IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER- FOLDING MACHINERY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Conquest, of Tudor Street, in the City of
London, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-
FOLDING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Luther Child
Crowell, of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Conquest at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November 1880.
WILLIAM CONQUEST, of Tudor Street, in the City of London, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-FOLDING MACHINERY." [A communication
from abroad by Luther Child Crowell, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.]
The Invention comprises novel devices and combinations for cutting and folding
paper or other fabrics, and is particularly applicable to folding and cutting paper
as it issues froín printing machines, and its object is to cut, fold, and deliver the
paper with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore.
It is adapted to give to a long band or web of paper as it issues from what is
known as a web printing machine a longitudinal fold or folds, and also to cut it
into sheets and fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
It is also adapted to give to separate sheets of paper that may have been cut
into sheets either before or after printing a longitudinal fold or folds, and also
transverse folds, without retarding their travel.
In either of the above cases the folds may be given in any desired order, that is
to say, the first fold may be made parallel with or at a right angle to the travel of
the paper, and the second fold may be parallel with or at a right angle to the
preceding one, and the third and succeeding folds may be made in like manner.
The Invention consists of, 1st., a conical shaped folding device, over which the
web of paper travels, of such a form as to cause the centre line of the web or
other predetermined line of fold to enter the points of a recess, and by drawing
the web through the recess the side portions of its outer surface are brought into
contact, face to face, and the web is thus folded longitudinally or in the line of its
travel, and the position of the folded web is in a plane at a right to the
unfolded portion. Drawing rollers or any equivalent device will draw the paper
through the folder.

page_text: 2nd. A modification of the form of the folder that will cause the folded web to
leave the folder in a plane nearly or quite parallel with the unfolded portion, and
the form of this folder may be so varied that the folded web in leaving it will
travel in a direction opposite to that of the unfolded portion, or at a right angle to
it, either to the right or to the left.
3rd. A modification of the form of the folder, such that the web in passing over
or through it will be folded in two longitudinal lines parallel with each other, and
the edges of the folded over sides meet together, and thus form as it were a flat
tube. By changing the position of the drawing rollers this doubled web may be
folded backwards longitudinally, thus giving to it a third fold, and bringing it to
a W form. A cutting device may slit the folded web longitudinally either before
or after the last fold, and thus form two, once-folded webs.
4th. A modification of the form of the folder, such that the web as it passes
over it will receive a longitudinal fold at its centre or other predetermined line of
fold, the side portions of the inner surface of the web being in this case brought
into face to face contact, aided by rollers or equivalent device which draw the web
forward and press the folded portions together.
5th. The adaptation of rotary folding and cutting mechanism similar to that
described in the Patent of William Edward Newton, No. 2561, of August 28th,
1872, to receive the paper from a longitudinal folder, cut it into sheets, if not
already so cut, and fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
6th. When the paper, either folded or unfolded, is cut into sheets before it reaches
the longitudinal folder above described, endless 'carrying tapes may be employed
to carry them through the folder. These tapes may be on one or both sides of
the paper, and be returned by suitable guiding pulleys to the place of starting.
Other carrying surfaces, such as pulleys or rollers may sometimes be employed.
Tapes may be also used to aid in carrying a web of paper through the folder if
desired.
7th. A web of paper may be slit longitudinally into two webs, and these two
webs may be folded in the same folding apparatus by first giving them a transverse
fold, cutting them into sheets, and making one stream of sheets run a longer route
than the other to a longitudinal folder, which will fold them one somewhat in
advance of the other. They may then receive a second longitudinal fold, and be
delivered in a receptacle. Thus associated they can be readily drawn asunder by
their projecting ends.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Conquest in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th May 1881.
WILLIAM CONQUEST, of Tudor Street, in the City of London, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-FOLDING MACHINERY." A communication
from abroad by Luther Child Crowell, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
This Invention comprises novel devices and combinations for cutting and folding
paper or other fabrics, and is particularly applicable to folding and cutting paper
as it issues from printing machines, and its object is to cut, fold, and deliver the
'paper with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore. It is adapted to give
to a long band or web of paper as it issues from what is known as a
"web-
printing machine a longitudinal fold or folds, and also to cut it into sheets and
fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
"
It is also adapted to give to separate sheets of paper that may have been cut
into sheets either before or afte printing a longitudinal fold or folds, and also
transverse folds, without retarding their travel.
In either of the above cases the folds may be given in any desired order, that
is to say, the first fold may be made parallel with or at right angles to the line of
travel of the paper, and the second fold may be made parallel with or at right
angles to the preceding one, and the third and succeeding folds may be made in like
manner.
The Invention consists of, first, a conical shaped folding device over which the
web of paper travels of such a form as to cause the centre line of the web or other
predetermined line of fold to enter the points of a recess, and by drawing the web
through the recess the side portions of its outer or upper surface are brought into
contact face to face, and the web is thus folded longitudinally or in the line of
its travel, and the position of the folded web is in a plane at right angles to the
unfolded portion. Drawing rollers or any equivalent device will draw the paper
through the folder.
Second. A modification of the form of the folder that will cause the folded web
to leave the folder in a plane nearly or quite parallel with the unfolded portion,
and the form of this folder may be so varied that the folded web on leaving it
will travel in a direction opposite to that of the unfolded portion, or at right
angles thereto, either to the right hand or to the left.
Third. A modification of the form of the folder, such that the web in passing
over or through it will be folded in two longitudinal parallel lines, the edges of the
folded over sides meeting together or slightly overlapping, and thus forming as it
were a flattened tube. By changing the position of the drawing rollers this doubly
folded web may be folded backwards longitudinally, thus giving to it a third fold
and bringing it to a W form. A cutting device may also slit the folded web
longitudinally either before or after the last fold, and thus form two singly folded
webs.
Fourth. A modification of the form of the folder, such that the web as it passes
over it will receive a longitudinal fold at its centre or other predetermined line of
fold, the side portions of the inner or under surface of the web being in this case
brought into face to face contact aided by rollers or equivalent devices which draw
the web forward and press the folded portions together.
Fifth. The adaptation of rotary folding and cutting apparatus of a type similar
to that described in the Patent granted to William Edward Newton, No. 2561,
August Twenty eighth, One thousand eight hundred and seventy two, to receive

page_text: the paper from a longitudinal folder, cut it into sheets, if not already so cut, and
fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
Sixth. When the paper, either folded or unfolded, is cut into sheets before it
reaches the longitudinal folder above described, endless carrying tapes may be
employed to carry them through the folder. These tapes may be on one or both.
sides of the paper, and be returned by suitable guiding pullies to the place of
starting. Other carrying surfaces such as pulleys or rollers may sometimes be
employed, tapes may be also used to aid in carrying a web of paper through the
folder if desired.
Seventh. A web of paper may be slit longitudinally into two webs, and these
two webs may be folded in the same folding-apparatus, first giving them a transverse
fold, cutting them into sheets, and making the stream of sheets run by tapes in the
manner well known, to a longitudinal folder, which will fold them one somewhat
in advance of the other. They may then receive a second longitudinal fold and be
delivered in a receptacle. Thus associated they can be readily drawn asunder by
their projecting ends.
The folding apparatus constituting the bases of the present improvements is
more especially designed to form part of the delivery mechanism of that class of
printing machine known as "web perfecting," but may be used to fold webs of
any material, and with the modifications described it may operate to fold sheets of
the same.
As is well known the rotary mechanisms of web perfecting printing machines
are capable of operating at a very high rate of speed, and require, if such speed is
to be utilized, to be provided with such means for severing the web into sheets
and delivering the same as will operate at a speed equal to that at which the
printing mechanisms may be practically run. It is also desirable in the present
improved state of the art of printing that such sheets shall be delivered in a folded
form, and in a large class of machines it is necessary that the first fold imparted to
such sheets shall be longitudinal or on a line parallel with the direction in which
the sheet is moving when it emerges from the printing machine.
The present improvements relate chiefly to a folding apparatus, effecting such an
operation, the same consisting of a folder constituted by stationary turners arranged
in such a manner that a web or sheet passing over them will be folded longitu-
dinally or in the direction of its travel, which operation lays one side section of the
web or sheet upon the other, thus doubling the web or sheet and at the same time
reducing its dimensions widthwise according to the relation the line of folding
bears to the centre of the web or sheet. They comprehend also certain modifica-
tions of the structure, of parts, and various combinations of devices, including that
of the folder, with feeding, rotary, folding, cutting, and delivering mechanisms, all
of which will be found so particularly hereinafter set forth as to need no further
preliminary description.
In order to a ready understanding of the Invention the simplest form of the
mechanism will first be described, and its arrangement with respect to the printing
machine as well as its modifications will be then explained.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a plan view of an apparatus
embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same, and
Fig. 3 represents an end elevation thereof; Fig. 4 shews a side elevation partly in
section, and Fig. 5 an end elevation of the principal devices of the apparatus, the
said Figures illustrating particularly its arrangement with a printing mechanism
and with a transverse folding mechanism; Figures 6 and 7 shew respectively side
and end elevations of the folder as provided with carrying tapes; Figures 8 and 9
shew respectively a sectional elevation and a plan view of a modification of the
folder, and an arrangement of taping for facilitating the introduction of a web
through it; Figures 10 and 11 shew respectively a plan view and an end elevation
of a modified structure of the folder.
As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus is shewn as receiving a web 8
from a roller 21, imparting a longitudinal fold to it, and delivering such folded web

page_text: to a winding up roller 22, suitable leading rollers 23, 24, being provided to secure
its travel in appropriate planes with respect to the turners. These rollers 23 and
24 will be properly supported at a right angle to each other in suitable bearings
attached to a proper supporting bed plate or frame.
The folder consists of four turners, 2, 3, 4, 5 (stationary in the sense of not
turning), over the faces or bearing surfaces of which the material is to run. Theso
turners may be straight or conical bars, or simple rods, wires, or plates. Two of
them, 2, 3, are disposed so that if extended their inner ends would meet at a
common point, 6, and they extend rearwardly and spread outwardly at an angle,
preferably about ninety degrees, Figs. 1 and 3, and incline forward at an angle of
about forty five degrees from the perpendicular, Fig. 2. The other two, 4, 5, aro
disposed so that if extended their inner ends would meet the others at the same
common point 6. They extend forwardly and downwardly at an angle of about
forty five degrees, Fig. 2, and spread a slight distance apart at their free or open
forward ends, Figures 1, 3. These turners may be secured in proper relations
to each other by suitable connections with the framework, as the cross bar 38 and
side frames 40, 41. It is desirable however since the fabric passes in contact with
a portion only of their surfaces to connect them together by bearing plates, as 11,
12, 13, thus affording the fabric a complete support breadthwise during its entire
passage through the folder.
It is preferable to construct the turners and their uniting plates in a single piece
of metal, and this may be conveniently done by bending a square plate of metal
upon a line extending from its centre to the middle of its front edge, and causing
bends to be formed on lines extending from the centre to the opposite corners of
the front and sides. When this central bend is carried far enough rearward to
bring the corner folds nearly together, and the rear end is provided with similar
corner folds doubled to a less degree, the plate will assume a form approximating
to that of a pyramid, as shewn in the Drawings, its rear side constituting the
bearing plate 11, its rear corners constituting the turners 2, 3, its sides constituting
the bearing plates 12, 13, and its front corner constituted by the two parallel
turners 4, 5, the extension of their inner portions constituting the inwardly doubled
plate 14, only one half or side of which is seen in Fig. 2. This mode of con-
structing the folder affords a ready means for securing it in place by a cross bar 38,
and stay rod 39 secured to the side frames 40, 41. It should be observed however
that though these turners as represented seem to meet and form the point 6, in
practice the ends of these turners are blunted or cut away so that the fabric shall
have no bearing at the point 6. This point therefore is an imaginary one at
which the first creasing of the fabric takes place without any support immediately
beneath it.
The web of fabric 8 to be folded, taken from a supply roll 50 mounted on the
roller 21, is led upward in such a plane as to rest on the turners 2, 3, and be
supported widthwise between them upon the bearing plate 11, Fig. 1, which
guiding is accomplished by the proper placing of the leading roller 23. The web is
then bent down onto the turners 4, 5, and its central part or line of folding is
pressed in between them, which will cause the leading end to hang downward and
bring the opposite portions to its upper surface together in the form of a longi-
tudinal fold, while its under surface will rest on the plates 12, 13, over the turners.
4, 5. The doubled fabric is then led under the leading roller 24 (one face of which
is appropriately arranged beneath the turners 4, 5), and thence passes onto the
winding up roller 22. This roller is provided with a crank for rotating it, and the
roller 21 is furnished with a suitable tension device consisting of a pulley 48 and
friction strap 49. Upon turning the crank the web will be drawn through the.
folder, causing its opposite sections to be brought together, thus doubling such web
longitudinally. The line of fold is made at the point 6, which would be the apex
of the pyramidal folder or point of union of all the turners if extended to meet as
before explained, and the folding at this point is determined by the disposition of

page_text: the turners, which cause the sections of the fabric to move in different planes with
this point as their common centre.
In passing through the folder the web first bears directly onto the rear faces of
turners 2, 3, which support its entire width. As its central line passes over the
point 6, and is drawn between the turners 4, 5, the opposite sections bend over the
turners 2, 3, droop downwardly over the plates 12, 13, and approach each other
diagonally, thus causing the upper surface of the web as it passes over the faces of
the turners 4, 5, to nearly meet or fold together, and in passing under the roller 24
they are brought in face to face contact, the longitudinally folded web thus formed
being wound upon the roller 22. The web is thus doubled longitudinally upon a
line in such relation to the edges of the web as may be determined by the
lateral disposition of the web with respect to the point 6, and the sections of the
web will then be lapped, so that its upper face will form the inner surfaces of the
folded product.
Essential differences exist between this system or method of folding and that
commonly practised where the line or lines of folding are determined by surfaces
over which the fabric is turned as follows.
Heretofore in turning a web or sheets of fabric to impart a fold thereto, the fabric
was strained at the line of intended fold between a folding edge on one side and
co-acting devices on the other, whereby the sections of fabric arc forced toward each
other over the folding edge to cause said sections to lap together. In these improve-
ments the turners or surfaces over which the webs or sheets are carried are all
disposed on one side of the fabric, and are so related to each other that the sections
to be lapped together are gradually turned and caused to travel in such different
planes as to ultimately come together or be lapped without the aid of any device
acting upon the opposite side of the fabric.
Such a structure besides simplifying the mechanisms enables one surface of the
fabric to be coated with paste printed or otherwise ornamented, and whether such
coating or ornamentation be freshly applied or dry, the fabric may undergo the
folding operation without damage or injury thereto.
It has furthermore been the practice to define the line of fold by means of a
folding edge in contact with the fabric at the line of intended fold, whereby such
fabric is strained, distorted, or broken on the line of folding by such folding
edge.
In these improvements the turners are so disposed with respect to each other that
they do not extend to the point where the fabric is folded, the said folders on the
contrary being blunted or cut away or set apart so as to leave the fabric without any
bearing surface at that point. The fabric, though given the proper direction by
the support afforded by the turners, nevertheless remains free or unsupported
at the folding point, and may hence bend or double at that point without being
strained by any rigid supporting surface or opposing face on either side of it.
Moreover, it will be observed that in all positions which the web is made to
assume in being folded by the present improvements it is fully distended width wise,
and therefore has no slack portion which would permit it to buckle up or to be
otherwise distorted from its true course. This operation may be carried on at a
very high speed, one equalling that of a printing or other machine manipulating a
web by means of rotating devices, and as the dimensions of the web are thus
reduced it follows that an equal reduction of the dimensions of the mechanisms
which are to further manipulate it may be accomplished, whether the same are to
fold it into a pack of zigzag folds; as is well known, or are to impart a second longi-
tudinal fold to it or divide it into sheets and deliver them flat or folded, or to impart
a second longitudinal fold, then cut into sheets, and impart to them a transverse fold
or to manipulate the product in any other manner.
In Figures 4 and 5 is illustrated an arrangement of this folder with a printing
machine and a combined cutting and folding mechanism.
The type cylinder 20 and impression cylinder 25 represent the last set of such

page_text: cylinders belonging to a web printing machine, the structure and operation of which
are too well known to need explanation. It may be stated however that the
impression cylinder 25 here shewn takes the place of and performs the function of
the leading roller 23 shewn in Figures 2 and 3.
The web 8 passes through the primary folder, and is by it folded longitudinally,
and carried over the leading roller 24 in precisely the same manner as has been
explained. From this roller it passes through a secondary folder constructed of
turners like those of the primary folder, and which impart a second longitudinal
fold to the oncefolded web, as will be readily understood. The web from this
secondary longitudinal folder (it might be from the primary) passes to the rotary
cutting and folding apparatus (consisting of a pair of cylinders 27, 28, and devices
connected therewith), which cuts it into proper lengths or sheets and folds them
transversely. The cylinder 27 (or a shaft provided with suitable arms) carries a
cutting knife 42, and upon the opposite side thereto a tucking or folding blade 80.
The cylinder 28 is provided with a cutting slot 43 that cooperates with the cutter 42,
and with a vibrating jaw or jaws 34 that cooperate with the tucking or folding
blade 80. This cutting mechanism is of common form, such as that described in the
Patent granted to William Edward Newton, dated Twenty eighth August One
thousand eight hundred and seventy two, No. 2561, and the folding mechanisms
are similar to those shewn in the above mentioned Patent, and in that granted to
me in One thousand eight hundred and seventy five, No. 3105. The cylinder 28 is
furthermore provided with a rotating folding blade 35 that cooperates with folding
rollers 30, 31, the latter being provided with delivering tapes 32, 33. The web
descends from the longitudinal folder directly to these cylinders 27, 28, and
passing between them is during their rotation pressed or doubled transversely by
the folding blade between the jaws 34, which properly close to nip the transversely
doubled portion holding onto which said jaws carry the fabric over the roller 30,
thus folding it transversely. When the cylinders 27, 28, have rotated sufficiently,
the cutter 42 divides the web transversely forming a sheet, which sheet is again
folded transversely by the rotary folder 35, which doubles it between the
rollers 30, 31, from which it is delivered by the tapes 32, 33.
The leading end of the web may droop down between the cylinders 27, 28, or be
temporarily held upon pins, as 36, and carried with the cylinder 27, as shewn in
Figures 4 and 5.
The rotary folder 35 may be omitted, if desired, when the jaws 34 will open in
proper time to deliver the sheet with one transverse fold upon a table, or suitable
circumferential grooves may be made in the cylinder 28, intersecting the jaw 34,
and with suitable guides 81 (shewn in dotted lines) cause the sheet to be delivered
between rollers 30, 31; or the roller 31 and the guides 81 may be placed in the
position shown in dotted lines 82, and receive the sheet between the tapes 32, 33.
The cutting mechanisms may be omitted from the cylinders 27, 28, and a cutting
apparatus be supplied to sever the web after it is folded longitudinally and before
it reaches said cylinders, suitable conductors, as rods or tapes, being furnished to
ensure the proper onward travel of the sheets.
Any other common form of folding mechanism may receive the web once or
twice folded longitudinally, and impart one or more folds to it, but it is preferred
to employ a combined cutting and folding mechanism, such as will be hereafter
described with reference to Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the Drawings.
The transverse folding mechanism may receive the longitudinally folded web
from the primary longitudinal folder, and operate upon it to produce one or more
one or more transverse folds in it, and deliver such product to the taped folder
shewn in Figures 6 and 7, to be again longitudinally folded, as will be hereinafter
described.
The longitudinal folder may be adapted to fold separate sheets fed successively
to it, as, for instance, sheets delivered from a web printing machine, as is now
common, in which case conducting tapes will be arranged to carry the sheets from
the cutting cylinders of such printing machine over the turners constituting the

page_text: folder. A system of such taping is shewn in Figures 6 and 7, in which one
longitudinal folder only is shewn.
The tape pulleys, around which the tapes pass that receive the sheets, will be
journalled in the framework so as to be in front of and in proper position to receive
the partially or wholly severed web from the cutting cylinders of the printing
machine. The cutting cylinders, as 72, 73, of such a web printing machine, are
shewn in Fig. 6, and are in practice situated in front of the last type and impression
cylinders, as 25, 26. When these cutting cylinders entirely sever the web conductors
are supplied to guide the detached leading end of each sheet between the tape
rollers or pullies, as will be well understood by those familiar with art of
....printing.
The lowest set of endless conducting tapes is shewn as four in number, but may
be more or less, according to the width of the web. This number is however well
adapted to the purpose. The marginal tapes 441, 44, of this lower set run from
pulleys 51, 51, directly on to the bearing plate 11, over the turners 2, 3, follow
the bearing plates 12, 13, pass over the turners 4, 5, and return respectively under
the pulleys 53', 53', and the pulleys 541, 54, and thence over the pulleys 51', 55*,
to the pulleys 51', 51'.
The midway tapes 442, 443, of this lower set run from the pulleys 512, 513, up
over the bearing plate 11, the turners 2, 3, the side bearing plates 12, 13, and the
turners 4, 5, and return under pulley 532 and its companion (not seen), thence
over pulleys 55%, 55%, to the pulleys 512, 513. These lower tapes are pressed
together in nipping contact beneath the turners 4, 5, by means of pulleys 56, 57.
The upper endless tapes are four in number. The marginal tapes 451, 45*, run
from pulleys 521, 52, up over the plate 11 and the turning-bars 2, 3, and the
plates 12, 13, to points over the turners 4, 5, where they are returned around
pulleys 17, 59, 60, and 61, 62, to the pulleys 521, 52. The midway tapes of this
series run from the pulleys 522, 523, up over the plate 11, turners 2, 3, and plates
12, 13, and return at points over the turners 4, 5, around pulleys 15, 16, 63, 64, 65,
66, to the pulleys 52, 52³.
A central cord 46 is also provided, which cord runs from a pulley on the shaft
carrying the pulleys 52', 52, 523, 52, against the face of the plate 11, and returns
over a pulley 47 that is hung with its periphery projecting below the point 6 of
the turners.
These tapes will preferably be driven at a higher rate of surface speed than that
of the cutting cylinders, whereby they will operate when the forward end of the
web is nipped in their embrace to advance the same, and detach its forward
portion on the line of whole or partial severance, thus forming a sheet which is
carried onward rapidly enough to separate it a working distance from the suc-
ceeding sheet. This increased speed to cause such separation may however be
accomplished after the longitudinal folding is performed, which expedient will
admit of the taping system just described running at a speed equal to that of the
cutting-cylinders.
The sheets constituted by the severing of the web by the cutting-cylinders will
enter between the upper and under series of tapes, and be carried through the
folder by them in precisely the same manner that a web is carried through such
folder, the taping also operating to keep their edges formed by the transverse cuts
of the web from being caught by the air and turned in a wrong direction. The
function of the cord 80 is to compel the leading edge of each sheet at the folding-
point to be carried inwardly, so as to properly start its line of fold.
When the tail end of the longitudinally folded sheet leaves the embrace of these
tapes where the upper series return over the pulleys 1, 7, and 15, 16, its head will
have entered the nip of the tapes 441, 442, 44, 44, given by the forwarding
pulleys 56, 57, and will be carried onward until it issues from between the
pulleys 53, 532, and 53, and its companion. From these latter pulleys the slicets
may be piled in any manner, or be delivered to a transverse folding mechanism of
any of the common constructions adapted to the folding of sheets, but preferably

page_text: to a rotary cutting and folding mechanism of a novel construction to be hereafter
explained.
Although it is practicable to introduce the leading end of a web through this
folder without the aid of any mechanical guiding device, as is indicated by
Figures 1 to 5, yet that operation may be facilitated by a single central cord or tape
arranged to bend the web at its folding-point down between the turners 4, 5.
Thus a cord arranged as is the cord 46, in Figures 6 and 7, would accomplish that
end.
Another arrangement is illustrated at Figures 8 and 9, wherein upper and lower
central tapes 17, 18, stretched from pulleys at the back of the lower edge of the
rear plate 11 serve this purpose. The inner ends of the turners 2, 3, are separated
a considerable distance apart where the turners 4, 5, meet them. This provides for
the introduction of a tape-pulley 19 between the said inner ends of these turners,
over which pulley the tapes 17, 18, pass and descend slightly below the highest
points of these turners, the tape 17 returning under a pulley 20 and rearward and
upward over a pulley 37, while the tape 18 returns directly rearward, but beneath
the plate 11. When the leading end of the web is introduced through the folder
this tape will cause that portion where its folding-line is to be made to bend kindly
down between the turners 4, 5, so that the sections of the web will be properly
lapped or folded.
When the turners are thus related to each other the web will bend over the
points 61, 62, (which will be blunted or cut away so as not to touch it, as has been
explained with respect to the point 6), and it will again bend at a common point 6
between the turners 4, 5, but below them, and this latter point will constitute the
line of fold. These longitudinal folders may be constructed so as to constitute a
simple guide, conducting the web while distended to its fullest width onward for
manipulation by other mechanism. It may be so arranged when its turners are
single instruments, as shewn in dotted lines, Fig. 3, by constructing such turners so
that they may be raised to bring their upper surfaces into a horizontal plane, as
such dotted lines indicate. When constructed in the plate form the side bearing-
plates 12, 13, are hinged to the back plate 11 at the points forming the turners 2, 3,
(see Figures 10 and 11), thus being divided at about midway of their length, so
that when they are raised up to a horizontal plane, as in Fig. 11, they will form
such guide. If the web is to be bent downward over the straight guiding-edge
thus provided, the front edges of the hinged parts of such divided plates will
preferably be provided with curved portions as 67, 68. This structure necessitates
the securing of the front or remaining parts of the side plates 12, 13, which is
accomplished by a support, as the bar 74, in Figures 10, 11. These Figures also
show the omission of the bearing-plates 14, and it is to be understood that these
plates may be omitted, even when the plates 11, 12, and 13 are used without
impairing the efficiency of the turners. These hinged portions may be raised and
lowered by means of a rock-shaft 75, provided with projections 76, 77, that bear
on the under surfaces of such hinged portions.
It may be remarked that when the bearing-plates are omitted and the tapes used,
these tapes in addition to carrying the sheets forward perform the same service as
the plates, that is, they support the sheet or web width-wise between the turners
over which it is stretched.
When the folder is made in the plate form it may, as is apparent, have the
general form of a cone, in which case the bearing plates 11, 12, 13, will be curved,
and the turners 2, 3, 4, 5, merge into them, the shape or form thus provided being
sufficient to turn the fabric and fold it longitudinally.
It will be understood that the relation of the turning-surfaces to each other may
be such as to cause the folded fabric to take lines of travel of various angles to
that in which the fabric approaches. This may be done by raising or lowering the
turners 4, 5, to any desired position of adjustment with reference to the turners 2, 3,
and vice versa, either pair of turners being lengthened or shortened as the case

page_text: may require. So, too, in some of these adjustments the turners 4, 5, may be slewed
sideways.
It will also be understood that a line of paste may be applied to the upper face
of the fabric, whether in the web or sheet form, and this may be done by any
common appliance, such, for instance, as the disc 101 (see Fig. 4), and this disc
may be placed at any point with respect to either edge of the sheet or web. If
placed at the edge it will be apparent that the web when once folded will be
converted into a flattened tube, but if this disc is placed in a proper relation with
respect to the edges of the sheet or web, and a slitting cutter as 100 (see also
Fig. 4) is placed so as to divide the web or sheet centrally and thus convert the
same into two portions, these two portions will_be_pasted together, and when
delivered from the secondary folder form a product of four plies pasted together at
a common central line of union, said product being suitable for use when cut
transversely as a pamphlet, or the line of paste may be applied transversely to the
upper face of the distended web in such position as to come in line with the
transverse folding.
Under this head of the Invention I claim,-
First. The use of folding devices, constructed and operating substantially as
described with reference to Sheets I. to III. of the Drawings.
Second. In combination with a folding device, constructed substantially as above
described, the use of rollers for passing the web of fabric onto and through the
folder, substantially as set forth.
Third. The conibination with one or more longitudinal folders, each constructed
substantially as above described, of cutting and folding mechanisms, whereby
the longitudinally folded fabric may be transversely folded and cut, as set
forth.
Fourth. The means described whereby the longitudinal folder may be converted
into a simple guide or support for the traversing fabric, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The combination with a folding device, constructed as above set forth, of
tapes, or sets of tapes, arranged and operating as shewn and described, whereby
detached or partly detached sheets may be carried over and through the said folder
and delivered therefrom.
Sixth. The combination with the folding device above described of the cord or
tape, such as 46 or 17, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with the folding device above described, arranged as
in Figures 8 and 9, of the central tapes 17 and 18, substantially as described.
Eighth. In combination with one or more folders, constructed and operating as
above described, one or more of the several mechanisms in any desired order for
cutting, dividing, folding, pasting, slitting, and printing the fabric, all substantially
as described.
The second head of this Invention relates to a modified construction of folding
device, whereby a length of material passed through it is folded on a line parallel
with the direction of its travel, which said folding device, though particularly
designed to fold webs or long lengths of material, is capable, with some
modification, of folding in like manner short pieces of material in the form of
sheets.
In all machines where the first fold made is longitudinal, or in the direction of
the travel of the sheet, and is produced by a folding blade, such sheet is arrested
or checked in its onward movement in order that it may be properly so folded,
because that operation changes its movement to one at right angles to the direction
of travel it has as it enters the folding mechanism.
This stopping or partially stopping the travel of the sheet greatly modifies the
speed of manipulation and interferes with the accuracy of folding, because the
time thus necessarily consumed in delivering the sheet from one set of active
mechanism to another, each carrying the paper in different directions, will cause

page_text: the sheet being folded to be overtaken by the succeeding one, while both are
required to be in an exact correlation at the instant the folding operation is
performed in order to accomplish it with accuracy. This imposes a limit of speed
upon such a delivery mechanism which is greatly within that at which the printing
machine may be operated.
This part of the Invention also comprehends certain modifications of the
structure of parts and various combinations of the folder and feeding and delivery
mechanisms, all of which will be found more particularly hereafter set forth.
A machine embodying this modified construction of folding mechanism in its
simplest form will first be described. Such a one is illustrated by Figures 12
to 17 of the accompanying Drawings, wherein Fig. 12, Sheet IV., is a side elevation,
Fig. 13 a plan, Fig. 14 an end elevation, Figures 15 and 16 side views of the
turning surfaces disposed so as to deliver the folded paper vertically at opposite
sides of the machine, and Fig. 17 is a vertical section of the turners on the
line a, a, of Fig. 16.
Another machine embodying the Invention is shewn in Figures 18 to 22
(Sheets V. and IV.), of which Fig. 18 is a side elevation, Fig. 9 a plan view, Fig. 20
an end elevation, and Figures 21 and 22 views of the turning surfaces disposed so
as to deliver the folded paper in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 18;
Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation of the turning surfaces on the line e of Fig. 21.
Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26 (Sheets VI. and IV.), illustrate one mode of arranging
these turning surfaces with a printing machine so as to deliver the printed sheets
therefrom and fold the same either longitudinally, or both longitudinally and trans-
versely; Fig. 23 being an end elevation; Fig. 24, a side elevation with cutting
cylinders in action; Fig. 25, a rear view illustrating the lower main tapes only;
and Fig. 26, a detail.
Fig. 27 is a perspective view of a machine embodying two longitudinal folders.
The folding mechanism consists of three folding bars or turners 3, 5, and 7
(stationary in the sense of not turning), all of which turners are arranged to meet
at a common point at which the line of creasing or folding is determined. The
turners 3 and 5 spread at such angles to each other as to afford a surface capable
of supporting the web distended widthwise (see Fig. 13), the turner 3 preferably
standing at an angle of about one hundred and thirty five degrees with respect to
the turner 5. The turner 7, whose upper face is preferably inclined at an angle of
about ninety degrees to that of the turner 5, has its inner face situated nearly in the
same vertical plane with that of the turner 3, so that the sections of the web or sheet
folded towards each other, and moving respectively over the turners 3 and 7, are
brought nearly together.
The turners 3, 5, and 7 may be straight or conical bars or simple wires or edges
provided by any rigid material directed toward a common point 6, which is the
creasing or fold-determining point. One mode of making them is to bend a plate
of metal into the form illustrated by the Drawings, which plate will provide not
only a convenient means for rigidly securing the turners in proper relation to each
other, but provide sheet supporting plates extending from one turner to the other, and
afford a secure means for attachment to the framework, such means as shewn being
a bar 30, to which the lower edge of the front plate 11 and that of the plate 13 are
united, which bar is attached to the side frames 32, 33.
When made from a plate of sheet metal a smooth supporting surface is provided
for the web in its entire travel through the folder, thus the front plate 11 sustains
it throughout its entire width as it is carried onto the folder, the back plate 12
supports one section of it in its passage from the turner 5 to the turner 7, and the
inner plates 13 and 14 supports its two sections as they pass downward in their
doubled condition; thus in all positions which it assumes in being doubled by this
folder, the web is kept smoothly distended without being unduly strained at any
point, as will presently be more fully understood. For convenience of illustration
the web 8 is shewn in these Figures as coming from a roll 31 mounted upon a
roller 34 that is provided with a tension strap 35 that runs over a pulley 36

page_text: (Figures 13 and 14, Sheet IV.). This web passes under a leading roller 20,
thence through the folder, and is taken up in its folded condition after passing
under a leading roller 21 upon a roller 22 that is provided with a rotating crank 23.
From the roller 20 the web 8, fully distended widthwise, is laid over the
turners 3, 5, so that one section of it shall be stretched ever the turner 3 and the
other over the turner 5, its centre or other predetermined place of folding lying
over the folding point 6. The section laid over the turner 3 is carried downward
therefrom, while the other section is laid over the turner 5, then laterally to and
over the turner 7, from which it is carried downward. In thus disposing the web
over these turners the single ply stretched widthwise from the turners 3 and 5 has
one section, or that part lying at one side of the folding point 6, carried upward
over said turner 3, and thence downward, while the other section lying on the
opposite side of the folding point 6 is carried upward over the turner 5, is then
turned at a right angle, carried transversely to and over the turner 7, and again
turned at a right angle as it is carried downward from such turner 7. The latter
section of such single web 8 is thus turned at the point 6 and carried over the
other section, so that the single web is doubled longitudinally, and its two parts or
sections lie in parallel planes and constitute a doubled web 9, the folded point of
union 10 being the central or other line which passed over the feeding point 6. As
the web thus entered into the folder is drawn through the same by means of its
doubled portion 9 that is led under the roller 21 and attached to the rotating
roller 22; it is apparent that it will be doubled on the line 10 so as to lay its
sections together and form a product folded once in a longitudinal direction.
By the action of the folder, constructed as described, the right hand section of
the web will be transferred laterally to the left; but by disposing the turners
3, 5, and 7 as is shewn in Figure 16, the left hand section of the web may be
transferred laterally to the right. In both cases the resulting doubled web 9 will
have the common plane of its two parts lying parallel with that in which the
single web is stretched.
The web is thus doubled longitudinally upon a line in such relation to the edges
of the web as may be determined by the lateral disposition of the web with respect
to the point 6, and the sections of the web will thus be lapped so that its upper
face will form the inner surfaces of the folded product.
Essential differences it will thus be seen exist between this system or method of
folding and that commonly practiced where the line or lines of folding are
determined by surfaces over which the fabric is turned, as already alluded to.
As already remarked the web in all positions which it is made to assume in
being folded by the present improvements is fully distended widthwise, and
therefore has no slack portion which would permit it to buckle up or to be
otherwise distorted from its true course.
This operation may be carried on at a very high speed, one equalling that of a
printing or other machine, manipulating a web by means of rotating devices; and
if the dimensions of the web are thus reduced one half, it follows that an equal
reduction of the dimensions of the mechanisms which are to further manipulate it
may be accomplished.
The doubled web may be carried directly to an apparatus for rolling it up or
otherwise manipulating it, being for that purpose led over one or more rollers, as 21.
If it is desired to change the direction of its travel, as at a right or other angle
to that in which the distended web S enters the folder, it may be done by turning
devices constructed on a principle already before the public.
This latter effect may however preferably be accomplished by the folder in the
act of imparting the longitudinal fold to the web. Such an arrangement of the
apparatus is shewn in Figures 18 to 21 (Sheets IV. and V.), in which parts like
those found in the preceding Figures are marked with the saine characters, so that
the modification may be readily understood with slight explanation.
The turners 3, 5, and 7 are here so disposed that the distended web 8 has its
section that is brought over the turner 3 carried downward over the turner 7, and

page_text: thence at a right angle outward at one side, and the other section of the web that
is brought over the turner 5 is carried at a right angle to its former travel outward
parallel with the first named section, the said web 8 being folded at the point 6,
and doubled on the line 10 as before, such doubled web being led over the roller 21
and round upon a roller 22. The rollers 21 and 22 in this arrangement are
mounted in a suitable framework at one side of the machine. By these means
the single web from the roller 34 is passed under the roller 20, thence through the
folder, and by it not only doubled but delivered at a right angle to the plane at
which it entered such folder. By disposing the turners 3, 5, 7, as in Fig. 21,
Sheet IV., the doubled web 9 may be delivered in precisely the opposite direction,
as is apparent.
Now from an inspection of Figures 15 and 16, Sheet IV., and Figures 20 and 21,
Sheets IV. and V., it will be apparent that the angles of relation of these turners
may be varied considerably and still be within the present Invention. Thus the
outer end of the turner 7 may be swung toward the position occupied by the
turner 5 until it stands in a position opposite to that it has, as shewn in Fig. 15,
the turner 3 being swung or adjusted correspondingly downwards, and the turner 5
swung or adjusted correspondingly upward, as is shewn in Fig. 16, Sheet 1V., and
that the turners may be so moved as to occupy any described intermediate position.
This is equally true of the arrangement shewn in Figures 20 and 21, Sheets IV.
and V., which shew a disposition of the turners that is the reverse of that illus-
trated by Figures 15 and 16. In all its variations the turners forming this folder
in any adjustinent of them stand with their faces in approximately the same
plane.
It is to be observed that the point 6 is an imaginary one, that is to say, that
though it is the common point at which the inner ends of the turners would meet
if they were joined together such turners have their inner extremities blunted or
cut away so that they shall not so meet. In the plate form of the turners the fold
of the turners which would constitute this point is cut away.
In all cases therefore, though such imaginary point 6 is actually the point at
which the fold 10 is formed, such fold has no bearing surface directly beneath
it upon which the paper rests. This feature of the Invention is applicable to
turning surfaces of any number that are arranged so as to cause a web or sheet
drawn over them to be folded longitudinally, such as are shewn in the aforesaid
applications.
In a practical application of this folder it may receive the web 8 from any source,
as the cloth beam of a loon or cloth finishing machine, and deliver its longitudinally
folded product to any of the many forms of folding mechanism adapted to impart
additional folds thereto.
The web may come from a printing machine of the character herein described,
and when folded be delivered to a cutting and folding machine, which severs it
into sheets and folds such sheets transversely as already described. It is preferred
to employ for this purpose a cutting and folding mechanism similar to that
described hereafter with reference to Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the
Drawings.
If however it is attached to a web printing machine provided with cutting
cylinders, as 42, 43, Figures 23 and 24, Sheet VI., which sever it into sheets, short
detached portions or sheets will require to be conducted through the folder by
means of conducting cords or tapes.
One system of such taping will now be described as applied to the form of folder
shewn in Figures 12 to 17, Sheet IV., which description will fully instruct one
skilled in the art as to the modifications of taping necessary to be adapted in the
modifications of the turner herein described.
The lower set of main tapes leading from the cutting cylinders to the folder
consist, as shewn, of four endless tapes 161, 162, 163, 16, which run over
pulleys 241, 24, 245, 24, hung on a shaft 24 mounted just in advance of said
cutting cylinders. The tapes 16¹ and 16° pass over one section of the front plate 11

page_text: of the folder, thus being stretched from the pulleys 241, 24, under pulleys 25', 25²,
that are mounted on a shaft 25 so as to stand in front of pulleys 27', 27', so that
their peripheries coincide with the face of the plate 11. From these pulleys said
tapes run lightly in contact with the plate 11 over the turner 3 (or pulleys 26', 262,
hung between the plates 11, 13, so that their peripheries coincide with the surface
of this turner), thence down inside of the plate 13 to pulleys 27', 27', hung on a
shaft 27, and return to the pulleys 241, 242.
The tape 163 runs from the pulley 243 under pulley 253 hung on the shaft 25
with its periphery coincident with the surface of plate 11. From thence said tape
runs in contact with the plate 11, passing over a pulley 263 hung in an opening in
the plate 11, so that its periphery coincides with the surface of that plate, and
returning under a pulley 273 on the shaft 27 to the pulley 243.
The tape 10 runs from the pulley 24 on the shaft 24 under a pulley 25* on
shaft 25 (the periphery of which pulley stands in an opening in the plate 11 and
is coincident with its face) and thence returns over a pulley 27' on shaft 27 to the
pulley 24. The pulleys 273 and 27' are shewn in Fig. 25, in which the shaft 25
is broken away to expose them.
These tapes 163, 16%, run in the same plane to the foot of the plate 11, and as far
as they extend upwards over said plate they all follow its surface.
The upper set of tapes co-acting with the lower set consists of endless margin
tapes 17, 17, and an endless centre cord or tape 172, which run over pullies 37', 37,
and 37, hung on a shaft 37, mounted just in advance of the cutting cylinders and
above the pullies 241, 242, 24³, 24%,
The margin tape 17' runs above the tape 16¹ from the pulley 37', under the
pulley 25, over the pulley 261, and returns under a pulley 28 on a shaft 50 and
over a pulley 39' on a shaft 39 (this portion of the tape, is omitted in Figure 24, as it
runs from pulley 39¹ to pulley 37' in the same plane as the cord 172, and would thus
obscure said cord). The margin tape 17 runs above the tape 16* from the
pulley 37 (Figures 23 and 25, Sheets IV. and VI.) under the pulley 25. From this
point it leaves the tape 16* (which is returned) and thence lies upon the plate of
the folder which it follows. Thus it bears over the turner 5, extends laterally
over the turner 7, and descending returns over a pulley 38* on the bar 50, thence
over a pulley 39' on the shaft 39, whence it is carried laterally back to its marginal
position by means of deflecting pullies 40 and 41, from the latter of which it
descends to its pulley 37*.
The tape or cord 17 runs from the pulley 37 on shaft 37 under a pulley 25² on
a shaft 26, thence against the plate 11 over the turning surface 3, near the folding
point 6 descends between the plates 13, 14, and returns over a pulley 382, running
over the bar 50, see Fig. 26, Sheet IV., and a pulley 392 on shaft 39, thence over a
deflecting pulley 393 to its pulley 37%.
Tho surface speed of these tapes will be slightly greater than that of the cutting
cylinders, so that the forward end of the partially or completely severed web (when
nipped between the tapes 101, 162, 163, 16%, and tapes 171, 17, on the line of contact
with pulleys 251, 25, 253, 25) will be advanced fast enough to detach such forward
end to form a sheet, which sheet (or one formed by completely severing the web)
will be advanced to provide a working distance between successive sheets as is
common in web printing machines. Each sheet will be supported and carried onto
and over the folder by these tapes, and will have its sections folded laterally one
upon another, so as to double the same on a line parallel with its line of travel, as
will be readily understood from the former description, said tapes controlling the
shect until in its once folded condition it leaves said folder.
From the point where the tapes or cords 17', 172, 173, return, such folded sheet
is guided onward by means of auxiliary endless tapes 151, 15, and 181, 182, stretched
as follows-The tapes 18', 18%, run over pullies 481, 482, hung on shafts, and so
situated as to lie in the planes in which the folded plies of the paper lie as they
leave the plates 14, 13, thence over pullies 443, 44, by which said tapes are
stretched horizontally to co-act with tapes 19', 192, that are stretched from pullies

page_text: 45, and its companion to pullies 51, 512, as a means of delivering the paper when
it is folded transversely. The tapes 15', 152, run over pullies hung on the shaft 27,
and return over pullies 49', 492
The tapes 16, 162, might be extended to take the place of the tapes 151, 152, and
would then return from the pullies 491, 49, to the pullies 24', 242.
It is obvious that the tapes 151, 152, and 181, 182, might lead directly to a second
taped folder composed of turners, or to a fly which would deliver the longitudinally
folded sheet in a flat pile, or to any of the well known forms of rotating folding
mechanism.
This taped folder is shewn in Figures 23, 24, Sheet VI, as combined with a folder
of the usual construction. Said folder consists of a double rotating folding blade 60
that is supported in a rotating carrier 61, said folder operating to project one of
the folding blades 60 into the nip of the pullies 44, 443, and 451, 45%, at each
rotation of its carrier, whereby a sheet caused to descend before said pullies will be
doubled by said folding blade into the nip of the pullics, as shewn by dotted lines,
and will thus be folded transversely on any predetermined line, and thus folded
will be delivered by the tapes 181, 182, and 19¹, 19².
The smooth descent of the paper between these pullies and the folder is aided by
guides 62 and 63.
Conductors 65 may extend between the tapes 151, 15%, and 18', 18%, to aid the
descent of the folded sheet.
The transversely folded sheet may be arrested in its passage between the tapes
181, 182, and 19', 192, or the unfolded sheet may be arrested while passing between
the tapes 181, 182, and 151, 152, and be struck by a folding blade between a pair of
folding rollers which lie in the plane in which the sheet is carried by said tapes.
The space intervening between the surface of the cutting cylinders and the
pullies 24, 24, 243, 24, and 37, 37%, and 37', may be spanned by conductors or
conducting cords 66, 66, that run in grooves in said cylinders and over pullies
67, 67, mounted on the shafts 37 and 24.
If the cutting cylinders 42, 43, do not entirely sever the web transversely, but
partially severing it leave it connected at two or more places, the system of taping
may travel at the same speed as the cutting cylinders fast enough to keep it taut
but not to sever it, thus enabling the connected sheets to run at a lesser speed than
when controlled by accelerated tapes. In this case the sheets may be separated
after leaving the turners by fast turning nipping rollers.
A combined cutting and folding mechanism, or one that embodies a single set
only of such mechanism, or a transverse cutting mechanism, may supplant the
rotating folding mechanism.
It will be apparent that two or more webs or sheets may be manipulated by this
mechanism, the same being fed into it one upon another; or a single web may be
divided longitudinally into two by a slitting device 100, as shown at Figure 18.
A single web previously printed and wound up, whether of the width of the web
being printed, half that width, or a quarter, or any other proportion of such width,
and whether severed transversely or not, may be carried into the folder on top of or
beneath the main web, and thus be incorporated with it, said severed or unsevered
supplementary web being delivered with the main web to form supplementary
sheets of different sizes as required.
It will be understood that the cutting cylinders 42, 43, may be removed, and the
folder receive sheets from any one of the various kinds of apparatus adapted to
produce or manipulate fabrics.
It is obvious that the web or sheets folded once longitudinally by this improved
folder may be converted into a flattened tube suitable for various uses by laying a
line of paste upon one of its edges as the fabric passes through the folder. This
pasting device may be of any well known form, and be situated at any proper point,
as a disc 101 placed near the base of the plate 11, see Fig. 12.
In Figure 27 I have illustrated the combination with printing and cutting
mechanisms of two longitudinal folders of the character above described.

page_text: The combination and operation of these folders has been so thoroughly herein
before described that no further explanation is required here. Though they are
arranged in horizontal planes, their function and action remain the same. I have
here shewn a web of paper 8 as being led from its supply roll 31 between
cylinders 70, 71, which illustrate the type and impression cylinders of a printing
machine. This web in passing over the turners 3, 5, 7, constituting the primary
folder, will be doubled or folded longitudinally upon a central line, and in its doubled
condition will pass over the turners 3, 5, and 7, constituting the secondary
longitudinal folder, and thereby be a second time folded longitudinally upon a line
parallel with its first longitudinal fold.
Thus folded the web is led through a cutting and a folding mechanism, as shewn,
and which in this Figure is illustrated as consisting of two rotating carriers 80, 81,
the one supplied with a folding or creasing blade 44, and the other with fold
seizing jaws 85, 86, the latter a moving jaw, which carriers are provided at proper
points opposite to those occupied by the folding blade and nipping jaws with a
cutting mechanism of any ordinary construction.
In passing through the cylinders the longitudinally folded web will be folded
transversely by means of the blade 44, its doubled bight or fold being entered into
the slot provided between the jaws 85, 86, and secured there by the latter jaw
closing upon it. As the cylinders revolve the folding blade 44 will be withdrawn,
and the paper carried onward by the jaws 85, 86, until the proper length having
passed between the carriers 80, 81, the web will be severed by the cutting
mechanisms, and the detached portion of the sheet thus formed will have its
forward and rearward portions laid together to complete the fold, and the folded
sheet will be piled beneath the carrier 81, by reason of the release of its forward
folded edge by the opening of the jaws 86. But, as has been here-fore remarked,
any other of the well known rotary folding machines and cutting mechanisms may
be employed.
While I have shewn two longitudinal folders combined with each other, it is
obvious that any other number may be thus arranged.
Under this head of the Invention, I claim,―
First. The use of longitudinally folding devices, constructed and operating
substantially as described with reference to Sheets IV. to VI. of the Drawings.
Second. In combination with one or more folding devices, constructed as above
described, the use of leading rollers, such as 20 and 21, for guiding the fabric onto
and from the folder, substantially as described.
Third. In combination with one or more folding devices, constructed as above
set forth, one or more of the several mechanisms in any desired order for printing,
dividing, cutting, folding, slitting, and pasting the fabric, all substantially as
described.
Fourth. The combination with one or more folding devices, constructed and
operating as set forth, of tapes arranged to carry the fabric through the folder, all
substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a series of two or more folding devices constructed
and operating as set forth.
The next head of the Invention relates to a modified construction of folder to
impart longitudinal folds to a web or sheets of material passing through it, which
folds may be three in number, reducing the web to one quarter its normal width,
or two in number, reducing it to one half its normal width.
As in previous cases this head of the Invention includes also various combinations
of the folder with other devices, and also a system of taping, all of which is too
particularly hereinafter set forth to need further preliminary description.
The primary purpose of the folder is to impart the longitudinal folds to a web of
paper, or to short lengths, or sheets of paper as the same is received from the printing
devices of a web-printing machine, said folder being adapted to so fold the web or
or sheets at a speed equal to the highest rate at which the rotary printing devices
may be run. It is thus not only capable of disposing of the product of a printing-

page_text: machine, but so manipulates that product that its dimensions are reduced width-
wise to a degree that enables it to be subsequently manipulated by a mechanism
comparatively small in its dimensions, which may be adapted to cut the
longitudinally-folded web into sections and deliver the same in a flat pile, or to
impart transverse folds thereto. It is further adapted to folding the product of
cloth-machines, or any other fabric-producing machinery where it is desirable to
deliver the product folded longitudinally, and it is likewise adapted to the
production of tubes for use in the making of bags and similar articles, as will
hereinafter appear. This modified construction of folder will be readily understood
on reference to the Drawings, wherein Fig. 28, Sheet VII., is an end elevation,
Fig. 29 a side elevation, Fig. 30 a plan view, and Fig. 31 a longitudinal elevation
of a machine embodying my Invention, while Figures 32 and 33 are sectional
views shewing the product folded by such machine; Figures 34 and 35, Sheet VIII.,
shew a modified construction of the turners; Fig. 36 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 37 a plan view of a modified form of said machine, while Figures 38 and 39
are sectional views showing the product as folded by such modified machine;
Figures 40 and 41 illustrate the combination of this improved folder with a web-
printing machine, and with a transverse cutting and folding machine; Figures 42
to 44, Sheet IX., inclusive, illustrate a system of taping this improved folder when
adjusted to impart two folds to detached sheets, Fig. 43 also illustrating its com-
bination with a transverse-cutting apparatus and a transverse-folding apparatus ;
Figures 45 and 46 illustrate the modification of taping necessary when the folder
is adjusted to accomplish three folds.
In describing these improvements, the web to be manipulated will be referred to
as composed of three sections (see Figures 28 and 30), the middle section A being
equal to half the width of the web, and the two side sections B, C, equal respectively
to one quarter of the width of the web, said side sections being divided from
the middle section by imaginary lines D, E, which ultimately becomes lines of
folding.
The
The folder is composed of turners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. The turner 5 is of a
length equal to the middle section A of the web, and the turners 1, 2, are disposed
in angular positions, so as to support the side sections B and C of the web.
inner ends of these turners 5, 1, 2, would, if continued, meet at the points marked
61, 62, which are the folding-points, but these points are imaginary ones, that is to
say, the said inner ends of the turners 5, 1, 2, are cut away so that they do not
meet, but leave a free space, within which the sections of the web may crease or
double without having any supporting surface, or bearing immediately beneath such
points to obstruct the creasing or doubling of the fabric.
The turners 3, 4, extend forwardly from the ends of the turner 5 (see Fig. 28),
and are disposed so that their forward ends would meet together at the common
point 6, as their rear ends. would, if continued, meet the turuers 1, 2, 5, at the
points 61, 62, but like said turners they are cut away at such points as they are also
cut away at the point 6, so as not to bear upon the fabric.
The turners 7, 8, project forwardly from the turners 1, 2, their point of union
therewith at 6, 6, being cut away, and they terminate at points above the turners
3 and 4, with which their lower edges are approximately aligned. These turners
are connected together by plates, so as to afford bearing-surfaces between them
for the paper, as follows:-A back plate 12 connects the turners 1, 2, and 5; a
plate 13 connects the turners 3, 4, and 5; and plates 14, 15, connect the turners 1, 7,
and 2, 8.
The web of paper 11 is shown as coming from a roll 30 wound on a roller 31,
and it passes under a bending roller 32 and a guiding roller 33 into contact with
the surface of the back plate 12, against which it is stretched smoothly throughout
its width. From this back plate its middle section A is drawn smoothly over the
turner 5, and thence over the plate 13, and turners 3, 4. This brings its centre
over the folding point 6, and causes the side sections B, C, to be drawn smoothly
over the turners 1, 2, and plates 14, 15, and thence over turners 7, S. This
R

page_text: disposition of the web causes the crease or fold formed at the points G1, G2, to lie below
the plane occupied by the turners 3, 4, which draws a portion of the middle section A
down below said turners 3, 4, and a portion of the side sections B, C, into a
like position, the remaining portions of said side sections being sustained by the
plates 14, 15. As the central or folding point of the middle section is sustained
over the folding point 6, the web will thus be provided with three folds, namely, a
central fold 10, and side folds 10', 10%, and the plies composing the same will lie in
a vertical plane that will form a sectional figure approximately like the letter W
(see Figures 32 and 33) when they are entered into the nip of the drawing
rollers 34, 35, between which rollers the four plies of the fabric will be pressed
snugly together. These drawing rollers 34, 35, being vertical are so related to the
turners that they govern the course of the paper, that is to say, while the
combined turners distend the fabric to its full width, although it is supported in
different planes, the vertical rollers deflect the folded side sections B, C, so that a
central or third fold formed at the point 6 unites them. When the rollers 34, 35,
are moved they will draw the web over the turners and impart folds to it upon
the three parallel lines D, E, F, which will reduce the width of the web to one
quarter its original extent, and deliver it in a form suitable to be cut up into
sheets, which may be delivered in that form or be further folded transversely or
otherwise as desired.
The turners 1, 3, must be so disposed with respect to the turner 5 that they
will distend the side sections B, C, of the web when its central section is stretched
over said turner 5, and the turners 7, 8, must be so disposed with respect to said
turners 1, 3, that they will stretch the side sections centrally, so as to direct the
outer edges of the web properly onto the doubled parts of the middle section of the
web, and to the rollers 34, 35, and while the turners 1, 2, as shown in these
Figures, extend from the lines 18, 19, (see Fig. 28) on one side and vanish into the
plates 14, 15, on the other side, it is practical to make the angle of relation between
the plates 12 and 13 more acute or more obtuse. In the latter case said lines 18, 19,
would be more nearly vertical than is shown, and in the former case the said lines
would spread laterally and finally merge into the said turners 1, 2, which would
then stand more obliquely with respect to the turner 5 and nearly in the same
plane.
The latter one of these arrangements of the turners is shewn in Figures 34, 35,
in which the turners 1, 2, lie in nearly the same horizontal plane as does turner 5,
and are arranged with respect thereto at a greater angle than in the preceding
Figures. These Figures also shew that the turners 7, 8, may lie more nearly
parallel with the turners 3, 4, and in about the same horizontal plane. Other
changes in the relation of these turners 1, 2, 7, 8, with respect to the turners 3,
4, 5, may be made, but the preferable arrangement is that shewn in Figures 28
to 31.
When the web is conducted to this folder direct from a printing machine it may
be slit on the line F or point of its central fold, and a line of paste be applied to
and between the side sections near their lines of fold, so that when they are
brought together between the rollers] 33, 34, they will be united by said line of
paste, and when severed transversely each section so produced will constitute a
pack or pamphlet of four leaves united together at their back edges. This may be
readily accomplished by a slitter 100 properly placed to so divide the web, and a
suitable pasting disc, as 101, properly positioned with respect to the folded edges of
the two sections.
In the machine illustrated by Figures 28 to 31 the vertically arranged
rollers 34, 35, which are geared to run in unison are supposed to be sustained in
proper bearings in a suitable framework in which the turners are supported, but as
the said turners are capable of imparting two parallel folds, as well as three to the web,
these rollers are shewn as journaled in circular frame 36, which frame is secured to
brackets 37, 38, which project from the side frames 39, 40, which circular frame is
capable of being adjusted upon the shafts of the screw bolts 41, 42, being furnished

page_text: with guide slots 43, 44, for this purpose; said frame may thus be held in the position
shewn in Fig. 28 to sustain the rollers 34, 35, vertically, or as shewn in Figures 36
and 37 to sustain such rollers horizontally, but any other means may be adopted to
effect this. When but two longitudinal folds are to be produced these rollers are
adjusted horizontally, and the web is stretched over the turners 1, 2, 5, 7, 8,
precisely as before, but instead of the creased or folded side sections being carried
down over the turners 3, 4, to form a central fold between them, they are stretched
directly from the points 61, 62, over the rollers 34, and then between the two, as shewn.
The web might go directly to the nip of the rollers 34, 35, if desired, and said rollers
were adjusted in the proper plane with respect to the turners. The web therefore
does not have a working contact with the turners 3, 4, which are then out of action
and practically dispensed with. The rollers 34, 35, being turned the web will be
drawn over the turners 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, and have its side sections Be laid over the
middle section A, thus assuming the form shewn in Fig. 38. A web so folded may
have the edge of one side section lapped over the edge of the other side section, as
in Fig. 39, and when the machine is supplied with a proper pasting appliance, as
the disc 102, see Fig. 28, these lapped edges would be secured together and form
tubes, which might be utilized in the production of bags, paper-files, &c., but for
newspaper purposes the web may be folded so that its edges will suitably meet,
and when so folded it may be cut transversely and further folded in any direction
as may be desirable, whether or not it is slit centrally by a slitter 103, Fig. 36, to
divide it into two sections each folded longitudinally.
It may be remarked that in either of the above adjustments of this folder a
previously printed supplementary web may be incorporated within the folded
product by simply leading the same over the turner 5, whether such supplementary
web is of a width equal to the whole or any part of the width of the main web.
The supplementary web thus introduced will be drawn onward by the rollers 34, 35,
and folded within the main web, and be severed with the severed section.
It will be obvious that the folded web may be led over one of these rollers 34
or 35, as shewn in Figures 28 to 31, at a right angle therefrom to a pair of carrying
rollers, or being led directly to a cutting or combined cutting and folding machine.
This latter expedient will be resorted to where compactness of the machine is
desired, or where it is preferable to deliver the web at the side of the machine.
such case the roller might be stationary and the web be drawn over it. Thus led
out from the roller it might be turned at any angle desired by means of turners
arranged as already described.
In
It will be understood that the web of paper instead of being supplied from a roll 30
will in practice be received directly from the fabric producing or manipulating
machine, as from a web printing machine, and that one or both the rollers 32 and 33
might be omitted, also that the folded web might be delivered directly to a rotary
folding machine, such, for instance, as that hereinafter described with reference
to Sheets XIV., XV., & XVI. of the Drawings, which would supplant the
rollers 34, 35.
In the form of machine Figures 28 to 31 the folding devices of such folding
machine would stand vertically, as in Fig. 40, while in the machine illustrated in
Figures 36 and 37 said folding device would stand horizontally, as is shewn in
Fig. 41, from which and the lettering of these illustrations it will be understood that
the web is manipulated by the turners in Fig. 40 as it is in Figures 28 to 31, and
in Fig. 41 as it is in Figures 36 and 37.
The cylinders 200, 201, represent the last type and impression cylinders of a web
printing machine, and the cylinders 202, 203, represent the carriers of a combined
rotating cutting and folding mechanism, which mechanism may be of various
constructions as is now well understood in this art. As shewn the cylinder 202 is
provided with a cutting blade 26 that co operates with a slot 27 in the cylinder 203.
A tucking creaser or blade 28 is carried by the cylinder 202, and co-operates with a
vibrating jaw 29, carried by the cylinder 203, which blade and jaw coact to
produce a transverse hold in the fabric. The cylinder 203 is further provided with

page_text: a rotating folding blade 30 that co operates with folding rollers 31, 32, the
construction and operation of which devices are well known to those engaged in
the trade
The printed web emerging from between the cylinders 200, 201, will be carried
directly through the folders, as before described, and thus be folded longitudinally.
This folded web will by the co-action of the cutters 26, 27, be severed into short
lengths or sheets, which sheets will be folded transversely by the co-action of the
folding devices 28, 29, and this once transversely folded sheet will be again
transversely folded by the action of the rotating folding blade 30, which will
double the folded sheet into the nip of the rollers 31, 32, which, with the tapes
that run over them, will deliver the same. It is further to be understood that this
folder, whether adjusted to produce three folds or two folds, as has been described,
may be supplied with tapes to aid in carrying sheets through it, whether such
sheets be conveyed singly to it or come in sucesssion from a printing or other sheet
producing machine. A system of taping the said holder when adjusted to produce
twofolds is shewn in Figures 42, 43, and 44, Sheet IX. In such Figures the
cylinders 45, 46, illustrate the cutting cylinders of a web printing machine from
which a printed web is delivered in sheet form.
This taping is as follows:-The series beneath the web consists of two tapes 16',
and 16. The tape 16¹ runs from the pulley 20¹ on the shaft 20 over the plate 12,
and the pulley 203 below turner 5, the surface of which pulley is coincident with
the surface of plates 12 and 13 (which are removed at that point); from this pulley
the tape passes over the plate 13 around the roller 35, and thence returns to the
pulley 201
The tape 16 runs from the pulley 202 on the shaft 20 over the plate 12 to
pulley 20, thence over the plate 13 to roller 35, over which it returns to pulley 20%.
Of the outer or surface series one marginal tape 17¹ runs from the pulley 21'
on the shaft 21 over the plate 12 and turner 1 to the pulley 22', around which it
returns, passing over a deflecting pulley 43 to pulley 231 on a shaft 23, and returns
to pulley 21'. The opposite inarginal tape 175 passes in like manner from
pulley 21 on shaft 21 over plate 12 and turner 2, to the pulley 225, around
which it returns, passing over a deflecting pulley 44 to pulley 235 on shaft 23,
and returns to pulley 215. The central surface tape 173 passes over pulley 213 on
shaft 21 over the plate 12, to and over the turner 5, over the plate 13, to the
pulley 22, over which it passes to pulley 233 on shaft 23, and returns thence to
pulley 213
Two intermediate surface tapes run longitudinally in the same vertical planes as
those occupied by the tapes 161, 162, and 17º and 177. They co operate with the
former tapes 16', 102, to form a pathway in carrying the sheet up over the
turner 5, said taper 161, 162, and 17%, 177, continuing the pathway so formed
from the turner 5 to the rollers 34, 35. One set only of these tapes appears in the
Drawings, viz., that marked 17', which tape runs from pulley 213, fast on the shaft 21,
over plate 12, parallel to and in carrying contact with the inner tape 16, to and
over the turner 5, and returns over pulley 22 situate near the point 62, to the
pulley 213. The companion tape runs from a pulley fixed on the shaft 21, at an
appropriate point distant from the pulley 213, passes over the plate 12, parallel to
and in carrying contact with the inner tape 161, thence to and over the turner 5,
and returns over the pulley 222 (see Fig. 42), situate over the point 6', to the said
pulley on shaft 21.
Other outer or surface tapes 17° and 177, arranged to conduct the fabric through
the folder by contact with the doubled or folded portion thereof, are situate and run
as follows: One 17º from the pulley 216, and thence to and in carrying contact with
the inner tape 16' to roller 34, and returns thence to the pulley 216. The other
tape 177 passes from the pulley 217, parallel to and in carrying contact with the
inner tape 162, to roller 34, and returns thence to the pulley 217.
From this described taping the modification of the same necessary to conduct
sheets through the folder constructed of the turners where the fabric is disposed as

page_text: is shewn in Figures 28 to 31 inclusive, will be readily apparent. Such modification
is however illustrated in Figures 45 and 46.
Thus it will only be necessary to change the run of the under tapes 101, 162, and
the upper tapes 17, 177, which will then be as follows:-The tapes 16 and 16
will be run from their respective pulleys 20' and 20% on shaft 20, over the plate 12
and turner 5 near the points 61, 62, and bearing over the edges of the turners 3
and 4, will run towards rollers 34, 35, lying in the same planes in which the
side sections of the web are to move, and then return respectively over vertical
pulleys 50, 502, journalled beneath the point 6, thence around suitable guiding
pulleys 70, 702, and 801, 802, to their respective pullies 20', 20% The tapes 176
and 177 will run respectively from rollers 60', 602, journalled vertically beneath the
turners 7 and 8, thence outward in carrying contact with the tapes 161, 162, to the
rollers 3+, 35, and return thence to the pulleys 60¹, 602. These taped folders are
thus adapted to impart longitudinal folds to the sheets, and these sheets may be
supplied from any source, as before explained.
In Fig. 43 the cutting cylinders 45, 46, of a web printing machine are shown as
the means of dividing a web into sheets as it passes to this folder. In this
illustration, these cylinders are supposed to but partially sever the web, so that the
faster running tapes of the folder may, when the partially severed portion is within
their nip, accelerate its movement, detach a sheet, and rapidly advance it. It is
apparent however that the cylinders 45, 46, may entirely sever the web to form
sheets, and these sheets be guided by conductors into the nip of the tapes. The
longithdinally folded sheet emerging from the rollers 34, 35; may be delivered to
any of the now well known forms of rotary folding machines. In this Figure a
rotary folding machine adapted to impart two transverse folds to the sheets is
shewn, but as it is constructed like the rotary folder shewn in Fig. 42 no
explanation of its parts is necessary here. It may be remarked however that by
the removal of the rotary blade 30 in both cases one transverse fold only will
be imparted to the shects.
The web or sheets folded by this apparatus may be slit longitudinally while
passing to this folder or the turners thereof by placing the slitter 103 near the
point 6 over the central plate 13, which will be properly grooved to secure its edge,
or on the roller 33, or between the rollers 32, 33, or at any other suitable point.
The product of either modification of the apparatus will then be two webs, each
folded in their longitudinal centre.
The twice folded web produced by the modifield apparatus shewn in Figures 36
and 37, when one of its edges overlaps the other, as in Fig. 39, may have a line of
paste applied to the proper one of its edges by a suitable pasting apparatus, so that
such surface shall run in contact with it, and as it passes through the folder, such
edge will be united to the opposite edge as it overlaps the same in passing between
the rollers 34, 35, whereby said twice folded web will have its free edges united
together and form a flattened tube.
The fabric, though given the proper direction by the support afforded by the
turners, nevertheless remains free or unsupported at the folding point, and may hence
bend or double at that point without being strained by any rigid supporting surface
or opposing force on either side of it. The most limp or fragile paper or fabric may
therefore be doubled or folded by this improved folder without injury to its surface
or liability to tear at the folding point or line. Moreover, it will be observed that
in all positions which the web is made to assume in being folded by this improved
folder, it is fully distended widthwise, and therefore has no slack portion which will
permit it to buckle up or be otherwise distorted from its true course.
The pasting apparatus might be constructed so as to apply transverse lines of
paste to the web at proper points.
It is to be understood, as before explained, that the folding device consisting of
either five of the turners or the seven turners is capable of separate co-operation
with the other devices and mechanisms in producing longitudinal folds in the

page_text: material and otherwise manipulating it, and hence that five of the turners, as well
seven of them, are embraced in the combinations hereinafter set forth.
Under this head of the Invention I claim,-
First. The use of longitudinal folding devices, constructed and operating
substantially as described with reference to Sheets VII., VIII., and IX., of the
Drawings.
Second. In combination with a longitudinal folding device constructed as
above set forth, the means, substantially as herein shewn and described,
for guiding the web of fabric onto and conducting it through the said folding
device.
Third. In combination with a longitudinal folding device as above set forth, the
rollers 34 and 35, arranged and operating in the manner and for the purpose herein
described.
Fourth. In combination with a longitudinal folder constructed as above
described, one or more of the several mechanisms in any desired order for printing,
pasting, longitudinally-slitting, transversely folding and transversely cutting the
fabric, all substantially as shown and described.
Fifth. The combination with a longitudinal folder, constructed and operating as
described, of sets of tapes, whereby detached or partially detached sheets may be
carried over and through the said folder, and delivered therefrom with longitudinal
folds, all substantially as shewn and described.
The next head of the Invention relates to that class of folding apparatus whereby
a web or sheet of paper or other fabric passed through the same has a longitudinal
fold imparted to it, said fabric in such manipulation being distended width wise,
and supported lengthwise by guiding surface, over which its side sections are
deflected centrally by means of external pressing or guiding turners; such folding
apparatus may therefore be said to consist of internal or inside and external or
outside bearing or turning surfaces, by the conjoint action of which a fabric
embraced by them will, when moved through them, be folded longitudinally.
The improvements effected consist chiefly in a novel construction of the internal
supporting or turning guide, whereby the margins of the web or sheet are supported
longitudinally during its folding, that is to say, during its passage over the internal
supporting or turning surfaces, or while its side sections are being lapped together,
and the longitudinal folding is accomplished.
A modified construction of the internal supporting surfaces or turning guides, as
they will be called, and various combinations of the same, with coacting devices,
as will be more particularly hereinafter explained, and also included under this head
of the Invention.
Folders of this character are especially adapted for attachment to web printing
machines as the delivery apparatus thereof, whether such web is cut before or after
passing through the folder.
The several parts comprising this folding apparatus will be supported in a
suitable framework, so that the stationary parts will be securely held, and the
turning parts may properly revolve, and the said turning parts will be geared and
driven as is common in the structure of machines. These minor details are
therefore omitted from the Drawings in order that the same may more clearly
illustrate the Invention.
The structure of the apparatus is shewn in Figures 47, 48, 47*, and 48*,
Sheet X., of the Drawings, wherein Fig. 47 illustrates in side elevation, and Fig. 48
in plan view, a folding device embodying these improvements; Figures 47* and 48*
shew in elevation and plan view a modified construction of the folding device.
As shewn, the internal turning guides are formed by bending the main body 12
of a plate so that the forward edges of its centrally bent sides 14, 15, shall be
united.
This structure of guide provides bends 1, 2, extending rearward from the
point 6, and flaring outward, over which bends the side sections of the fabric are
deflected

page_text: The external guides or turners 18, 19, stand parallel with these meeting edges of
the side plates, 14, 15, and between their faces provide a space sufficient for the
passage of the lapped side sections of the web or sheet which came together in
passing between them.
The rear edge of the plate 12 is straight, and may be attached to a bar 13 at
either of the points shewn in Fig. 1, by which bar it will be attached to the
supporting frame.
The external turners, though shewn in Figures 47 and 48 as pulleys, might be
rollers, and in either form might be fixed so as not to revolve, or they might be
fixed bars, as will yet appear.
In the pulley or roller form shewn they will be geared together, and properly
driven to act as drawing rollers to draw the web or sheet over the folder.
Assuming the tapes shewn in these Figures to be dispensed with, and the folder
constructed as has been described, the operation will be as follows:-
A web of paper or other fabric is drawn over the bar 13 or rear edge of the
plate 12, whereby it is distended in the same planes to its fullest width. It is
passed upward over the plate 12, its side sections passing over the bends 1, 2,
thereof, drooping against the side plates 14, 15. Its leading edge then lapped
together is entered between the rollers 18, 19, that constitute the external turners,
and the machine is ready to perform the folding operation. Motion imparted to
the rollers 18, 19, will then draw the web onward, and the same will be folded
at the point 6, the side sections being lapped together upon this folding point in
consequence of the direction given to the same by the external turners and the
rollers or pulleys that draw the doubled web between them.
Thus as the web runs in the same direction as the internal guide is diposed, it
follows that the web is supported longitudinally during its movement over the
internal guide while undergoing the folding operation, and this is especially
requisite at the margins of its side sections while said sides are being deflected from
the point where they pass over the bar 13 and up to the point where they come
within the control of the external turners 18, 19. In this manner the perfect run
of the web and its folding will be accomplished without danger of rupture,
buckling, or other injury from distortion.
This folder is designed to have combined with it the means for severing a web
into sheets either as the web passes to or from the same, and also with a means for
imparting transverse folds to the sheets cut from the web by either mode.
When sheets are to be folded longitudinally by this apparatus the same requires
tobe furnished with tapes to carry the sheets through it.
One system of taping the same is illustrated in Figures 47 and 48, and will now
be explained.
As here shewn, four sets of endless outside tapes are employed, two of which
endless tapes 8, 8', are centrally arranged, while the remaining two tapes 7, 71, are
arranged near the margin of the fabric.
The marginal tapes 7, 7', run from pulleys 20, 201, on the shaft 20°, thence they
pass onto the base or rear surface of the plate 12, follow near its marginal edges,
pass over the bends 1, 2, follow near the marginal edge of the side plates 14, 15,
and return around the lower ends of rollers 18, 19, (or pulleys substituted for
them), then pass over the turner pulleys 31, 32 (or vertical rollers substituted for
them), thenco over deflecting pulleys 33, 34, to the pulleys 20, 20'. The central
tapes S, S', run from pulleys 203, 20%, on the shaft 20°, thence they pass onto the
base or rear surface of the plate 12, follow near its central line, pass over the
bends 1, 2, near the folding point 6, and return over the upper ends of the
rollers 18, 19, (or substituted pulleys), then pass over the upper pulleys 31, 32, (or
substituted rollers), thence over deflecting rollers 35, 36, to the pulleys 20%, 20'.
Sets of under tapes might of course be arranged to co-act with the upper tapes
if desired, but the same are unnecessary when the continuous or plate form of
folder is used.

page_text: When tapes are used it will be desirable to supply the pulleys 20, 21³, 21³, 21³,
though these are not essential.
It has been said that the rollers or pulleys 18, 19, may be stationary, and that
fixed surfaces may be substituted for them.
Such modification is shewn in Figures 47* and 48*, the form of external turners
adopted being fixed bars also marked 18, 19. These figures also shew the drawing
roller now marked 28, 29, as placed slightly in advance of the turners 18, 19, which
rollers will be geared together and properly driven to move the web through the
folder. In these views a modified or skeleton structure of the internal guide of the
folder is shewn, the construction of which is as follows:-
A central plate 12 having the form of a right angled triangle, the perpendicular
of which is equal in length to at feast one half the width of the web or sheet to
be manipulated, is secured to the bar 13, so that the point of union between its
hypothenuse and base lines shall be above said bar.
The perpendicular line of said plate 12 is thus made to stand parallel with the
working edges of the external turners 18, 19.
Narrow plates 14, 15, brought together at their forward edges, so that such
meeting edges coincide with the perpendicular line of the plate 12, extend
rearwardly with their lower edges in the same plane that is occupied by the base
line of the plate 12. Said plates spread apart at the required equal angles, and are
secured to the bar 13 with their rear edges shaped so as to lie in the same plane as,
and consequently at the same angle with, the hypothenuse of the plate 12, and
forin bends 1, 2.
The supporting plate 12 is thus diminished to a narrow edge, and the side
plates 14, 15, or margin supports, are reduced to narrow surfaces.
The skeleton form still provides the incans for holding the fabric distended
widthwise, while passing through the folder, and yet supports the web so that its
side sections are held taut lengthwise, and smooth widthwise, and so supported as
to accomplish their perfect folding.
The internal guide is preferably formed by bending the sides of a square plate of
metal (of a width equal at least to the width of the fabric designed to be folded)
inwardly from a central point of its front edge, as 6, so that each half of such front
edge shall meet together.
As these meeting edges of the inwardly bent sides stand at right angles to thic
side edges of the said plate, and the rear edge of the plate is straight or unbent,
such distortion will cause the main body of the plate 12 to stand at an obtuse angle
with respect to said meeting edges and the line of union between the inwardly
bent sides or plate 14, 15, and the downwardly bent main body or plate 15 which
constitute the bends 1, 2, will likewise stand at an obtuse angle with respect to
each other. Hence, as the distance transversely upon any line drawn parallel with
the meeting edges from one side edge of the plate 14 over the plate 12 and to the
side edge of the plate 15, must be the same and equal to the length of the rear edge
of the plate 12, it follows that a sheet or web held in contact with said plates and
thus lapped or folded longitudinally, will be properly distended widthwise, and as
the internal guide is continuous from the point where the fabric passes over its
rear edge around the plates 14, 15, it follows that the side sections which are
turned or deflected centrally to lap upon each other have their margins supported
until the same leave the front edges of said plates when the folding is completed, and
hence that the web at no point of its being so lapped has any slack portion whereby
its perfect manipulation would be prevented or rupture of its body result.
It will therefore be apparent that while the meeting forward edges of the
sides 14, 15, are kept at a right angle to the folding line or point of union
between the lapped sides of the fabric, the rear end of the plate 12 may be lowered
to a considerable degree beyond that shown, and that themore it is depressed the
greater will be the acuteness of the angle of the plate 12 with respect to its
meeting forward edges until the two stand nearly in the same plane or parallel
with each other, the angle which the bends 1, 2, bear to each other in like manner

page_text: growing more obtuse; the raising of the plate 12 will of course produce the
opposite effect. These angles of relation will also vary according to the length
given rearwardly to the plate 12 and will likewise be changed if the lines of union
between the sides 14, 15, and the body 12 constituting the bends 1, 2, be rounded
instead of abrupt.
In all cases, however, the same extent of bearing surface widthwise for the fabric
will exist upon any transverse line drawn from one edge to the other of the side
plates, and parallel with the meeting edges of the forward end of the plate, and the
fabric be perfectly sustained.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the internal parts of the
folder may be divided transversely into a number of narrow plates so long as a
sufficient number of bearing surfaces be provided to sustain the fabric, especially its
margins, and prevent it from sagging inward or otherwise becoming distorted from
a true course, whereby its perfect folding would be prevented.
The internal guide may likewise be composed of a series of narrow plates or
rods, or wires that start from the bar 13 and extend forward at the proper angles,
in lines parallel with the path of travel of the sheet or web until they terminate
at the perpendicular line of the triangular form they will thus constitute.
Such
constructions are within the present Invention, and will operate to perfectly
support the body of the fabric, as well as its side sections longitudinally, while the
latter are being brought together to form the longitudinal fold.
When the folder is provided with a cutting mechanism operating to sever the
web into sheets passing through it, it is obvious that one of the cutting cylinders
may perform the function of the bar 13, and that when a web is manipulated
the pulleys 21, 213, 21, 21, or a roller substituted for them, may perform the like
office.
Also that when cutting cylinders, or the same and a rotary folding mechanism,
receive the web from this folder, either may perform the function of the
rollers 28, 29.
Only one, and it may be either one of the external turners 18, 19, is necessary
to the perfect operation of the folder. This turner may be in the form of a roller,
pulleys, or a stationary device, and the lapped web simply drawn over its edge, as
is shewn in dotted lines, Fig. 3, by rollers, as 28, 29, or any other forwarding
mechanisin, as rotary cutting, or cutting and folding mechanisms, similar in
character to that shown in Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI., of the Drawings, which
will be found more fully described hereafter.
Under this head of the Invention, I claim,-
First. A folding device for imparting a longitudinal fold to a web or sheet,
consisting of external turners and an internal guide that is constructed so as to
support the margins of the side sections of the web or sheet longitudinally
during the passage of the same through the folder, all substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the external turners and the internal guide
having surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally during
the passage of the same through the folder of the tapes 7, 7, 8, 81, substantially
as described.
Third. The combination with the stationary external turners and the internal
guide having surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally
during the passage of the same through the folder of the drawing rollers sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the external turners and the internal guide
having surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally during
the passage of the same through the folder of the tapes 7, 8, and drawing
rollers, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the external turners and the internal guide having
surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally during the
passage of the same through the folder of a roller or pulleys 21, 213, 214, 21',
substantially as described.

page_text: Sixth. A folding device consisting of the plates 12, 14, 15, and one or both
turners 18, 19, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with the plates 12, 14, 15, and one turner, as 18
or 19, of the drawing rollers 28, 29, or equivalent forwarding mechanism, sub-
stantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with the plates 12, 14, 15, and one or both turners
18, 19, of the bar 13, or rollers 21, 213, 21, 21', substantially as described.
The next head of my Invention relates mainly to a peculiar arrangement of the
internal guide and external turners, whereby the side sections are first brought
together at the folding point, that is to say, the outside edges or margins of said
sections are completely lapped together after the fold is wholly formed.
The Invention embraces however a system of taping the mechanisms so that
said folder may manipulate sheets or short detached portions of a web, and the
combination of the folder with a printing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, and
with a folding mechanism and other combinations of devices, all of which is herein-
after fully set forth.
The construction and operation of the internal guide and external turners will
now be described, and its modifications and combinations with the other devices
will be subsequently set forth.
The necessary framework for supporting the stationary parts as well as the
turning parts, and the means for rotating the latter, are omitted here, as the same
may be of any common construction.
In Sheet XI. of the Drawings, Fig. 49 illustrates the side elevation, and Fig. 50
a plan view of a machine embodying the present modification; Fig. 51 illustrates
a side elevation, the cylinder 16 being removed, and Fig. 52 a plan view of a
modified construction of the same.
The internal guide consists of a support, the general form of which is that of a
pyramid, the rear side 12 of which at its base line 8 is equal in length at least
to that of the width of the material to be manipulated, and its forward sides 14, 15,
are each equal in height to at least one half the width of the web, no matter at what
angle they are arranged; the rear side 12 of the pyramidal internal guide may be
inclined at various angles from the base line where the fabric is supported width-
wise to the apex 6, which is the point where the fold is formed; but from this
point 6 the folded fabric must be drawn outward by a device the straining line of
which is at right angles to the line of fold 10, formed by drawing the fabric over
the edges or bends 2, 3, formed by the union of the forward sides 14, 15, of the
pyramid with its rear side 12. This variation in the angular position of the
rear side 12 will however cause the bends or lines ct union 2, 3, to stand at
a more obtuse angle as the plate is depressed, and more acutely as it is raised.
The sides 14, 15, should project forward so that their line of union will stand
at an angle from a perpendicular line passing through the point 6 corresponding
with that at which the rear side 12 stands with respect to said line, and the
external guides 4, 5, which may be fixed rods, will be sustained parallel with and
slightly in front of the line of union of the forward edges of said sides 14, 15.
These forward edges may be shortened, and the guides 4, 5, be placed in a more
vertical position; or the same may be lengthened so that the guides 4, 5, will be
inclined farther forward, which positions of them will be varied to suit the
character of the fabric to be manipulated. The greater their length is made the
less abrupt will be the inward deflection of the sides of the fabric to complete its
lapping, and consequently the danger of rupturing the same will become lessened.
This arrangement of folding mechanism thus enables the bend or fold to be
determined at the point 6, and to be gradually completed as the fabric passes
outward therefrom till the lapping is finally accomplished by the external
turners 4, 5.
The internal guide may be given the form of a conc, as is shewn in Figures 51
and 52, if desired; and this is accomplished by simply curving the sides 12, 14, 15,
so that the bends uniting them form arcs of the same degree of curviture as the

page_text: said sides have. The angles of inclination of said sides are however preserved, but
may be relatively varied as before described, and said guide still provide a means
for distending the fabric widthwise as it passes onto the guide, and causes the fold
to be formed in the fabric at the apex before its side sections, which are deflected
centrally by passing over the sides 14, 15, are completely lapped together by passing
between the external turners 4, 5.
The fabric is led over the rear edge or base 8 of the side 12, has its side sections
laid over the side plates 14, 15, and after being brought together is led between
the external turners 4, 5, from whence the doubled fabric is entered between a
rotating for warding mechanism, the line of seizure of which is at right angles to
the folded edge 10 of said fabric. This forwarding mechanism may be the pulleys
91, 95, Figures 49, 50, or their equivalent rollers 9, 11, Figures 51, 52, the folding
cylinders 16, 17, Figures 49, 50, or cutting-cylinders substituted for the latter.
Practically this folder may be used to fold a web of paper by leading the same
directly from the printing-cylinders of a printing machine, as will be described
farther on; but when used to fold sheets or short detached portions of a web it
will be necessary to provide the folder with sheet conducting tapes, whereby such
sheets may be properly carried through its mechanisms. A system of such taping
is illustrated herein, and will now be explained. Such taping consists of upper or
outer side tapes, of which the endless marginal tapes 71, 72, run from the pulleys
17, 17, on the shaft 17, and pass over the rear side 12, thence follow near the base
or margin of the plates 14, 15, run between the turners 4, 5, and return over the
lower pulleys 9, 11, and the lower deflecting-pulleys 01, 11', and the pulleys 9², 112,
to the pulleys 171, 172.
Endless central tapes 73, 74, run from the pulleys 17³, 17', on the shaft 17, and
pass over the rear side 12, thence enter upon the sides 14, 15, near the point 6,
run between the turners 4, 5, and return over the pulleys 9, 11, and the upper
deflecting-pulleys 9', 111, and the pulleys 93, 113, to the pulleys 17³, 17%
Additional pulleys 94, 95, may be placed just in advance of the point 6 if
desired.
Sets of auxiliary tapes 7° run from pulleys 175 on shaft 17° to pulleys 181 on
shaft 18°, the forward pulleys being placed near the pulleys on the shaft 17, and the
shaft 18° of the latter pulleys being placed just below the base 8 of the rear side of
the internal guide.
The pulleys 9, 11, the pulleys on shafts 17, 17º, and 18° might be given the
form of rollers if desired, as is shown in Figures 51 and 52, hence their tape-
receiving portions are marked with characters corresponding with the pulleys to
indicate their equivalency therefor. The folder thus equipped with tapes is
especially adapted for co-operation with a web-printing machine. To illustrate
this combination the cutting-cylinders 19, 20, of such a machine are shown, and
these cylinders may be of a size equal circumferentially to the length of one, or
that of two sheets, as may be desired, and as is shewn in the Drawings. The
latter form (shown in Fig. 51) is preferable, since by making one set of cutting
devices removable one pair of cylinders may be made to sever two sizes of sheets.
These cutting-cylinders may entirely sever the web so as to completely detach the
sheets, or they may operate to but partially sever the web. In the former case
suitable guides to direct the leading edge of the sheets into the tapes will be
required between the cutting-cylinders and the pulleys or rollers on the shafts 17, 17º,
as is well understood. In the latter case the web partially cut on the lines to
divide it into sheets will be held together with a strength sufficient to carry it into
the conducting-tapes without the use of such conductors. Such a partially-severed
web emerging from the cutting-cylinders 10, 20, will be led between the tapes
70, 71, and 7, and thence through the folder, as before described, the tapes 71, 7%,
73, 7, causing the web to properly travel onward and prevent its weak points or
lines of partial severance 21 from being broken in such passage, the series of tapes
running at the same surface speed as the cylinders 19, 20. This partially-severed
web or succession of sheets will be folded longitudinally at the point 6 and have its

page_text: sides lapped together by the external turners 4, 5, as before described, and the
fabric thus doubled on the line 10 will be nipped between the pulleys or rollers
9, 11, and be directed to the devices carried by the cylinders 16, 17, the rollers on
pulleys 9, 11, thus acting as the means for drawing the web onward, though this
function may be wholly performed by the cylinders 16, 17, in which case the
rollers or pulleys 9, 11, will be set apart and act as guides for the tapes simply.
The cylinders 16, 17, are rotating carriers supplied with a tucking-blade 30 and
a movable jaw 31, thus constituting the rotating folding mechanism constructed as
has been before described. These cylinders will be run at a surface speed slightly
greater than that of the printing-machine and the tapes, in order that as the folded
web passes between them and is folded transversely by the blade 30, which presses
the fabric into the nip of the vibrating jaw 31, which jaw thus seizing the sheet
carries it around with the cylinder 17 in the direction of the arrow, the folding web
may be thereby so accelerated or drawn forward as to complete its severance on
the line 21 when the same has cleared the external turners 4, 5, or the rollers or
pulleys 9, 11. The sheet thus transversely folded is delivered from the jaw 31,
and properly piled or otherwise disposed of, or the cylinders 16, 17, may be supplied
with other well known web severing devices, a smooth or unbroken edge being
substituted for a serrated knife, in which case the cylinders 16, 17, and the
printing-cylinders would travel at the same surface speed, the severing devices
acting to sever the sheet from the web along the line of partial severance. The
cylinder 19 may also be provided with web-retaining devices (situate near the
knife carried by said cylinder) and a swinging or rotating folding-blade, in which
case the web would be severed by the cutting devices of cylinders 19, 20, and the
forward end of the web be held and carried around on cylinder 19 by the pins until
the folding-blades arrived at the pulleys carried by shaft 17%, when the pins would
be withdrawn, and the folding-blade be turned outward, forcing the overlying
paper between the pulleys on shafts 17, 17º, between which the sheet would be
folded and carried, thence over the longitudinal folder, the cutting devices severing
it from the main web, the forward end of which would be held by the pins, and
carried past the pulleys on shafts 17, 17º, the folding blade returning to its normal
position to again perform its function of folding the subsequent sheet, as above
described.
The cylinders 10, 17, as illustrated in Fig. 52, do not differ materially from those
shewn in Figures 49 and 50, except that they are of double size, and provided at
opposite points with duplicate folding mechanisms, as the lettering indicates, being
thus made capable of folding sheets of one-half the circumferential extent, or equal
in length to their entire circumference. To accomplish this one of the folding
mechanisms must be made capable of being thrown out of action as may be
required.
When this folder is to be used to manipulate a web (in which case it need not
have the tapes) the cylinders 16, 17, will be provided with cutting mechanisms
only, and may be constructed as are the cylinders 19, 20. In this case the web
printing machine will not require the cutting mechanism, and the web delivered to
this folder, and folded longitudinally thereby, will be cut up into sections or sheets
of the desired length by the cutting-cylinders placed in front of the turners 4, 5,
which cylinders will then run at a surface speed the same as that of the printing
machine. It will be apparent that the cylinders 16, 17, may likewise be sup-
planted by a combined rotary cutting and folding mechanism; such as has been
already described, or similar to that shewn in Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the
Drawings, and that in that case the folded web will not only be cut into sections
or sheets, but said sheets will be delivered once folded transversely.
It is to be understood that this folder is capable of use with any means for
supplying the web or separated sheets to it.
The internal guide may be divided widthwise or lengthwise, so as to constitute a
sectional structure, and still afford a supporting surface that operates in connection
with the external turners to perfectly perform the folding operation. A series of

page_text: under tapes may also be so arranged as to pass from the pulleys on shaft 17° over
the internal guide and in carrying contact with the tapes herein shewn and
described, said under tapes returning around pulleys situated near the external
turners, thence over suitable deflecting guides or pulleys to the under side of pulleys
on shaft 17°
Under this head of the Invention I claim,―
First. A folding mechanism consisting of an internal guide, pyramidal or conical
in form, with which is combined external inclined turners 4, 5, substantially as
described.
Second. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5, of the system of taping, substan-
tially as described.
Third. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5, of a drawing mechanism, as the
rollers or pulleys 9, 11, or the cylinders 16, 17, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners of cutting-cylinders for transversely
severing the material operated upon, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5, of cutting cylinders, such as
19, 20, and folding cylinders, such as 16, 17, and the system of taping, substantially
as described.
Sixth. The combination with a folder consisting of a pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5, of the folding-cylinders and the
system of taping, substantially as described.
The next modification relates more particularly to a novel construction of the
internal folding guide and the combination of the same with external guides as
well as with conducting tapes with transverse cutting mechanisms and with
transverse folding mechanisms, the whole constituting a folding delivery mechanism
especially adapted to work in combination with a printing mechanism of that class
known as "web perfecting machines," the printed product of which may be thereby
cut into sections or sheets and folded at a high rate of speed.
It is well known that to accomplish the doubling or folding of a web or sheet
longitudinally or in the direction of its travel by carrying the same between
external and internal folding guides it is essential that the internal folding guide
should be so placed as to guide that portion which constitutes the bight or crease
of the fold in the line of travel parallel with that of the edge of the folded section.
In the present arrangement the internal guide is so constructed that the danger
of rupturing the edge of a web of thin fragile material, such as the paper used in
web perfecting presses, is avoided by means of a guide which distends the web or
sheet widthwise from the point of its reception upon the guide to the point of
folding contact, whereby the pressure of the external guides or turners exerts no
strain tending to rupture the edge of the fabric as it leaves the widthwise support
afforded by the internal guide, or if the internal guide is so placed as to provide
sufficient slack to the side sections to avoid the breaking tension over its eiges, no
injurious overstrain will be brought upon that portion of the fabric in contact with
the creasing edge of the said guide, all of which will be more particularly herein-
after pointed out.
The structure of this modified form of folder will be readily seen on reference to
Sheets XII. and XIII. of the accompanying Drawings, wherein Fig. 53, Sheet XII.,
represents a plan view, and Fig. 54 a side elevation of the folding machine, showing
the fabric as introduced through the same; Fig. 55 is a plan view and Fig. 56 a
side elevation of the folder unobstructed by the presence of the fabric; Fig. 57,
Sheet XIII., is a plan view and Fig. 5S a side elevation of the folder showing one
mode of taping the same, so as to adapt it to manipulate detached sheets.
The internal guide is composed of a series of rollers 10, 11, 12, which have their
bearings in a frame, the members 13, 14, of which terminate at their forward end

page_text: in a bearing 6 which constitutes the point where the longitudinal fold is to be
formed. The roller 10 is of a length at least equal to the width of the material to
be folded, and the rollers 11 and 12 have conical ends, said internal guide thus
composed being pivotted at its rear end on the journals of the roller 10, and rendered
adjustable in its angular position with respect to the external guides or turners
15, 16, by a supporting frame, as 17, by which it may be raised and lowered by
means of a cross bar 7 that rests in the slot of an elevating screw threaded rod 18.
The external guides or turners 15, 16, are properly supported in a framework
(not shewn, but of common construction) so as to stand at right angles to the line
of fold to be imparted to the material, and the conical ends of the rollers 11 and
12 are so aligned with the folding point as to properly bend the material that is
distended width wise by the roller 10 as it passes over them to the control of-the
external turners 15, 16, and thus deflect its side sections so as to cause the material
to crease at the point 6, and its side sections folded at that point to be lapped
together by said turners 15, 16.
This internal guide may, of course, stand at a different angle of clevation with
respect to the external turners 15, 16. Thus if its rear end is raised from the
position shewn the rollers 11, 12, will have to be shortened so that their conical
ends form a more acute angle of union with the point 6, and if said rear end be
lowered the rollers 11, 12, would have to be lengthened, so that the angle of union
of their conical ends with the point 6 would be more obtuse. This angle of relation
between their conical ends and the point 6 would also vary with the longitudinal
extent of this internal guide as said guide is lengthened or shortened, but in all
cases slight vertical adjustment should be made to cause the conical ends of these
rollers to perfectly take up the slack material caused by deflecting its side sections
centrally to cause the formation of the longitudinal fold.
With the internal guide thus constructed, whether it has two rollers as 11, 12,
or more as may be required by the fragility of the paper, it will perfectly distend
the same so that the body portion will be supported as it passes over the roller 10,
and the deflected sides thereof will be likewise supported between the conical ends
of said rollers as 11, 12, the point 6, and the external guides or turners 15, 16.
A folder thus composed operates to accurately impart a longitudinal fold to the
material without unduly straining it in any part, but on the contrary perfectly
distending the same without danger of rupture or injury to it, the series of rollers
forming the internal guide for the material during its folding providing surfaces
that support it widthwise, and along its natural bending points, so as to cause the
strain to be equally distributed throughout the fabric widthwise. Thus the
constantly changing bend forming the fold which commences at the side edges, and
runs thence angularly to the line of permanent folding, is definitely determined
and formed without distorting the material, or unduly straining the same.
In Figures 53 and 54, a web of paper is illustrated as being longitudinally folded
by this apparatus, and though bending rollers as 19, 20, are shewn as guiding the
said web onto the internal guide, such rollers may obviously be dispensed with, and
the said web may be led directly from the printing and impression cylinders 21, 22,
of a printing machine, which cylinders are designed to represent the last printing
cylinders of a perfecting printing machine, the structure of which is well known.
The web passing from between the cylinders 21, 22, or rollers 19, 20, is laid
breadthwise over the roller 10, and then carried over the angular sides of the
internal guide as formed by the conical ends of the rollers 11, 12, and the point 6,
whereby they are brought together and entered between the external guides 15, 16,
which guides as here illustrated are shewn to be rollers that will be properly
geared together and driven at a surface speed equal to that of the printing
cylinders 21, 22; but here it is to be remarked that these external turning guides
need not rotate, but on the contrary they may be fixed surfaces. If however they
are to operate not only as external guides, but as means for drawing the material
through this folder, they will of course be driven rollers. The web is shewn as
passing beyond them to a combined cutting and folding mechanism, which may

page_text: consist of two rotating carriers 23, 24, the former being supplied with a tucking
blade, and the latter with a nipping jaw 25, said cylinders also carrying a cutting
blade 26, and cutting slot 27 (or may be similar to the cutting and folding mechanism
shewn in Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the Drawings).
This combined cutting and folding mechanism is constructed substantially like
that which has been referred to previously, and which needs no particular
description here. It may be generally said however that the web passed between
the carriers 23, 24, is pressed by the tucking blade between the nipping jaws, that
the latter seize it at that point, and carry it onward with the carrier 24, until the
cutting blade 26 comes into action to divide the web transversely to form a sheet,
which sheet once folded transversely by the movement of the jaws 23, is at the
proper time delivered therefrom. Either the cylinders 23, 24, or the rotating
turners 15, 16, may thus be the means of drawing the web through this folder, and
it will be obvious that the strain upon the web will be sufficient to cause its sides
to be deflected over the edges of the internal guide, the crease to be formed at the
point 6, and the sides to be lapped together in passing to the turners 15, 16, thus
imparting a longitudinal fold to the material, which operation may be carried on at
great speed, equivalent to that at which the printing machine can perform its
operations.
The cutting operation whereby the web is divided into short sections or sheets
may be performed before this longitudinal folder is reached. This may be done by
interposing cutting cylinders as 29, 30, between the printing cylinders 21, 22, and
this folder, as in Fig. 58. When this is done it will be apparent that the cutting
mechanisms will not be required in the rotating transverse folding mechanisms
constituted by the cylinders 23, 24, which transverse folding mechanism will thus
operate to simply fold the sheets previously severed from the web, as shewn in
Fig. 53. When this longitudinal folder is to operate upon detached sheets, as in
Figures 57 and 58, it will be necessary to supply the folder with means for con-
ducting the sheets through it, and this is done by means of tapes. One system of
taping is shewn in said Figures.
Thesc
When the web is but partially severed by the cylinders 29, 30, then as the
rollers 10, 11, 12, form the inner support, outside tapes only are necessary.
outside tapes consist of marginal tapes 1, 2, that run under the roller 20, thence
over the roller 10, thence follow the path taken by the margins of the sheets, and
return around the lower ends of the rollers 15, 16, passing over deflecting
pulleys 37, 38, and 39, 40, to the roller 20.
A central tape 3 runs from the roller 20 over the roller 10, and returns over a
pulley 41 placed near the point 6, so as to bear upon the bar forming said point
or a roller supported thereby.
Intermediate tapes 4, 5, run from the roller 20, and return over pulleys 42, 43,
that bear upon the roller 11. These tapes are sufficient to nip the partially
detached sheets between them and carry the same onward through the folder, so
that they will be properly advanced and will be directed between the external
guides 15, 16, which in this arrangement should be drawing rollers.
These tapes
and the rollers 15, 16, will run at the same surface speed as the cylinders 21, 22,
and the rotating carriers 23, 24, will run as much faster as is necessary to
accelerate the travel of the material and detach the partially severed sheet
from it.
If the cylinders 29, 30, completely sever the material the customary leading
cords will direct the sheet therefrom to the rollers 20, 19, around the latter of
which under-leading tapes will extend to rollers 10, 11, 12, to properly support the
sheet, or other supporting means will be required.
The transverse folding machine may be constructed like that shewn or be of any
other well known construction, but preferably of the construction to be shortly
described with reference to Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the Drawings. A
stationary bar might supplant the roller 10, and the rollers 11, 12, might be fixed
on their bearings so as not to revolve. If enough rollers as 11, 12, are used, so

page_text: that a diminutive roller is supplied to support the material very close to the
point 6, the extended frame forming a support at that point may be omitted.
Though the material or fabric has been described as coming from a printing
machine, it is obvious that it may be received from any source whatever either in
the web or sheet form.
Under this head of the Invention I claim,
First. The internal guides or turners 15, 16, in combination with a sectional
internal guide formed of rollers, as 11, 12, having tapered ends constituting
together a longitudinal folding device, constructed and operating substantially as
described.
Second. The combination of a longitudinal folding device composed of a sectional
internal guide formed of rollers, having tapered ends and external guides or turners
15, 16, with transverse cutting and folding printing mechanisms, either one or both,
substantially as described.
Third. The combination of a longitudinal folder composed of a sectional internal
guide formed of rollers, having tapered ends and external guides or turners 15, 16,
with leading rollers as 19, 20, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of a longitudinal folder composed of a sectional internal
guide formed of rollers, having tapered ends and external guides or turners 15, 16,
with a system of taping, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a longitudinal folder composed of a sectional internal
guide formed of rollers, having tapered ends and external guides or turners 15, 16,
with cylinders or carriers such as 23, 24, and their cutting or folding mechanisms,
substantially as described.
In the foregoing description of the several longitudinal folding devices and their
various modifications to which this Invention relates, reference has been made to
the use of these longitudinal folding devices in combination with other mechanisms,
and more specially to the combination of the said devices with rotary cutting and
fold ng mechanisms of a type similar to that described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to Mr. William Edward Newton, No. 2561 of 1872. Since that
date however the construction of such machines has been greatly improved, and I
will now proceed to describe the rotating, cutting, and folding mechanism which I
prefer to employ in combination with one or more of any of the previously
described folding devices, and constituting a compound machine for folding
paper longitudinally and transversely and dividing it up into sheets, as already
stated.
By this improved rotating cutting and folding mechanism a web, or long length
of paper, or similar material is cut into short lengths or sheets, which are folded
and delivered as follows:-A with one transverse fold, B with two transverse folds,
C with two transverse folds and one cross fold, and D with two transverse folds
and two cross folds. Besides the mechanisms for accomplishing this the apparatus
includes various combinations of parts, various devices for controlling the movement
and delivery of the sheets, and other details fully hereinafter set forth.
In Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the Drawings, Fig. 59, Sheet XIV., represents
an elevation of the gear side of this machine. Fig. 60 represents a longitudinal
sectional elevation looking toward the opposite side of the machine; Fig. 61
represents a plan view; Fig. 62, Sheet XV., represents a longitudinal sectional
elevation looking toward the gear side of the machine; Fig. 63 represents a view
of the machine taken with the upper works omitted so as to shew a plan or top
view of the vertical folding devices; Fig. 64 represents a plan view of the cam
plate for operating the folding blades for the fourth fold; Fig. 65, Sheet XVI.,
represents an inside view of the cams for operating the cutting blades 17 and the
folding blades for producing the second fold; Fig. GG shewing a vertical section of
the same, and Fig. 67 an outside elevation thereof and the supporting arched frame;
Fig. GS represents the sheet controlling device by an elevation; Fig. 69 being a
cross section shewing the plates, and Fig. 70 a cross section shewing the pins and
stripper Fig. 71 represents a sectional elevation of the cross folding mechanism,

page_text: and Fig. 72 a horizontal section thereof; Fig. 73 represents the delivery apparatus
for the third fold.
The main elements of the machine illustrated are two rotating cylinders or
carriers 30, 40, that are mounted horizontally in bearings in side frames 41, 42, and
of two rotating carriers 50, 60, that are mounted vertically in suitable bearings in
cross frames that unite said frames together (see dotted lines, Fig. 61). The
carriers 50, 60, are composed of shafts 51, 61, from which project the parts
necessary to support the coacting folding devices, and it will hence be understood
that the carriers 30, 40, may be similarly constructed, and that the carriers 50, 60,
may be constructed as are the carriers 30, 40. In connection with this delivery
apparatus the last impression cylinder 80 of an ordinary web press, which simply
prints but does not cut, is represented, from which it will be understood that the
printed web may be led without being severed directly to the horizontal
cylinders 30, 40. It being understood that the web from the printing machine may
be conducted over and through any of the longitudinal folding devices above
described before it enters this delivery apparatus, and that the folding mechanisms
of said apparatus are placed at right angles to each other, so that the folding devices
that perform the cross folds may be horizontally arranged and yet perform
the operation of crossfolding, a description of the various parts will be proceeded
with.
The cylinders 30 and 40 are geared together by toothed wheels 52, 53, so as to
run in unison, from one of which wheels they may be driven by gearing connected
with the printing press. These cylinders are provided with duplicate inechanisms,
so that at one revolution thereof two sheets will be manipulated. In describing
these mechanisms only one set will be referred to, it being understood that the
second set, which are placed in opposite positions to the first set, and which are
lettered with like characters, operate in precisely the same way.
The means of accomplishing a transverse fold in the sheets are as follows :-The
cylinder 30 has its periphery provided at a proper point with a plate 10, and the
cylinder 40 is provided with a similar plate 11 in a corresponding position, said
plates preferably being thin and elastic, and operating when the cylinders revolve
to press the sheets between them and hold the same. Below the plate 10 the
cylinder 30 is provided with a thin presser bar 12, the edge of which lies in an
opening in the cylinder and projects slightly beyond the peripheral line thereof.
This presser bar 12 is mounted upon a shaft 14 that turns in the heads of the
cylinder 30, and which is provided at one end with a rock arm, the stud or
roller 32 of which runs in a slotted cam 33, which cam is adjusted so as to rock the
shaft 14 and impart a slight vibratory movement to the said presser bar 12. The
cylinder 40 is provided at a suitable point below the plate 11 with a presser jaw 13
that is hung upon a shaft 15, which shaft is journaled in the heads of the
cylinder 40 and provided at one end with a rock-arm, the stud or roller 34 upon
which runs in a slotted cam plate 68 that is properly secured to the arched side
frame 67 by a screw 69, the groove 35 of which cam imparts a slight vibratory
movement to said presser jaw 13. The cylinder 30 is also provided with a fixed
cutting blade 16 which cooperates with a cutting blade 17 that is mounted upon a
shaft 18 so 3 to project slightly beyond the periphery of the cylinder 40. The
cylinder 30 also carries impaling pins 19 that project from a rock shaft 43 that is
vibrated at the proper times by means of its rock arm 44 by a cam plate 45, and
these pius 19 are projected by the cam so as to protrude behind the cutting
blade 16, and impale the paper to secure the leading end of the web, when by
the cutting action of the blades 16, 17, the sheet severed thereby is detached from
the web. The leading end of the sheet secured by these pins will be held to the
surface of the cylinder 30, and travel around with it until the folding devices come
into action upon the folding line of the paper and secure the same, when, by the
action of the cam 45, said pins will be withdrawn, and the leading end of the sheet
released. As the body of the sheet is thus carried between the folding devices of
the cylinders 30 and 40 the plates 10 and 11 are caused to press toward each other,

page_text: nip the sheet and hold it secure. The presser bar 12 and jaw 13 will at that
moment, being opposite each other, have a slight rearward vibration imparted to
them by the action of their cams 33 and 68, and thus seizing the sheet between
them carry it slightly rearward, and cause a loop or bight of paper to be bent into
the space between the jaw 13 and the end of the plate 11, where it will be held.
As the cylinders further revolve the bar 12 will be moved away from the jaw 13,
and the latter, with the plate 11, will carry the bight or fold of paper onward
with the cylinder 40, thus drawing together the leading and rear ends of the sheet
(which will be severed from the web by the action of the cutters 16, 17, as they
or their companion set of cutters come into operation), thereby completing the first
transverse fold. When the cylinder 40 has so far rotated as to reach the proper
delivery point for the sheet, the forward vibration of the jaw 13 is accomplished
by the groove 35 of cam 68, and the once folded sheet is thus released at any
suitable point of the rotation of the cylinder 30; the forward vibration of the
jaw 13 is accomplished to bring it into position to repeat the operation, but it is to
be understood that the cam 33 is capable of adjustment, whereby it may throw the
presser bar 12, so that it will protrude beyond the periphery of the cylinder, and
there stand in a position to act as a tucking blade, which will force the paper
lying over it into the space between the jaw 13 and plate 11, and then be moved
in a contrary direction, as said jaw 13 is vibrated to nip the bight of paper.
It may be here remarked that the pins 19 are not essential to the proper
manipulation of the sheet, the leading end of which, when severed by the blades
17, 16, especially when the same are serrated, will have a fibrous edge, the filaments
of which being carried over the blade 16 will temporarily hold the end of the paper
there and prevent the air from entering beneath the same quickly enough to force
the sheet off of the cylinder 30 before its folding point is secured by the folding
devices.
In the production of newspapers it is well known that a part of the edition is
sent out to the newsagents in quantities of several hundreds, and in this case it
is desirable to deliver the papers from the press in the best form for packing a large
number compactly and expeditiously, and this is the folio form which is acomplished
by the single fold just described.
As this folding mechanism is designed to run at great speed it will be apparent
that the once folded sheets will be dropped successively from the jaw 13 and
plate 11, and that consequently the pile of such sheets will rapidly accumulate.
Practically it is found necessary to arrest the impetus given to these sheets by the
rotary folding devices, and this is provided for in this apparatus by a sheet
controlling mechanism, that consists of a small cylinder 20, upon the surface of which
lie a number of tangentially arranged elastic plates 21 of metal, leather, or rubber,
each of which plates will, when said cylinder 20 is in a proper position by its
rotation, lie nearly parallel with the face of the cutter blade 17 as it passes over
said plate. This cylinder 20 is also provided at one or more points (preferably
two) of its length with curved projecting pins 22, which protrude beyond the
plates 21, and this cylinder 20 is rotated at a proper speed with relation to that of
the carriers 30, 40, by means of a toothed wheel 54 and intermediates 55, 56, 57,
and 58 that gear with the driving wheel 59 on the shaft of the cylinder 40. This
gearing is properly timed, so that the cylinder 20 makes one third of a revolution
to each revolution of the cylinder 40. Thus as the cylinder 40 carries two sets of
folding devices, and the cylinder 20 carries six plates and sets of pins, it is obvious
that a plate and set of pins will be brought into position to arrest each sheet folded.
The shaft 18 of the cutting blade 17 is hung in the heads of the cylinder 40
and provided with a rock arm 8 that is actuated by a slotted cam-plate 97 fixed
to the framework. The operation of these parts is such that when a once folded
sheet, the doubled bight or folded edge of which is carried round by the jaw 13 and
plate 11, is moved so far forward that its tail ends are brought between the blade 17
and the cylinder 20, n slight outward vibration of said blade 17 is accomplished by
its cam 97, and thus presses the tall ends of said sheet against one of the plates 21

page_text: carried by the shaft 20, said tail ends being thus momentarily nipped between the
surface of the blade and that of one of the plates 21, whereby the onward move-
ment of the sheet is arrested. This nipping of the tails of the sheets also causes
them to be impaled by the pins 22, which protrude into slots in the blade 17. The
cylinder 40 moves rapidly onward, carrying with it the cutting blade 17 away
from the tails of the sheets, while the cylinder 20 rotates slowly, its pins 22 holding
the tail ends of the folded sheet, and thus holding it within their control and
suspending its rapid onward movement, so that its leading or folded edge, which
has been released by the jaw 13, may settle down or descend upon a suitable
receiving surface. The slow rotating movement of the cylinder 20 moves this
sheet slowly onward a short distance and presents the next rearward plate 21 and
the next rearward pin 22 in proper position to repeat this arresting operation, in
connection with the cutting blade 17, as the succeeding folded sheet is brought
into delivering position. Practically the outward movement of the cutting blade 17
takes place as it is approaching the cutting point, at which time it has its greatest
protrusion upon the cylinder, and it stands in this position until it cooperates with
the-plate 21 in arresting the sheets, and from this point its movement within the
periphery of the cylinder takes place, so that it may not drag over the sheet which
it has arrested, and which it leaves held by the pins, and tear the same from off the
pins.
To prevent the tails of the sheets being carried around with the cylinder 20
strippers 2 are provided. These strippers project rigidly outward from a rod 63,
and lie along the side of or embrace each circular series of pins 21, and as these
pins rotate and carry the tails of the sheets held by them downward the strippers 2
force said tails off from the pins and thus leave the sheets free. A guard 64
partially encircles the cylinder 20 and the devices it carries to prevent them from
injury, and its forward end assists in stripping the sheets from the pins. By the
operation of this sheet controlling mechanism each sheet is slightly pressed forward
on the preceeding sheet, and thus the pile as delivered presents inclined front edges
which greatly facilitates the removal of a greater or lesser portion thereof by means
of the attendants.
Another part of the edition of a newspaper is sent out to another class of news-
agents, who deliver the same in bundles of small quantities. In this case it is
desirable to deliver the papers from the press in the most convenient form for
bundling, and this is done by imparting two parallel transverse folds.
To adjust
this machine to impart two parallel transverse folds to the sheet as it passes once
through the same the following devices are brought into operation :-The cylinder 40
is provided at the proper points between the jaw 13, and plate 11, and the cutting
blade 17 with a vibrating folding blade 24. This blade is mounted upon a shaft
that turns in the cylinder heads, and which carries at one end a pinion 25,
Fig. 66, with which a rocking segment rack 26 ineshes. This rack is pivotted to
the cylinder heads and carries a friction stud or roller 9 that travels in the grooves
of a cam plate 66 (see Figures 65, 66, and 67, Sheet XVI.). The cam 66 which
imparts motion to the vibrating folding blade is constructed with a groove 65, that
provides a circular path of travel for the stud 9 of the rock arm of the segment
rack 26 (see Fig. 65), so that when said stud travels in the circular groove 65, the
said blade 2+ will not vibrate, and said cam has an extension or second groove 72,
which united to the groove 35 provides said cam with an oblong path of travel for
the said stud 9, by the action of which the segment rack will be vibrated, and
impart a similar motion to the blade 24. The groove 65 is put into communication
with the groove 72 by means of a head switch 5 that is pivotted at its rear end to
a short, stud, upon the outside of which a lever 73 is fixed; this head switch may
be vibrated from a top recess 46 to a bottom recess 47 formed in the cam body,
a suitable adjusting hole, as 84, being provided in the back plate of the cam to
secure said head switch in place. A tail switch 4 completes the uniting of the
grooves 65 and 72, and it is pivotted and vibrates in a manner similar to the
switch 5, except that it is automatically moved into one position or the other by

page_text: the action of the said stud in passing it, friction holding it up or down as the case
may be. This cam 66 is hung on a shaft 39 of the cylinder 40, and may be adjusted
axially thereon bodily with its switches 4, 5, by means of an adjusting locking
screw 70, the flange of which enters into a recess, as 71, cut in the inner edge of the
arched frame 67. Thus in either position of its axial adjustment its switch 5 may
be adjusted to cause the vibration of the folder or suspend the same. When the
folio form is being produced, or a single folding imparted to the sheet, the head
switch 5 is moved so that the oblong part of this cam is thrown out of action,
consequently the stud or roller 9 of the segment 26 travels in a circular path or in
the groove 65 (see Fig. 60), and the folding blade is not vibrated. To bring this
folding blade into action to impart a second transverse fold to the sheets, the cam 66
is adjusted axially into the position shewn in Fig. 65, Sheet XVI., and its head
switch is adjusted as there shewn, so that the stud or roller will travel in the
oblong path formed by the uniting of the grooves 65 and 72. The set of folding
rollers 48, 49, which are arranged in a swinging frame so as to be moved from the
position shown in Fig. 60, Sheet XIV., to the position shewn in Fig. 62, and are
adjusted in the latter position, and another set of rollers 81, 82, also hung in a
swinging frame, are swung up to the operative position shewn in Fig. 62, Sheet XV.
When the sheet once folded, as has been described, arrives at the point where it
is released by the jaw 13, its head will have been carried between the roller 48
and the periphery of the cylinder 40, and will thus be carried onward in its
circular path, and when the blade 24 arrives opposite the rollers 48, 49, the stud
line of the segment travelling through the elongated path or groove 72 of the cam
66 will cause said segment to move outwardly, and thus partially rotate the
blade 24, which is thus protruded from the cylinder 40, and bearing against the
once folded sheet doubles it between the rollers 48, 49, and into their nip, which
rollers being driven by gears, one of which meshes with the toothed wheel 59, roll
the sheet out between them a second time folded. At the proper time the elongated
cam 72 reverses the movement of the blade 24, and carries it into a position to
repeat its folding operation. As the twice folded sheet is carried out between the
rollers 48, 49, it is projected over an intervening guide into the nip of the rollers
81, 82, which, driven by a belt or in any other manner, slowly move the said
sheet outwardly, and drop it upon a table, as 83.
In performing this last described folding operation, it is apparent that the sheet
controlling cylinder 20 and its devices must be out of operation, and this is
accomplished by adjusting the swinging frame 200, in which they are mounted.
This frame is pivotted on the rod 63, and when rocked so as to carry the cylinder 20
downward it may be locked in a horizontal position by means of the adjusting
arm 74.
Another part of an edition is delivered to newsagents for counter sale and to
carriers for hand distribution, and it is desirable that the product for such distribu-
tion shall be folded in a small compass, so as to bring the papers to a suitable size
for convenient handling of a considerable quantity. This is accomplished by
imparting to the twice folded sheets a third fold at a right angle to the preceding
folds. This is done by bringing into action the cross folding mechanism which is
constituted by the carriers 50, 60, and their accessories.
In order to an understanding of the operation of this cross folding mechanism,
as well as its co-operation with the transverse folding mechanisms, its construction
and operation will be first described, and then its co-action with respect to the
transverse folding mechanisms next explained.
The shaft 51 of the carrier 50 is provided with a single folding blade 36, that is
rotated by a toothed wheel 37 that gears with a toothed wheel 38 on the lower end
of the shaft 61 of the carrier 60, which shaft 61 is also provided with a bevilled
wheel 90 that is driven by a similar wheel 89 on the shaft of a toothed wheel 98,
which meshes with an intermediate 201 that is geared with the toothed wheel 53.
The toothed wheel 37 is but half the size of the wheel 38, and therefore makes

page_text: two turns to each one of said wheel 38. Instead therefore of duplicating the
folding blade 36, it is made to turn twice as fast as the carrier 60 so as to co-operate
with each of the duplicate folding mechanisms of the latter. Each of these folding
mechanism consists of a jaw 27 that is fixed upon a shaft that is journaled in the
heads of the carrier 60, and provided at the lower end with a rock arm, the stud
or roller 28, upon the end of which travels in a grooved cam 29, cut in the face of
a stationary cam plate 75. This jaw is vibrated in one direction at the point
where the folding blade 36 co-operates with it to seize the paper, and it is vibrated
in the opposite direction at a proper point after passing the vertical folding rollers
85, 86, to release the sheet. Its co-operating jaw 76 projects from a shaft 77 that is
journaled in the heads of the carrier 60, and provided above the bottom one of
said heads with a bell crank 78, one arm of which is provided with an opening 79,
through which a removable pin 87 may be entered so as to protrude into a cam
plate slot 88 formed in the face of the cam plate 75. When this stud 87 is thus
placed so as to travel in the cam slot 88, said cam slot will cause the jaw 76 to bo
held in a fixed position for action with the jaw 27 at the time when these jaws are
co-operating with the blade 36 to seize the bight of the folded sheet, and this cam
slot 88 will cause said jaw 76 to be vibrated to release said sheet at a proper point
in advance of the delivery mechanism for a thrice folded sheet, as will hereinafter
appear, the cam groove 88 further vibrating said jaw 79 back to its stationary
position for co-operation with the jaw 27 before said jaws 76 and 27 again reach
the position for coaction with the blade 36.
The delivery mechanism for a thrice-folded sheet is in part comprised in a
presser-plate 91 that is attached to a vertical shaft 92 which is journaled in the
heads of the carrier, and provided above the bottom plate thereof with a rock-
arm 92, which rock-arm is connected by a rod 93 with the other arm of the bell
crank 78, so that when the jaw 76 is vibrated by the cam-groove 88, said bell
crank will impart concerted vibrations to the presser plate 91 for a purpose yet to
be explained.
At a suitable point behind the jaws 76, 27, there is provided a vibrating folding-
blade 31, which blade is attached to a vertical shaft 101 journaled in the head-
plates of the carrier 60, and provided at its upper end with an excentric disc that
travels in the groove 93* of a fixed cam-plate 94. This blade 31 is thus caused to
make a semi-rotation in passing the folding-rollers 85, 86, so as to project outwardly,
travel over the peripheries of said rollers, and in passing said rollers enter between
The remaining part of the delivery mechanism for a thrice folded sheet
consists of a fixed presser-plate 95, and an elastically-moving or spring-seated
presser-plate 96, which plates are placed at a proper distance in advance of the
point where the rotating folding-blade 36 co-operates with the jaws 27, 76.
the same.
To adjust the mechanisms to impart three folds to the sheet the pin 87 is taken
from a second hole 99 in one arm of the bell crank 78, when it locks the same to
the lower head of the carrier, and consequently holds the jaw 76, and thus prevents
both the jaw 76 and the presser bar 91 from being vibrated. This pin 87 is entered
through the hole 79 into engagement with the cam slot 88, which will cause said
jaw 76 and plate 91 to vibrate as the carrier 60 revolves. Both of these positions
are shewn in Fig. 72, Sheet XVI.; the lever 74 is then operated to raise the
swinging frame 200 into its highest position, whereby the folding rollers 23, 62, are
brought into operative relation with respect to the folding blades 24 of the carrier 40.
This brings the vertical guides or conductors 6, 7, which depend from a point
beneath the contact of said folding rollers, and operate to conduct the sheets
emerging from said rollers properly down between the carriers 50, 60. The cam 66
is then adjusted axially, and its switch 5 adjusted so as to bring the elongated path
of travel of said cam into operation to vibrate the folding-blade 24 at a point to
properly co-act with said folding rollers 23, 62.
The rollers 48, 49, which are hung in a frame pivotted to the side frames 41, 42,
are swung up, so as to be out of operation, and not obstruct the path of movement
of the blade 17. When swung up, as in Fig. 59, they are secured in their non-

page_text: working position by means of spring bolts at the ends of their frame. When
swung down these rollers are brought into working relation to the carrier 40, and
their frame is there secured by the bolts.
The rollers 81, 82, which are hung in a frame that swings in bearings on the side
frames, are swung down, as in Fig. 59, so that the sheets delivered as folios may pile
upon them, or on a board rested upon them. These rollers are swung up to
co-operate with the rollers 48, 49, in delivering sheets twice folded. The motion of
the toothed wheel 98 is then imparted to the shaft 61, by means of a clutch
mechanism, so as to rotate the carriers 50, 60. The operation will then be as
follows: The sheet once folded by the mechanisms as first hereinbefore described
will be carried around with the cylinder 40 until its central part is over the said
folding rollers 23, 62. As this is accomplished the cam 65, 72, will rotate tho
blade 24 to impart a second transverse fold to said sheet by doubling the same
into the nip of the rollers 23, 62. These rollers will deliver the sheet from between
them, and the same will be directed by the conductors 6, 7, vertically between the
carriers 50, 60. As the folding blade 36 is properly timed in its rotation it will,
when this twice folded sheet has descended vertically to a proper distance, double
the same on a line at right angles to the preceding folds into the space between the
jaws 76, 27, the latter immediately vibrating to nip the double portion between its
face and that of the jaw 76. These jaws carry the sheet onward with the carrier 60,
'and when they have arrived at.a proper point beyond the jaw 95 the cam 88 will
simultaneously cause the jaw 76 to vibrate and release the thrice folded sheet, and
the presser bar 91, to vibrate and press the tails of the same against the clastic
jaw 96, thus causing said tails to lap past the jaw 95, and as the presser blade 91
makes its return vibration within the carrier, and said carrier moving onward
carries the blade 91 away from the plate 96, said plate 96 is allowed to press
forward, and nip the tails of the thrice folded sheet between it and the jaw 95, thus
arresting the onward movement of the sheet, and holding it stationary. The other
sheets thus folded will be pressed against the preceding ones, and a pile will shortly
accumulate between the jaws 95, 96, from whence they may be removed by hand
in quantities, as may be desired.
Another part of a newspaper edition requires to be folded properly for trans-
mission in the mails. This necessitates at least four foldings. That number of
folds may be imparted to a sheet in passing once through this machine in the
following manner :-The pin 87 is removed from the opening 79 in the bell crank 78
and entered through the opening 99 and into a hole in the lower head of the
carrier 60. This locks the jaw 76 and presser bar 91 out of action, or so that they
will not vibrate, as before explained. The sheet folded twice, as before described,
and which has received its third fold at a right angle to the previous ones as just
described, is carried by the jaws 27, 76, onward with the carrier 60 until the middle
portion of the thrice folded sheet arrives before the folding rollers 85, 86. At this
time the vibrating folding blade 31 acts to double said thrice folded sheet into the
nip of the rollers 85, 86, from which it emerges, a fourth time folded. The sheet
thus folded and delivered may be packed in any suitable manner. The cutting and
folding devices here described may be made of a length suitable to operate upon two
webs formed by splitting a main web as it passes to them.
The folding blades 24 might of course make entire revolutions and still perform
their function of folding in connection with the folding rollers.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Conquest, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM CONQUEST. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Conquest, of Tudor Street, in. the City of
London, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-
FOLDING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Luther Child
Crowell, of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Conquest at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November 1880.
WILLIAM CONQUEST of Tudor Street in the City of London, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-FOLDING MACHINERY." [A communication
from abroad by Luther Child Crowell, of the City, and State of New York, United
States of America.]
The Invention comprises novel devices and combinations for cutting and folding
paper or other fabrics, and is particularly applicable to folding and cutting paper
as it issues from printing machines, and its object is to cut, fold, and deliver the
paper with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore.
It is adapted to give to a long band or web of paper, as it issues from what is
known as a web printing machine,a longitudinal fold or folds, and also to cut it
into sheets and fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
It is also adapted to give to separate sheets of paper that may have been cut
into sheets either before or after printing,a longitudinal fold or
transverse folds, without retarding their travel.
folds and also
In either of the above cases the folds may be given in any desired order, that is
to say, the first fold may be made parallel with or at a right angle to the travel of
the paper, and the second fold may be parallel with or at a' right angle to the
preceding one, and the third and succeeding folds may be made in like manner.
The lavention consists off 1st:fa conical shaped folding device, over which the
web of paper travels, of such a form as to cause the centre line of the web or
other predetermined line of fold to enter the points of a recess, and by drawing
the web through the recess, the side portions of its, outer surface are brought into
contact face to face, and the web is thus folded longitudinally or in the line of its
travel, and the position of the folded web is in a plane at a right to the
unfolded portion. Drawing rollers or any equivalent device will draw the paper
through the folder.

page_text: 2nd. A modification of the form of the folder that will cause the folded web to
leave the folder in a plane nearly or quite parallel with the unfolded portion, and
the form of this folder may be so varied that the folded web in leaving it will
travel in a direction opposite to that of the unfolded portion, or at a right angle to
it either to the right or to the left.
3rd. A modification of the form of the folder/such that the web in passing over
or through it,will be folded in two longitudinal lines parallel with each other, and
the edges of the folded over sides meet together and thus form as it were a flat
tube. By changing the position of the drawing rollers this doubled web may be
folded backwards longitudinally, thus giving to it a third fold and bringing it to
a W form. A-cutting device may slit the folded web longitudinally, either before
or after the last fold, and thus form two once-folded webs.
4th. A modification of the form of the folder/such that the web, as it passes
over, it will receive a longitudinal fold at its centro or other predetermined line of
fold, the side portions of the inner surface of the web being in this case brought
into face to face contact, aided by rollers or equivalent device which draw the web
forward and press the folded portions together.
5th. The adaptation of rotary folding and cutting mechanism similar to that
described in the Patent of William Edward Newton/No. 2561/ of August 28th
1872, to receive the paper from a longitudinal folder, cut it into sheets, if not
already so cut, and fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
6th. When the paper, either folded or unfolded, is cut into sheets before it reaches
the longitudinal folder above described, endless carrying tapes may be employed
to carry them through the folder. These tapes may be on one or both sides of
the paper, and be returned by suitable guiding pulleys to the place of starting.
Other carrying surfaces such as pulleys or rollers may sometimes be employed.
Tapes may be also used to aid in carrying a web of paper through the folder if
desired.
7th. A web of paper may be slit longitudinally into two webs, and these two
webs may be folded in the same folding apparatus, by first giving them a transverse
fold, cutting them into sheets, and making one stream of sheets run a longer route
than the other to a longitudinal folder, which will fold them one somewhat in
advance of the other. They may then receive a second longitudinal fold and be
delivered in a receptacle. Thus associated, they can be readily drawn asunder by
their projecting ends.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Conquest in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th May 1881.
WILLIAM CONQUEST/ of Tudor Street in the City of London Mechanical
Be Communications
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-FOLDING MACHINERY!
from abroad by Luther Child Crowell of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
This Invention comprises novel devices and combinations for cutting and folding
paper or other fabrics, and is particularly applicable to folding and cutting paper
as it issues from printing machines, and its object is to cut/fold/and deliver the
paper with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore. It is adapted to give
to a long band or web of paper as it issues from what is known as a "web-
printing machine a longitudinal fold or folds, and also to cut it into sheets and
fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
"
It is also adapted to give to separate sheets of paper that may have been cut
into sheets either before or after printing, a longitudinal fold or
transverse folds without retarding their travel.
folds and also
In either of the above cases the folds may be given in any desired order/that
is to say, the first fold may be made parallel with, or at right angles to the line of
travel of the paper and the second fold may be made parallel with or at right,
angles to the preceding one, and the third and succeeding folds may be made in like
manner.
The Invention consists of; first, a conical shaped folding device over which the
web of paper travels of such a form as to cause the centre line of the web or other
predetermined line of fold to enter the points of a recess, and by drawing the web
through the recess the side portions of its outer or upper surface are brought into
contact face to face, and the web is thus folded longitudinally or in the line of
its travel, and the position of the folded web is in a plane at right angles to the
unfolded portion. Drawing rollers or any equivalent device will draw the paper
through the folder.
Seccnd, A modification of the form of the folder that will cause the folded web
to leave the folder in a plane nearly or quite parallel with the unfolded portion,
and the form of this folder may be so varied that the folded web on leaving it
or at right
will travel in a direction opposite to that of the unfolded portion
angles theretof either to the right hand or to the left.
Third, A modification of the form of the folder/such that the web,in passing
over or through it, will be folded in two longitudinal parallel lines, the edges of the
folded over sides meeting together or slightly overlapping, and thus forming as it
were a flattened tube. By changing the position of the drawing rollers this doubly
folded web may be folded backwards longitudinally thus giving to it a third fold
and bringing it to a W form. A cutting device may also slit the folded web
longitudinally either before or after the last folds and thus form two singly folded
webs.
Fourth: A modification of the form of the folder such that the web as it passes
over it will receive a longitudinal fold at its centre or other predetermined line of
fold the side portions of the inner or under surface of the web being in this case
brought into face to face contact aided by rollers or equivalent devices which draw
the web forward and press the folded portions together.
Fifth; The adaptation of rotary folding and cutting apparatus of a type similar
to that described in the Patent granted to William Edward Newton No. 2561/
August Twenty eighth, One thousand eight hundred and seventy two, to receive

page_text: the paper from a longitudinal folder, cut it into sheets, if not already so cut, and
fold them transversely without retarding their travel.
folder if desired.
Sixth: When the paper, either folded or unfolded, is cut into sheets before it
reaches the longitudinal folder above described, endless carrying tapes may be
employed to carry them through the folder. These tapes may be on one or both
sides of the paper, and be returned by suitable guiding pulls to the place of
starting. Other carrying surfaces such as pulleys or rollers may sometimes be
employed Papes
may be also used to aid in carrying a web of paper through the
Seventh. A web of paper may be slit longitudinally into two webs and these
two webs may be folded in the same folding apparatusf/first giving them a transverse
fold, cutting them into sheets and making the stream of sheets run by tapes, in the
manner well known, to a longitudinal folder/which will fold them one somewhat
in advance of the other. They may then receive a second longitudinal fold and be
delivered in a receptacle. Thus associated they can be readily drawn asunder by
their projecting ends.
The folding apparatus constituting the bases of the present improvements is
more especially designed to form part of the delivery mechanism of that class of
printing machines known as web-perfecting," but may be used to fold webs of
any material, and with the modifications described it may operate to fold sheets of
the same.
As is well known the rotary mechanisms of web perfecting printing machines
are capable of operating at a very high rate of speed, and require if such speed is
to be utilized to be provided with such means for severing the web into sheets
and delivering the same, as will operate at a speed equal to that at which the
printing mechanisms may be practically run. It is also desirable in the present
improved state of the art of printing,that such sheets shall be delivered in a folded
form and in a large class of machines it is necessary that the first fold imparted to
such sheets shall be longitudinal or on a line parallel with the direction in which
the sheet is moving when it emerges from the printing machine.
The present improvements relate chiefly to a folding apparatus effecting such an
eperation, the same consisting of a folder constituted by stationary turners arranged
in such a manner that a web or sheet passing over them will be folded longitu-
dinally, or in the direction of its travel, which operation lays one side section of the
web or sheet upon the other, thus doubling the web or sheet, and at the same time
reducing its dimensions widthwise according to the relation the line of folding
bears to the centre of the web or sheet. They comprehend also certain modifica-
tions of the structure of parts, and various combinations of devices including that
of the folder with feeding, rotary folding, cutting, and delivering nechanisms, all
of which will be found so particularly hereinafter set forth as to need no further
preliminary description.
In order to a ready understanding of the Invention, the simplest form of the
n.echanism will first be described/ and its arrangement with respect to the printing
machine,as well as its modifications, will be then explained.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a plan view of an apparatus
embodying my improvements Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same and
Fig. 3 presents an end elevation thereof Fig. 4 shows a side elevation partly in
section, and Fig. 5 an end elevation of the principal devices of the apparatus, the
said Figures illustrating particularly its arrangement with a printing mechanism
and with a transverse folding mechanism Figures 6 and 7 shew respectively side
and end elevations of the folder as provided with carrying tapes Figures 8 and 9
shew respectively a sectional elevation and a plan view of a modification of the
folder and an arrangement of taping for facilitating the introduction of a web
through itFigures 10 and 11 shew respectively a plan view and an end elevation
of a modified structure of the folder.
As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 the apparatus is shewn as receiving a web 8
from a roller 21, imparting a longitudinal fold to it, and delivering such folded web

page_text: to a winding up roller 22; suitable leading rollers 23, 24/being provided to secure
its travel in appropriate planes with respect to the turners. These rollers 23 and
24 will be properly supported at a right angle to each other in suitable bearings
attached to a proper supporting bed-plate or frame.
The folder consists of four turners 2, 3, 4, 5 (stationary in the sense of not
turning) over the faces or bearing surfaces of which the material is to run. These
turners may be straight or conical bars, or simple rods, wires or plates. Two of
them 2, 3, are disposed so that if extended their inner ends would meet at a
common point 6, and they extend rearwardly and spread outwardly at an angle
preferably about ninety degrees, Figs. 1 and 3, and incline forward at an angle of
about forty five degrees from the perpendicular, Fig. 2. The other two₤4, 5, are
disposed so that,if extended, their inner ends would meet the others at the same
common point 6. They extend forwardly and downwardly at an angle of about
forty five degrees, Fig. 2, and spread a slight distance apart at their free or open
forward ends, Figures 1, 3. These turners may be secured in proper relations
to each other by suitable connections with the framework, as the cross bar 38 and
side frames 40, 41. It is desirable, however since the fabric passes in contact with
a portion only of their surfaces to connect them together by bearing plates/as 11,
12, 13, thus affording the fabric a complete support breadthwise during its entire
passage through the folder.
It is preferable to construct the turners and their uniting plates in a single piece
of metal
and this may be conveniently done by bending a square plate of metal
upon a line extending from its centre to the middle of its front edge, and causing
bends to be formed on lines extending from the centre to the opposite corners of
the front and sides. When this central bend is carried far enough rearward to
bring the corner folds nearly together, and the rear end is provided with similar
corner folds doubled to a less degree, the plate will assume a form approximating
to that of a pyramid, as shewn in the Drawings, its rear side constituting the
bearing plate 11, its rear corners constituting the turners 2, 3, its sides constituting
the bearing plates 12, 13, and its front corner constituted by the two parallel
turners 4, 5, the extension of their inner portions constituting the inwardly doubled
plate 14, only one half or side of which seen in Fig. 2. This mode of con-
structing the folder affords a ready means for securing it in place by a cross bar 38,
and stay rod 39 secured to the side frames 40, 41. It should be observed however
that though these turners as represented seem to meet and form the point 6/ in
practice the ends of these turners are blunted,or cut away, so that the fabric shall
have no bearing at the point 6. This point therefore is an immaginary one at
which the first creasing of the fabric takes place without any support immediately
beneath it.
50
The web of fabric 8 to be folded, taken from a supply roll 50 mounted on the
roller 21, is led upward in such a plane as to rest on the turners 2, 3 and be
supported widthwise between them upon the bearing plate 11 Fig. 1, which
guiding is accomplished by the proper placing of the leading roller 23. The web is
then bent down onto the turners 4, 5, and its central part or line of folding is
pressed in between them/which will cause the leading end to hang downward and
bring the opposite portions of its upper surface together in the form of a longi-
tudinal fold/while its under surface will rest on the plates 12, 13, over the turners
4, 5.
The doubled fabric is then led under the leading roller 24 (one face of which
is appropriately arranged beneath the turners 4, 5) and thence passes onto the
winding up roiler 22. This roller is provided with a crank for rotating it and the
roller 21 is furnished with a suitable tension device consisting of a pulley 48 and
friction strap 49. Upon turning the crank the web will be drawn through the
folder/causing its opposite sections to be brought together, thus doubling such web
longitudinally. The line of fold is made at the point 6/ which would be the apex
of the pyramidal folder or point of union of all the turbers if extended to meet as
before explained, and the folding at this point is determined by the disposition of

page_text: the turners which cause the sections of the fabric to move in different planes with
this point as their common centre.
In passing through the folder the web first bears directly onto the rear faces of
turners 2, 3, which support its entire width. As its central line passes over the
point 6 and is drawn between the turners 4, 5, the opposite sections bend over the
turners 2, 3 droop downwardly over the plates 12, 13, and approach each other
diagonally, thus causing the upper surface of the web as it passes over the faces of
the turners, 4, 5, to nearly meet or fold together, and in passing under the roller 24
they are brought in face-to-face contact, the longitudinally folded web thus formed
being wound upon the roller 22. The web is thus doubled longitudinally upon a
line in such relation to the edges of the web as may be determined by the
lateral disposition of the web with respect to the point 6, and the sections of the
web will then he lapped so that its upper face will form the inner surfaces of the
folded product.
Essential differences exist between this system or method of folding and that
commonly practised where the line or lines of folding are determined by surfaces
over which the fabric is turned as follows.
Heretofore in turning a web or sheets of fabric to impart a fold theretofthe fabric
was strained at the line of intended fold between a folding edge on one side and
co-acting devices on the other, whereby the sections of fabric are forced toward cach
other over the folding edge to cause said sections to lap together. In these improve-
ments the turners or surfaces over which the webs or sheets are carried are all
disposed on one side of the fabric and are so related to each other that the sections
to be lapped together are gradually turned and caused to travel in such different
planes as to ultimately come together or be lapped without the aid of any device
acting upon the opposite side of the fabric.
Such a structure besides simplifying the mechanisms enables one surface of the
fabric to be coated with paste, printed or otherwise ornamented, and whether such
coating or ornamentation be freshly applied or dryf the fabric may undergo the
folding operation without damage or injury thereto.
It has furthermore been the practice to define the line of fold by means of a
folding edge in contact with the fabric at the line of intended fold whereby such
fabric is strained distorted or broken on the line of folding by such folding
.edge.
In these improvements the turners are so disposed with respect to each other that
they do not extend to the point where the fabric is folded, the said folders on the
contrary being blunted or cut away, or set apart, so as to leave the fabric without any
bearing surface at that point. The fabric, though given the proper direction by
the support afforded by the turners, nevertheless remains free or unsupported
at the folding point, and may hence bend or double at that point without being
strained by any rigid supporting surface or opposing fee on either side of it.
Moreover, it will be observed that in all positions which the web is made to
assume in being folded by the present improvements, it is fully distended widthwise,
and therefore has no slack portion which would permit it to buckle up, or to be
otherwise distorted from its true course. This operation may be carried on at a
very high speed, one equalling that of a printing or other machine manipulating a
web by means of rotating devices, and as the dimensions of the web are thus
reduced it follows that an equal reduction of the dimensions of the mechanisms
which are to further manipulate it may be accomplished, whether the same are to
fold it into a pack of zigzag folds, as is well known, or are to impari a second longi-
tudinal fold to it,or divide it into sheets and deliver them flat or folded, or to impart
a second longitudinal fold, then cut into sheets and impart to them a transverse fold
or to manipulate the product in any other manner.
In Figures 4 and 5 is illustrated an arrangement of this folder with a printing
machine and a combined cutting and folding mechanism.
The type cylinder 26 and impression cylinder 25 represent the last set of such

page_text: 5
ylinders belonging to a web printing machine, the structure and operation of which
re too well known to need explanation. It may be statel, however, that the
mpression cylinder 25 here shewn takes the place of and performs the function of
the leading roller 23,shewn in Figures 2 and 3.
The web 8 passes through the primary folder, and is by it folded longitudinally/
and carried over the leading roller 24 in precisely the same manner as has been
explained. From this roller it passes through a secondary folder constructed of
turners like those of the primary folder, and which impart a second longitudinal
fold to the oncefolded web, as will be readily understood. The web from this
secondary longitudinal folder (it might be from the primary) passes to the rotary
cutting and folding apparatus (consisting of a pair of cylinders 27, 23 and devices.
connected therewith)/which cuts it into proper lengths or sheets and folds them.
transversely. The cylinder 27 (or a shaft provided with suitable arms) carries a
cutting knife 42/and upon the opposite side thereto a tucking or folding blade 80..
The cylinder 28 is provided with a cutting slot 43 that cooperates with the cutter 42,
and with a vibrating jaw or jaws 34 that cooperate with the tucking or folding
blade 80. This cutting mechanism is of common form, such as that described in the
Patent granted to William Edward Newton dated Twenty eighth August One
thousand eight hundred and seventy two No. 2561, and the folding mechanisms
are similar to those shown in the above mentioned Patent, and in that granted to-
me in One thousand eight hundred and seventy five No. 3105. The cylinder 28 is
furthermore provided with a rotating folding blade 35 that cooperates with folding.
The web
rollers 30, 31, the latter being provided with delivering tapes 32, 33.
descends from the longitudinal folder directly to these cylinders 27, 28 and
passing between them is,during their rotation, pressed or doubled transversely by
the folding blade between the jaws 34, which properly close to nip the transversely
doubled portion,holding onto which said jaws carry the fabric over the roller 30,
thus folding it fransversely. When the cylinders 27, 28 have rotated sufficiently
the cutter 42 divides the web transversely forming a sheet, which sheet is again.
folded transversely by the rotary folder 35 which doubles it between the
rollers 30, 31/from which it is delivered by the tapes 32, 33.
The leading end of the web may droop down between the cylinders 27, 28, or be
• temporarily held upon pins, as 36, and carried with the cylinder 27/a
Figures 4 and 5.
as shewn in
The rotary folder 35 may be omitted/if desired, when the jaws 34 will open in
proper time to deliver the sheet with one transverse fold upon a table; or suitable-
circumferential grooves may be made in the cylinder 28/intersecting the jaw 34/
and with suitable guides 81 (shewn in dotted lines) cause the sheet to be delivered
between rollers 30, 31; or the roller 31 and the guides 81 may be placed in the
position shown in dotted lines 82/and receive the sheet between the tapes 32, 33.
The cetting mechanisms may be omitted from the cylinders 27, 28, and a cutting
apparatus be supplied to sever the web after it is folded longitudinally, and before-
it reaches said cylinders, suitable conductors, as rods or tapes, being furnished to
ensure the proper onward travel of the sheets.
Any other common form of folding mechanism may receive the web once or
twice folded longitudinally and impart one or more folds to it but it is preferred
to employ a combined cutting and folding mechanism/such as will be hereafter-
described with reference to Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the Drawings.
The transverse folding mechanism may receive the longitudinally folded web
from the primary longitudinal folder, and operate upon it to produce one or more
or more transverse folds in it and deliver such product to the taped folder
shewn in Figures 6 and 7, to be again longitudinally folded, as will be hereinafter
described.
The longitudinal folder may be adapted to fold separate sheets fed successively
5 to it, as for instance sheets delivered from a web printing machine, as is now
common, in which case conducting tapes will be arranged to carry the sheets from
over the turners constituting the
the cutting cylinders of such printing machine,

page_text: folder. A system of such taping is shewn in Figures 6 and 7, in which one
longitudinal folder only is shewn.
The tape pulleys/around which the tapes pass that receive the sheets, will be
journal ed in the framework, so as to be in front of and in proper position to receive
the partially or wholly severed web from the cutting cylinders of the printing
machine. The cutting cylinders as 72, 73% of such a web printing machine are
shewn in Fig. 6, and are in practice situated in front of the last type and impression
cylinders, as 25, 26. When these cutting cylinders entirely sever the web conductors
are supplied to guide the detached leading end of each sheet between the tape
rollers or pullier, as will be well understood by those familiar with art of
printing.
The lowest set of endless conducting tapes is shewn as four in number, but may
be more or less according to the width of the web. This number is however well
adapted to the purpose. The marginal tapes 44', 44', of this lower set run from
pulleys 51, 51, directly on to the bearing plate 11, over the turners 2, 3, follow
the bearing plates 12, 13, pass over the turners 4, 5, and return respectively under
the pulleys 53', 53 and the pulleys 541/54, and thence over the pulley's 5ª, 55ª,
to the pulleys 51/51.
The midway tapes 443/443 of this lower set run from the pulleys 512/51/up
over the bearing plate 11, the turners 2, 3, the side bearing plates 12, 13, and the
turners 4, 5, and return under pulley 532 and its companion (not seen); thence
over pulleys 55 55% to the pulleys 51251³. These lower tapes are pressed
together in nipping contact beneath the turners 4, 5/by means of pulleys 56, 57.
The upper endless tapes are four in number. The marginal tapes 45/45 run
from pulleys 52 52% up over the plate 11 and the turning-bars 2, 3 and the
plates 12, 13, to points over the turners 4, 5 where they are returned around
pulleys 17, 59, 60, and 61, 62, to the pulleys 52/52. The midway tapes of this
series run from the pulleys 522, 52% up over the plate 11, turners 2, 31 and plates
12, 13, and return at points over the turners 4, 5 around pulleys 15, 16, 63, 64, 65,
66/to the pulleys 52/52³
A central cord 46 is also provided/which cord runs from a pulley on the shaft
carrying the pulleys 52 522 52% 52, against the face of the plate 11, and returns
over a pulley 47 that is hung with its periphery projecting below the point 6 of
the turners.
These tapes will preferably be driven at a higher rate of surface speed than that
of the cutting cylinders, whereby they will operate when the forward end of the
web is nipped in their embrace to advance the same and detach its forward
portion on the line of whole or partial severance, thus forming a sheet which is
carried onward rapidly enough to separate it a working distance from the suc-
ceeding sheet. This increased speed to cause such separation may however be
accomplished after the longitudinal folding is performed which expedient will
admit of the taping system just described running at a speed equal to that of the
cutting-cylinders.
The sheets constituted by the severing of the web by the cutting-cylinders, will
enter between the upper and under series of tapes, and be carried through the
folder by them in precisely the same manner that a web is carried through such
folder, the taping also operating to keep their edges formed by the transverse cuts
of the web from being caught by the air and turned in a wrong direction. The
function of the cord 80 is to compel the leading edge of each sheet, at the folding-
point to be carried inwardly so as to properly start its line of fold.
When the tail end of the longitudinally folded sheet leaves the embrace of these
tapes where the upper series return over the pulleys 1, 7 and 15, 16, its head will
have entered the nip of the tapes 44½ 44% 44% 44', given by the forwarding
pulleys 56, 57, and will be carried onward until it issues from between the
pulleys 53 53 and 53% and its companion. From these latter pulleys the sheets
may be piled if any manner, or be delivered to a transverse folding mechanism of
any of the common constructions adapted to the folding of sheets, but preferably

page_text: to a rotary cutting and folding mechanism of a novel construction to be hereafter
explained.
end.
Although it is practicable to introduce the leading end of a web through this
folder without the aid of any mechanical guiding device, as is indicated by.
Figures 1 to 5, yet that operation may be facilitated by a single central cord or tape
arranged to bend the web at its folding-point down between the turners 4. 5.
Thus, a cord arranged as is the cord 46/in Figures 6 and 7, would accomplish that.
Another arrangement is illustrated at Figures 8 and 9, wherein upper and lower
central tapes 17, 18/ stretched from pulleys at the back of the lower edge of the
rear plate 11 serve this purpose. The inner ends of the turners 2, 3/are separated
a considerable distance apart,where the turners 4, 5, meet them. This provides for
the introduction of a tape-pulley 19,between the said inner ends of these turners,
over which pulley the tapes 17. 18. pass, and descend slightly below the highest
points of these turners, the tape 17 returning under a pulley 20, and rearward and
upward over a
the plate 11. When the leading end of the web is introduced through the folder
this tape will cause that portion where its folding-line is to be made to bend kindly
down between the turners 4, 5f so that the sections of the web will be properly
lapped or folded.
When the turners are thus related to each other the web will bend over the
points 61/62 (which will be blunted or cut away so as not to touch it, as has been
explained with respect to the point 6) and it will again bend at a common point G
between the turners 4, 5, but below them, and this latter point will constitute the
line of fold. These longitudinal folders may be constructed so as to constitute a
simple guide conducting the web while distended to its fullest width, onward for
manipulation by other mechanism. It may be so arranged when its turners are
single instruments as shewn in dotted lines Fig: 3/ by constructing such turners so
that they may be raised to bring their upper surfaces into a horizontal plane,as
such dotted lines indicate. When constructed in the plate form the side bearing-
plates 12, 13 are hinged to the back plate 11 at the points forming the turners 2,
(see Figures 10 and 11)/thus being divided at about midway of their length, so
that when they are raised up to a horizontal plane as in Fig. 11, they will form
such guide. If the web is to be bent downward over the straight guiding-edge
thus provided the front edges of the hinged parts of such divided plates will
preferably be provided with curved portions,as 67, 68. This structure necessitates
the securing of the front or remaining parts of the side plates,12, 13/ which is
accomplished by a support, as the bar 74, in Figures 10, 11. These Figures also
show the omission of the bearing-plates 14, and it is to be understood that these
plates may be omitted even when the plates 11, 12, and 13 are used, without
impairing the efficiency of the turners. These hinged portions may be raised and
lowered by means of a rock-shaft 75/ provided with projections 76, 77/that bear
on the under surfaces of such hinged portions.
It may be remarked that when the bearing-plates are omitted, and the tapes used,
these tapes,in addition to carrying the sheets forward, perform the same service as
the plates, that is they support the sheet or web width-wise between the turners
over which it is stretched.
When the folder is made in the plate form it may, as is apparent, have the
general form of a cone, in which case the bearing plates 11, 12, 13, will be curved,
and the turners 2, 3, 4, 5, merge into them; the shape or form thus provided being
sufficient to turn the fabric and fold it longitudinally.
It will be understood that the relation of the turning-surfaces to each other may
be such as to cause the folded fabric to take lines of travel of various angles to
that in which the fabric approaches. This may be done by raising or lowering the
turners 4, 5, to any desired position of adjustment with reference to the turners 2, 3,
and vice versa, either pair of turners being lengthened or shortened as the case
B

page_text: may require. So, too, in some of these adjustments the turners 4, 5, may be slowed
sideways.
It will also be understood that a line of paste may be applied to the upper face
of the fabric, whether in the web or sheet form, and this may be done by any
common appliance, such for instance as the disc 101 (see Fig. 4), and this disc
may be placed at any point with respect to either edge of the sheet or web. If
placed at the edge it will be apparent that the web, when once folded, will be
converted into a flattened tube, but if this disc is placed in a proper relation with
respect to the edges of the sheet or web, and a slitting cutter as 100 (see also
Fig: 4) is placed so as to divide the web or sheet centrally, and thus convert the
same into two portions, these two portions will be pasted together and when
delivered from the secondary folder form a product of four plies pasted together at
a common central line of union, said product being suitable for use when cut
transversely, as a pamphlet; or the line of paste may be applied transversely to the
upper face of the distended web in such position as to come in line with the
transverse folding.
Under this head of the Invention I claim;―
First, The use of folding devices constructed and operating substantially as
described with reference to Sheets 1. to III. of the Drawings.
Second, In combination with a folding device constructed substantially as above
described the use of rollers for passing the web of fabric onto and through the
folder substantially as set forth.
Third; The combination with one or more longitudinal folders, each constructed
substantially as above described, of cutting and folding mechanisms whereby
the longitudinally folded fabric may be transversely folded and cutf
forth.
as set
Fourth: The means described whereby the longitudinal folder may be converted
into a simple guide or support for the traversing fabric, substantially as
described.
Fifth: The combination with a folding device constructed as above set forth, of
tapes or sets of tapes/arranged and operating as shewn and described, whereby
detached or partly detached sheets may be carried over and through the said folder
and delivered therefrom.
Sixth; The combination with the folding device above described of the cord or
tape such as 46 or 17, substantially as described.
Seventh: The combination with the folding device above described, arranged as
in Figures 8 and 9, of the central tapes 17 and 18, substantially as described.
Eighth: In combination with one or more folders constructed and operating as
above described, one or more of the several mechanisms,in any desired order, for
cutting, dividing, folding, pasting, slitting, and printing the fabric, all substantially
as described.
The second head of this Invention relates to a modified construction of folding
device whereby a length of material passed through it is folded on a line parallel
with the direction of its travel, which said folding devices though particularly
designed to fold webs or long lengths of material is capable, with some
modification, of folding in like manner short pieces of material in the form of
sheets.
In all machines where the first fold made is longitudinal, or in the direction of
the travel of the sheet, and is produced by a folding blade such sheet is arrested
or checked in its onward movement in order that it may be properly so folded,
because that operation changes its movement to one at right angles to the direction
of travel it has as it enters the folding mechanism.
This stopping,or partially stopping, the travel of the sheet greatly modifies the
speed of manipulation, and interferes with the accuracy of folding because the
time thus necessarily consumed in delivering the sheet from one set of active
mechanismýto another, each carrying the paper in different directions, will cause

page_text: the sheet being folded to be overtaken by the succeeding one, while both are
required to be in an exact correlation at the instant the folding operation is
performed in order to accomplish it with accuracy. This imposes a limit of speed
upon such a delivery mechanism which is greatly within that at which the printing
machine may be operated.
This part of the Invention also comprehends certain modifications of the
structure of parts and various combinations of the folder, and feeding and delivery
mechanisms, all of which will be found more particularly hereafter set forth.
A machine embodying this modified construction of folding mechanism in its
simplest form will first be described. Such a one is illustrated by Figures 12
to 17 cf the accompanying Drawings/wherein Fig: 12/Sheet IV.is a side elevation,
Fig 13 plan, Fig: 14 an end elevation Figures 15 and 16 side views of the
turning surfaces disposed so as to deliver the folded paper vertically at opposite
sides of the machine, and Fig: 17 is a vertical section of the turners on the
live a, a, of Fig: 16.
:
Another machine embodying the Invention is shewn in Figures 18 to 22
(Sheets V. and IV.)/of which Fig: 18 is a side elevation, Fig:9 a plan view, Fig.20
an end elevation and Figures 21 and 22 views of the turning surfaces disposed so
as to deliver the folded paper in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 18
Fig: 22 is a sectional elevation of the turning surfaces on the line e of Fig: 21.
Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26 (Sheets VI. and IV.)/illustrate one mode of arranging
these turning surfaces with a printing machine so as to deliver the printed sheets
therefrom,and fold the same either longitudinally, or both longitudinally and trans-
versely Fig: 23 being an end elevation Fig: 24 a side elevation, with cutting
cylinders in action Fig: 25 a rear view illustrating the lower main tapes only
and Fig 26 a detail.
Fig 27 is a perspective view of a machine embodying two longitudinal folders.
The folding mechanism consists of three folding bars or turners 3, 5, and 7
(stationary in the sense of not turning) all of which turners are arranged to meet
nt a common point at which the line of creasing or folding, is determined. The
turners and 5 spread at such angles to each other as to afford a surface capable
of supporting the web distended widthwise (see Fig: 13)/the turner 3 preferably
standing at an angle of about one-hundred and thirty-five degrees with respect to
the turner 5. The turner 7/whose upper face is preferably inclined at an angle of
about ninety degrees to that of the turner 5/has its inner face situated nearly in the
same vertical plane with that of the turner 3 so that the sections of the web or sheet
folded towards each other, and moving respectively over the turners 3 and 7, are
brought nearly together.
The turners 3, 3, and 7 may be straight or conical bars, or simple wires or edges,
provided by any rigid material directed toward a common point 6, which is the
creasing or fold-determining point. One mode of making them is to bend a plate
of metal into the form illustrated by the Drawings, which plate will provide not
only a convenient means for rigidly securing the turners in proper relation to each
other, but provide sheet supporting plates extending from one turner to the other, and
afford a secure means for attachment to the framework, such means as shewn being
a bar,30, to which the lower edge of the front, plate 11 and that of the plate 13 are
united, which bar is attached to the side frames 32, 33.
When made from a plate of slicet metal a smooth supporting surface, is provided
for the web in its entire travel through the folder, thus the front plate 11 sustains
it throughout its entire width as it is, carried onto the folder, the back plate 12
supports one section of it in its passage from the turner 5 to the turner 7, and the
inner plates 13 and 14 supports its two sections as, they pass downward in their
doubled condition; thus in all positions which it assumes in being doubled by this
folder, the web is kept smoothly distended without being unduly strained at any
point, as will presently be more fully understood. For convenience of illustration
the web 8 is shewn in these Figures as coming from a roll 31, mounted upon a
roller 34 that is provided with a tension strap 35 that runs over a púlley 36

page_text: (Figures 13 and 14 Sheet IV.). This web passes under a leading roller 20,
thence through the folder, and is taken up in its folded condition after passing
under a leading roller 21,upon a roller 22,that is provided with a rotating crank 23.
From the roller 20 the web 8 fully distended widthwise, is laid over the
turners 3, 5, so that one section of it shall be stretched over the turner 3 and the
other over the turner 5/ its centre or other predetermined place of folding lying
over the folding point 6. The section laid over the turner 3 is carried downward
therefrom, while the other section is laid over the turner 5f then laterally to and
over the turner 7, from which it is carried downward. In thus disposing the web
over these turners the single ply, stretched widthwise from the turners 3 and 5, has
one section, or that part lying at one side of the folding point 6, carried upward
over said turner 3 and thence downward, while the other section lying on the
opposite side of the folding point 6 is carried upward over the turner 5, is then
turned at a right angle, carried transversely to and over the turner 7/and again
turned at a right auglef as it is carried downward from such turner 7. The latter
section of such single web 8 is thus turned at the point 6 and carried over the
other section so that the single web is doubled longitudinally and its two parts or
sections lie in parallel planes and constitute a doubled web 9, the folded point of
union 10 being the central or other line which passed over the feeding point 6. As
the web thus entered into the folder, is drawn through the same by means of its
doubled portion 9 that is led under the roller 21 and attached to the rotating
roller 22 it is apparent that it will be doubled on the line 10 so as to lay its
sections together and form a product folded once in a longitudinal direction.
By the action of the folder constructed as described the right hand section of
the web will be transferred laterally to the left but by disposing the turners
3, 5, and 7 as is shown in Figure: 16 the left hand section of the web may be
transferred laterally to the right. In both cases the resulting doubled web 9 will
have the common plane of its two parts lying parallel with that in which the
single web is stretched.
The web is thus doubled longitudinally upon a line in such relation to the edges
of the web as may be determined by the lateral disposition of the web with respect
to the point 6, and the sections of the web will thus be lapped so that its upper
face will form the inner surfaces of the folded product.
Essential differences it will thus be seen,exist between this system or method of
folding and that commonly practiced where the line or lines of folding are
determined by surfaces over which the fabric is turned as already alluded to.
As already remarked the web,in all positions which it is made to assume in
being folded by the present improvements, is fully distended widthwise and
therefore has no slack portion which would permit it to buckle up or to be
otherwise distorted from its true course.
This operation may be carried on at a very high speed, one equalling that of a
printing or other machine/ manipulating a web by means of rotating devices. And
if the dimensions of the web are thus reduced one half it follows that an equal
reduction of the dimensions of the mechanisms which are to further manipulate it
may be accomplished.
The doubled web may be carried directly to an apparatus for rolling it up or
otherwise manipulating it, being for that purpose led over one or more
rollers/as 21.
If it is desired to change the direction of its travel, as at a right or other angle,
to that in which the distended web 8 enters the folder, it may be done by turning
devices constructed on a principle already before the public.
This latter effect may however preferably be accomplished by the folder in the
act of imparting the longitudinal fold to the web. Such an arrangement of the
apparatus is shown in Figures 18 to 21 (Sheets IV. and V.) in which parts like
those found in the preceding Figures are marked with the same characters, so that
the modification may be readily understood with slight explanation.
The turners 3, 5, and 7 are here so disposed that the distended web 8 has its
section that is brought over the turner 3 carried downward over the turner 7, and

page_text: thence at a right angle outward at one side, and the other section of the web that
is brought over the turner 5 is carried at a right angle to its former travel ontwirl
parallel with the first named section, the said web 8 being fille at the point 6/
and doubled on the line 10 as before, such doubled web being lel over the roller 21
and rom upon a roller 22. The rollers 21 and 22 in this arrangement are
mounted in a suitable framework at one side of the machine. By these mains
the single web from the roller 34 is passed under the roller 20, thence through the
folder and by it not only doubled but delivered at a right angle to the plane at
which it entered such folder. By disposing the turners 3, 5, 7/3 as in Fig 21,
Sheet IV., the doubled web 9 may be delivere in precisely the opposite direction,
as is apparent.
Now from an inspection of Figures 15 and 16, Sheet V., and Figures 20 and 21,
Sheets 1V. and V., it will be apparent that the angles of relation of these turners
may be varied considerably, and still be within the present Invention. Thus the
outer end of the turner 7 may be swung toward the position occupied by the
turner 5,until it stands in a position opposite to that it has, as shewn in Fig: 15,
the turner 3 being swung or adjusted correspondingly downwards and the turner 5
swung or adjusted correspondingly upward/as is shewn in Fig. 16, Sheet IV and
that the turners may be so moved as to occupy any described intermediate position.
This is equally true of the arrangement shewn in Figures 20 and 21, Sheets IV.
and V., which shew a disposition of the turners that is the reverse of that illus-
trated by Figures 15 and 16. In all its variations the turners forming this folder
in any adjustment of them stand with their faces in approximately the same
plane.
It is to be observed that the point 6 is an imaginary one, that is to say, that,
though it is the common point at which the inner ends of the turners would meet
if they were joined together,such turners have their inner extremities blunted,or
cut away,so that they shall not so meet. In the plate form of the turners the fold
of the turners which would constitute this point is cut away.
In all cases therefore, though such imaginary point 6 is actually the point at
which the fold 10 is formed, such fold has no bearing surface directly beneath
it upon which the paper rests. This feature of the Invention is applicable to
turning surfaces of any number that are arranged so as to cause a web or sheet
drawn over them to be folded longitudinally such as are shewn in the aforesaid
applications.
In a practical application of this folder it may receive the web 8 from any source,
as the cloth beam of a loom or cloth finishing machine, and deliver its longitudinally
folded product to any of the many forms of folding mechanismSadapted to impart
additional folds thereto.
The web may come from a printing machine of the character herein described,
and when folded be delivered to a cutting and folding machine which severs it
into sheets,and folds such sheets transversely, as already described. It is preferred
to employ for this purpose a cutting and folding mechanism similar to that
described hereafter with reference to Sheets XIV. XV. and XVI. of the
Drawings.
If however it is attached to a web printing machine provided with cutting
cylinders, as 42, 43/ Figures 23 and 24, Sheet VI., which sever it into sheets, short
detached portions, or sheets, will require to be conducted through the folder by
means of conducting cords or tapes.
One system of such taping will now he described as applied to the form of folder
shewn in Figures 12 to 17, Sheet IV., which description will fully instruct one
skilled in the art as to the modifications of taping necessary to be adapted in the
modifications of the turuer herein described.
The lower set of main tapes leading from the cutting cylinders to the folder
consist, as shewn of four endless tapes 161, 16, 163, 16, which run over
pulleys 241, 242, 243, 241, hung on a shaft 24 mounted just in advance of said
cutting cylinders. The tapes 16, and 16, pass over one section of the front plate 11

page_text: of the folder, thus being stretched from the pulleys 24', 243, under pulleys 25', 25³,
that are mounted on a shaft 25 so as to stand in front of pulleys 27/27', so that
their peripheries coincide with the face of the plate 11. From these pulleys said
tapes run lightly in contact with the plate 11, over the turner 3 (or pulleys 261/26/
hung between the plates 11, 13 so that their peripheries coincide with the surface
of this turner), thence down inside of the plate 13 to pulleys 271 272 hung on a
shaft 27, and return to the pulleys 24', 243.
The tape 163 runs from the pulley 24 under pulley 25' hung on the shaft 25
with its periphery coincident with the surface of plate 11. From thence said tape
runs in contact with the plate 11 passing over a pulley 263 hung in an opening in
the plate 11 so that its periphery coincides with the surface of that plate and
returning under a pulley 273 on the shaft 27 to the pulley 24³.
The tape 16 runs from the pulley 24 on the shaft 24,under a pulley 25 on
shaft 25,(the periphery of which pulley stands in an opening in the plate 11 and
is coincident with its face) and thence returns over a pulley 27' on shaft 27 to the
pulley 244. The pulleys 273 and 27 are shown in Fig: 25 in which the shaft 25
is broken away to expose them.
These tapes 163/16 run in the same plane to the foot of the plate 11, and as far
as they extend upwards over said plate, they all follow its surface.
The upper set of tapes,co-acting with the lower set, consists of endless margin
tapes 1717, and an endless centre cord or tape 172, which run over pullies 37, 37
and 372, hung on a shaft 37/ mounted just in advance of the cutting cylinders and
above the pullies 241, 242, 24³, 243.
The margin tape 17¹ runs above the tape 161, from the pulley 371/u under the
pulley 25, over the pulley 26 and returns under a pulley 28 on a shaft 50, and
over a pulley 391 on a shaft 39. This portion of the tape is omitted in Figure 24 as it
runs from pulley 39¹ to pulley 37' in the same plane as the cord 172, and would thus
obscure said cord). The margin tape 17 runs above the tape 16 from the
pulley 37 (Figures 23 and 25/Sheets IV. and VI.) under the pulley 25. From this
point it leaves the tape 16 (which is returned) and thence lies upon the plate of
the folder which it follows. Thus it bears over the turner 5, extends laterally
over the turner 7, and descending returns over a pulley 38 on the bar 50, thence
over a pulley 39 on the shaft 39, whence it is carried laterally back to its marginal
position by means of deflecting pullies 40 and 41 from the latter of which it
descends to its pulley 37.
The tape or cord 172 runs from the pulley 37% on shaft 37 under a pulley 25² on
a shaft 26, thence against the plate 11 over the turning surface 3, near the folding
point 6 descends between the plates 13, 14 and returns over a pulley 383, running
over the bar 50f see Fig: 26, Sheet IV., and a pulley 392 on shaft 39, thence over a
deflecting pulley 393 to its pulley 372.
The surface speed of these tapes will be slightly greater than that of the cutting
cylinders, so that the forward end of the partially or completely severed web (when
nipped between the tapes 161, 162, 163, 16, and tapes 171/17% on the line of contact
with pulleys 251 252 253 25) will be advanced fast enough to detach such forward
end to form a sheet, which sheet (or one formed by completely severing the web)
will be advanced to provide a working distance between successive sheets as is
common in web printing machines. Each sheet will be supported and carried onto
and over the folder by these tapes, and will have its sections folded laterally one
upon another, so as to double the same on a line parallel with its line of travel as
will be readily understood from the former description, said tapes controlling the
sheet until in its once folded condition,it leaves said folder.
From the point where the tapes or cords 17/17/17% return, such folded sleet
is guided onward by means of auxiliary endless tapes 15 152, and 181 182, stretched
as follows The tapes 181, 18%, run over pullies 48 48% hung on shafts and so
situated as to lie in the planes in which the folded ples of the paper lie, as they
leave the plates 14, 13, theuce over pullies 443, 44, by which said tapes are
stretched horizontally to co-act with tapes 19½ 19½ that are stretched from pullies

page_text: 45 and its companion to pullies 511/51, as a means of delivering the paper when
it is folded transversely. The tapes 15/15/1 run over pullies hung on the shaft 27;
and return over pullies 491, 493.
271
The tapes 16, 16 might be extended to take the place of the tapes 15/15³, an.i
would then return from the pullies 49/492, to the pullies 24/242
erfor
It is obvious that the tapes 15/15 and 181/18 might lead directly to a second
taped folder,composed of turners for to a fly which would deliver the longitudinally
folded sheet in a flat pile, or to any of the well known forms of rotating folding
mechanism.
This taped folder is shewn in Figures 23, 24, Sheet VI., as combined with a folder
of the usual construction. Said folder consists of a double rotating folding blade 60
that is supported in a rotating carrier 61/said folder operating to project one of
the folding blades 60 into the nip of the pullies 44/44%, and 45/452, at each
rotation of its carrier, whereby a sheet caused to descend before said pullies,will be
doubled by said folding blade into the nip of the pullies, as shown by dotted lines,
and will thus be folded transversely on any predetermined line, and thus folded,
will be delivered by the tapes 18/18 and 19 19.
The smooth descent of the paper between these pullies and the folder is aided by
guides 62 and 63.
Conductors 65 may extend between the tapes 15 152, and 184/18% to aid the
descent of the folded sheet.
The transversely folded sheet may be arrested in its passage between the tapes
1818 and 19/192, or the unfolded sheet may be arrested while passing between
the tapes 18/18 and 15/15%, and be struck by a folding blade between a pair of
folding rollers which lie in the plane in which the sheet is carried by said tapes.
The space intervening between the surface of the cutting cylinders and the
pullies 24/243/24/21, and 371/372 and 37, may be spanned by conductors or
conducting cords 66',
61/66³, run in grooves in said cylinders and over pullies.
67/672 mounted on the shafts 37 and 24.
If the cutting cylinders 42, 43 do not entirely sever the web transversely, but
partially severing it leave it connected at two or more places, the system of taping
may travel at the same speed as the cutting cylinders fast enough to keep it taut,
but not to sever it, thus enabling the connected sheets to run at a lesser speed than
when controlled by accelerated tapes. In this case the sheets may be separated
after leaving the turners, by fast turning nipping rollers.
A combined cutting and folding mechanism, or one that embodies a single set.
only of such mechanism, or a transverse cutting mechanism may supplant the
rotating folding mechanism.
It will be apparent that two or more webs or sheets may be manipulated by this
mechanism the same being fed into it one upon another; or a single web may be,
divided longitudinally into two by a slitting device 100/as shown 6 Figure 18.
A single web previously printed and wound up, whether of the width of the web.
being printed half that width, or a quarter, or any other proportion of such width,
and whether severed transversely or not, may be carried into the folder on top of or
beneath the main web and thus be incorporated with it, said severed or unsevered.
supplementary web being delivered with the main web to form supplementary"
sheets of different sizes as required.
It will be understood that the cutting cylinders 42, 43/ may be removed, and the
folder receive sheets froin any one of the various kinds of apparatus adapted to.
produce or manipulate fabrics."
It is obvious that the web or sheets folded once longitudinally by this improved.
folder may be converted into a flattened tube suitable for various uses, by laying a
line of paste upon one of its edges as the fabric passes through the folder. This
asting device may be of any well known form and be situated at any proper point.
as a dise 101 placed near the base of the plate 11, see Fig. 12.
In Figure 27 I have illustrated the combination with printing and cutting
mechanisms of two longitudinal folders of the character above described.

page_text: The combination and operation of these folders has been so thoroughly herein
before described that no further explanation is required here. Though they are
arranged in horizontal planes their function and action remain the same. I have
here shewn a web of paper 8 as being led from its supply roll 31 between
cylinders 70 71 which illustrate the type and impression cylinders of a printing
machine. This web in passing over the turners 3, 5, 7/ constituting the primary
folder will be doubled or folded longitudinally upon a central line, and in its doubled
condition will pass over the turners 3, 5 and 7/ constituting the secondary
longitudinal folder, and thereby be a second time folded longitudinally upon a line
parallel with its first longitudinal fold.
Thus folded the web is led through a cutting and a folding mechanism/as shewn
and which in this Figure is illustrated as consisting of two rotating carriers 80, 81,
the one supplied with a folding or creasing blade 44 and the other with fold
seizing jaws 85, 86, the latter a moving jaw which carriers are provided at proper
points opposite to those occupied by the folding blade and nipping jaws with a
cutting mechanism of any ordinary construction.
In passing through the cylinders, the longitudinally folded web will be folded
transversely by means of the blade 44, its doubled bight or fold being entered into
the slot provided between the jaws 85, 86, and secured there by the latter jaw
closing upon it. As the cylinders revolve the folding blade 44 will be withdrawn
and the paper carried onward by the jaws 85, 86, until the proper length having
passed between the carriers 80, 81, the web will be severed by the cutting
mechanisms and the detached portion of the sheet thus formed, will have its
forward and rearward portions laid together to complete the fold, and the folded
sheet will be piled beneath the carrier 81, by reason of the release of its forward
folded edge by the opening of the jaws 86. But as has been here fore remarked
any other of the well known rotary folding machines and cutting mechanisms may
be employed.
While I have shewn two longitudinal folders combined with each otherfit is
obvious that any other number may be thus arranged.
Under this head of the Invention/ I claim
First The use of longitudinally folding devices constructed and operating
substantially as described with reference to Sheets IV. to VI. of the Drawings.
Second In combination with one or more folding devices, constructed as above
described the use of leading rollers, such as 20 and 21, for guiding the fabric onto
and from the folder substantially as described.
Third In combination with one or more folding devices/ constructed as above
set forth, one or more of the several mechanisms,in any desired order, for printing
dividing, cutting, folding, slitting, and pasting, the fabricf all substantially as
described.
Fourth The combination with one or more folding devices/ constructed and
operating as set forth, of tapes arranged to carry the fabric through the folder, all
substantially as described.
Fifth The combination of a series of two or more folding devices constructed
and operating as set forth.
The next head of the Invention relates to a modified construction of folder to
impart longitudinal folds to a web or sheets of material passing through it which
folds may be three in number, reducing the web to one quarter its normal width,
or two in number reducing it to one half its normal width.
As in previous cases this head of the Invention includes also various combinations
of the folder with other devices, and also a system of taping all of which is too
particularly hereinafter set forth to need further preliminary description..
The primary purpose of the folder is to impart the longitudinal folds to a web of
paper or to short lengths or sheets of paper as the same is received from the printing
devices of a web-printing machine, said folder being adapted to so fold the web or
sheets at a speed equal to the highest rate at which the rotary printing devices
may be run. It is thus not only capable of disposing of the product of a printing

page_text: machine but so manipulates that product that its dimensions are reduced width-
wise to a degree that enables it to be subsequently manipulated by a mechanism
comparatively small in its dimensions, which may be adapted to cut the
longitudinally-folded web into sections and deliver the same in a flat pile, or tó
impart transverse folds thereto. It is further adapted to folding the product of
cloth-machines, or any other fabric-producing machinery where it is desirable to
deliver the product folded longitudinally, and it is likewise adapted to the
production of tubes for use in the making of bags,and similar articles as will
hereinafter appear. This modified construction of folder will be readily understood
on reference to the Drawings, wherein Fig. 28/ Sheet VII. is an end elevation,
Fig. 29 a side elevation Fig. 30 a plan view and Fig. 31 a longitudinal elevation
of a machine embodying my Invention, while Figures 32 and 33 are sectional
views shewing the product folded by such machine Figures 34 and 35/Sheet VIII.
shew a modified construction of the turners Fig. 36 is a side. elevation and
Fig. 37 a plan view of a modified form of said machine while Figures 38 and 39
are sectional views showing the product as folded by such modified machine
Figures 40 and 41 illustrate the combination of this improved folder with a web-
printing machine, and with a transverse cutting and folding machine Figures 42
to 44/Sheet IX./inclusive, illustrate a system of taping this improved folder when
adjusted to impart two folds to detached sheets, Fig. 43 also illustrating its com-
bination with a transverse-cutting apparatus, and a transverse-folding apparatus
Figures 45 and 46 illustrate the modification of taping necessary when the folder
is adjusted to accomplish three folds.
In describing these improvements, the web to be manipulated will be referred to
as composed of three sections (see Figures 28 and 30) the middle section A being
equal to half the width of the web, and the two side sections B/C, equal respectively
to one quarter of the width of the web, said side sections being divided from
the middle section by imaginary lines Df Ef which ultimately becomes lives of
folding.
The folder is composed of turners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. The turner 5 is of a
length equal to the middle section A of the web, and the turners 1, 2 are disposed
in angular positions, so as to support the side sections B and C of the web. The
inner ends of these turners 5, 1, 2 would, if continued, meet at the points marked
6, 62, which are the folding-points, but these points are imaginary ones, that is to
say, the said inner ends of the turners 5, 1, 2, are cut away so that they do not
meet but leave a free space, within which the sections of the web may crease or
double without having any supporting surface or bearing immediately beneath such
points to obstruct the creasing or doubling of the fabric.
The turners 3, 4/extend forwardly from the ends of the turner 5 (see Fig. 28)/
and are disposed so that their forward ends would meet together at the common
point 6, as their rear ends would if continued meet the turners 1, 2, 5, at the
points 66 but like said turners they are cut away at such points as they are also
cut away at the point 6/ so as not to bear upon the fabric.
The turners 7, 8 project forwardly from the turners 1, 2/ their point of union
therewith at 61, 63, being cut away and they terminate at points above the turners
3 and 4 with which their lower edges are approximately aligned. These turners
are connected together by plates so as to afford bearing-surfaces between them
for the paper as follows; back plate 12 connects the turners 1, 2, and 5; a
plate 13 connects the turners 3, 4, and 5 and plates 14, 15f connect the turners 1, 7,
and 2, 8.
The web of paper 11 is shown as coming from a roll 30 wound on a roller 31
and it passes under a bending roller 32 and a guiding roller 33 into contact with
the surface of the back plate 12 against which it is stretched smoothly throughout
its width. From this back plate.its middle section A is drawn smoothly over the
turner 5, and thence over the plate 13f and turners 3, 4.. This brings its .centre
over the folding point 6, and causes the side sectious Bf Cf to be drawn smoothly
over the turners 1, 2 and plates. 14, 15, and thence over turners 7, 8... This
.

page_text: disposition of the web causes the crease or fold formed at the points 61, 62 to lie below
the plane occupied by the turners 3, 4/which draws a portion of the middle section A
down below said turners 3, 4 and portion of the side sections B C into a
like position, the remaining portions of said side sections being sustained by the
plates 14, 15. As the central or folding point of the middle section is sustained
over the folding point 6, the web will thus be provided with three folds namely/a
central fold 10 and side folds 10/10/and the plies composing the same will lie in
a vertical plane that will form a sectional figure approximately like the letter W
(see Figures 32 and 33) when they are entered into the nip of the drawing
rollers 34, 35 between which rollers the four plies of the fabric will be pressed
snugly together. These drawing rollers 34; 35 being vertical are so related to the
turners that they govern the course of the paper, that is to say, while the
combined turners distend the fabric to its full width, although it is supported in
different planes, the vertical rollers deflect the folded side sections B, C, so that a
central or third fold formed at the point 6 unites them. When the rollers 34, 35/
are moved they will draw the web over the turners and impart folds to it upon
the three parallel lines D/E/F, which will reduce the width of the web to one
quarter its original extent, and deliver it in a form suitable to be cut up into
sheets which may be delivered in that form,or be further folded transversely or
otherwise as desired.
The turners 1, 3/must be so disposed with respect to the turner 5, that they
will distend the side sections B/C of the web when its central section is stretched
over said turner 5, and the turners 7, 8/must be so disposed with respect to said
turners 1, 3 that they will stretch the side sections centrally, so as to direct the
outer edges of the web properly onto the doubled parts of the middle section of the
web, and to the rollers 34, 35, and while the turners 1, 2 as shown in these
Figures, extend from the lines 18, 19 (see Fig. 28) on one side,and vanish into the
plates 14, 15 on the other side, it is practical to make the angle of relation between
the plates 12 and 13 more acute or more obtuse. In the latter case said lines 18, 19
would be more nearly vertical than is shawn, and in the former case the said lines
would spread laterally, and finally merge into the said turners 1, 2 which would
then stand more obliquely with respect to the turner 5, and nearly in the same
plane.
The latter one of these arrangements of the turners is shewn in Figures 34, 35
in which the turners 1, 2 lie in nearly the same horizontal plane as does turner 5,
and are arranged with respect thereto at a greater angle than in the preceding
Figures. These Figures also shew that the turners 7, 8 may lie more nearly
parallel with the turners 3, 4 and in about the same horizontal plane. Other
changes in the relation of these turners 1, 2, 7, 8 with respect to the turners 3,
4,5 may be made; but the preferable arrangement is that shewn in Figures 28
to 31.
When the web is conducted to this folder direct from a printing machine it may
be slit on the line For point of its central fold, and a line of paste be applied to
and between the side sections near their lines of fold, so that when they are
brought together between the rollers 33/34 they will be united by said line of
paste, and when severed transversely each section so produced will constitute a
pack or pamphlet of four leaves united together at their back edges. This may be
readily accomplished by a slitter 100 properly placed to so divide the web, and a
suitable pasting disc as 101f properly positioned with respect to the folded edges of
the two sections.
In the machine illustrated by Figures 28 to 31 the vertically arranged
rollers 34, 35 which are geared to run in unison are supposed to be sustained in
proper bearings in a suitable framework in which the turners are supported, but as
the said turners are capable of imparting two parallel folds as well as three to the web,
these rollers are shewn as journaled in circular frame 36/which frame is secured to
brackets 37, 38, which project from the ride frames 39, 40 which circular frame is
capable of being adjusted upon the shafts of the screw bolts:41,42, being furnished

page_text: with guide slots 43, 44, for this purpose. aid frame may thus be held in the position
shewn in Fig. 28 to sustain the rollers 34, 35, vertically, or as shewn in Figures 36
and 37 to sustain such rollers horizontally, but any other means may be adopted to
effect this. When but two longitudinal folds are to be produced these rollers are
adjusted horizontally and the web is stretched over the turners 1, 2, 5, 7, 8,
precisely as before, but instead of the creased or folded side sections being carried
down over the turners 3, 4, to form a central fold between them, they are stretched
directly from the points 61/62 over the rollers 34, and then between the twofas shewn.
The web might go directly to the nip of the rollers 34, 35, if desired and said rollers
were adjusted in the proper plane with respect to the turners. The web therefore
does not have a working contact with the turners 3, 4, which are then out of action
and practically dispensed with. The lers 34, 35/being turned the web will be
middle set the Luthers 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, and
drawn over the turners 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, and, have its side sections B laid over the
shown in Fig. 38. A webs folded may
bave the edge of one side section lapped over the edge of the other side section, as
in Fig. 39 and when the machine is supplied with a proper pasting appliance/as
the disc 102/see Fig. 28) these lapped edges would be secured together and form
tubes which might be utilized in the production of bags, paper-files, &c. but for
newspaper purposes the web may be folded so that its edges will stably meet,
and when so folded it may be cut transversely,and further folded in any direction
as may be desirable whether or not it is slit centrally by a slitter 103, Fig. 36, to
divide it into two sections each folded longitudinally.
It may be remarked that in either of the above adjustments of this folder a
previously printed supplementary web may be incorporated within the folded
product by simply leading the same over the turner 5 whether such supplementary
web is of a width equal to the whole or any part of the width of the main web.
The supplementary web thus introduced will be drawn onward by the rollers 34, 35
and folded within the main web and be severed with the sevared section.
It will be obvious that the folded web may be led over one of these rollers 34
or 35fas shewn in Figures 28 to 31, at a right angle therefrom,to a pair of carrying
rollers, or being led directly to a cutting or combined cutting and folding machine.
This latter expedient will be resorted to where compactness of the machine is
desired, or where it is preferable to deliver the web at the side of the machine. In
such case the roller might be stationary and the web be drawn over it. Thus led
out from the roller it might be turned at any angle desired by means of turners
arranged as already described.
It will be understood that the web of paper instead of being supplied from a roll 30
will in practice be received directly from the fabric producing or manipulating
machine, as from a web printing machine, and that one or both the rollers 32 and 33
might be omitted, also that the folded web might be delivered directly to a rotary
folding machine such for instance as that hereinafter described with reference
to Sheets XIV., XV & XVI. of the Drawings, which would supplant the
rollers 34, 35.
In the form of machine, Figures 28 to 31, the folding devices of such folding
nachine would stand vertically as in Fig. 40, while in the machine illustrated in
Figures 36 and 37, said lolding device would stand horizontally, as is shewn in
Fig. 41, from which and the lettering of these illustrations it will be understood that
the web is manipulated by the turners in Fig. 40, as it is in Figures 28 to 31, and
in Fig. 41 as it is in Figures 36 and 37.
The cylinders 200, 201, represent the last type and impression cylinders of a web
printing machine and the cylinders 202, 203, represent the carriers of a combined
rotating cutting and folding mechanisin, which mechanism may be of various
constructions as is now well understood in this art. As shewn the cylinder 202 is
provided with a cutting blade 26 that co-operates with a slot 27 in the cylinder 203.
A tucking creaser or blade 23 is carried by the cylinder 202 and co-operates with a
vibrating jaw 29 carried by the cylinder 203, which blade and jaw coact to
produce a transverse hold in the fabric. The cylinder 203 is further provided with

page_text: a rotating folding blade, 30, that co-operates with folding rollers 31, 32, the
construction and operation of which devices. are well known to those engaged in
the trade.
The printed web emerging from between the cylinders 200, 201/ will be carried
directly through the folders as before described, and thus be folded longitudinally.
This folded web will by the co-action of the cutters 26, 27/ be severed into short
lengths or sheets, which sheets will be folded transversely by the co-action of the
folding devices 28, 29, and this once-transversely-folded sheet will be again
transversely folded by the action of the rotating folding blade 30, which will
double the folded sheet into the nip of the rollers 31, 32, which, with the tapes
that run over them, will deliver the same. It is further to be understood that this
folder, whether adjusted to produce three folds or two folds as has been described,
may be supplied with tapes to aid in carrying sheets through it, whether such
sheets be conveyed singly to it or come in succession from a printing or other sheet
producing machine. A system of taping the said holder when adjusted to produce
twofolds is shewn in Figures 42, 43, and 44, Sheet IX. In such Figures the
cylinders 45, 46, illustrate the cutting cylinders of a web printing machine from
which a printed web is delivered in sheet form,
This taping is as follows:-The series beneath the web consists of two tapes 16
and 16. The tape 16 runs from the pulley 20' on the shalt 20 over the plate 12/
and the pulley 203 below turner 5, the surface of which pulley is coincident with
the surface of plates 12 and 13 (which are removed at that point From this pulley
the tape passes over the plate 13 around the roller 35, and thence returns to the
pulley 201
The tape 162 runs from the pulley 202 on the shaft 20 over the plate 12 to
pulley 20 thence over the plate 13 to roller 35/over which it returns to pulley 20%.
Of the outer or surface series one marginal tape 171 runs from the pulley 21'
on the shaft 21 over the plate 12 and turner 1 to the pulley 22/around which it
returns passing over a deflecting pulley 43 to pulley 231 on a shaft 23/and returns
to pulley 21. The opposite marginal tape 17% passes in like manner from
pulley 21 en shaft. 21 over plate 12 and turner 2, to the pulley 22% around
which it returns passing over a deflecting pulley 44 to pulley 23 on shaft 23
and returns to pulley 21. The central surface tape 173 passes over pulley 213 on
shaft 21 over the plate 12, to and over the turner 5, over the plate 13 to the
,
pulley 22, over which it passes to pulley 233 on shaft 231 and returns thence to
pulley 21
Two intermediate surface tapes run longitudinally in the same vertical planes as
those occupied by the tapes 161, 162, and 17 and 177. They co operate with the
former tapes 161 162 to form a pathway in carrying the sheet up over the
turner 5, said taper 16/16 and 17% 177 continuing the pathway so formed
from the turner 5 to the rollers 34, 35.' One set only of these tapes appears in the
Drawings, viz., that marked 17, which tape runs from pulley 213/last on the shaft 21
over plate 12/parallel to and in carrying contact with the inner tape 162, to and
over the turner 5/ and returns over pulley 22 situate near the point 62 to the
pulley 213. The companion tape runs from a pulley fixed on the shaft 21/at an
appropriate point distant from the pulley 213 passes over the plate 12/parallel to
and in carrying contact with the inner tape 16, thence to and over the turner 5/
and returns over the pulley 222 (see Fig. 42) situate over the point 6½ to the said
pulley on shaft 21.
Other outer or surface tapes 176 and 177/arranged to conduct the fabric through
the folder by contact with the doubled or folded portion thereof are situate and run
as follows:-Que 176 from the pulley 21°, and thence to and in carrying contact with
the inner tape 16' to roller 34, and returns thence to the pulley 21. The other
tape 177
passes from the pulley 217 parallel to and in carrying contact with the
inner tape 16 to roller 34 and returns thence to the pulley 217.
From this described taping the modification of the same necessary to conduct
sheets through the folder constructed of the turners where the fabric is disposed as

page_text: is shewn in Figures 28 to 31 inclusive, will be readily apparent. Such modification
is however illustrated in Figures 45 and 46.
Thus it will only be necessary to change the run of the under tapes 16/16 and
the upper tapes 17/17/which will then be as follows:-The tapes 16 and 162
will be run from their respective pulleys 201 and 20% on shaft 20 over the plate 12
and turner 5 near the points 61/62/ and bearing over the edges of the turners 3
and 4 will run towards rollers 34, 35 lying in the same planes in which the
side sections of the web are to move, and then return respectively over vertical
pulleys 50% 50% journaled beneath the point 6f thence around suitable guiding
pulleys 70% 70% and 80/80% to their respective pullies 20/20%. The tapes 17
and 177 will run respectively from rollers 60'/603 journalfed vertically beneath the
turners 7,and 8f thence outward in carrying contact with the tapes 16/16 to the
rollers 34, 35 and return thence to the pulleys 601 60². These taped folders are
thus adapted to impart longitudinal folds to the sheets and these sheets may be
supplied from any source/as before explained.
In Fig. 43 the cutting cylinders 45, 46% of a web printing machine are shewn as
the means of dividing a web into sheets as it passes to this folder. In this
illustration/these cylinders are supposed to but partially sever the web, so that the
faster running tapes of the folder inay, when the partially severed portion is within
their nip, accelerate its movement, detach a sheet, and rapidly advance it. It is
apparent, however, that the cylinders 45, 46 may entirely sever the web to form
sheets, and these sheets be guided by conductors into the nip of the tapes. The
ngitudinally folded sheet emerging from the rollers 34, 35 may be delivered to
any of the now well known forms of rotary folding machinés.
In this Figure a
rotary folding machine adapted to impart two transverse folds to the sheets is
shewn, but as it is constructed like the rotary folder shewn in Fig. 42, no
explanation of its parts is necessary here. It may be remarked, however that by
the removal of the rotary blade 30 in both cases one transverse fold only will
be imparted to the sheets."
The web or sheets folded by this apparatus may be slit longitudinally while
passing to this folder, or the turners thereof, by placing the slitter 103 near the
point 6 over the central plate 13 which will be properly grooved to secure its edge,
or en the roller 33, or between the rollers 32, 33, or at any other suitable point.
The product of either modification of the apparatus will then be two webs, each
folded in their longitudinal centre.
The twice folded web produced by the modified apparatus shewn in Figures 36
and 37, when one of its edges overlaps the other, as in Fig. 39, may have a line of
paste applied to the proper one of its edges by a suitable pasting apparatus, so that
such surface shall run in contact with it, and as it passes through the folder such
dge will be united to the opposite edge as it overlaps the same in passing between
the rollers 34, 35, whereby said twice folded web will have its fre: edges united
together and form a flattened tube.
The fabric, though given the proper direction by the support afforded by the
turners, nevertheless remains free or unsupported at the folding point, and may hence
bend or double at that point without being strained by any rigid supporting surface
or opposing force on either side of it. The most limp or fragile paper or fabric may
therefore be doubled or folded by this improved folder without injury to its surface
or liability to tear at the folding point or line. Moreover it will be observed that
in all positions which the web is made to assume in being folded by this improved
folder it is fully distended widthwise, and therefore has no slack portion which will
pen it it to buckle up,or be otherwise distorted from its true course.
The pasting apparatus might be constructed so as to apply transverse lines of
paste to the web at proper points.
It is to Le understood, as before explained, that the folding device consisting of
either five of the turners or the seven turners is capable of separate co-operation
with the other devices and mechanisars in producing longitudinal folds in the

page_text: material and otherwise manipulating it, and hence that five of the turners as well
seven of them are embraced in the combinations hereinafter set forth.
Under this head of the Invention 1 claim;―
First: The use of longitudinal folding devices constructed and operating
substantially as described with reference to Sheets VII, VIII., and IX, of the
Drawings.
Second: In combination with a longitudinal folding device, constructed as
above set forth, the means substantially as herein shewn and described
for guiding the web of fabric onto and conducting it through the said folding
device.
Third: In combination with a longitudinal folding device, as above set forth, the
rullers 34 and 35 arranged and operating in the manner and for the purpose herein
described.
Fourth: In combination with a longitudinal folder constructed as above
described, one or more of the several mechanisms, in any desired order, for printing
pasting, longitudinally-slitting, transversely folding, and transversely cutting, the
fabric, all substantially as shewn and described.
Fifth: The combination with a longitudinal folder/constructed and operating as
described, of sets of tapes/whereby detached or partially detached sheets may be
carried over and through the said folder, and delivered therefrom with longitudinal
folds all substantially as shewn and described.
The next head of the Invention relates to that class of folding apparatus whereby
a web or sheet of paper or other fabric passed through the same, has a longitudinal
fold imparted to it, said fabric in such manipulation being distended widthwise/
and supported lengthwise by guiding surfaces over which its side sections are
deflected centrally, by means of external pressing or guiding turaers; such folding
apparatus may therefore be said to consist of internal or inside, and external or
outside bearing or turning surfaces, by the conjoint action of which a fabric
embraced by them will when moved through them/ be folded longitudinally.
The improvements effected consist chiefly in a novel construction of the internal
supporting or turning guide/whereby the margins of the web or sheet are supported
longitudinally during its folding, that is to say, during its passage over the internal
supporting or turning surfaces, or while its side sections are being lapped together/
and the longitudinal folding is accomplished.
A modified construction of the internal supporting surfaces, or turning guides, as
they will be called, and various combinations of the same with coacting devices,
as will be more particularly hereinafter explained, and also included under this head
of the Invention.
are
Folders of this character are especially adapted for attachment to web printing
machines,as the delivery apparatus thereof, whether such web is cut before or after
passing through the folder.
The several parts comprising this folding apparatus will be supported in a
suitable framework/ so that the stationary parts will be securely held and the
turning parts may properly revolve, and the said turning parts will be geared und
driven as is common in the structure of machines. These minor details are
therefore omitted from the Drawings in order that the same may more clearly
illustrate the Invention.
The structure of the apparatus is shewn in Figures 47, 48, 47° and 48"
Sheet X., of the Drawings, wherein Fig. 47 illustrates in side elevation, and Fig. 48
in plan view a folding device embodying these improvements. Figures 47 and 48
shew in elevation and plan view a modified construction of the folding device.
'
As shewn the internal turning guides are formed by bending the main body 12
of a plate so that the forward edges of its centrally bent sides 14, 15f shall be
united.
This structure of guide provides bends 1, 2, extending rearward from the
point 6, and flaring outward, over which bends the side sections of the fabric are
deflected.

page_text: The external guides or turners 18, 19/stand parallel with these meeting edge of
the side plates/14, 15, and, between their faces, provide a space sufficient for the
passage of the lapped side sections of the web, or sheet, which came together in
passing between them.
The rear edge of the plate 12 is straight, and may be attached to a bar 13 at
either of the points shewn in Fig. If by which bar it will be attached to the
supporting frame.
The external turners, though shewn in Figures 47 and 48 as pulleys, might be
rollers, and in either form might be fixed so as not to revolve, or they might be
fixed bars as will yet appear.
In the pulley or roller form shewn they will be geared together and properly
driven to act as drawing rollers to draw the web or sheet over the folder.
Assuming the tapes shewn in these Figures to be dispensed with, and the folder
constructed as has been described/the operation will be as follows
It is
A web of paper or other fabric, is drawn over the bar 13 or rear edge of the
plate 12 whereby it is distended in the same planes to its fullest width.
passed upward over the plate 12 its side sections passing over the bends 1, 2,.
thereof, drooping against the side plates 14. 15. Its leading edge,then lapped
together, is entered between the rollers 18, 19/that constitute the external turners,.
and the machine is ready to perform the folding operation. Motion imparted to
the rollers 18, 19 will then draw the web onward and the same will be folded
at the point 6, the side sections being lapped together upon this folding point, in
consequence of the direction given to the same, by the external turners, and the
rollers or pulleys that draw the doubled web between them.
Thus,as the web runs in the same direction as the internal guide is disposed, it
follows that the web is supported longitudinally during its movement over the
internal guide, while undergoing the folding operation, and this is especially
requisite at the margins of its side sections while said sides are being deflected from
the point where they pass over the bar 13,and up to the point where they come
within the control of the external turners 18, 19. In this inanner the perfect run
of the web and its folding will be accomplished, without danger of rupture,
buckling, or other injury from distortion.
This folder is designed to have combined with it the means for severing a web
into sheets,either as the web passes to or from the same, and also with a means for
imparting transverse folds to the sheets, cut from the web by either mode.
When sheets are to be folded longitudinally by this apparatus, the same requires
to be furnished with tapes to carry the sheets through it.
One system of taping the same is illustrated in Figures 47 and 48f and will now
be explained.
As here shewn, four sets of endless outside tapes are employed, two of which
endless tapes 8, 8', are centrally arranged, while the remaining two tapes 7, 71, are
arranged near the margin of the fabric.
The marginal tapes 7, 7½ run from pulleys. 20, 20', on the shaft 20% thence they
pass onto the base, or rear surface of the plate 12, follow near its marginal edges
pass over the bends 1, 2, follow uear the marginal edge of the side plates 14, 15,
and return around the lower ends of rollers 18, 19 (or pulleys substituted for
them) then pass over the turner pulleys 31, 32 (or vertical rollers substituted for
them) thence over deflecting pulleys 33, 34 to the pulleys 20, 20. The central
tapes 8, 8½ run from pulleys 20/20% on the shaft. 20°, thence they pass onto the
base or rear surface of the plate 12, follow near its central line, pass over the
bends 1, near the folding point 6, and return over the upper ends. of the
rollers 18, 19 (or substituted pulleys) then pass over the upper pulleys 31, 32 (or
substituted rollers)/thence over deflecting rollers 35, 36f to the pulleys 20/20
Sets of under tapes might of course be arranged to co-act with the upper tapes
if desired, but the same are unnecessary when the continuous or plate form of
folder is used.

page_text: When tapes are used,it will be desirable to supply the pulleys 20, 21³, 21ª, 21',
though these are not essential.
It has been said that the rollers or pulleys 18, 19 may be stationary, and that
fixed surfaces may be substituted for them.
Such modification is shewn in Figures 47* and 48*/the form of external turners
adopted, being fixed bars,also marked 18, 19. These figures also show the drawing
rollersnow marked 28, 29/as placed slightly in advance of the turners 18, 19, which
rollers will be geared together and properly driven to move the web through the
folder. In these views a modified or skeleton structure of the internal guide of the
folder is shawn, the construction of which is as follows:-
-
A central plate 12 having the form of a right angled triangle, the perpendicular
of which is equal in length to at least one half the width of the web or sheet to
be manipulated, is secured to the bar 13, so that the point of union between its
hypothenuse and base lines shall be above said bar.
The perpendicular line of said plate 12 is thus made to stand parallel with the
working edges of the external turners 18, 19.
Narrow plates 14, 15 brought together at their forward edges, so that such
meeting edges coincide with the perpendicular line of the plate 12, extend
rearwardly with their lower edges in the same plane that is occupied by the base
line of the plate 12. Said plates spread apart at the required equal angles/and are
secured to the bar 13 with their rear edges shaped so as to lie in the same plane as,
and consequently at the same angle, with the hypothenuse of the plate 12, and
form bends 1. 2.
:
The supporting plate 12 is thus diminished to a narrow edge, and the side
plates 14, 15 or margin supports are reduced to narrow surfaces.
The skeleton form still provides the means for holding the fabric distended
widthwise, while passing through the folder, and yet supports the web so that its
side sections are held taut lengthwise and smooth widthwise, and so supported as
to accomplish their perfect folding:
The internal guide is preferably formed by bending the sides of a square plate of
metal (of a width equal at least to the width of the fabric designed to be folded)
inwardly from a central point of its front edge, as 6, so that each half of such front
edge shall meet together.
As these meeting edges of the inwardly bent sides stand at right angles to the
side edges of the said plate, and the rear edge of the plate is straight or unbent,
such distortion will cause the main body of the plate 12 to stand at an obtuse angle
with respect to said meeting edges, and the line of union between the inwardly
bent sides or plate 14, 15 and the downwardly bent main body or plate 15, which
constitute the bends 1, 2, will likewise stand at an obtuse angle with respect to
each other. Hence as the distance transversely upon any line drawn parallel with
the meeting edges from one side edge of the plate 14 over the plate 12, and to the
side edge of the plate 15f must be the same and equal to the length of the rear edge
of the plate 12, it follows that a sheet or web held in contact with said plates and
thus lapped or folded longitudinally, will be properly distended widthwise, and as
the internal guide is continuous, from the poiut where the fabric passes over its
rear edge around the plates 14, 15, it follows that the side sections which are
turned or deflected centrally to lappen each other have their margins supported
until the same leave the front edges of said plates when the folding is completed, and
bence that the web at no point of its being so lapped,has any slack portion whereby
its perfect manipulation would be prevented or rupture of its body result.
It will therefore he apparent that while the meeting forward edges of the
Bides 14, 15, are kept at a right angle to the folding line or point of union
between the lapped sides of the fabric, the rear end of the plate 12 may be lowered
to a considerable degree beyond that shewn, and that the more it is depressed the
greater will be the acuteness of the angle of the plate 12 with respect to its
meeting forward edges until, the two stand nearly in the same plane or parallel
with each other the angle which the bends 1, 2, bear to each other in like manuer

page_text: growing more obtuse; the raising of the plate 12 will of course produce the
opposite effect. These angles of relation will also vary according to the length
given rearwardly to the plate 12 and will likewise be changed if the lines of union
between the sides 14, 15/and the body 12, constituting the bends 1, 2, be rounded
instead of abrupt.
In all cases however the same extent of bearing surface widthwise for the fabric
will exist upon any transverse line drawn from one edge to the other of the side
plates, and parallel with the meeting edges of the forward end of the plate and the
fabric be perfectly sustained.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the internal parts of the
folder may be divided transversely into a number of narrow plates so long as a
sufficient number of bearing surfaces be provided to sustain the fabric, especially its
margins, and prevent it from sagging inward or otherwise becoming distorted from
a true course, whereby its perfect folding would be prevented.
The internal guide may likewise be composed of a series of narrow plates or
rods or wires that start from the bar 13 and extend forward at the proper angles/
in lihes parallel with the path of travel of the sheet or web, until they terminate
at the perpendicular line of the triangular form they will thus constitute. Such
constructions are within the present Invention, and will operate to perfectly
support the body of the fabric as well as its side sections longitudinally while the
latter being brought together to form the longitudinal fold.
When the folder is provided with a cutting mechanism operating to sever the
web into sheets passing through it, it is obvious that one of the cutting cylinders
may perform the function of the bar 13, and that when a web is manipulated
the pulleys 21, 21³, 21, 21', or a roller. substituted for them may perform the like
office.
Also that when cutting cylinders or the same and a rotary folding mechanism
receive the web from this folder, either may perform the function of the
rollers 28, 29.
Only one and it may be either one of the external turners 18, 19, is necessary
to the perfect operation of the folder. This turner may be in the form of a roller
as
is shewn in dotted lines Fig. 3, by rollers/ as, 2 folding mechanisms, similar in
pulleys, or a stationary device, and the lapped web simply drawn over its edge:
28, 29, or any other forwarding
mechanism, as rotary cutting or cutting
character to that shown in Sheets XIV., XV.fand XVI. of the Drawings/which
will be found more fully described hereafter.
Under this head of the Invention/1 claim
First. A folding device for imparting a longitudinal fold to a web or sheet
consisting of external turners and an internal guide that is constructed so as to
Eupport the margins of the side sections of the web or sheet longitudinally
during the passage of the same through the folder, all substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the external turners and the internal guide
having surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally during
the passage of the same through the folder, of the tapes 7, 7, 8, 8', substantially
as described.
Third. The combination with the stationary exterual turners, and the internal
guide having surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally
during the passage of the same through the folder, of the drawing rollers sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the external turners and the internal guide
having surfaces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally during
the passage of the same through the folder of the tapes 7, 8, and drawing
rollers substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the external turners and the internal guide having
faces that support the margins of the web or sheet longitudinally during the
passage of the same through the folder, of a roller or pulleys 21, 213, 21, 211,
substantially as described.

page_text: Sixth. A folding device consisting of the plates 12, 14, 15/and
turners 18, 19 substantially as described.
and one or both
Seventh. The combination with the plates 12, 14, 15 and one turner, as 18
or 19, of the drawing rollers 28, 29f or equivalent forwarding mechanism/ sub-
stantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with the plates 12, 14, 15 and one or both turners
18, 19, of the bar 13, or rollers 21, 213, 21, 211, substantially as described.
The next head of my Invention relates mainly to a peculiar arrangement of the
internal guide and external turners whereby the side sections are first brought
together at the folding point that is to say the outside edges or margins of said
sections are completely lapped together after the fold is wholly formed.
The Invention embraces however a system of taping the mechanisms so that
said folder may manipulate sheets or short detached portions of a web, and the
combination of the folder with a printing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, and
with a folding mechanism and other combinations of devicesfall of which is herein-
after fully set forth.
The construction and operation of the internal guide and external turners will
now be described, and its modifications and combinations with the other devices
will be subsequently set forth.
The necessary framework for supporting the stationary parts, as well as the
turning parts and the means for rotating the latter are omitted here, as the same
may be of any common construction.
a
In Sheet XI. of the drawings Fig. 49 illustrates the side elevation, and Fig. 50
a plan view of a machine embodying the present modification. Fig. 51 illustrates
a side elevation the cylinder 16 being removed, and Fig. 52 a plan view of a
modified construction of the same.
The internal guide consists of a support the general form of which is that of a
pyramid the rear side 12 of which at its base line 8,is equal in length at least,
to that of the width of the material to be manipulated, and its forward sides 14, 157
are each equal in height to at least one half the width of the web, no matter at what
angle they are arranged the rear side 12 of the pyramidal internal guide may be
inclined at various angles from the base line, where the fabric is supported width-
wise to the apex 6, which is the point where the fold is formed but from this
point. 6 the folded fabric must be drawn outward by a device the straining line of
which is at right angles to the line of fold 10 formed by drawing the fabric over
the edges or beuds 2/3 formed by the union of the forward sides 14/15/of the
pyramid with its rear side 12. This variation in the angular position of the
rear side 12 will however cause the bends or lines of union 2, 3 to stand at
a more obtuse angle as the plate is depressed, and more acutely as it is raised.
The sides 14, 15/should project forward so that their line of union will stand
at an angle from a perpendicular line passing through the point 6 corresponding
with that at which the rear side 12 stands with respect to said line, and the
external guides 4, 5 which may be fixed reds will be sustained parallel with and
slightly in front of the line of union of the forward edges of said sides 14, 15.
These forward edges may be shortened/and the guides 4, 5 be placed in a more
vertical position or the same may be lengthened so that the guides 4, 5 will be
inclined farther forward, which positions of them will be varied to suit the
character of the fabric to be manipulated. The greater their length is made,the
less abrupt will be the inward deflection of the sides of the fabric to complete its
lapping, and consequently the danger of rupturing the same will become lessened.
This arrangement of folding mechanisms thus enables the bend or fold to be
determined at the point 6, and to be gradually completed as the fabric passes
outward therefrom till the lapping is finally accomplished by the external
turners 4, 5.
The internal guide may be given the form of a cone, as is shewn in Figures 51
and 52, if desired and this is accomplished by simply curving the sides 12, 14, 15
so that the bends uniting them form ares of the same degree of curviture as the

page_text: said sides have. The angles of inclination of said sides are however preserved, but
may be relatively varied, as before described, and said guide still providesa means
for distending the fabric widthwise as it passes onto the guide, and causes the fold
to be formed in the fabric at the apex 6, before its side sections, which are deflected
centrally by passing over the sides 14, 15, are completely lapped together by passing
between the external turners 4, 5.
The fabric is led over the rear edge or base 8 of the side 12, has its side sections
laid over the side plates 14, 15, and after being brought together is led between
the external turners 4, 5, from whence the doubled fabric is entered between a
rotating forwarding mechanising the line of seizure of which is at right angles to
the folded edge 10 of said fabric. This forwarding mechanisin may be the pulleys
91, 9, l'igures 49, 50, or their equivalent rollers 9, 11, Figures 51, 52, the folding
cylinders 16, 17, Figures 49, 50, or cutting-cylinders substituted for the latter.
Practically this folder may be used to fold a web of paper by leading the same.
directly from the printingfcylinders of a printing machine, as will be described
farther on but when used to fold sheets or short detached portions of a web, it
will be necessary to provide the folder with sheet conducting tapes whereby such
sheets may be properly carried through its mechanisms. A system of such taping
is illustrated herein and will now be explained. Such taping consists of upper or
outer side tapes, of which the endless marginal tapes 71, 72, run from the pulleys
171, 173, on the shaft 17, and pass over the rear side 12, thence follow near the base
or margin of the plates 14, 15, run between the turners 4, 5, and return over the
lower pulleys 9, 11, and the lower deflecting-pulleys 91, 11', and the pulleys 9, 112,
to the pulleys 171, 172.
run between the turners
Endless central tapes 73/7 run from the pulleys 173/17 un the shaft 17/and
pass over the rear side
thence enter upon the sides 14, 15/near the point, 6/
5 and return over the pulleys 9, 11, and the upper
deflecting-pulleys 9½ 11', and the pulleys 93, 11% to the pulleys 173, 174.
Additional pulleys 91 95/ may be placed just in advance of the point 6 if
desired.
Sets of auxiliary tapes 70 run from pulleys 175 on shaft 17° to pulleys 18 on
shalt 18% the forward pulleys being place near the pulleys on the shalt 17, and the
shaft 18 of the latter pulleys being placed just below the base 8 of the rear side of
the internal guide.
The pulleys 9, 11the pulleys on shafts 17, 17% and 18° might be given the
form of rollers if desired, as is shown in Figures 51, 52, hence their tape-
receiving portions are marked with characters corresponding with the pulleys to
indicate their equivalency therefor. The folder thus equipped with tapes is
especially adapted for co-operation with a web-printing machine. To illustrate
this combination the cutting-cylinders 19, 20 of such a machine are shown, and
these cylinders may be of a size equal circumferentially to the length of one, or
that of two sheets, as may be desired and as is shown in the Drawings. The
latter form (shown in Fig. 51) is preferable since by making one set of cutting
devices removable one pair of cylinders may be made to sever two sizes of sheets.
These cutting-cylinders may entirely sever the web so as to completely detach the
In the former case
sheets, or they may operate to but partially sever the web.
suitable guides to direct the leading edge of the sheets into the tapes will be
required between the cutting-cylinders and the pulleys or rollers on the shafts 17, 17º,
as is well understood. In the latter case the web partially cut on the lines to
divide it into sheets will be held together with a strength sufficient to carry it into
the conducting-tapes without the use of such conductors. Such a partially-severed
web emerging from the cutting-cylinders 19, 20 will be led between the tapes
7% 74 and 72 and thence through the folder as before described, the tapes 7479
77 causing the web to properly travel onward and prevent its weak points or
lines of partial severance 21, from being broken in such passage, the series of tapes
running at the same surface speed as the cylinders 19, 20. This partially-severed
web or succession of sheets will be folded longitudinally at the point 6, and have its

page_text: sides lapped together by the external turners 4, 5, as before described, and the
fabric thus doubled on the line 10, will be nipped between the pulleys or rollers
9, 11, and be directed to the devices carried by the cylinders 16, 177 the rollers on
pulleys 9, 11thus acting as the means for drawing the web onward though this
function may be wholly performed by the cylinders 16, 17/in which case the
rollers or pulleys 9, 11 will be set apart and act as guides for the tapes simply.
The cylinders 16, 17/are rotating carriers supplied with a tucking-blade 30 and
a movable jaw 31 thus constituting the rotating folding mechanisin constructed as
has been before described. These cylinders will be run at a surface speed slightly
greater than that of the printing-machine and the tapes/in order that as the folded
web passes between them and is folded transversely by the blade 30, which presses
the fabric into the nip of the vibrating jaw 31, which jaw thus seizing the sheet
carries it around with the cylinder 17 in the direction of the arrow, the folding web
may be thereby so accelerated or drawn forward as to complete its severance on
the line 21, when the same has cleared the external turners 4, 5for the rollers or
pulleys 9, 11. The sheet thus transversely folded is delivered from the jaw 31
and properly piled or otherwise disposed of; or the cylinders 16, 17 may be supplied
with other well known web severing devices a smooth or unbroken edge being
substituted for a serrated knife in which case the cylinders 16, 17 and the
printing-cylinders would travel at the same surface speed, the severing devices
acting to sever the sheet froin the web along the line of partial severance.
cylinder 19 may also be provided with web-retaining devices (situate near the
knife carried by said cylinder) and a swinging or rotating folding-blade, in which
case the web would be severed by the cutting devices of cylinders 19, 20/and the
forward end of the web be held and carried around on cylinder 19 by the pins, until
the folding-blades arrived at the pulleys carried by shaft 17% when the pins would
be withdrawn and the folding-blade be turned outward forcing the overlying
paper between the pulleys on shafts 17, 17%, between which the sheet would be
folded and carried thence over the longitudinal folder, the cutting devices severing
it from the main web the forward end of which would be heid by the pins and
carried past the pulleys on shafts 17, 17%; the folding blade returning to its normal
position to again perform its function of folding the subsequent sheet:
described.
The
as above
The cylinders 16, 17 as illustrated in Fig: 52/10 BOL differ materially from those
shewn in Figures 49 and 50f except that they are of double size and provided at
opposite points with duplicate folding mechanisms as the lettering indicates, being
thus made capable of folding sheets of one-half the circumferential extent, or equal
in length to their entire circumference. To accomplish this, one of the folding
mechanisms must he made capable of being thrown out of action as may be
required.
When this folder is to be used to manipulate a web (in which case it need not
have the tapes) the cylinders 16, 17 will be provided with cutting mechanisms
only, and may be constructed as are the cylinders 19, 20. In this case the web
printing machine will not require the cutting mechanism and the web delivered to
this folder and folded longitudinally thereby, will be cut up into sections or sheets
of the desired length by the cutting-cylinders placed in front of the turners 4, 5,
which cylinders will then run at a surface speed the same as that of the printing
machine. It will be apparent that the cylinders 16, 17 may likewise be sup-
planted by a combined rotary cutting and folding mechanism such as has been
already described, or similar to that shewn in Sheets XIV., XV.and XVI. of the
Drawings and that in that case the folded web will not only be cut into sections
or sheets but said sheets will be delivered once folded transversely.
It is to be understood that this folder is capable of use with any means for
supplying the web or separated sheets to it.
The internal guide may be divided widthwise or lengthwisef so as to constitute a
sectional structure, and still afford a supporting surface that operates in connection
with the external turners to perfectly perform the folding operation. A series of

page_text: under tapes may also be so arranged as to pass from the pulleys on shaft 17° over
the internal guide, and in carrying contact with the tapes herein shewn and
described said under tapes returning around pulleys situated near the external
turners, thence over suitable deflecting guides or pulleys to the under side of pulleys
on shaft 17%
Under this head of the Invention I claim
First. A folding mechanism consisting of an internal guide/pyramidal or conical
in form, with which is combined external inclined turners 4, 5 substantially as
described.
Second. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5 of the system of taping/substan-
tially as described.
Third. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5/of a drawing mechanism as the
rollers or pulleys 9, 11 or the cylinders 16, 17 substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners of cutting-cylinders for transversely
severing the material operated upon, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with a folder consisting of the pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5 of cutting cylinders such as
19,
0, 20% and folding cylinders/such as 16, 17/ and the system of taping substantially
as described.
Sixth. The combination with a folder consisting of a pyramidal or conical
internal guide and external inclined turners 4, 5% of the folding-cylinders and the
system of taping/substantially as described.
The next modification relates more particularly to a novel construction of the
internal folding guide and the combination of the same with external guides as
well as with conducting tapes, with transverse cutting mechanisms and with.
transverse folding mechanisms, the whole constituting a folding delivery mechanism
especially adapted to work in combination with a printing mechanism of that class
known as "web perfecting machines," the printed product of which may be thereby
cut into sections er sheets and folded at a high rate of speed.
It is well known that to accomplish the doubling or folding of a web or sheet
longitudinally or in the direction of its travel by carrying the same between
external and internal folding guides it is essential that the internal folding guide
should be so placed as to guide that portion which constitutes the bight or crease
of the fold in the line of travel parallel with that of the edge of the folded section.
In the present arrangement the internal guide is so constructed that the danger
of rupturing the edge of a web of thin fragile material, such as the paper used in
web perfecting presses, is avoided by means of a guide which distends the web or
sheet widthwise from the point of its reception upon the guide to the point of
folding contact, whereby the pressure of the external guides or turners exerts no
strain tending to rupture the edge of the fabric as it leaves the wilthwise support
afforded by the internal guide, or if the internal guide is so placed as to provide
sufficient slack to the side sections to avoid the breaking tension over its edges, no
injurious overstrain will be brought upon that portion of the fabric in contact with
the creasing edge of the said guide, all of which will be more particularly herein-
after pointed out.
The structure of this modified form of folder will be readily seen on reference to
Sheets XII. and XII. of the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig: 53/Sheet XII.
represents a plan view, and Fig: 54 a side elevation of the folding machine showing
the fabric as introduced through the same. Fig: 55 is a plau view and Fig: 56 a
side elevation of the folder unobstructed by the presence of the fabric Fig: 57
Sheet XIII is a plan view and Fig: 58 a side elevation of the folder, shewing one
mode of taping the same, so as to adapt it to manipulate detached sheets.
The internal guide is composed of a series of rollers 10, 11, 12 which have their
bearings in a frame, the members 13, 14f of which terminate at their forward end

page_text: in a bearing 6, which constitutes the point where the longitudinal fold is to be
formed. The roller 10 is of a length at least equal to the width of the material to
be folded, and the rollers 11 and 12 have conical ends, said internal guide thus
composed, being pivotted at its rear end on the journals of the roller 10fand rendered
adjustable in its angular position with respect to the external guides or turners
15, 16 by a supporting frame as 17 by which it may be raised and lowered by
means of a cross bar 7 that rests in the slot of an elevating screw-threaded rol 18.
The external guides or turners 15, 16: are properly supported in a framework
(not shewn but of common construction) so as to stand at right angles to the line
of fold to be imparted to the material, and the conical ends of the rollers 11 and
12 are so aligned with the folding point 6-as to properly bend the material that is
distended widthwise by the roller 10 as it passes over them to the control of the
external turners 15, 16, and thus deflect its side sections so as to cause the material
to crease at the point of and its side sections folded at that point to be lapped
together by said turners 15, 16.
This internal guide may of course/stand at a different angle of elevation with
respect to the external turners 15, 16. Thus, if its rear end is raised from the
position shewn, the rollers 11, 12 will have to be shortened so that their conical
ends form a more acute angle of union with the point 6, and if said rear end be
lowered the rollers 11, 12 would have to be lengthened so that the angle of union
of their conical ends with the point 6 would be more obfuse. This angle of relation
between their conical ends and the point 6 would also vary with the longitudinal
extent of this internal guide,as said guide is lengthened or shortened; but in all
cases slight vertical adjustment should be made to cause the conical ends of these
rollers to perfectly take up the slack material caused by deflecting its side sections
centrally to cause the formation of the longitudinal fold.
With the internal guide thus constructed, whether it has two rollers as 11, 12/
or more as may be required by the fragility of the paper, it will perfectly distend
the same so that the body portion will be supported as it passes over the roller 10,
and the deflected sides thereof will be likewise supported between the conical ends
of said rollers as 11, 12/ the point 6/ and the external guides or turners 15, 16.
A folder thus composed operates to accurately impart a longitudinal fold to the
material without unduly straining it in any part, but on the contrary perfectly
distending the same without danger of rupture or injury to it, the series of rollers
forming the internal guide for the material during its folding providing surfaces
that support it widthwise, and along its natural bending points, so as to cause the
strain to be equally distributed throughout the fabric widthwise.
constantly changing bend forming the fold which commences at the side edges and
runs thei ce angularly to the line of permanent folding is definitely determined
and formed without distorting the material or unduly straining the same.
Thus the
In Figures 53 and 54 a web of paper is illustrated as being longitudinally folded
by this apparatus and though bending rollers as 19, 20% are shown as guiding, the
said web onto the interual guide, such rollers may obviously be dispensed with and
the said web may be led directly from the printing and impression cylinders 21, 22,
of a printing machine, which cylinders are designed to represent the last printing
cylinders of a perfecting printing machine, the structure of which is well known.
The web passing from between the cylinders 21, 22/or rollers 19, 20 is laid
breadthwise over the roller 10 and then carried over the angular sides of the
internal guide as formed by the conical ends of the rollers 11, 12 and the point 6,
whereby they are brought together and entered between the external guides 15, 16,
which guides, as here illustrated, are shewn to be rollers that will be properly
geared together and driven at a surface speed equal to that of the printing
cylinders 21, 22 but here it is to be remarked that these external turning guides
need not rotate, but on the contrary they may be fixed surfaces. If however they
are to operate not only as external guides but as means for drawing the material
through this folder they will of course be driven rollers. The web is shewn as
passing beyond them to a combined cutting fand folding mechanism which may

page_text: consist of two rotating carriers 23, 24 (the former being supplied with a tucking
blade and the latter with a nipping jaw 25 said cylinders also carrying a cutting
blade 26 and cutting slot 27 (or may be similar to the cutting and folding mechanism
shewn in Sheets XIV., Xand XVI. of the drawings).
This combined cutting and folding mechanism is constructed substantially like
that which has been referred to previously, and which needs no particular
description here. It may be generally said however that the web passed between
the carriers 23, 24 is pressed by the tucking blade between the nipping jaws, that
the latter seize it at that point and carry it onward with the carrier 24 until the
cutting blade 26 comes into action to divide the web transversely to form a sheet,.
which sheet once folded transversely by the movement of the jaws 23/is at the
proper time delivered therefrom. Either the cylinders 23, 24, or the rotating
turners 15, 16, may thus be the means of drawing the web through this folder, and
it will be obvious that the strain upon the web will be sufficient to cause its sides
to be deflected over the edges of the internal guide, the crease to be formed at the
point 6 and the sides to he lapped together in passing to the turners 15, 16; thus
imparting a longitudinal fold to the material, which operation may be carried on at.
great speed, equivalent to that at which the printing machine can perform its
operations.
The cutting operation whereby the web is divided into short sections or sheets
may be performed before this longitudinal folder is reached. This may be done by
interposing cutting cylinders as 29, 30 between the printing cylinders 21, 22/and
this folder/as in Fig: 58. When this is done it will be apparent that the ciftting
mechanisms will not be required in the rotating transverse folding mechanisms
constituted by the cylinders 23, 24, which transverse folding mechanism will thus
operate to simply fold the sheets previously severed from the web as shewn in
Fig: 53. When this longitudinal folder is to operate upon detached sheets as in
Figures 57 and 58, it will be necessary to supply the folder with means for con-
ducting the sheets through it and this is done by means of tapes. One system of
taping is shewn in said Figures.
These
When the web is but partially severed by the cylinders 29, 30/then as the
rollers 10, 11, 12/form the inner support, outside tapes only are necessary.
outside tapes consist of marginal tapes 1, 2 that run under the roller 20, thence
over the roller 10, thence follow the path taken by the margins of the sheets, and
return around the lower cads of the rollers 15, 16, passing over deflecting
pulleys 37, 38 and 39, 40/to the roller 20.
A central tape 3 runs from the roller 20 over the roller 10, and returns over a
pulley 41 placed near the point of so
so as to bear upon the bar forming said point,
or a roller supported thereby.
Intermediate tapes 4, 5 run from the roller 20 and return over pulleys 42, 43
that bear upon the roller 11. These tapes are sufficient to nip the partially
detached sheets between them, and carry the same onward through the folder, so
that they will be properly advanced and will be directed between the external
guides 15, 16 which in this arrangement should be drawing rollers. These tapes
and the rollers 15, 16/ will run at the same surface speed as the cylinders 21, 22,
and the rotating carriers 23, 24 will run as much faster as is necessary to
accelerate the travel of the material and detach the partially severed sheet
from it.
If the cylinders 29, 30 completely sever the material, the customary leading
cords will direct the sheet therefrom to the rollers 20, 19 around the latter of
which under-leading tapes will extend to rollers 10, 11, 121 to properly support the
sheet, or other supporting means will be required.
The transverse folding machine may be constructed like that shewn, or be of any
other well known construction but preferably of the construction to be shortly
described with reference to Sheets XIV., XV and XVI. of the Drawings. A
stationary bar might supplant the roller 10 and the rollers 11, 12/ might be fixed
on their bearings so as not to revolve. If enough rollers as 11,
11, 12/3
are used, so

page_text: that a diminutive roller is supplied to support the material very close to the
point 6, the extended frame forming a support at that point may be omitted.
Though the material or fabric has been described as coming from a printing
machine it is obvious that it may be received from any source whatever, either in
the web or sheet form.
Under this hend of the Invention I claim;-
First: The Sternal guides or turners 15, 16 in combination with a sectional
internal guide formed of rollers as 11, 12/ having tapered ends, constituting
together a longitudinal folding devices constructed and operating substantially as
described.
Second: The combination of a longitudinal folding device composed of a sectional
internal guide formed of rollers having tapered ends and external guides or turners
15, 16 with transverse cutting and folding printing mechanisms, either one or both,
substantially as described.
Third: The combination of a longitudinal folder composed of a sectional internal
guide formed of rollers having tapered ends and external guides or turners 15, 16/
with leading rollers as 19, 20 substantially as described.
Fourth: The combination of a longitudinal folder composed of a sectional internal
guide formed of rollers/having tapered ends and external guides or turners 15, 16,
with a system of taping substantially as described.
Fifth: The combination of a longitudinal folder composed of a sectional internal
guide formed of rollers/having tapered ends and external guides or turners 15, 16/
with cylinders or carriers such as 23, 24 and their cutting or folding mechanisms,
substantially as described.
In the foregoing description of the several longitudinal folding devices and their
various modifications to which this Invention relates, reference has been made to
the use of these longitudinal folding devices in combination with other mechanisms,
and more especially to the combination of the said devices with rotary cutting and
folding mechanisms of a type similar to that described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to Mr. William Edward Newton No. 2561, of 1872. Since that
date,however,the construction of such machines has been greatly improved, and I
will now proceed to describe the rotating cutting and folding mechanism which I
prefer to employ in combination with one or more of any of the previously
described folding devices, and constituting a compound machine for folding
as already
By this improved rotating cutting and folding mechanism a web or long length
of paper or similar material, is cut into short lengths or sheets which are folded
and delivered as follows:A,with one transverse fold; B with two transverse folds;
C,with two transverse folds and one cross fold; and,D, with two transverse folds
and two cross folds. Besides the mechanisms for accomplishing this, the apparatus
includes various combinations of parts, various devices for controlling the movement
and delivery of the sheets, and other details fully hereinafter set forth.
paper longitudinally and transversely and dividing up into sheets
stated.
In Sheets XIV., XV., and XVI. of the Drawings, Fig: 59/Sheet XIV. represents
an elevation of the gear side of the machine. Fig 60 represents a longitudinal
sectional elevation looking toward the opposite side of the machine; Fig 61
represents a plan view Fig: 62 Sheet XV. represents a longitudinal sectional
elevation looking toward the gear side of the machine; Fig: 63 represents a view
of the machine taken with the upper works omitted, so as to shew a plan or top
view of the vertical folding devices; Fig: 64 represents a plan view of the cam
plate for operating the folding blades for the fourth fold; Fig: 65 Sheet XVI
represents an inside view of the cams for operating the cutting blades 17, and the
folding blades for producing the second fold; Fig: 66 shewing a vertical section of
the samefand Fig: 67 an outside elevation thereof and the supporting arched frame;
Fig: 68 represents the sheet controlling device by an elevation; Fig: 69 being a
cross section shewing the plates and Fig. 70 a cross section shewing the pins and
stripper.Fig: 71 represents a sectional elevation of the cross folding mechanism,

page_text: and Fig:72 a horizontal section thereof; Fig: 73 represents the delivery apparatus
for the third fold.
The main elements of the machine illustrated, are two rotating cylinders or
carriers 30, 40, that are mounted horizontally in bearings in side frames 41, 42; and
of two rotating carriers 50, 60 that are mounted vertically in suitable bearings in
cross frames that unite said frames together (see dotted lines Fig: 61). The
carriers 50, 60 are composed of shafts 51, 6lf from which project the parts
necessary to support the coacting folding devices, and it will hence be understood
that the carriers 30, 40 may be similarly constructed, and that the carriers 50, 60/
may be constructed as are the carriers 30, 40. In connection with this delivery
apparatus the last impression cylinder 80 of an ordinary web press, which simply
prints but does not cut, is represented, from which it will be understood that the
printed web may be led without being severed, directly to the horizontal
cylinders 30, 40. It being understood that the web from the printing machine may
be conducted over and through any of the longitudinal folding devices above
described before enters this delivery apparatus, and that the folding mechanisms.
of said apparatus are placed at right angles to each other so that the folding devices
that perform the cross folds may be horizontally arranged and yet perform
the operation of crossfolding, a description of the various parts will be proceeded
with.
The cylinders 30 and 40 are geared together by toothed wheels 52, 53/so as to
run in unison, from one of which wheels they may be driven by gearing connected
with the printing press. These cylinders are provided with duplicate mechanisms
so that at one revolution thereof two sheets will be manipulated. In describing
these mechanisms only one set will be referred to, it being understood that the
second set which are placed in opposite positions to the first set, and which are
lettered with like characters/operate in precisely the same way.
•
The means of accomplishing a transverse fold in the sheets are as follows: The
cylinder 30 has its periphery provided at a proper point with a plate 10 and the
cylinder 40 is provided with a similar plate 11 in a corresponding position, said
plates preferably being thin and elastic, and operating when the cylinders revolve
to press the sheets between them and hold the same. Below the plate. 10.the
cylinder 30 is provided with a thin presser bar 12 the edge of which lies in an
opening in the cylinder and projects slightly beyond the peripheral line thereof.
This presser bar 12 is mounted upon a shaft 14 that turns in the heads of the
cylinder 30, and which is provided at one end with a rock arm, the stud or
roller 32 of which runs in a slotted cam 33, which cam is adjusted so as to rock the
shaft 14 and impart a slight vibratory movement to the said presser-bar 12. The
cylinder 40 is provided at a suitable point below the plate 11 with a presser jaw 13
that is hung upon a shaft 15 which shaft is journaled in the heads of the
cylinder 40 and provided at one end with a rock-arm, the stud or roller 34 upon
which runs in a slotted cam plate 68 that is properly secured to the arched side
frame 67 by a screw 69, the groove 35 of which cam imparts a slight vibratory
movement to said presser jaw 13. The cylinder 30 is also provided with a fixed
cutting blade 16 which cooperates with a cutting blade 17 that is mounted upon a
shaft 18 so as to project slightly beyond the periphery of the cylinder 40.
cylinder 30 also carries impaling pins 19 that project from a rock shaft 43 that is
vibrated at the proper times by means of its rock arm 44, by a cam plate 45; and
these pins 19 are projected by the cam so as to protrude behind the cutting
blade 16 and impale the paper to secure the leading end of the web, when, by
the cutting action of the blades 16/17, the sheet severed thereby is detached from
the web. The leading end of the sheet secured by these pins will be held to the
surface of the cylinder 30 and travel around with it until the folding devices come
into action upon the folding line of the paper and secure the same, when by the
action of the cam 45 said pins will be withdrawn and the leading end of the sheet
released. As the body of the sheet is thus carried between the folding devices of
the cylinders 30, and 40 the plates 10 and 11 are caused to press toward each other,
The
E

page_text: nip the sheet, and hold it secure. The presser bar 12 and jaw 13 will at that
moment, being opposite each other, have a slight rearward vibration imparted to
them by the action of their cams 33 and 68 and thus seizing the sheet between
them carry it slightly rearward, and cause a loop or bight of paper to be bent into
the space between the jaw 13 and the end of the plate 11/where it will be held.
As the cylinders further revolve the bar 12 will be moved away from the jaw 13/
and the latter with the plate 11 will carry the bight or fold of paper onward
with the cylinder 40, thus drawing together the leading and rear ends of the sheet
(which will be severed from the web by the action of the cutters 16, 17/ as they,
or their companion set of cutters, come into operation) thereby completing the first
transverse fold. When the cylinder 40 has so far rotated as to reach the proper
delivery point for the sheet, the forward vibration of the jaw 13 is accomplished
by the groove 35 of cam 68, and the once-folded sheet is thus released. t any
suitable point of the rotation of the cylinder 30 the forward vibration of the
jaw 13 is accomplished to bring it into position to repeat the operation, but it is to
be understood that the cam 33 is capable of adjustment whereby it may throw the
presser bar 12 so that it will protrude beyond the periphery of the cylinder and
there stand in a position to act as a tucking blade which will force the paper
lying over it into the space between the jaw 13 and plate 11, and then be moved
in a contrary direction as said jaw 13 is vibrated to nip the bight of paper.
It may be here remarked that the pins 19 are not essential to the proper
manipulation of the sheet the leading end of which when severed by the blades
17, 16, especially when the same are serrated, will have a fibrous edge the filaments
of which being carried over the blade 16 will temporarily hold the end of the paper
there and prevent the air from entering beneath the same quickly enough to force
the sheet off of the cylinder 30 before its folding point is secured by the folding
devices.
In the production of newspapers it is well known that a part of the edition is
sent out to the newsagents in quantities of several hundreds, and in this case it
is desirable to deliver the papers from the press in the best form for packing a large
Dumber compactly and expeditiously and this is the folio form, which is acomplished
by the single fold just described.
As this folding mechanism is designed to run at great speed it will be apparent
that the once-folded sheets will be dropped successively from the jaw 13 and
plate 11/and that consequently the pile of such sheets will rapidly accumulate.
Practically it is found necessary to arrest the impetus given to these sheets by the
rotary folding devices, and this is provided for in this apparatus by a sheet
controlling mechanism that consists of a small cylinder 20 upon the surface of which
lie a number of tangentially arranged elastic plates 21 of metal leatherfor rubber
each of which plates will, when said cylinder 20 is in a proper position by its
rotation, lie nearly parallel with the face of the cutter blade 17 as it passes over
said plate. This cylinder 20 is also provided at one or more points (preferably
two) of its length with curved projecting pins 22 which protrude beyond the
plates 21, and this cylinder 20 is rotated at a proper speed with relation to that of
the carriers 30, 40 by means of a toothed wheel 54 and intermediates 55, 56, 57/
and 58 that gear with the driving wheel 59 on the shaft of the cylinder 40.
This
gearing is properly timed so that the cylinder 20 makes one-third of a revolution
to each revolution of the cylinder 40. Thus, as the cylinder 40 carries two sets of
folding devices, and the cylinder 20 carries six plates and sets of pins, it is obvious
that a plate and set of pins will be brought into position to arrest each sheet folded.
The shaft 18 of the cutting blade 17 is hung in the heads of the cylinder 40
and provided with a rock arm 8 that is actuated by a slotted cam-plate 97 fixed
to the framework. The operation of these parts is such that when a once folded
sheet, the doubled bight or folded edge of which is carried round by the jaw 13 and
plate 11, is moved so far forward that its tail ends are brought between the blade 17
and the cylinder 20, a slight outward vibration of said blade 17 is accomplished by
its cam 97, and thus presses the tall ends of said sheet against one of the plates 21

page_text: carried by the shaft 20, said tail ends being thus momentarily nipped between the
surface of the blade and that of one of the plates 21, whereby the onward move-
ment of the sheet is arrested. This nipping of the tails of the sheets also causes
them to be impaled by the pins 22/which protrude into slots in the blade 17. The
cylinder 40 moves rapidly onward carrying with it the cutting blade 17 away
from the tails of the sheets/while the cylinder 20 rotates slowly its pins 22 holding
the tail ends of the folded sheet and thus holding it within their control and
suspending its rapid onward movement, so that its leading or folded edge which
has been released by the jaw 13 may settle down or descend upon a suitable
receiving surface. The slow rotating movement of the cylinder 20 moves this
sheet slowly onward a short distance, and presents the next rearward plate 21 and
the next rearward pins22 in proper position to repeat this arresting operation in
connection with the cutting blade 17 as the succeeding folded sheet is brought
into delivering position. Practically the outward movement of the cutting blade 17
takes place as it is approaching the cutting point at which time it has its greatest
protrusion upon the cylinder, and it stands in this position until it cooperates with
the plate 21 in arresting the sheets and from this point its movement within the
periphery of the cylinder takes place, so that it may not drag over the sheet which
it has arrested and which it leaves held by the pins, and tear the same from the
pins.
To prevent the tails of the sheets being carried around with the cylinder 20
strippers 2 are provided. These strippers project rigidly outward from a rod 63/
and lie along the side of, or embrace each circular series of pius 21, and as these
pins rotate and carry the tails of the sheets held by them downward, the strippers 2
force said tails off from the pins, and thus leave the sheets free. A guard 64
partially encircles the cylinder 20 and the devices it carries, to prevent them from
injury, and its forward end assists in stripping the sheets from the pins. By the
operation of this sheet controlling mechanism each sheet is slightly pressed forward
on the preceding sheet, and thus the pile as delivered presents inclined front edges,
which greatly facilitates the removal of a greater or lesser portion thereof by means
of the attendants.
Another part of the edition of a newspaper is sent out to another class of news-
agents who deliver the same in bundles of small quantities. In this case it is
desirable to deliver the papers from the press in the most convenient form for
bundling and this is done by imparting two parallel transverse folds. To adjust
this machine to impart two parallel transverse folds to the sheet as it passes once
through the same,the following devices are brought into operation: The cylinder 40
is provided at the proper points between the jaw 13/and plate 11 and the cutting
blade 17 with a vibrating folding blade 24. This blade is mounted upon a shaft
that turns in the cylinder heads and which carries at one end a pinion 25/
Fig: 66, with which a rocking segment rack 26 meshes. This rack is pivotted to
the cylinder heads and carries a friction stud or roller 9 that travels in the grooves
of a cam plate 66 (see Figures 65, 66, and 67/ Sheet XVI.). The cam 66 which
imparts motion to the vibrating folding blade is constructed with a groove 65 that
provides a circular path of travel for the stud 9 of the rock arm of the segment
rack 26 (see Fig: 65)/ so that when said stud travels in the circular groove 65, the
said blade 24 will not vibrate, and said cam has an extension or second groove 72
which, united to the groove 35,provides said cam with an oblong path of travel for
the said stud 9, by the action of which the segment rack will be vibrated/and
impart a similar motion to the blade 24. The groove 65 is put into communication
with the groove 72 by means of a head switch 5, that is pivotted at its rear end to
a short stud, upon the outside of which a lever 73 is fixed. This head switch may
be vibrated from a top recess 46 to a bottom recess 47 formed in the cam body,
a suitable adjusting hole as 84 being provided in the back plate of the cam to
secure said head switch in place. A tail switch 4 completes the uniting of the
grooves 65 and 72/ and it is pivotted and vibrates in a manner similar to the
switch 5, except that it is automatically moved into one position or the other by

page_text: the action of the said stud in passing it friction holding it up or down as the case
may be. This cam 66 is hung on a shaft 39 of the cylinder 40 and may be adjusted
axially thereon, bodily, with its switches 4, 5 by means of an adjusting locking
screw 70, the flange of which enters into a recess as 71/cut in the inner edge of the
arched frame 67. Thus in either position of its axial adjustment its switch 5 may
be adjusted to cause the vibration of the folder or suspend the same. When the
folio form is being produced or a single folding imparted to the sheet the head
switch 5 is moved so that the oblong part of this cam is thrown out of action
consequently the stud or roller 9 of the segment 26 travels in a circular path or in
the groove 65 (see Fig: 60) and the folding blade is not vibrated. To bring this
folding blade into action to impart a second transverse fold to the sheets the cam 66
is adjusted axially into the position shewn in Fig: 65, Sheet XVI, and its head
switch is adjusted as there shewn, so that the stud or roller will travel in the
oblong path formed by the uniting of the grooves 65 and 72. The set of folding
rollers 48, 49 which are arranged in a swinging frame so as to be moved from the
position shown in Fig: 60 Sheet XIV. to the position shewn in Fig: 62, and are
1
adjusted in the latter position; and another set of rollers 81, 82/ also hung in a
swinging frame are swung up to the operative position shewn in Fig. 62/Sheet XV.
When the sheet once folded, as has been described, arrives at the point where it
is released by the jaw 13f its head will have been carried between the roller 48
and the periphery of the cylinder 40% and will thus be carried onward in its
circular path and when the blade 24 arrives opposite the rollers 48, 49/the stud
e of the segment travelling through the elongated path or groove 72 of the cam
66, will cause said segment to move outwardly and thus partially rotate the
blade 24 which is thus protruded from the cylinder 40, and bearing against the
once folded sheet doubles it between the rollers 48, 49 and into their nip, which
rollers being driven by gears, one of which meshes with the toothed wheel 59, roll
the sheet out between them a second time folded. At the proper time the elongated
cam 72 reverses the movement of the blade 24, and carries it into a position to
repeat its folding operation. As the twice folded sheet is carried out between the
rollers 48, 49 it is projected over an intervening guide into the nip of the rollers
81, 82 which driven by a belt or in any other manner slowly move the said
sheet outwardly and drop it upon a table, as 83.
In performing this last described folding operation it is apparent that the sheet
controlling cylinder 20 and its devices must be out of operation and this is
accomplished by adjusting the swinging frame 200, in which they are mounted.
This frame is pivotted on the rod 63, and when rocked so as to carry the cylinder 20
downward it may be locked in a horizontal position by means of the adjusting
arm 74.
Another part of an edition is delivered to newsagents for counter sale,and to
carriers for band distribution, and it is desirable that the product for such distribu-
tion shall be folded in a small compass, so as to bring the papers to a suitable size
for convenient handling of a considerable quantity. This is accomplished by
imparting to the twice folded sheets a third fold at a right angle to the preceding
folds. This is done by bringing into action the cross folding mechanism which is
constituted by the carriers 50, 60 and their accessories.
In order to an understanding of the operation of this cross folding mechanism,
as well as its co-operation with the transverse folding mechanisms, its construction
and operation will be first described/and then its co-action with respect to the
transverse folding mechanisms next explained.
The shaft 51 of the carrier 50 is provided with a single folding blade 36 that is
rotated by a toothed wheel 37 that gears with a toothed wheel 38 on the lower end
of the shaft 61 of the carrier 60, which shaft 61 is also provided with a bevilled
wheel 90 that is driven by a similar wheel 89 on the shaft of a toothed wheel 98,
which meshes with an intermediate,201 that is geared with the toothed wheel 53.
The toothed wheel 37 is but half the size of the wheel 38 and therefore makes

page_text: two turns to each one of said wheel 38. Instead therefore of duplicating the
folding blade 36, it is made to turn twice as fast as the carrier 60 so as to co-operate
with each of the duplicate folding mechanisms of the latter. Each of these folding
mechanism consists of a jaw 27 that is fixed upon a shaft that is journaled in the
heads of the carrier 60, and provided at the lower end with a rock arm/the stud
or roller 28/upon the end of which, travels in a grooved cam 29/ cut in the face of
a stationary cam-plate 75. This jaw is vibrated in one direction at the point
where the folding blade 36 co-operates with it to seize the paper and it is vibrated
in the opposite direction at a proper point after passing the vertical folding rollers
85, 86 to release the sheet. Its co-operating jaw 76 projects from a shaft 77 that is
journaled in the heads of the carrier 60, and provided above the bottom one of
said heads with a bell-crank 78 one arm of which is provided with an opening 79,
through which a removable pin 87 may be entered so as to protrude into a cam
plate slot 88, formed in the face of the cam plate 75. When this stud 87 is thus
placed so as to travel in the cam slot 88, said cam slot will cause the jaw 76 to be
held in a fixed position for action with the jaw 27, at the time when these jaws are
co-operating with the blade 36 to seize the bight of the folded sheet, and this cam
slot 88 will cause said jaw 76 to be vibrated to release said sheet at a proper point
in advance of the delivery mechanism for a thrice folded sheet, as will hereinafter
appear; the cam groove 88 further vibrating said jaw 79 back to its stationary
position for co-operation with the jaw 27, hefore said jaws 76 and 27 again reach
the position for coaction with the blade 36.
The delivery mechanism for a thrice-folded sheet is, in part, comprised in a
presser-plate 91 that is attached to a vertical shaft 92 which is journaled in the
heads of the carrier/and provided above the bottom plate thereof with a rock-
arm 92, which rock-arm is connected by a rod 93 with the other arm of the bell
crank 78, so that when the jaw 76 is vibrated by the cam-groove 88 said bell
crank will impart concerted vibrations to the presser plate 91 for a purpose yet to
be explained.
At a suitable point behind the jaws 76, 27/there is provided a vibrating folding-
blade 31, which blade is attached to a vertical shaft 101 journaled in the head-
plates of the carrier 60, and provided at its upper end with an excentric disc that
travels in the groove 93° of a fixed cam-plate 94. This blade 31 is thus caused to
make a semi-rotation in passing the folding-rollers 85, 86, so as to project outwardly,
travel over the peripheries of said rollers, and in passing said rollers enter between
the same: The remaining part of the delivery mechanism for a thrice folded sheet
consists of a fixed presser-plate 95, and an elastically-moving or spring-seated
presser-plute 96; which plates are placed at a proper distance in advance of the
point where the rotating folding-blade 36 co-operates with the jaws 27, 76.
To adjust the mechanisms to impart three folds to the sheet the pin 87 is taken
from a second hole 99 in one arm of the bell crank 78 when it locks the same to
the lower head of the carrier and consequently holds the jaw 76 and thus prevents
both the jaw 76 and the presser bar 91 from being vibrated. This pin 87 is entered
through the hole 79 into engagement with the cam slot 88 which will cause said
jaw 76 and plate 91 to vibrate as the carrier 60 revolves. Both of these positions
are shewn in Fig: 72/ Sheet XVI. The lever 74 is then operated to raise the
swinging frame 200 into its higbest position/ whereby the folding rollers 23/621.
brought into operative relation with respect to the folding blades 24 of the carrier 40.
This brings the vertical guides or conductors 6, 7 which depend from a point
beneath the contact of said folding rollers, and operate to conduct the sheets
emerging from said rollers properly down between the carriers 50, 60. The cam 66
is then adjusted axially and its switch 5,adjusted so as to bring the elongated path
of travel of said can into operation to vibrate the folding-blade 24 at a point to
properly co-act with said folding rollers 23, 62.
are
The rollers 48, 49/ which are hung in a frame pivotted to the side frames 41, 42
are swung up, so as to be out of operation and not obstruct the path of movement
of the blade 17. When swung up, as in Fig: 59, they are secured in their non-

page_text: working position by means of spring bolts at the ends of their frame. When
swung down these rollers are brought into working relation to the carrier 40/ and
their frame is there secured by the bolts.
The rollers 81, 824 which are hung in a frame that swings in bearings on the side
frames are swung down as in Fig: 59, so that the sheets delivered as folios may pile
upon them or on a board rested upon them. These rollers are swung up to
co-operate with the rollers 48, 49 in delivering sheets twice folded. The motion of
the toothed wheel 98 is then imparted to the shaft 61/ by means of a clutch
mechanism so as to rotate the carriers 50, 60. The operation will then be as
follows The sheet once folded by the mechanisms as first herein before described
will be carried around with the cylinder 40 until its central part is over the said
folding rollers 23, 62. As this is accomplished the cam 65, 72/ will rotate the
blade 24 to impart a second transverse fold to said sheet by doubling the same
into the nip of the rollers 23, 62. These rollers will deliver the sheet from between
them, and the same will be directed by the conductors 6, 7/vertically between the
carriers 50, 60. As the folding blade 36 is properly timed in its rotation, it will,
when this twice folded sheet has descended vertically to a proper distance, double
the same on a line at right angles to the preceding folds into the space between the
jaws 76, 27, the latter immediately vibrating to nip the double portion between its
face and that of the jaw 76. These jaws carry the sheet onward with the carrier 60/
and when they have arrived at a proper point beyond the jaw 95 the cam 88 wif
simultaneously cause the jaw 76 to vibrate, and release the thrice folded sheet, and
the presser bar 91 to vibrate and press the tails of the same against the elastic
jaw 96 thus causing said tails to lap past the jaw 95/and as the presser blade 91
makes its return vibration within the carrier, and said carrier, moving onward,
carries the blade 91 away from the plate 96, said plate 96 is allowed to press
forward and nip the tails of the thrice folded sheet between it and the jaw 95, thus
arresting the onward movement of the sheet and holding it stationary. The other
sheets thus folded will be pressed against the preceding ones and a pile will shortly
accumulate between the jaws 95, 96/from whence they may be removed by hand
in quantities as may be desired.
Another part of a newspaper edition requires to be folded properly for trans-
mission in the mails. This necessitates at least four foldings. That number of
folds may be imparted to a sheet in passing once through this machine in the
following manner The pin 87 is removed from the opening 79 in the bell crank 78
and entered through the opening 99 and into a hole in the lower head of the
carrier 60. This locks the jaw 76 and presser bar 91 out of action, or so that they
will not vibrate as before explained. The sheet folded twice as before described/
and which has feceived its third fold at a right angle to the previous ones as just
described, is carried by the jaws 27, 76 onward with the carrier 60 until the middle
portion of the thrice folded sheet arrives before the folding rollers 85, 86. At this
time the vibrating folding blade 31 acts to double said thrice folded sheet into the
nip of the rollers 85, 86 from which it emerges a fourth time folded. The sheet
thus folded and delivered may be packed in any suitable manner. The cutting and
folding devices here described may be made of a length suitable to operate upon two
webs formed by splitting a main web as it passes to them.
The folding blades 24 might of course make entire revolutions and still perform
their function of folding in connection with the folding rollers.
In witness whereof If the said William Conquest have hereunto set my hand
and sealf the Thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM CONQUEST. (L.S.)