US2291487A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE Filed June l2, 1959' 14 Sheets-Sheet l .mmm www July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE fw, X l v7 M f/ /f/f/v/ 1 ,dP/-Ma lwm @ma mum. img 9 WNW. w QR. l 1 1, .wm. wub..- kmh www., u wwwMMWMWMWWH? M imwkmwmmm @"NWVI@ wwww J. l w |lll|||||||||||||||ln|l||HWINUNHIHMHHHHUMMNI 1 w -I 1 .n

July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS 2,291,487

` FOLDING MACHINE e 12, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 12, 1959 i W f July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 .July 28, 1942. W, E, MYERS 2,291,487

FOLDING MACHINE Filed June l2, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 538 54 we f ATTORNEY`5',

July 28, 1942. W, E; MYERS 2,291,487

FOLDING MACHINE 14 Shee'ts-Sheet '7 Filed June 12, 1939 "'HHHHH ,NW1 Z 'mmf f INV ENTOR.

Bn" @aya/77709@ ATTORNEK` July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE 14 sheets-sheet 9 Filed June 12, 1959 l f 190, il w INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

July 28, 1942. E, MYERS 2,291,487

FOLDING MACHINE Fledd-Plur; l2, 1939 14 Sheets-SheeglO Zi r Ela lll g VNIW i 1 A INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYQ July 28, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE 14 sheet-sh'eet 11 Filed June l2, 1939 INVENTOR.

@mm W ATTORNEYS July 28, 1942. W, E MYERS 2,291,487

FOLDING MACHINE Filed June l2, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 wml/' U un: |l-. @lllllllullumlmunv l 5 I O Q 75 l VENTOR.

BY. Zgyzefjf A TTORNEx/.

July Z8, 1942. w. E. MYERS FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1939 530 7g@ 79E 756 E40 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 f INVENTOR.

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Filed June 12. 1939 14 SheetS-Shee 14 I N VEN TOR,

A TTORNE Y Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING MACHINE Wayne E. Myers, Benton Harbor, Mich., assigner to St. Joe Machines, Inc., St. Joseph, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application June 12, 1939, Serial No. 278,603

34 Claims.

folding machine specically for folding laundry fiatwork which, as compared to prior machines of this character, is relatively simple in construction, efficient and accurate in operation, and inexpensive to maintain.

Machines have previously been proposed for folding nat-work laundry articles, but such machines in substantially all cases, embody complex timing mechanisms which must at all times be maintained in synchronism with each other and with the movement of the article-conveying means. The cost of maintaining such mechanisms and means in proper synchronism to fold such articles satisfactorily has been so high that it has oftentimes been found more economical to fold such articles by hand. It has also been previously proposed to control such folding machines by various forms of levers or switches engaging the forward and rear edges of the article to determine the operation of the timing mechanisms, but inasmuch as the articles to be folded are highly flexible, their use as operating elements for the levers or switches has not been satisfactory, and the operation of these levers or switches has not been certain. In order to overcome this diiiiculty and insure the certainty of operation of these levers or switches, others have suggested .the use of conveying belts engaging both sides of the exible article so as to maintain it taut and, in effect, decrease its exibility. However, such is to provide in a folding machine or the like photo-electric measuring means or mechanisms by which the folding means or the like may be accurately controlled to fold or subdivide the article along the lines of fold predetermined in accordance with the measured lengths of the articles.

Applicants invention further contemplates the provision of a novel photo-electric measuring cession irrespective of their relative sizes; capable duplicate sets of tapes not only increase the cost and complexity of the machine, but also apply stresses in some cases greater than the article can withstand, resulting, therefore, in the tearing or destruction of the article. Furthermore, such levers or switches as have been heretofore used present the ever-present danger of engagement in a slit or with a thread of the article and thus, as the article is moved past them, tear or otherwise injure the article.

It is, accordingly, therefore an important object of applicants invention to provide in a folding machine a control mechanism that is responsive to the presence of an article or sheet to be folded but which eliminates these defects and insufciencies of the prior devices and does not include any `means or mechanism which physically engages the article to effect the control function and which at the same time is rugged in construction and inexpensive to maintain in proper working condition.

A more specic object of applicant's invention 55 of simultaneously handling or folding a plurality 'of small sheets by separate folding instrumentalities or blades or a single large sheet by the same folding instrumentalities or blades and capable of folding each article a plurality of times along lines of fold accurately positioned with respect to the edges of the articles in accordance with the dimensions of the articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic friction clutch means for connecting a selected measuring device to a continuously operating driving mechanism which clutch means is positive in operation to cause movement of the device through a given xed distance upon each operation, yet generates no substantial amount of heat over a long period of continuous use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view in elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective viewin plan of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substan tially along the line 3-3 of Fig. l

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the reset control mechanism;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken i substantially along the line 1--1 of Fig. 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 8 8 of Fig. 1; Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective showing the measuring and control 1mg mechanisms and the driving mechanism therefor;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, showing a photoelectric cell housing;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing another photoelectric cell housing;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line I3I8 of Fig. 8;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the light-directing and controlling means of the central measuring mechanism;

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation illustrating certain control mechanisms on the left hand side of the machine as seen in Fig. 2:

Figure 16 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15 but with parts thereof in a different position of operation;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. 6:

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the control mechanism on the left hand side of the machine as seen in Fig. 2 showing additional features of the mechanism not shownin Fig. 15;

Figure 19 is a detailed View in perspective of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figures 15 and 18;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Figure 21 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 2I2I of Fig. 15;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 21 but showing certain parts in a. different position of operation;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 23--23 of Fig. 21;

Figure 24 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 21;

Figure 25 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 25-25 of Fig. 21;

Figures 26 to 31 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the machine;

Figure 32 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical connection between the several parts of the machine; and

Figure 33 is a schematic circuit diagram of a modified wiring system for the several parts of the machine.

As shown in the drawings, the machine embodying the invention comprises a frame 2 (Fig. 1); an article-conveying means or mechanism 4 (Fig. 2); folding means or mechanism 6 (Fig.

8) for effecting the ilrst fold of an article; folding means or mechanism 8 for eiecting the second fold of an article; conveyingmeans or mechanisms I and I2 for co-operating with the folding means 6 tov effect the first fold of an article.

and conveying the once-folded article to the second folding mechanism 8; conveying means or mechanism I4 for co-operating with the conveying means or mechanism I2 and the folding mechanism 8 to effect a second fold of the article and to convey the twice-folded article from the folding mechanism 8 to a point of discharge; measuring means or mechanisms I6 and I8 (Figs. 2 and 10) for controlling the first folding mechanism 6 to effect the rst fold of small articles;

articles;

measuring means or mechanism 20 for control- 75 as shown at 38 in Figure l.

ling the iirst folding mechanism 6 to effect the first fold of a large article; measuring and timing means or mechanisms 22 and 24 (Figs. 5 and 10) for operatively controlling the second folding mechanism 8 to effect a second fold of small measuring means or mechanism 26 (Figs. 2 and l0) operatively controlling the second folding mechanism 8 to effect the second fold for large articles; driving mechanism 28 (Figs. 6 and 10); photoelectric control units 30 and 32 (Figs. 2- and 8) for controlling the operation of the photoelectric measuring means I6 and I8 and also for controlling, if desired, the energization of the light sources for each of the photoelectric measuring means I6, I8, 20, and 26; and a photoelectric controlling unit 34 for controlling the operation of the photoelectric measuring means 20, the Aphotoelectric measuring means 28 vin turn controlling the photoelectric measuring means 26.

The frame 2 may comprise parallel side members 36 and transverse frame rods or bars such The side frame members 36 may be formed with openings as at 40 forming chambers or housings for the electrical control mechanisms hereinafter to be described, detachable covers 42 being provided to enclose the chambers 48 and the electrical controls contained therein.

The article-conveying means or mechanism The article-conveying means or mechanism 4 comprises as best shown in Figures l to 3 a plurality of laterally-spaced feed tapes 44 extending longitudinally of the machine and extending about rollers or drums 46 and 48 carried by transverse shafts 50 and 52 at the forward and rear ends 54 and 56 of the machine, respectively, and journalled in the side frame members 36. 'I'he tapes 44 may receive the articles or sheets to be folded from any conventional ironing machine such as shown at 58 in Figure 1, the conveying tapes being driven at a sufficiently greater speed than the conveying mechanism ofthe ironing machine 58, so that the articles fed to the conveying tapes by the conveying mechanism of the ironing machine will not be rumpled in passage from one to the other and so that even though articles are fed in end-to-end abutting relation along the conveying mechanism of the ironing machine, the articles will be'separated by a certain minimum distance by the time they reach the measuring and control units. The rollers or drums 46 and 48 may, if desired, be

'provided with rings or sleeves (not shown) bewith an article-receiving table or shelf 60 carried by the side members 36 and supports 62.

The folding means or mechanisms The folding means 6 for effecting the rst fold of an article comprises, as best shown in Figures 8 and 13, a pair of folding blade sections 64 and 66, each comprising an elongated bar 68 having a plurality of upwardly projecting spaced folding fingers 10 adapted to extend between the tapes in effecting the folding of an article. 'Each blade section is secured to the outer ends of a plurality of laterally-spaced levers 'I2 secured to a sleeve 14 journalled on a shaft I6 extending between the side frame members 36. 'I'he folding blade sections 64 and 66 are actuated by means of solenoids I8 and 80, respectively, the armature 82 of each solenoid being connected to its respective folding blade section by means of a. link 84 pivoted thereto and to a crank or lever 86 secured to the sleeve 14. Upon energlzation of its respective solenoid, each folding blade section will be moved upwardly from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 to move the folding fingers upwardly between the feed tapes 44. A channel iron 88, secured to the side members 36, forms a guide or support for the tapes 44 at a point adjacent the folding blade sections 64 and 66 and carries on its upper face a plurality of bevelled article-guiding blocks 90 in laterally-spaced relation and extending between the tapes 44, these blocks 90 causing a transverse hump vin each article above the folding fingers of the folding blades to facilitate the folding of the article thereby. The folding blade sections 64 and 66 feed the articles between the conveying means and I2 which co-operate therewith to effect the rst fold of each article.

The conveying means I0 comprises a plurality lof laterally-spaced tapes 92 passing about rollers or drums 94 and 96 carried by shafts 98 and |00, respectively, extending between and journalled in said frame members 36. The tapes 92 between the rollers 94 and 96 are guided and supported by transverse channel irons |02 and |04, the channel iron |04 also providing a mounting for a bar |06 supporting a plurality of bars |08 extending rearwardly between the tapes 92 and at their rear ends overlying the roller 96, the bars |08 maintaining the tapes 92 in proper spaced relation and extending over the roller 96 in such manner as to prevent the article from adhering to the outer ends of the tapes as they pass downwardly about the roller 96, thereby preventing downward feeding of the articles about this roller.

'I'he conveying means I2 comprises a plurality of feed tapes ||0 passing about a forward roller ||2 positioned-in advance of the roller 94 but lying in the same horizontal plane with the roller 94. The rollers 94 and ||2 are positioned in close juxtaposition so that the tapes 92 and ||0 effect a sharp line of fold between the articles fed therebetween by the folding blades which are bevelled at their upper ends to pass between the rollers in the spaces between the tapes. The tapes IIB pass about an intermediate roller ||4 and a rear roller ||6 positioned above the conveying means I 4, the roller ||6 being provided with rings or annular flanges I I8 (Fig. 9) between adjacent tapes to maintain the tapes in proper spaced relation. The rollers H2, ||4, and ||6 are carried by shafts |20, |22, and |24, respectively, extending between the side members 36, the shafts and |22 being suitably journalled in the side members and the shaft |24 being journalled in bearing blocks or brackets |26, fastened to the upper edges of the side frame members.

The folding means 8 for effecting the second fold of each article comprises folding blade sections |28 and |30 in transverse alignment and similar to the folding blade sections 64 and 66. The folding blade |32 of each of the folding blade sections |28 and |30 is secured to the outer ends of a. plurality of levers |34 secured to a sleeve |36 and journalled on a shaft |38 extending between the side frame members 36. The folding blade sections |28 and |30 are actuated by solenoids |40 and |42, respectively, the armature |44 of each solenoid being connected to the sleeve |36 by the link |46 pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the armature and to a lever |41 carried by the sleeve. Means are provided for counterbalancing the weight of the blade sections |28 and |30, including the several levers |34. the links |46, and the armatures |44 of the solenoids |40 and |42 to insure the proper operation of the folding blade sections and to allow a solenoid of minimum size to be used to actuate the folding means. This means comprises a counterweight |48 for each bladesection, each counterweight being carried by an arm or lever |50 secured to each sleeve |36. It should be noted that in the case of the folding means 6 each folding blade section 64 and 66 is counter-balanced by the weight of its crank 86, its link 84, and the weight of the operating armature 82.

The tape guiding and supporting bar |02 is provided With a plurality of bevelled article-guiding blocks |52 similar to the blocks 90 and similarly extending between the tapes 92, these bevelled blocks forming a. hump in each article above the folding blade |32 to facilitate the formation of the second fold of the article.

The conveying means |4 comprises a plurality of laterally-spaced feed tapes |54, passing about rollers |56 and |58 carried by shafts |60 and |62 extending between and journalled in the side frame members 36. The forward roller |56 of the conveying means I4 is positioned in close juxtaposition to the intermediate roller I |4 of the conveying means I2 and lies in a common hori' zontal plane with the roller ||4 so as toco-operate with the folding blade sections |28 and |30 in effecting a second fold of each article. The folding fingers of each folding blade section |28 and |30 are bevelled at their upper ends so as to pass between the rollers I I4 and |56 in the spaces between the tapes I I0 and |54.

The measuring and timing means for small articles The photoelectric measuring means small articles placed on the left hand side of the machine, as seen in Figure 2, comprises, as bestl seen in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 29, 30, and-3,1, an elongated lamp |64 (Fig. 6), such as a Lumiline tube, positioned above and extending parallel to the line of the feed tapes 44. .The lamp is mounted on and enclosed within an elongated downwardly facing trough-shaped reflector or hood |66 (Figs. 2 and 6). The hood is carried by brackets |68 fastened to transversely extend-u ing rods |10 and |12 spaced longitudinally of the machine and carried by end brackets |14 fastened to and projecting upwardly from-the side members 36. Beneath the upper flight of the tapes 44 and in vertical alignment with the lamp or luminous source |64 is a travelling mirror, reflecting prism, or equivalent light-directing means |16 (Figs. 3, 5, 6, '7, 8, 10, and 29) for directing rays of light from the source |64 into a photoelectric cell |18 (Figs. 5, 10, and 11) The mirror |16 is mounted in a frame |80 in such manner as to be inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees so that the vertical rays of light from the source |64 will be directed horizontally into the photoelectric 'cell I 18, which is positioned and enclosed to receive horizontally-directed rays of light. The mirror-carrying frame is secured at its opposite sides by pins or bolts |82 (Fig. 7) to sprocket chains |84 passing about drive sprockets |86 (Figs. 5, 6, and 10) secured to a transverse shaft |88 and idler sprockets |80 journalled on a transverse shaft |82. The shaft |88 I6 forl is journalled in the left hand side frame member 36 (Fig. 6) andin a bearing block |94 carried by a pedestal |96 supported on a transverse reinforcing frame member |98. The shaft |92 is also joumalled in the left hand side frame member 36 (Fig. 5) and in a bearing block 200 supported by a similar transverse reinforcing bar not shown. The mirror |16 is guided in its forward movement by a track or rail 202 (Figs. 7 and 8) extending between the sprockets |86 and |90 and about peripheral portions of the inwardly-facing hubs of each pair of these sprockets. A second similar measuring mirror 204, similarly mounted, is also secured between the sprocket chains |84 at a distance from the measuring mirror |16 equal to one-half the overall length of'a sprocket chain. Means are provided, as will be more particularly described in connection with the photoelectric measuring means 20 and 26, for maintaining the intensity of the light directed into the photoelectric cell |18 substantially constant,irrespective of the position which the measuring mirrors |16 and 204 may occupy. Means are also provided, as will subsequently be described in connection with said photoelectric measuring means 20 and 26, for preventing light from falling upon the measuring mirror |16 or the measuring mirror 204 when the mirror is in its position of rest adjacent the sprockets |90.

The photoelectric cell |18 is mounted in an enclosing housing 206 having its forward wall formed with an annular flange 208 defining an opening through which light may be directed into the housing and upon the photo-active electrode of the photoelectric cell. The flange 208 provides mounting means for an elongated funnelshaped memberI 2|0 which prevents stray illumination of the photoelectric cell and this member -2 I0 is provided at its outer end with'a lens 2|2 for focusing the horizontal beam of light from the measuring mirror upon the photo-active electrode of the cell. The housing 206 may be mounted by any desired conventional bracket or clamp 2|4, secured to any xed support, as, for example, to a transversely extending frame mem-.- ber not shown. The photoelectric cell |18, by means of the usual amplifier and relay, controls certain circuits hereinafter to be describedfor operating the folding blade solenoid 18 to effect the first fold of a small sheet or article placed on -the left hand side of the machine and also to initiate operation of the timing means forming a part of the measuring and timing means 22.

The photoelectric measuring means I8 for small articles or sheets placed on the right h'and side of the machine, as seen in Figures 2 and 5, is substantially identical in construction to the photoelectric measuring means |6 and it suces, therefore, to, note briefly that it comprises a pair of measuring mirrors v2|6 and 2|8 similar to the measuring mirrors |16 and 204 and similarly mounted between the parallel sprocket chains 220 passing about drive sprockets 222 secured to shaft vnous source 234 is similar tothe luminous source |64 and similarly mounted in and partially enclosed by a reilector or hood 238 also secured to the transverse supporting rods |10, and |12 (see Fig. 2), the luminous source 234 being aligned vertically with the' mirrors 2|6 and 2|8 and extending parallel to the path of movement of these mirrors.

A guide plate not shown but similar to th'e guide plate 202 for the measuring unit I 6 extends between the sprocket chains 220 and partially about the peripheral portions of the inwardlyfacing hubs of the sprockets 222 and 226. The photoelectric cell 236 is mounted in a housing similar to the housing 206 and is provided 'with a similar light-excluding and light-focusing means. The photoelectric cell 236, through a suitable amplifier and relay and by means of circuits hereinafter to be described, controls the operation of the folding vblade actuating solenoid 80 to effect the first fold of small articles placed on the right hand side of the machine and this photoelectric cell also initiates the operation of the timing means forming a part of the measuring and timing means 24 located on the right hand side of th'e machine.

'Ihe measuring and timing means 22, as best shown in Figures 5, 6, 10, 15, 16, and 18, comprises a sprocket chain 242 passing about a drive sprocket 244, secured to the outwardly-extending end of the drive shaft |88 for the sprocket chains |84 and about an idler sprocket 246 journalled on the outwardly-extending end of the shaft |92 and held against axial movement thereon as by a collar 248 (Fig. 18). The sprocket chain 242 contains the same number of links as each of the sprocket chains |84 and is driven in synch'ronism therewith, being driven by the same shaft. This sprocket chain 242 is provided on its inner edge with a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 250, positioned so as to lie at all times in the same transverse plane with the mirrors |16 and 204, the lugs therefore being spaced apart on the sprocket chain 242 a distance equal to one-half of the overall length of this sprocket chain. The lugs 250 of the sprocket chain 242 are each adapted to engage th'e side of an outwardly-projecting arm 252 of a slide member 254 which comprises, in addition to the arm 252, a

reciprocable member 256 slidably mounted on vertically spaced guide rods or bars 258 and 260. 'I'he guide rod 258 is xedly mounted in longitudinally spaced brackets 262 and 264 bolted or otherwise secured to the left hand side frame member 36.

The bar 260 is oscillatably mounted in the brackets 262 and 264. The arm 252 is mounted for upwardv oscillation with the bar 260 and for this purpose it is secured to a sleeve 266 passing through the lower web of the slide 256 and mounted on the bar 260 for rotation therewith. Downward movement of the arm or lever 252 is limitedJy the arm 268 of the stop member 210, secured to the opposite end of the lower web of the slide 256 and interlocked with the sleeve 266 in any convenient manner as, for example, by means of a pin received in a circumferential groove 'in the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the sleeve relative to the slide. The bar 260 is oscillated in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 15 and 18, to raise the 4arm or lever 252 by means of a solenoid 212 (Fig. 15). This solenoid, as subsequently to be described, also controls a clutch mechanism-214 for connecting the driving mechanism to the timing means or double chain 216 which cooperates with the slide member 254 of its associated measuring means to effect the second fold of small articles placed on the left hand side of the machine. The bar 260 is provided with an operating crank 218 pivotally connected ai; its outer end to a rod or pitman 280, the rod 2280 being enlarged at its lower end to provide a web portion 282 (Figs. 15 and 16) having a slot 284 extending therethrough, The slot 284 is sh'aped in the form of an inverted L and receives a pin or rod 286 of a clutch control yoke or frame 288, the rod 286 being connected to the armature 290 of thesolenoid 212 by a link 292. The rod 280 is moved in an upward direction to oscillate the bar 260 in a clockwise direction to return the arm 252 to its generally horizontal position in the path of the lugs 250 of the chain 242 by va spring or the like 294 secured at one end to the frame of the machine and at its other end to the web portion 282 of the rod 280. A cam bar or strap 296 is mounted lon the supporting frame for the solenoid 212 vand extends upwardly therefrom at an appropriate angle to engage the web portion 282 of the rod 280 as it is moved downwardly by the solenoid-operated rod 286 and moves this rod 280 rearwardly relative to the rod 286 so that the vertical portion of the slot 284 will be aligned with rod 286, thereby permitting the rod 286 to move upwardly under the action of the spring 294, even though' the rod 286 is held in its lowered'position. This connection between the rod 280 and the clutch-controlling yoke or frame 288 permits the rod 280 to be operated downwardly simultaneous with the operation of the clutch-controlling yoke or frame but allows the rod 280 to be moved upwardly to return the arm 252 to its normal horizontal position as soon as the driving lug has passed beyond this arm, while at th'e same time allowing the frame or yoke to remain in its lower .position for a definite period of time;

ing for a second fold control switch 298 which is provided with an operating lever 300 that is operated by the timing means or chain 216, as hereinafter described.

'I'he slide member 254 and the measuring mirrors |16 and 204 of the photoelectric measuring means I6 are operated in synchronism at all times in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the article or sheet to be folded and at a speed equal to the speed of movement of this article or sheet. When the measuring mirror |16 or 204, as the case may be, passes out from under the rear edge of the sheet, it causes operation cf the photoelectric cell |18 which, by means of a suitable circuit hereinafter to be described, actuates the folding blade solenoid 18 and simultaneously actuates the solenoid 212 y which instantaneously operates the arm 252 of the slide member 254 to release this slide member from the chain 242. Therefore, this slide member 254 moves to the right a distance substantially equal to one-half the length of the sheet, as will subsequently be made more apparent. The slide member 254 is thereupon moved rearwardly or toward its original position of rest. This movement of the slide member is accomplished by means of a chain, cable or the like 382 secured at one end to the frame 298 and passing rearwardly therefrom about a pulley 304, freely journalled on the shaft |92, and forwardly to a drum 306 about which the other end'of the chain is wrapped. The drum 306 constitutes a part of a friction clutch 308 shown in detail in Figure 20. The drum 306 is journalled on a sleeve 3|0, in turn journalled on a fixed stud 3|2 carried by and projecting outwardly from the frame member 38. The drum 306 is provided with a. plurality of angularly spaced axially extending openings 3|4 for receiving coil springs 3|6. The springs 3|6 at their outer ends act against a disk 3|8 provided with pins 320 received within the springs 3|6. The drum 306 and the disk 3|8 are interposed between friction disks 32| and 322 and the whole clamped on the sleeve 3|0 by a collar 324 and the hub of a sprocket 326, the collar 324 and the sprocket 326 being secured to the sleeve as by a plurality of angularly spaced screws 328 and 330 received in threaded openings in the sleeve, the collar and the sprocket. The sprocket 326 is driven by the timing means or chain 216 and is clamped with the clutch 308 and the collar 324 against axial movement on stud 3|2 by means of collars 332. The springs 3|6 are so proportioned in size that the clutch 303, when driven by the sprocket 326 through the friction disks 320 and 322, exerts only enough force on the chain 302 to move the slide member 254 along the guide bars 258 and 260 but will allow the clutch to yield or slip readily when the slide member is moved by the chain 242 or is stopped by engagement with the bracket 262. g

The timing means 216 comprises a double sprocket chain consisting of chains 334 and 336, secured together as by means of common transverse pins extending through the links of both chains, the chain 334 being a driving chain and the chain 336 being a control chain for controlling the operation of the clutch mechanism 214. I'he chain 334 is continuous and is composed of the same number of links as the chain 242 and as the chains |84 of the photoelectric measuring means I6. The chain 336 is discontinuous. More specifically, a certain number of links of this chain 336 are removed at two points so that the chain may perform its clutch-controlling function. T'he chain 336 also carries a pair of lugs 338 and 340 which are spaced apart a distance equal to one-half the length of the chain 334 and operate the switch-operating lever 300 to close the switch contacts controlled thereby. The switch-operating lever 300 may be provided, if desired, with adjustable means for precisely predetermining the instant of operation of the lever by the lugs 338 and 340. As shown in Figure 19, this means may comprise a block 342, adjustably mounted on the lever 300 as by screws 344 received in an elongated slot or slots 4 346 at the forward end of the lever 300.

l chain a predetermined distance each time that it is operated, and it must be capable of permitting slippage between its driving and driven parts gitlout generation of any substantial amount of To this end applicant has provided the clutch shown in Figs. 21 to 25 inclusive. 'I'he driving clutch member comprises a disk 348 having its hub portion 350 splined to the driving shaft 352. The driven clutch member comprises a disk 354 having an annular flange 356 overlying the disk 348 to which annular flange is bolted the face plate or clutch disk 358 extending over the outer face of the disk 348. A friction disk or ring 360 is interposed between the outer face of the disk 392 with. the face of this collar 314.

354 is journalled on the shaft 352 by the bushing or sleeve 366 and is secured to the drive sprocket 361 for the chain 334 of the double timing chain 216 as by the screws 368 which also fasten a collar 310, journalled on the shaft 352, to the clutch member 354.

The'disk 362 is carried by a pair of diametrically spaced pins 312 slidably mounted in the disk 354 and in a hardened steel collar 314 secured to the hub of this disk. Coil springs 316 received in -pockets 318 in the disk 354, embrace the pins 312 and bear against the disk 362 to urge this disk axially to the left as seen in Figs. 21 to 23 to compress the friction rings 366 and 364 thereby to frictionally connect the driving clutch member 356 to the clutch disks 358 and 362 and through these clutch disks and the pins -312 to the driven clutch member or disk 354. Axial movement of the clutch disk 362 to the right to release the driving connection between the driving and driven clutch members is effected by means of the clutch control yoke 288 which for this purpose is provided on its forward arm 386 with an upwardly projecting cam 382 having on its forward edge the beveled cam face 384 controlling the movements of a generally U-shaped hardened steel wobble plate 386 secured to the pins 312 at their outer ends as by the transverse pivot pins 388, the pins 312 being received within enlarged openings 396 in the arms of the wobble plate. The wobble plate 386 is fulcrumed on the hardened steel collar 314 by the engagement of its free edges The wobble plate carries a pin 394 provided with a rounded head to engage the cam 382. It will be evident that as the yoke 288 is moved upwardly, the cam 382 is projected between the outer face of the disk 354 and the wobble plate 386 and the beveled edge 384 of this cam engaging the pin 394 forces this wobble plate in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 21, thereby to move the pins 312 and the clutch disk 362 axially to the right to release the clutch rings 366 and 364, it being noted that the driving clutch disk 348 is mounted in a manner to permit a limited axial movement so that upon release of the clutch disk 364, the clutch disk 366 will also be released. An adjustable pin 396, carried by the disk 358 and the disk 354, in passing through the annular flange 356 of this last disk projects beyond the 4outer face of the disk 364 to engage a face of the cam 382 opposite the pin 394 to prevent warping of this cam by its repeated operation. The yoke member 288 is normally retained in its upper position by means of a coil spring 398 connected between the rear arm 466 of the yoke and a fixed abutment or pin 402 (Fig. 15) on the frame of the machine, in which position the cam 382 projects between the disk 354 and the wobble plate 386 to hold the wobble plate in clutch releasing position, thus rendering the clutch normally ineffective to drive the sprocket 361.

The number of revolutions of the sprocket 361 for each operation of the clutch is determined by the discontinuous chain 336 of the doubletiming chain 216 by means of a cam or stop 464 mounted on the rear arm 466 of the yoke member 288 (Fig. 24). This cam or stop 464 is normally in engagement with the periphery of the collar 316 as shown in solid lines in Fig. 24, and projects into the longitudinal plane of the chain 336 in the space between portions of this chain. Upon energization of the solenoid 212, the yoke member 288 is moved downwardly, thereby removing the cam or stop 464 from the path of the chain ,336 and the cam 382 being simultaneously moved downwardly, the clutch 214 is rendered operative to drive the sprocket 361 and the chains 334 and 338. 'I'he solenoid 1212 is only instantaneously operative, but the 'clutch 214 operates through a predetermined number of revolutions, and the cam 464 retains the yoke member 288 in its lower position after the solenoid has lbecome deenergized, because after operation of the chain 336 has been initiated, the links thereof overlie the cam 464, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 24, and prevent its upward movement. In order to permit free movement of the links of this chain 336 across the cam 464, the upper edge thereof is curved inwardly as at 466. When the clutch 214 and the sprocket 361 have rotated through a predetermined number of revolutions, a second portion of the chain 336, from which the links have been removed, reaches the cam 464 and this cam therefore moves upwardly under the force of the spring398, thereby allowing the cam bar 382 to operate the wobble plate 386 to render the clutch ineffective and engaging the forward link of the next portion of the chain 336, thereby gcting as a positive brake on the timing chain The yoke 288 is pivoted on the left hand side frame member 36 for this upward and downward movement by a pin or stud shaft 468 carried by the frame member and the sleeve 4I6 exterliding between the arms 386 and 466 of the yo e.

The lugs 338 and 346 carried 'by the chain 336 of the double-timing chain 216 control the operation of the traveling second fold control switch 298. As this traveling switch 298 moves rearwardly following its release from the chain 242, the timing chain 216 is driven in an opposite direction by the clutch 214 for the operation of this clutch is initiated at the same instant that the switch-carrying carriage or slide member 254 is released from thechain 242. The timing chain 216 is always driven in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 15 and 18 and therefore after the lapse of a predetermined time, which time is determined by the position of the switchcarrying carriage at the instant of its release from the chain 242, one of the lugs 338 and 346 engages the switch arm 366 (Fig. 15) or the adjustable lug 342 carried by this arm as in Fig. 19, and moves this switch arm upwardly, thereby operating the second fold control switch 298. This control switch, through circuits-subsequently described, controls the energization of the solenoid |46 to effect the second fold of small articles or sheets on'the left hand side of the machine. Electrical connection to the traveling switch 298 is effected through a cable 4I2 (Fig. 18) wound at its forward end about a springoperated drum (not shown), enclosed within a housing 4I4 carried at the upper edge of the left hand side frame member 36.

It will be evident that since the forward movement of the traveling switch carriage is controlled by the photoelectric cell |18 of the meas-

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