US2018558A - Sheet folder and binder - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 22, 1935.

w.` R. HoTHKlss SHEET FOLDER AND 'BINDER Filed Sept. 12, 1932v 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1935.

'Filed sept. 12. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1935.. w. R. Ho'rcHKlss SHEET FOLDER AND BINDER Filed Sept. 12, 1932 .4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 2v2, 1935. W, R, HQTCHKlss 2,018,558

SHEET FOLDER AND BINDER Filed Sept. l2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This sheet folder and binder is adapted to fold and bind units of sheets together in a manner to form a book of folded and secured sheets which when opened to the inside of each unit, extend entirely flat directly up to and through the point of fold.

The machine may be used to bind single sheets to secure the same together marginally along one edge, with the adhesive binding being spaced 1o from the margin to the degree desired. When sheets are thus bound together with this machine, they may be secured so that they may be opened in book-like form, and in securing the sheets together they are not pressed into rm contact with each other excepting at the point where the adhesive is applied, so that any printing on the surface thereof may be comparatively fresh and yet not cause any off-setting from one sheet to the other in the operation of my machine.

A feature resides in providing a simple device which may be attached in a suitable manner to a printing press of a character to print sheets and to deliver the same from the printing press onto this device which in turn carries them therethrough folding them into units, and applying adhesive along one of the marginal edges of the outside of the units and delivering and pressing the units into a pack which forms the book made up of the units, which are attached together so that each unit may be opened up with the inside laid out approximately ,perfectly fiat. My sheet folder and binder is very adaptable for making bank check books having a character which per- 5 mits them to be easily bound together in a peculiar manner so that they open up perfectly flat. In this construction the unit comprises a single sheet which is folded so that one sheet from the point of fold forms the stub and the other sheet l0 is perforated to form one or more checks. The unit sheets are bound together by marginally applying an adhesive, after the unit has been folded, to one of the outer surfaces of the same, and then squeezing the units one against the g5 other, building up a pack of units to form the desired size book.

A particular advantage of my machine is that in making bank checks or the like, the folding and binding of the units may be rapidly completed 5o Without offsetting of the printed surfaces, which permits this machine to be directly connected to a press for printing checks or the like, and which will deliver the freshly printed sheets into this machine which in turn folds and binds the saine intobookform. 'A

A feature resides in the method of printing and then directly securing sheets together in a pack to form a book of sheets. My invention includes the method of making books by folding and binding sheets together directly after they leave the s printing press. This includes the method of making a book of sheets bound together consisting in carrying a iiat sheet into a position to be folded therethrough, then folding the sheet upon itself forming two sheets integral at the fold, then 10 marginally applying adhesive to one side of one of the sheets, and then carrying the sheets in position to be packed together, applying pressure to the sheets along the point of the application of the adhesive securing the same in a pack. 15

In the drawings forming part of this specification':

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my sheet folder and binder.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1. 20

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail at one endv of the rollers which coi-operate with the folding arm to form the sheet.

Figure 5 is a plan detail partly in section of the 25 packing table.

Figure 6 illustrates a sheet opened up which forms one of the units.

Figure 7 illustrates one of the sheets forming the unit folded and showing the adhesive mar- 30 ginally along one edge thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective of a book of checks made up by my sheet folder and binder and by my method.

Figure 9 is a section through the binding edges 35 on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional detail oi' a. portion of the pack forming mechanism.

Figure 1l is a detail perspective of the packing table.

Figure 12 is a detailed side elevation of the packing table, showing the parts in one position.

Figure 13 is a similar view to Figure 12, showing the parts in another position.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic detail of the ad- 45 hesive applying structure of the sheet folderv and binder.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic perspective illustrating the guard on the adhesive feeding wheel.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic illustration in side 50 elevation, of the adhesive applying means and sheet carrier.

Figure 17 illustrates a form of book employing sheets folded to one side of the center to form pages of unequal size. 55'

My sheetY folder and binder A is formed with a Vframek III which is adapted to be supported by the legs VI I. At one end of the frame I provide n a sheet receiving table I2 whichl projects beyond the frame I0 proper and which is adapted to be VVsupported by the bracket members I3.

Y The 'table I2 of the sheet folder-.and binder A may be securedin any suitable manner or asso-Vr ciated with a prnting'press sheet feeder, sheet perforator or any device for delivering sheets to the table I2, which aregnot illustrated in the drawings, but which Vmay be of any type where sheets in the fiat formation are delivered from the device directly onto the sheet receiving table I2. The table I2 is formed with adjustable Vsheet guides I4 on either side ofthe same. When the sheet B,V illustrated in its flat formation in Figure 6, is delivered onto the table I2, it is picked up by the conveyor C and carried into the machcine A between the sides of the frame III. Therconveyor C includesa series of endless e carrier belts I5 together with suitable means for 50 Y24 of the plate I9 it is forced into the positionhiljlustrated in Figure 3, between the rollers which holding the sheet in contact with the belts I5, such as the Vball tracks I6, which extend over the top of the conveyors and the balls of the same rest against the sheet Bholding the sheet in contact with the conveyor belts I5. Guide fingers I1 are held adjustable by thetransverse bar I8 extending across the table I2 so that the sheets may Y be guided toward the conveyors I5 and under the Vball tracks I6. Y

The conveyor C carries the sheet into position on the machine Ak to be folded bythe folding mechanism D. The mechanism D includes the thin folding plate I9 which is supported on the reciprocating upright standard 20 and which is adapted to be moved up and down by the lever 2| which is operated by the cam wheel 272. The

plate I9 engages the sheet VB as it moves directly below the plate .along the creased or scored line '23.The Ascoring 23 through vthe sheet B may be extend longitudinally in the frame I0 and which Y are provided with engaging cams 26 which extend out slightly beyond the periphery of the rollers 25. After the plate I9 has forced the sheetB be- Ato tween'V the rollers 25, the rollers are timed so that the cam portions 26 of each of the rollers 25 will Vcome into contact with the folded sides of the sheet and draw the sheet down between the rollers, 4the cam'surfaces pressing against the sheets "only adjacentthe folded edges thereof, dropping Aro . .the sameinto the vertical longitudinal trough 21 which is supported in a suitable manner in the frame VII) of the machine A. The construction and engagement of the sheet B by the cams 26 which are supported inthe periphery of the rollers 25, is an important featurevof my machine AA because by'this means of engaging the sheet YB only at the point of fold, the sheet may bedel-i liveredfrom a printing'press directly onto the table I2 and carried by the conveyor C to the rfolding mechanism D and folded with the printed surface of .theY sheet folded inward, and` yet `by this means of folding and engaging .the sheet ing the sheets B directly after they have beenV '5 printed.

The trough 21 extends longitudinally in the frame YIIl below the folding mechanism D and'is open at the bottom at 28 so that the sheets B may rest upon the guide plate 29 while they are held upright between the sides of the trough 21.` The lower end of the trough 21 is spaeedfrom the plate 29 and in this space I operate the conveyor pins 30 which are carried by the chain 3| over suitableY end sprockets. Thus when the sheet B drops into the trough 2'! and onto the plate 29 the pins 30 will engage the same and carry the sheet along the trough 21 toward the packing table E.

As the sheets B are carried 'along the trough 21 20 on the guide plate 29 they are passed by the ad I Yh'esive applying wheel 32` which is formed with a knurled adhesive applying surface 33 and which is adapted to apply a narrow strip of adhesive Y marginally along the folded edge of the sheet B.. 2 The guide plate 29 may be adjusted so as to prop E erly apply the strip of adhesive to the side of the folded sheet B at the desired point and normally the guide plate 29 is adjusted so that the adhe- 'f sive is applied in a strip or ribbon-A-like form@ spaced slightly from the folded edge of the sheet' B, the purpose and advantages of which will bel more fully hereinafter set forth. The adhesive is applied in a particular manner by the wheel 32, the knurled surface 33 of which is supplied 35 with the adhesive from the groove 34 formed in v the adhesive feeding wheel 35. The wheel 35 is carried by the shaft 36 and rotates in the adhesive supply fount 31. The groove 34 is recessed into one of the side walls of the wheel 35 Yand the 40 surface 33 of the wheel 32 is adapted to extendv into the groove 34 so as to pick up adhesive maferial from the groove 34 and carry it around by the knurled applying surface 33 to apply the strip of adhesive in a vdefined ribbon-like form 'v engages the edge of the wheel 35. By this means .the surface of the wheel 35 is thoroughly cleaned of adhesive excepting in the groove 34, then when the wheel 32 contacts in the groove 34 it picks up sufficient adhesive on its knurledY surface 33 and carries it in a manner to apply a defined ribbonlike portion of adhesive 4IY to the sheet B asY it Y is carried along the trough 21 by the pins 35.- After the sheet B has been folded and the strip of adhesive 4I has been applied to the marginal edge of the same, the sheet is carried onto the packing table E. As the sheet B is carried onto the packing table Erit is adapted to be pressed Y toward the plate 42.Y The plate 42 is held slidably Y regulate the tension of the plate 42 on the bed plate'43. The sheets B are stacked against thcY plate 42 by the reciprocating packing plate 45 which-is operated by the reciprocating lever 46 7 ,4

.which in turn is operated by the varms 41 which are connected to the cam wheel 48. The wheel 4S is operated by the internal cam wheel 49 which is rotated by the shaft 50. The shaft 59 is driven by suitable gears connecting it with the main drive shaft 5| which extends transversely in the lower part of the frame IU. The shaft 5I may be driven by any suitable source of power and is the main drive shaft of the machine A.

The packer plate reciprocates between the upright side plates 52 and 53 which form the packing box with the plate 42 which also slides between the side plates 52 and 53. The bed plate 43 is formed with longitudinal recesses 54 which facilitate the mounting of the plate 42 to the bed plate 43 and through, which stop fingers 55 extend to engage against the lower edge of the sheets B as they are packed against the plate 42, holding the sheets in position along the bottom, while short lugs or stops 56 project inwardly from the sides of the plates 52 and 53 to hold the sheets B at the top. The lingers 55 are mounted upon an operating arm 51 which is pivoted below the bed plate 43 at 58 and which is formed with a cam portion 59 so that when the plate 45 is pushed toward the plate 42, the pivoted cam lug 60 carried by the base of the plate 45 will engage the cam 59 and drop the fingers 55 down below the upper surface of the plate 43, permitting a sheet B to be carried by the packing plate 45 as it leaves the trough 41 and moves onto the table 43 and pack the same against the plate 42. As the plate 45 moves backward away from the plate 42 the lug 60 will ratchet over the cam 59 which has already permitted the ngers 55 to raise above the bed plate 43 to engage the lower edges of the sheets B. This gives a quick operation of the fingers 55 and holds the sheets B in upright position resting on the folded or lower edge of the same.

A guiding guard 6I projects forwardly from the side of the plate 45 adjacent the end of the trough 21 so as to assist in guiding the sheets from the trough 21 completely onto the table E. The guide guard 6| is pivoted at 62 to the back of the plate 45 and is formed with a cam arm 63 which is held against the cam 64 by a suitable coil spring 65, so that the cam arm 63 normally engages the cam 64 by spring tension. The cam 64 is mounted on the side of the frame portion 66 which is secured to one end of the bed plate 43. Thus as the plate 45 reciprocates to pack the sheets B toward the plate 42, the guide guard 6I will oscillate horizontally at the receiving end of the plate 45, pushing the sheets against the guide plate 52, thus insuring the proper side register of the sheet B against the guide plate 52 before the sheet is engaged by the plate 45, carrying the same toward the plate 42.

The packing plate 45 is of a particular construction primarily in that it is provided with a protruding transverse shoulder 61 along the bottom edge of the same. This shoulder has the defined purpose of firmly engaging against the lower marginal surface of each of the sheets B to force the same toward the back plate 42. Thus it will be noted as is more clearly defined in Figure 10, that the shoulder 61 acts to apply packing pressure rmly along the adhesive strip 4| of the sheets B which tends to cause the sheets to be attached by the Aadhesive strip when they are packed one against the other. It will be apparent, however, that the fresh adhesive applied to the sheets B is on the opposite side of each of the sheets B to that engaged by the shoulder 61 so that as the sheets enter the packing table E they are forced toward the plate 42 in the reciprocating movement of the packing plate 45 and the shoulder presses the sheets tightly together only along that portion or area defined by the shoulder 61 and where the adhesive strip 4I has been applied. The upper portion of the plate 45 thus acts only as a guide to carry the sheets back toward each other but not to cause a pressure between the upper portion of the sheets as they are packed into books of checks on the table E. The advantage of this construction of the packing mechanism E is that the freshly printed sheets Will not offset one against the other even though they are rapidly carried through the sheet folder and binder A directly from a printing press. This is a material advantage in making books of checks.

The beltsl5 of the carrier C are operated by the chain drive 68 which operates the counter shaft 69 by means of the chain 10 which rotates the transverse shaft 1I. The shaft 1l extends across the frame Ill below the upper surface of the belts l5 and carries pulleys which carry the lower portion of the belts I5 below the lower portion. of the rollers 25 to clear the same.

The transverse shaft 12 is mounted between the sides of the frame I0 and is adapted to carry the cam wheel 22. This shaft is driven by the chain 13 from the drive.,shaft 5I. The shaft 12 is adapted to operate the shaft 14 through the gears 15. The shaft 14 supports one of the rollers 25 and the adjacent roller is mounted upon a parallelly extending shaft 16 while the gears 11 at one end of the shafts 14 and 16, and as illustrated in Figure 4, operate the rollers 25 in unison. The shafts 14 and 15 are mounted in suitable bearing blocks 18 supported in the frame 19 and with an adjusting screw 80 for one of the blocks and a spacer 8| between the blocks 18, while the other block 18 is held by the adjusting screw 82 and the coil spring 83, thus mounting one of the rollers 25 resiliently in relation to the other roller so that the cam members 26 will engage the sheet B by a slight resilient tension as it is carried between the rollers 25.

The machine A has been defined in. its operation to fold a sheet such as B, virtually centrally of the same along the line 23 and these sheets B may be perforated transversely at 84 and longitudinally at 85 so as to divide one side 86 of the sheet to form bank checks or similar checks, or memorandum slips which may be readily torn olf or separated, while the other side 81 of the sheet may form a stub or record portion of a book of checks F, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Thus the machine A is adapted to form a book of folded sheets F which when opened up the sheet portion 86 will lie flat with the stub or memorandum sheet 81. The sheets B of the book F in their packed formation may be bound by any suitable .cover means if it is desired, but which is not shown. The machine A assists in carrying out my method of making a book of checks where it is desired to 6 sheets of the book and binding the same into checks of the desired thickness.

f hereinbefore.

YIf it is desired, the sheets may be folded in the manner illustratedin Figure 17, wherein the line of fold is to one side of the center of the sheet, forming two unequally sized pages. Books may be made in a manner identical with that outlined A book of this type is practical foruse as a check book where the small pages constitute the stubs, and the larger pages are dividedY to form checks. It is obvious that such a. book may open up `flat in the manner of the other books described. Y

' The machine A is equally adaptable to binding single sheets together which have been printed upon without folding the same, by depositing the sheets into the trough 21 and carrying them to the packing table E as heretofore defined. The operation of the machine A is simple, efficient and uniform, and accomplishes the results defined in an economical manner, and better than the sheets could be collected and formed into checks for a book by hand. The operations are automatic, making it virtually unnecessary to touch the sheets as they travel through the machine.

The illustrations are in accordance with the patent statutes and show the principles of operation and particular structure employed to carry out the method and means of accomplishing the results desired in( binding sheets together or foldingand binding the same by a particular means wherein one of the advantages is thatV offsetting of freshly printed surfaces is obviated, and it is apparent that the structure of the machine may be vvaried or applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims remaining within the purpose and intent of my invention.

- Iclaim: V

1. A sheet folder and binder for forming bank checks including,'a carrier adapted to receive flat sheets, a folder at one end of said carrier, means for receiving the sheets from said folder, means for applying a strip of adhesive marginally to the folded sheet, and means for carrying the sheet with the adhesive thereon to a packing means which is adapted to pack the sheets together to form a book of checks, the leaves of which are marginally attached together. Y

2. A sheet binder including, means for automatically carrying the sheets individually into position to apply an adhesive, means operable during the movement of the sheets for applying 55 vthe adhesive Vmarginally along the edge thereof,

means for automatically carrying the sheets with the adhesive thereon from the adhesive applying means, and means for pressing the sheets together along the applied adhesive. n

V3. `An automatic sheet folder and binder including, means for carrying a sheet into position to be folded, means for folding the sheet, means Wide open position with the open leaves lying Y prising, conveyor means adapted to carry sheets one after the other, and adhesive applying means Vadapted to apply a strip of adhesive to one side of each sheet, and means for collecting the sheets in a pack and simultaneously pressing them to cause the adhesive to bind the same together.

5. The combination, a conveyor adapted to carry sheets in flat formation, a folder adapted to fold the sheets, a second conveyor adapted to 5 to hold the sheets packed together until the ad- 1o hesive has set, binding the same into a pack.

6. 'Ihe combination, a conveyor, a sheet folding means associated with said conveyor adapted to engage the sheet by cam gripper means, a conveyor for 'carrying the folded sheet away from said 15 folder, and means for collecting and binding the sheets together in a. pack.

7. The combination, an automatic'sheet conf veyor, folder and binding means'including, an endless conveyor, means for knocking the sheets downv into folded'position from said conveyor, means for applying a binding adhesive Vto the folded sheets, and means for collecting and pressing said folded sheets together with applied pressure over the area of the applied adhesive only.

8. A device for collecting and binding sheets including, an endless conveyor adapted to receive the sheets, means for knocking the sheets'down through said conveyor, means for simultaneously gripping the sheet as it is knocked down to fold the same, means for applying a strip of adhesive marginally along one side of the folded sheet, and means for conveying the folded sheets with adhesive applied thereto into a pack and pressing the same together more particularly over the area of the applied adhesive.

9. An automatic sheet folder and binder including, an endless conveyor adapted to receive and carry the sheets into position to be folded,

a pusher folding plate, means for operating said 0VV Yplate to fold the sheets carried by said conveyor,

roller means associated with said Vpusher plate Y having cam gripping faces to grip the sheetV adjacent the point of fold and permit the remainder of the folded sheet to pass freely throughsaid roller means, and means for collectingV said folded sheets and binding the same marginally.

v10. In combination, a conveyor for folded sheets,` an Vadhesive applying device for applying adhesive over a portion of said sheets, and pressposite the glued portion to secure the sheets together.

11. In combination, an adhesive applying device for applying adhesive over an area on one side of sheets, a conveyor for conveying the ,sheets with adhesive thereon, and pressing means the J approximate shape of the folded sheets having a G0 raised portion approximating the area of theV glued surface engageable with the sheet opposite the glued areato press the 'sheet into engagement with other sheets. Y

12. In combination, a gluing device for sheets, means for conveying the sheets past said gluing device to obtain a strip of glue thereupon, and means for pressing each sheet into engagement with other sheets to form a book of sheets.

13. A sheet binder includingroiding means engaging a sheet only closely adjacent to the line of fold, means forconveying said sheets from said folding means, and means for binding said conveyed sheets together.

14. The method of making a book of printed sheets consisting in folding the sheets with the printed surface inside, applying a strip of adhesive adjacent the folded edge of the sheets While said sheet is maintained in loosely folded position, and pressing said folded sheets together only adjacent the fold While said sheets are retained in loosely folded position.

15. The method of making a book of printed sheets consisting in loosely folding the sheets by engaging the same only adjacent the fold, to fold a printed surface inside, applying a strip of adhesive adjacent the folded edge while said sheets are maintained in loosely folded position, collecting the sheets together, and pressing said sheets together adjacent the fold to adhere said sheets together, said sheets being maintained in loosely folded position.

WILLIAM ROY HOTCHKISS.

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