Improvements in Folding Apparatus for Envelope, and the like Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Apparatus for Envelope, and the like
Machines.
I, ERNST FISCHER, of 3, Wertherhofstrasse, Barmen, Germany, Manufacturer, 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
This invention relates to an improved apparatus used with envelope-paper bag
and the like article making machines which is arranged to fold the blanks in a
perfectly new manner and it consists in a combination of the two known folding
systems, to which the folding flaps which are turnable round a fulcrum and folding
rails which are horizontally shifted for and backwards. By this combination i
unite the inerits of each of the named systems overcoming their drawbacks which
consist in the complicated driving means for the folding flaps and the sometimes
unsecure operation of the rails.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a plan of the improved folding device in an acting state
Figure 2 is a like plan showing the apparatus inactive,
Figure 3 is a vertical section left half referring to Figure 1 right half to
Figure 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the drawing.
At
A denotes the creasing box which is fitted on each side with two parallel and
longitudinally running grooves b adapted to receive the flat bars c, c¹ the one of
which c has connection by means of a pitman to an eccentric disk of the machine
not shown in drawing) in order to be shifted by said arrangement to and fro.
the rear end to the bars c, c' is securely fastened a rail d serving to fold the
sealing flap of the envelope to which purpose it travels with the bars c, c¹.
Opposite to the rail d is mounted in the creasing box a rail e being guided
between idle rollers and receiving a to and fro movement by means of the
double armed levers turning round a fulcrum f. One end of said lever is
linked to the rail e the other being forked so as to temporarily engage with
studs ffixed to the flat bars c, c¹. This rail is provided to fold the bottom
flap of the envelope. Upon the creasing box are located in same height with the
rails d, e left and right the rails serving to fold the end flaps of the envelope.
They are guided between the rollers g¹ and moved towards and from each other
by slanting slots h cut into the rails and engaging rollers secured to the
bars c, c¹.
The motion imparted to the four rails c, d, g, g is so timed that the folding
action of the end rails takes place first and the folding action of the other rails
successively one after the other as soon as the blank is delivered to the creasing
box by the plunger (not shown in drawing). Now it may happen that in folding
the flaps especially the end flaps which are seized at the exposed edges by the rails
and gradually bent down the free ends of the flaps are fluttering about in the air
stream produced by the movement of the plunger and the rails and said flaps are

page_text: prevented to be properly folded and overlap one another. To overcome this drawback
I have made the following provisions.
By means of a bolt
angle of 90 degrees.
I hinge to each end rail a flap i adapted to be turned in an
For this purpose to each rail is attached a lever k which can turn round a
bolt 1. One end of said lever has linked a forked piece k which receives the head
of a connecting bar 12 the other end of which is hinged to the flap i. The lever k
has an extension ¹ to which is applied one end of a spring m that is attached to
the flap i. To the ends of rail d are adjustably screwed fingers n which are fitted
at their free ends with friction rollers that temporarily engage arms n² extending
from the levers k. The working of this combined device is as follows:
When the folding apparatus is open that is if all 4 rails are withdrawn, the flaps i
stand in vertical direction in which they are held by said fingers n that take hold ou
said arms n. When the blank is delivered to the creasing box and the rails shifted
together the end rails first and then the other rails the arms n² are successively
released by said fingers n, so that the flaps i are turned down by the springs m
and in such a manner are able to guide the flaps of the envelope and bend
them properly down. The flaps underlic therefore a double folding action namely
by the shifting rails and at the same time by the downturned flaps i in consequence
of which always a properly folded envelope is produced.
In order that the flaps i are turned down one after another I have fixed to each
rail ga stopper o which has excentrically located its fastening screw by means of
which I am able to place the stopper more or less within the way of the lever k as
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 said lever being then prevented to finish its
stroke and the flap i is correspondingly withheld in a certain angular position
allowing one flap to overlap the other.
If
In the present illustration I have fitted the end rails only with folding Haps.
found necessary also the bottom flap rail and the sealing rail may receive flaps
which are moved in the like manner as described.
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 :-
A folding apparatus for envelope and the like machines having four rails for the
corresponding envelope flaps which are shifted together and withdrawn successively
according to the folding action said rails being provided with folding flap which are
hinged thereto and drawn downwards on the envelope flaps by springs or the like
whilst their contrary movement is caused by fingers or its equivalents secured to
the sealing flap rail and engaging the flaps by means of levers as illustrated and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 30th day of Domain
1000