Improvements in Folding Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by TALBOT CHAMBERS DEXTER, of 97 Reade
Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Folding Machines.
I, HERBERT SEFTON JONES, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street Manchester, both in the County of
Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The improved quadruple sixteen page folding machine is designed to fold
four signatures of 16 pages each or two signatures of 32 pages each at one
operation.
The sheet to be folded is passed into the machine by suitable feeding devices
and carried by suitable tapes to the correct position above the first pair of folding
rollers where it is given its first fold in the center, and passed by other tapes
into position over the second pair of rollers, at which point it is laterally
adjusted by an improved adjustable electrically operating registering device and
given its second fold parallel to the first. As the paper passes froin the second
folding rollers it is severed into four folded strips and conveyed into position
above four pairs of third folding rollers, which impart the final folding at right
angles to the first and second folds and deliver the four folded signatures of
16 pages each to four pairs of calendering rollers, from which the signatures drop
into the packing devices. If it is desired to produce two signatures of 32 pages
instead of four of 16 pages the signatures froin two pairs of the third fold rollers
are conveyed to the calendering rollers below the other two pairs of third fold
rollers and follow and drop into the receding signatures folded by said latter
pairs of third fold rollers and form signatures of thirty-two pages.
It is a conceded fact that it is quite impracticable to make four folds in a
single sheet of paper to get thirty-two page signatures, owing to the thickness of
the sheet and the tendency of the pages to be drawn out of shape by the very
great strain they are subjected to in making the last fold. The common method
of inserting by passing two partly folded sheets one over the other into position
above the last fold rollers, and folding both sheets at the same time, one into the
other, is also very objectionable on account of the trouble in gauging the two
sheets and because it is more difficult to fold them both at the same time. It
will, therefore, be obvious that by the improved method of separately folding the
two parts and afterwards inserting one within the other the difliculties enumerated
are obviated and a thirty-two page signature produced in a much simpler way.
In inserting signatures or folded sheets of very thin paper it has sometimes
proven difficult to arrange the device so that the first signature droppe 1 into the
pivoted hopper will open quickly and sufficiently wide to receive the next succeeding
signature which immediately follows to be inserted therein. Some trouble has
also been experienced by reason of the folded signatures turning over more or
less in being thrown from the hopper into the packing box by the movement of
the hopper on its pivot, and thereby, becoming irregularly arranged in the

page_text: packing box. To render the method of inserting one completely folded signature
within another more perfect in operation, (this method of inserting having been
proven far superior in speed and accuracy to the old method of folding two sheets
or signatures simultaneously one within the other), and cause the first folded
signature that drops into the hopper to immediately open to receive the succeeding
insert signature, micans are provided for directing a stream or jet of air to a point
directly below the line of fold of the final fold rollers so as to strike between the
two folded parts or halves of the first folded sheet or signature and separate the
leaves or halves to receive the succeeding folded signature which is dropped into
the first from the folding rollers. The air jet or stream is preferably intermittent
and timed to strike the first of the pair of folded signatures just as it leaves the
last folding rollers. The air jets may be supplied from any suitable air com-
pressing or blowing mechanism geared to any suitable part of the machine, or
operated by independent mechanism.
To prevent the folded signatures turning over in being thrown from the hopper
into the packing box, pivoted receiving hoppers are provided with inwardly
projecting ribs or strips which are adapted to engage the upper edges of the
folded signatures after they have been dropped into the hoppers and cause them
to slide longitudinally out of the hoppers as the latter are moved on their pivots.
It is also preferable to provide the hoppers with a second pair of longitudinal ribs
or strips below the first pair just referred to, for the purpose of holding the folded
signatures centrally in the hopper while it is being acted upon by the air blast.
The upper ribs or strips also assist the action of the air blast in opening the
signatures for inserting by guiding the signatures centrally into the hopper and
preventing them from falling to either side of the hopper.
To render the lateral adjustment of the sheet more accurate, an adjustable
electrical registering device between the first and second folds is arranged, at
such point that it will register the sheet at or very close to the extreme corner of
the fold of the once folded sheet, as the variation (if any) in the overlapping
edges will scarcely be perceptible at the point of first fold. The construction
and operation of this adjustable electrically controlled register is quite important.
Another important feature of the invention is the location and construction of the
splitting devices for severing the twice folded sheet into four parts. Three cutting
disks are provided which operate in conjunction with grooved sleeves mounted upon
one of the second fold rollers, the cutters and sleeves being adjustable to regulate
the point of severance.
An essentially novel arrangement is provided for operating the reciprocating
folding knives which operate in conjunction with the pairs of third fold rollers in
order that they can be adjusted to the proper points with relation to the cutters,
the third fold rollers and their knives being mounted upon adjustable carriages
sliding upou the main frame.
An upper and lower packing box is provided into which the folded signatures
are delivered, the signatures for the lower packing box being received first into a
pivoted hopper which is provided with a novel ejecting device and is adapted to
throw the folded signatures into position in the lower packing box.
Suitable means are provided for simultaneously and relatively adjusting the two
packing boxes, the pivoted hoppers and their operating mechanisms, in order that
they will properly co-operate with the devices for imparting the third folds to the
signatures in any adjusted position.
The invention consists further, of novel features of construction, and in order
that the improvements will be fully understood the same will be described first with
reference to the accompanying drawings and afterwards point out with more
particularity the novelty in the annexed claims.
In said drawings:
Figure 1 is a general plan view of the improved folding machine.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same looking at the packing boxes and
mechanism for imparting the third fold to the signatures.

page_text: Figure 3 15 a side elevation of care meme
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine looking at the left hand side of
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Figures 1
and 2 and looking toward the right of the machine.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the packing boxes and pivoted hoppers with
their operating mechanism, looking toward the rear of the michine.
Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation taken on the line 7-7 of
Figure 6 and looking toward the left hand end of the machine.
Figure 8 is an enlarged detail plan, and
Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation of part of a machine showing
one of the severing devices and the electrically operated lateral adjustment.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a rear elevation and sectional side elevation
of part of the mechanism showing the device for operating the thirl full knives.
Figure 12 is an enlarged detail longitudinal view taken through the third fill
rollers and calendering rollers, showing the manner of inserting one sixteen pige
signature into another for forming the signature of thirty-two pages.
Figure 13 is an enlarge:l detail plan view of the same.
Figure 14 is a sectional representation of the manner of inserting one signature
into another for forming a signature of thirty-two pages.
Figure 15 is an enlarged detail view of part of the lateral registering device.
Figure 16 is a detail view showing means for elevating small woo len rollers out
of operative position.
Figure 17 is an enlarged detail elevation of the pivoted paper hopper and the
paper ejecting device.
Figure 18 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the cutting devices.
Figure 19 is a rear end elevation of a folding machine showing the packing boxes
and the improved mechanism for receiving, spreading open, and inserting the folded
signatures and delivering them to the packing boxes without turning.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same machine parts of the
mechanisms being omitted.
Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 are detail views representing the operation of the
improved mechanism for receiving, spreading open and inserting folded signatures
and delivering them to the packing boxes without turning.
Figure 25 is a detail perspective view of the hopper showing means for adjusting
the ribs.
The frame of the machine comprises the side frames 1 and 2, the top front
rail 3, the bottom front rail 4, the central rail 5, the rear rail 6 and the packing-
boxes-supporting rail 7, the rails 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 extending between the side
frames 1 and 2 and being securely bolted to them and properly braced to form a
stout supporting frame.
10 is a large tape pulley or roller journaled in the bars 11 of the frame pieces 1
and 2 at the forward end of the machine. 12 is another tape roller journaled
at 13 in the frame pieces 1 and 2, and 14 are a series of endless carrying tapes,
which pass over the rollers 10 and 12, around the guide pulleys 15 and 16, and
over the tightening pulleys 17, which latter are journaled in the upper ends of
the arms 18 pivoted at 19 to the brackets 20, and carrying tightening weights 21
at their outer ends. In this manner the carrying tapes are always held taut
independently of each other and allowed to travel freely around the rollers for
carrying the paper into the machine.
25 is a pulley shaft journaled in the frame pieces 1 and 2 parallel to the pulley 12
and provided at intervals along its length with tape pulleys, around which the
endless carrying tapes 26 pass. Tapes 26 also pass around the pulleys 28 supported
in the forward ends of the arms 29 adjustably secured to the cross bar 30, and
over the guide pulleys 27 and 32 which hold them up to their work. It will be
observed that the tapes 14 extend from the forward end of the machine to the first

page_text: fold rollers while the tapes 26 extend from the first fold rollers to the end registering
device. 35 are a series of rods having forward upturned ends 35 and extending
from front to rear of the machine, and 36 are shorter rods extending from points
adjacent to the front to the first fold rollers. The rods 35 and 36 are secured to
the cross slats 37 and are supported directly above the carrying tapes 14 and 26
and serve to hold the paper on the tapes and prevent its buckling.
40 is the end registering guide or blade formed with lugs 41 which have screw-
threaded openings through them for the reception of the adjusting screws 42 which
are properly journaled above the carrying tapes and have bevel gear connection
with the transverse shaft 44 having an operating band wheel 45. By rotating the
hand wheel 45 the position of the end registering blade 40 can be adjusted in a
manner well understood.
50 is the first fold knife secured in the outer ends of the arms 51 which are
keyed to the rock-shaft 52. The knife 50 is notched or slotted at its working
edge for the reception of the rods 35 when the knife descends for ereasing the
paper and carrying it into the bite of the first fold rollers 100 and 101 presently to
be described. The rock-shaft 52 has keyed to one of its ends a crank-arm 58
having a roller journaled in its lower end which works on the face of the cam 59
keyed to the rotatable shaft 60. 54 is a crank arm keyed to the shaft 52 inside
of the arm 58 and 53 is a rod secured to the outer end of the arm 54 and extending
through an opening in lug 55 on the front leg of frame piece 2. 56 is a spiral
spring surrounding the rod 53 and confined between the lug 55 and an adjustable
collar 57 secured to the rod. The spring 56 assists the gravitating action of folding
knife 50, under the control of the cam 59.
65 and 66 are bars extending across the machine and supporting the plates 67
which extend parallel and form the slot or opening in which the folding knife
operates to form the crease for the first fold. 68 are slats extending to the rear
and front from the bars 65 and 66 to assist the tapes 14 and 26 in supporting the
sheet of paper. 70 is an intermittently rotatable shaft carrying the three-feed
rollers 71 which are adapted to operate in conjunction with the tape roller 10 for
feeding the paper into the machine. The shaft 70 is journaled in the forward ends
of the rock arms 72 and 73 which are keyed to the rock shaft 74. The arm 73 is
extended beyond the rock shaft 74 and provided with a roller 73 at its end which
operates on the face of cam 75 which is keyed to the shaft 60 just inside of side
frame 1. 80 are feed regulating fingers secured to brackets 81 keyed to the rock
shaft 82 which is provided with a spiral spring 84 for holding the fingers normally
in lowered position, and a rock arm 85 which is intermittently tripped by a finger
or lug (not shown) carried by arm 73, by means of which the fingers are inter-
mittently raised. The mechanisms for operating the drop rollers 71 and feed
regulating fingers 80 are so timed that the rollers 71 (which are held normally
out of contact with the paper,) will drop upon the edge of the paper for feeding
the sheet to the machine the instant the fingers 80 are raised.
90 is a rotatable shalt journaled in the top bars of the frames 1 and 2 and
carrying a pair of rollers 91 whose surfaces are in the plane with the tapes 14
and slats 68. 92 are retarding rollers journaled in the ends of arms 93 which are
adjustably keyed to the rock shaft 94 which is provided with crank arm 95 having
roller 96 which works on the face of cam 97 keyed to the shaft 60. The shaft 90
is constantly rotated by suitable gearing between it and the constantly rotating
tape roller 12. The rollers 92 are adapted to rest on the surface of the paper
being fed into the machine for an instant before the forward end of the paper
strikes the registering blade 40, to slow up the movement of the paper and
prevent its striking the blade 40 too quickly and buckling the paper. As soon as
the end of the paper has registered against the blade 40 the folding blade descends
to make the first fold by passing the paper through the folding rollers 100 and 101
which are journaled in suitable bearings in the top bars of the sile frame. 100 is
the positively driven roller of the firet fold rollers, receiving its power from the
large gear wheel 102 keyed to the shaft 60. The roller 101 has spring pressed
journals for taking any unevenness in the paper.

page_text: 105 and 106 are the second fold rollers supported in suitable journals in the
plane slightly below the first fold rollers and parallel thereto. 107 are carrying
tapes extending between the roller 100 and the roller 105 for conveying the paper
into position for the second fold. 108 are a series of small wooden rollers journaled
upon pivoted arms 109 and resting normally on the tapes 107 for holding the paper in
contact therewith. The arms 109 are mounted upon a rock shaft 109" which is
normally in position to allow the rollers 108 to rotate in contact with the paper
above the tapes to steady the feed and insure the sheets being pushed firmly
against the end adjusting gauge. Keyed to the rock-shaft 109 is a crank-arm logb
which is pivotally connectel to an extension 155 of the sliding rod 155; said
sliding rod having bearing in a lug 156 attached to the side frame and carrying
a spiral spring 156 which is confined between said lng and a collar on the rod and
tends to hold the rollers 108 into operative position in contact with the tape with
a yielding pressure. The end of rod 155 is pivoted to a crank-arm 154 keyed to
a rock-shaft 154 having an operating crank-arm 154b which is actuatel by a cam
on shaft 60, as shown in Figure 16, for raising the rollers 108 during the intervals
that the lateral register (controlled by the same can and levers) operates. Where
a sheet of paper is to pass over a pair of rollers and especially where you caunot
have carrying tapes in front of these rollers it is necessary to use considerable
energy on the rear of the sheet, in order to insure of its being properly adjuste
to the front gauge.
As soon as the sheet has touched the gauge, however, these
wheels have performed their work, and if allowed to rest on the paper while it is
being drawn laterally by the electric registering device, would have a tendency to
counteract the action of the friction wheels of this registering device, therefore, it
has been found feasible for automatically lifting these wooden friction rollers as
the registering drop roller descends upon the sheet. That is, when the registering
device is in operatiou, drawing the sheet laterally, the wooden wheels will be
elevated sufficiently to prevent their causing unnecessary friction to the surface of
the sheet but just as soon as the lateral register has completed its work, said
wooden wheels will be again dropped into operative position in readiness to operate
upon the succeeding sheet.
110 is the edge registering blade for the second fold, the first folded edge caning
in contact with this blade for registering the paper. The blade 110 is supported and
adjusted in the same manner as the registering blade 40. 111 are supporting rods
supporting the inward portion of the paper before it receives its second fold. The
inward ends of the rods 111 are curved slightly to conform to the surface of the
roller 105.
It is of the utmost importance that the folds for the class of work executed by
this machine should be very accurately made in the centre margins of the sheets.
The improved adjustable electrical register accomplishes this. It will be under-
stood that the first fold gauge will regulate the sheet perfectly parallel with the
first fold rollers, and that is sufficient until it has reached its position at the second
fold, as it is unimportant what position the sheet occupies laterally for the first
fold. It must now be registered laterally very perfectly in order to bring it in
position for being separated and folded exactly in the center of the blank margins,
the accuracy of both being determined by the side registering device.
The lateral registering of the sheet is usually accomplished by a suitable device
supported a few inches (from 3 to 10 inches) from the front edge registering blade
before the sheet receives its first fold, and as the device has but a single thickness
or one edge of the sheet to deal with and its position is relatively the same as the
lateral registering device on the feed which supplied the sheet to the printing press,
the result is perfectly satisfactory.
When, however, the sheet is registered laterally after it has been once folded as
in the present machine, (it being desirable to laterally register the sheet as close
as possible to the cutting devices and third folding rollers for the sake of accuracy),
the problem is a very different one, for it is a well known fact that it is very
difficult to get sheets of paper made so accurately that the edges are perfectly

page_text: square and will register or be perfectly even when the sheet is once folded
As the edges of the sheet are, therefore, liable to project unevenly, it will be clear
that a lateral adjustinent would not be accurate if acted upon by the edge which
projects furthest of the two uneven edges.
To overcome this difficulty and provide a lateral register which will accurately
register a sheet after it has been once folded, an adjustable electrically controlled
register is provided mounted at the right haud side of the machine adjacent to the
end registering blade and having circuit making lever which is adjustable on its
supporting bar to enable it to be adjusted to such a point that it will be acted upon
by the extreme corner or edge of the once folded sheet. In this case it would
make little or no difference if the sheets were out of square, because the variation
in the overlapping edges would not be perceptible at the point of fold.
Supported adjacent to the registering blade 110 at the right hand edge of the
machine, is the improved electrically operating lateral adjustment just referred to
which will now be more particularly described. 115 is a supporting guide frame
extending inwardly from the top rail of main side frame 1 and carrying the
rotatable rod 116 and rotatable screw threaded adjusting rod 117. 118 is a
movable carriage provided with a depending screw threaded lug 119, through
which the rod 117 passes. 120 is the hand wheel on the outer end of rod 117 by
means of which the rod 117 can be rotated and the carriage 118 moved inwardly
or outwardly on the guide frame 115. The adjustable carriage 118 carries the
improved electrical adjusting device. It comprises a continuously operating roller,
an electrically controlled drop roller adapted to co-operate with the continuously
operating roller, an electro-magnetic device and an adjustable registering arm
adapted to be operated upon by the extreme folded edge or corner of the once
folded paper for closing an electric circuit and lifting the drop roller out of
operative position. Means are also provided for supporting the roller in inoperative
position for the intervals between the registering of sheets.
125 is the continuously rotating roller (shown in dotted lines in Figure 9,) said
roller being mounted upon a short cross shaft journaled in suitable bearings and
receiving motion through suitable bevel gearing with the rotatable shaft 116 which
is rotated by gear wheel 126. 127 is a short arm loosely journaled upon a cross
shaft 128 supported in bearings 129 and having journaled in its forward bifurcated
end the drop roller 130 which is supported directly above roller 125 and co-operates
with it. 131 is a collar keyed to the short shaft 128 which supports arm 127 and
formed with an integral lug 131" which is adapted to engage a similar lug or
heel 127ª projecting from the arm 127 and by said engagement and the partial
rotation of short shaft 128 hold the arm 127, and roller 130 in inoperative position.
132 is an armature lever loosely journaled upon the shaft 128 and carrying at its
free end the armature 133, and formed with the heel or lug 132" which is adapted
to engage the end of an adjustable screw carried by the arm 127 and lift the
roller 130 when the electro-magnet is energized. 134 are the electro-magnets.
135 is a square bar journaled at its ends between the brackets 136 and having
keyed to it adjacent to one of the brackets an insulated contact arm 137 which is
adapted to contact with the point 138 and is connected with the circuit wire 139.
140 is the other circuit wire, the battery not being shown. 141 is the laterally
registering blade or arm which has a square opening at its upper end through
which the pivoted square bar 135 passes for supporting it. A screw 142 clamps
the arm 141 adjustably to the bar 135. 145 is a plate mounted on the carriage 118
and having its forward ends conforming to the surface of the roller 105. 146 is a
.curved plate supported by bracket 147 above the plate 145. The right hand edge
of the once folded paper is adapted to pass over the second fold rollers 105 and 106
between the plates 145 and 146 and also between rollers 125 and 130.
150 is a rock shaft suitably journaled in the carriage 118 and having bevel
gear 151 which meshes with a similar gear on the short shaft 128. 152 is a rod
pivoted to the rock arm 153 of the shaft 150 and extending forwardly where it is
pivoted to the upper end of the pivoted crank-arm 154 having a rearwardly

page_text: extending pivoted rod 155 carrying a spiral spring 156 and extending through an
opening in a suitable lug attached to the side frame, said spring being confined
between said lug and a collar on the rod. The crank-arm or lever 154 is keyed to
a short rock shaft 154° and has an arm 154 projecting from it which is operated
by a suitable cam on shaft 60 shaped to allow spring 156 to hold the roller 130
elevated from the surface of the paper, after it has once been elevated by the
electric device, until the succeeding sheet reaches the position in which it must be
registered, when the cam shifts the crank-arm 154 and rod 152 against the action
of the spring and allows rolier 130 to again drop into engagement with the paper.
It will be clear from the previous description that the action of the cam in releasing
the roller 130 also raises the rollers 108.
160 is the second folding knife supported at the forward ends of the arms 161
which are keyed to the rock shaft 162 which is intermittently scillated in the
usual way through rod 162 which is connected to a crank arm on the shaft and a
lever which is actuated by a cam on shaft 60.
165 are conveying tapes passing around the second fold roller 106 and around
the adjustable pulleys 166 and guide pulleys 167, for conveying the four severe.l
sheets from the splitting device into position to be passed through the four pairs of
third fall rollers. The rollers 166 and 167 are journaled upon an adjustable
slide 168 which works in grooves in the sides of the carriage frame piece 193 and
are confined in any adjusted position by bolts 170. By this means the tapes 165
can be kept at the stretch.
For cutting the twice folded sheet into four signatures three cutting devices are
employed, une stationary cutting device in the center of the machine and two
adjustable devices on opposite sides of the central one. Each cutting device
comprises serrated cutting disk which operates in conjunction with grooves in the
Jower roller 105 of the second folding pair. A description of one of the devices
will suffice for all, as they are identical with the exception that the central device
is not made adjustable, all adjustnienis being made relatively to the center of the
machine. The structure of the ride cutters is clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9.1
The ends of the roller 105 are reduced in diameter and upon the reduced ends
are placed the sleeves 175 which have annular grooves 176. 177 is a bracket to
which is secured a vertically adjustable arm 178 carrying the journal 179 upon
which is loosely jeuronled the cutting dis!. 180. The arm 178 fits against one of
the vertical !aces of angle bracket 177 and is formed with a longitudinal slot 178°
in which engages a headed bolt 178 adjustably threaded and seated in the
bracket 177. The bracket 177 is adjustably mounted upon the slotted bar 181 so
as to be horizontally adjustable, and held in any desired adjusted position by means
of the screw bolt 182. It will be observed that the cutter 180 can be adjusted to
cu-operate with any one of the gruuves 176 by simply loosening the bolts 182
and 178 and slipping the arm 178 (carrying cutter 180) down and shifting the
bracket 177 horizontally the proper pastion for the engagement of the
cutter 180 with another groove. The bolt 182 is then tightened and the arm 178
shifted vertically and the holt 178 tightened. 183 is a bar bolted or otherwise
secured to a yoke engaging the outer end of the sleeve 175 and having a down-
wardly projecting lug 184 at its outer end in which engages an adjusting screw 185.
By means of the screw 185 the sleeves 175 can be adjusted longitudinally upon the
reduced ends of the roller 105 and the cutters 180 can be shifted upon their
journal spindles 179 by reason of the engagement of the grooves 176 therewith.
The arrangement of the cutters 180 in conjunction with the second fold rollers is
very important, as the sheet is only allowed to travel a very few inches after being
separated when it comes in contact with the last fold ad,usting guides, or by the
time the rear edge is severed the forward edge is almost in contact with the
adjustable guides.
In adjusting the cutting devices just described to suit a piece of work to be
performed, the outside cutters are first adjusted into engagement with the grooves
nearest the desired lines of severance in the inauner explained, and then the

page_text: final adjustments are accomplished through the screw 185. It is important to have
the sleeves 175 cover as much of the reduced ends of roller 105 as possible so
as not to interfere with its folding action, and to accomplish this and at the
same time afford the necessary scope of adjustment the sleeves are made long
and provided with a number of grooves into which the cutters can be adjusted,
part of the adjustment being accomplished by the movable cutters and part by
the sleeves,
There are four pairs of third fold rollers supported at right angles to the first
and second fold rollers and below the plane of the second fold rollers. The
tapes 165 convey the four severed pieces of the twice folded sheet longitudinally
above the third fold rollers, until the folded elges contact with the adjustable
guides 190 (two for each pair of third fold rollers arranged one on each side of the
vertically reciprocating knife) at which moment the knives for passing the paper
through the third fold rollers descends and forms the final creases in the four
signatures.
191 is the driver and 192 the driven third fold rollers suitably journaled in the
adjustable boxes or carriage side frames 193 al 194, which fit around and slide
upon the main frame rails 5 and 6, the lower edges of the side frame 193 and 194
being preferably dove-tailed on to the rails. The rollers 191 are extended beyonil
the inner side of the carriages and have bevel gears keyed to their extended ends
which mush with similar gears splined to the shaft 309, a frame piece or yoke 310
extending from each carriage and embracing the gears on the shaft so as to cause
them to slide with the carriages. 195 are calendering rollers also journaled in the
boxes or carriage frames 193 and 194 and receiving rotation from suitable gearing
between them and the third fold rollers. The purvose of these calender rollers is
to give the folded signatures an extra pre-sure while they are in transit to the
packing boxes.
196 are screw threaded lugs depending from the carriages 193 and 194, and 197
are screw threaded shafts engaging the opening in said lugs and having bevel gear
connection 198 with the shaft 199 which extends nt right angles to the shafts 197
and is provided at its outer end with an operating hand wheel 200. By means of
the screw threaded shafts 197 and the operating mechanism the enrringes 193, 194,
and the rollers and their mechanism carried thereby can be adjusted to any desired
position independently of each other to suit the different sized sheets to be folded.
The folding knives for creasing and starting the paper through the third fold
rollers have a reciprocating instead of an oscillatory movement and are operated
by essentially novel and effective devices which are operated from a single cam,
are independently adjustable and permit the free and independent adjustment of the
carriages carrying the third fold rollers and calenders without necessitating their
disengagement. This mechanism will now be described.
201 is the folding knife secured to the dove-tailed reciprocating bar 202 which
is dove-tailed into the carriage 193. Extending up from and formed integral with
the bar 202 are the lugs 203 between which is journaled a friction roller 204.
205 is a crank arm keyed to the shaft 206 and having formed on its free end n
curved blade or palm 207 which engages under the roller 204. 208 is a rod formel
.with the right angled head 209 having a roller 210 journaled in its bifurcated end,
and with which the under face of the palm 207 engages. The upper edge of the
bar 202 is cut out sufficiently at 202" to receive the roller 210. 211 is a slot
formed in the head 209 through which passes a pin 212 which is secured in the
arms 203 and guides and allows a slight movement of the rod 208. The rod 208
extends down through an opening in a bracket 213 and has an adjustable collar 21+
which confines a spiral spring 21 between it and the bracket 213. The tendency
of the spring 216 is to hold the rod 208 in elevated position, and the roller 210 in
engagement with the under side of the palm 207 and thereby ensure constant
engagement between the palm and the roller 204. The spring 215 also receives
the downward thrust imparted by the erauks 205 for reciprocating the knives,
and relieves the reciprocating frame from shock. The engagement of the

page_text: palms 207 with rollers 204 raises the frame and knife to elevated position with the
crank 205.
It will be observed that the broad palms 207 will allow for the independent
adjustment of the carriages 193 and 194 and the crank arms 205 on shaft 206, and
as the carriages carrying third folding devices are adjusted toward and away from
the center, the outside palm should be longer than the inside ones. The crank
arins 205 are adjustably keyed to the shaft 206 by means of the integral heels 205º
which rest in openings 206 formed in the boxes 206 and secured in adjusted
position by means of screws 216. The boxes 206 are also adjustably keyed to the
shaft 206. 217 is a rock arm keyed to the right hand end of the shaft 206, and
218 is a rod pivoted to the upper end of rock arm 217 and extending forwardly
where it is pivoted to the upper end of a pivoted operating lever 219 operated
upon (at its lower end) by a cam 220 keyed to the shaft 60. The cam is so shaped
and timed that the knives will be reciprocated at the proper intervals.
220 are scales secured to bar 221 of the main frame, and 222 are indexes secured
to the carriage frames 193 and adapted to register with said scales for indicating
the positions of the carriages in order that they can be readily adjusted to proper
relative position.
When it is desired to produce four signatures of sixteen pages each, the folded
signatures are passed directly through the first, second and third fold rollers and
calendering rollers (the first and second folds being parallel and the third folds at
right angles thereto, and the sheet being laterally adjustel after the first fold and
severed into four signatures after the second fold) and into the hoppers and four
separate packing boxes, which will presently be described in a manner well under-
stood. The two outer signatures drop directly into the upper packing boxes,
while the central ones drop first into the hoppers and are thrown by them into the
lower packing boxes. When, however, it is desired to produce two signatures of
thirty-two pages cach, two of the four completely folded sixteen page signatures"
are inserted into the other two completely folded signatures before delivering them
to the packing devices. This is considered a very important feature of the machine
and far superior to, and more accurate than, the common method of inserting by
passing two partly folded sheets one over the other into position above the last
fold rollers through which both sheets are passed, at the same time, folding one
into the other. The means which are employed for accomplishing this result are
clearly illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14 of the drawings.
Passing around the roller 192 of one pair of third fold rollers, the tightening
rollers 226 and one of the calendering rollers 195 of an adjacent set of folding
devices, are the carrying tapes 225 which convey one sixteen page signature over
into position to drop into another for forming a 32 page signature. The rollers 226
are journaled upon crank arms 227 which are keyed to a short shaft 228 journaled
to the rails 5 and 6. 229 is a crank arm also keyed to the shaft 228 and having a
weight 230 attached to its outer end to properly regulate the tension of the
tapes 225 and hold them stretched. When the carriages 193, 194 of the two
adjacent sets of folding devices, which are paired together by the tapes 225, are
adjusted closer together or farther apart to receive the severed folded pieces, the
weight 230 will take up the slack or allow a greater length of the tapes 225.
231 are a pair of rollers journaled in the pivoted arms 232 which are pivoted to
arms 233, the rollers 231 being adapted to rest upon the signatures carried by the
tapes 225 over to the calendering roliers to be inserted into the previously folded
signature from the other third fold rollers of the coupled sets of folding devices.
The arms 233 are secured to rod 238 which is supported in the carriage 193, 194
by plates 238. 235 are arms pivoted upon the rod 236 which is supported by
brackets 237 from the rod 238. Journaled in the forward ends of the armis 235 is
a friction roller 239 formed with annular grooves 240, and adapted to rest on the
tapes 225 just above one of the calendering rollers 195 and having a gear 239
which gears with the cog geared to one of the calendering rollers. The arms 235
have upwardly extending ears 241 in which is journaled a small shaft 242 carrying
B

page_text: a series of guide fingers 243 which are curved at their lower cuds to turn or guide
the edge of the signature to be inserted down into the bite of the calendering
rollers and also to guide the receiving signature from the third fuld rollers to the
calendering rollers, the friction roller 239 serving to drive the signatures through
the calender rollers. The process of inserting to form signatures of thirty-two
pages is as follows:-The full sheets of four 16 page signatures are fed into the
folder in the usual way and receive the first, second and third folds just the saine
as they do when they are to be delivered singly. The two signatures nearest
the center of the machine, or directly over the hoppers, will, of course, reach their
positions in the hoppers a little in advance of the signatures from the two outside
third fold rollers. The hoppers are V-shaped or so arranged as to have their sides
inclined outward at the top while in the act of receiving signatures. The first
signatures being dropped into the hoppers, their natural tendency will be to assume
the form of the hoppers. Almost instantly, the signatures froin the sides will be
dropped into the hoppers and inside of the preceding signatures of sixteen pages, and
thus by putting one 16 page signature into another produce signatures of thirty-two
pages. As soon as one 16 page signature is dropped into the other, the hoppers
will be tilted forward, depositing the 32 page signature into the packing box, it
being understood that the movement of the hopper into its inclined position will
cause the sheets to slide from them into the box. It is admitted that a machine
has been constructed to produce two 32 page signatures by cutting the main sheet
into two parts and folding each half four times, but in folding the paper four
times there is a very objectionable "draw" in the sheets caused by one thickness
being unsevered, and it is therefore considered that the arrangement for forming
32 page signatures is far better as there are only three folds made.
As above explained, difficulty is sometimes experienced in inserting, by reason
of the failure of the first folded sheet or signature to open quickly and sufficiently
wide as it is dropped from the calendering rollers 195 into the pivoted hopper to
receive the second or insert signature. This objection is obviated by the mechanism
now to be described.
325 is a bracket secured to the machine frame and 326 is an air pipe supported
in said bracket and communicating through a flexible or other air pipe 327 with
an air compressor or blower or fan or other equivalent device 328 which is
designed to supply said pipe 326 intermittently with jets or streams of compressed
air. In the drawings, Figure 20, is shown the air compressor in the form of a
simple cylindrical air pump from which the tube 327 leads and provided with a
reciprocating piston rod 329 provided with a piston (not shown) within the pump
cylinder. The piston rod 329 is pivoted to the end of the lever 330 which is
adapted to be intermittently rocked by suitable operative connection with any part
of the machine. Projecting inwardly from the ends of the tube 326 are inclined
jet pipes 331 which are supported so as to direct the jets or streams of air to a
point in a line directly below the bight of the calendering rollers 195, in order
that a folded signature dropping from the calendering rollers will receive the jet
of air directly between its folded halves or leaves and cause it to open just as it
drops into the hopper.
To guide the folded signatures centrally into the hopper and prevent the
signatures from turning over while they are being ejected from the hopper,
longitudinal ribs or slats 335, 336, are provided projecting inwardly from the sides
of the hopper. These ribs 335 and 336 are arranged in pairs a sufficient distance
from the bottom of the hopper to allow room for the folded signature to open under
the action of the air jets. Below the ribs 335 and 336 a second pair of ribs 337
and 338 is provided which serve to support the folded signature centrally within
the hopper while it is being opened by the action of the air jet to receive the
second folded signature. The upper ribs 335 and 336 are preferably formed
adjustable in any suitable manner and for this purpose may be adjustably secured
to the side walls or arms of the hopper in any of the well known and convenient ways.
In Figure 25 a simple device is shown which can be employed for adjustably

page_text: mounting the ribs 335 and 336 in the hopper. 275 are the arms or upright side
pieces forming the skeleton side walls of the hopper 275. 335 and 336 are the
ribs, and 340 is a flat piece of spring steel.
The ribs and steel piece engage
opposite faces of arms 275 and are held in place by a screw 341 which passes
loosely through piece 340 and is tapped into the rib 335 and 336.
screws 341 the ribs can be adjusted up or down.
By loosening
The operation of this part of the invention is clearly demonstrated in Figures 21,
22, 23 and 24. In Figure 21 the first folded signature 345 is represented as having.
just dropped into the hopper from the calendering rollers 195, the upper ribs 335
and 336 having guided the signature centrally into the hopper. In Figure 22 the
action of the air blast has opened up the first signature 345, the ribs 337 and 338
supporting said signature in central position in the hopper while the upper edges
of the signature project beneath the upper ribs 335 and 336. In this figure, the
second signature 346 which is to be inserted within the first is represented as
passing through the calendering rollers in readiness to drop into the first opened
signature. The signature 346 is carried from the pair of folding rollers to one
side of and adjacent to the folding rollers above the calendering rollers which are
shown supporting it, in a manner fully explained above. In Figure 23 the second
signature 346 has been dropped or inserted by the calendering rollers 195 into the
open signature 345 supported in the hopper, the ribs 335 and 336 having guided it
into position, and the ribs 337 and 338 supporting them centrally within the
hopper. In Figure 24, the hopper is represented in dumped position (the air blast
having opened the inner signature 346 to cause its upper edges to project under
the ribs 335 and 336), the ribs 335 and 336 in this position engaging the upper
edges of both folded signatures and holding them in longitudinal position while they
are sliding from the hopper into the packing box.
The air jets are shown applied to a machine adapted to produce two 32 page
signatures simultaneously supplied from a single compressor to operate upon the
folded signatures dropped into the two hoppers; but it will be clear that the
improvements apply equally as well to a machine which produces only one signature
at a time of whatever number of pages. The compressor or blower is preferably
timed to supply a jet of air to the signatures just as they drop into the hopper.
The means for preventing the signature from turning over while being thrown from
the hopper is not limited in application to machines which insert but will be found
valuable in all machines employing a pivoted hopper.
The tapes 225 are thrown off of the tightening pulleys 226, when it is not
desired to insert one signature in another, and moved to one side where a portion of
each roll may be turned away to allow room for the tapes to be tied back out of
the way. The guide fingers may be left in position at all times, but if desired they
may be easily removed with the friction rollers by unbolting the plates 238. If
desired means for lifting the rollers out of operative position may be provided, and
also springs may be employed to hold the friction rollers into operative contact
and yet allow it to regulate itself to the thickness of the folded signature passing
through it. Pivoted to the frame piece 250 directly beneath the calendering
rollers 195 are hollow arms 251 provided with screws 252 adapted to clamp the
extensible rods 253 and secure them to the arms or holders 251. The extensible
guide rods 253 assist in guiding the folded signatures into the pivoted hoppers or
packing boxes, and may be employed to engage the upper corners of the
signatures to assist in supporting them as fast as they are put in place by the
packers.
260 and 261 are parallel guide frames supported from the rail 7 above and below.
263, 264 265 and 266 are the packing boxes formed with grooved guide flanges 267
which engage the parallel guides 260 and support the packing boxes and allow
them to be adjusted longitudinally, that is, transversely on the machine. Additional
guides are also provided for properly supporting the packing boxes. 268 arc
pivoted spring flaps or fingers (two for each packing box) which operate in suitable

page_text: openings in the sides of the packing boxes for allowing the folded signatures to pass
in one direction under the action of the reciprocating packer, and prevent them
from moving back. 269 are the movable ends of the packing boxes having spring
arms for holding them in position with a yielding pressure. The ends 269 give as
the signatures are packed into the boxes. 270 are the reciprocating packers formed
with depending lungs 271 which are keyed to reciprocating rods 272. The rods 272
are journaled in suitable bearings in the packing boxes and are reciprocated by rod
and crank connections with suitable cams on the cam-shaft 60 in a manner well
understood.
It will be observed that the boxes 263 and 264 are supported directly below the
guide rods 253 under the calendering rollers, so that the folded signatures may fall
directly into them. The boxes 265 and 266 are supported at a lower level and
farther to the rear, so that it is necessary to provide some means for throwing or
transferring the folded signatures into them. For this purpose, a pair of indepen-
dently adjusted pivoted hoppers are provided which are adapted to receive the
folded signatures and throw them into the packing boxes 265 and 266.
275 are the open-ended pivoted hoppers journaled upon the stationary rod or
shaft 276 and of substantially V-shape in cross-section. 277 are rods connected by
universal joints 278 with the hoppers 275 aud at their other ends with pivoted
levers 279 operated by suitable cams on the shaft 60. By the action of the cams
upon the levers 279 the hoppers 275 are rocked upon their supporting shaft 276
and thrown from the position shown in Figures 5 and 17 (full lines) over into the
position shown in Figures 7 and 17 (dotted lines) for delivering a folded signature
into one of the lower boxes 265 or 266. Though it is preferred to form the
hoppers 275 of V-shaped cross section, it is to he understood that they will operate
with square bottom and sides or with Y-shaped cross section.
For the purpose of ensuring the immediate expulsion of the folded sheet from
the pivoted hopper, a kicker 280 is provided which has a rearwardly extending rod
adjustably secured in a sliding block 281 which is dove-tailed upon a rearwardly
extending bar 282 of the pivoted hopper. When the hopper is in normal position
for receiving a folded sheet the kicker is held in raised position by the spring
latch 281 pivoted to a lug on bar 282 and working in a slot in the bar (see dotted
lines) and engaging the forward edge of the block 281, and upon the movement of
the hopper upon its shaft into its lower position, the chain 281 withdraws the
catch 281 and releases block 281 and allows the gravity of the kicker to throw it
down and bring it suddenly into contact with the edge of the folded signature and
quickly eject it from the hopper into the packing box. 283 and 284 are a pair of
levers pivoted together and respectively to the block 281 and lower supporting
part of hopper 275. The lever 284 which is pivoted to the hopper adjacent to its
journal is formed with a projecting heel 285 which is adapted to be engaged by a
pin or lug 286 upon the yoke 287 which embraces the journal of the pivoted
hopper. The effect of this arrangement will be to elevate the reciprocating kicker
when the pivoted hopper is elevated, by reason of the engagement of the lug or
heel 285 with the pin 286 moving the lever 283 positively in the direction to slide
block 281 into clevated or rear position, when the latch 281" will spring into
engagement with and hold it. One of these kicking devices is provided for each
pivoted hopper. When the machine is producing two 32 page signatures, the
upper packing boxes 263 and 264 are not used, the signatures being delivered to
the pivoted hoppers and by them thrown into the lower boxes. As the pivoted
hoppers are held horizontally while they receive the signatures, it will be observed
that the inserted signatures will be closely packed in the receiving signatures and
they can be more satisfactorily packed.
When the machine is producing four 16 page signatures and it is not desired to
insert, the movement of the hopper may be dispensed with and it may be left in its
downwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 7. The two central signatures
would then drop from their calender rollers and strike the upper ends of the

page_text: hoppers and tilt themselves in precisely the same way that they do when falling
directly into the upper boxes. In machines that do not need the inserting devices,
the expense can be lessened by dispensing with the movement of the hoppers.
It is necessary to provide means for properly adjusting the packing boxes and
pivoted hoppers into proper relation with the third fold rollers and calendering
rollers so that the folded signatures will drop into proper position. To accomplish
this the following mechanism is provided :
287 are yokes sliding on the rod 276 and embracing the journal supports of the
pivoted hoppers. The yokes 287 have screw threaded eyes 288 through which
passes a right and left screw threaded rod 290 which is properly journaled at 289.
The rod 290 is provided with an operating hand wheel 292 so that the rotation of
the rod 290 will shift the pivoted hoppers closer to or farther away from each
other, 295 and 296 are parallel threaded shafts having right and left threads which
engage in suitable screw threaded lugs attached to the packing boxes 263 and 264,
265 and 266 for moving said packing boxes longitudinally for the purpose of
bringing the packing ends into proper position with relation to the calen lering
rollers and pivoted hoppers. The shafts 295 and 296 are properly geared to the
shaft 288 and the gears so proportioned that all of the packing boxes and pivoted
hoppers will be relatively adjusted by the rotation of the single hand wheel 292.
300 is an arm suitably supported from the main frame, to assist the packers by
engaging the upper corners of the signatures in the packing boxes. 30.5 is the
power-shaft journaled in the side frames and 2 and having the belt pulleys 306
on the left hand end. At the right hand end of the power-shaft is keyed a small
cog gear 307 which meshes with and drives the large cog gear 102 which is keyed
to the cam shaft 60, and the small gear 308 which is keyed to the rotatable
shaft 309 which drives the third fold rollers and calender rollers as already
explained. The large gear 102 also meshes with a suitable gear for driving the
tapes 14 and drop roller. The shaft 309 journaled in the frame piece 310, is
geared at left side of machine to the drive roller 105 of the second folding pair.
It is admitted that it is old to insert one sheet or signature within another by
passing the two sheets into position one above the other in a folding machine and
simultaneously folding both sheets the one being folded within the other. It is
also admitted that it is old to insert sheets by first folding the inner or insert sheet
and inserting it within the outer sheet simultaneously with the folding of the outer
sheet. It is not admitted, however, that it has ever been proposed to separately
fold two sheets to form signatures and subsequently insert one of the previously
folded or formed signatures into the other previously formed signature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a folding machine, the combination of the first fold rollers, suitable
feeding devices, the second fold rollers parallel to the first fold rollers, the
carrying tapes leading from the first fold rollers to the second fold rollers, the
series of small rollers journaled in rock arms, means for supporting the rollers
normally in operative position, means for raising them intermittently into
inoperative position, the second fold and gauge, and the normally inoperative
lateral sheet adjuster adapted to operate when the small rollers are in inoperative
position, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of suitable folding rollers, suitable feeding tapes leading to
the folding rollers, the series of small rollers journaled in rock arms and adapted
to rest normally in contact with the feeding tapes, a lateral sheet adjuster
supported adjacent to the folding rollers and comprising a constantly rotating
roller journaled beneath the plane of the tapes, and a norinally inoperative
co-acting drop roller supported above the plane of the tapes, and suitable operating
mechanism controlling the series of small normally operative rollers and the
normally inoperative drop roller of the lateral register, whereby the drop roller

page_text: will be dropped into operative position when the series of small rollers is elevated
into inoperative position, and vice versa, substantially as ant for the purposes set
forth.
3. The combination of suitable folding rollers, suitable feeding tapes leading to
the folding rollers, the series of small rollers journaled in rock arms and adapted
to rest normally in contact with the feeding tapes, a lateral sheet adjuster
supported adjacent to the folding rollers and comprising a constantly rotating
roller journaled beneath the plane of the tapes, and a normally inoperative
co-acting drop roller supported above the plane of the tapes, an operating rock-
arin, suitable connecting means extending from the operating rock-arm to the
rock-arms in which the small rollers are journaled, suitable connecting means
extending from the operating rock arm to the drop roller of the lateral register,
and a constantly operating cam engaging and controlling the movement of the
operating rock-arm and so shaped that the operating rock-arm will be held normally
in position to allow the series of small rollers to operate and also hold the drop
roller in inoperative position and will be intermittently rocked to reverse the
positions of said rollers, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of suitable folding rollers, suitable feeding tapes leading to
the folding rollers, a rock-shaft carrying rock-arms in which a series of small
rollers are journaled, a crank arm on the rock shaft, a longitudinally movable rod
pivoted to the crank arm, a spring holding the rock-shaft normally in position for
operation of series of small rollers, a lateral sheet adjuster supported adjacent to
the folding rollers and comprising a constantly rotating roller journaled beneath
the plane of the tapes, and a normally inoperative co-acting drop roller journaled
in a suitable rock-arm, an operating cam, a rock arm engaging and controlled by
said cam and connected with the longitudinally movable rod and the drop roller
of the lateral register, whereby the series of small rollers and drop roller will
operate alternately, substantially as set forth.
5. In a folding machine, the combination of mechanism for effecting the first
fold, mechanism for effecting the second fold, means for conveying the sheet from
the first fold mechanism to the second fold mechanism, and a lateral sheet adjuster
or register arranged to register the sheet laterally by the corner of its first fold
after it has received its first fold and before it receives its second fold, as
set forth.
6. In a folding machine, the combination of the first fold rollers, the second
fold rollers, the carrying tapes, and a lateral sheet register located adjacent to
the tapes leading between the first fold rollers and second fold rollers and
adapted to register the corner of the once folded sheet, substantially as set forth.
7. In a folding machine, the combination of the first fold rollers, the second
fold rollers, the carrying tapes, and the adjustable lateral sheet registering device
located adjacent to the tapes leading between the first fold and second fold rollers
and adapted to register the corner of the first fold before the second fold is
imparted to the shect, substantially as set forth.
8. In a folding machine, the combination of the first fold rollers, the second fold
rollers, the second fold end gauge, the adjustable carriage supported adjacent to
said end gauge and carrying the adjustable lateral register comprising a constantly
rotating lower roller, an electrically controlled drop roller, and an adjustable
circuit making arm adapted to be engaged by the corner of the once folded sheet,
substantially as set forth.
9. In a folding machine, the combination of the first fold rollers, the second fold
rollers, the second fold and registering gauge, the adjustable carriage supported
adjacent to said end gauge and carrying the lateral registering device comprising
a constantly rotating roller, a drop roller, an electro-magnet adapted to raise said
drop roller, a pivoted bar carrying a contact, a registering arm adjustably mounted
upon said bar and adapted to be operated by the corner of the once folded paper,
and means for holding the drop roller in raised position till time to register the
succeeding sheet, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 10. In a folding machine, the combination of mechanism for effecting the first
fold, mechanism for effecting the second fold, means for conveying the sheet from
the first fold mechanism to the second fold mechanisin, and an electrically
controlled lateral shect adjuster or register adapted to register the sheet between
the first and second folds; said registering device comprising a constantly rotating
roller, a drop roller, an electro-magnet controlling the position of the drop roller,
an electric circuit including said magnet, a make and break contact in said circuit,
and an adjustably supported registering arm controlling the make and break and
adapted to register and be actuated by the extreme corner of the once folded sheet,
substantially as set forth.
11. In a folding machine, the combination of a pair of folding rollers, one of
which is formed with a central annular groove and ends reduced in diameter,
longitudinally movable sleeves formed with annular grooves and mounted on said
reduced ends, means connected to said sleeves for adjusting their position, a
stationary cutting disk working in conjunction with the central annular groove of
said roller, and two adjustably supported cutting disks working in conjunction
with the grooves of the adjustable sleeves, and automatically adjustel with
the sleeves by reason of their engagement with the grooves, substantially as set
forth.
12. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable mechanism for effecting the
first and second folds of a sheet, with a central fixed cutting device, side cutting
devices adjustable to and from the fixed centre, and mechanisms for effecting the
third fold in the separated sections of the twice folded sheet, said third fold
mechanism being also adjustable to and from the common fixed centre, as set
forth.
13. In a folding machine, the combination of the first and second pairs of folding
rollers, the severing devices the series of independently adjustable third fold
rollers to which the severed signatures are delivered, the reciprocating folding
knives operating in conjunction with said third fold rollers and adjustable with them,
a rock shaft carrying rock-arms formed with broad curved palms which engage the
reciprocating folding knives for operating them and allow them to be adjusted with
the third fold rollers, substantially as set forth.
14. In a folding machine, the combination of the independently adjustable pairs
of folding rollers, reciprocating folding knives working in conjunction with said
rollers, a rock-shaft, and a series of independently adjustable rock-arms keyed to
said shaft and formed with broad curved palms which engage and operate the
reciprocating knives, substantially as set forth.
15. In a folding machine, the combination of the independently adjustable pairs
of folding rollers, the reciprocating folding knives operating in conjunction there-
with, the reciprocating bars to which said knives are attached, the rollers journaled
in said bars, the rock-shaft, and the independently adjustable rock-arms keyed
to said shaft and formed with broad curved palms which engage said rollers,
substantially as set forth.
16. In a folding machine, the combination of a pair of folding rollers, a
reciprocating bar carrying a folding knife, lugs on said bar, a roller journaled
between said lugs, a rod carrying a roller at its upper end, a spiral spring
surrounding said rod and confined between a bracket on the bar and a collar on the
rod, a rock-shaft having a rock arm and a broad curved palm formed on said
rock-arm and engaging between the two rollers for operating the reciprocating
knife, substantially as set forth.
17. In a folding machine, the combination of the first and second pairs of
folding rollers parallel to each other, the central stationary cutting device and
side adjustable cutting devices, and the four adjustable pairs of third fold rollers,
the cutters and third fold rollers being adapted to be adjusted with relation to the
central stationary cutting device, substantially as set forth.
18. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable folding mechanism

page_text: constructed to separately form two signatures, with suitable means constructed to
subsequently insert one of the previously formed signatures within the other
previously formed signature, substantially as set forth.
19. In a folding machine, the combination of the devices for severing a sheet
into two signatures and separately folding the signatures, with means for inserting
one of the previously folded signatures within the other previously folded signature,
substantially as set forth.
20. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable devices for folding the
several parts or signatures, with a hopper of substantial V-shape in cross-section,
and means for conveying two completely folded parts or signatures successively
into said hopper to insert oue within the other, substantially as set forth.
21. In a folding machine, the combination of the first and second pairs of folding
rollers, the four pairs of third fold rollers, the two hoppers of substantial V-shape
in cross-section supported beneath the central two pairs of third fold rollers and
adapted to receive the completely folded parts or signatures therefrom, and means
for conveying the completely folded parts or signatures from the outside pairs of
third fold rollers and dropping them into the hoppers inside of the signatures
from the central pairs of folding rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set
fortli.
22. In a folding machine, the combination of two pairs of folding rollers, and
their folding knives adapted to separately form two signatures, with suitable means
for subsequently delivering the previously formed signature from one pair of rollers
into the previously formed signature of the other pair of rollers, substantially as set
forth.
23. In a folding machine, the combination of two pairs of folding rollers and
their folding knives, with a third pair of rollers supported beneath one pair of
folding rollers, and carrying tapes leading from the other pair of folding rollers to
said third pair of rollers, whereby one completely folded signature will be inserted in
another, substantially as set forth.
24. In a folding machine, the combination of two pairs of folding rollers, and
their folding kuives, with a third pair of rollers below one pair of folding
rollers, carrying tapes leading from the other pair of folding rollers to the third
pair of rollers, and guide fingers 243, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
25. In a folding machine, the combination of two pairs of folding rollers and
their folding knives, with a third pair of rollers supported below one pair of folding
rollers, carrying tapes extending from the other pair of folding rollers to said third
pair of rollers, the guide fingers 243, roller 239, and rolls 231, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
26. In a folding machine, the combination of two pairs of folding rollers, and
their folding knives, with a third pair of rollers beneath one pair of folding rollers,
a hopper of substantially V-shape in cross-section supported beneath the third pair
of rollers, and carrying tapes leading from the other pair of folding rollers to the
third pair of rollers, substantially as set forth.
27. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable mechanism for completely
folding two signatures, a hopper adapted to receive said signatures from the
folding mechanism, and means for opening a signature within the hopper to
receive a succeeding signature that is to be inserted in the first signature, as set
forth.
28. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable mechanism for completely
folding two signatures a hopper adapted to receive said signatures successively oue
within the other, and means for directing a jet or current of air against the first
signature to open it in readiness to receive the second signature, substantially as set
forth.
29. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable mechanism for completely
folding two signatures, a hopper adapted to receive the folded signatures successively

page_text: one within the other, an air pipe supported in position to direct a current or jet of
air against the first signature to open it for the reception of the second signature,
and means for supplying air to said air pipe, substantially as set forth.
30. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable mechanism for completely
folding two signatures, a hopper adapted to receive two signatures successively, an
air pipe provided with a jet pipe directed toward the line of entry of the signatures
to the hopper, and a suitable air compressor or blower communicating with the air
pipe and operated by the folding machine, substantially as set forth.
31. In a folding machine, the combination of means for folding a signature, a
pivoted hopper adapted to receive the folded signature, means for ejecting the
signature from the hopper, and suitable devices attachel to the hopper and adapted
to engage the signature and prevent the turning over of the signature while it is
being ejected from the hopper, substantially as set forth.
32. In a folding machine, the combination of means for folding a signature, a
pivoted hopper adapted to receive the folded signature and eject it therefrom by
its movement, and ribs in the hopper adapted to engage the signature and prevent
its turning over as it is ejected, as set forth.
33. In a folding machine, the combination of means for folding a signature, a
piroted open ended hopper adapted to receive the folded signatures, and longi-
tudinally extending ribs in the hopper adapted to engage the edges of the signature
and hold it longitudinally as it slides from the hopper, as set forth.
34. In a folding machine, the combination of means for folding a signature, a
hopper adapted to receive the folded signature, means for ejecting the signature
from the hopper, anal ribs in the hopper adapted to guide the signature centrally
into the hopper and engage the edges of the signature for holding it longitudinally
in the hopper as it slides therefrom, substantially as set forth.
35. In a folding machine, the combination of mechanism for folding a signature,
a pivoted hopper adapted to receive a folded signature, and two pairs of ribs
formed in the hopper, substantially as set forth.
36. In a folding machine, the combination of mechanism for folding a signature,
a hopper adapted to receive the folded signature, ribs in the hopper for engaging
the edges of a signature, and a device for directing an air jet or current against a
signature for opening its leaves or halves into engagement with the ribs, sub-
stantially as set forth.
37. In a folding machine, the combination of the independently adjustable pairs
of folding rollers and their folding knives, with the adjustable hoppers and
adjustable packing boxes, substantially as set forth.
38. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable means for folding a sheet
with a horizontally pivoted vertically oscillating open ended hopper adapted to
receive the folded sheet from the folding mechanism and throw it out in the
direction of its length.
39. In a folding machine, the combination of suitable means for folding a sheet,
a packing box adapted to receive the sheets on end, and a horizontally pivoted
open ended hopper oscillated vertically at right angles to the length of the packing
box and adapted to receive the folded sheet from the folding mechanism and
throw it into the packing box, substantially as set forth.
40. The combination, in a folding machine, of a pair of folding rollers, the
packing box extending at right angles to the folding rollers, and an open ended
hopper of substantially V-shaped cross-section horizontally pivotel in position to
receive the folded signatures from the rollers and deposit them in the packing
box, substantially as set forth.
41. The combination, in a folding machine, of suitable devices adapted to deliver
several folded sheets or signatures, with two sets or series of packing boxes, one
arranged to receive the signatures directly from the folding devices, and the other
farther removed from said folding devices and one or more pivoted hoppers
adapted to receive folded signatures and deposit them into the remote picking
boxes, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 42. The combination, in a folding machine, of means for folding a sheet, with a
movable hopper into which the folded sheet is directed, and a kicker movable
simultaneously with the hopper and adapted to eject the sheet from the hopper,
substantially as set forth.
43. The combination, in a folding machine, of a pair of folding rollers, a packing
box into which the folded signatures are to he delivered, a movable hopper adapted
to receive the folded signatures from the rollers, and a kicker actuated by the
movement of the hopper to eject the signatures therefrom into the packing box,
substantially as set forth.
44. The combination, in a folding machine, of a packing box, a pivotally
supported hopper adapted to receive the signatures from the folders and move
over into position for depositing them into the packing box, and a gravitating
kicker adapted to eject the signatures from the hopper into the packing box,
substantially as set forth.
45. The combination, in a folding machine, of a packing box, a pivotally
supported hopper adapted to receive the signatures from the folders and move
over into position for depositing them in the packing box, and a gravitating
kicker operated by the movement of the hopper for ejecting the signatures from
the hopper into the packing box, substantially as set forth.
46. The combination, in a folding machine, of a packing box, a pivotally
supported hopper adapted to receive the signatures from the folders, means for
moving the hopper on its pivot into position to deposit the signatures into the
packing box, an arm projecting from the hopper, a gravitating kicker slidingly
mounted upon the arm and links connecting the kicker and hopper whereby the
kicker will be allowed to eject the signatures when the hopper is moved into
ejective position and will be withdrawn when the hopper moves back, substantially
as set forth.
47. The combination, in a folding machine, of a packing box, an open ended
hopper supported upon a suitable shaft, means for moving the hopper into position
to deposit the signatures into the packing box, an arm projecting from the hopper,
gravitating kicker slidingly mounted upon said arm, a pair of links pivoted
together and to the kicker and hopper respectively, a projecting heel on one of the
links, and a stationary pin adapted to engage said heel and move the kicker into
operative position when the hopper is moved back after depositing a signature,
substantially as set forth.
48. The combination, in a folding machine, of the adjustable carriages carrying
the folding rollers, the adjustable packing devices, the adjustable hoppers, and
suitable means for adjusting the hoppers and packing boxes relatively to themselves
and the folding rollers, substantially as set forth.
49. The combination, in a folding machine, of the adjustable carriages carrying
folding rollers, the adjustable packing boxes and the adjustable pivoted hoppers;
said hoppers being pivotally mounted upon a suitable shaft and adjusted by means
of a yoke embracing the bearing of the hopper and adjustably mounted upon a
screw rod, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st dor of Iul 1906
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.