Patent GB-944618-A (GB)
Title: Device for continuously folding and stacking flexible sheet materials
IPC: B65H45/101
Filed: 1961-07-11
Abstract: 944,618. Folding sheets. F.E.HILLIKER. July 11, 1961, No. 25071/61. Heading D1S. A sheet folder comprises a rotatable pick-up means extending across a continuously moving conveyer 68 and having the under surface thereof, adjacent to the conveyer, moving in the same direction as the conveyer, the pick-up means being adapted to grasp the leading edge of the sheet, to elevate this edge and to release this edge to permit it to fall on to the trailing edge. A sheet to be folded is placed on a multi-belt conveyer 68 and as the leading edge thereof passes under a photo-electric cell 214 a circuit to a brake coil 124, Fig. 12, is broken and a clutch winding 128 is energized to cause a roller 110 to rotate with a continuously rotating shaft 90, there being a time delay until the leading edge of the sheet has been fed upon tines 178,180,182,184, 186 free to move in slots 52, 53, 54 and fixed to a shaft 154 received in bosses 150 on the roller 110. Rollers 160,162 pass shoulders 176, Fig. 13, on cam tracks 164 and force the tines 178, .., 186 to clamp the leading edge and marginal portions of the sheet to the roller 110. A switch 200, Fig. 15, is opened by its operating a lever 202 riding on the high side 196 of a cam 194 on the roller 110 adjacent the brake end thereof. The switch 200 de-energizes the winding 128 and energizes the brake coil 124 to hold the roller 110 stationary with the leading edge clamped thereto until the trailing edge passes beyond the cell 214 so that the clutch is re-energized. The roller 110 again rotates and as the rollers 160,162 pass under shoulders 174 the tines 178, .., 186 are released and,under the tension of a spring 188, move away from the roller 110 to release the leading edge of the sheet which falls substantially on the trailing edge thereof. The folded edge passes under a photo-electric cell 262 which energizes a solenoid 224, Fig. 5,to cause an armature 228 to move upwardly to move, through the linkage shown, a folding blade 252 downwardly to force the sheet through the slot 52 to folding rollers 272, 274, Fig. 3. The twice-folded sheet passes down a slide 280 to a multi-belt conveyer 324. The leading edge closes a switch 904 to energize a clutch 722 (Fig. 16, not shown) to force rotation of a shaft 450 with a shaft 312 driving the conveyer 324. Pinions 454 mounted on the shaft 450 rotate to cause rack gears 436 to move to the left of Fig. 3 so that the end sections 440 thereof mesh with pinions 456 to rotate the shaft 452, which actuates bell crank levers 600. Each lever elevates a plate 340 to lift a frame 318a secured thereto and cause tines 330 to rise to the dotted line position. The extensions 440 then pass out of mesh with the pinions 456. Pins 444 on a bar 374 reach the right hand end of slots 442 and are engaged by the sections 440 and draw the bar 374 to the left. Plates 368 carrying tines 414 and channel members 372, 398, Fig. 7, mounted thereon move with the bar 374, with a roller 366 tracing the upper surface of a cam 362, to the dotted line position. A switch 356 is closed by a carriage 408 moving away therefrom and a switch 900 is opened by a carriage 406 to break the circuit to the clutch 722 (Fig. 16, not shown),to free the shaft 450. The racks 436 return to the right under the action of a spring 458. The plate 368 moves to the right so that the tines 414 move forwardly and above the tines 330 to raise a folded sheet therefrom to a stack between supports 426, 434. As the tines 330 move downwardly a member 324 of the frame 318 closes a switch 908 to set a clutch 714 (Fig. 16, not shown) to rotate the shaft in the opposite direction to above to slow down the return of the racks 436. The apparatus includes a sheet counting device 500, Fig. 18, actuated by the engagement of one of the tines 330 with a lever 542 once during each elevation thereof. This causes a lever 528 to move upwardly to advance a ratchet 526 by one tooth and simultaneously a lever 532 pivots outwardly but re-engages the ratchet upon descent of the lever 528. A pointer (not shown) is secured to the ratchet shaft 516 and moves over a dial (also not shown). A switch 508 is closed by a disc (not shown) on the shaft 510 after every complete revolution thereof to cause an edge of every twenty-fifth sheet to project beyond the rest of the stack to give a visual means for calculating the number stacked. Electrical circuits are described.