US2300462A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 3, 1942-v J. R. OLIVER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1

. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov; 3, 1942.

J. R. oLlvER FOLDING M'ACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, A1941 Nov. .3, 1942. J. R. OLIVER 2,300,462

' FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1941 l 3 Sheets-Sheets Patented Nov. 3, 1942 r W orme FOLDING MACHINE John R. Oliver,

Beverly, Mass., assignor to United IShoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington, N. J.,

a corporation of New Jersey Application August 1, 1941,` Serial N o. 404,958

19 Claims.

This invention relates to folding machines and more particularly to machines for folding the margins of liexible sheet material.

An object of this invention is to provide a folding machine embodying improved means forv pressing the partially folded margin of a work4 piece. To this end, and as a feature of the invention, the machine is provided with a rotatable hammer for pressing the folded margin of the Work, the hammer being in the form of a roll,

which is rotated about an aXis substantially n ormal to the direction of feed of the Work, the Work-engaging surface of the hammer traveling in the direction of feed of the work to assist in the feeding operation.

In accordance with another feature of the in-y vention, the margin of the work is upturned by l a folding member, and the hammer is oscillated to and from the Work, the hammer being arranged, during its movement towardthe work, to exert an inwiping action on the upturned margin, thereby to complete the folding Yof the margin prior to the pressing thereof. To this end, the hammer is rotated during its movement toward the work and the work-engaging surface of the hammer is provided with spiral grooves which are arranged to exert an inward force on the upturned margin of the Work as the margin is folded back upon the body of the work.

The margin of the Work is folded by a continuously operating ring-shaped folder of the type illustrated and described in application Serial No. 356,968, filed September 16, 1940, in my name, the work-engaging surface 0f the folder having grooves therein which are arranged to assist in` the feeding of the work. In accordance with a further feature of my invention, the folder is provided with internal gear teeth which are arranged for engagement with a driven gear thereby to provide a positive driving means for the folder. In accordance with a still further feature ofthe invention, the folder and the gear by which driven are provided with cooperating surfaces arranged to prevent excess pressure between the folder and the gear so as to eliminate the possibility of jamming of the teeth between these members.

These and other features now be described in drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of one form of machine illustrating this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation illustrating the ringshaped folder and its driving means;

of the invention will detail and illustrated in the 4screws I6 is a head `ment of a pinion 30 (Fig. `3)'With tation of a Work piece to sideof the creaser foot Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, illustrating the relative locations of the various Work-engaging members;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on a large scale illustrating the structure of the, folder;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section through the folder on a larger scale than Fig. 5 and means;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section mer and its mounting;

Fig.` 8 is an end elevation of the hammer and the casing in which it is mounted; and

Fig, 9 is a section on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8 but on a larger scale.

The machine is illustrated in Fig. 1 as comprising a base I9 adapted to be mounted on a bench or other suitable support, the base having an overhanging arm I2 terminating in a detachable end portion I4. Secured to the base Ivfby I8 having an arm 20 extending above the arm I2 of the base. The end I 4 of the base I 0 is secured by a nut 22 to a stud 24 secured in the outer end of the arm I2 by a binding screw 26. A feed roll 28 is journaled on a portion of the stud 24 and is rotated by engageinternal gear teeth 32 of the feed roll. The pinion 30 is mounted at the outer end of a drive shaft 34 journaled in an inwardly extending boss 36 in the base l0. To the outer end of the drive shaft 34 is pinned a pulley 38 connected by a belt 40 to any suitable driving means.

A piece of work W having a skived edge is held in engagement with the feed roll 28 by a creaser illustrating its driving illustrating the hamfreely rotatable Work-engaging roll 44. The upper en d of the creaser foot 42 terminates in a shank 46 vertically movable in a housing 48 secured to the forward end 52 to the arm 20. A sprmg 54 set in acounterbore in the shank 46 acts between the shank and the housing 48 to urge the creaser foot'down- Wardly into engagement With the Work. This housing 48,

The margin of the Work is folded against the by a ring-'shaped foldvapplication referred to Ygear 88 on a shaft ing member 60. This folder is mounted between pairs of rolls 62, 64 (Fig. 2) mounted on la plate 66 adjustably secured in a depending wall of the overhanging arm 20. The plate 66 is maintained in the desired position of adjustment by screws 68 and 10 pasisng into the plate through slots in the arm 20. Adjustment of the plate is effected by an adjusting screw 1| supported by a bracket 13 secured to the arm 20, the screw being threaded into a boss 15 on the plate 66 extending through a slot in the arm. The rolls 64 are mounted on the outer ends of bell crank levers 12 pivoted at 14 to the plate 65, the inner ends of the bell crank levers being urged downwardly by springs 16 secured to the plate 68 at 16. By this arrangement the rolls 64 maintain the folder in engagement with the rolls 62. The machine as described thus far is similar in construction to that of my copending above, to which reference is made for a more complete disclosure.

The folder of my improved machine is provided with internal gear teeth 80 (Figs. 4 and 6) which mesh with a pinion 82 mounted on a stud 84 in the arm |2 (Fig. 5). Secured to the pinion 82 is a gear 86 in driving engagement with a 90 journaled in the arm |2. is also carried by the shaft a worm 94 on the drive shaft A worm gear 92 and is driven by y34. By this construction the pinion 82 and the folder 60 are continuously and positively rotated during the operation of the machine. The folder is maintained in engagement with the pinion 82 by a roll 96 on the shaft 90, this roll engaging the outer surface of the folder. In order that the folder cannot be pressed against the pinion 62 with sulcient force to cause jamming of the teeth, the teeth on the folder are flanked by smooth inwardly extending flanges |00 (Figs. 4 and 6), the internal diameters of which are less than that of the toothed portion of the folder. These portions |00 engage smooth portions |02 at opposite sides of the teeth on the pinion 82 and engagement of the portions |00 of the folder with the portions |02 on the pinion prevents eX- cessive pressure between the teeth of the folder and those on the pinion. The work-engaging surface of the folder is formed with spirally arranged grooves |03, as indicated' clearly in Fig. 4, to assist in feeding the work upon engagement of the folder with the margin thereof. The surface of the roll 96 is formed with grooves arranged to receive the grooved work-engaging surface of the folder, as shown in Fig. 6.

As thus far described the work is continuously fed by the feed roll 28 and is held against the feed roll by the creaser foot 42 which is springpressed downwardly. The rotary folding member 60 is constantly driven in timed relation to the feed roll by the drive shaft 34 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to turn up the margin |05 of the work-piece W against the adjacent surface of the creaser foot which thus acts to determine the line of fold. By so driving the folding member in timed relation to the feed roll, the rate of advance of the grooves on the folding member may be maintained equal to the rate of feed of the work so that no drag is imposed on the feeding movement of the work by the folding member.

The upturned margin |05 of the work is pressed against the body of the work by a hammer |04 which is rapidly oscillated toward and away from the work and is constantly rotated in such a direction that when it is in pressing engagement with the work it assists the roll 28 in feeding the work. The hammer |04 is of frusto-conical shape and is mounted on the lower end of a shaft |06 which extends substantially normal to the direction of feed of the work, and the upper end of this shaft is journaled in a yoke |38 which is in turn pivoted on a shaft ||0 mounted in the head I8 of the machine. The shaft H0 carries a gear |l2 which meshes with a gear ||4 pinned to the drive shaft 34. The gear ||2 is also in engagement with a gear ||6 secured to the hammer shaft |06 within the yoke |08. Rotation of the drive shaft 34 thereby acts through the gears ||4, ||2 and H6 to rotate the hammer shaft |06 in timed relation to the rotation of the feed roll 28 and the folder 80. The mounting of the hammer shaft |06 in the yoke |08 permits oscillation of this yoke about the shaft |0 thereby to permit movement of the hammer toward and from the work.

The lower end of the hammer shaft |06 is mounted in a casing |20 (Fig. 9) composed of casing members |22 and |24 secured together by screws |26. Formed between the casing members |22 and |24 is a raceway |28 (Fig. 8) adapted to receive a plurality of antifriction rolls |30 to receive the thrust of the hammerA as it is forced against the work to press the folded margin. Extending upwardly from the casing |20 is a shank |32 slidably received in a sleeve |34 attached to a housing |40 formed on the outer end of the arm 20 of the head I8. Reciprocation of the shank |32 within the sleeve |34 is caused by a lever |35 (Fig. 1) pivoted at |38 within the housing |40. The forward end of the lever |36 is connected by a link |42 to a rod |44 the lower end of which is received (Fig. 7) in a counterbore in the shank |32 of the hammer casing |20. A spring |46 is seated within the counterbore in the shank |32 and yieldingly transmits downward motion of the rod |44 to the hammer |04. A pin |48 mounted in the rod |44 extends through a slot |50 in the shank |32 thereby to limit relative movements of these members.

The lever |38 is connected by a crank |52 (Fig. l) and an eccentric |54 to a shaft |56 journaled within the housing |40. This shaft |56 carries a gear |60 (Fig. 3) in driving engagement with a gear |62 (Fig. 1) at the forward end of a shaft |34 journaled in a boss |66 extending inwardly from the housing |40. The rearward end of the shaft |64 is mounted in a yoke |68 between the arms of which is mounted a gear |10 which receives power from a gear |12 (Fig. 3) mounted on the shaft IIO. Thus the shaft |64 is continuously rotated and acts through the shaft |56, the eccentric |54 and the crank |52 to rock the lever |36 thereby to oscillate the lower end of the shaft |06 carrying the hammer toward and from the work and intermittently to press the upturned margin |05 the oil leaking around the rod |44 a packing |18 is provided in the housing |40 around the rod.

During the motion Aof the hammer toward the work it is desirable that the hammer exert an inwiping action-on the upturned margin thereby to assist the folder E0 to produce a tight uniform fold along the margin of the work. To produce this action between the hammer and the upturned margin of the work the hammer is provided with spiral grooves |80 (Fig. 9) which cooperate with the edge of the work as the hammer rotates in the direction of the arrow to bend the margin of the work inwardly of the edge during the downward movement of the hammer. This action of the hammer insures a uniform width of fold regardless of the curvature of the edge of the work. After the hammer has moved downwardly to the extent of its movement to press the folded margin against the body of the work, its rotation helps to feed the work and does not interfere with or retard the continuous feed of the work by the feed roll 28.

In the operation of the machine a piece of work W, the margin of which has preferably been previously skived as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. is presented to the machine, the creaser foot being lifted at this time by downward movement of the treadle rod 59 to permit insertion of the work between the feed roll and the creaser foot. The work is fed continuously, during which time the ring-shaped folder 66 is rotated to fold the margin of the work against the adjacent surface of the creaser foot #32. The workengaging surface of the folder does not impede 9 the feeding movement of lthe work, inasmuch as the work-engaging surface is provided with spiral grooves |03 so arranged as to exert a component of force in the direction of feed. During this continual feeding and folding of the work the hammer |04 is oscillated rapidly toward and from the folded margin to press the fold and to assist in feeding the work during the time that the hammer is in engagement with the work.

During downward movement of the hammer to-` ward the work the grooves in the surface of the rotating hammer act upon the folded margin to wipe it inwardly, thereby insuring a uniform width of fold. Inasmuch as the hammer is rotated continually it is possible to utilize an oscillating hammer without interrupting the feeding operation while also insuring that the folded margin will be effectively pressed against the body of the work.

Having thus described my invention, what I' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a folding machine, means for progressively folding the margin of a work-piece, foldpressing means comprising a rotatable hammer, means for rotating said hammer, and means for simultaneously oscillating said hammer toward and away from the work.

2. In a folding machine, means for progressively folding the margin of a work-piece, foldpressing means comprising a rotatable hammer having a grooved periphery acting to wipe the folded margin of the work-piece inwardly, means for rotating said hammer and means for simultaneously oscillating said hammer toward and away from the work intermittently to press the folded margin.

3. In a folding machine, means for continuously feeding a work-piece, means for continufor continuously rotating said hammer, and

means for simultaneously oscillating said ham.-

mer toward and away from the work.

4. In a folding machine, `means for feeding a workpiece, means for continuously folding a margin of the workpiece, a fold presser comprising a rotatable hammer the work-engaging surface of which is provided with spiral grooves, and means for rotating the hammer in a direction to assist in the feed of the work.

5.' In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece over the work support, means for folding the margin of the work-piece, a hammer rotatable about an axis substantially normal to the line of feed, and means for rotating said hammer so that its work-engaging surface moves in the direction of feed of the work.

6. In a folding machine, a work support means for feeding a work-piece over the work support, means for folding the margin of the work-piece as it is being fed, a rotatable hammer having a grcoved periphery, means for oscillating the hammer toward and away from the work, and means for rotating said hammer, the grooves in the periphery of the hammer being arranged to wipe the margin of the work-piece inwardly during the movement of the hammer toward the work.

7. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece over the work support, means for folding the margin of the work, a hammer for pressing the folded margin of the work, means for mounting said hammer for rotation about an axis substantially normal to the direction of feed of the work, and means for oscillating said hammer toward and away from the work. support.

8. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece over said worksupport,`

means for folding the margin of the work, a

. conically shaped hammer the side of which conously folding a margin of the work-piece, a fold stitutes a work-engaging surface having helically arranged grooves therein, means for rotating said hammer in such a direction that the grooves in the surface thereof exert an inward wiping action on the margin of the work, and means for simultaneously oscillating said hammer toward and away from the work.

9. In a folding machine, a work support, means,

for feeding a work-piece thereover, means for folding the margin of the work-piece, a hammer arranged to press the folded margin against the work, means for oscillating Said hammer toward and away from the work support, and means for continuously rotating said hammer in a direction to assist in the feed of the work when in pressing engagement therewith.

10. In av folding machine, a work support, means for feedinga work-piece thereover, a continuously acting folding member having a workengaging surface provided with grooves arranged to assist in feeding the work operation, a hammer arranged to press the folded margin of the work, means for oscillating said hammer toward and away from the work support, and means for continuously rotating said hammer in a direction to assist in feeding the work when in pressingv engagement therewith, the work-engaging surface of the hammer being provided with grooves arranged upon engagement of the hammer with the folded margin of the work to wipe the margin inwardly.

11. In a folding machine, a work support,

means for feeding a work-piece thereover. a onepresser comprising av rotatable hammer, .means during the folding over the work support, means piece, ringshaped folding member having a substantially continuous, peripheral work-engaging surface arranged continuously to fold the margin of the Work during the feeding thereof, said folding member being provided with internal gear teeth, and a driven gear cooperating with said gear teeth positively to rotate said folding member.

12. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a Work-piece thereover, a ringshaped folding member arranged continuously to fold the margin of the work during the folding operation, said folding member being provided with internal gear teeth, a driven gear cooperating with said gear teeth positively to rotate said folding member, means for holding said folding member against said gear, said gear having smooth cylindrical portions flanking the teeth thereon, and inwardly extending flanges on said folding member anking the teeth thereon and arranged for engagement with the smooth cylindrical portions of the gear thereby to prevent excessive pressure between the teeth on said gear and the teeth on said folding member.

13. In a folding machine, a Work support, means for continuously feeding a work-piece over the support, a ring-shaped folder cooperating with the margin of the work-piece continuously to fold it during the feeding of the work, the work-engaging surface of said folder having helically arranged grooves therein, the internal surface of said folder being provided with gear teeth, a driven gear engaging said gear teeth to rotate the folder, and means for rotating said gear in such a direction work-engaging surface of the folder cooperate with the feeding means to feed the work,

14. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece thereover, means for folding the margin of the work-piece during the feeding operation, a fold presser rotatable about an axis substantially normal to the line of feed, means for rotating said fold presser, and means for oscillating said fold presser toward and away from the work, said last-named means inl" cluding a yielding member to prevent excessive pressure between the fold presser and the work.

15. In a folding machine, a work support, means for continuously feeding a work-piece for folding the margin of the work piece, a hammer rotatable about an axis substantially normal to the line of feed, the work-engaging surface of said hammer having spirally arranged grooves therein, means for oscillating said hammer toward and from the work, and means for continuously rotating said hammer in such a direction that the grooves exert an inward wiping action on the margin of the Work.

16. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece thereover, means for folding the margin of the Work-piece, a

that the grooves in the:

grooved roller reciprocable toward and from the Work support for pressing the folded margin, a rotatable shaft supporting said roller, said shaft extending substantially normal to the line of feed, a drive shaft geared to said first-named shaft at a point remote from the roller, means for mounting said flrst-named shaft for oscillation about the drive shaft, and means for oscillating said first named shaft during the rotation of the roller thereby intermittently to move said roller into and out of pressing engagement with the work.

17. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece thereover, means for folding the margin of the work-piece, a greoved roller reciprocable toward and from the work support for pressing the folded margin, a rotatable shaft supporting said roller, said shaft extending substantially normal to the line of feed, a drive shaft geared to said first-named shaft at a point remote from the roller, means mounting said first-named shaft for oscillation about the drive shaft, and means for oscillating said firstnamed shaft during the rotation of the roller thereby intermittently to move said roller into and out of pressing engagement with the work, said oscillating means including a yielding member arranged to prevent excessive pressure between the roller and the work during a pressing movement of the roller.

18. In a folding machine, a work support, means for feeding a work-piece thereover, means for folding the margin of the work-piece, a rotatable hammer for pressing the folded margin of the work-piece, a rotatable shaft on which said hammer is mounted, a housing surrounding the outer end of said shaft and the upper side of the hammer, a raceway in said housing passing over the upper surface of the hammer, and a plurality of rollers in said raceway forming an antifriction bearing surface for receiving the thrust on said hammer.

19. In a folding machine, a Work support, means for feeding a work-piece thereover, means for folding the margin of the work-piece, a rotatable hammer for pressing the folded margin of the work-piece, a rotatable shaft on which said hammer is mounted, a housing surrounding the outer end of said shaft and the upper side of the hammer, a raceway in said housing passing over the upper surface of the hammer, a plurality of rollers in said raceway forming an antifriction bearing surface for receiving the thrust on said hammer, means for mounting said housing for reciprocation toward and away from the work support to move the hammer toward and away from the work, a reciprocable member, and a spring transmitting the motion of said member through the housing to the hammer thereby yieldingly to move the hammer periodically into engagement with the work.

JOHN R. OLIVER.

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