US2407992A

US2407992A - mcfarlane

Info

Publication number: US2407992A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1946-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1963-09-24

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l mmvrm @Mm' Kai;

ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1946. 5.0. MCFARLANE PLAN FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1944 EDWIN C.MFARLANE p 1946- E. c. M FARLANE PLAN FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDW/N C. MS-FARLANE ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAN FOLDING MACHINE Edwin C. McFarlane, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 11, 1944, Serial No. 526,097

In industrial plants and in manufacturing and building operations large numbers of plans frequently have to be handled. These are commonly in the form of photostats or blueprints, some of which are of a size which necessitate that they be folded for convenience in filing. This work has heretofore been done entirely by hand. In some plants the number of plans made daily is so great that a large force is employed expressly for initially folding them after they come from theprinting machines, The work is tedious and when done by hand is seldom if ever uniform. I

The object of the present invention is to eliminate this manual work by the provision of a machine which will satisfactorily perform the folding operations on plans in such an efiicient manner that one operator can do the ,workwhich heretofor required a dozen or more persons to manually perform. 4

The machine of the present invention is so constituted that, when operated, it will manipulate plans into flat accordion folds, creased in such manner as to retain folded condition when removed from the machine and to do this work in a uniform manner, so that they will properly fit into the filing requirements of the plant.

In one of its practical forms, the machine of this invention comprises an arcuate folding platform. A pair of parallel creasing bars overlie the platform in substantially parallel relation to the :2:

axis of its curvature and a pair of parallel folding bars are mounted to move back and forth over the platform to carry successive portions of a plan from one creasing bar to the other, and vice versa, and to tuck the plan beneath said creasing bars in succession. The creasing bars are lifted in proper timed relation to the operations of the folding bars to permit the plan to be introduced beneath them, but are spring impelled in the directionof the platform, so that when released, they press the plan against the platform to form a fold therein and hold the already folded portion of the plan in position while the next fold is being performed.

The machine may be conveniently operated manually by a crank and after one end of a plan has been fed into the machine, movement of the crank will cause the machine to automatically manipulate the plan until it is completely folded.

The folded plan may then be removed and the next plan introduced and folded in the same manner. Provision is made for adjusting the width of the fold to meet filing requirements and 3 Claims. U1. 270-'73) the machine is constructed to handle plans of 55 2 widely varying widths without adjustment as to width.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and notas defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the machine of the present invention.

Figure 2' is a fragmental view showing one of the creasing bars retracted to permit :a plan to he introduced betweensaid bar and the folding platform.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but illustrating the creasing bar in normally active po sition.

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevation looking from the right hand side of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmental plan looking down on Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the machine shown in Figure 1 with the central portion of the machine broken away.

Figure 7 is a fragmental elevation looking from the right hand of Figure 6 and showing the means for adjusting the length of the fold.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views showing successive positions of the operating parts in folding a plan, with a fold of one particular length.

Figure 11 is a like view showing adjustment of the parts to produce a fold of a different length.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a folded plan.

The machine as shown in the drawings comprises an arcuate folding platform I preferably, although not necessarily, curved on the arc of a circle to embody a substantially semi-cylindrical tubularstructure, the opposite ends of which are closed by end walls 2, It is convenient to provide ends of the'machine are connected together by rods '1 and 5, respectively. These rods pass through brackets S' form ed on the under sides of creasing bars It and H. r The bar It) may be conveniently referred to as the left hand creasing bar and the bar I I, as the right hand creasing bar. These bars overlie the folding platform I and are faced on their under sides with soft rubber strips I2 to better adapt them to grip a plan between them and the folding platform.

The rubber facings of the bars are normally held in contact with the folding platform by springs 83 coiled around the

rods

1 and 8, with one end of each spring hooked about theadjacent link or 6 and the other end of the spring hooked about the bracket 9 of the creasing bar, as best shown in Figures 3-5 inclusive. The springs l3 are tensioned so as to permit the rubber facings to tightly grip the plan against the platform at all times save when the creasing bars are swung back on their

pivot rods

1 or 8 for reasons presently to be explained. This disengagement of the creasing bars with the folding platform may be accomplished in two ways. First, by the opera- .tion of cam members l4 and I5 which are rigidly mounted at the opposite ends of the respective creasing bars or by means of releasing handles .l 6 and I! with which said bars are provided. The releasing handles are pivotally secured to the respective creasing barsby means of pivot screws l8, positioned normal to the upper surface of each bar, so .that the creasing bars may be selectively disengaged from the platform by graspin the handles It or and rocking the bars upwardly on their

pivot rods

1 or 8 against the tension of the springs l3. When desired the creasing bars may be locked in these raised or retracted positions by engaging the cupped inner end IQ of an enlargement 20, formed on each handle, with a u conical head rivet 2| carried by the outer end of each of the

links

5 and 6, as shown in Figure 2.

The position of the creasing bars circumferentially of the folding platform is controlled by

links

22 and 23. These links are secured by

pivots

24 and 24 to intermediate portions of the

links

5 and 6. This arrangement is duplicated at both endsof the machine. The outer ends of the

links

22 and 23 are provided with stops '25 and 26, the purpose of which will be presently explained, while the inner ends of said links are connected to

pivots

27 and 28 carried by adjusting

disks

29 and 33 positioned, respectively, at opposite ends of the machine.

The

adjustin disks

29 and 3,0 are best shown in Figures 6 and '7. They are set into recesses 3| in the opposite end walls and are held in such recesses by a shaft 32 which extends entirely through the machine. This shaft is in the nature of a bolt, the head of which is formed by a key 33 which extends through a slot in the shaft and is received in a slot 34 in the disk 30, by virtue of which the disk is locked for rotation with the shaft 32.

The other end of the shaft is locked to the disk 29 by a pin 35 passed through a hole in the shaft and projecting into a cross-axial slot 36 in the disk 29. This end of the shaft is threaded and receives a nut 31. When the nut is loosened, an appropriate wrench may be introduced into holes 38 in the disk 29 and this disk may be turned to simultaneously turn the disk 30 for the purpose of shifting the positions of the

pivots

21 and 28 and thus angularly adjusting the

levers

5 and 6 in order to adjustthe creasing bars l0 and I I, so that they are closer together or further apart, according to the length of the fold desired. Figures 8-10, inclusive, show the position of the pivots 2'! and 23 for a particular length of fold, while Figure 11 shows the adjusting disk 29 (and of course its companion 30) shifted appropriately to produce a shorter fold. It will of course be understood that normally the nut 31 is tightened, so as to produce sufiicient friction between the adjusting disks and the cavities 3| in which they are contained, to preclude inadvertent shifting of these disks and that the nut is only loosened when a change of adjustment is desired.

Positioned at each of the opposite ends of the machine are two upstanding folding

bar carrying arms

39 and 40. posite ends of the machine are both fixed at their lower ends to a rock shaft 4| which passes directly through the machine, so that when the rock shaft is oscillated by a crank 42 also secured .to said shaft, both of the arms 39 will be simultaneously oscillated about the axis of said shaft.

The arms 40 at the opposite ends of the machine maybe likewise secured together, but this is not necessary and in practice they are merely secured by pivots 42 to the end walls of the machine.

On the upper ends of the

arms

39 and 40 are eyelets through which are passed a pair of parallel rods which pass externally of the eyelets through spacing blocks 43 and are headed over as shown .at 44. On these rods are mounted

folding bars

45 and 45 which are provided at their opposite ends with cam operating rollers 4'! and 48. These rollers are adjacent the inner faces of the eyelets on the upper .endsof the arms 39 and 4B and are spaced apart for cooperation with the cam members l4 and I5, as will be presently explained. For convenient reference the folding bar 45 may be termed the left hand folding bar 7 and the bar 45, the right hand folding bar.

In the drawings the spacing blocks 43 are shown 3 invention. The essential criterion is that: When 7 the parallel folding bars 45 and 46 conjointly move to the left in Figure 1, under the impulse of the crank 42, the rollers 48 of the right hand folding bar 46 will engage with the underv sides of the cams i4 and retract the left hand creasing bar I!) to permit the folding bar 43 to move into a position beneath the creasing bar ID, i. e., between said creasing bar and the platform, as shown in Figure 10, and when the folding bars move to the right in Figure 1, under the impulse of the crank, the rollers 41 of the left hand folding bar 45 will engage with the under side of the cams l5 of the right hand creasing bar II and retract the latter, so that the folding bar 45 may move into a position beneath said right hand creasing bar I I, i. e., between said creasing bar and the platform, as shown in Figure 9. It'is by virtue of these operations that the folding of a plan is accomplished,

The machine operates in the following manner: The plan, designated P in Figures 8-10, is threaded between the folding

bar

45 and 45, as shown in Figure 8, and the forward end of the plan is placed beneath the rubber facing of the left hand creasing bar l9. During this operation, the handle I6 i manipulated in the manner described, to retract the rubber facing of this creasing bar, so that the end portion of the plan can be introduced between the rubber facing and the folding platform. When thus positioned the handle is released, so that the end of the plan is gripped against the platform. The parts are then in thepositions shown in Figure 8 The arms 39 at the op- If the main operating handle 42 is now oscillated in a clockwise direction, the folding bars will move to the right until the rollers 47 of the left hand folding bar 45 engages with the cams l5 whereupon further movement of the folding bars in the same direction will cause the right hand creasing bar to be retracted to permit the left hand folding bar 45 to tuck the plan beneath the creasing bar II, as shown in Figure 9.

If the handle is now oscillated to the left in a counterclockwise direction, the roller 41 will release the right hand creasing bar I l and permit it to drop down under the tension of spring l3 on to the plan, thereby forming the subjacent loop in the plan into a crease and tightly gripping the plan while the handle continues to move to the left. During the movement of the handle to the left the folding bar 46 will feed the plan back across the surface of the folding platform until the rollers 48 engage with the cam l4, retract the latter and allow the right hand folding bar 46 to tuck the plan beneath the left hand creasing bar Ell, as shown in Figure 10. The handle 42 is thereupon again moved to the right and the operations described are repeated as the handle is moved back and forth to feed successive portions of the plan back and forth across the platform in superimposed relation. The rollers 4'! and 48 will retract the creasing bars as the handle approaches the termini of its travel, and as these rollers leave the respective cams, the looped portions of the plan will be creased, so that by the time the handle has been operated sufiiciently to feed all of the plan across the platform, the folding of such plan will be complete and the planin finished folded condition will be in the grip of the two creasing bars. It may be released from said bars by operating the handles I! in the manner hereinbefore described, whereupon the plan may be lifted off of the machine and a new .plan introduced for repetition of the operations hereinbefore described, to accomplish the folding of the same.

The stops 25 and 26 to which I have referred are to preclude overtravel of the arms 39 and 4!! in opposite directions, as indicated in Figures 9 and 10. These stops are preferably faced with rubber, so that when contacted by the arms no noise will result.

The machine of this invention may be operated at considerable speed. In practice it is not uncommon for experienced operators to fold plans 30" wide and 10 ft. long in less than 20 seconds. Such manipulation of plans is impossible by the old hand method. In fact, the machine of this invention can accomplish over any particular period of time more work and do it more satisfactorily, than could be accomplished by many hand operators, and the product is a uniform product.

In the foregoing detailed description I have set forth the invention as it has been marketed. I am aware, however, that certain modifications may be made without departing from the basic concept of the invention, the scope of which is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

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

1. A plan folding machine comprising: a folding platform, right hand and left hand creasing bars extending transversely of said platform and normally impelled into contact therewith, right hand and left hand folding bars arranged in parallel relation to one another and to the creasing bars, means for mounting said folding bars for conjoint movement back and forth over the platform in a direction normal to both the creasing and folding bars to alternately bring the left hand folding bar between the right hand creasing bar and the platform and the right hand folding bar between the left hand creasing bar and the platform, means for. s0 moving said folding bars, cam members associated with the creasing bars, and rollers movable with the folding bars to lift the creasing bars from engagement with the platform and permit such folding bars to enter between said creasing bars and the platform.

2. A plan folding machine comprising: a substantially semi-cylindrical housing the curvilinear surface of which constitutes a folding platform, carrier links pivoted to the opposite ends of the housing substantially concentric with the curvature of the platform, right and left hand creasing bars pivoted to said carrier links with springs bearing against the creasing bars to normally impel them toward said platform, right and left hand folding bars connected for conjoint operation and parallel to one another and to the creasing bars and individually mounted on the opposite ends of the housing for pivotal movement back and forth over the platform in a direction normal to both themselves and the creasing bars to alternately bring the left hand folding bar between the right hand creasing bar and the platform and the right hands folding bar between the left hand creasing bar and the platform, means for so moving said folding bars, adjusting links connecting the carrier links to adjusting means at the opposite ends of the housing for varying the distance between the creasing bars, and stops on the adjusting links to limit the movement of the folding bars according to the positions of the creasing bars.

3. A plan folding machine comprising: a substantially semi-cylindrical housing the curvilinear surface of which constitutes a folding platform, carrier links pivoted to the opposite ends of the housing substantially concentric with the curvature of the platform, right and left hand creasing bars pivoted to said carrier links, right and left hand folding bars connected for conjoint operation and parallel to one another and to the creasing bars and individually mounted on the opposite ends of the housing for pivotal movement back and forth over the platform in a direction normal to both themselves and the creasing bars to alternately bring the left hand folding bar between the right hand creasing bar and the platform and the right hand folding bar between the left hand creasing bar and the platform, means for so moving said folding bars, and adjusting means common to both the creasing and folding bars for varying the distance between the creasing bars and also limiting the movement of the folding bars accordingly.

EDWIN C. MCFARLANE.