US2962945A

US2962945A - Sheet folding apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: US2962945A
Application number: US760240A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas L Millich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-09-10
Filing date: 1958-09-10
Publication date: 1960-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-06

Description

' Dec. 6, 1960 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 T. L. MILLICH 2,962,945

SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

file/way A. Mn 4 /H BY M, WWW

ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1960 T. MILLICH SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 mvENTok. 7/ 0fl7/9S L. M/LL/OH BY fla r/a, WW1

A TZO/PNEVS Dec. 6, 1960 T. L. MILLICH SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Sept. 10, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. V

THOMAS L. MILL/CH M, M 9M A T TO/PNE VS Dec. 6, 1960 T. L. MILLICH 2,952,945

SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Sept. 1 0, 195a 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. filo/n0: L //l- 4 my @0 4 MW v ATTORNEYS iii SHEET FDIID IN G APPARATUS AND METHOD T lIOlIlaSBL. Millich, 2'281 41s't SLfakland, Calif.

.Ftiledsept. 10,:1958, Ser. .N 0371505240 '11 'Glaims. ((31993-4-9) Thisinventi'on ,relatesto apparatus and to amethod forfoldingoverjthe two opposite marginal portions of a sheet of foldablernaterial that eare-leadingand trailing relative to thecdirection of :inovementof the blank as the latter is; moved alongpaths of travehand an object of-theinvention is' the provision of apparatus and a method for so'folding .said. marginal portions in a simple, fast and highly .efliciennmanner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus adaptedlofold vthe marginal portions of a blank of sheet 'mateIiaL-to quick-ly and e-fficiently form a flat folding box of the. type in'which the four side walls are adapted to be automatically erected upon manually erecting two of the opposite .--side walls.

A still further objectof thein ention is'the provision of apparatus and *a method adapted to be employed in the folding of conventionally crossed or scored generally rectangular carton blanks .of the type requiring the folding of two of the opposite-marginal portions of the blank on the body thereof, and against the "same side of the blank, and a.- subseque nt folding of thetworemaining marginal portions of the blank to the same-side :of .the latter.

In the art of making cartons, and elsewhere, there is no difficulty in movingeardboard or paper-like blanks and sheets in one direction and folding over-the two of the lateral marginal-portions of such blanks or sheets, which portions'extendlongitudinally of the direction'of travel of the blanks. Ordinary folding belts positioned along and over the path oftravel of such blanks have long been used to fold over such lateral marginal gportions. However, the fast and 'eflicient folding :over of the leading and trailing marginal-portionsof the blanks or sheets has yet to be-done in 'a fast and eflicient manner. The folding over of the leadingmarginal'portion of each blank is not difli'eult. The folding over of the lateralmarginal portion isnot difiicult. The folding over of the trailing marginal portion is difiicultand requires complicated and slower. machinery.

One relatively common solution for the :above problem is to change the direction of movement of-.the sheet so it will move at right angles to the :path followed when the lateral marginal portions werefolded over so that, in its changed direction of -.movement, the ,previous leading and trailing edges will become the lateral edges and the same means may then-beempl'oyednfo-r folding over the marginal portions along the newlateral edges as was employed in the first-instance. Thismethod requires the blanks .to be spaced out along the line of travel in a mannerto allow an open space in the line of travel approximatelyequal'to the lateral length of the blank. This space isrequired to preclude ablank fromcol-liding with the blank .aheadof itduring the time the leading .blankstops,changesdirection, and-clears the path. This distance is the product of-the velocity of the blank followingtirnesthe time-for the three actionsmentioned in the previous sentence. This, of course, involves considerably more space, since the sheet is moved horited i States at- 2,952,945 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 zontally-in two directions that are at right angles toeach other, and the speed is limited to the requirement for such changing of the-direction of movement of the sheet, and .also -a relatively complicated mechanism is required.

--In this invention a very'simple provision is made for completely reversing the direction of movement of the sheet without slowing the speed of operation of the apparatus whereby substantially half the horizontal area is occupied by the apparatus than in such instances as where the sheet is moved in one direction along a single ,path or :where itchanges direction in a horizontal .plane as hereinbefore mentioned. In the present apparatus, by said reversal of the direction of movement, the initial trailing edge will become the leading edge, after such reversal, enabling the same simple and efiicient'means to be employed for folding over the new leading marginal portion as was employed for folding over the leading marginal :por'tion before such reversal. Furthermore, the paths of=movement of the blank are positioned one over the other :thus conserving valuable space. As heretofore mentioned, the wide spacing between blanks is not requisite toithis invention.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of the improved apparatus and improved methoddescribed above, rand :other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

lnithe drawings:

:Fig. lAiis an isometric, p'art sectional, and part schematic view of the-initial portion of the apparatus showing the means for folding over the leading marginal .of the quick erectable type.

: Fig. 1B is an isometric, part sectional view of the reversing me c hanisml that is employed and the means for folding over the newly established leading marginal portion of the carton "blank, which latter portion was trailing in Fig. IA.

Fig. 2 is a semi-diagrammatic part sectional, part elevational view showing the relative arrangement of the parts employed forforming-the carton of the type mentioned in the description of Fig. 1A, and in whichlthe final folding means is indicated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary part sectional view showing the leading portion of the blank being folded over.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the section shown in Fig. 3 as seen-from line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a part sectional, part elevational view of a slightly modified form of the reversing mechanism of Figs. 1B and 2, the dilference being mainly in the matter of relative diameters of the rollers. A blank is indicated in a position approaching its reversal of its direction of movement.

Fig. 6 is a view similar tothat of Fig. ,5 showing the blank in the transitional stage of reversal of movement.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of 'Fig. 6 showing the blank preparatory 'to being moved in a direction the reverse of that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing the different folding steps in folding a quick-erectable folding carton.

In detail, referring to Figs. 1 and 8, a blank 1 is shown by way of illustration, and which blank is a rectangular flat sheet of cardboard having a leading marginal portion, generally designated 2, and a trailing marginal portion, generally designated '3, which'leading and trailing marginal portions are, respectively, the portions-between the leading edge 4 and folding crease 5, and the trailing edge 6 and folding-crease 7, said creases 5 and 7 being parallel with each other and with the leading and trailing 3 pendicular to creases 5, 7 and that extend along the lateral free edges of the blank.

Folding creases 10, 11 terminate at their opposite ends at creases 5, 7 and cuts 12 in alignment therewith extend across the leading and trailing marginal portions 2, 3. However, folding creases 5, 7 extend to the lateral free edges of the blank, whereby they coact with the cuts 12 to form corner pieces 13 at the ends of the leading marginal portion 2 and corner pieces 14 at the ends of the trailing marginal portion 3.

Folding creases 15 extend diagonally across the central part 16 of the leading marginal portion 2 from the points where cuts 12 meet the folding crease 5, and similar creases 17 extend diagonally across the central part 18 of the trailing marginal portion 3 from the points where cuts 12 meet crease 7. The central parts 16, 18 are the parts that are respectively between cuts 12 in the leading marginal portion 2 and cuts 12 that are in the trailing marginal portion 3 and said creases 15, 17 are at angles of 45 degrees relative to creases 5, 7.

The blank 1 of the type above described is conventional, and as seen in Fig. 8 the final fiat folded carton indicated at the upper left end is formed by initially folding marginal portions 2, 3 onto the body of the blank at one side thereof along folding creases 5, 7 so that the triangular parts 19 that lie between the diagonal creases 15, 17 and cuts 12 that are adjacent thereto will, in turn, be folded to overlie the portions of central parts 16, 18 that are adjacent thereto.

The lateral marginal portions of the blank (which includes the corner pieces 13) are then folded over the body of the blank along creases 10, 11 and the corner pieces are glued to the upper exposed surfaces of the triangular parts 19, preferably by application of glue to said last mentioned surfaces before the folding step. This completes the carton, which may have a separately formed cover or not, as desired. The marginal portions 2, 3 will automatically be erected upon moving the marginal portions 8, 9 to positions perpendicular to the central bottom section 20 of the blank that is bounded by creases 5, 7, 10 and 11.

It is to be understood that while the operation of the apparatus will be described with respect to blank 1, the invention is not restricted to apparatus for forming such a blank.

Referring to Figs. 1A, 1B and 2, the blanks 1 (Fig. 1A) may be carried flat on the upper run of an endless carrier 23, with their edges 4 leading, to below a holddown belt 24 and from belt 24 the carrier is fed between a pair of superposed rollers 25 that drive the blank pasta pair of outer folding fingers 26 and a central folding finger 27. These fingers are generally in the form of hooks that swingingly depend from a rod 28 so that the hooked lower ends of fingers 26 will engage the leading corner pieces 13 and the central portion of the part 16 that lies between the triangular end portions 19 of the leading margin 2. As the blank 1 is driven forward (to the right in the drawings Fig. 1A) the corner pieces 13 and the central portion 16 will be elevated, as seen in Fig. 1A, and at the same time, a pair of folding strips 29, rigidly held in any suitable manner, such as from a cross piece 30 extending between the side frame members 31 that mount the parts of the apparatus (Fig. 2), will slidably engage the triangular portions 19 to cause them to fold downwardly (Fig. 1A).

7 the upper side of the portion of the blank adjacent to the folding crease 5, and the lower surface of the triangular parts 19 will be facing upwardly.

From conveyor 32 (Fig. 1B) the blank will be fed between a pair of rollers 34 and from rollers 34 the blank termed a lift roller 36 thereover. Lower roller 35 may be yieldably urged toward lift roller 36 sufiiciently so that the blank will be yieldably gripped between the outer peripheral cylindrical surfaces of

rollers

35, 36. However, the lift roller 36 is formed with an elongated outwardly opening recess 37 extending longitudinally thereof that may extend from end to end of the latter, or substantially so. Where the lift roller is in yieldable engagement with roller 35 it may have a connecting segment 38 extending across the recess at each end of the latter to support roller 35 while the latter crosses the recess 37. Conventional yieldably supported hearings, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 2 may support roller 35 for rotation.

Blank 1 passes between lower roller 35 and lift roller 36 and is disposed between the supporting runners 38 and is moved to a stop member, generally designated 39. Stop member 39 is positioned ahead of the blank 1 or to the right as seen in Figs. 1A, 1B. Stop member 39 is adjustable, as indicated, for different length blanks.

This stop member comprises a lower plate 40 extending angularly upwardly from below the level of the adjacent faces of

rollers

35, 36 so that the leading portion of the blank 1, as the blank is driven beyond

rollers

35, 36 will slidably engage the upwardly inclined upper surface of plate '40 and will be guided by said plate to a closed end portion 41 that joins the plate 40 with the lower edge of an upwardly inclined upper plate 43. The plate 43 extends angularly upwardly from the closed end 41 and over the plate 40 to a position slightly over the generally upwardly facing side of roller 35.

The upper surface of plate 40 may be in two

sections

44, 45 that join along line 46 with the section 45 that extends to the closed end 41 from line 46 being at a lesser angle than that at which the other section 44 extends from line 42 to below roller 36.

As blank 1 is moved onto the section 45 to closed end 41 its trailing end will tend to move upwardly, and will automatically move into recess 37 when the recess reaches said trailing end.

The distance between the closed end 41 and the closed end 47 of recess 37 is less than the dimension of the blank in the direction of its travel to said closed end 41. As roller 36 continues to rotate counter clockwise as seen in Fig. 6, the trailing end of the blank will be elevated and sprung upwardly past a center line extending between the axis of the lift roller and said closed end 47.

An upper roller 49 is supported by frame 31 similar to lower roller 35 but is closer to the closed end 41 of stop member 39. The distance between said closed end 41 of the stop 39 and the adjacent cylindrical surfaces of lift roller 36 and upper roller 49 is less than the dimension of blank between said rollers and the closed end of stop 41, hence as soon as the trailing por tion of the blank is sprung upwardly it will be gripped between roller 36 and upper roller 49 and will be driven in a direction to the left, as seen in Figs. 1B and 2, or in a direction the reverse of the movement of the blank toward the stop member 39.

Upon said reversal of the direction of movement of the blank, the former trailing marginal portion 3 becomes the leading marginal portion, While the folded marginal portion 2 becomes the trailing portion.

It is obvious that no special timing of the blanks in their movement to the lift roller and to stop member 39 is necessary, for the reason that the trailing marginal portion 3 of the blank cannot be elevated until the recess 37 reaches the trailing marginal portion of the blank so that said portion can enter the recess and be elevated for engagement between

rollers

36, 49. However, the blank will be automatically positioned relative to the peripheral surface of roller 49 at the time the blank is will pass between a lower roller 35 and what will be.

engaged between

rollers

36, 49.

The upper plate 43 will hold the marginal portion 2 dr'iven'to theleft (Figs. 1B, 2) between and'by'rollers Upon leaving

rollers

36, 49 the blank may pass between the adjacent generally horizontally extending runs of a, lower endless belt 50 and an upper-endless belt -1.

The adjacentruns of these belts may be upwardly inclined adjacent to

rollers

36, 49, and are later directed horizontally, so as to-drive the blank 1-in a path parallel with and spaced above the path along which the blank was moved to the lift roller. An idler roller 52 urges said adjacent rows of belts 50, 51 to horizontallyextending positionsbefore the blank is driven'from between said belts.

Theblank-ind-ic'ated at the right handend-of the lower row of Fig. 8 shows the blank as it starts its reverse movement and it alsoshows the condition of the blank as it is driven to the left from between the beltsv 50, 51 (Figs. 1B, 2).

After leaving the belts 50, 51 the blank moves between upper and

lower rollers

53, 54 and is driven past outer folding fingers 55 and a central folding finger56 that are identical with the fingers 26, 2.7 that previously had folded over the marginal portion 2. Only the upper ends of thefar outer finger 55 and the central finger'Sfi are indicated-in Fig. 1B. These fingers 55, 56 fold .over

the now leading marginal portion 3 exactly as fingers 26,

27 foldedover thepreviously leading marginal portion 2, and the central finger-56 cooperates with folding strips 57 that are identical with the folding strips 29 so as to cause the triangular portions 19 at the ends of the central part 18 of-margina'l-portion 3 to overlie thesaid central part at the ends of the latter.

Endless conveyor 58-is below thestrips 57 to carry the blank to. they left (Fig. 2) and below a roller 59 at the left hand end of said conveyor 58.

After leaving conveyor 58 and roller 59 the blank may pass below conventional glue pots 6.0 that apply glue to the upwardly facing surfaces of thetriangular portions 19 of the blank, after which, ordinary folding plows =61'wi1l fold over the lateral marginal portions 8, 9 of the blank-so that the

corner pieces

13, 14 .at the ends of said marginal portions 8, 9 will be adhered to said triangular portions.

From plows 61 the blank will pass between hold down belts 62, 63 that will hold the margin-a1 portions in their positions overlying the central portion 20 of the blank along the creases'S, 7, 10, 11. Finally the completed box as indicated at the left of the upper row in Fig. 8 will leave the hold down belts.

Any suitable driving means may be employed for driving the various conveyors, belts and rollers. One such means may be a motor 65 (Fig. 2) connected by belt or chain 66 with a pulley on the shaft of lift roller 36.

Crossed belt 67 may respectively connect with pulleys on the lift roller shaft with pulleys on rollers mounting one of the ends of the

endless conveyors

32, 50 and similar pulleys on the shafts mounting the last mentioned rollers may be connected by belts 69, 7.0 with pulleys on one of the shafts mounting one'of the rollersfor each of the conveyors 23, 5'8.

Platforms, not shown in the drawing, may support the upper runs of carrier 23 and

conveyors

32, 58. These are common in the industry, as are the carriers, rollers, folding fingers, folding strips, and folding belts, and no claim is being made to them in themselves.

In order that the apparatus may handle different sized sheets, the stop 39 'is adjustable to different distances from the lift roller 36, by means of bolts 71 (Fig. 1B) that extend through horizontal slots 72 in upstanding lugs 73 that are rigid with the stop member 39. These bolts extend also through the frame 31 at opposite ends of said member 39. Thus longer or shorter sheets may be handled.

It is also obvious that the direction of movement of 75 the sheets to be folded may be reversed any desired number of times. If it is desirable that the delivery of the sheets ultimately be to the right, it is merely necessary to install the reversing mechanism somewhere along the upper path, wherever found to be most desirable. The final gluing may be done while the blank is moving to the right instead of to the left, as seen in the drawings, in which case the reversing mechanism comprising a set of

rollers

35, 36, 49 and the stop member 40, may be positioned following the conveyor 58 and folding stops 57. These are merely obvious modifications that may be made.

The directional change occurs without loss of speed, and inasmuch as the paths along which the blanks or sheets are moved are all in a common vertical plane, the apparatus is extremely compact as compared with those conventional machines in which the blanks move in paths extending at right angles to each "other in order to effect folding of the trailing marginal portions.

In my invention, spaces between the blanks in their line of travel are not necessary. In my invention there is no space requirement. One blank may be entering in the reversing mechanism at the same time the blank ahead of itis leaving the mechanism. The space between the blanks in the line of travel is almost completely eliminated.

Also, as hereinbefore mentioned, while the combination as shown provides for forming a standard container or carton in a novel manner, the portion thereof that reverses the direct-ion of movement of the sheets is in itself of value where the sheet itself is not inverted to effect the reversal in its direction of movement. This is quite desirable in many instances.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the reversing mechanism is substantially the same, structurally, as is shown in Figs. 1B and 2. The lower roller 8.0, which is similar to roller 35, and the upper roller 82, which is similar to roller 49 may be of substantially the same diameter, but the lift roller '83 is considerably smaller in diameter, and its V-shaped recess 84 extends .to the center of the roller.

The stop member 85 is also similar .to stop member 39, except that lower plate 86is longer and diverges from the upperplate 8'7 at a lesserangle than the angle of divergence between plates 40, 43.

Also, in Figs. 5 to 7 themarginal portion 288 that is nearest roller 35 is relatively narrow.

The carton blank is indicated at 9am Figs. 5 to. 6 in a reversing operation. As in Figs. 1B and 2, the lift roller 83has portions 99 at its ends that span the outer open side of the recess '84.

The radius of the lift roller 36 or 83:may vary with the length of the carton blank (in the direction of its travel) that is beingfolded. An approximate and very satisfactory proportion in most instances will be for the radius of the lift roller to be substantially no greater than approximatelyone-fourth to one-fifth of the length of the carton blank to be folded, after the leading marginal portion has been folded.

Inasmuch as changes could be made in the. construction Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that the matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The method of folding two opposite marginal portions of a sheet of foldable material onto the body of such sheet along said portions that comprises the steps of: moving such sheet in one direction along a path of travel, folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of the latter during movement in said one direction, stopping said movement of said sheet insaid one direction in said path and then moving said sheet in a reverse direction that is opposite to said one direction with the marginal portion thereof opposite to said first mentioned portion being along the leading edge of 7 said sheet during said movement in said reverse direction and folding said marginal portion along said leading edge onto the body of the sheet adjacent thereto.

2. The method of folding two opposite marginal portions of a flat sheet of foldable material onto the body of such sheet along said portions that comprises the steps of: moving such sheet in one direction along a first path of travel, folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of the latter during said movement in said one direction in said first path, reversing the direction of movement of said sheet at a point in said first path and moving said sheet in a reverse direction along a different path of travel, folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet during its said movement in said reverse direction onto the body of said sheet adjacent to said last mentioned marginal portion.

3. The method of folding two opposite marginal portions of a flat'sheet of foldable material onto the body of such sheet along said portions that comprises the steps of moving such sheet in one direction along a first path of travel, folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of the latter during said movement in said one direction in said first path, stopping said movement in said one direction by stationarily engaging said sheet along its leading edge at a point in said path and moving said sheet transversely of the plane thereof about said leading edge as a fulcrum and then reversing the direction of movement of said sheet and moving the latter in a direction that is the reverse of said one direction along a second path offset relative to said first mentioned path, then folding the marginal portion of said sheet that is leading during said movement thereof in said second path onto the body of the sheet adjacent thereto.

4. The method of folding two opposite marginal portions of a fiat sheet of foldable material onto the body of such sheet along said portions that comprises the steps of: moving said sheet in one direction along a first path of travel, folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of said sheet adjacent to said portion during said movement, then stopping the movement of said sheet in said one direction by engaging the leading edge thereof along the line of fold of said marginal portion and thereafter springing the trailing part of said body under bending tension transversely of the plane of said sheet to one side of said first path, thereafter reversing the direction of movement of said sheet and moving said sheet along a second path in a direction the reverse of its movement in said first path, folding the marginal portion of said sheet that is opposite to said first mentioned marginal portion onto the body of said sheet adjacent to said last mentioned marginal portion during movement of said sheet in said second path.

5. The method of making a cardboard carton from a fiat blank of cardboard that comprises the steps of: moving said blank in one direction in a first path, folding the leading marginal portion of said blank against one side of the body of said sheet along a first fold line extending transversely of the direction of movement of said sheet, then reversing the direction of movement of said blank and moving said blank in a direction the reverse of said first direction, folding the leading marginal portion of said blank against said one side of the body adjacent to said last mentioned marginal portion during movement of said blank in said reverse direction in said second path, holding the marginal portions so folded on said body against the latter and then folding the marginal portions of said blank that are parallel with said second path over said one side of said blank with the ends of said marginal portions in lapping relation and securing said ends together.

6. The method of folding over two opposite marginal portions of a rectangular blank of cardboard in the forming of a container that comprises the steps of: moving said blank in a substantially horizontal position in one direction in a generally horizontally extending path with two of the opposite edges of said blank normal to said path, folding the leading marginal portion of said blank against the upper side of the body of said blank during said movement, then stopping said movement in said one direction by engaging the leading edge of said blank along the line of fold of said leading marginal portion, springing the trailing portion of said blank upwardly by holding said leading edge stationary and continuing said movement of said trailing portion in said one direction for a relatively short distance while permitting the blank to bow upwardly between the leading and trailing edges and at the same time lifting said trailing edge then releasing said trailing edge and moving said sheet in a second direction the reverse of said one direction and folding over the marginal portion that is leading during movement thereof in said second direction to and against said one side of said sheet.

7. A folding machine for folding a sheet of paper like material that comprises; means for supporting such sheet flat for movement thereof in its plane in one direction in a path of travel, folding means along said path extending across said path for engaging the leading edge of said sheet during its said movement in said one direction and for folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of the sheet adjacent thereto, a pair of rollers along said path for engaging opposite sides of said sheet including the folded leading marginal portion, means for rotating said rollers for moving said sheet in said one direction and past said rollers, means on one roller of said pair adapted to engage the trailing portion of said sheet and to move said trailing portion to one side of the said one roller that is opposite to the other roller of said pair, means for holding the leading edge of said sheet stationary during said movement of the said trailing portion, and means for engaging said sheet and for moving it in a path of travel in a direction the reverse of said one direction upon said trailing portion being moved to said one side of said one roller, folding means along said last mentioned path extending thereacross for engaging the leading edge of said sheet during said movement thereof in said one direction in said last mentioned path and for folding the marginal portion along said last mentioned leading edge onto the body of said sheet.

8. A folding machine for folding a sheet of paper like material that comprises; means for supporting such sheet flat for movement thereof in its plane in one direction in a path of travel, folding means along said path extending across said path for engaging the leading edge of said sheet during its said movement in said one direction and for folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of the sheet adjacent thereto, a pair of rollers along said path for engaging opposite sides of said sheet including the folded leading marginal portion, means for rotating said rollers for moving said sheet in said one direction and past said rollers, means on one roller of said pair adapted to engage the trailing portion of said sheet and to move said trailing portion to one side of the said one roller that is opposite to the other roller of said pair, means for holding the leading edge of said sheet stationary during said movement of the said trailing portion, and means for engaging said sheet and for moving it in a path of travel in a direction the reverse of said one direction upon said trailing portion being moved to said one side of said one roller, folding means along said last mentioned path extending thereacross for engaging the leading edge of said sheet during said movement thereof in said one direction in said last mentioned path and for folding the marginal portion along said last mentioned leading edge onto the body of said sheet, said means for engaging said sheet and for moving said sheet in said reverse direction including said one roller of said pair thereof.

9. A folding machine for folding a sheet of paper-like material that comprises; means for supporting such sheet flat for movement thereof in its plane in one direction in a path of travel, folding means along said path extending across said path for engaging the leading edge of said sheet during its said movement in said one direction and for folding the leading marginal portion of said sheet onto the body of the sheet adjacent thereto, a pair of rollers along said path for engaging opposite sides of said sheet including the folded leading marginal portion, means for rotating said rollers for moving said sheet in said one direction and past said rollers, means on one roller of said pair adapted to engage the trailing portion of said sheet and to move said trailing portion to one side of the said one roller that is opposite to the other roller of said pair, means for holding the leading edge of said sheet stationary during said movement of the said trailing portion, and means for engaging said sheet and for moving it in a path of travel in a direction the reverse of said one direction upon said trailing portion being moved to said one side of said one roller, folding means along said last mentioned path extending thereacross for engaging the leading edge of said sheet during said movement thereof in said one direction in said last mentioned path and for folding the marginal portion along said last mentioned leading edge onto the body of said sheet, said means on said one roller of said pair being a recess opening outwardly of said one roller and extending longitudinally thereof and into which said trailing portion is adapted to extend, and the means for holding said leading edge stationary being spaced from said pair of rollers a distance slightly less than the dimension of said blank in the direction of said path after the said leading marginal portion thereof has been folded onto the body of said sheet.

10. In a cardboard and paper handling machine, a mechanism for reversing the direction of movement of a sheet of cardboard and the like comprising, a central lift roller and a lower roller parallel therewith between which said sheet is adapted to be moved in one direction upon and by rotation of said central roller in one direction, a stationary stop at one side of said lift roller adapted to be engaged by the leading edge'of such sheet upon the latter being moved into such engagement by rotation of said lift roller and lower roller, means on said lift roller movable into engagement with the trailing edge of such sheet after said leading edge of the latter has been moved into engagement with said stop for moving said trailing edge upwardly to the upper side of said lift roller during rotation of the latter in its said one direction, and an upper roller over said lift roller engageable with such sheet along its said trailing edge and cooperative with said lift roller for moving such sheet over said lift roller in a direction the reverse of the said first mentioned one direction of movement of said sheet.

11. In a cardboard and paper handling machine a mechanism for reversing the direction of movement of a sheet of cardboard and the'like comprising, a central lift roller and a lower roller parallel therewith between which said sheet is adapted to be moved in one direction upon and by rotation of said central roller in one direction, a stationary stop at one side of said lift roller adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of such sheet upon the latter being moved into such engagement by rotation of said lift roller and lower roller, means on said lift roller movable into engagement with the trailing edge of such sheet after said leading edge of the latter has been moved into engagement with said stop for moving said trailing edge upwardly to the upper side of said lift roller during rotation of the latter in its said one direction, and an upper roller over said lift roller engageable with such sheet along its said trailing edge and cooperative with said lift roller for moving such sheet over said lift roller in a direction the reverse of the said first mentioned one direction of movement of said sheet, said means on said lift roller comprising an elongated recess opening outwardly of one side of said lift roller and extending longitudinally of the latter providing a side wall facing in the direction of rotation of said lift roller and against said one side of which the trailing portion is adapted to be carried upwardly to said upper roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,316,737 Parks Sept. 23, 1919 2,257,465 Higginbottom Sept. 30, 1941 2,462,513 Kucklinsky Feb. 22, 1949 2,764,918 La Bombard Oct. 2, 1956 Goss June 4, 1951