Patent GB-162846-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for folding sheets of paper and the like
IPC: B65H45/12
Filed: 1920-02-24
Abstract: 162,846. Brown, F. E. Feb. 24, 1920. Folding paper.-Apparatus for folding currency notes or other paper sheets comprises a slot to receive the sheets, a guide near the edge of the slot, and a flat member or flap at one side of the slot movable under the guide and across the slot to form one fold, and then rotated through 180‹ towards the other side of the slot to form a final fold. Two flaps are preferably employed, and an oscillating bar adapted to force a sheet into the slot so as to form a preliminary fold may also be provided. A sheet of paper placed in an angular slot 4 is folded and carried on to a plate 14 by two flaps 17, 18 adapted to be moved in aligned guideways 16, 57 across the slot 4 and then rotated inwardly, one slightly in advance of the other, so as to giva the paper a treble final fold about the plate 14, whence the sheet is passed through a slotted guide 38 to squeezing rollers 37 from which it is discharged to a stacking-device. A preliminary fold may be formed by a bar 47 eccentrically mounted, to vary the depth to which it descends, on the end of a lever 45 pivoted at 44 and forced into the slot by a roller 49, on an operating-crank 31, engaging a bar 48 adjustably fixed by screws to the lever 45 whereby the stroke of the bar 47 may be varied for different sizes of sheets. The lever 45 is returned by a spring 46. The crank 31 reciprocates through a crank 33 and connecting-rod 34 a saddle 56 to which are rotatably attached spindles 19, 20 fixed to the flaps 17, 18, projections 22, 23 on the spindles engaging spiral slots formed in fixed tubes 26, 27 so as to rotate the flaps, one slightly in advance of the other when they have advanced so as to be situated one on each side of the plate 14. A central plate 28, pressed forward for a short distance in line with the flaps 17, 18 by a spring 29 and returned by engagement of the flaps against lugs 30 on the plate, is provided to ensure a correct commencement of the fold. The guideways 16, 57 are formed by plates 7, 11 bent as shown to provide lower horizontal parts cooperating with the upper parts of plates 9, 14 respectively. The vertical parts of the four plates form the sides of the slot 4 and the upper horizontal parts 5, 10 of the plates 7, 11 form a carrier for the work receiving tray 52 which may have adjustable bent-up ends to accommodate various sizes of sheets. The folded sheets are discharged on to an inclined platform 39 and as they accumulate raise a weight 41 sliding on guides 42. The sheets may be removed by swinging the lever 43 out of the vertical position about a horizontal pivot. A counter 53 may be provided operated by a quadrant 55 engaging the sheets as they pass the plate 14, or as they pass from the rollers 37. The machine may be operated by hand or by treadle, and cams may be employed to force the bar 47 into the slot 4. The Provisional Specification also states that the lever 45 may be operated by bell crank levers and links, the saddle 56 bv a rack and pinion and the squeezing rollers 37 by a chain and spur-wheel through a free-wheel clutch.