US763644A - Folding-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 763,644. I PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904. G. A. S'TURTEVANT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION nun mu. 2. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"n4: Noam PErcns w, PHOTD-LIYNQ. WASHINGTON. DC-

No. 763,644. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904" A. STURTEVANT. FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 R m S &

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PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

0. A. STUBTEVANT. FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

no MODEL.

/gizess es UNITED STATES i atented J'une 28,19o4.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. STURTEVANT, ()F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WELVANT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,644, dated June 28, 1904. I Application filed March 2, 1903. Serial No. 145,797. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. STURTEVANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New J ersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a folding-machine in which a number of parallel folds are produced in the sheet, although some parts thereof are also applicable to other types of folding-machines. 5

7 One of the objects of this invention is to so organize the machine that the folding-rollers are rotated directly by frictional contact with the sheet-carrying tapes, thereby dispensing with separate means for rotating these rollers, as practiced heretofore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheet-carrying mechanism which con tains buta single set of tapes, which carry the sheets successively to the several folders and to the receiving-table, thereby reducing the number of pulleys, gear-wheels, tape-tighteners, and other parts, which are required when several distinct sets of tapes are employed for carrying the sheets from one sheet-folder to another.

Another object of this invention is to improve the. gages against which the front edge of the sheets are registered.

My invention has the further object to provide an improved clamp for holding the pressure-rollers, whereby the sheets are held down on the tapes.

1n the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved folding-machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section, on an enlarged scale. of one of the pressure-rollers. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section in line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of thereceiving and drop rollers and the front gage. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section in line 6 6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section in line 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section. on an enlarged scale, of one of the folding-blade rock-arms and connecting parts. Fig. 9 is a 5 vertical section in line 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the bearings of one pair of folding-rollers. Fig. 11 is a vertical section in line 11 11, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, in line 12 12, Fig. 6, showing the gearing connecting the final pair of foldingrollers' and the cutters.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the main frame of the foldingmachine, which may be of any suitable construction, and B is the horizontal receivingtable which is arranged in the lower rearor delivery part of the frame and receives the folded signatures, sections, or pamphlets.

0 represents endless sheet-carrying tapes, bands, or belts, which pass horizontally forward over receiving-rollers (Z, arranged in the front or receiving part of the frame and downwardly between the first pair of folding or imposition rollers e a, thence horizontally forward and downward between the second pair of folding or imposition rollers f f, thence horizontally forward and downward between the third pair of folding or imposition rollers g g, thence downwardly between a pair of cutter-shafts it if- Thence the tapes may pass directly downward in front of the receiving-table and backwardly around the under side of delivery or driving wheels I, thence upwardly and backwardly over an intermediate roller J, thence backwardly over guide-rollers k and downwardly underneath tightening-rollers k to the place of beginning. 8 5 For the purpose of lapping the tapes around a greater part of the driving-wheels and increasing the frictional or driving contact between the same some of the tapes, as shown at 0, may pass backwardly underneath the front cutter-shaft 72 thence downwardly over a shaft or roller L, arranged over the front part of the delivery-wheels, and thence forwardly over the top of the delivery-wheels, after which the course of these tapes is the same as those first described. When no outters are used, some of the tapes, as shown by dotted lines 0', may pass from the front final folding-roller g over the shaft L and thence forwardly over the deliverywheels. Then these tapes complete their course the same as the tapes before described.

The receiving-rollers are mounted on a transverse shaft D, which is journaled in bearings on the upper front part of the frame. The several pairs of folding-rollers are arranged successively lower, so that the sheetcarrying portions of the tapes are arranged horizontal and parallel and are stepped from one pair of folding-rollers to the next following pair, as shown in Fig. 2. The foldingrollers may be journaled in any suitable way, but preferably in ball-bearings, so that the rollers turn easy. The ball-bearing for this purpose (shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings) is constructed as follows: m represents a gudgeon or stud of hardened steel fitted into the end of a folding-roller and extending through a cylindrical opening of a bearingbloek M. 777/ represents several annular rows of balls arranged between the stud m and a steel bushing 022?, which lines the bore of the block. The several rows of balls are separated by spacing washers or rings m and are held in place by a disk m arranged at the outer end of the stud and connected with the roller by a screw m which passes through the stud. The two bearing-blocks at the same end of a pair of folding-rollers are supported in a seat M on the main frame and are pressed together by a spring on. The first and second pair of folding-rollers are driven solely from the carryin g-tapes, sufficient frictional contact for this purpose being produced between the tapes and the rollers by the passage of the tapes over the front member of each pair of said folding-rollers and underneath the companion rear member, whereby an ogee deflection or offset is produced in the tapes, which causes the same to firmly grip both rollers of a pair and reliably turn the same. The front member g of the final pair of folding-rollers is also turned slowly by the frictional contact of the tapes therewith in passing forwardly and downwardly over the same to the drivingwheels. Inasmuch as the rear member g of the final pair of folding-rollers is not in driving contact with the tapes, this roller is rotated from its companion front roller g in unison therewith by a pair of intermeshing gear wheels at n, arranged on the adjacent ends of these rollers, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 12. By thus driving the folding-rollers directly from the carrying-tapes the gearing which has heretofore been employed for this purpose is dispensed with, thereby simplifying the construction of the machine and reducing the cost correspondingly.

- The driving or delivery wheels are mounted on a transverse driving-shaft a, which is journaled in the main frame and which may be driven in any suitable manner for instance, by a gear-wheel 2", arranged on the shaft and geared with a driving mechanism.

The intermediate roller J is journaled in the upper part of the main frame and serves principally to bring the tapes into engagement with a considerable part of the periphery of the driving-wheels. The guide-rollers k are mounted on a transverse rod H, which is supported on the main frame, andthe tightening-rollers 7c are supported from the rod 77 by tighten er-arms These arms are pressed downwardly by weights so that the tightener-rollers constantly tend to take the slack out of the tapes. V

0 represents guard-rods which are arranged over the path of the sheets as they are fed to the first or initial folding-rollers, and O O are similar guard-rods arranged over the path of the sheets while being fed to the intermediate and final rollers. respectively.

p p 2 represent guide-rods which extend forwardly from the rearmember of each pair of folding-rollers and support the advancing end of the sheet which is out of contact with the deflected part of the tapes, so that the same is in line with the trailing part of the sheet which is still engaged by the tapes. The upper sides of the guide rods are flush with the carrying part of the tapes immediately in front of the same. and their front ends are curved downwardly and engage with grooves p in the rear member of the folding-rollers, so as to direct the advancing sheet over the top of the guide rods. The guard and guide rods are supported from the main frame by cross-bars P.

Q Q Q represent the vertically -movable folding-blades, which are arranged over the folding-rollers and whereby the sheets are creased and carried into the nip of the folding-rollers. These blades are provided with slots q for clearing the guard-rods and are supported by arms 1/ from transverse rockshafts (1 which are journaled in bearings on the main frame.

R R R represent rockarms depending from the rock-shafts of the several foldingblades.

3 represents a rod which connects the depending rock-arm R of the first and second folding-blade shafts.

s 8 represent rods which connect the arms R R of the second and third folding-blade shafts with the upper arm of a rock-lever S. The latter is arranged between the second and third folding-blade shafts and is pivoted on the shaft L.

8 represents a cam secured to the drivingshaftz' and engaging with a roller 8* on the lower arm of the rock-lever 8. When the high part of this cam engages with the roller 8*, the several folding-blades are raised simultaneously through the medium of the intermediate connecting mechanism, and when the low part of this cam is presented to the roller 8* the several folding-blades descend into the nip betweenflthe several pairs of folding-rollers. By thus operating all of the foldingblades from a-singl e cam the construction is not only simplified and the cost reduced proportionately, but the timing of the foldingblades is also effected more rea'dily'and-the number of parts requiring attention and 1ia'-. ble to wear is reduced. In order to permit each folding-blade to be adjustedconveniently. with reference to its foldingroll-ers,-each of the depending rockarmsR R R is constructed in two sections 9 9 which are adjustably connected, so that the position of the blade can be adjusted with reference to its actuating mechanism. The upper section 0" is secured or fixed on the folding-blade rock-shaft and preferably formed in one piece with one of theblade-supporting arms, as shown in Fig. 8,-while the lower sec: tion 9'' is hung looselyon'the respective rockshaft and-is connected by its red with the cam actuated lever.

'2' is an eccentric arranged in a longitudinal slot a in the upper section 7' of the rock-arm and ivoted on a screw 1 arran ed on the lower. section thereof. Upon loosening the bolt 9" the eccentric may beturned for shiftingthei upper section 9" with reference to the lower section 9" until the folding-blade-is in the required position. For convenience in turning the eccentric the outer sidewof the latter is provided with; a head or shoulder 1 having peripheral recessesr which are adapted to receive a pin for turning the eccentric. After the folding-blade has been adjusted to the required position the eccentric is fastened in place by tightening the belt o The eccentric preferably does not extend entirely through the slot of the fixed section, and the head thereof overhangs this section, so that upon tightening the screw 9* the eccentric and loose section-will be firmly clamped against opposite sides' of the fixed arm-section. This means of adjusting the folding-blades is extremely simple and permits accurate adjustment of the blades to be easily and quickly effected by the use of but a single screw or bolt,thereby saving time in getting the machine ready and also avoiding the necessity of handling a number of different wrenches common to this class of machines as heretofore constructed.

U represents the vertical movable drop-rollers, whichare arranged over the receivingrollers and whereby the sheets are pressed against the tapes for causing the sheets to move with the same. These drop-rollersare mounted on a transverse rod or shaft 20, which is supported by arms 1/ from a rock-shaft a The latter is journaled in bearings on the front part of the frame and is rocked by a rod 10 connected at its front end with a rock-arm 14, depending from the rock-shaft 14 while its rear end is provided with a roller a which is engaged by a cam/a on the driving-shaft a.

j 'V repres'entsfront gages, against whichtlie front edges of the sheets are fed and gaged preparatory to being carried by the tapes to the folding mechanism. Each of the gages is elbow-shaped and' normally projects with its free lower end downwardly across the path of the sheets at the top of the receiving-roller, and its upperinwardly-projecting part is pivoted by a transverse pine to a bracket a), which projects outwardly from the adjacent crosse-b'ar l x-The gage is normally moved downwardly and outwardly into its operative position across the path of the sheets, as shown in Fig. 2, by a spring c connecting the upper parto'f the gage with the bracket 0. The movement of the gage when it reaches its operative position is arrested by a stop or finger 0 formed on the upper part of the gage and striking against a stop or lug o on the adjacent part of the bracket. In the normal op-' erative position of the gage the same projects outwardly underneath the shaft 20. WVhile in this position, the sheet to be folded is fed against the'gages and registered. When the parts of the machine are in position for receivingthe next sheet, the drop-rollers descend and press the sheet against the tapes, thereby causing the sheets to move forward withthe same. During. the first part of the downward m'oveme'nt'o'f the-drop-rollers the. shaft u thereof engages with the elbow of the gages and turns their free lower ends inwardly and u-pwardly out of the path ofthe sheet, thereby avoiding obstructing the forward movement of the sheet. After thefull length ofthe sheet has been fed past the front gages the drop-rollers rise and the gagesare again lowered into their operative position. As the sheet moves forward it passes between the firstpair of folding-rollers and folding-blades, and when it reaches its folding position its front edge strikes-a front gage orstop w, secured to the adjacent guard-rods, whereby the forward-movement of the sheet is arrested. Immediately thereafter the initial foldingblade descends'and presses the central part of the sheet between the first folding rollers, whereby the latter obtain-a grip upon the sheet and fold the-same. As the folded sheet issues from the lower side of the first pairof folding-rollers the tapes carry the same forwardly between the second pair of folding-rollers and folding-blade and against a second front stop '20, when the operation of producing theseC- ond fold parallel to the first is formed in the sheet: The sheetis now in like manner carried from the second folding mechanism to the third folding mechanism and arrested by stops 2'0 and a third fold parallel to the pre vious folds is produced in the same. As the completely-folded signature or sheet issues from the third. pair of folding-rollers it is carried downwardly by the vertical delivery portion of the tapes, from which latter the signatures are removed and directed upon the re ceiving-table by vertical guide-fingers 6, arranged on the inner end of the table. As the signatures are delivered successively on the table they are moved outwardly thereon against movable followers 6 by a packing device which may be of any suitable construction and which is indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 6.

It will be observed that in this folding-machine the sheets are carried successively to the several folders and to the receiving-table by a single set of tapes, thereby avoiding the use of extra rollers, shafts, gear-wheels, belttighteners, and other transmitting gearing, which are required when different sets of tapes are employed for carrying the sheets from one place to another and presenting the same to the several folding devices.

In order to prevent the tapes from slipping on the sheets, which is liable to occur when folding some kinds of sheet-paper, presserrollers w are arranged to press the sheets downwardly on the tapes. As shown in the drawings, four of such rollers are shown bearing on the tapes in advance of the first pair of foldingrollers. Each of these rollers is mounted on the rear free end of a supportingarm :20, which latter is pivoted at its front end on a transverse pin :2

. y 3/ represent a pair of clamping-plates having jaws g 1 at their lower ends which engage against opposite sides of the guardrod or other support adjacent to the presserroller. One of these plates is provided with a square stud g, which passes through a correspondingly-shaped opening in the other plate and carries the pivot-pin The stud y is provided on the outer side of the perforated jaw with a cross-pin 1 as shown in Fig. 3, forming a fulcrum on which the perforated plate turns with reference to the other plate. y represents a clamping-screw arranged in one of the clamping-plates above the stud g and bearing against the other plate, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Upon shifting the plates on the guard-rod until the presser-roller is in the desired position and then tightening the clamping-screw the upper ends of the plates will be separated or spread, thereby causing the plates to turn with reference to each other on the cross-pin y and grip the jaws at their lower ends firmly against opposite sides of the guard-rod, whereby the presser-roller is held in place. This construction of clamp for adjustably attaching the presser-roller to the guard-rod is very conveniently manipulated and affords a favorable leverage for securely holding the roller in place.

WVhen it is desired to cut the folded signature into a number of parts previous to discharging the same on the table, one or more cutting devices are arranged to sever the folded signature as the same issues from the final folding mechanism. A suitable cutting mechanism for this purpose consists of a rotary cut ting-disk 2, arranged on one of the cutter-shafts and cooperating with a grooved roller .2 on the other cutter-shaft. The folded signature passes downwardly between the cutting-disk and roller and is severed while being delivered on the table. The two cutter-shafts are journaled in bearings on the main frame and are turned by intermeshing gear-wheels .2 2 secured to the respective ends of the cuttershafts,and an intermediate gear-wheel 2*, journaled on the main frame and meshing with the gear-wheel n on one of the final foldingrollers and with the gear-wheel 2 of one of the cutter-shafts, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 12.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a plurality of pairs of folding-rollers, the rollers of the initial pair being unconnected by gearing while the final pair of rollers is connected by gearing, and carrying tapes which pass over the front roller and underneath the rear roller of the initial pair and around the front roller of the final pair, whereby all of the rollers except the rear roller of the final pair are driven solely by frictional contact with said tapes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a plurality of pairs of folding-rollers, the rollers of the initial pair being unconnected by gearing while'the final pair of rollers is connected by gearing, driving-wheels of larger diameter than said folding-rollers, and carrying-tapes which pass over the front roller and underneath the rear roller of the initial pair, around the front roller of the final pair and also around said driving-wheels;whereby all of the rollers excepting the rear roller of the final pair are driven solely by frictional contact with said tapes, substantially as set forth.

' 3. The combination of a plurality of parallel pairs of folding-rollers, the rollers of the first and intermediate pairs being unconnected by gearing while the final pair of rollers is connected by gearing, a receiving-roller arranged in advance of the first pair of rollers, driving-wheels of larger diameter than said rollers arranged between the final pair of rollers and the receiving-roller, and carryingtapes which pass over the front roller of each pair and underneath the rear roller of the first and intermediate pairs and also around said receiving-roller and driving-wheels, whereby all of the rollers excepting the rear roller of the final pair are driven solely by frictional contact with said tapes, substantially as set forth.

I 4. The combination of a plurality of sheetfolders each of which consists essentially of a pair of folding-rollers and a folding-blade, rock-shafts carrying the folding-blades and each provided with a rock-arm, a connection between the rock-arms of the several shafts, and an actuating-cam for said connection, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a plurality of sheetfolders each of which consists essentially of a pair of folding-rollers and a folding-blade, rock-shafts carrying the folding-blades and each provided with a rock-arm, rods connecting the arms of the several rock-shafts, a rocklever connected with said rods, and a cam engaging with the rock-lever, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a pair of folding-rollers and a folding-blade, a rock-shaft carrying said blade, a rock-arm composed of two sections one of which is secured to the rock-shaft while the other section is mounted loosely on said shaft, an eccentric adjustably mounted on one of said arm-sections and engaging with the other section, and an actuating device for operating upon said loose section, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a pair of folding-rollers and a folding-blade, a rock-shaft carrying said blade, a rock-arm composed of two sections one of which is secured to the rock-shaft and provided with a longitudinal slot while the other section is mounted loosely on the shaft, an eccentric arranged in said slot, a pivot mounted on the other arm-section and carrying said eccentric, and an actuating device operating upon said loose section, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a pair of folding-rollers and a folding-blade, a rock-shaft carrying said blade, a rock-arm composed of two sections one of which is secured to the rock-shaft and provided with a longitudinal slot while the other section is mounted loosely on the shaft, an eccentric arranged in said'slot and provided with a head or shoulder bearing against the fixed arm section, a clampingscrew carried by the loose arm-section and forming the pivot of the eccentric, and an actuating device operating upon said loose section, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of sheet-folding rollers, receiving-rollers arranged in advance of the folding-rollers, sheet carrying tapes passing from the receiving-rollers to the folding-rollers, a gage pivoted above the tapes adjacent to the receiving-rollers and movable in the same direction as the tapes for clearing the path of the sheets or into the opposite direction so as to depend into said path, averticallymovable rod which engages with said gage during its downward movement and shifts the same into its inoperative position, and droprollers mounted on said rod and cooperating with said receiving-rollers, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of sheet-folding rollers, receiving-rollers arranged in advance of the folding-rollers, sheet-carrying tapes passing from the receiving-rollers to the folding-rollers, a gage pivoted above the tapes adjacent to the receiving-rollers and movable in the same direction as the tapes for clearing the path of the sheets or into the opposite direction so as to depend into said path, a supporting-bar arranged transversely above the tapes, a bracket supporting said gage and adjustable lengthwise on said bar, a vertically-movable rod which engages with said gage during its downward movement and shifts the same into its inoperative position, and drop rollers mounted on said rod and cooperating with said receiving-rollers, substantially as set forth.

1 1. The combination of sheet-foldin g rollers, receiving-rollers arranged in advance of the folding-rollers, sheet-carrying tapes passing from the receving-rollers to the folding-rollers, a gage pivoted above the tapes adjacent to the receiving-rollers and movable in the same direction as the tapes for clearing the path of the sheets or into the opposite direction so as to depend into said path,asuppor.t

ing-bar arranged transversely above the tapes,

a bracket which is adjustable lengthwise of said bar and upon which said gage is pivoted,

'a spring connecting said gage and bracket and operating to move the gage forwardly into its operative position, a stop mounted on said bracket for limiting the forward movement of the gage, a vertically-movable rod which engages with said gage during its downward movement and moves the same backwardly into its inoperative position, drop-rollers mounted on said rod and cooperating with said receiving-rollers, and rock-arms supporting said rod, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a presser-roller adapted to bear against a sheet-carrying tape, a pair of clamping-plates pivotally connected between their ends and provided on one side of the pivot with clamping-jaws adapted to engage with opposite sides of a supportingrod, a screw engaging with the clampingplates on the opposite side of the pivot, and an arm carrying said roller and pivoted on said clamping-plates, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a presser roller adapted to bear against a sheet-carrying tape, a pair of clamping-plates pivotally connected between their ends by a stud on one plate passing through a perforation in the other plate anda pin arranged transversely in the stud outside of the perforated plate, jaws formed on the lower ends of said plates and adapted to grasp opposite sides of a supporting-rod, a screw engaging with the upper ends of the clamping-plates, and an arm carrying the presser-roller and pivoted on a pin which is connected with said stud, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 20th day of November, 1901.

CHARLES A. STURTEVANT.

Witnesses:

H. B. AoKLAND, A. W. HILSINGER.

Corrections in Letters Pat n It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 763,644, granted June 28, 1904,

upon the application of Charles Sturtevant, of I Plainfield, New Jersey, for an improvement in Folding-Machines, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: On page 1, line 78, the reference letter and numeral h should read h and on page 2, line 45, the word slowly should read solely; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of July, A. 1)., 1-904.

[SEAL] E. B. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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