US1925205A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 5, 1933. A. R. RIDDERSTRCM FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept 5, 1933. A. R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE File'd Aug, 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I1 V Sept. 5, 1933. A. R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug- 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jaye)? or.-

4720 76? 1x32227721 W P 6 Sept. 5, 1933.

A, R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1924 4. She'eias-Sheat 4 Q EvfizWr $0 7120 if Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE FOLDING MACHINE Application August 26, 1924. Serial No. 734,243

56 Claims.

This invention relates to the folding of the edges of upper stock of foot wear, and it embodies a mechanism and method that is also particularly well adapted and designed for laying the fold and finishing edges of upper stock pro-- vided with an edge finish, such as commonly known as French edge or French cord, and Hardened Pearl, wherein a binding strip, usually of fabric, is first stitched to the edge of the leather or other upper stock material and then drawn taut and folded down upon itself and upon the leather edge to produce a finished edge, the binding strip in the Hardened Pearl type having also a cord incorporated therewith.

The present invention comprises as a folding and fold-laying instrumentality a rotary head equipped with a series of peripheral roller disks rotatable in operation in a direction opposite to that of the head itself, and preferably geared to be positively so rotated, this rotary head being mounted diagonally with reference to the dicetion of the material feed and co-operating with a lower feed wheel or r ll and with a stationary plow which is equipped to effect a preliminary turning of the edge in the folding operation. In accordance with my invention such roller disks are mounted in the rotary head at an angle to the of rotation of said head and are thus adapted in co-opcration with the lower feed wheel to constitute the feeding instrumentality of the machine.

In accordance with a further feature of my invention, the plow is wedge shaped and provided with a groove which, in conjunction with an annular rib formed on the lower feed roll, is adapted to spread the binding from the leather or upper stock material, and by means of a spring-controlled press-er foot member co-operating with the lower feed roll, the binding is held taut when presented to the action of the folding dis...s borne by the rotary head. These act to roll and press the binding edge down smoothly and evenly and in a taut condition throughout, thereby avoiding the formation of wrinkles or humps in the binding strip.

Considered from the aspect of a folding ma chine for general upper-edge-folding uses, the present machine exhibits a number of important advantages: Since the disks which produce and roll down the fold also constitute in conjunction with the lower feeding roll the feeding means of the machine, it results that the folding, feeding, and turning of the material are all focused at substantially the same point, thus permitting abrupt turns in the folded edge to be followed with the greatest ease and efficacy, and since the work is held down positively by the roller disks at all times with each roller engaging the material before the previous roller has left it, it is not ordinarily necessary to snip the work on curves since the binding or folded edge is laid positively, even to the extent of breaking if necessary.

Considered from the aspect of a binding or binder-laying machine the present invention has important advantages in addition to those already enumerated. Thus the positive rolling down of the binding edge as distinguished from a wiping movement, as has been hitherto usual, produces a much better effect on uneven stitch- 7O ing which the positive rolling action tends to render even and lllllfOlm. In the present construction the guiding is directiyfrc-in the stitch line by means of the wedge shaped plow and the ribbed construction of the lower roll, and the 7 binding edge is rolled and pressed down directly. from the stitch or the edge of the material with a positive roller action which crushes the material to make a, uniform and exact sized roll edge which is preserved on the most abrupt inward curve as well as on other portions of the bound edge. The foregoing and other objects and advantagesof the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, 8 and the distinctive features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with portions broken away and in vertical section of a machine em- 99 'bodying the invention.

Fig. 1a is a detail front view showing the retainer and the mounting thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with a portion broken away and in horizontal section.

3 is a sectional view partly in elevation 0 11B rotary head and the mounting thereof.

Fig. i is a fragmentary end view on a relatively enlarged scale showing a part of the rotary folding head.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the curved line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial side view of the plow and lower feed roller. i

Fig. '7 is an end View thereof.

Fig. 8 is a partial side view illustrating the operation of the folding head, the plow, and the feed roller upon a material having a fabric binding strip.

further illustrating the co-operative action of the roller disks and the lower feed roller upon the material.

Fig. 9 is an elevation showing a portion of upper material with the application of a French edge binding strip thereto.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the material piece of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an elevation showing a material piece equipped with a Hardened Pearl binding strip in course of application thereto.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section thereof.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the same material piece with the Hardened Pearl edge laid finished thereon; and

Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the material piece of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated a present preferred form of my invention, it will be seen that a bracket 11 is supported by the frame work 10 of the machine for limited swinging movement, as hereinafter described, this bracket having a forward extension terminating in a bearing 11b. Detachably fixed in a socket of the bearing 11b by a screw 13, is a plow 12, and journalled in the bearing is a short shaft 14 to the outer end of which is socured a lower feed wheel or roll 15 located directly in front of the plow 12. The plow 12 has a wedge-shaped nose 16 overlying the roll 15 and a rearwardly tapering upright wall 18 terminating in a groove 17, see particularly Fig. 6. The lower feed wheel 15 is provided with a pair of spaced peripheral ribs 19 and 21 forming therebetween a groove 20 which is substantially alined with the groove 17 of the plow in the direction of material feed.

Journalled in a forward extension 10a of the frame, is a shaft 22a carrying at its outer end a rotary head 22 located directly over the lower wheel 15, but set at an angle: thereto and to the direction of feed movement, as shown by lines .rx of Fig. 9. Journalled in the head 22 are a series of short shafts 23, each bearing at its outer end a roller disk 24. These roller disks, in the operation of the machine, turn in a direction opposite to that of the head 22. The axes of shafts 23 are set at an angle with reference to the axis of the shaft 22a of preferably about seven degrees as indicated in Fig. 5 by the angle of lines xy. The disks are thus disposed in stepped relation and are mounted relatively close to one another, preferably so as to overlap as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. With this arrangement, the engagement of successive disks with the material is adapted to cause a feed of the material in a manner generally similar to that of a screw, or spiral gear wheel engaging a rack to move it endwise, the feed movement thus imparted by each disk corresponding to the step spacing between the successive disks as represented by the distance between lines 3 and y in Fig. 5.

As herein shown, the upper roll or head 22 receives its rotation by means of a spiral gear fixed on the shaft 23 which is in driven engagement with a co-operative spiral or worm 36 on a shaft 37 journalled in the frame work which may be the prime drive shaft of the machine with a driving pulley 38 fixed at the outer end thereof. The lower feed roll 15 may receive its rotation through a shaft 38 having an intermediate fiexibly connected portion 33a which permits the necessary raising and lowering thereof. The shaft 38 is connected in alinement with a shaft 39 journalled in the frame work and operated by a belt and pulley connection 40 from the shaft 37. The roller disks 24 are rotated by pinions 41 fixed at the inner ends thereof which engage internal gear rings 42 borne by a sleeve 43, this sleeve being fixed in a bearing head and bushing 44 secured to the frame extension 10a. The series of shafts 23 are alternately longer and shorter so as to permit a nesting of the pinions 41 in stepped formation as shown in Fig. 5.

Means is provided for yieldingly pressing upward the extended bearing 11!) and thereby the feed roll 15 and plow 12. For this purpose, a transverse shaft 45 is mounted in the bracket 11. Secured to the outer end of the shaft is a knurled disk 45a, and secured to the inner end is a worm 46 engaging a worm wheel 47 mounted on an inner sleeve 48 which is loosely fitted in an outer sleeve 49, the sleeve 49 in turn being fitted in a bearing sleeve 50 of the housing. The worm wheel 47 has fixed thereto one end of a torsion or spring bar 51, the other end of which is clamped by screws 52 to the outer sleeve 49. A collar 53 is adjustably secured to the sleeve 49 by a clamp screw 54 and this collar bears an arm 55 extending outward therefrom. A tension spring 56 anchored at its upper end to the frame is connected at 56a with the arm 55. A treadle rod 57 is also connected to the arm 55. A stop collar 58 is adjustably mounted on connection 57 and is adapted to engage the frame for limiting the upward swinging movement of the arm 55 under the influence of spring 56. This spring 56 hence normally holds the sleeve 49 turned so as to swing the lower feed wheel and plow upwardly to operative position with the collar 58 engaging the frame to limit such movement. The impulse thus imparted is transmitted through the spring torsion bar 51 under yielding pressure, the degree of which may be varied by adjustment of the worm 46 through the head 45a, this adjustment determining the operative upward pressure of the feed wheel in the use of machine, the spring 56 under normal conditions holding the stop 58 always engaged with the frame, i. e., so that the spring 56 is only operative to return the parts to operative position after the feed wheel has been depressed by a treadle movement imparted to the connection 57. For limiting the upward movement of the lower feed wheel under the action of the torsion bar 51 and so that it may not interfere with the roller disks 24, the crank bracket 11 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 110 which bears an adjusting screw 59 adapted to engage the frame.

Each of the roller disks 24 is preferably provided with a notch 25 in its periphery, these notches being so disposed and the rate of rotation imparted to the disks 24 being such that as each disk reaches a position directly over the lower feed wheel, the notch 25 therein is at the lower side of said disk and directly opposite the groove 20 in the said wheel.

By means of a retainer or presser foot member 25, the material is held closely down upon the roll 15 against the rib 19 so that this rib will follow the stitch line. The retainer 26 is provided with a presser foot extremity 26a pressing down upon the material at one side of the rib 19. This retainer is pivoted at 27 to a bracket 28 which is fixed to and extending from the frame work, and it is provided with a shoulder 29 against which a spring 30 reacts to press the retainer yieldingly against the material with a degree of pressure that is controllable by a set screw 31, said spring being for this purpose anchored to the bracket 28 with the screw 31 engaged in said bracket. The retainer or presser foot member is provided with an adjustable stop screw 32 fitted in a lug 33 of the retainer, this stop screw reacting against the surface of the bracket 28 as shown in Fig. 1 The retainer is also provided with a tail piece 34 constituting a handle or finger piece whereby it may be lifted away from the material when required.

Referring to Figures 12 and 14, M indicates a material piece which may be a piece of upper leather such as a vamp or quarter of leather to which an edge binding strip B of fabric or the like is to be applied. This binding strip is here shown as provided at one edge thereof with a cord C as is usual in making the so-called Hardened Pearl edge, the binding being first stitched as indicated at S adjacent this cord edge to the edge of the material M. In Figure 109 a material piece M is shown as equipped with a binding strip 13' adapted to produce a different type of binding edge, i. e. that known as French cord or French edge, the binding strip being in this case stitched at one edge thereof to the edge of the material as indicated at S with the binding extending inward of the material instead of outward as is the case with the Hardened Pearl binding. The described construction of rotary head 22 with the roller disks 24, in combination with the grooved lower feed wheel and with the grooved plow presenting the wedge 16, together with the co-operating presser foot member 26, is adapted to fold and lay either of these types of edge binding smoothly and so as to make an even and uniform edge, for the reason that the binding is first spread out and pressed away from the material at the stitch line by the action of the wedge 16, as best seen in Figure 8, this action being continued by the ribs 19 and 21 of the feed wheel.

The operation of the machine is follows:- Upon the rotation of the main pulley wheel 38 from a source of power, the lower work supporting roll 15 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 through alined shafts 38 and 39. At the same time, shaft 37 will be driven, thereby rotating through the medium of the worm 36 and gear 35 the shaft 22a. The upper roll or head 22 will therefore rotate in a clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 or Fig. 8. Through the medium of gearing 41 and 43, the short shafts 23 will be rotated in counterclockwise direction, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 1, 8 and 8a, and at the same speed as the roll or head 22.

The presser foot member 26 is raised and the edge of the leather M placed in grooves 17 and 29 of plow 18 and roll 15, respectively, with the binding strip spread from the stitching line and laid in the channel 13a of the plow, in the manner shown in Fig. 8. The presser foot 26 is then released, thereby holding the leather against the rib 19, the edge of the leather being guided by the rear vertical edge of the wall 18% by the rib 21. The rib 19 acts to spread the binding from the material at the stitch line as the material is fed over the roll 15. Hence, upon rotation of the upper and lower rolls 22 and 15, and disks 24, the material will be carried beneath the disks 24, and the latter will be carried by roll 22 across the stitching line in the direction of line y--y in Fig. 9. The vertical wall 18 acts to turn up or partially fold the strip as it is fed through the tapering channel 18a. The disks rotate in'the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of roll 22 and therefore will roll over the ribs 19 and 21 of roll 15 and fold the binding strip over upon the leather upper. (See Fig. 8a.) The notches 25 of the disks will always register at the rib 19 of roll 15, andwill press or crush together the binding and leather over rib 19, thus drawing the binding taut from the stitching line.

Due to the stepped formation and oblique mounting of disks 24, the disks are adapted to catch the binding strip or edge to be folded and turn the same over, pressing it strongly and evenly down upon the material, and they are thus adapted to act on the binding edge or other edge to be folded even with little or no preliminary turning of such edges before it is engaged by the disks.

It is important to note that annular rib 19 as it moves with the work enters at the underside of the work the V-shaped groove at the stitching line formed between the leather and the binding strip when spread away from the leather. Hence, the stitching line travels on the rib 19 and therefore the material or work is guided from underneath, at the stitching line, and by a guide which travels with the work and projects into the stitching line. Furthermore, each fold presser disk 24 rolls over the rib 19, the notch 25 substantially straddling the rib in its rotation so that the material at a given moment is guided, folded and fed at the same point and with a continuous movement.

It is thus to be noted that for the folding and laying of thebinding as described the material is guided directly from the stitch line and immediately at the working point where the fold is laid, in distinction from former types wherein the guiding of the material is affected either (1) from the outside of the binding; or (2) entirely at one side of the folding mechanism. Thus the material is guided more accurately and effectively than has hitherto been possible. Since the fold-laying and feeding are both accomplished at the same point and by the same instrumentality, it is possible to make close or abrupt turns in the folded edge and still preserve an even and uniform fold, which is still further insured by the fact that the feed is continuous and steady. Before the material is released by one of the roller disks it is engaged by the next succeeding one without an intermittent release as is the case with all types employing a reciprocating hammer as the fold-laying instrumentality. The present construction is further distinguished from previous types in that the fold is laid with an even, steady roller pressure and with an absence of hammer impact upon the material as heretofore which tends to weaken and injure the material. The present machine is further distinguished from previous types in that the fold-laying roller disks 24 operate .upon travelling centers as borne by the rotary head 22, in distinction from the stationary center or pivot of usual reciprocating fold-laying hammers.

When the machine is employed for ordinary folding uses, i. e. to lay a fold on a skived or other edge of leather or other material not having a separate binding strip applied thereto, it will be understood that the grooves in the plow and in the lower feed wheel are dispensed with, as is also the wedge formation 16, and a suitable guiding means for the edge of the material provided either on the retainer or on the plow. I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of work supporting means and a plurality of rotatable elements continuously engaging the work at one side thereof for feeding the same, for folding the edge thereof and for pressing the folded portion upon the body of the work.

2. In a folding machine, the combination of work supporting means, and a rotary folder rotatable on an axis extending angularly across the edge of the material and having means continuously engaging the work for folding the edge thereof and for pressing the folded portion upon the body of the work.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of work supporting means, and a folder rotatable on an axis extending at a constant angle across the work edge for folding the same and for pressing the folded portion upon the body of the work.

4. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising uni-directional mechanism mounted to engage an edge of a material piece, said mechanism embodying a series of elements mounted in stepped relation and continuously engaging the material with a rolling movement to fold the edge thereof and to press down the fold upon the body of the material.

5. A fold-laying machine, comprising a support mounted for rotation and bearing a series of roller members mounted in overlapping relation, and means for supporting and guiding a material edge to be engaged by said members for feeding the material and simultaneously laying a fold at the edge thereof.

6. A fold-laying machine comprising a'series of roller disk-like members mounted for orbital movement and set individually in stepped relation, and operative to continuously engage the material and continuously feed the same.

7. In a folding machine, the combination of work supporting means, and folding means comprising a series of rotatable disks or rollers each having a peripheral notch adapted to register with the folded edge of the work during the folding operation.

8. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower rotatable work supporting roll. said roll having a peripheral rib engageable with the underside of the work, and means for folding the edge of the work over said rib and pressing it upon the body of the work.

9. In a folding machine for material having a binding strip stitched thereto, the combination of means projecting at the underside of the material into the space between the binding strip and material along the stitching line for guiding the work, and means for folding the strip across said guide means over upon the body of the material.

' 10. In a folding machine for material having a binding strip stitched thereto, the combination of means projecting at the underside of the material into the space between the binding strip and material along the stitching line for guiding the work, means for folding the strip across said guide means over upon the body of the material, and also for continuously feeding the work.

11. A machine for applying a binding strip stitched to a material edge, comprising a plow equipped with a wedge projection adapted to engage the stitch line to guide the same and with a groove back of such projection, a lower feed wheel equipped with a peripheral rib and groove co-operative withsaid projection and groove of the plow to guide the material, and means co-operative with said feed wheel for laying a fold of such binding strip and simultaneously feeding the material.

12. A machine of the kind described, comprising a plow equipped with a wedge adapted to spread a binding strip from a material at the stitch line and engage such stitch line to guide the material, and means for turning the binding edge and laying a fold thereof upon an edge of the material.

13. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower rotatable work supporting roll, said roll having a peripheral rib, and means for folding an edge of the work across said rib, said roll having an annular groove lateral of said rib to receive the folded edge.

14. An apparatus for laying a fold of a binding strip stitched to the edge of a material, comprising mechanism for feeding and laying a fold of such binding strip upon the material and including a lower feed wheel having a peripheral rib upstanding from the face of the wheel and adapted to project at the stitch line into the space between the strip and material for guiding the same.

15. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower rotatable work supporting roll, said roll having a peripheral rib engageable with the underside of the work, and means having a notch or recess registering with said rib for folding and pressing the edge of the work over said rib.

16. In a folding machine, the combination of work supporting means, and folding means comprising a series of rotatable rollers mounted upon substantially parallel axes for movement in succession across the edge of the material to fold the same.

17. In a folding machine, the combination of work supporting means, a rotary head having a series of members rotatable in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said head for feeding the work and folding an edge over upon the body of the material, each member having a notch registering with the edge of the fold during the folding operation. 1

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of folding means for a binding strip stitched to the material, a movable work support, and guiding means movable therewith and projecting into the space between the binding strip and material along the stitching line for guiding the work.

19. In a machine for folding the edge of the work, the combination of a work support, guide means projecting into the body of the work between said support and the underside of the work, means for holding the work in position with relation to said guide means, and means for folding the edge of the work across said guide means.

20. In a folding machine, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll having an upstanding peripheral rib adapted to project into the space between the material and the binding strip along the stitch line, a presser member for pressing the material against said rib during the feed of the material, and means for folding the strip across said rib upon the material.

21. The combination of a rotatable work support having an annular rib engaging the stitching line, a presser foot co-operating therewith, means for partially folding the strip, and a series of overlapping rotary members for folding and pressing the strip.

22. The combination of a rotatable work support having an annular rib engaging the stitching line, a presser foot co-operating therewith, means for partially folding the strip, and a series of overlapping rotary members movable across the stitch line at a constant angle thereto for folding and pressing the strip. I

23. The combination of a rotatable work support having an annular rib engaging the stitching line, a presser foot co-operating therewith, means for partially folding the strip, and a plurality of members successively and continuously engaging the strip and rotatable in one direction for feed-- ing and folding the same.

24. The combination of a rotatable work support having an annular rib engaging the stitching line, a presser foot co-operating therewith, means for partially folding the strip, a plurality of members successively and continuously engaging the strip and rotatable in one direction for feeding and folding the same, and supporting means for said members rotatable in the opposite direction.

25. In a machine for folding a binding strip stitched to one face of a material, the combination of a lower rotatable roll, an upper rotatable roll overlying said lower roll, means for guiding the material and strip between said rolls, and means carried by the upper roll for folding the strip over upon the opposite face of the material.

26. In a machine for folding a binding strip stitched to one face of a material, the combina tion of a lower rotatable roll, an upper rotatable roll overlying said lower roll, means for guiding the material between said rolls, and independently rotatable means carried by the upper roll for both feeding the strip and folding it across said guide means over upon the opposite face of the material.

2'7. In a machine for folding a binding strip stitched to one face of the material along the edge thereof, the combination of work supporting means, means for preliminarily folding or turning up the edge of the binding strip, means for finally folding and pressing the turned up edge over upon the opposite face of the material, and guide means projecting at the underside of the material into the space between the material and strip along the stitch line thereof for guiding the work at points opposite the preliminary and final folding operations. I

28. In a folding machine for material having a a binding strip stitched thereto, the combination of means for guiding the work at the stitch line, means engaging the work at one side of said guide means for pressing the material against said guiding means, and means engaging the binding strip at the opposite side of said guide means for folding the same.

29. In a machine for folding a binding strip stitched to the edge of a material, the combination of folding means, means for guiding the ma terial and strip at the stitch line thereof, and means for pressing the material against said guiding means at one side of the stitch line more remote from the folded edge.

30. In a folding machine, the combination of a movable work support, a plow, said support and plow forming a groove therebetween for receiving a portion of the material and bind g strip, a presser foot engaging the material at one side of said groove, and means for folding the binding strip upon the material.

31. In afolding machine, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll, a plow, said roll having an annular rib and said plow having a projecting portion co-operating with said rib, a presser member engaging the material for holding it in position with relation tosaid rib, and means for folding the strip.

32. In a folding machine, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll, a plow, said roll having an annular rib and said plow having a groove co-operating therewith, a spring-controlled presser member engaging the material for holding it in position with relation to said rib, and at the side of the rib more remote from the plow, and means for folding the strip.

33. In a folding machine, the combination of a work support having an upstanding rib, a plow having an upstanding wall terminating adjacent and in spaced relation to said rib at one side thereof, a presser member engaging the work at the opposite side of the rib, and means for folding the edge of the work during the feed movement thereof.

34. The hereindescribed method of folding a binding strip stitched to'one face of a material along an edge thereof, consisting in guiding the work at the underside thereof along the stitch line, and folding and pressing the strip over upon the opposite face of the material at successive points Where the work is being guidedat the stitch line. 7

35. The hereindescribed method of folding a binding strip stitched to one face of a material along an edge thereof consisting in preliminarily folding the binding strip, finally folding the strip over upon the opposite face of the material, guiding the work along the stitch line at a point opposite the point of said preliminary folding, and guiding the work along the stitch line at a point opposite the point of said final folding.

36. A method of turning and laying a fold of a binding strip upon a piece of material, to the edge of which the strip is stitched, which consists in guiding the material at the stitch line from the underside of the material, and progressively feeding the material and folding the strip over upon the opposite side of the material.

3'7. A method of turning and laying a fold according to claim 36 in which the folding is continuous at successive points across the line of stitch where the material is guided.

38. The method of turning and laying a fold of a binding strip stitched to the edgeof the material piece which consists in guiding the material atfthe stitch line and progressively engaging such binding strip to spread it from the material at the stitch line and turn it over to lay it upon the material.

39. The method of operating on a material piece having a binding strip stitched to an edge thereof'which consists in guiding the material at the stitch line, and progressively engaging such binding strip to spread the same from the material at the stitch line. 7 40. An apparatus for folding a piece of material having a binding strip attached to an edge thereof comprising a work support having a guide for guiding the material at the stitch line of the strip and material, a retainer for pressing the, material against the work support in the 10 cality of said guide, and means co-operating with said guide for folding said strip on'the material.

41. A method of folding and laying a binding strip stitched to a face of a sheet of material along an edge thereof, the said method comprising engaging with a projection the said face of the material and the strip at the stitch line to spread the strip away from the material at the stitch line and to guide the material, yieldingly pressing upon the other face of the material in the neighborhood of the projection, moving the projection and the material engaged thereby to feed the material and the strip, folding the strip, and rolling the folded strip over upon the other face of the material and pressing it thereagainst.

42. A machine for folding and laying a binding strip stitched to a face of a sheet of material along an edge thereof, the said machine having, in combination. a feeding member for feeding the sheet and the strip, the feeding member having a projection for engaging the said face of the material and the strip at the stitch line to spread the strip away from the material at the stitch line and to guide the material, means for yieldingly pressing the material against the feeding member in the neighborhood of the projection, a plow for folding the strip, and a rolling fold presser for rolling the plow-folded strip over upon the other face of the material to lay it upon the said other face of the material and press it thereagainst.

43. A folding machine for folding a binding strip stitched adjacent the edge of a sheet of material comprising a work support, means for pressing the material against said work support, and means for folding the strip upon the material, including a rolling fold presser provided with a curved pressing surface and a reversely formed notch in rear of said surface adapted to register at the folded edge of the strip.

44. A machine for operating upon. a piece of stock comprising a sheet of material to one face of which, along an edge thereof, a binding strip is stitched so that the sheet and the strip extend from the stitched-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, a stationary edged member for continuously engaging the sheet and the strip in the said angle between the sheet and the strip and to spread the strip away from the sheet, a member for holding successive portions of the stock against the edged member, means for folding successive portions of the strip, and means for laying the successively folded portions of the strip over upon the other face of the sheet and pressing them thereagainst.

45. A machine for operating upon a piece of stock comprising a sheet of material to one face of which, along an edge thereof, an edge of a binding strip is stitched so that the sheet and the strip extend from the stitched-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, an edged member for engaging the sheet and the strip in the said angle between the sheet and the strip and to spread the strip away from the sheet, a member for holding successive portions of the stock against the edged member, one of the members serving to guide the stock, means for folding successive portions of the strip, and means for laying the successively folded portions of the strip over upon the other face of the sheet and pressing them thereagainst.

46. A machine for operating upon a piece of stock comprising a sheet of material to one face of which, along an edge thereof, an edge of a binding strip is stitched so that the sheet and the strip extend fromthe stitched-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for spreading the strip away from the sheet at the stitch line and for guiding the stock, the said means comprising an edged member adapted to engage the sheet and the strip in the said angle between the sheet and the strip and a member for holding the stock against the edged member, means for folding successive portions of the strip, and means for laying the successively folded portions of the strip over upon the other face of the sheet and pressing them thereagainst.

47. A machine for operating upon a piece of stock comprising a sheet of material to one face of which, along an edge thereof, a binding strip is stitched so that the sheet and the strip extend from the stitched-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine'having, in combination, means for feeding the stock, folding successive portions of the strip, and laying the successively folded portions of the strip over upon the other face of the sheet and pressing them thereagainst, in combination with a member having an edge always alined in the path of feed for continuously engaging the sheet and the strip in the said angle between the sheet and the strip to spread the strip away from the sheet, and a member for holding successive portions of the stock against the said edge of the member.

48. A method of operating upon a piece of stock comprising a sheet of material to one face of which, along an edge thereof, a binding strip is stitched so that the sheet and the strip extend from the stitched-together edges at an angle to each other, the said method comprising feeding the stock, continuously engaging with theedge of an edged member the said face of the sheet and the strip in the said angle between the sheet and the strip to spread the strip away from the sheet, holding the said edge of the edged member always alined in the path of feed, holding successive portions of the stock against the edged member, folding successive portions of the strip, and laying the successively folded portions of the strip over upon the other face of the sheet-and pressing them thereagainst.

49. In a folding machine, a work supporting roller, a work retainer cooperating with the work on said roller, and a series of rotary disk-like members operating in succession across the edge of the work for folding the same.

50. In a folding machine, a work supporting roller, a work retainer cooperating with the work on said roller, a series of rotary disk-like members operating in succession across the edge of the work for folding the same, and mechanism for rotating said roller on an axis at an angle to the axes of rotation of said members.

51. In a folding machine, the combination of work supporting means, and a series of roller devices mounted in overlapping relation for continuously feeding the work, folding the edge thereof and pressing the fold upon the body of the work.

52. The combination of a work supporting means, and folding means comprising a series of 140 series of individually rotatable rollers successive- 1y overlapping one another in stepped relation 56. The combination of a rotary head, and a series of work engaging disk-like rollers rotatable independently of the head and mounted on the head for orbital movement in substantially par-- allel planes, and means for rotating said rollers in a direction opposite to the rotation of the head.

ANDREW R. RIDDERSTROM.

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