US2898821A

US2898821A - Folding machine

Info

Publication number: US2898821A
Application number: US572933A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert F Shields
Original assignee: S&S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co Inc
Current assignee: S&S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co Inc
Priority date: 1956-03-21
Filing date: 1956-03-21
Publication date: 1959-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1976-08-11

Description

Aug. 11, 1959 A. F. SHIELDS 2,898,821

FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1956 e Sheets-Sheet 1 ICE-.1-

T den/59a A. F. SHIELDS FOLDING MACHINE Aug. 11, 1959 Filed March 21, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WNW INVENTOR 446567, JW/EZDS Aug. 11, 1 959 A. 1 SHIELDS FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 21, 1956 MNNQQ QWWU Aug. 11, 1959 A. F. SHIELDS FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1956 '6 Sheets-Sheet 4 w lh nna/14 ICE-:1

Aug. 11, 1959 A. F. SHIELDS 2,898,821

FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1956 e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. 4455427 I? $608403 Au 11, 1959 A. R HIELDS 2,898,821

FOLDING MACHINE 6 Shets-Sheet 6 Filed March 21, 1956 v MS j INVENTOR. AL 6 7' F 57/0540:

llit S cs FOLDING MACHINE Application March 21, 1956, Serial No. 572,933

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 9349) My present invention is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 474,196, filed Decemher 9, 1954, and relates to a folding machine of the type generally shown in my prior Patents Nos. 2,336,507, 2,583,712 and 2,622,493 wherein large size corrugated board or other paper blanks are to be passed from a stack through various folding elements and thereby prepared for further manufacturing operations.

More particularly my invention relates to a novel folding machine which is especially adapted to fold largesize corrugated blanks so as to prepare them for entry into a stitching mechanism.

In the making of cartons it is necessary to first crease and slot the blanks in order to properly prepare them for the folding operation. The folding operation for ordinary square tubular boxes comprises bending of the two outer panels on the score lines so that the edges of the panels meet to form a collapsed tube. The tube is then ready for a taping operation.

In the event, however, that it is desired to join the edges of the outer panels by a stitching rather than by a taping operation it is necessary to fold the panels so that the outer edges overlap to an extent sufficient to accommodate the placing of the stitches.

Prior to the invention described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 474,196 it had not been possible in an automatic operation to fold the box panels so as to prepare them for stitching and in fact, to stitch them as they leave the folding machine.

My present invention which is an improvement of the invention of my said copending application, in addition to overcoming these difficulties of the prior art, also provides .an improved cam-operated folding mechanism,

rack-and-pinion means for readily adjusting the timing and positioning of the folding mechanism, means for more efiiciently stripping the folded blanks from the slats carrying the same and means for readily accommodating shorter box blanks. These and the other improvements hereinafter referred to are all incorporated into the machine in a manner which permits the simplified and integrated driving means herein described to assure that each stage of the machine is called into operation at the proper instant.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my novel improved folding machine.

Figure 2 is a side view of the novel folding machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective of the mechanism for driving the various elements of my folding machine and of the means for coordinating the movement of the said elements.

Figure 4 is a side cross sectional view of the mechanism for operating the longitudinally rockable means for completing the folding of the blank, viewed along the lines 44 in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side view partly in cross-section taken along the lines 55 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a side view taken partly in cross-section of the novel means for shipping the folded blank and for coordinating its movement with the operation of the stitcher.

Figure 7 is a View taken along the lines 77 of Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7a is a View taken along the lines 7a-7a of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows and further showing the operation of the stripping and holding down means of Figure 6.

Figure 7b is a perspective view of the stitching mechanism through which the folded blanks are fed.

Figure 8 is a top view of the folding mechanism showing the folding bars in more detail.

Figure 9 is a sideview of the folding mechanism shown in Figure 8, taken along the lines 99 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 1010 of Figure 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 11-11 of Figure 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now-to the Figures 1, 2 and 3 a stack of blanks 20 is placed on the bed of the stacking section 21 of the machine between the rear gauge 23 and the front gauges 25. The bottom blank in the stack is fed towards the right by the feed slats 27 through the space 34) below the front gauge 25.

The space 30 is so adjusted that it is just high enough to permit one of the blanks to pass through while holding back the remainder of the stack. The blank passes through the space 30 over the bar 31 and is pushed by the feed slat 27 between the upper and

lower feed rollers

35 and 36, respectively.

Feed rollers

35 and 36 engage the blank and carry it forward. I

The blanks are then fed between the upper and lower feed rollers 41 and 42. Upper feed rollers 41 actually consist of two idler pressure rollers 41a and 41b. The feed roller 42 on the underside is a single roller extending entirely across the machine and is driven by a chain drive in a manner hereinafter described in more detail. 7

The blank pushed by rollers 42 beneath guide strip 296 continues its forward motion until it hits stops 46 mounted on stop bars 47. While the blank is in this position with its forward edge against the two stops 46 the creases or scores on which the fold is to take place are in register with the

folding plates

39 and 40. This is, of course, obtained by an appropriate adjustmentof the machine, as hereinafter described, prior to the beginning of a run and by appropriate stacking of the blanks.

While the blank is in the stop position against stop 46 the

folding plates

39 and 40 fold the blanks so that the panels overlap slightly. This means that one folding plate will act slightly out of phase with the other. Briefly, the plates are operated through rack and

pinion

507, 508. It can further be seen from Figure 3 that the rack 507 is driven in a vertical oscillatory motion by being secured to cam follower 503 which, in turn, is driven by cam 502 operated from shaft 48. A similar drive is used for rack and pinion sets.

After the folding operation is completed rotation of the stop operating shaft 49 causes cam 50 to rotate and thereby drop the stop bars at the appropriate time. Note that the stop bars are provided with cam followers 51.

The timing of this mechanism, of course, can be controlled by the appropriate design of the cams 50.

At this point the blanks are conveyed forward by slats 90 which are attached to the three chain conveying mechanism 130. Theslats then carry the blank forward until the operation of the stripper shown in Figure 6 removes the blank from the slats,

Referring now to Figure 3 in more detail it can be seen how the machine is driven and how the action of the driving mechanisms for the various components are coordinated. The machine is driven by motor 100. Belt 103 coming off the fly wheel 102 of the motor engages pulley 104 which carries, on a common shaft 105, sprocket wheel 106. Sprocket 106 is connected bychain 107 so as to drive the jack shaft. Sprocket 109 receives chain 107 and drives the shaft. Sprocket 110 drives chain 112 which in turn drives the lower second feed roll 42 through sprocket 114, the lower first feed roll 36 through the sprocket 115, and the upper first feed roll 35 through sprocket 116.

Note that the chain is wound around

sprockets

115 and 116 so as to make upper feed rolls 35 and 36 rotate in an opposite direction. That is, in order to force the blank to the right the upper feed roll 35 must rotate counterclockwise while the lower feed .roll 36 rotates clockwise. Adjusting idler 118 is also provided to make sure that the chain is properly taut. Sprocket, 118 is adjustable in a horizontal direction as indicated by arrows 119. The third sprocket from the jack shaft 120 carries chain 122. This chain passes over stationary idler 123 and drives the folding box shaft 48 by means of sprocket 124. It then passes over an adjusting idler 125, stationary idler 126 and sprocket 147 which serves to operate the stripping device in a manner hereinafter described.

The sprocket 145 riding on shaft 111 is provided with holes 145a so as to either engage or disengage the clutch 147. A second sprocket 131 on common shaft 111 is provided with similar holes 131a so that it may also engage or disengage clutch 147. The clutch 147 is keyed to the shaft 111 and drives

sprocket wheel

131 or 145 only when it is engaged with them through holes 1310 and 145a. Otherwise, when not so engaged, these sprocket wheels ride freely on the shaft 111. The position of the clutch may be changed by the operator by means of an external handle 132. Chain 129 which

con nect sprocket

128 and 131 passes over the adjusting idler 133. While chain 129' passes over idler 133 and connects

sprockets

127 and 145. The purpose of the clutch is to change the drive speed of shaft 50' operating the stripping device depending on the length of board desired to be stitched.

Thus, the shaft 50' can be driven either from sprocket wheel 127 or from sprocket wheel 128 each of which will be provided with sprockets so as to provide for a two speed arrangement. In other words, sprocket 128 may drive shaft 50' through sprocket wheel 131 at a different rate than if the shaft were driven through

sprockets

127 and 145. This provides a simple mechanism for changing the frequency of operation of the stitcher and thereby enabling the machine to feed shorter blanks into the stitcher at a more rapid rate when desired. Thus, a speed changing mechanism is provided which will cut the speed of the chain in half when it is desired to fold shorter box blanks. In this case extra slats are placed on the chain to accommodate the shorter blanks.

This clutch arrangement allows the operator adjusting hand crank 132 to the appropriate position, depending on the number of feed slats 90 to be used onthe chain drive 130.

Referring again to chain 122, it can be seen that the cham passes over stationary idler 134, vertically adjustable idler 135, stationary idler 136 and then rotates by means of sprocket Wheel 137 to operate the kicker slat 27 by means of shaft 26. The method of operating the 4 kicker slat 27 is well known in the art and is shown in my prior Patent Nos. 2,583,712 (Figure 4) and 2,622,493 (Figure 4).

The chain 122 passes over stationary idler 138 and then back to jack shaft 120. Thus, it can be seen that the operation of the kicker slat 27, the folding mechanism, the stripping device and the drive for the slat carrying chains are all operated by a single driving chain and thereby readily coordinated.

Moreover, a single driving chain also drives both sets of feed rollers and this driving chain is driven from the common jack shaft 108 which further coordinates the operation of this chain 112 with aforementioned drive chain 122. Also coordinated with drive chain 122 is the drive for the hold down bar 56, that is, chain 139. The chain operates from separate sprocket 142 which is readily secured to shaft 48 which is driven by the chain drive 122. Chain 139 passes over idler 143 and then into the hold down mechanism which will he described in more detail in connection with the Figures 4 and 5. The triple chain carrying slats 90 is also coordinated with the above mentioned drive systems as it is driven from drive sprocket 195 and over

idler sprockets

194 and 196 with idler sprocket 195 being keyed to shaft 42a which carries feed rollers 42. Note also that the rotation of this shaft 48 operating the folding mechanism and stopoperating shaft 49 is coordinated by providing chain connection 199 between

sprockets

197 and 198 on

shafts

48 and 49, respectively.

The operation of the stop releasing mechanism hereinbefore described and of the folding mechanism may also be seen in a general manner from Figure 3. Thus, upon the rotation of folding shaft 48 the folding plates will operate from the vertical rack and pinion arrangement 507508 which operates from cam 502 by means of cam followers 503. This will be pointed out in more detail in the following description.

Referring now also to Figures 8 to 11 the

folding plates

39 and 40 on each side of the machine similarly driven by the oscillatory motion of the shafts on which they are respectively mounted.

From Figures 8 to 11 illustrating the mechanism for driving plate 40 it is seen that plate 40 is mounted on shaft 151 which is given an oscillatory motion in the manner hereinafter described.

The shaft 48 which makes one revolution per folding cycle carries flange member 500 keyed thereto. The flange is longitudinally slidable with respect to the shaft and is fastened by means of a cap screw 501 to grooved cam 502. The cam is counterbalanced by weighted element 530 (seeFigure 9). Cam follower 503 rides in the groove 504 of cam 502 and so imparts a vertical oscillation to the slide 505 to which the follower 503 is attached. The slide 505 slides in the groove in the frame 506 and holds rack 507 which in turn meshes with a pinion 508. The pinion 508 is keyed to a shaft 509 on which are mounted two brackets 328 in keyed relationship. A plate 40 is mounted on the machined faces of the two brackets 328 and provided with means to fasten the folding plate 40 which may be of any suitable size, andrare readily interchangeable. Usually these 'plates contain lightening holes 324.

As shaft 48 rotates through one revolution cam 502 which is fastened to flange member 500 by means of screw 501 is also rotated through one revolution. Follower 503 which rides in groove 504 of cam 502 is: caused to move vertically and so imparts a vertical motion to the slide 505 and in turn is fastened to it.

The rack 507 in oscillating vertically causes the pinion 508 to perform a corresponding rotational oscillation which in turn causes the shaft 151 and associated arms 328 to move through a predetermined arc, the arc being slightly' under In this manner the panels of a corrugated box are caused to be partially folded on their scorelines shown by the dottedlines in Figure 10.

Various adjustments are necessary in order to perform just the proper fold under all conditions. The adjustment for cyclic time is made by loosening the screw 501 and adjusting its position in the slot 515. This causes the cam 502 to take on a different angular position with respect to shaft 48 and thus adjust the cyclic time at which the folding operation occurs. Thus the time of the fold is varied with respect to the other timed elements of the machine, i.e. the conveying chain, and the box 56 which completes the fold by coming down from overhead. The rack 587 is fastened to the slide 505 by means of two cap screws 516 and 517 which are located in slotted holes in the slide 505 and so allow for a relative vertical adjustment between the rack .and the slide. The slide 505 is also provided at its upper end with a plate 518 and associated screw 519 'which are so arranged that the relative adjustment of the rack 567 with respect to the slide 505 can be very closely set by screw adjustment and fixed in position. adjustment the angular position of the arms 328 on shaft 151 can be adjusted in order to provide the proper folding position under different types of operation. By proper folding position, I am referring to the extent of the arcuate swing of the folding bars.

The above adjustment is to point out the beginning and end positions of the folding plate in the folding operation. The pinion 508 is machined-off on its upper surface while the arms 328 are in retracted position in order that the oncoming blank might be positioned as close as possible to the pivoting center of the fold, namely the center of shaft 509. This is important in obtaining the smoothest possible folding action.

Referring now to Figure the box blank is folded about a folding guide bar 520. Positioned just below bar 520 is a friction plate 521, a bracket 522 fastened to plate 521 holds a pin 523 which in turn is engaged by a link 524. The link 524 at 'its lower end engages an eccentric member 525 which is keyed to shaft 526 so that it can be moved laterally thereto. Shaft 526 is provided with a handle 527 and is located in the frame 528. The purpose of the friction plate 521 is to pro vide the necessary friction force to locate the blank accurately in the folding section without in any way marring the blank. The friction plate is adjusted relative to thefolding guide bar 520 by turning the knob 527 and thus the shaft 526, which in turn rotates the eccentric member 525 and raises or lowers the link 524 and thus the bracket 522' and associated plate 521. This can be adjusted while the machine is in operation in order to obtain the proper friction force at the operating speed of the machine. This provides friction from underneath the box so that there is a slight rise of the runner on which the box lies thereby slowing it down to a small extent so that the box may be stopped gradually and accurately in the folding section without marring the front edge of the blank. A similar mechanism (handle 540 and shaft 541) provides a similar adjustment for folding plate 39 on the other side of the machine.

The folding plates when operated from my vertical rack and pinion mechanism will be capable of an angular rotation up to 170. This provides a surer and a more complete and accurate fold. Moreover, the folding plates of the present invention provide better support and guidance for the box panels than do the conventional folding bars.

By this means, also full control and timing of the openposition, the folding operation and the reopening operation of the folding bars is obtained, particularly since shaft 48 as hereinafter described is driven from the same source of power and, therefore, in synchronism with the feeding device and the hold down device.

The folding mechanism is connected to the main frame of the machine by support 190 which is, in turn, supported by bars 191 and 192.

The folding mechanism hereinbefore referred to does By making this not complete the fold on the blanks but merely applies a partial fold thereto. The fold is completed by the longitudinally rockable arm 56 which also maintains the fold until the stop 4'6 is depressed and the blank is conveyed to the stripping mechanism by a slat 90 riding on chain 130.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5 it can be seen that the motion of this hold down arm is coordinated with the drive mechanism hereinbefore described and is so driven that the rearward portion indicated by numeral 57 first touches the blank and then the arm is rocked forward so as to complete the folding on the front part of the blank. Chain 139 driven off to shaft 142 passes over idler 143 and drives shaft 62. The outer surface 63 of shaft 62 is geared and drives gear wheel 64 which in turn drives geared wheel 65.

The geared wheels 64 and 65 revolve respectively around shafts 68 and 69. The shafts are connected by a tie bar 70 which is part of a frame indicated by

dotted lines

70, 76, 77, 79. On each of the cranks 72, 73 are pivots 91a, 91b and 92a, 92b. The pivots 92a and 92b are rigidly secured to a point near the outer periphery of the geared wheels and therefore follow the circular motion of the wheel. The pivots 91a and 91b are secured to bars 94a and 94b which are forced up and down in reciprocating fashion on each rotation of the geared wheel. Bars 94a and 94b and their extensions 84a and 84b are made of such a length that the longitudinal hold down arm 56 presses against the blank at the point where the said pivots reach the center line of the geared wheels.

The eccentric cranks 72 and 73 are operated out of phase so that the downward motion of the arm 84a94a connected to the rear portion 57 of the hold down-bar 56 occurs before the downward motion of the arm 84b94b connected to the front part of the hold down bar.

The reciprocating motion of the arms 94a and 94b is maintained in a vertical plane by

guide roller assemblies

95, 96 and 97. Because the chain drive 139 going to the drive shaft 62 is driven from shaft 48 which also drives the folding mechanism (see Figure 3) the rockable bar or arm 56 is coordinated with the motion of the folding mechanism so that after the blank is partially folded to an extent that the outer longitudinal edges thereof overlap the bar 56 descends and completes the fold by the rockable motion heretofore mentioned and acts as a hold down bar for the folded portion of the blank until such time as the stop means are removed and the blank is ready to be conveyed to the shipping mechanism.

Arms 94a and 94b are secured to their respective extensions 84a and 84b which carry springs 85 by means of the slidable mountings 87.

Safety device 88 consisting of spring biased rollers 89 shuts off the foldingv mechanism in the event that the blanks should pile up underneath the hold down bar 56. Such a pile up would increase the upward pressure on arms 84a and 84b which would in turn depress the wheels 89 thereby opening the safety switch 88.

The motion of the rocker arm or bar 56 is more clearly illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the solid lines show how the rocker arm appears as it first descends and hits the blank and the dotted lines show the subsequent movement of the arm wherein it completes the fold on the front end of the blank.

The entire assembly is supported on frame 99, which is secured to the base of the folding machine. Support 99 is attached to brackets 200a-201a. It can be seen from Figure 4 that bracket 200a also carries the jack shaft 108 and idler roller 118.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 in more detail, the blank after'being folded is raised from the slats as it rides on bar, or guide strip 296 by an oscillatorystripping member 200 and the fold is held in place by hold down member 201. The co-action between the stripping member and the hold down member maintains the blank in its folded position so that it may be fed directly to the stitcher.

The take off or stripping bar operates as follows. Sprockets 128 and 12811 are driven from shaft 50 which isrotated by chain 122, drives sprockets 127 (see Figures 2 and 3). The shaft '50 carries cam 601. The cam follower 602 riding in the camming surface 603 of the cam and thereby transmits an oscillatory motion to link 605. The link 605 is pivoted through shaft 207 to the mechanism which applies an oscillatory rockable motion to the stripping bars 200. This rockable mechanism consists of links 208 and 210 which are pivoted at 207, 211, and 212, 213,.respectively. The pivots 211 and 213 rigidly secure the movable links to the stripping bar 200 while the pivots 207 and 212, respectively apply an oscillatory motion to the stripping bar causing oscillation for each 360 rotation of shaft 50'.

The oscillatory motion is vertical but it is directed at an angle away from the direction of feed of the blank. Thus, the stripper blocks 610 tend to both 'lift and hold the blank at the same time. The cam action further causes blocks 610 to dwell in the raised position while the slats proceed forward and drop off slat supports 620. Since the oscillatory motion provided through shaft 50 is part of the drive system for the rest of the machine as seen in Figure 3, the stripping operation can be readily coordinated with the movement of the blank as it comes from the folding operation.

The advantage of the cam operated stripping means herein described lies in the fact that the cam action allows the blank to be raised by blocks 610 and held in this elevated position while the chain 612 carrying the feed slats moves in a forward and downward direction. as shown in Figure 6. As the slats are thus removed from the blank, the front edge of the blank supported by guide strip 296 and pulled by

rolls

280 and 281 is fed through the open head of the stitcher. The block 610 which at this time, supports the trailing edge of the blank is longitudinally adjustable so as to accommodate blanks of varying length. This provides a simpler, more eflicient stripping operation in which the slat by its downward motion disengages itself from the trailing edge of the folded blank, as the front edge of the blank is pulled through the stitcher.

The hold down bar 201 moves from a lower position 201 to an upper position as shown by 201, as the blank is stripped off the rollers by the dual stripping mechanism. In order to assure that the hold down bar acts in cooperation with the stripper a link 312 is provided which is pivoted at 213 to the link 206 which provides the oscillatory stripper motion. The other end of link 312 is pivoted at pin 214 to arm 215 which in turn is pivoted at 218 to member 220 which is slidably secured by pin 332 to the hold down bar 201.

Thus, as the stripper bar moves up and to the right a similar motion is imparted to the hold down bar so that sufficient space is allowed for the blank to pass between these two bars with the folded, or top, panels being vertically spaced from the bottom panels. While at the same time the fold in the blank is maintained. The passage of the blank between the two bars'is more clearly seen in Figure 7a wherein the solid lines show the position of the blank, hold down and stripper bars before stripping and the dotted lines show the upward movement of these elements after the blank has been stripped from the slats.

Roller 320 provides additional support for the blank as it passes between the straightening rolls 222. In connection with the hold down bar 201 note that pivots 230 and 232 in connection with piece 234 allow for the movement of the other end of the hold down bar in a fashion similar to that described in connection with the pivots 218 and 332. Both pivots 332 and 232 are slid 8 ably mounted in a manner so as to allow a desired amount of vertical tolerance with respect to the motion of the hold down bar.

After-being strippedthe blank passes underneath safety device 240. Should the blanks pile up at this point the arm 240 will rise and pivot around pin 245 so that it disconnects with the contacts 242 and thereby shuts off the machine.

Beyond the straightening roll is another safety device (not shown) which will shut oif the machine if the blanks pile up so as to extend above the level of the safety device striking the finger 250. The folded blank then enters the stitcher 260 which is shown in perspective in Figure 7b.

Referring to Figure 7b the stitcher comprises an angularly shaped piece 260 which separates the overlapping folds of the box blank and provides a base 272 against which the stitcher 271 can work. The stitches are inserted at a point indicated by numeral 273 and are usually of a metallic nature. Finally the stripped blank is pulled through the stitcher by

rolls

280 and 281 and as it strikes target 284 is released from the stitcher.

The machine is so arranged in time that as soon as the stops 46 are depressed by the action of the earns 50 slat mounted across the chains moves up and into engagement with the rear of the folded blank and moves the blank beneath the hold down strip 295 which is adjustably supported so that it extends just in front of the stops and up to the point where the stripping mechanism removes the blank from the slats. The front end of hold down strip 295 is curved upwardly so that panels which tend to spring up after beingfolded will be guided down again and their edges brought to a butting position. Also, provided is a guide strip 296 over which the blank is folded and which runs the full length of the folder.

As soon as the slats 90 on chains 130 engage the blank and move it forward through the machine the guide presses down on the arm between the panels and prevents the folded blank for opening up.

Referring again to the top plan view in Figure 1, it can be seen that the straightening rolls 222 are mounted on stub shafts (not shown) and supported on adjustable plates 302. The plates are adjusted so that the peripheries of the aligned rollers 222 on each side are spaced apart by a distance which is slightly less than the width of the folded blank.

The slats 90 force the blank between the rolls with the edges of the blank riding in the annular grooves on each side. Since the rolls are thus spaced slightly closer together than the width of the blank the crease or fold is adjusted and spread vertically.

All members which engage the edges of the blanks are provided with nuts which in turn are driven by screws all of which may be driven from a common source on each side of the machine in order to adjust the machine for different widths of blanks.

Figure 1 shows how all adjustments on one side of the machine may be driven from a common through chains and sprockets (not shown). The various adjusting screws appear in Figure 1 as elements 410415. Since the adjusting mechanism is not considered an essential part of my invention it is not necessary to describe it herein in further detail. Attention is called, however, to the description of this type of adjusting mechanism in my prior Patents Nos. 2,583,712 and 2,622,493.

In the foregoing, I have described my invention only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of my invention within the scope of the description herein are obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein, but only 'by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from fiat and scored sheets; said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and an intermediate section between said side sections; said side sections being foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for folding over each of said side sections over said intermediate section while said blanks are halted so that said sections overlap; said folding means comprising a pair of plates having an oscillatory folding motion;

rack and pinion means for providing said folding motion;

pressure means for. completing the fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; cam-operated stripping means for removing the folded blank from the blank moving means, means for maintaining the fold in the stripped blank; said last recited means and said stripping means cooperating to maintain the overlapping portions of said sections spaced from said intermediate section, and means for feeding the said blanks through a stitcher.

2. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for continuously moving said blanks successively against said stop members in a position to be folded; means for folding over each of said side sections while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap, said folding means comprising a pair of longitudinal plates rotatable about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections; rack and pinion means for imparting the folding motion to said plates; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; means engaging the underside of the folded blank and elevating the folded blank for stripping the foldedblank from the blank moving means; including means for lowering said blank-moving means while the blanks are maintained in a raised position; means for holding down the stripped blank, and means for maintaining the overlapping outer longitudinal edges of said blank in a spaced apart relationship, as the blanks enter a stitching mechanism.

3. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and an intermediate section between said side sections; said side sections being foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for successively folding over each of said side sections while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap, said folding means comprising a pair of longitudinal plates rotatable about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, vertical rack and pinion means for providing the folding motion to said plates, longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks, a first means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; cam-operated means for raising the folded blank and the blank moving means, and lowering said blank moving means while the blanks are maintained in the raised position, pressure means for maintaining the fold in the blank; said pressure means and said first means cooperating to maintain the overlapping outer longitudinal edges of said blank spaced from said intermediate section, means for maintaining the fold in said blank and means for maintaining the overlap- 10 ping outer longitudinal edges of said blank in a spaced apart relationship, as the blanks are fed into a stitcher.

4. In a folding machine for forming flat and collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score linesand foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for successively folding over each of said side sections while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap; said folding motion being imparted through rack and pinion means operated in coordination the movement of the blanks; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded, cam-operated means for stripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, means operatively connected to the said stripping means for holding down the stripped blanks; said last recited means and said camoperated means each having oscillatory motion, in the same direction, imparted thereto.

5. In afolding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for successively folding over each of said side sections to an angle of up to while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap; said folding means comprising a pair of plates having an oscillatory folding motion; rack and pinion means for providing said folding motion; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks, means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; the said pressure means having a forwardly rocking motion and being operatively coordinated with the movement of the said blanks; and means for stripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, including cam-operated blocks for raising the blanks and maintaining them in a raised position while lowering the blank-moving means.

6. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and an intermediate section between said side sections; said side sections being foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for successively folding over each of said side sections to an angle of up to 170 while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap; said folding means comprising a pair of plates having an oscillatory folding motion; rack and pinion means for providing said folding motion; rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks from saidfolding positiouafter the same have been folded; the said pressure means having a forwardly rocking motion and being operatively coordinated with the movement of the said blanks; and means for stripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, including cam-operated blocks for raising the blanks and maintaining them in a raised position while lowering the blankmoving means; means operatively connected to the said stripping means for holding down the stripped blanks; said last recited means and said stripping means cooperating to maintain the overlapping portions of said sections spaced from said intermediate section, and means for feeding the said blanks through a stitcher.

7. In a folding machinefor-forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, saidsheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said 'score'lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for successively folding over each of said side sections while said blanks v are halted so that said side sections overlap; said folding means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending plates; means for imparting the folding motion to said plates comprising vertical rack and pinion means operable in coordination with the movement of the blanks; means for adjusting the timing and angular rotation of the folding plates; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; said pressure means being operated by two eccentrically mounted cranks which rotate out of phase and thereby cause the arm of said pressure means to hit a backportion of the blank and rock forward so as to successively contact the more forward portions of the blank; cam-operated means for stripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, including means for lowering said blank-moving means while the blanks are maintained in a raised position by a longitudinally adjustable block; means for holding down the stripped blank, said last recited means and said cam-operated means each having oscillatory motion, in the same direction, imparted thereto, means for feeding the said blanks into a stitcher, and common drive means for coordinating the movement of the blanks, the folding means, and the stripping means.

8. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a positions to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; meansfor .successively folding over each of said side sections to an angle of up to 170 While said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap; said folding means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending .plates; means for imparting the folding motion to said plates comprising vertical rack and pinion'means operable in coordination with the movement of the blank; means for adjusting the timing and angular rotation of the folding plates; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said-blanks; 'means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; cam-operated means for stripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, including means for raising the blanks and lowering said blank-moving means while the blanks are maintained in a raised position, and being operatively connected to apparatus for holding down'the fold in said' blank so that-the stripping means and the hold down means move simultaneously in the same directions both horizontally and vertically.

' 9. In la folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from fiat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means for continuously moving said blanks successively into a position to be folded; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks have reached such position; means for successively folding over each of said side sections while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap; said folding means comprising a pair of 'longitudinallyextending plates; means for imparting the folding motion to said plates comprising vertical rack and pinion means operable in coordination with the movement of the blanks; means for adjusting the timing and angular rotation of the folding. plates; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in said .blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded; cam-operated .means for stripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, including means for raising said blanks and lowering said blank-moving means while the blanks are maintained in a raised position, and being operatively connected to apparatus for holding down the fold in the said blank so that the stripping means and the :hold down means move simultaneously in the same directions :both horizontally and vertically, and common drive -means for coordinating the movement of the blank con- .veying means, folding means, stripping means and hold down means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,178 Wade et al. Aug. 19, 1924 1,757,730 McPike May 6, 1930 2,017,535 Hammer Oct. 15, 1935 2,113,052 Kemp Apr. 5, 1938