Improvements in raper folding machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in raper folding machines.
I EDGAR KOENIG of Kloster Oberzell Wurzburg in the Empire of Germany dó
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:-
My invention relates to paper folding devices or machines such as are used for
printing processes and the like and it consists in the employment of improved
arrangements hereinafter described whereby these devices or machines are enabled
to fold a much larger quantity of paper in a given time and under more advan-
tageous conditions than is possible with the machines as heretofore constructed.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of Drawings the same letters of reference
indication corresponding parts in all the figures.-
In folding paper according to this Invention the folding instruments move at a
lower rate of speed that the folding cylinder the rate of speed of the said folding
instruments being reduced in proportion as the number of such folding instru-
ments on one and the same cylinder is increased. For example in the case of a
folding cylinder carrying 4 blades or folders the cylinder is enabled to rotate at
one fourth of the speed required for a cylinder carrying only one folding -blade
each of the 4 folders being brought into action in regular rotation. On the other
hand the cylinder being provided with a number of folders is enabled to fold a
correspondingly large number of sheets in a given time A folding cylinder with
four folding blades for example working at the moderate rate of 6000 movements
per hour being capable of folding 24000 sheets of paper in that period.
This is of special importance in cases where a transversely folding machine is
combined with a device with continuous action folding the paper longitudinally
there being practically no limit to the speed at which the longitudinal folding can
be accomplished and it being necessary that the transverse folding should keep
pace with the same as otherwise the advantage of such longitudinal folding would
be lost. Folding apparatus as heretofore constructed is compelled to make one
complete revolution of the cylinder for each sheet folded with the reciprocating
motion requires to be stopped when the movement is very rapid in order to ensure
accuracy so that in working this apparatus it is necessary not to exceed a certain
rate of speed.

page_text: The next rapid production possible amounting to from 16000 to 18000 sheets
per hour involves excessive wear and rapid destruction of the machinery.
1600 to 1800
The improved machine constructed according to my Invention is capable of
folding sheets at this effert each folding blade in place of having to fold from 16000
to 18000 sheets is only called upon to fold
sheets so that if a repre-
sents 4 blades for example it will be necessary for the folding cylinder to
describe from 4000 or 4500 revolutions. On the other hand by suitably multi-
plying the number of folders the number of sheets folded in a given time may be
correspondingly increased without increasing the rapidity of the movement.
cam.
All the folding blades are operated by one and the same stationary excentric or
In order to cause any number of the folding blades to move simultaneously
in opposite directions it is simply necessary to provide the cam with a corresponding
number of curves. The folding blades have a steady and regular action free
from sudden jerks and are brought up to the folding rollers in such a manner as
to be introduced between the said rollers at the moment when they are applied
against the periphery of the upper roller.
The folder blade does not make the fold (as in other machines) after completing
its stroke or is in fact standing at the dead point but makes the fold when it has
accomplished about one half of its stroke thus there is no interruption in the
movement and the folding is accomplished instantaneously which is a great
advantage compared with other folding apparatus wherein the direction of motion
is changed precisely at the moment of effecting the folding or when the movement
of the folder is momentarily suspended.
In the improved machine the folding blade continuing to travel in the same
direction turns upon its centre and, is withdrawn from between the folding rollers
being applied in this movement against the periphery of the lower roller (figure 1).
All danger of the folder striking the bottom roller or not being brought back with
sufficient suddenness when working quickly as frequently occurs in machines
having folders reciprocating with a rectilinear movement is thus obviated.
Another advantage of the improved machine compared with existing apparatus
is that each folding blade is worked by a single toothed wheel or pinion and all
connecting rods and the like are dispensed with whereby the dimensions of the
machine are greatly reduced.
The hereinbefore described movement of the folding blade and combined action
of the folding devices acting directly on the sheets may be produced by any
suitable arrangement of mechanism. A convenient combination for obtaining the
results herein before set forth is illustrated by way of example in the accom-
panying drawings.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagram showing the different
positions assumed by the folding blade in the course of a folding operation per-
formed according to this Invention. Figure 2 represents a transverse section of
the folding cylinder carrying the folding blades. Figure 3 represents an end
elevation of the said drum and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the
same the section being taken along the line A-B figure 2. Figure 5 shows the
eccentric detached by which motion is imparted to the folding blades as herein-
after described and Figure 6 illustrates an arrangement of apparatus wherein
12 folding blades are employed.
The apparatus is provided with longitudinal shafts g provided with sleeves or
collars p to which are attached folding blades m m¹ m² m³. These shafts are
provided at each extremity with pinions or small toothed wheels c gearing with
toothed sectors on the extremities of levers h oscillating on shafts k. On the
other extremity of each lever h there is provided an anti-friction roller r which
bears against the periphery of a cam x presenting curves suitably regulated so as
to impart a gradually increasing and decreasing angular motion to the folding
blades m.
This cam is screwed to the side frames and brushed at o for the recep-
tion of the necks of the shaft d of the following cylinder.

page_text: Each shaft is connected with one extremity of a helically coiled spring /
attached at its other extremity to a pin fs figure 4 fixed to the end of the folding
cylinder. As the folding cylinder rotates on the shaft d the cam acts on the
roller on each lever so as to cause the toothed sector on the lever h to turn
the corresponding pinion c and shaft g thereby producing a torsional effect on
the spring fand a more powerful action is thus obtained than with a pulling or
pushing motion the motion being transmitted to the sector lever h and pinion c in
such a manner as to enable the cam x to be made of relatively small dimensions
and without sharp curves. The rollers r may work in a cam groove formed in the
side of a disc instead of working over the periphery of the excentrica as shewn in
the drawing. In this case the spring for other device for maintaining the roller
pressed against the surface of the cam is not required. The end discs of the folding
cylinders are turned true on the outer sides in order that the cams may be snugly
against the same (figures 3 and 4). Curved slots v figures 2 and 3 are formed in
the discs for the passage of the pins or studs carrying the rollers r. The discs
are strengthened internally by ribs t figure 2.
The cams are provided with segmental pieces z Figure 5 capable of sliding.
radially in dovetail or other like grooves or guides. This segmental piece corre-
sponds with the longest radius of the cam x and when pushed outwards so as to
occupy the position indicated by the full lines in the drawing, each folding blade
is brought into action once only at each revolution of the cylinder as the cam
surface acts on one side only in this case but when the segmental piece z is drawn
back so as to occupy the position indicated by the dotted lines the curves on both
sides of the cam disc are brought into action and the two folding blades on opposite
sides of the cylinder are operated simultaneously so as to be capable of tucking
sheets between the folding rollers a 6 and a b¹ figure 2 simultaneously. The
segment z can be fixed in either position by means of a set screw l.
In case it is desired to employ an extra large folding cylinder with say 12 blades
so as to be able to fold sheets supplied from different directions and to distribute
the same in like manner to folding rollers arranged as indicated at a b c d e¹ f¹
g h i k figure 6 the cam must be made of such dimensions as to admit of forming
thereon a corresponding number of curves or cam surfaces to enable 12 sheets to
be folded simultaneously and distributed in twelve different directions.
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:-
First: A paper folding machine wherein the paper is tucked between a pair or
pairs of folding rollers by means of two or more folding blades arranged, at suitable
intervals on the periphery of a folding cylinder or frame and having a partial
rotary motion about their own axis imparted to them by means of a stationary
cam or cams. Each of the said folding blades being arranged to perform one or
more folding operations during each revolution of the folding cylinder substantially
as herein before described.
Second: In a proper folding machine arranged and operating as hereinbefore
described and claimed the combination and arrangement of parts whereby the
quantity of paper folded in a given time is increased without increasing the
speed of the folding mechanism the number of folding devices or blades carried
by the folding cylinder being proportionately increased substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Third: In a paper folding machine arranged and operating as hereinbefore
described and claimed in the first claiming clause the combination and arrange-
ment of parts whereby the machine is enabled to deliver the folded sheets in two
or more directions simultaneously substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth In a paper folding machine arranged and operating as herein before
described and claimed in the first claiming clause the employment of folding blades
having an angular motion to the extent of about 180 degrees imparted to them

page_text: with a gradually increasing and decreasing rate of speed by means of a fixed or
stationary cam provided with an adjustable segment for the purpose of enabling
the said cam to operate two folding blades simultaneously substantially as herein.
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.