Patent GB-326573-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in paper folding machines
IPC: B65H45/12
Filed: 1928-12-21
Abstract: 326,573. Burdick, C. L. Dec. 21, 1928. Folding paper.-A paper-folding machine, more particularly for folding currency notes, has in combination therewith a box or container having a movable end-part against which the folder papers are packed by spring means. The sheets are given a final fold by a blade 52, Fig. 3, which carry them between pillars 57 into the mouth of a removable box or container 58, at the same time forcing back a curved member 60 forming the gate of the container. The member 60 is spring- pivoted about an axis 61 so as to project into the container normally a distance limited by a stop 63. When the blade 52 returns to its initial position, the member 60 pushes the folded sheet into the container thus pressing the pile of previously folded sheets and the movable end-part 64 a corresponding distance along the container. The part 64 has springy sides 65 with projections 66 engaging slots in the container 58 so that it is held frictionally in position in the container and its movement is limited by the slots. A similar member may be' placed in the open end of the container when it has been filled. The sheet to be folded is fed on to a flexible apron 24 fixed to the end pair 6, 7 of a series of vertical blades 6 - - 10. Above the apron are a second series of blades 26 - - 29 situated midway between the first set. In order to fold the sheet into zig-zag form, the blades 6 - - 9 and 26 - - 29 are moved horizontally towards the central blade 10, and the blades 26 - - 29 at the same time are moved downwardly between the blades 6 - - 10. The blades 6 - - 9 are mounted on rack bars 2 - - 5 respectively actuated by toothed segments 16 - - 19 formed with lever-arms 16<a> - - 19<a> of appropriate lengths connected by links 16<b> - - 19<b> to a vertically movable member 12 operated by pins 13 thereon engaging grooves 14 in a cam 15 on a main shaft 20 operated either by hand or power. The blades 26 - - 29 are carried by horizontal plates 26<a >- - 29<a> respectively slidable in a crossbeam 21 supported and guided by vertical rods 22, 23 the latter of which are joined by a crossbar 30 having a pin 31 engaging a groove 32 in a cam 33 also on the shaft 20. Rods 26<c> - - 29<c> on the plates 26<a> - - 29<a> respectively are pivoted to links 26b - - 29b having pin-and-slot engagements 26<d> - - 29<d> with fixed brackets 34 so as to cause the blades 26 - - 29 to move horizontally as the beam 21 moves downwardly. When the zig-zag fold has been completed, the sheet is engaged by grippers 44 which carry it into position to receive the final fold by the blade 52 which is operated from the cam 33. The sheets to be folded are placed by hand or automatically on a table 35 and are pushed on to the apron 24 by fingers 37 projecting through slots in the table and oscillated bv a cam 38 on the shaft 20. Gripper mechanism.-The jaws 44 of the grippers are pivoted to a bar 43 slidable in a casing 41 which has pins 49 engaging slots 50 in the jaws and is reciprocated by a lever 40<a> operated by a cam 40 on the shaft 20. The casing 41 is locked to the bar 43 during the movement towards the blade 52 by a spring-pressed plunger 46 which engages a recess in the bar and is released by a cam 49<1> when the bar abuts against a stop 47. The casing 41 continues its movement so as to cause the grippers to close and engage the sheet. On the return movement a second plunger 45 engages the recess in the bar so that the bar and plunger move together with the grippers closed until the sheet is in position to receive its fold from the blade 52, whereupon a cam 51 releases the plunger 45 and allows the casing to move freely to open the gripper-jaws, the free movement continuing until the plunger 46 reengages the bar 43 ready for the next cycle of operations.