Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Folding Tubes or Cases of Paper or like Material.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Folding Tubes or
Cases of Paper or like Material.
We, HENRY RUFUS CORKHILL, Junior, of 13, Violetta Street, Rochester, in the
State of New York, United States of America, Engineer, BERNARD BARON and
FRANK ANTHONY STECHER, Merchants, trading as The Baron Manufacturing
Company, of St. James' Place, Aldgate, in the County of London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The present invention has for its object to provide a machine or apparatus for
"breaking back" or folding collapsible, creased or scored, and flattened paper or
similar tubes, particularly such as are adapted to form the shells of sliding boxes, and
is an improvement upon that type of "refolding" device shown in English Patent
No. 5,610, dated March 12th, 1896. The shells or paper tubes upon which the
present machine is adapted to operate are, preferably composed of a single blank of
cardboard or similar material with the edges lapped and pasted, and scored or creased
longitudinally and folded flat with the sides in contact and capable of being further
folded or what is herein termed "refolded " up into rectangular form in cross-section,
the tubes operated upon being preferably long enough to form several shells for slide
boxes adapted to contain cigarettes, chewing-gum or similar small wares; and as the
tubes or shells are flat when formed, it is desirable that they be bent back or "re-
folded" on the scored or creased lines on which they were not folded during the
forming operation, in order that they may be readily opened up for the insertion of
the interior box or container, or small wares themselves without a box.
Considerable difficulty has been experienced in properly "refolding" and feeding
through a "refolding" apparatus or die tubes small in cross section, by reason of
their tendency to form round corners on the scored or creased lines instead of breaking
sharply at an angle and forming the flexible hinge or connection at the sides exactly
on the scored or creased lines of the blank, but the present machine is capable of
properly"refolding" or operating upon either large or small tubes and may be readily
adjusted for operating upon those of any size, all as will be hereinafter fully
described, and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specifi
cation.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a "refolding" device constructed in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 2, a longitudinal-sectional view thereof with the guiding blades or fingers
shown in dotted lines.
Figure 3, a longitudinal-sectional view showing the guiding blades or fingers in
elevation, with the feeding and refolding rollers removed.
Figure 4, a sectional view on the line aa of Fig. 1.
Figure 5, a similar view on the line b- of Fig. 1.
Figure 6, a sectional view on the line c-c of Fig, 1, looking in the direction of
the arrow.
'
Figure 7. a similar view on the line d-d of Fig. 1.

page_text: Figure 8, a similar view on the line e―e of Fig. 1.
Figure 9, a sectional view on the line ff of Fig. 1.
Figure 10, a perspective view of a tube, while being refolded.
Figure 11, a sectional view showing the adjustment of the rollers and rods when
operating upon a small tube or one of relatively stiff material.
Similar reference numerals in the different figures indicate similar parts.
The tubes or box-shells may be formed upon machines substantially as shown in
the Letters Patent above referred to, and are delivered substantially flat to the
"refolding" device, that is to say, the opposite sides of the flattened tube (each side
being composed, preferably, of a broad panel A and a narrow panel B) are in contact,
said tubes not having been bent or folded during their manufacture on the scored or
creased linea i, which divide the sides of the flattened tubes into the separate panels,
and by the passage through this machine the tubes are bent up to rectangular form,
then are folded down flat with the creased or scored lines i at the edges, as shown in
Figure 10, and then, if desired, are flattened again into substantially the form into
which they entered the "refolder," so that all of the creased folding lines are
rendered flexible and the tubes or shells may be readily set up to receive the
slides.
.or
In the present embodiment, these operations are accomplished by two series of
grooved cooperating rollers, indicated by the numerals 1 to 8 inclusive, and arranged
in pairs, the rollers bearing odd numbers, 1, 3, 5, 7, being driven positively to carry
the tubes through the machine at the same time the "refolding" operation is
accomplished, and the even numbered rollers, 2, 4, 6, 8, simply constituting
rolling grooved guides and formers, although a greater or a lesser number of rollers
could be driven, if desired. The grooves in the faces of these forming and driving
rollers are adapted to receive the edges of the flattened tube, and, in order to give
the tube the partial twist, as shown in Figure 10, to cause it to be "refolded
flattened again with the creased lines i at the edge, each pair of said rollers has one
of its rolls raised above the center line at which the tube enters the die, and its
opposite roll below said line and the succeeding pairs are arranged closer together
toward the exit end of the die or "refolder," as shown particularly in Figures 1, 2, 4
and 5. This arrangement forms in effect two series of grooved rollers, one series.
being arranged on each side of the tube, and each series extending spirally around
the longitudinal axis of the tubes operated upon. The tubes are fed into the entrance
end of the "refolder" at the left of Figures 1 and 2 between a pair of horizontally
extending feeding rollers 15, though other suitable feeding devices could be employed.
The arbors 19 and 20 of the grooved forming rollers are mounted in supports or
brackets 21 and 22 respectively, each support or bracket having bearings for the arbor
of the roller, and also having a lateral extension or foot 23 and being adjustable in
channel plates 24 rigidly attached to the base plate 17, said foot being slotted at 25
and the brackets or supports arranged to be secured in adjusted position by bolts 26,
whereby the lateral adjustments of all of the rolls may be accomplished for operating
on different-sized tubes. The arbors of the driven rollers, 1, 3, 5, 7, are provided with
belt pulleys 28 at their upper enda and mounted upon the brackets 22 are the guide
pulleys 29 and around which and the pulleys 28 extend driving belts 30, said belts
also passing around suitable driving pulleys arranged above, as shown for instance in
Figure 6. As the rollers of each succeeding pair of grooved forming rollers are
closer together toward the exit end of the die, and, therefore, support and press the
edges of the flattened tube together and at the same time the positions of the grooves
vary above and below a central plane or the axis of the die, it is necessary to press
upon the broad panels of the tube (or rather to hold the broad panels from bulging
outwardly), to cause the said tube to be "refolded" on the creased or scored lines i
between the broad and narrow panels, which operation or function is accomplished by
abutments having a narrow engaging portion such as the rods 31 and 32 attached to
brackets 40 on the brackets 35 carrying the upper feed-rolls 15, said rods diverging
gradually, as shown in Figure 3, and also extending offset laterally or in different
vertical planes, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, so as to press upon the tubes near the

page_text: centers of the broad panels and cause a sharp break on the creased line. After
leaving the forming rollers 8, the tubes pass between cylindrical plain-faced
rollers 9, 10 and 11, successively, the two former being supported in brackets 22
similar in all respects to the other brackets or roller supports, and the latter roller
having its axis inclined and its brackets supported upon a wedge-shaped bracket 34,
as shown in Figure 7. These last-mentioned rollers serve to flatten the tubes with
the creased or scored lines i at the edges. From thence the tubes pass between the
rollers 12, 13 and 14, which are also cylindrical plain-faced rollers, being successively
closer together and operating upon the edges of the tube, which now extend in
vertical planes, and flattening the tube again into substantially the form assumed by
it when it entered between the rollers 15. After the tubes pass from the rollers 14
they may be delivered to any suitable conveying or feeding-out devices, substantially
as shown in the before-mentioned patent, or otherwise.
The rollers 12, 13, 14 and 15 are all plain-faced and cylindrical, and are journaled
in suitable boxes or bearings formed in arched brackets 35, each having a foot or
extension 55 on one end and adjustably secured by bolts 86 to slotted standards or
supports 16, so that they may be moved to vary the space between the rollers of the
pair, and thus accommodate tubes of different sizes. It will be noted that the
brackets and supports for these rollers 12, 13, 14 and 15 are all similar and inter-
changeable and also that the brackets, arbors and supports for and the grooved
forming rollers themselves are all similar, the latter being adjustable upon the arbors
to vary the distance of the grooved portions relative to the center line of the die, and
thus enable the machine to operate upon tubes of different sizes.
The rods or bars 31 and 32 are also adjustable upon the brackets 40 to vary their
relative angle and also their distance apart, said arms being, preferably, of wood and
having the small protecting plates 42 at the ends and slotted for the passage of
screws 43 screwing into the brackets 40, as in Figures 2 and 3, to hold them rigidly
in adjusted position.
In adapting the machine for operating upon any particular sized tube, it is only
necessary to loosen the screws securing the brackets to the channel plates 24 of the
forming and feeding rollera, slide the brackets and rollers outward, then pass a tube
of the proper size between the rollers 15, twist or turn it to the position shown in
Figure 10 to cause the proper "refolding," and pass the end between the inclined
rollers 11, bringing the centers of the ends of the tube in line with the centers of the
rollers 15 and 11. While the tube is held in this position the grooved forming rollers
are adjusted laterally with their brackets or supports and vertically on their arbors
until they properly engage with the edges of the tube with sufficient friction to cause
the proper feed, then the rods 31 and 32 and the rollers 12, 13 and 14 are properly
adjusted and secured and the machine is ready for operation, and when the rollers
are driven by the belts shewn, or otherwise, the tubes will be rapidly passed through
and properly "refolded" or flexed on all the creased lines. Of course, instead of
positively driving only the alternate grooved rollers, as shown, a greater or a lesser
number could be driven, as will be understood.
By the employment of the rods 31 and 32 or other guiding abutments or parts
which engage the sides of the tubes at single points or lines, as distinguished from
long cylindrical rollers, as in the patent referred to, the necessary adjustments to
cause the accurate and proper bending on the creased or scored lines only is secured,
even when the tubes are quite small, of heavy material or when they are but
imperfectly scored or creased, the rods or guides or abutments in the latter instances,
being arranged close enough together, if desired, to bend the tube at a sharp angle,
less than a right angle, if desired, as shown in Fig. 11.
It is, of course, immaterial whether the folding lines of the blank are weakened by
creasing or scoring by cuts extending partially through the material or otherwise.
It will be understood that any desired number of the grooved rollers may be
driven, so as to properly move the tubes through the machine, although in the
present embodiment the pairs of driven rollers alternate with the pairs of loose
rollers, which construction is preferred.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for "refolding" tubes, the combination of two series of grooved
driven rollers, one series cooperating with each edge of the flat tube, and the rollers
in each series being arranged spirally about the axis of the tube.
2. An apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes embodying two series
of grooved rollers, one series cooperating with each edge of the tube, the grooves in
the succeeding rollers of each series being arranged spirally about the tube axis on
opposite sides and partially around said axis.
3. An apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, embodying two series
of grooved driven rollers, one series co-operating with each edge of the flattened
tube, the grooves in the succeeding rollers of each series being arranged spirally,
about the tube axis and in opposite sides and partially around it, and means for
engaging the tubes intermediate of their edges.
4. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tabes, the combination
with the two series of grooved rollers extending spirally about the axis of the tube,
and adapted to engage the edges of the tube, of the two diverging and laterally offset
rods or guides adapted to engage the opposite sides of the tube between the
edges.
5. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the feeding rollers, as 15, and the two series of grooved driven rollers extending
spirally about the axis of the tube and adapted to engage the edges of the tube, of
guides adapted to engage the opposite sides of the tube between the edges, and the
oylindrical rollers, such as 11, arranged with their axes in a plane at an angle to
those of the rollers 15.
6. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the two series of brackets or supports adjustable toward and from each other,
the arbors on said supports, the grooved rollers longitudinally adjustable on the
arbors, and the adjustable diverging guides arranged between the two series of
rollers.
7. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the two series of grooved rollers, the rollers of each series extending spirally
about the longitudinal axis of the tube operated upon, and on opposite sides, guides
for engaging the tubes intermediate of their edges, and the pairs of rollers 11, 12
and 14.
8. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the two series of grooved rollers adjustable toward and from the longitudinal
axis of the tube operated upon and also adjustable at right angles to said axis, of
the relatively adjustable feeding rollers 15, and the laterally offset and diverging
guides.arranged between the series of grooved rollers and adjustable to change their
relative angles, and also the distance between them, whereby the apparatus may be
adjusted for operation upon tubes of different sizes.
9. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the base or support 17, the channels or guides thereon, the brackets in the
guides, the arbors thereon, and the grooved rollers adjustable longitudinally of the
arbors.
10. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the slotted supports 16, the adjustable arched brackets 35 and the bolts for
securing them to the supports, of the rollers 15 journaled in said brackets.
11. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the bracket or support 22 having the foot, the guide pulleys 29 journaled at the
upper end of the support, the vertical arbor having the pulley at its upper end, and
the grooved pulley adjustable on said arbor.
12. In an apparatus for "refolding" creased and flattened tubes, the combination
with the feeding rollers 15, two series of grooved rollers arranged on opposite sides

page_text: of the longitudinal axis of the tubes operated upon, and extending spirally around
said axis, the diverging and laterally offset guides, the rollers 9 and 10, the inclined
rollers 11, and the rollers 12, 13 and 14 arranged and operating substantially as
described.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.