IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Daniel Francis Buckley and Bradbury Poor
Cilley, both of Manchester, in the State of New Hampshire and United
States of America.
Sealed the 18th June 1861, and dated the 2nd March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton:
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
on the 2nd March 1861.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER," to be as
follows:-
The attempts heretofore made to dispense with the tapes in paper folding
machines working with straight edges and rollers, have thus far failed as the
paper after it escaped from the first or horizontal pair of rolls had nothing to
prevent it from falling over against the second knife, and if this knife was
placed sufficiently near to assist in sustaining the paper, it would interfere
with it as its doubled edge emerged from the preceding pair of rolls and
destroy the sheet. The sheet also as it passed through the rolls would hang
in them until its upper edge escaped from them; and owing to the irregularities
which occur in the form of the sheets, one corner would often become dis-

page_text: engaged from the rolls before the other, and the sheets would not fall square
upon the stop below, which would entirely destroy the register; on these
accounts it has not been found practical thus far 'to make a knife and roller
machine operate without tapes. The present Invention has for its object to
dispense with the tapes in machines of this class, and also to adapt the folder
directly to the printing press, so that it may take the printed sheets and fold
them as they issue therefrom.
The paper to be folded is placed upon the first table, with its central line,
through which the first fold is to be made, directly over the line of contact of
the first pair of rolls with each other, and with its central line in the opposite
direction perpendicularly over the line of contact of the second pair of rolls
with each other.
The first pair of rolls are arranged in the customary manner in the centre
of the table, and with their upper convex surfaces slightly above the plane of
its upper surface. These rolls are revolved by suitable mechanism, and the
sheet is entered between them by the first knife or folding edge which descends
at the proper moment.. Beneath the table and placed at an angle of 45°
thereto is a second table, in the centre of which are placed the second pair of
rolls. The sheet of paper having disengaged itself from the first pair of rolls,
slides down the inclined table until its folded edge strikes against a stationary
gauge when immediately the second knife strikes it, and it is again doubled
and carried through between the rolls. Immediately beneath the opening
between the latter rolls is a guide plate which is capable of being vibrated
upon its axle, so as to bring it into one or other of the required positions.
When the sheet is to receive four folds the guide plate is placed in the proper
position, and the sheet as it emerges from the rolls drops into a gauge trough,
the bottom of which is parallel with the rolls, and is also capable of adjust-
ment more or less near to these rolls, so as to bring the folded edge of the
paper at the required distance beneath the line of contact of the third pair of
rolls with each other, with which the bottom of the trough is parallel.
Stationary gauges near the lower edge of the second table are placed slightly
above the plane of the sides of the trough, so that the sheet on reaching the
bottom of the trough has but a short distance to slide before it comes in
contact with the side when it stops. A knife now strikes it and enters it
between the third pair of rolls where it receives its third fold, this third fold
being parallel with the second, as the second and third pairs of rolls are
parallel with each other. On emerging from the third pair of rolls the folded
_edge of the sheet strikes against the curved metal guides, which deflect it and
conduct it down on to a bar inclined at an angle of 45°, and parallel with the

page_text: second pair of rolls. The sheet on reaching it slides down it until it reaches
adjustable gauges, where it is arrested in the proper position to be struck in
the middle by the fourth knife, which now forces it between the fourth pair of
rolls, where it receives its fourth and final fold, and is delivered out of the
machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office.
on the 29th August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of our Lord
1861, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her
special license that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise;
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR FOLDING PAPER," a communication to him from abroad by Daniel Francis
Buckley and Bradbury Poor Cilley, both of Manchester, in the State of New
Hampshire and United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said, Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed;
and cause the same to be filed-in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said 'Letters
Patent.
· NÓW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-

page_text: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our machine, a portion of the table being
broken away to show the parts beneath; Fig. 2 an elevation of the side Y of
the machine; Fig. 3 an elevation of the side X of the machine; Fig. 4 an
elevation of the side, Z of the machine; Fig. 5, a section upon the line A, A,
of Fig. 1, in a plane perpendicular to the 2nd and 3rd pair of rolls, and
parallel with the 4th pair; Figs. 6 and 7, views of the fly of a printing press,
with the dropping finger or folding edge, which will be more particularly
referred to hereafter.
The attempts heretofore made to dispense with the tapes in paper folding
machines working with straight edges and rollers have thus far failed, as the
paper after it escaped from the 1st or horizontal pair of rolls had nothing to
prevent it from falling over against the 2nd knife, and if this knife was placed
sufficiently near to assist in sustaining the paper, it would interfere with it as
its doubled edge emerged from the preceding pair of rolls and destroy the,
sheet. The sheet also as it passed through the rolls would hang-in them until
its upper edge escaped from them, and owing to the irregularities which occur
in the form of the sheets, one corner would often become disengaged from the
rolls before the other, and the sheets would not fall square upon the stop
below, which would entirely destroy the register; on these accounts it has not
been found practical thus far to make a knife and roller machine operate
without tapes.
This Invention has for its object to dispense with the tapes in machines of
this class, and also to adapt the folder directly to the printing press, so that it
may take the printed sheets and fold them as they issue therefrom; and
this Invention consists in various details which I will now proceed to describe.
The paper to be folded is placed upon the 1st table B, with its central line,
through which the first fold is to be, made, directly over the line of contact of
the 1st pair of rolls E with each other, and with its central line in the opposite
direction perpendicularly over, the line of contact of the 2nd pair of rolls I
with each other. The rolls Ę are arranged in the customary manner in the
center of the table B, and with their upper convex surfaces slightly above the
plane of its upper surface. These rolls are revolved by suitable mechanism,
and the sheet is entered between them by the 1st knife or folding .edge!D
which descends at the proper moment, and is operated in a manner that will
be presently described. Beneath the table B and placed at an angle of 45°
thereto, is a second table H, in the center of which are placed the 2nd pair of
rolls I (Fig. 1). The sheet of paper having disengaged itself from the first
pair of rolls slides down the inclined table H until its folded edge strikes
against the stationary gauges K, when immediately the 2nd knife L strikes it

page_text: and it is again doubled and carried through between the rolls I. Immediately
beneath the opening between the latter rolls is a guide plate q, which is
capable of being vibrated upon its axle 1, so as to bring it into one or other-
of the positions indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 5 into either of which.
it may be placed, by shifting the bent rod r (Figs. 2 and 3) attached to its.
axle. When the sheet is to receive four-folds the guide plate is placed in the
position seen in full lines (Fig. 5), and the sheet as it emerges from the rolls I
drops into a gauge trough M, the bottom m² of which is parallel with the
rolls I, and is also capable of adjustment more or less near to these rolls, so as
to bring the folded edge of the paper at the required distance beneath the line
of contact of the 3rd pair of rolls with each other. The front and back of the
trough M is formed of sheet metal fingers a², 62, secured to the framework,
between which the bottom m² is adjusted by means of screws c². The bottom
of the trough M is also parallel with the 3rd pair of rolls P, which like the
rolls I, are inclined at an angle of 45° to the horizon. The stationary gauges K
near the lower edge of the 2nd table H are placed slightly above the plane of
the sides N of the trough, so that the sheet on reaching the bottom of the
trough M has but a short distance to slide before it comes in contact with the
side N, when it stops. The knife O now strikes it and enters it between the
3rd pair of rolls P, where it receives its 3rd fold, this 3rd fold being parrallel
with the 2nd, as the 2nd and 3rd pairs of rolls are parrallel with each other
On emerging from the 3rd pair of rolls the folded edge of the sheet strikes
against the curved metal guides R, which deflect it and conduct it down on to
the bar S, this bar being inclined at an angle of 45° and parrallel with the
rolls P, the sheet on reaching it slides down it until it reaches the adjustable
gauges T, where it is arrested in the proper position to be struck in the
middle by the 4th knife U, which now forces it between the 4th pair of
rolls Q, where it receives its 4th and final fold, and is delivered out of the
machine. The knife U is let into the lower roll P, which has a groove turned
0 in it to receive it.
It will be seen from the relative position of the rolls to each other that the
2nd fold is at right angles to the 1st, the 3rd parrallel with the 2nd, and the
4th at right angles to the 3rd. If it be required to despense with the 3rd fold
the guide plate 9 is shifted into the position seen in red lines in Fig. 5, and
5 the curved guides R are swung around the point e out of the way, a longer
knife being substituted for the short knife U. The sheet now passes after
leaving the rolls I directly in front of the rolls Q, its folded edge striking
against the inclined bar S as before, down which it slides until it is arrested
by the adjustable stops T with its center opposite to the knife U, which strikes

page_text: it between the rolls Q, where it receives its 3rd and final fold, and passes out
of the machine. When the sheet is to receive 4 folds, the guide plate q, as
before stated, is placed in the position seen in blue in Fig. 5, and the sheet on
emerging from between the rolls I is guided by the fingers d into the trough
M, and prevented from striking the knife O as it descends.
The details of the mechanism by which the moving parts are actuated will
now be described. All the motions of the machine are derived from the main
driving shaft G. The 1st pair of rolls E are driven in the direction of their.
arrows by means of the bevel gear g upon the top of a vertical shaft F, which
engages with a gear h upon the shaft of one of the rolls; the two rolls are
caused to runn together by the gears k and m. The vertical shaft F runs in
brackets p secured to the framework, and receives a rotary motion from a
gear a upon the main driving shaft G, which engages with a gear c on the
bottom of the shaft. The 2nd and 3rd rolls are driven as follows:-The bevel
gear
a³
engages with a pinion 63 on a shaft A², which runs in suitable bearings,
csecured to the framework. Upon its inner end the shaft A carries a bevel
gear d³ which engages with a similar gear f* on the arbor of one of the third
pair of rolls P; this arbor also carries a gear g² which engages with a similar
gear upon the arbor of the other roll P, and the two are thus caused to
revolve together. The gear h³ engages with an intermediate gear on a short
shaft projecting from the framework, and this gear engages with a similar
gear k upon the arbor of one of the 2nd pair of rolls I; the gear 12 engages
with the gear upon the other roll, by which the two are caused to run
together. The fourth pair of rolls Q are actuated as follows:-A bevel gear
m¹ upon the driving shaft G gives motion to a pinion n² on a shaft D³, which
revolves in bearings attached to the framework, and carries at its inner end a
bevel gear o² which drives a bevel gear on the arbor of one of the rolls Q, the
other roll being actuated therefrom through the gears p² and q². The folding
edges or knives are actuated and caused to enter the opening between their
rolls for the purpose of forcing the paper between them as follows:-The cam
E2
upon the shaft G has a groove r², which is concentric, with the exception
of the portion from 2 to 3; this cam groove gives motion to all the straight
edges as follows:-F2 is a shaft which is vibrated a short distance in its boxes
sby an arm t, which is hinged thereto at 4, and carries a roller at its other
end 5 that plays in the cam groove 72. From the shaft F2 project the arms w³
of the knife L. When the roller 5 is running in the concentric portion of the
groove the knife L is elevated at its greatest distance from the rolls I; during
this interval the sheet, having been struck in between the first pair of rolls, is
running down the inclined table H, and as the roller 5 passes through the

page_text: portion 8 to 2 of the cam groove the knife is suddenly depressed and again
raised. The fourth knife is actuated with the 2nd one as follows:-To the:
arm t is attached another arm a, which is connected by means of the rod H2.
with a short arm Is projecting from a shaft K³, to which are attached the
5. arms 23 of the 4th knife U; this knife is thus vibrated simultaneously with
the 2nd knife L. The first and 3rd knives are actuated as follows:-An.
arm a projecting from the end of a shaft L carries a roll 6, which plays in the
cam groove at a distance of 180 degrees from the roll 5, and by means of the.
same cam groove (r²) the shaft L³ is vibrated a short distance in its bearings.
once for every complete revolution of the driving shaft; an arm 65 projecting
from the shaft L2 is connected by means of the rod y' with an arm c³ projecting
from the shaft do, to which are attached the arms e of the 1st knife D; from
the opposite side of the shaft L³ projects an arm f³, which is jointed at 7 to an
arm g, which is hinged at 8 to a short stud projecting from the vibrating.
shaft M, to which are attached the arms ³ of the folding edge O: the joints.
at 7 and 8 form a universal joint, which is rendered necessary by the fact that.
the shafts M2 and L³ vibrate in planes inclined 45° the one to the other.
When the folding machine is to be used by itself, and not in immediate con-.
junction with the printing press, the sheet may be registered by the adjustable
gauges C, or by any other suitable registering device. It is the intention,
however, in the great majority of cases, to apply the machine directly to the
printing press, the folder being run at such a rate as to fold the sheets as fast,
as they are printed. The first folding knife being removed, the paper is deli-
vered upon the table B by the fly of the printing press, and it is caused to
enter in between the rolls E in the following manner:-In Fig. 6 is seen the
fly of a printing press, the central finger of which is replaced by a movable
finger A, which is hung by means of arms m³ to one of the stationary fingers,
or to a rod projecting from the back of the fly. The finger A' is attached to
a short, bar n³, the ends of which are bent up at right angles, forming projec-
tions, both above and below the back bar of the fly, the distance between
these bent ends or projections 9 and 10 of the bar n³ being greater than the
width of the bar r³, so that when the fly is up receiving the sheet the edge of
the movable finger A' is upon a level with the other fingers D³, the projection
10 resting upon the under side of the back bar 13; and when the fly falls, and
lays the sheet upon the table B, the finger A+, continuing to descend, strikes
the paper between the rolls E, and the fly immediately rises for another sheet.
It is manifest that the dropping finger A' could not be made to work into the
interstice between the rolls E with sufficient exactness to prevent it from being.
seized by the rolls if the edge were made thin and sharp, as is the case with

page_text: the other folding edges. To prevent the dropping finger from being thus
seized by the rolls it is made triangular in section, as seen in Fig. 6, the two
sides of the triangle, and not the edge, pressing the paper on to the rolls, to
which it adheres sufficiently to be drawn in between them; other forms
beside that of a triangle in section may be employed for the dropping finger
A. The Inventor has found that a round polished iron rod would answer
every purpose, it being hung so as to drop back into the plane of the other
fingers when the fly was up receiving a sheet, and to fall and force the sheet
down upon the surface of the folding rolls as the fly descended.
RECAPITULATION OF OPERATION.
The sheet is delivered upon the table B, as described, by the fly, which
is adjusted to fall with the dropping finger directly over the line of con-
tact of the rolls E, by which means the rolls are caused to seize the paper and
carry it through between them in a double fold; the doubled sheet now
descends upon the table H as it passes through the first pair of rolls, and on
escaping from the latter it continues to slide down until arrested by. the
stationary gauges K, against which its folded edge rests. The roll 5 upon the
armt now enters the eccentric portion 2 to 3 of the cam groove 2, by which
the shaft F is vibrated and the knife L is caused to descend, by which the
doubled sheet is forced between the 2nd pair of rolls I and the now twice
folded sheet, if it is to receive 4 folds (the 2d and 3d being parrallel to each
other), is guided by the plate q and the fingers d down into the trough M
and in front of the rolls P, the trough M. being raised or lowered by means of
the screw so as to bring the sheet into the proper position to cause the 3rd
knife to strike it in the center. The sheet now slides down the trough M
until it reaches the side N of this trough, where it is arrested. The rock
shaft M being now vibrated by means of the connections already explained,
the knife O forces the already twice doubled sheet between the rolls P, which
give to it its 3rd fold. Emerging from these rolls it falls upon the bar S, which
is parrallel with the 4th pair of rolls, and down which it slides until arrested
by the stops T, which have been previously adjusted so as to bring the center
of the paper opposite to the fourth knife U, which now strikes it between the
4th and last pair of rolls Q, which finish the operation and deliver it out of
the machine. If the sheet is to receive but three folds, the 3rd fold being
dispensed with, the guide plate q is thrown into the position shown in red in
Fig. 5, the guides R are swung out of the way, and the knife U is replaced by
a longer one, and the operation continues, as already explained. To ensure
the seizing of the paper by the rolls, and also to allow of the passage of two

page_text: sheets, should they be accidently introduced together, the boxes of one of
each pair of rolls are forced up to the others by springs y which allow them
to yield slightly should an extra thickness be presented to pass through. The
fingers d² may be swung out by means of the handle f whenever it is required
to get at the rolls P, or for any other purpose. When the folding machine is
not so placed as to take the papers directly from the printing press, nippers
may be arranged to seize the paper and deliver it to the first pair of rolls;
also a pocket may be attached to the machine to receive the folded papers.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that, under
the above recited Letters Patent, I claim the combination of the horizontal
rolls E, the inclined rolls I, and the table H, so arranged that the sheet of
paper, after passing through the first pair of rolls, shall slide down the table to
the gauges, which determine its position for receiving its 2nd fold without loss
of register, and without the use of tapes, as set forth.
2nd, the combination of the inclined rolls I and P with the inclined trough
M, with its fingers a³, b³, d³, so arranged that the sheet shall be guided into
the trough after passing through the rolls I, and then slide to the position for
receiving its 3rd fold.
3rd, the inclined rolls P and Q at right angles to each other, in combination
with the knife U, working in a groove in the surface of the rolls, as set
forth.
4th, the guide plate q, employed for deflecting the sheet in one direction or
the other, for giving it 3 or 4 folds without the necessity of unshipping or
stopping the operation of either of the knives or rolls.
5th, the dropping finger or folding edge upon the fly, operating as set forth,
whereby the folding machine may be applied directly to the printing press,
and the folding be completed without the necessity of again handling the sheet.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)