US2149366A

US2149366A - Method and apparatus for uniting printing webs

Info

Publication number: US2149366A
Application number: US7958A
Authority: US
Inventors: David J Seaman; Howard H Metcalf
Original assignee: SEAMAN METCALF Inc
Current assignee: SEAMAN METCALF Inc; SEAMAN-METCALF Inc
Priority date: 1935-02-25
Filing date: 1935-02-25
Publication date: 1939-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1956-03-07
Also published as: GB470857A

Description

March 7, 1939. J, MAN ET AL 2,149,366

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNITING PR INTING WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Howard H. Merca/f alto: um;

March 7, 1939. D. J. SEAMAN ET AL 2,149,366

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNITING PRINTING WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 8- I Dar/a J Seaman Howard h. Hefca/f March 7, 1939.

D. J. SEAMAN ET AL 2,149,366 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNITING PRINTING'WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet s Daw'c/ J Seaman 7 March 7, 1939.;

D. J. S EAMAN ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR UNI'IING PRINTING WEBS Filed Febi 25, 1935 4 SheetS -Sheet 4 David J. Seaman Howard /7. lfefca/f Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNITING PRINTING WEBS Application February 25, 1935, Serial No. 7,958

37 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a method and apparatusfor uniting associated printed webs in the production of newspapers, magazines, signatures, etc.

All readers of large size daily newspapers have experienced the difficulties connected with the handling thereof during the course of reading. The double sheets are freely folded one within the other and the single sheets are loosely inserted between a folded double sheet. As a result,

it is extremely bothersome and awkward to fold back a leaf of the newspaper because of its tendency to either fall away from the remaining sheets or its failure to hinge about any definite fold line. Also when a leaf of an outer sheet is turned back,

that. sheet becomes .disassociated with the remaining sheets. Moreover, this loose folding of the sheet, one within the other, permits the sheets to become misplaced and lostwhich is exceedingly trying upon the patience of the reader.

In magazines and weekly magazine sections of newspapers, the above mentioned difficulties have been overcome by stapling or stitching the printed sheets or webs along the fold line. However, in ithe case of the daily newspaper, the lateness at which it goes to press and the speed at which the webs are printed, associated and folded, delivered and placed in the hands of the reader is such as to render impractical all heretofore known meth- 'ods of printed sheet or web uniting or binding employed in the production of magazines, signatures, etc.

The patented artdiscloses the application of an adhesive to the fold line of the web and even stapling at press speed. However, in the disclosed methods .of adhesive application, it is necessary to provide adhesive applying equipment for each web over a four page issue which renders such method impractical in view of the size of present day issues to say nothing of the difficulties involved in attempting to apply an adhesive to the fold line :of a web prior to the forming andtrimmingoperation. In addition, to our knowledge no stapling mechanism heretofore designed or suggested is capable of performance at present day press speeds.

When the uniting of associated printed webs is considered, particularly with reference :to a daily newspaper press, it isia prerequisite that the uniting operation take place at press speed without interference or affect upon the operationor efliciency of the press. y nec ssi y, n wspapers are print d upon low .gred paner with little resis ance to abuse of any; characte and speed f at delivery of the print d web s f major impe tance. Thus any practical method of uniting must not be detrimental to the web or resist its high speed feed.

Thus it becomes an object of the present invention to provide improvements in a method and apparatus for uniting associated printed web capable of being applied to present day high speed presses.

Another object resides in a novel method and apparatus for uniting the running webs of a print- 10 ing press after association of the same preparatory to forming.

Another object resides in novel means for web uniting at press speed while the associated webs pass over the former. 15

A further object resides in the provision of novel means for perforating, piercing, or severing and applying an adhesive to the fold line region of associated printing webs in synchronism with the speed of the press. 20

A further object resides in the provision of novel apparatus for supporting perforating, piercing, or severing and adhesive applying mechanism with reference to the former of the folding and delivering apparatus of the printing press. 25

A still further object is to provide mechanism for uniting associated printed webs at the fold line which may be readily installed upon presses now in use without interference with the operation or efficiency of such presses to any degree. 30

Other objects and advantages of the present invention residing in the construction and combination and arrangement of parts will be fully disclosed in the description to follow and should be readily apparent when considered in connec- 35 tion with the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a front view of the former and web uniting mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon line 40 III--III of Fig. 1 showing the gear train,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the web perforating roller,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the adhesive applying roller, 45

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of the adhesive applying mechanism,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the former taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of one type 50 of web slitting roller,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of one type of adhesive applying roller to be used in connection with the roller shown in Fig. 8,

Fi s. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views taken on lines X--X and XI--XI of Figs. 8 and 9, respectively,

Fig. 12 is a broken fragmentary sectional view taken along the fold line of the superimposed Web showing the perforating and adhesive applying operations being performed,

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical showing of a modified arrangement in which the perforations and adhesive applying operations take place beyond the former, and

Figs. 14 to 1'7, inclusive, are modified showings of several possible perforating arrangements along the fol-d line region of the printed Webs.

When generally considered, the present invention resides in treating or processing associated Webs or Webs to be associate-d to permit the application of an adhesive or the like from one or both sides of the webs in their associated state to unite one to the other. In the preferred form of the invention, the treatment or processing of the printed web is deferred until some stage in the travel of the web between the printing operation and the delivery at which the region of each web defining or to define the fold line is established.

' Ordinarily, the webs are most conveniently treated in their associated state at the former or thereafter. Preferably, in the treating or processing of the web, openings are provided in the body of the associated webs along or adjacent the fold line either before, after or during the folding operation. These openings may be formed by perforating with the bodily removal of a portion of the stock, by piercing or severing, or in any other suitable manner. Adhesive or the like is then applied to or inserted into these openings enabling the adhesive to penetrate into the body of the associated webs to unite the webs one to the other in the region of the fold line. In the several embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the processing of the web to provide openings therein and the application of the adhesive is carried out at press speed; the peripheral speed of the perforating or piercing roll and the adhesive applying roll being substantially the same as the linear speed of the associated Webs. As shown, the mechanism for providing the openings in the web and for applying the adhesive are driven by a common source and are timed together whereby the adhesive is applied only at the openings provided along the fold line. Obviously, other forms of mechanism for providing openings in the webs and applying adhesive are contemplated and fall within the scope of the present invention. In some forms of adhesive applying mechanism it may not be found necessary to time the operation thereof with that of the perforating or piercing mechanism, as for example, when the adhesive is sprayed or spread along the entire length of the fold line. The perforating, piercing, or severing of the associated web and application of the adhesive at the same stage and simultaneous therewith is also anticipated. It also may be found feasible in some cases where the fold line can be definitely determined in ad- Vance, to perforate, pierce or otherwise treat or process each web along or adjacent the fold line region prior to web association and to thereafter treat the associated webs with adhesive along the fold line region. For example, the webs may be perforated along the region of the fold line at the paper mill.

Referring specifically to the drawings, we have illustrated a preferred form of our invention in connection with a well known type of printing ress former which as shown has been slightly modified to permit our method of web uniting to be carried out as the superimposed webs pass over the former. In order that the principles of the present invention may be practically applied to printing presses now in operation, it is necessary that the perforating and adhesive applying mechanisms be designed for installation in a locality free from interference with web guiding and delivering mechanisms and avoid all necessity of alterations in the operation, design and construction of the press. It is for this reason we have selected the former as the preferred locality for applying the webuniting mechanism to the press. However, we do not wish to limit the invention in its broad aspect to application at any particular location upon the press other than as defined by our appended claims.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the former I is pivotally supported from the press frame in the usual manner (not shown) and supported in its adjusted position by the brace rod l2. Supported in some suitable manner from the former, preferably upon opposite sides thereof, are web uniting mechanisms which in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a perforating roller l4 and an adhesive applying roller 16. The perforating roller I l coacts With a roller l8 through a slot I9 in the former to perforate the superimposed webs l9 along the region of the fold line. As more clearly shown in Fig. l, the perforating roller M has a serrated surface defining punching or severing teeth 20 which provide longitudinally spaced openings in the webs as they pass over the former It]. In the preferred form of the invention, the adhesive applying roller l6 has peripheral teeth 2| corresponding, generally, to those of the perforating roller l4 and is driven in timed relation with the perforating roller 14. The adhesive applying roller 16 is supplied with a suitable adhesive by a transfer roller 22. As should be readily apparent, by proper timing the teeth 2| of the roller [6 will be projected into the openings of the webs produced by the roller l4, topenetrate the laminated body of the Webs with the adhesive. A slot 26 is provided in the form to receive the roller I6 through the underside thereof. To avoid any deflection of the web by the roller i6 and to assure proper projecting of the portion 24 into the body of the webs, a spring tensioned roller 28 is provided in alignment with the roller l6 and adapted to cooperate therewith to define the path of travel of the webs.

One convenient arrangement for driving the rollers I4 and IS in timed relation and in coordination with the linear speed of the webs is as follows: The usual roller 30 at the top of the former is equipped with a sprocket 32 and through a suitable chain 34 drives the transverse shaft 36 by being passed over the sprocket 38 carried at one end thereof. Shaft 36 extends beneath the former and carries a gear 40 at the opposite ends meshing with a gear 42 for drivingthe shaft 44 upon which the perforating roller I4 is located. The shafts 44 and 36 are located above and below the former I0, respectively, and are supported in suitable bearings located in the end brackets 46 and 48 secured to the former ll] through the beam 49. The roller I8 is carried upon and driven by the shaft 36 while the perforating roller I4 is carried upon and driven by the shaft 44. For driving the adhesive applying roller I6 in timed relation withthe perforating roller I4, a gear 52 located upon the shaft 36 meshes with a gear 54 located-upon the shaft 56 upon which the transfer roller 22 is keyed. The gear 54 in turn sive supply roller 58 operating in the adhesive pot I0. A scraper I2 of suitable construction is shownin connection with the roller 68 for regulating the adhesive being transferred to the applying roller I6. The gear train just described,

together with the associated structure is all supported from spaced brackets I4 and I6, preferably supported from the under side of the former I It should be apparent from the foregoing description that the perforating roller I4 and the adhesive applying roller I6 will be driven in definite timed relation. Moreover, it should also be apparent that by the proper selection of sprocket, gear and roller diameters, the tangential com- .ponent of the peripheral speed of the perforating and adhesive applying rollers I4 and I6 may be coordinated with the linear speed of the superimposed webs. In this manner the webs may be treated as they pass over the former without any appreciable interference to their forward feed.

To enable initial feeding of new or additional webs over the former I0 through the web uniting mechanisms, structure is provided for removing both the perforating roller I4 and the tension roller 28 from the surface of the former I0. In the case of the roller I4, a shaft 18 journaled at opposite ends in bearings carried by the brackets 46 and '48 has

eccentric portions

80 and 82 fixed I4 is carried, are located in journaled blocks 86 slidably supported in guides 88. Springs 90 act to urge the shoulders 92 of the block 88 into engagement with the

eccentric portions

80 and 82. By rotating the hand wheel 84 from the position shown in Fig. 2, the springs 90 will act upon the block 85 to displace the roller l4 from the surface of the former l0. With respect to the pressure roller 28, the same is rotatably supported upon the arm 94 freely pivoted upon the rock shaft 96 journaled at opposite ends in the brackets 46 and 48.. Fixed, to the shaft 96 is an arm 98 in which is received for axial movement a push rod I00 connected at its lower end to the arm 94. A

compression spring IOI acts against the arm 94 and a shoulder I02 of the rod I00 to resiliently urge the arm 94 and roller 28 against the webs I9 passing over the former I0. Adjustment nuts I03 upon the end of the rod I00 limits the axial movement of the rod I00 under the stress of the spring IOI and'also acts to lift the rod I00 and arm .94 when the shaft 96 is'rocked clockwise by the lever I05 fixed thereto. An adjustable pin I06 is employed to lock the lever I05 in a raised or :lowered position as desred.

By way of refinement .of construction the former 10 may be provided with a groove I08 along which a-nyexcess adhesive may flow to the former point H0 which is preferably heated by some suitable electric heater 2. The heating of the point IIO will prevent any accumulation of adhesive and all excess adhesive will be removed from with plain cylindrical sections H8 in the region of the fold line of the webs and scrapers I and g I22 employed to remove any accumulation of adhesive. For the sake of clarity, the scraper I22 is not shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6 is a more or less diagrammatical showing of the adhesive applying mechanism. As will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 12, the adhesive is applied to the openings in the web by the side walls of the teeth 2|. One proposed manner of accomplishing this is to provide the transfer roller 22 with a grooved periphery I24 which straddles the periphery of the supply roller 88.:and wipes the adhesive upon the side of the teeth 2| which pass through the groove. The scraper I2 is shown shaped to remove excess adhesive from the sides and periphery of the supply roller .88.

A modified structure for providing openings in the webs I9 is shown in Fig. 8 in which case the webs are slit or severed at spaced intervals by knife portions I26 defined about the periphery of the rotary roller I28. With this type of roller the cooperative. roller corresponding to the roller I8 would take the form of a plain cylindrical hardened steel roller as in. well known practice. In Fig. 9- is shown a modified adhesive applying roller I30 having teeth I32 of a design to enter the opening provided in the webs I9 by slitting action of the knife portions I26 of the roller I28. In Figs. 1-0 and 11, cross-sectional views of the rollers I28 and .I30- are shown.

In Fig. 12 an attempt has been made to illustrate the perforating and adhesive applying operation as carried out upon the webs I9 as they pass over the former I0. The teeth '20 of the perforating roller may be of any desired shape such as cylindrical as shown. Upon being projected through the webs I9 from above, the opening defined portions I34 of each web will be slightly deflected downwardly by the perforating operation as shown. This has a tendency to fan or slightly separate the superimposed web portions defining the openings. When the openings in the webs have traveled from the perforating roller I4 to the roller I6, a tooth 21, which is shown as slightly conical, carries the, adhesive upwardly into the opening and the slightly fanned downwardly deflected condition 0f the web portions I34 enhance the transfer action between the engaging surface. The .result:is:thatthe adhesive is eifectively transferred from the tooth 21 to the opening defined portions. I134 of the webs and flows between the adjacent webs in the immediate locality of the opening to unite the webs to one another. The opening I40 is shown in Fig. 12 as having a coating of adhesive I42 uniting the opening defined portions I34 of the webs and as penetrating into the laminated body between adjacent webs as at I44. Although we do not wish to limit ourselves to perforating from one side of the webs. and applying the adhesive from the other side, it, is considered .an important feature of the invention. Satisfactory results, however, may be obtained by having the perforating and adhesive applying rollers located upon the same side of the webs. In addition, we anticipate the perforating and application .of .adhesive into the openings as a single step performed by the same instrumentality.

The web uniting mechanism in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown as driven from the roller 30 at the top of the former I0. In some cases it may be found more convenient to drive the uniting mechanism from some other power take-off synchronized with the operation of the-press. Moreover, individual synchronized drives may be found more desirable for the perforating and adhesive apply.- ing mechanisms in some installations.

A modified arrangement of the perforating and adhesive applying mechanism is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 13. The perforating roller I46 and the adhesive applying roller I 48 are shown located beyond the former I50. Conventional rollers II at points of the former and pinch rollers I52 are shown located above and below the web uniting mechanism. As an embodiment modified from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the perforating and adhesive applying rollers are both shown located upon the same side of the webs. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 13, the perforations of the webs along the region of the fold line will not be'performed until after the associated webs have been longitudinally folded by passage over the former I50.

In Figs. 14 to 17, inclusive, several of the numerous possible types and arrangements of the openings are illustrated. Referring to Fig. 14, the associated webs I9 are shown perforated by a circular punch providing spaced groups of openings I54. In Fig. 15 perforations similar to those shown in Fig. 14, are shown in staggered groups I56 offset upon opposite sides of the center line of the webs I9. This arrangement has the advantage that the webs are not weakened along the fold line portion passing over the nose of the former. If it is considered desirable to be able to conveniently and readily remove a page of a newspaper, for example, having the sheets united as heretofore described, the webs I9 may be perforated along the fold line to provide openings I58, as shown in Fig 13, to receive the adhesive, and in addition be perforated along lines Hi0 and I62 upon opposite sides of the fold line to permit any desired page to be readily removed. The openings I58 as shown are elongated slits: such as would be produced by the roller shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 17, the openings I64 are shown as uniformly spaced along the fold line of the webs I9 such as would be produced by the perforating roller shown in Fig. 4.

Obviously. the structure of the perforating roller or equivalent structure will vary materially depending upon the type and arrangement of openings desired in the associated webs. In the illustrated embodiment both the perforating and adhesive applying mechanisms are of a rotary type. We fully anticipate such mechanism taking other forms and we include as within the scope of the present invention all such variations in construction as should readily occur to those skilled in the art which is capable of being synchronized with the operation of the press and travel of the webs and capable of providing openings in the associated webs and the application of an adhesive thereto at press speed and without interference to web travel, and is capable of providing openings in the associated webs and the application of adhesive thereto at press speed without interference to the web travel without being synchronized with the travel of the webs.

We wish to have it understood that the term perforate and perforating roller as used in the description and claims is to be taken in its broadest sense. It is intended to be generic to all structures for providing openings in the webs whether the webs be punched, pierced, slitted, severed. or ruptured, or whether or not stock is removed from the webs.

Having described our invention what we believe is patentable and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of uniting associated webs in a newspaper press or the like comprising the step of uniting longitudinally spaced portions of webs having a fold line region at press speed while in a superimposed state by forcibly penetrating the body of the webs with an adhesive applied to the webs in the region of the fold line.

2. A method of uniting superimposed webs of material during movement of the webs comprising the steps of providing openings in the body of the webs and then'applying an adhesive into said openings of sufiicient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said openings, said steps being carried out in relation to the movement of the webs.

3. A method of uniting associated webs in a newspaper press or the like comprising the step of uniting with an adhesive longitudinally spaced portions of the superimposed webs in the region of the fold line at the time the Webs pass over the former.

4. A method of uniting associated printed webs of a. newspaper press and the like at press speed comprising the steps of providing openings in the associated webs and forcibly directing an adhesive into said openings for uniting the webs to each other.

5. A method of uniting superimposed webs of material comprising the steps of providing openings in the body of the web and then applying an adhesive into said openings of sufiicient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said openings, said steps being carried out during movement of the webs.

6. A method of uniting associated longitudinally folded printed webs at press speed comprising the steps prior to folding of providing openings in the associated webs in the region of the fold line and then directing an adhesive into said openings for uniting the webs to each other.

'7. A method oftreating associated longitudinally folded printed webs to unite the same along the region of the fold line comprising the steps prior to folding of superimposed traveling webs to define a laminated body structure, providing openings in said body structure at spaced points along the region of the fold line and coordinated therewith penetrating said body with an adhesive applied through said openings whereby each web is united to the adjacent web in the region of said openings.

8. A method of treating associated longitudinally folded printed webs to unite the same along the region of the fold line comprising the steps prior to folding of superimposing traveling webs to define a laminated body structure, providing spaced openings in said body without interference with the movement thereof, and then directly applying an adhesive into said openings.

9. A method of uniting associated longitudinally foldedprinted webs at press speed comprising the steps prior to folding of superimposing a plurality of printed webs, treating at press speed the laminated body defined by said webs to provide openings therethrough, spaced longitudinally of the webs along the region of the fold line, and then at pressspeed penetrating said body with an adhesive directed through said openings.

10. A method of uniting associated longitudinally folded printed webs at press speed comprising the steps prior to folding of superimposing webs, each having openings therein in the region of the fold line adapted to at least partially register' with the openings in the adjacent webs, and while the superimposed webs are traveling at press speed directing an adhesive into said openings to unite the Webs to each other.

11. A method of uniting superimposed longitudinally folded printed webs at press speed comprising the steps prior to folding of providing openings in each web in the region of the fold line adapted to at least partially register with openings in the adjacent webs, and then directing an adhesive into said openings for uniting the webs to each other.

12. A method of penetrating the body of superimposed webs of material with an adhesive to unite thewebs to each other comprising the steps of providing openings in each web, and then with said webs arranged to bring said openings into at least partial register penetrating the body of said webs with an adhesive directed through said openings of sufficient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said openings.

13. A method of penetrating the body of superimposed webs of material with an adhesive to unite the webs to each other comprising the steps of providing openings in each Web, then with said webs arranged to bring said openings into at lea-st partial register penetrating the body I of said Webs with an adhesive directed through said openings of sufficient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said openings, and applying a pressure against the webs in the region of said openings to direct said adhesive between the webs in the locality of said openings.

. ing press, means supporting said former for adjustable movement, web treating means supported from and contiguous with the web guiding surface of the former and adapted to act upon the webs passing over the former to provide T spaced openings therein along the region of the fold line, said means being adjustable as a unit with said former.

16. In combination with a former of a printing press, bracket structure supported from the former, driving mechanism carried by said bracket and located upon opposite sides of said former,

and web perforating and adhesive applying means located upon opposite sides of said former and operated by said driving mechanism.

17. In a printing press, a former having a point over which the printed webs are longitudinally folded, adhesive applying means for applying an adhesive to the fold line region of the Webs passing over said former, and means for heating said pointto avoid an accumulation of adhesive thereon.

18. In a printing press, a former having a point over which the printed webs are longitudinally folded, adhesive applying means associated with said former for applying an adhesive to the fold line region of the webs passing over said former, means defined in the surface of said former for conducting excessive adhesive from said first means to said point, and means for heating said point to avoid an accumulation of adhesive thereon.

19. In a printing press, a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, an opening in the face of said former over which the fold line region of the webs pass, and web perforating and adhesive applying means acting through said opening for treating said webs.

20. In a printing press, a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, longitudinally spaced openings in the face of said former, and web perforating and adhesive applying means acting through said openings for uniting said webs.

21. In a printing press, a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, longitudinally spaced openings in the face of said former, and means located above and below saidformer and acting through said openings for perforating said webs from one side and for applying adhesive to said webs from the other side.

22. In a printing press, the combination. with a former having a nose over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, means supporting said former for adjustable movement, of web treating mechanism supported by said former and adjustable therewith, said mechanism comprising means directly acting upon said webs as the same pass along the former and prior to passing over said nose.

23. In a printing press, the combination with a pivoted former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, means supporting said former for adjustable movement, of Web treating mechanism supported by said former and adjustable therewith, said mechanism acting to unite said web in the region of the fold line, and a power take-ofi for said mechanism concentric with the pivot for said former.

24. In a printing press, the combination with a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, of web treating mech anism supported by said former and adjustable therewith, said mechanism including web perforating means located on one side of said former and an adhesive applying means located upon the other side of said former, and synchronized driving means for said first and second means.

25. In a printing press, the combination with a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, of web uniting mechanism entirely supported by said former and adjustable therewith, said mechanism including means for perforating said webs and means for applying an adhesive to said webs and synchronized operating means for said first and second means.

26. In a printing press, the combination with a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, of web uniting mechanism entirely supported by said former and adjustable therewith, said mechanism including rotary perforating means and rotary adhesive applying means, separate driving means for said first and second means, said driving means being synchronized.

27. In a printing press, the combination with means for supporting and guiding superimposed printed webs, of web uniting mechanism associated with said means, said mechanism including rotary means for providing spaced openings in said Webs and rotary adhesive applying means for directing adhesive into said openings, and synchronized driving means for said first means and second means.

28. In a printing press, the combination with means for supporting and guiding superimposed printed webs, of web uniting mechanism associated with said means, said mechanism including rotary means for providing spaced openings in said webs and rotary adhesive applying means for directing adhesive into said openings, a power take-ofi synchronized with the operation of the press, and synchronized driving means for said first means and second means driven from said power take-off.

29. A method of treating associated webs, to unite the same, comprising the steps of superimposing traveling webs to define a laminated body structure, providing openings in said body structure at spaced intervals, and penetrating said body with an adhesive applied through said openings of suificient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said openings.

30. A method of treating associated webs to unite the same, comprising the steps of superimposing traveling webs to define a laminated body structure, providing openings in said body structure at spaced intervals, and uniting the several Webs through said openings, solely by adhesive applied to the edges of said webs defining said openings.

31. As a step in the method of printing, uniting and folding webs in a printing press having a former and pinch rolls at the end of the former, the uniting of the associated webs at press speed along the region of the fold line by penetrating the body of the superimposed webs with an adhesive after they have become assembled at the head of the former and prior to their entry between the pinch rolls.

32. A method of treating associated webs to unite the same, comprising the steps of superimposing the Webs to define a. laminated body structure, providing an opening in said body structure by projecting an instrumentality through from one side of the Webs, and applying an adhesive into said opening from the opposite side of the webs, said adhesive being of sufficient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said opening.

33. A method of treating associated Webs to unite the same, comprising the steps of superimposing the webs to define a laminated body structure, providing openings in said body structure by projecting an instrumentality through from one side of the webs whereby the openings defining portions of said superimposed webs are deflected in the direction of the projection of said instrumentality, and applying an adhesive into said openings from the opposite side of the webs, said adhesive being of sufficient consistency and quantity to unite the several webs one to the other in the locality of said openings.

34. In a printing press, a former over which the printed webs are passed and longitudinally folded, longitudinally spaced openings in the face of said former, and means located above and below said former and acting through said openings for perforating said webs and applying adhesive into said perforations.

35. The combination with means for guiding a doubled web along its course, of means for perforating the web and means for applying an adhesive to the edges of the perforation of the Web at the time and at the points at which it is perforated.

36. The combination with means for guiding Webs along a course, of means for fracturing all of said Webs at a plurality of points and means for applying an adhesive to the edges of the perforation of the fractured edges of the webs at the time of fracture.

37. The combination with a former for doucling a web longitudinally and a folding couple for folding the web transversely, of means for perforating the web at a point between the former and folding couple, and means for applying an adhesive to the edges of the perforation imme diately after the puncturing operation.

DAVID J. SEAMAN. HOWARD H. METCALF.