IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MACHINES FOR FOLDING PAPER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Hely, of the Alexandra Envelope Works, in
the City and County of Dublin, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
RELATING TO MACHINES FOR FOLDING PAPER."
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 5th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Hely at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1877.
EDWARD HELY, of the Alexandra Envelope Works, in the City and County
of Dublin. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MACHINES FOR FOLDING PAPER."
This Invention is designed chiefly for folding writing paper, foolscap, and other
paper requiring to be folded in a single fold. It can, however, be applied also to
the folding of printed sheets in which several folds are required, by the use of
several machines, and transferring them from one to the other, or in a single machine
by arranging several series of bounding blocks instead of one set. It consists of a
dull-edged blade securely fixed to a vertical bar working in grooves or bearings, so
that it can only move in a vertical line. This bar is preferably square, and by
means of levers, or other mechanism, can be worked by treadle, or even by steam,
or other motive power. The knife descends between two planed bars with rounded
edges, so as not to scratch or cut the paper, and these bars are pressed towards each
other by springs, rubber rings, or weighted levers. Care should be taken that the
bars shall press towards each other, but be prevented from getting quite under the
knife by means of a central stop at each end. On the table on which the bars are
placed at the distance apart equal to the size of the paper to be doubled, I place a
series of vertical blocks or guides all round, enclosing a space the size of the paper.
These act as guides for the paper. They can be fixed or adjusted by screws or
otherwise. The two sliding bars are held down by a plate placed over them, but
not bearing on them, it being securely bolted to the table through the central stop
(usually brazed to them).
Attached to the lever connecting the machine with the treadle, and underneath
the frame, I place a lever actuating two wedges, one at oach end of the sliding bars,
and so arranged that as the knife rises to near its full height the two wedges come

page_text: up between the ends of the sliding bars, thus forcing them apart and liberating the
paper. Of course other modes of separating the bars could be adopted, such as
cains, or reversing the weighted levers, when these latter are employed instead of
india-rubber bands for compression. The apparatus can be made of any suitable
material, wood, metal, paper, and india-rubber being all usually employed.
The mode of operating is as follows:-The guide blocks, if adjustable, are adjusted
to fit the paper with its centre exactly under the knife, the part between them and the
bars being filled up with wood or other material level with the top of the bars, but not
as high as the guide blocks. A half-quire of paper is then laid between the guide
blocks, the blade descends, drawing the paper between the bars; the blade rises, the
springs, rubber bands, or weighted levers press the blocks together till the blade
lias risen nearly clear of the paper, when the pressure being removed and the bars
forced apart the operator pulls the folded paper out froin between them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
tho said Edward Hely in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd October
1877.
EDWARD HELY, of the Aloxandra Envelope Works, in the City and County
of Dublin. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MACHINES FOR FOLDING PAPER."
Fig. 1 is a front clevation; Fig. 2, plan; Fig. 3, side elevation.
This machine consists of a base plate (A) carrying an upright frame (B) in which
a plunger (C) works with a vertical reciprocating motion, actuated by a treadle or
other device by means of lever (D). To the lower end of the plunger is attached a
blade (E) ground almost to a knife-edge. On the surface of the base plate (A), and
immediately under and parallel to the blade, are two "folding" plates (G, G,)
pressed or held together at the extremities by springs of india-rubbor or steel (M).
Two stops (E) prevent the plates from lifting or moving in any direction except
away from each other. At each end of the plunger carrying the blade is fixed a
double-ended cone or wedge (I) which works between rollers inserted in the folding
plates (G, G,). This cone is for the purpose of opening the plates to allow the
blade to rise, and of again opening them to allow the paper to be removed after
having been folded.
The process of folding is as follows:-The plunger (C) carrying the blade (E)
being at the top of its stroke, the paper to be folded is placed upon the folding
plates, which are now kept apart by the cones at each end of the blade. The plunger
and blade being brought down (and with them the cones), the plates (G, G,) come
together, and the blade mecting the paper forces it between the plates (G, G,) which
are then opened by the cones to allow the blade to rise after arriving at the end of
its stroke. On the upward stroke of the plunger the paper remains between the
plates, which are then drawn together by the springs (M). The paper having been
thus compressed between the plates the cones again come into action on the con-
tinuation of the upward stroke of the plunger (C). The plates are opened and the
paper is released.
A set of pins or plate (K) forming a guide, is provided at the
back of the plates against which the edge of the paper is placed. This guide is
adjusted to suit the size of paper to be folded. In order that the paper should lie
flat the surface of the table is inade level with the folding plates with removable
pieces of wood (L, L,).
It will be easily seen that this machine can be greatly modified without departing
from the principles of my Invention. Thus, instead of wedge cones (I), wedges,
levers, or other mechanism might be attached to the treadlo bar to open the
plates (G, G,). Weighted levers or other mechanism could take the place of the
india-rubber rings I usually use for keeping plates (G, G,) together.
The shapes of the various parts could be altered in many ways without departing

page_text: from the principles of my Invention. I wish it therefore to be understood that what
I believe to be new and desiro to claim under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination in a paper-folding machine of a knife or folder (A),
plates (G, G,), springs (M), and guide (K), or their mechanical equivalents, for the
purposes described.
2nd. The combination in a paper-folding machine of a knife or folder (A),
plates (G, G), or their mechanical equivalents, with an apparatus for pressing
the blocks or plates (G, G,) or their mechanical equivalents apart, when their
creasing or folding has been accomplished, so as to enable the paper to be more
easily extracted.
3rd. The general arrangement of mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Hely, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
1877.
EDWARD HELY. (L.S.)