Patent GB-190305943-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Folding Leather or other Material
Inventor: BROOKES ALFRED GEORGE
Filed: 1903-03-14
Granted: 1903-06-04
Abstract: 5943. Brookes, A. G., [Riley, C. E.]. March 14. Folding paper.-Relates to machines for folding leather or other material. In the machine shown, the folding-blade 17 and pressers 14, 15 are adapted for folding the edges of shoe uppers, but these parts are capable of being removed and replaced by others of different shape adapted to the nature of the work required. The material m is placed over the movable part 5 of the bedplate with its edge abutting against the gauge 19, and is folded into the groove 16 between the pressers 14, 15 by the folding-blade 17. The blade 17 is then raised, and, during its withdrawal, the presser 15 is moved towards the presser 14 to press the fold of the material, as shown in Fig. 6. The material is prevented from being withdrawn with the blade by the plate 21, which projects over the edge of the passer 14 and engages the edge of the material. The presser 14 is mounted on the fixed bed-plate 4, and the plate 21 and gauge 19 are adjustably secured to it, the presser with the plate and gauge being removable, for replacement by another, without interfering with the adjustment of the parts. The presser 15 is removably mounted on the movable part 5 of the bed-plate, abutment shoulders 24, 25 being formed on the latter to facilitate the mounting of the pressers in correct position. A filling-piece 26<a> may also be interposed between the presser 15 and the shoulder 25. In a modification, adapted to fold the material in a groove 16 which has return ends at right-angles to the main part of the groove, the presser 15 is made in two parts, which, when moved towards the stationary presser 14, are moved towards each other laterally to effect the folding of the return ends. The lateral motion of the two parts is effected against the action of an interposed spring, by cam-surfaces at the ends. The folding-blade 17 is adjustably mounted on the removable head 26 secured by screws 27 to the carrier 18, which is pivoted on brackets 31 on the rear end of the machine. The carrier 18 is pivotally connected to its operating- arm 32, and can be adjusted in relation to the arm by screws 35, 37, &c., to regulate the distance which the blade enters the folding-groove. The arm 32 is provided with a bowl engaging in the cam-groove 41, which, on the rotation of the cam shaft 43, imparts the required movements to the blade 17. The movable part 5 of the bed-plate is adjustably connected by means of the bars 6, having screw and spring connections, to the rocking frame 8, which carries in the rocking nut 8<b> an adjustable thrust member 56 engaged by the rocking arm 52, this arm being operated by the cam 50 engaging the bowl 51 to actuate the presser 15 synchronously with the movements of the blade 17. Spring-controlled blocks 103 are provided to receive the pivots of the carrier 18, so that the blade 17 will adapt itself to irregularities in the thickness of the material, the connections of the rocking frame 8 fulfilling the same function for the presser 15 and serving also to equalize the pressure on the material. To adapt the machine to be driven by the usual round belting, the cam shaft 43 is geared down from the driving-shaft 44, so that a sufficient pressure can be exerted on the material. As, under these conditions, the driving- shaft makes a number of revolutions for each revolution of the cam shaft, the friction-clutch mechanism shown separately in Fig. 11 is employed for automatically stopping the machine on the completion of each revoluion of the latter shaft. The member 64 of the clutch is connected by a pin 65 to the sleeve 63 fixed on the driving shaft, and is normally held by the springs 67 in operative engagement with the driving-pulley 61, which is loose on the shaft. The boss 69 of the member 64 is provided with a cam 70, with which engages the lever 71 connected to the toggle-links 74, 75. When these links are in the position shown, the lever 71 is locked, and by engaging the cam 70 moves the member 64 laterally to disconnect the clutch, the machine being then stopped by the brake surface 80 on the member 64 engaging a similar surface on the frame. The machine is started by pulling down the arm 82 of the links 75, and so releasing the lever 71, the arm 82 being operated through the spring-controlled lever 84 by a rod 86 actuated by hand or foot power. During the rotation of the cam shaft 43, the lever 84 is held down by the cam 87, until, on the completion of the revolution, the recessed portion of the cam allows the lever to rise, on which the clutch again becomes disconnected. To avoid injury to the attendant by the folding-blade, in case of unskilled operation &c., the first part of the downward movement of the blade may be effected manually by means of the rod 93, Fig. 1, connected to the carrier 18. In this case, the cam 41 is formed with a recess 100 to permit the corresponding downward movement of the roll on the arm 32, and a spring-controlled rod 96, resting on the platform 95 on the lever 84, is actuated by the adjustable pin 99 on the carrier, to depress the lever 84 and start the cam shaft at the end of the manual operation.