US389147A

US389147A - Combined stapling and folding machine

Info

Publication number: US389147A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1888-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1905-09-04

Description

2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. R. HEYL.

COMBINED STAPLING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 389,147. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

H xi

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. R. HEYL.

COMBINED STAPLING AND FOLDING MACHINE. No; 389,147. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lflhognphcr, Wzihmgtan. u C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIQE.

HENRY R. HEYL, OF PHILADELPHTA, PENNSYLVANTA.

COMBINED STAPLING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,147, dated September 4, 1888.

Serial No. 210,220.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. HnYL,of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Stapling and Folding llfachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in the application of a series of wirestapling devices and their operating mechanism to such parts of a bookfolding machine and in such manner con structed as to combine with the folding the fastening of the sheets with wire staples in the one operation of folding to avoid the usual second handling of the sheets to secure them with staples after the folding has been com pleted. To effect this result it is necessary that the staples should be inserted into the sheets at that point in the folding operation just before the last fold is made, and that the staples shall be inserted accurately in the line of said fold.

It is obvious that the invention applies, without material alteration,to such a construction of the parts of the machine that the sta ples may be inserted through the paper from below upward or from above downward,as may be desired; nor does it alter the device to combiue the cover with thesheets atone operation of stapling, if the folding-machine is so constructed as to present the cover with the sheets in proper position simultaneously to receive the staples.

The essential features of this invention consist in the employment and adaptation of the two elements of the well-known wire stapling devicesviz., the staple forming and driving device and the stapleclinching dcvice in such relation to and in combination with the folding mechanism of a book-folding machine that during the operations of folding the sheets, andjust before the last fold is made, the stapling devices maybe brought into service to secure the sheets together, which, when afterward folded, completes the binding of a pamphlet under one continuous operation. \Vhile it would be practical. to construct such a machine in a manner that the stapling of the sheets is done just before said sheets are carried into position to receive the last fold, I consider it more mechanical, and likely to produce more accurate work, to perform the stapling while the sheets lie in their last position preparatory to receiving the last fold. In this construction it is necessary that the two elements of the stapling device should not only operate the one above the sheets and the other below in the same way as if stapling the sheets in the other position above referred to, but that one member of the stapling device should come up between the foldingrollers to do its work in conjunction with the other member, which is above the sheets lying over the folding-rollers, and also that the foldingrollers should automatically separate to allow this intervention of the stapling device, and after the latter has completed its work it shall drop down and allow the folding-rollers to close toward each other again to compress and fold the sheets as they are carried down between them for delivery as a finished pamphlet.

A description of the construction of the several parts of the machine as combined to staple the sheets while they lie in position ready for the final folding being equally applicable to the equivalent construction in case the stitching is to be performed before the sheets reach their final position over the foldingrollers, I will confine my explanation to the various parts arranged to operate in but the one position, preferably the first above named.

In the accompanying d rawings,forming part of this specification, I omit all parts of the folding-machine that prepare the sheets for the stapling and final folding, as those parts are not essential to a description of my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section (on line aw, Fig. 2) of a book-folding machine, showing also the stapling devices in position as if just completing their part of the work, and just before they recede to allow the folding-rollers to close toward each other preparatory to the final folding of the sheet. Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of the same on line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stapling device in connection with the fold ing-rollers and the device for separating the said rollers to give space for the stapling devices to pass up between them.

Between the two side frames, A, of the fold ing-machine and vertically under the foldingrollers C are placed the staple forming and driving devices N". Any number of these staples that may be required are mounted upon LOO a cross-bar, N, which is firmly attached at each end to upright sliding plates U. These sliding plates lie against planed surfaces of the frame A, and are guided at their lower ends by a shaft or stud, U, which enters a short slot, U", in the frame A,s'o that the sliding' frame, consisting of the platesU and crossbar N, may move up and down freely within the limits of the slotU Another cross-bar, N,extending across between the plates Uand into longer slots, n, inthe plates U, has also a vertical motion within the limits of'said slots, and is a support for the staple drivers or hammers N. The upper ends of the plates U may be guided in the same manner as the lower ends, or they may have aslightlateral motion controlled by a slanting slot, so that when the stapling devices N are at rest at their lowest position their upper ends may stand back from directly under the space between the foldingrollers O, to facilitate the free passage of the folded sheets downward. The extreme upper ends of the plates U are narrowed to form what may be termed wedges, which,in passing up between the loose rollers G", force'the folding-rollers C apart sufficiently to allow the staplers N to pass up between them. The folding-rollers O are journaled in swinging boxes G,which are pressed toward each other by springs c.

As I do not claim as part of this invention any novel form of staple-forming device, all description in details of this part of the machine is unuecessary, as any skilled mechanic can adapt the well-known stapling devices to the purposes of this machine. I have therefore represented the staple-forming element as one piece, designated by the letter N, the staple'driver as N, and the staple-clinchers as 1).

That part designated by the letter N is supposed to contain a wire-cutter and mechanism for bending the wire into the form of a staple with its points or legs pointing upward. It contains also a channel through which the driver N reciprocatcs, and in which channel the staple is presented to the driver, to be thereby forced upward and out of the channel at a. It is necessary that the upper end of the staple-forming device N should be thin or flat to enable it to pass up between the folding-rollers O to apoint in contact with the under side of the sheets of paper to be stapled. This narrow elongation has no effect upon the staple-forming devices. It only lengthens the motion of the staple-driver N As it is common practice to use two staples to each pamphlet and quite practical to construct this machine of such a Width that several pamphlets may be stapled at once, Imay place several pairs of stapling devices side by side, adj ustably securing them to the crossbar N ,whereby the staplers are adjustable toward and from each other, as the size of the pamphlets to be stapled shall require. The drivers N may be also adjustable on the cross-bar N, so that they may be adjusted in positions corresponding with these respective staplers N sliding motion within guides on the ends of the rocking levers Q, and also an upward motion with the levers Q to raise the clinchers out of the path of the striker D as the latter descends to force the sheets down between the foldiug rollers O. The act of clinching the staplelegs toward each other and flat down upon the upper sheet of the pamphlet is performed by two small rollers within the clincher-block p, which rollers are set apart sufficiently to allow the staple-legs to stand upbetweenthem. Byasidewiseslidiugmovement of the bar P first in one direction sufficiently to bend or roll down one staple-leg and then in the reverse direction to roll down the other leg, and by a continued motion to again pass over the first leg, the flattening down of both legs in line toward each other is accomplished. Other well-known forms of staple clinchers may be substituted for this form and render equally satisfactory service.

The general operation of the machine, as hereinafter described,will further explain the details of construction.

The motion of all parts of the machine is derived from the revolution of the main shaft F, which is turned by a belt or gear in connection with a principal pulley or gear-wheel, X, coupled to the shaft F by a clutch to enable the operator to start and stop the machine at pleasure. One revolution of the shaft F com pletes the operation of stapling and folding each pamphlet. As the folding-rollers must revolve at a high rate of-speed and may revolve continually, they maybe belted directly to a counter shaft overhead or to a large pulley on-the main shaft F, as maybe most convenient. Assuming that the paper sheets forming a pamphlet are now lying upon the machine-tablejust over the folding-rollers (J in position to receive their final fold, the first movement of the machine brings up the series of stapling-heads N between the folding-rollers until their upper ends come in contact with the under side of the sheets. This is effected through the aid of cam-wheels J, having camslots J, operating uponthe balanced levers T, whose rollers M travel in the cam-slots J. This motion is communicated by other rollers, Ii, on the'same studs to a lever, K, swinging on the main shaft F, and connecting with the platesU and bar N by stud Z. By this means the entire upward movement of the staplers N is accomplished with one-quarter revolution of the main shaft F. As the staplers come up, the ends of the plates U also come up between the loose rollers G and cause the folding-rollers (J to part to admit the passage of the staplers N", and thus also holding the folding-rollers apart until the staplers go down, when the rollers come together again preparatory to do the final folding of the sheets; Simultaneously with the raising of the staplers N the cross-bar N by the lever I, through links 0, is also raised. The staplers IIO N come up a little in advance of the drivers N, by reason of the shape of the cam slot k in lever K, which has a rest, k, at its upper end. This movement of the bar N, caused by its connection through link 0 with lever I, causes all the staple-drivers to move upward and force the staples out of the staplers N at their upper ends and through the sheets of paper lying directly over the ends of the staplers N. The long motion of the driver N up and down is utilized to operate the parts of the stapleforming devices which cut the wire and make it into staples, so that at each upward movement of the drivers N a staple comes out at the end a of the staple-heads N At the same time that the staplers N come up under the sheets the clinchers p are lowered in contact with the upper surface of the sheets by means of the levers Q, rock-shaft Q, journaled in bearings q, and links Q, conveying motion from lever K. \Ve now have the two stapling elements brought into cooperation and have staples inserted through the sheets with their legs standing upward and between the little rollers in clinchers 1). (See Fig. 2.) The clincher-bar P now makes its sliding motions by means of the cam-wheel T and lever S, causing all the clinchers to move across the staple-legs and roll them down, as previously described. This operation may occupy another quarter revolution of the main shaft h. The lever S acts on the sliding clincherbar P through an upwardly-projecting stud, s, which is curved from the shaft Q as a center, so as to allow the clincher-bar to be raised without binding or disconnection. The staplers N now descend, the clinchers p lift the folding-rollers 0 close together, and the striker D starts downward to crease the sheets on a line with the staples and to force the sheets down between the rollers O to complete the final fold. The motion of the striker D is effected through lever d, connecting-link e, lever E, and roller 6, engaging with cam E, secured to the main shaft. This cam E is so timed that the striker D comes down as soon as the clinchers are raised high enough to be out ofits path, so that the folding may begin as soon as possible after the staples are clinched. The balance of the one revolution of the main shaft is consumed in carrying the pamphlet down between the folding-rollers and between the guides G and G into the packer between H and H and in restoring the striker D to its original position. The sheet-guides G are mounted upon a shaft at their lower ends, so that as the staplers N drop down the guide G may fall back over the ends of the staplers to make sure that the pamphlets do not lodge on the ends of the staplers in their descent, while the stationary guide G keeps the pamphlets within bounds on the other side. As soon as the pamphlets are released by the folding-rollers, they drop down of their own weight into the packer. The packing of the pamphletsis done in the well-known manner, the device employed in my machine having no novelty.

As here shown, the frame H is reeiprocated by links H and lever H, connecting with rock shaft 1', and as a pamphlet drops on this frame it is shoved back of the pawls h, and thereby packed against frame H. The return of frame H makes room for the next pamphlet to fall.

I do not limit myself to the particular mechanisms here shown, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention, which comprehends, broadly, the combining of folding and stapling devices to act upon the same pamphlet without two handlings.

Having now described my invention, wliatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina combined book stapling and folding machine, the combination of movable stapling devices, means, substantially as set forth, to bring them into operative position, movable folding-surfaces, and means, substantially as set forth, to bring them into operative position when the stapling devices are out of op erative position, and cam mechanism to control the time of operation of said stapling de vices and folding-surfaces, whereby the sheets to be bou nd are successively stapled and folded.

2. The combination ofaslotted table, a folding knife or striker adapted to pass through said slot, a pair of folding-rollers below the slot relatively movable to or from each other, and a staple forming and driving device arranged below the rollers and adapted to be moved up between them when in use.

3. The combination of a slotted table, a folding knife or striker adapted to pass through said slot, a pair of folding-rollersbelow the slot relatively movable to or from each other, a staple forming and driving device arranged below the rollers and adapted to be moved up between them when in use, and a guide for the stapled and folded book to guide it past the staple forming and driving device when lowered.

4. The combination of a slotted table, a folding knife or striker adapted to pass through said slot, a pair of folding-rollers below the slot relatively movable to or from each other, a staple forming and driving device arranged below the rollers and adapted to be moved up between them when in use, a guide for the stapled and folded book to guide it past the staple forming and driving device when lowered, and a packing device to pack the books in succession.

5. The combination of a pair of foldingrollers movable relatively to each other, so as to approach and separate, a striker or foldingknife above said rollers, a staple forming and driving device below said rollers, cam devices to move said stapling device up between said rollers and lower it below them, and operative connecting mechanism to operate either the striker or staple forming and driving device to enable it to perform its office, but not both at the same time.

6. The combination of a folding striker or knife, a pair of folding-rollers between which the striker enters, a stapling device in line with the contact-line of the rollers,and a booksheet support above the rollers for holding the sheets in position to be stapled and folded without moving their position.

7. The combination of a pair of positivelyrotating folding-rollers relatively movable to and from each other, a staple forming and driving device adapted to be thrust up be tween said rollers, and a staple clinching device arranged above the rollers and in line with the staple forming and driving device, means, substantially as described, to move said staple forming and driving device and said staple-clinching device to or from each other, and a folding knife or striker adapted to fold the sheets down between the folding-rollers.

8. The combination of a pair of positivelyrotating folding-rollers relatively movable to and from each other, a staple forming and driving device adapted to be thrust up between said rollers, a staple-clinching device arranged above the rollers and in line with the staple forming and driving device, and means, substantially as described, to move said staple forming and driving device and said staple-clinching device to or from each other.

9. The combination of a pair of positivelyrotating folding-rollers relatively movable to and from each other, a staple forming and driving device adapted to be thrust up between said rollers, and a staple clinching device arranged above the rollers and in line with the staple forming and driving device, means, snbstantiallyas described, to move said staple forming and driving device and said staple-clinching device to or from each other, and a paper-support above the rollers and below the clinching device.

10. The combination of two folding-rollers movable to and from each other, a striker or folding-k nife adapted to descend between said rollers, a staple forming and driving device movable vertically to pass betweenor be lowered out of reach of said rollers, and a movable guide for the folded books adapted to reach over the top of the staple forming and driving device when lowered to prevent the descending books catching thereon.

11. The combination of. the folding-rollers with a vertically-movable staple forming and driving device adapted to enter between said rollers, and guides to cause the top of said staple forming and driving device to move back from under the rollers when fully lowered.

12. The combination of foldingrollers, a striker or folding-knife, a stapleforming and driving device, supporting-bar, and two or more stapling devices arranged in line with said rollers and adjustable on said bar, where by they are movable to or from each other.

13. A pair offolding-rollers, O,journale(1 in yielding bearings and provided with loose collars O or rollers, in combination with wedges U, operating to separate the foldingrollers without interfering with their continuous rotation.

14. The combination of the folding-rollers relatively movable to approach or reeedefrom each other, a striker or folding-knife, a vertically-reciprocating staple forming and driving device adapted to pass up between said rollers, and mechanism, substantially as described, independent of the staple forming and driving device to separate said rollers to allow the upward movement of the staple forming and driving device.

15. The combination of the folding-rollers relatively movable to approach or recede from each other, a striker or folding-knife, a vertically-reciprocating staple forming and driving device adapted-to pass up between said rollers, and mechanism, substantially as described, consisting of loose rollers on the folding-rollers and a separating wedge or wedges to work between said loose rollers to separate said rollers to allow the upward movement of the staple forming and driving device.

16. In an organized binding and foldingmachine, the combination of a support for the unbound sheets, a stapling device, a folding device, and connecting mechanism, substantially as set out, to operate said stapling and folding devices in succession, whereby said stapling device acts upon the sheets prior to the folding device.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HENRY R. I-IEYL.

\Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, GEO. W. REED.