US612246A - Paper folding machine - Google Patents

Description

N0. 6l2,246. Patented 00f. ll, I898.

H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1896.)

9 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

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Witnesses.

No. 612,246. Patented Oct. ll, I898. H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Dec. 5. 1.896.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets8heet 2.

Inventor.

Witnesses.

(A W 1' 0 47 gvward j. l 42 M 51 17 A tto 1" n e y No. 6l2,246. Patented Oct. ll, I898. H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1896.)

(No Model.)

9 'Shaets-Sheet 3.

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N0. 6l2,246. Patented Oct. ll, I898. H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1896.)

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Patented Oct. ll, I898.

H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1896.)

(No Model.)

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Patented Oct. ll, I898. H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1896.)

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No. 612,246. Patented Oct. II, I898.

' 'H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Apylication filed Dec. 5, 1896.) (No Model.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 7.

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Patentedflct. 1!, I898. H. K. KING.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

. (Application filed Dec. 5, 1895.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

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W itnesses.

Attorney.

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No. 6l2,246.

Patented Oct. H, I898.

H. K..KI NG. PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1896.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

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Tou'rum wnsumm'ou n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFricE.

IIOXVARD K. KING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

sPEcIrIoA TION forming part of Letters Patent no. 612,246, dated October 1 1, 1898. Application filed December 5, 1896. Serial No. 614,661. (No model.)

To all wham it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD K. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Folding Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation of a folding-machine, showing my invention applied thereto, certain parts being omitted in order to avoid confusion. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation showing the driving-gear mechanism and other features. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a side elevation as viewed from the op posite side to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 4, is a vertical medial section through the machine, as on line to w,'Fig. 1. Fig. 5, Sheet 5, is an interior View, in rear elevationthat is, looking toward the front or delivery end of the machinefrom about the line am, Fig. 4, certain parts being omittedand th frame the lugs of the frames which support and carry the last folding blades and rollers, together with the frame upon which the said blade and roller-bearing frame are supported and slide. Fig. 14, Sheet 4, is a section on line o n, Fig. 13, showing the screw-threaded shaft and circular nut thereon and worm for the independent adjustment of the frames carrying the last folding blades, rollers, 850. Fig. 15, Sheet 9, is an end elevation of the mechanism for delivering the folded sheet from the two inner sets of last folding-rollers to their packing-troughs. Fig. 16, Sheet 9, is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 15. Fig. 17, Sheet 9, is a view showing the relation of the sheet, the dividing-knives, last sets of folding-rollers, and their blades when the machine is set for 4-16 work. Fig. 18, Sheet 9, is asimilar view showing the relation of the parts when the machine is set for 2-32 work. Fig. 19, Sheet 2, is a plan View of the plate, friction-rollers, &c., detached,

fmguiding the fnlrlml ghnpr unnn th a beingpartially broken away. Fig. 6, Sheet 6, is a plan view of the packing-troughs and the plunger-operating mechanism detached and partially broken away. Fig. 7 is a sectional front elevation through the'last sets of folding-rollers, &c., showing the removable tapes and adjuncts as used when the machine is set to fold two thirty-two-page signatures. Fig. 8, Sheet 7, is a side elevation, partly in section, showing one of the last folding blades, rollers, their carrying-frame, and adjuncts detached. Fig. 8 is an illustrative diagram relating to the last folding-blades. Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a vertical medial section, as on line y y, Fig. 8, through the end of the supporting-arm of the blade, showing the connection of the blade to the arm. Fig. 11, Sheet 8, is a sectional plan view broken away and certain parts be ing omitted, showing the vertical and lateral adjusting mechanism of the packing-troughs, (the troughs themselves being omitted,) also a portion of the plunger-operating mechanism. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of Fig. 11. Fig. 13, Sheet 4, is a plan View, partially in section, showing detached the reverselythreaded shaft and adjunct-s passing through ing-tapes to the stop subsequent to the third fold and previous to the last or fourth fold when the machine is set for 2-32 work. Fig. 20, Sheet 2, is a vertical section, as on line 2 .2, Fig. 19. Fig. 21, Sheet 3, is a view show ing detached the supporting-frames of two of the packing-troughs (the latter not being shown) and a portion of the frame which is common to all the troughs. Fig. 22, Sheet 5, is a detail of the shaft that drives the last set of folding-rollers and the sliding bevelgear thereon. Fig. 23, Sheet 8, is a section on line u n, Fig. 5.

This invention relates to the well -known class of folding-machines wherein sheets of paper fed consecutively into the machine have imparted to them a series of folds through the action of a series of folding blades and rollers.

The main object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the said class a combination of mechanisms whereby by easy changes or adjustments the machine is adapted for folding the sheets either into pamphlets or signatures of sixteen pages or into thirty-two pages without insetting.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the machine to fold the sheets of different sizes eitherinto sixteen or thirty-two pages.

A third object is to improve certain minor features or mechanisms of machines of the class recited.

The precise character and construction of the mechanisms and devices whereby I attain the foregoing objects of my invention will clearly appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichrepresent my improvements as applied to a machine of the general type of what has long been known as the Chambers folding-machine.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is an interconvertible 4-16 and 2-32 machine that-is to say, it is with my present improvements adapted to divide and fold a sheet of paper into four pamphlets or signatures of sixteen pages each or two pamphlets or signatures of thirty-two pages each, as may be desired.

As my improvements have no direct application to the first and second folds of the sheets, it will be unnecessary to particularly describe the mechanism whereby these folds are caused to be made.

The sheets fed in from the board or table 1, Figs. 3 and 4, are carried by the usual tapes into proper position over the first set of folding-rollers 2, into the bite of which it is tucked by the first folding-blade 3. Thence it is likewise carried on over the second set of folding-rollers 4, to be again folded thereby by the action of the second blade 5 and said rollers.

In the description which follows the end of the machine where the sheets are fed in will be considered as the rear and the end where the finally-folded sheets are delivered into the packing-troughs the front.

The machine, as shown in the drawings, is set to 4-16, the changes made for 2-32 being illustrated in Figs. 7 and 18. The twicefolded sheet passing vertically from between the second set of folding-rolls 4 is to be divided into four equal sections, and to this end as it leaves the latter rolls it enters between shafts 6 and 7, that are journaled in the main frame 8 of the machine. One of these, 6 has secured thereto three circular knives K, Figs. 1, 4, and 17, which are adjustable longitudinally upon their shaft. The other shaft, 7, carries sleeves 9, likewise longitudinally adjustable, that are provided with peripheral grooves 10, Fig. 4, into which the cutting edges of the knives are entered. The said shafts are suitably driven in opposite directions by a train of gearing from the main driving-shaft 11 of the machine. These knives and grooved sleeves are of course so adjusted, as seen in Fig. 17, (in which the sheet is shown partially divided,) as to divide the twicefolded sheet, be its dimensions what it may, within the capacity of the machine, into four sections of equal width. Immediately below the cutter-shafts 6 and 7 is a set of rollers 12,

Figs. 4, 8, and 9, into the bite of which the sheet-sections pass. A series, two for each section, of horizontal tapes 13 pass over one of rollers 12 and under the other, thence around rollers 14, Figs. 1, 8, and 9, and over rollers 15, journaled upon studs projecting from a frame 16, that is supported by the main frame 8 of the machine, as hereinafter described. These tapes serve to carry the sheet-sections into position for the sets, one for each section, of foldingblades B and rollers 17, that impart the third and in the machine set to 4-16 the final fold, two of which, however, as hereinafter appearing, making a fourth fold when set as a 2-32. As will be seen in Figs. 4 and 8, the last-mentioned sets of rollers and blades are at right angles to the rollers 12 and in a plane below the latter. The blades B, that tuck the sheet-sections through slots 18 in overlying plat-es 19, Figs, 4, 8, and 9, into the bite of the said last set of folding-rollers 17 are secured to the free end of a horizontally-extending arm 20, which is adapted to slide vertically upon a guide-post 21, that is secured to or forms a part of the aforesaid frame 16, which latter, it may here be stated, is connected with the main frame 8, so as to be transversely adjustable thereon, as and for a purpose hereinafter described. The other end of said arm 20 is secured to a rod 21*, that is adapted to slide in bearings 21 of the frame 16. The simultaneous vertical movement of the several arms 20, and consequently of their blades ]3, at proper intervals in order to cause the latter to tuck the sheet-sections into the bite of the said last set of rolls is effected in the following manner: Fulcrumed at 22 to a part of frame 16 is a two-arm lever 23, Figs. 3, 8, and 9,

. whose forward arm is pivotally connected to the blade-arm 20 by a link connection 24. The rear or short arm of said lever is pivotally connected by means of a link-bar 25, Fig. 8, with the free end of an arm 26, that is secured to a rock-shaft 27, Figs. 3 and 8, which is journaled in brackets 28 onthe sides of the main frame. The link-bar may be pivoted on a pin or rod to the end of the lever 23 in the usual way; but in order to afford a convenient means for adjusting the height of the blade 13, if necessary, so as to insure the simultaneous entry of the blades between the folding-rollers 17, respectively, I prefer to have the pivot pin or rod vertically adjustable by means of oppositethat is, upper and loWerset-screws 23 as shown in Fig. 8, the said pin or red passing through a slot 23. For a particular purpose, hereinafter fully explained, I em ploy a peculiar connection of the link-bar with arm 26, the construction of which will alsobe described.

A rocking motion is at certain intervals imparted to the shaft 27, and consequently through the link-bar 25, lever 23, and arm 20 a vertical reciprocation of the blades 13, by the following mechanism:

29, Fig. 5, is a sleeve that is fixed upon a shaft (or it might be a stud) in the main frame. This sleeve is rotated through a small gear 29 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) upon the end of a shaft 70, that drives the last set of folding-rollers, which gear engages a larger gear 29'? upon said sleeve. The said gear 29, being back of gear 29 in Fig. 5, is hidden from view. The said sleeve has fixed thereon a cam 31, Figs. 3 and 5, having a depression 32. (Indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.)

33, Fig. 3, is a two-arm lever fulcrumed at 34 to the side of the main frame. The lower arm of this lever carries a roller (not shown) that is adaptedto bear against the edge or face of said cam, and its upper arm is pivotally connected by a rod 35 to a crank 36, that is secured to the end of the rock-shaft 27.

37, Figs. 1, 3, and 8, is a helical spring, through which passes a rod 38, whose lower end is pivotally connected to the forward or inner arm of the lever 23, and its upper end projects through and is adapted to slide in an aperture in a top cross-piece 39 of the aforesaid adjustable frame 16. This spring, bearing at one end against a head of rod 38 and at the other end against the under side of the said cross-piece, tends to depress the forward arm of lever23, and consequently the blade B. \Vhile the roller of lever 33 is riding upon the circular or elevated portion of the cam 31 the blade remains in the elevated position, as in the drawings; but when said roller reaches the depression in said cam it permits the spring 37 to actuate the arm 23, and thus compel the descent of the blade.

The vertical reciprocations of the several blades B are substantially simultaneous, and they are of course suitably timed to the position reached by the sheet-sections with relation to the third sets of folding-rollers. As the blades descend they tuck the sheets through the slotted plates 19 into the bite of said rollers, from which they respectively pass to the respective packing-troughs, as

hereinafter described.

To adapt the machine to a 2-32that is, to divide and fold the sheet of a given size into two pamphlets or signatures of thirty-two pages each-but simple changes are required, and these are made in certain partsfollowing the second set of folding-rolls. These changes are as follows: By means of the usual or any suitable side guiding devices the twice-folded sheet coming from rollers 4is so guided as to cause its medial line to run opposite the bite of the second pair of the third or last sets of folding-rollers 17. In the present instance the said pair are toward the left side of the machine, but are on the right in Figs. 17 and Two of the knives K on shaft 6,,with their grooved sleeves, are removed, as shown in Fig. 18, or are shifted so as to be inopera- Live. The remaining knife is adjusted to be in line vertically with the bite of said second pair of rollers 17 and coinciding with the line of the middle of the twice-folded sheet Z,

Fig. 18. One edge of the sheet is just within the line of the last folding-blade B on the right, and the other edge extends beyond the line of the last blade on the other sidea distance equal to the interval between the four blades B, as seen in Fig. 18. Asuitable carrying-tape 40, Fig. 7, (which is removed when the machine is doing et-lfi work,) is passed around the two rollers of the last set 17 on the right in Fig. 7 and the adjacent roller of the next or second pair, and a like tape 40 is similarly placed with relation to the third and fourth pairs of rollers. It will be seen that the folded sheet delivered from the second set of folding-rollers will be divided by the knife K, Fig. 18, into two equal parts; As these two parts pass between the rollers 12 and are carried by the tapes 13 under the folding-blades B the one part will be tucked through the slottedplate 19, Fig. 7, into the bite of the first pair of rollers 17 and the other part through the similarly-slotted plate into thebite of the third pair or said rollers,

the parts being thereby folded, and will be then carried over by the tapes 40, one part over the second pair of rollers, the other to the fourth pair of rollers, against suitable stops 41, Fig. 7, that arrest said parts at a point when their middle line will be immediately above the bite of the rollers. They are then, upon the next stroke of the blades, tucked into the bites of the said second and fourth pairs of rollers 17 respectively, by the respective blades B, and being againfolded by said rollers they pass to the packing-troughs, each a thirty-two page pamphlet or signature. In order to sustain the end of the sheet projecting beyond the first pair of the last set of rollers 17 on their way from the rollers 12 to the last folding-rollers, I use a suitable supportsuch, for example, as that shown at the right of the plan View in Fig. 13, Sheet 4, (also shown in Fig. 1)which consists of rollers r, journaled to an overhanging arm a,

which is adapted to slide on the track or guideway 60, upon which the frames 16 also slide. Tapes 2., running over rollers 12 and 0', support and aid in carrying the aforesaid end or part of the sheet. These tapes 6 pass around the said rollers 12 and r in the same way that tapes 13 pass around rollers 12, 14, and 15, as seen in Fig. 8.

If the second and fourth ones of the blades B in their descent came into contact with the respective portions of the sheet simultaneously with the contact therewith of the first and third blades, the former two would hold the sheet or part, and thus prevent the latter two blades from carrying the sheet through the slotted plates 19 into the bite of their corresponding rollers 17 It is therefore necessary to provide against such result without at the same time affecting the proper action of all the blades B, whether doing 4-16 0112-32 work. To this end I pivot the said several blades in a manner illustrated by the diagram, Fig. 8, upon Sheet 7 of the drawings, in which let the line a represent-the levers 23 and e the arm 20 of the first and third folding-blades B; let to represent the levers and 'v' the arms of the second and fourth blades; 10 w, the respective blades; y, the fulcra of the levers u; y, the fulcra of levers a, and 0c the fulcra of all the levers to the link-bar 25. As shown in the diagram, the fulcra of the levers u, corresponding to the first and third blades, is located a certain distance in advance of and below the line of the fulcra of the levers u of the second and fourth blades. Thus, obviously, the first set of blades will be caused to have a shorter throw than the other two, and thus the former Will in their descent reach the top of the slotted plates 19 before the other two, as indicated by the relative positions of the several blades at the limit of their upward movement in Figs. 7 and 18. By reason, however, of the relative location of the fulcra 3 as described, all four of the blades will attain the limit of their downward movement at the same instant, the second and fourth blades and their underlying rollers, as before stated, performing no Work when the first sheet passes in 2-82 work, but subsequently they make the fourth fold of the respective parts or sections of the sheet while the first and third rollers are making the third fold of the sections of the succeeding sheet.

While, obviously, it is not necessary that the blades B be staggered and have different throws, as described, except when the machine is doing 2-32 work, in practice it is desirable that they should be so arranged and operated, as then the machine is always ready to do either 4-16 or 2-32 work, as may be required. In order to insure the carrying by the tape 40 of the sheet from the first to the second set of rollers 17 and likewise from the third to the fourth set against the stop 41 in position for the fourth fold, I employ a device shown in Figs. 7, 19, and 20. This consists of two rollers 42, that are journaled on the ends, respectively, of arms 43, which are secured to a sleeve 44, that is pivoted on the stud 45 of a shaft 46, which is journaled in supports 47, projecting from a plate 48. Shaft 46 has an arm 49 projecting in a direction opposite to that of stud 45. The free end of a fiat spring 50 bears against the under side of arm 49, its other end being secured to plate 48 by means of a nut 51 on a screw 52 in the manner shownin Figs. 19 and 20, whereby the tenslon lot the spring may be ad usted. The

plate 48 is secured to the under side of the slotted plate 19 in the position shown in Fig. 7, so that the rollers 42 will bear upon the top of the folding-rollers 17. Obviously, from the described construction, the degree of pressure of the rollers 42 upon the roller 17 will be the same. .When the forward end of the sheet enters between the rollers 17 and rollers 42, it will be held against the former by the tension of rollers 42, and thus will be carried on positively to the suitably-placed stop 41. The tension or pressure of these rollers 42 is such,

however, that the sheet will slip between them and roller 17 after it (the sheet) has touched the stop 41.

As it will sometimes happen that little or no tension is required upon rollers 42 I provide on the same side of shaft 46 as is the arm 49 a counterbalance in the shape of a weight 54 on the free end of an arm 55, ex tending from said shaft. For. purposes of lateral adjustment of said plate and adjuncts as a whole I mount the plate on a rod 57, that is secured to the brackets 58, Fig. 7, by which the plate, &c., are secured to the slotted plate 19. This rod passes freely through the aforesaid bracket, so that the lattermay slide upon the said rod. The plate is secured in the required adjustment by means of a set-screw 59, passing through one of said projections and bearing upon said rod.

I have described the construction wherebv the machine is adapted to do either 416 or 2-32 work Without the necessity of insetting. In order, however, that such a machine shall have increased utility, it is necessary that it shall be capable of ready adi ustments to fold sheets of paper of different sizes. Not only the dividing-knives following the second set of folding-rollers shall be adjustable, as described, but also the last folding-blades, the sets of rollers for making the last fold or folds, and various other parts, together with the packing-troughs, and it is also manifestly desirable that these various adjustments shall be capable of being made simultaneously, or as nearly so as possible. I shall now proceed to describe the means and mechanism whereby such adjustments are effected.

16 is the frame, hereinbefore referred to as the adjustable sliding frame, to which are journaled the last set of folding-rollers 17 and the rollers 14 and 15, over which run the tapes 13, that carry the twice-folded sheet above rollers 17, and which frame carries the last folding-blades B and its before-described connections. There is one of these independent frames for each set of said rollers, blades, &c., as seen in Fig. 1. All of said frames 16 are supported by and upon transverse rails or guideways and 61, (in the present instance of the U-shaped form seen in Fig. 4,) these rails being secured to or a part of the main frame of the machine. The frames 16 are longitudinally movable upon said rails, their inner ends being grooved to receive the top of the vertically-pro ecting limb or the U-shaped rail 60. For convenience the two inner adjacent frames rest upon one of the U-limbs and the two outer frames upon the other limb. The other or outer ends of said frames are provided with studs 62, upon which are journaled rollers or wheels 63, that run between the horizontally-entending limbs of the U-rail 61 on that side. The upper part of each of the said frames is steadied and guided by means of a T-rail 64, Figs. 2, 3, 4, S, and 9, of a bracket 65, fixed to the main frame of the machine, the head of said rail being entered into a corresponding slot or groove 66 in a lug or head 67, projecting from the vertical post 21, which is virtually a part of the frame 16. The arms 26 are fixed upon the'rock-shaft 27 but the upper ends of the links-bars 25 are pivoted to heads 67 which are slotted to receive aguide-rail 68, running parallel with the rock-shaft, as seen in Figs. 1 and 8, and connected to the ends of all the arms 26 of the rock-shaft.

In order to lessen friction of the heads 67 upon the guide-rail, I provide a flanged wheel 68, Figs; 1 and 8, that is journaled in the head 67 and which is adapted to bear against the said guide-rail when the frames 16, and consequently the heads 67, are adjusted laterally. I usually employ a pairone on each side of the levers 23, respectively-of the link-bars 25 and connect the two by a bracebolt 68, Figs. 1 and 8.

It will be obvious from the foregoingdescribed construction that when the frames 16 are shifted on the trackways and 61 the several sets of rollers, blades, and other parts directly connected to said frames will, each set as a unit, be correspondingly shifted. As it is, however, necessary to adjust accordingly the several bevel-gears 69 upon the shaft 70, that drives the sets of folding-rollers 17, respectively, I mount the said gears upon the shaft in a manner that they may slide with'the frames 16that is to say, I provide a spline 71, Figs. 4 and 22, on the shaft that is entered into a groove 7 2 on the sleeve portion 73 of the gear, which sleeve is journaled in bearings 74, Figs. 5 and 22, that are secured to or form a part of the frame 16. Thus the movement of the latter will carry the gear always in engagement with the bevel-gear 75, Fig. 4, on one of the folding-rollers 17.

I shall now describe the construction, arrangement, and adjustments of the packingtronghs T and the mechanism for operating the plungers 76, working therein. As hereinafter described, these troughs are capable of adjustments in both vertical and horizontal directions, independent of any adjustments of other parts of the machine. They are also capable of a certain adjustment simultaneously with'and' suitably correspond ing to the adjustments of the frames 16 and their before-described adjuncts and connections. To these ends the packing-troughs are arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6- that is, in substantially the same vertical plane, but in pairs or sets, two on each side of the middle line of the machine-and the in ner ends of the upper tro ughs set back from the inner ends of the lower troughs. The purpose the same vertical plane as the bite of the said respective rollers, and, as hereinafter seen, this relative position is always maintained, be the adjustments of the rollers what they may. Each of said troughs is secured to and so carried by its particular frame 77, marking the frames of the upper troughs, and '77 those of the lower ones. These several frames are mounted on a common transverse vertical frame 78 in a manner to be capable of longitudinal movement thereonthat is to say, the upper end of each trough-frame has a rearward extension 79, with a groove 80 in its under side into which extends an upward projection 81 of the top rail of the said common frame, as seen in Fig. 4. The lower part of each of the trough- frames 77 and 77 is provided with rollers 82, journaled on studs 83, which rollers ride against the side of the bottom rail of said common frame, as also seen in Fig. 4. This latter frame is mounted upon and is thus supported by two posts 84 and is adapted to slide vertically thereon. Vertical adjustment of the said frame, and, consequently, of all the packing-troughs at the same time, is made as follows: On the inner side of each of said posts 84 are rack-. teeth 85, with which engage the teeth of pinions 86 upon a horizontal shaft 87, which is journaled in bearings of the frame 78. The said shaft may be easily rotated by means of a hand-wheel 88 upon the end of a sleeve 89, that is journaled on a stud 90, projecting from the'side of said frame, said sleeve having a toothed pinion 91, that engages the teeth of a large gear 92 upon shaft 87. There is also a ratchet-wheel 93 upon said sleeve and a coacting pawl 94, pivoted on a stud 95 on the side of the said frame 78. By turning the hand-wheel 88 the common frame 78 is raised or lowered and is retained in position by the said pawl and ratchet-wheel. A to-and-fro or horizontal adjustment of said frame 78, and so of the packing-troughs, is accomplished as follows: The guide-posts 84 are support-ed by strong horizontal rods or bars 96, that are adapted to slide in bearings 84 and 98 of a part of the main frame of the machine. The means which I employ for shifting the said posts upon the horizontal rods, and thus correspondingly shifting the position of the common frame and the troughs supported thereby, consist of a screw 97, one for each post, that passes through a threaded aperture in the lower part of the post 84 and has a bearing in a lug or projection 98 of a part of the machine-frame in which the rods 96 find a bearing. 0n the end of this screw is a bevel-gear 99, that engages a bevel-gear 100 on a sha'ftilOl, that is journaled in bearings of the main frame of the machine, or, rather, in bearings in the lug 98, which is virtually a part of the main frame. By turning a hand-wheel 102 on the end of said shaft 101 the screws 97 will be simultaneously rotated, and thus the rods 96 and the posts 84 too and parts carried thereby will be caused to slide in their bearings 84 to the desired position.

It is obviously necessary that provision be made whereby the plungers working in the packing-troughs, respectively, shall be reciprocated in any adjustment-in other words, that the mechanism that actuates the plungers shall, so to say, follow up the changes in position of the packing-troughs and reciprocate the plungers, which latter do not change their positions with relation to the troughs.

Premising that the troughs and plungers are of the usual well-known form and construction, I shall now describe the construction of the plunger-operating devices and the expedients which I have devised in order to cause said devices to accommodate themselves to the various adjustments of the packing-troughs.

The lower end of me shank 105 of each plunger that extends through the usual end slots 104, Fig. 6, of the packing-trough is mounted on the end of a rod 105, extending longitudinally with and beneath the packingtrough, which rod is adapted to slide in bearings 106 of the trough in the usual manner and is adapted to be actuated inward at proper times by means of the usual compression-spring 107, Fig. 6.

To the plunger-rod 105 is fixed a horizontal inwardly-extending arm 108, and in contact with the inner side thereof is a roller 109 on the end of an arm 110, that projects from a sleeve 111 on a vertical shaft 112, fixed to the common frame 78, that supports the trough-carrying frames, as previously described; also, projecting from sleeve 111 is a second arm 113, with a roller 114: on its free end bearing against the inner side of a bar or rail 115, running parallel with the troughs and their said common frame. This rail 115 is pivotally connected to the arms 116 of a lever 117, one for each end, that is fulcrumed on a projection 1.18 of the common frame 78.

The ends of the other and outer arms 119 of the said levers are pivoted to a connectingrod 120, and to an extension 121 of one of said arms 119 is attached, by a universal joint 122, one end of a rod 123, whose other end is connected also by a universal joint 124 to the lower end of the arm of a lever 125. (Seen at the left of Fig. 5.) This leveris fulcrumed on a projection 126 from the main frame 8 of the machine. (Seen in Figs. 3 and 5.) The end of its arm carries a roller 127, that bears against the face of a cam 128, which in this instance is upon the end of the sleeve 29, thatalso carries the before-described cam 31, that operates the rock-shaft 27. The cam 128 in its rotation imparts an inward throw to lever 125, and through the described connections an outward throw of the several plungers against the stress of the springs 107 that is to say, the movement of said lever drawing back the rod 123 moves the levers 117 on their pivots, and thus an inward throw is given to the rail or bar 115, which, bearin g against the rollers on the ends of the arms 114; of sleeves 111, moves the other arm 110 of the latter and so causes these arms 110 to actuate the plunger-rods 105. As the cam 128 continues its rotation the plungers are at the proper intervals pushed inwardly toward the inner ends of the packing-troughs by the respective springs 107.

It will be seen upon following up the described construction that whatever be the vertical or the to-and-fro adjustments of the packing-troughs the plun ger-operatin g mechanism will automatically adjust or accommodate itself accordingly. It will also be seen, as hereinafter described, that certain transverse or lengthwise adjustments of the several packing-troughs, with their respective plunger-s, may be made without affecting the operation of the plunger-operating devices.

I shall now describe the means whereby the several independent frames 16, carrying the last folding blades, rollers, 850., may be caused to take their proper relative positions-that is, simultaneously adjusted to suit sheets of a given size to be folded, whether the machine be set as a 4-16 or as a 2-32-and whereby at the same time the packing-troughs are correspondingly adjusted longitudinally to receive and pack the finally-folded sheets delivered thereto.

It will be remembered that the four independent frames 16, that carry the last foldingblades B, folding-rollers 17, and other specific parts, are supported upon guideways and 61, along which they (the said frames) are adapted to slide or move. Now it is essential that whatever he the size of the sheets to be folded the proper relative positions or distance apart of the blades, rollers, &c., as also the proper relative positions of the several packing-troughs to the said sets of rollers, respectively, shallbe always maintained. To secure this end, I employ a shaft S, journaled transverselyin bearings of the main frame of the'machine, and which has a hand-wheel 129 for turning the shaft. Said shaft is provided with four screw-threads, the two marked 5 and s in Fig. 13 on theone side of the middle of the shaft being of reverse direction to those marked 3 and s on the other side. Upon each of these threaded portions of the shaft is a circular nut 130, each nut being between two lugs 131, that project from a part of the frame 16, that carries the last set of folding-rollers, the. through which lugs the threaded shaft S passes freely. The turning of the said threaded shaft will obviously cause the frames 16 to travel upon the guideways 60 and 61; but as there must be a certain difference in the movement or travel of the said frames when they are to be adjusted from one size sheet to another, in order that the frames, or, more exactly, their respective blades, rollers, &e., shall always be equidistant no matter in which direction or to what extent the shaft is rotated, I make the pitch of the outer reverse screw-threads s and s the same and the pitch of the inner threads 3 and the same, but the pitch of the outer threads is relatively greater than the others to a certain extent, whereby when the shaft is rotated and the two inner frames are moved toward or from each other-say, for example, each a distance of one inchthe two outer ones of frames 16 will move three inches and so al ways in like proportion, (progression) The packing-troughs are caused to adjust with the frames 16 by being connected with said frames, respectively, by means of an upward extension 77 of a vertical bar 77, Figs. 1, 4, 13, and 21, of the trough-frame, which extension engages a slot 77, Fig. 13, ma lug 77, that projects horizontally from the frame 16. This extension is always in engagement with the said lug whatever the adjustment of the trough-frame. As shown, each troughframe 77 and 77 has its extension 77 of bar 77", each engaging its corresponding slotted lug 77 of a frame 16. It will be obvious that when the threaded .shaft S is rotated and the frame 16 shifted thereby the several packing-troughs will, by the described connections, follow the adjustments of said frames. In order to secure such slight independent adjustments of the several frames, if and when the same shall be necessary, I make employ a mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 15, and 1 6. This consists of a vertical frame 134, one for each of the inner or middle blade and roller carrying frames 16, to which they are respectively secured. On the shaft 135 of one of each of the sets of folding-rollers 17 is a gear 136, whose teeth engage those of a pinion 137 on the end of a roller 138, that is jonrnaled in bearings at the top of said vertical frame. This gear engages another gear 139 upon the shaft 140 of a similar roller 141. J ournaled in the lower end of said frame are two rollers 142 and 143. Endless tapes 144 pass around rollers 141 and 142 and similar tapes 145 pass around rollers 13S and 143. The adjacent sides'or faces of the tapes 144 and 145 run near to each other, as clearly seen in Fig. 16 and as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 16. In the lower end of the frame 134 is a slot 146, Fig. 16. The rollers 141 and 142, which carry one tape, are placed in horizontal planes lower than the planes of the rollers 138 and 143, which carry the other tapethat is to say, the journals of rollers 13S and 141 are in a plane substantially parallel with the journals of rollers 142 and 143, but which planes are oblique to the plane of the line of the tapes. Thus it will be seen the sheet entering between and while carried by the moving tapes will always lie between the periphery of the nut 130 concave and provide the same with teeth, as seen in Figs. 13 and 14, and engage therewith a worm 132, journaled in the frame 16, which worm may be conveniently turned by means of a handwheel 133 on a rod that is connected to the worm. In this way it will be obvious that each frame may be adjusted independently. This rotatable nut-and-worm connection may, however, be dispensed with, although-usually desirable, in which case the lugs 131 may be provided with screw-threads, and thus become, in effect, the nuts for the threaded shaft S.

In order that the rollers of the tapes 6, that, as hereinbefore described, serve to support an end of the sheet in 232 work, may be adj usted-to follow the adjustments of the blade and roller carrying frames 16, I provide on one end (on the left of the machine in the presentinstance) of the shaft S a fifth screwthread 8 that runs in the same direction as that of the adjacent thread 5 but its pitch is such that when the shaft S is rotated it will move the frame a, that carries the rollers r, a distance of four inches, when the next adjacent frame 16 moves three'inches and in like proportion.

It will be understood that when the frames 16 are moved when being adjusted, as described, the pivoted heads 67 of the link bars 25 will slide upon the guide-rail 63, that is secured to the ends of the rock-shaft arms 26.

To insure a proper delivery of the sheets passing through the two inner sets of the last folding-rolls, which latter are a considerable distance from the lower packing-troughs, I

yielding or elastic surfaces, which would not be the case if the rollers were, as has heretofore been usual, contiguous. I usually employ adjustable idler-pulleys 147 to keep the tapes taut and so prevent slipping. Now as the sheet receiving its final fold from the said two inn er sets of rolls passes from the bite of said rolls it is guided by a side plate 148, Fig. 16, to pass between the contiguous tapes 144 and 145, by which it (the sheet) is carried down through the slot 146, whence it falls into the said packing-trough.

When the tapes 4 0 are usedin doing 2-32 workthey are enabled to accommodate themselves to any adjustment of the frames 16 and rollers 17 through the use of a weight W, having a pulley 10, over which and pulleys 10 of the roller-frame the tape passes, as seen in Fig. 7.

To return to the last folding-bladesB, in order to secure a proper alinement of these blades with relation to the slotted plates 19 and the underlying folding-rollers 17, I have devised the construction shown'in Figs. 8 and 10, Sheet 7, and which is. as follows:. Said blade is secured to a shank 149 with an elongated convex head 150, from the top of which extends a vertical shank or bar 151, having a screw-thread on its free end, as shown. This bar is passed through an aperture 152 in the end of the arm 20 that carries the blade, a washer 150, through which passes the bar 151, having a concave under face corrresponding to the convexity of the head of shank 149, the upper side of the washer bearing against the under side of the arm 20. On the upper side of the latter rests a washer 154,through which the bar 151 extends and whose upper face is concave. Upon this latter washer 15a rests the convex face of another washer 155. Upon the free end of bar 151 is a nut 156. The apertures in the several washers and in the end of arm 20, through which bar 151 passes, are somewhat greater in diameter than the diameter of the said bar, so that the latter may have some play. In bringing the working edge of the blade into the proper alinement before mentioned the nut 156 is first loosened and the machine is operated so as to bring down the blade into the bite of the two fold ing-rollers, when by reason of the described construction the blade is free to assume antomatically, so to say, its proper alinement or position in all directions, whereupon the nut 156 is secured down tightly, and thus maintains the blade in place.

Having thus described my invention, the features and combinations which I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, are

1. In a folding-machine of the character de scribed, the combination of the series of movable frames, 16, means for simultaneously adj usting the same whereby the distance apart between adjacent frames will be equal at any adjustment, the sets of folding rollers and blades carried by said frames, respectively, and mechanism, substantially as described, for actuating said rollers and blades adapted to adjust itself automatically to and simultaneously with the adjustments of said frames and adjuncts, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding-machine of the character described the combination of the series of independent adjustable frames 16 the sets of folding-rollers 17 and their corresponding folding-blades carried by said frames, respectively, the springs for imparting a downward movement to said blades, the pivoted levers 23 with which said blades are respectively connected, the rock-shaft 27 the arms 26 fixed to said shaft, the rail 68 secured to the said arms, the link-bars one end of which is pivoted to said levers 2-3 the-heads 67 pivoted to the other end of said link-bars and connected to and adapted to slide longitudinally upon said rail, together with the crank 36 connecting-rod 35 pivoted lever 33 and the rotatable cam 31 for actuating said lever 33 against the stress of the said springs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a folding-machine of the character described, the combination of the series of independent, sliding, adjustable frames 16 the sets of folding-rollers and their corresponding blades, carried thereby, the rotatable shaft, S having the series of screw-threads with which said frames are respectively connected, the relative pitches and directions of 7 said screw-threads being respectively,as hereinbefore specified, whereby equidistance between the said frames and the parts carried thereby is insured and maintained, when the said shaft is rotated in either direction, substantially as described.

4. In a folding-machine, the combination of the series of sliding frames 16, the folding rollers and blades carried thereby, the lugs 131 of said frames, the rotatable shaft, 5, having the series of screw-threads, s, 8 s and s, thereon, passing freely through the respective lugs, and the rotatable nuts 130 upon the said respective screw-threads, all constructed and adapted to operate as described, whereby the several frames and their adjuncts, may be adjusted simultaneously and their equidistance preserved, and any of said frames may be adjusted independently, substantially as and for the purpose recited.

5. In a foldin g-machine of the character described, the combination of the four sets of folding-rollers, 17 their respective foldingblades, the tapes 4:0 for carrying sheets of paper from the first to the second sets of said rollers, and from the third to the fourth sets thereof, the respective slotted plates, 19, and means for actuating said blades, whereby those of the first and third thereof are caused to enter the corresponding slots in said plates before the second and fourth blades enter the slots in their corresponding plates,and whereby'also, all of the several blades shall reach the bite of their respective folding-rollers substantially simultaneously, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a folding-machine, the combination with the folding-rollers, 17 and tapes to of the frame 48 the tension guide-rollers carried thereby and journaled, one at each end, to the pivoted arms, 43 whereby said guide-rollers are caused to bear with equal pressure upon the folding-roller, substantially as described.

'7. In a folding-machine, the combination of the packing-troughs, relatively arranged as shown and described, the respective frames to which they are attached, their respective plungers, the vertical frame 78 upon which said frames are adapted to slide longitudinally, and means substantially as specified,

for vertically adjusting said frame 78 and means, substantially as described for transversely adjusting the last-mentioned frame.

8. In a folding-machine, the combination of the packing-troughs, relatively arranged as shown and described, the respective sliding frames, to which they are attached, the respective plungers adapted to work in said troughs, the series of sliding frames 16 the sets of folding-rollers and folding-blades carried thereby, respectively, means for simultaneously adjusting said frames with their adjuncts, and at the same time maintaining their equidistance, connections between said packing-troughs and frames 16 respectively, whereby the said troughs are caused to adjust with said frames and their adjuncts, and whereby saidtroughs will be caused to always preserve their proper position and relation to the said sets of folding-rollers, respectively, together with self-adjusting mechanism for actuating the said pl'ungers in any and all adjustments of the frames 16 their adjuncts, and the said packing-troughs, sub-' stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a folding-machine, the combination of the rollers 17 the vertically reciprocating arms 20 and the folding-blade loosely connected to said arm, substantially as shown and described, whereby when the blade is entered in the bite of said rollers it will adjust itself automatically in all directions With relation to the said folding-rollers, together with means for securing the blade in such adjustment, substantially as described.

10. In a folding-machine, the combination with the apertured arms 20 the folding-blade,

B, of devices for adjusting said blade, consisting of the shank 149 convex at the top, the Washer 153 concave on the under side to correspond with the convexity of said shank, the concave washer 1 54 the corresponding convex washer 155 said shank passing loosely through said Washers and aperture in arm 20 together with means such as a nut 151 for maintaining the parts in any adjustment of the foldingblade, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD K. KING. Witnesses:

WALTER O. PUSEY, JOSHUA PUSEY.

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