IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Farmer, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING
PAPER "
Sealed the 8th February 1878, and dated the 8th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Farmer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1877.
JAMES FARMER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER."
"IMPROVE-
My Invention is particularly applicable for folding and delivering newspapers as
they are printed on any rotary web printing machine.
My improved machinery consists of a number of rotary drums with grippers and
sliding or fixed tongues which fold the paper as it passes from one drum to another,
without the aid of tapes or bands for making the first folds.
The paper on leaving the printing machine is carried forward by endless bands to
the first rotary drum, the circumference of which is two or more times the length of
the sheets of paper to be folded The edge of the sheet is caught hold of by
grippers on the said drum, which is provided with a tongue acting on the centre of
the sheet of paper, which delivers it to a pair of grippers attached to a second drum
which gives the first fold to the sheet of paper, the second fold is given by a tongue
in the second drum which delivers it to a pair of grippers on a third drum, and the
sheet is then passed over tapes to the ordinary cross-folding apparatus
It is evident that the number of rotary drums may be varied according to the
number of folds required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Farmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June
1878.
JAMES FARMER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER."
My Invention is particularly applicable for folding and delivering newspapers as
they are printed on any rotary web printing machine.
My improved machinery consists of a number of rotary drums with grippers and
vibrating or fixed tongues which fold the paper as it passes from one drum to another
without the aid of tapes or bands for making the first folds
The paper on leaving the printing machine is carried forward by endless bands
to the first rotary drum, the circumference of which is two or more times the length
of the sheets of paper to be folded. The edge of the sheet is caught hold of by
grippers on the said drum which is provided with a tongue acting on the centre of
the sheet of paper, and which delivers it to a pair of grippers attached to a second
drum which gives the first fold to the sheet of paper, the second fold is given by a
tongue on the second drum which delivers it to a pair of grippers in a third drum,
and the sheet is then passed between tapes to the ordinary cross-folding apparatus.
It is evident that the number of rotary drums may be varied according to the
number of folds required.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings.
On Sheet 1 Fig 1 represents one of my improved machines for folding paper.
In this Drawing a, a, are the tapes which convey the partially severed sheets of
printed newspaper from the cutting rollers forming part of a web printing machine;
these tapes traverse at the same speed as the paper issuing from the printing
machine; b, b. are tapes for conveying the paper delivered by the tapes a, a, to the
first rotary folding drum c. The tapes b run rather faster than the tapes a to break
the sheets asunder as usual
The drum c is provided with two sets of ordinary grippers c¹, which take the
sheet of paper to be folded from between the circumference of the drum c and roller d,
which is made of a series of pulleys fixed on a shaft with spaces between them to
allow the grippers to pass this roller is one-fourth of the diameter of the
drum c, and is made with a clearance groove to allow the tongues c³ to pass. The
tongues c³ are placed at such a distance from the grippers c', as to make the fold in
the centre of the sheet of paper. The tongues ca are acted upon by the springs c³,
in order to allow the tongues to vibrate between the fixed stops c¹, as will be
described hereafter.
Above the drum c is the second folding drum e, which is about one inch larger in
diameter than the type roller of the printing machine, the drum e is provided with
a double set of grippers e', shewn detached in Fig 2; these grippers consist of a
series of levers fixed on cross shafts, and on each lever are sprung two india-rubber
or other washers, as shewn in Fig 3, to grip securely the paper
At the end of one of the cross shafts is a lever e actuated by a cam at the
required point, and the cross shafts are connected by toothed segments to cause the
grippers to open and close simultaneously. The grippers are at all times pressed
towards each other by the circular spring ea connected to the toothed segments. The
tongue e is also acted upon by spring e. as before described.
Above the drum e is the third folding drum f. which is provided with a double
set of grippers f', similar to those before described. The drum f is the same diame
ter as the drum e, and both the drums e and are half the diameter of the drum c.
The grippers work in slots in the circumference of the drum f. as shewn in Fig 4
The tapes pass over the drum f, and around the guide pulleys g¹ and g², the object
of these tapes is to release the sheets of folded paper from the drum f, and to deliver
them to the tapes h. which convey them to the ordinary cross-folding apparatus

page_text: The mode of operation is as follows:-When the front edge of the sheet of
paper to be folded has been brought forward by the tapes b. to the point
between the circumferences of the folding drum c and roller d, it is caught hold
of by the grippers c', and carried forward until the tongue e afrives at the
grippers e of the second drum e; the grippers c¹ that carried the paper forward
now release it by means of a cam acting on a-lever as usual, and the grippers e¹
then close on the tongue c, and as the tongue rotates with the drum e. the
grippers e' draw the paper off it. As the drum e revolves, the spring c³ allows
the tongue c to follow the same angle as the grippers until they pass beyond
it, when the spring draws the tongue back to its former position, against the
stop c
The sheet of paper having now received its first fold, is carried forward by the
grippers e' until the tongue e arrives at the grippers . which impart the second
fold in a similar manner. The guide i is to guide the folded sheet of paper round
the circumference of the second folding drum e.
When the grippers take the sheet of paper off the tongue e, they are in
a line between the centres of the drums e and f, and the tapes g are then drawn in
a line from the ends of the slots f, and consequently behind the second fold in the
sheet of paper but when the grippers arrive in the position shewn in the Drawing,
they are opened by a cam, as usual, and the tapes g then deposit the paper on to the
tapes h, which convey it to the cross-folding apparatus, as before mentioned.
In some cases it may be desirable to increase the number of gripper arrangements
and tongues on the circumference of the drum e, to fold either a four page or an
eight page paper.
On Sheet 2 Fig. 5, represents a modification of my improved machinery for
folding paper, in this machine I employ two sets of folding rollers in order to reduce
the speed of the working parts: a, a, are the tapes for conveying the paper from
the printing machine, as before described, but these tapes now pass over rollers
supported in the vibrating frame a', to divide the paper into two streams, the
tapes a deliver the paper to the two sets of tapes b, b', passing over guide rollers as
usual. The tapes b deliver the lower stream of paper to the roller d, placed under
the first folding drum c, which is provided with one set of grippers c', and one
tongue on the axle of the drum c. are mounted the levers j. which are connected
by the cross bar . the object of which is to take up the slack of the sheet of paper
which is delivered at about twice the speed of the circumference of the drum.
The second folding drum e is of the same diameter as the first folding drum c. and
it is provided with one set of double grippers e', and one tongue e. To the axle of
the drum e is fixed a cam e' acting on a bowl in the lever e which is connected
to one of the levers by the link.
The third folding drum is also provided with one set of grippers f, and
delivers the folded sheet of paper to the cross-folding apparatus by means of the
tapes g and h, as before described. The upper folding drums to which the
paper is delivered by the tapes b' are precisely similar to the lower folding
drums. It is necessary to remark here that the tapes band b' travel at rather less
than twice the speed of the circumferences of the folding drums, in order to leave
the required space between the ends of the sheets.
The action of this machine is as follows:-When a sheet of paper has been de-
livered by the lower tapes b to the lower set of folding drums, the grippers c' take
hold of the edge and draw the sheet over the tension rod j' which is then down, as
shewn in the upper set, and while the drum c is carrying the sheet towards the
drum e, the tension rod j¹ is moving in the contrary direction to the drum to take
up the slack of the sheet. When the tongue c² arrives in a line between the centres
of the drums c and e. the grippers e' take hold of the first fold and draw it off the
tongue es, as before described, the grippers c' now let go the edge of the sheet which
is then carried forward by the drum e and delivered to the third drum f, as described
in reference to Fig. 1.
As soon as the paper has been taken hold of by the tapes b. the vibrating frame a¹

page_text: is moved by an eccentric or cam motion to deliver the next sheet to the tapes b¹.
By this means the speed of the folding machine is reduced to one half of that of the
type roller.
When more than two folds have to be given, the number of folding rollers must
be increased
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described two convenient
modes of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend
to limit myself to the details given, as they may be varied: I would also remark
that I do not claim any of the well-known parts of folding machinery which are
only shewn to illustrate the application of my improvements, but what 1 claim as
my Invention, is,-
First. Making the tongues marked c³ and e³ movable, instead of rigid, as hereto-
fore, for the purpose described.
Secondly. The double grippers marked e¹ and f, as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The long slots marked f, in the last folding drum for the tapes g. by
which the folded sheet of paper is delivered to the cross-folding apparatus, as shewn
and described.
Fourthly The tension rod for taking up the slack of the sheet of paper to be
folded, as shewn and described.
And, lastly. The general combination and arrangement of the folding drums and
delivering tapes, as shewn and described in reference to Sheet 2.
In witness whereof, I. the said James Farmer, have hereunto set my hand
and seals, this Sixth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight.