will be noted also that gated devices acting to pressdown or seal a longitudinal fold, or to advancea longitudinally folded sheet, without engaging the entering edge thereof, are shown and claimed more broadly in my pending application for United States patent filed July 10, 1929, Serial Number 377,255. It will be "noted further that where the fold is too long to be sealed by the gated'rolls, the said rolls may pass the emerging sheet, now firmly engaged thereby, into supplementary sealing rolls to complete the sealing, without displacement of the edges.

For the sake of clearness I will refer to the topmost side of the unfolded sheet shown in Figs. 6, 12, 13, 14 and 16, the same being the rear or hindmost side of the sheet shown in Fig. 4, as the printed side, and the reverse side thereto as the blank side. Also for the sake of clearness, any folding action by knife 1 will be disregarded in the descriptionthat follows. The sheet being loaded to the right of center, as in Fig. 6, and the devices operating as described, the fold resulting will be a three-ply wrapping fold, printed side out,

I with the left end or edge of the sheet enclosed, as illustrated at 9 Fig.10. If the same sheet I were loaded to the, left ofcenter, as illustratwise.

folds are possible. As has been explained, both folding un ts I letter fold, and to use the other folding univ at 9 and 9; and when loaded centrally, at

9 and 9. Other folds result from intermediate loading positions and intermediate lengths of sheet. All of said folds maybe; made changing only the lateral loading position and the size of'the sheet.

The folds described are those made through the rotatlon of shaft l8, Fig. 1, in what for convenience may be called clockwise direcwheel'6l and the ratchet wheel willbe rotat-- ed thereby in the direction contrary to clock- In such a case pin 51 on wheel 5 will first be transferred to threaded seat 65, in order to bring cam 6 into proper relation to the changed idle stroke of rod 52, said rod now.

acting thrustingly instead of pullingly to rotate saidTatchet wheel. T his change in the direction of movement of shaft 48 results in a change of direction, as seen in Fig. 6, of

the outer forming member of the folding de-- vices from clockwise to counter-clockwise,

and therefore to a change in the direction given thereby to the various folds. The sheet being given a loading position out of center to the right, as in Fig. 6, the resulting fold will be a three-ply wrapping fold, blank side out, with the left end or edge of thesheet enclosed, as illustrated at 9, Fig.10. If the sheetis given a loading position outof center to the left, as in Fig. 14:, the resulting foldthree-ply wrapping fold, printed cordion fold, as illustrated at 9, Fig. .10.

Further folds resulting from this counterclockwise folding action are illustrated at 9, 9, 9, 9 9, and 9*, Fig. 10. As before, other carried on shaft 48 are of similar construction. They are, however, independently justable; and one of the purposes of my invention is to permit of their 'selectiveuse when set to make unlike folds. In commercial practice, one fold, such asthat of an ordinary letter, is often required daily, and some other fold, such as the accordion fold for use with window envelopes, only now and then. My invention permits the operator to devote one folding unit say to making the for other folds without disturhingthe set-up for the letter fold. In such use the feeding mechanism employed would be connected to deliver sheets to the folding devices only once for each revolution of shaft 48, instead of twice, thus loading. the two folding units alternately, instead ofconsecutively. If sheets are thus supplied'to the folding unit making say the accordion fold, the other folding unit, set to make the latter fold, would receive no sheets to be folded, and the mechanism would make none but accordion folds. Should the operator now wish to change to the letter fold, he would merelylift pawl 57 from its engagement with ratchet wheel 61 at the beginning of a working stroke, causing it to miss engaging therewith for one stroke. Thereafter the folding unit set to make the letter. fold would receive the sheet from the feeder, and the other folding unit would receive none.

In such a mechanism, able to produce one type of fold or another, selectively, at the will of the operator, without changing the set-up, devices will be found desirable for stacking the same selectively. In the stacking devices described the stacking fly 97 supplies the need by stacking the product separately of the several folding units employed. Any usual side supports for the folded sheet can therefore be placed for a particular fold, on

one side or another of the fly, and left there 7 undisturbed, as long as the folding unit supplying the same continues to be so set, al though the companion folding unit meanwhile may be changed widely. The stacking mechanism offers the further advantage of distributing the folded product between two piles, thus increasing the stacking capacity of the machine. Nevertheless it will be understood. that my novel folding devices described herein are not dependent, Whether in whole or in part, upon its use, nor upon the use of any particular type of stacking mechanism, nor is the use of a stacker of any kind in all cases necessary.

Having thus clearly explained the nature and objects of my invention and the manner of applying the same, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-

1 In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member over which asheet may be folded, movable devices intermittently operated against the sheet to fold it thereover, and devices for discharging the folded sheet.

2. In afolding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member having adjustably separable edges, devices operative against the sheet to fold it thereover, the driving and controlling devices'connected thereto, and means for removing the sheet folded thereby.

3. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member having parallel edges, a member operative against the sheet toIfold it thereover, means for giving one of said members a timed action effective to cause the sheet to'be so folded, and discharging devices for removing the folded sheet from said forming member.

4. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member adapted to support a sheet from both sides to control the bending thereof, a member operative against the sheet beyond such support, devices for giving one of said members movement relatively to the other, and devices for discharging the formed-over sheet from the control of said members. 7

5. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member having parallel forming blades over which a sheet may be folded, a cooperating orbital member revolvable about the same, operating devices therefor, and discharging devices for removing the sheet folded through the interaction of said members.

. 6. In a folding machine, in combinatiom' sheet-positioning means, a forming member supplied with adJustably separated forming blades, a cooperating member disposed concentrically thereto,devices for rotating one of said members relatively. to the other, thereby causingthe sheet to'be folded about said .formingblades, and dischargingdevices for removing the folded sheet therefrom.

7. In a folding machine, in. combination, sheet positioning means, a forming member, a cooperating member yieldingly pressed toward the same, devices giving one of said members movement relatively to the other, thereby causing the sheet to be folded about the forming member through yielding pressure, and discharging devices for removlng the folded sheet. I I

8. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet positioning means, a forming member adjacent to the vpositioned sheet, a cooperating member spring-pressed thereon,'dev1ces for giving one of said members movement relatively to the other so as to cause the sheet to be folded about the one by theother, and discharging devices for removing the folded sheet.

9.111 a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member adjacent to the positioned sheet, a member operative against the sheet through 'a springpresscd band, devices giving one of said members movement relatively to the other so as to cause. the sheet to be folded about the forming member, and discharging devices for removing the folded sheet therefrom.

10. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a form ng member about which a sheet may be folded, a member cooperating therewith through a spr1ng presented flatwise thereto, devices iving one of said members movement relatively to the other, and discharging devices for removing the sheet folded about the forming member throu h said movement.

11. n a folding machine, in combination, folding devices adapted to fold sheet mate rial such as paper, and devices for advancing the same longitudinally of the fold from the control thereof, including'a gated roll adapted to admit the folded material into the opening therein so as to engage the same Without distorting the fold.

12. In a folding machine, in combination, longitudinal folding devices, and devices for advancing the folded material from the control thereof, including spring-pressed rolls, one thereof gated.

13. In a folding machine, in combination, longitudinal folding devices, and devices for removing the folded sheet therefrom, including cooperating gated rolls spring-pressed toward each other;

14-. In a folding machine, in combination,

folding devices for sheet material such as paper, andsealing devices connected thereto, said devices including a pressure roll gated to admit the leading edge of a folded sheet, saic roll adapted to act flatteningly upon the fol 15. In a folding machine, in combination, transverse folding devices for making folds in sheet material such as paper, devices for making longitudinal folds in the same, and sealing devices for flattening down a desired fold, including cooperating gated rolls spring-pressed toward each other 16. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a'forming member having parallel edges, devices operative against the sheet to fold it th-ereover, means intermittently effective for moving said member into loading and discharging positions, and means for removing the folded sheet when brought into said latter position.

17. In a folding machine, in combination, sheet-positioning means, a forming member having parallel edges, devices operative against the sheet to fold it thereover, timed means for moving the forming member into loading and discharging positions, and devices including a gated pressure roll for removing the folded sheet therefrom in latter position.

18. In a folding machine, in combination, a plurality of folding devices, means acting synchronously to move one thereof into loading position and another thereof into unloading position, so that one may be loaded while the other is being discharged, and the loading and unloading devices supplying and discharging said folding devices.

19. In a folding machine, in combination, a forming member having loading and discharging positions, devices operative upon a sheet to bend it thereover, devices intermittently effective to lock said member in such positions, and loading and unloading means for entering and discharging the sheet.

20. In a folding machine, in combination, folding devices each thereof having a loading and an unloading position, cooperating gated wheels intermittently effective to lock said devices in such positions, and loading andunloading means for entering and discharging the sheet.

' 21. In a folding machine. in combination, cooperative folding devices, one thereof having parallel edges over which a sheet may be bent, said devices constructed to permit the sheet to be positioned off center with respect to said edges so that it can be wound spiralwise about the same, beginning at one end,

in either direction with respect to said parallel edges so that it can be wound spiral-wise about the same, beginning at either end, means causing said folding devices to cooperate in a working action, and the loading and discharging means serving the same.

23. In a folding machine, in combination, a forming member having parallel edges, a cooperating member operative against the sheet to bend it thereover, means adapted to rotate one of said members in either direction so as to produce either a right-handed or a left-handed fold, and the loading and discharging devices serving the said members.

24. In a folding machine, in combination, a forming member having loading and discharging positions, devices operative upon a sheet to bend it thereover, devices operative to maintain the formed-over sheet in place upon said forming member so as to render said discharging position effective, loading and unloading means, and the operating de vices and connections controlling the interaction of the said parts.

25. In a folding machine, in combination, the supporting frames, transverse folding devices supported thereon, and devices for folding the sheet longitudinally, said devices comprising: a shaft journaled to turn in the supporting frames, pawl-ratchet devices connected to rotate the same intermittently, locking arms on the said shaft, gated wheels effective intermittently to lock said arms against rotation, opposed axle-arms attached on the said shaft, bevel gears, one thereof fixedly attached against rotation and one thereof journaled to turn on each of said axle-arms, forming members attached upon said axle-arms, said members having adjustable floors and adjustably separable pairs of forming blades, cooperating members journaled to turn on said axle-arms, said members connected to be driven by said bevel gears and having bandlike springs adapted to press yieldingly upon said forming-blades, gated rolls springpressed toward each other to discharge and ill - seal the folded sheet from the control thereof, supplementary sealing rolls to extend the sealing range of said rolls, and stacking devices, including a fly operated by a crankpin from said pawl-and-ratchet devices.

" In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' VILLIAM JONATHAN NEIDIG.

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