Improvements in or relating to Web Printing Machines, and Folding, Cutting, and Counting Mechanism therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Web Printing Machines, and
Folding, Cutting, and Counting Mechanism therefor.
I, ROBEкT CUMMING ANNAND of Cornwallis Street, South Shields in the
County of Durham, Printers' Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to machines of that class in which a web or webs of
paper are printed, associated together (in the case of more than one web), folded
longitudinally and transversely, cut into sheets, and the product in the form of
folded and cut newspapers or pamphlets finally delivered upon a suitable receiver
and preferably delivered in a counted form, that is to say, divided into dozens or
any predetermined number.
According to the first part of my invention, two web printing and folding
machines are arranged end to end and are combined as hereinafter described in
such manner that they can be run in unison and the web that is printed in the one
machine carried in the uncut state so as to join and become associated with the
web also uncut, which has been printed in the other machine, the two webs being then
folded together by means of a longitudinal folder and afterwards cut into sheets
and given one or more other folds. Each printing machine has its own folding
mechanism and the printed webs are led by means of endless tapes in a direct
unbroken line to a point above the corresponding folding mechanism. When it is
not required to associate the two webs they are respectively switched to the
corresponding folding mechanism. When on the other hand the two webs are to
be associated the switches that direct the one web to the corresponding folding
mechanism are removed, and this web then passes along a pathway to switches
which direct it on to the other web so that the two webs become associated. The
pathway above mentioned may consist of stationary bars or wires, but I preferably
form it of a series of endless supporting tapes extending up to the switches with an
upper series of endless tapes to form a top support, but not extending up to the
switches. In the pathway is an adjustable registering roll. The two machines
are coupled together so as to work in unison by means of an intermediate shaft
connecting the shafts of the two machines; these shafts derive their motion from
the main driving shafts, and each passes through the framework of the corresponding
folding mechanism and drives it. When the intermediate shaft is removed and
the switch to each folding mechanism is in place, the two machines can be run
independently of each other.
The inechanism for giving the longitudinal fold is of the well known type in
which there are an internal folder or guide and external turners or folding rolls.
According to my invention I flute or groove these rolls longitudinally, the two rolls
having the same number and pitch of flutes, and they are geared so that when
rotating the ridges or lands of one roll come in the centres of the flutes of the
other roll. Over the rolls I stretch cloth, felt or other suitable yielding material,
and consequently during the turning of the rolls the ridges conie on
unsupported parts of the cloth and a very gentle touch is thereby given upon the
paper web that is being drawn through. This is of great advantage particularly
when folding two or more associated webs, as it obviates all liability of the paper
to crease and buckle.
to the
The cloth or material that covers the rolls may be in the form of a tube and be

page_text: drawn on to them, and in this case I prefer to taper one end of the roll in order to
facilitate the drawing on of the cloth. Or I may form a longitudinal slot in the
shell of the roll and fasten the edges of the cloth at the two sides of the slot
respectively by hooks and a winding rod in the manner in which blanketing is
attached to a printing cylinder.
From the longitudinal folder the folded web or associated webs pass to a pair
of cylinders. One of these carries a cutting knife and the other carries a folding
blade and a set of pins operated by a rod and crank or other suitable means.
It is preferred to have these cylinders of half the diameter of the printing
cylinders so that they may make two revolutions for every revolution of these
cylinders. The cylinder with the knife cuts the web or associated webs into
sheets, which are then folded transversely by the other cutting cylinder in
conjunction with another folding cylinder which is preferably of twice the
diameter. This larger cylinder has two sets of gripping, blades. The sheets
receive their first transverse fold on this cylinder, and if no more folds are required
it deposits the product upon a travelling apron of tapes in a manner well known;
in order to ensure delivery upon the apron I fit the cylinder with two sets of
flyers operated by a rod, crank and cam or otherwise. The small cutting and
folding cylinder can be made to collect and retain the first set of sheets cüt
from the web and fold them inside the second set of tapes to make up a larger
newspaper in the well known way.. Hitherto when this has been done there
was a tendency for the sheet to slip on the cylinder, and when the knife came
round to cut the second set of sheets, it was apt occasionally to cut a strip off
the end of the collected set of sheets and give them a ragged look. To obviate
this place in the large folding cylinder a tucking blade, which as the folding
cylinder revolves tucks the tail of the first set of sheets into a slit made in, the
cutting bolster, just in front of the opening or slit into which the cutting blade
passes as it cuts the sheets from the web. When an additional fold is required the
-flyers are rendered inoperative and the switches for switching off the folded sheets
put out of action. The grippers then carry the sheets into the bight of two sets
of tapes which conduct it to the cross, folder. On the way to the cross folder one
set of tapes is according to my invention diverted by means of a roller out of
-the direct course and near this diversion I fit a set of switches which in one position
direct the sheets over the diverting roller and in another position switch them into
the direct course. The position of the switches is changed after every passage of a
predetermined number of sheets, say 12. This novel arrangement effects the
counting of the sheets into parcels of say 12, because those sheets that are diverted
out of the direct line arrive late at the cross folder and are therefore folded before
they get so far along the path as the others that follow the direct course. The
delayed sheets are consequently delivered upon the travelling apron at a sufficiently
different part of its width from that where the non-delayed sheets are delivered as
to form distinct parcels or groups of the predetermined number.
I construct the cross folder as follows:-There is a pair of rollers over which
the sheet passes and between which when it reaches a certain distance it is
tucked by a rotary folding blade. The spindle of this blade is carried by arms
or brackets on a revolving frame, and as the blade revolves with the trame it
is caused to rotate on its own axis by spur gearing; the blade makes one
rotation on its axis for one revolution of the frame. The effect of the combined
movements, which constitute a sort of sun and planet motion, is to cause the
blade to work up and down and at each downward movement to pass between the
pair of rollers so as to tuck in and fold the sheet.
The cross folded sheet is carried by switches on to a revolving cylinder with
grippers which catch the sheet and then deposit it upon the moving apron of
tapes or other receiver.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Web Printing Machines, and
Folding, Cutting, and Counting Mechanism therefor.
I, ROBERT CUMMING ANNAND of Cornwallis Street, South Shields in the
County of Durham, Printers' Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to machines of that class in which a web or webs of
paper are printed, associated together (in the case of more than one web) folded
longitudinally and transversely and cut into sheets, and the product, in the form of
folded and cut newspapers or pamphlets, is finally delivered upon a suitable receiver
and preferably delivered in a counted form, that is to say divided into dozens or
any predetermined number.
According to the first part of my invention which is illustrated diagrammatically
in Figure of the accompanying drawings, two web printing and folding
machines A and B are arranged end to end and are combined as hereinafter
described in such manner that they can be run in unison and the web that is printed
in the one machine carried in the uncut state so as to join and become associated
with the web, also uncut, which has been printed in the other machine, the two webs
being then folded together by means of a longitudinal folder and afterwards cit
into sheets and given one or more other folds. Each printing machine has its own
folding mechanism, C representing the folding mechanism of the machine A and
D that of the machine B, and the printed webs are led by means of endless tapes E E
in a direct unbroken line to a point above the corresponding folding mechanism.
When it is not required to associate the two webs they are respectively switched
to the corresponding folding mechanism, F representing the switch of the machine A
and G that of the machine. B. When on the other hand the two webs are to be
associated the switch that directs the one web, say for example the web from the
machine B, to the corresponding folding mechanism D, is removed, and this web
then passes along a pathway fo the switch H which directs it on to the other web,
so that the two webs become associated. The pathway above mentioned may
consist of stationary bars or wires, but I preferably form it of a series of endless
supporting tapes J extending up to the switches with an upper series of endless
In the
tapes K to form a top support, but not extending up to the switchies.
pathway is a registering roll L. This roll is carried on arms and is adjustable so
that the paper web passing from the machine B towards the machine A may be
increased in length or shortened as required by moving the said roll so that the two
webs may properly register where they meet and the cutting take place between
the two webs at the proper place. The two machines are coupled together so as to
work in unison by means of an intermediate shaft M connecting the shafts of the
two machines; these shafts derive their motion from the main driving shafts N
and N and each passes through the framework of the corresponding folding
mechanism and drives it. When the intermediate shaft M is removed and the
switch to each folding mechanism is in place, the two machines can be run
independently of each other.
The mechanism for giving the longitudinal fold is of the well known type in
which there are an internal folder or guide and external turners or folding rolls.
According to my invention I construct these rolls as shown in transverse section in
Figure 2 and in longitudinal section in Figure 3 this section being on the line 1-1
of Figure 2, that is to say I flute or groove the rolls P P longitudinally, the two
rolls having the same number and pitch of flutes, and they are geared so that when
rotating the ridges or lands of one roll come in the centres of the flutes of the
other roll as seen in Figure 2. Over the rolls 1 stretch cloth, felt or other suitable

page_text: yielding material Q (not seen in Figure 3) and consequently during the turning of
the rolls the ridges come on to the unsupported parts of the cloth and a very gentle
touch is thereby given upon the paper web that is being drawn through. This is
of great advantage, particularly when folding two or more associated webs, as it
obviates all liability of the paper to crease and buckle and obviates any necessity
for that nice adjustment which is required when the rolls have merely a metallic
surface in contact with the web.
The cloth or material that covers the rolls may be in the form of a tube and be
drawn on to them, and in this case I prefer to taper oue end of the roll in order to
facilitate the drawing on of the cloth. Or I may form a longitudinal slot in the
shell of the roll as shown at R Figure 2, and fasten the edges of the cloth at the
two sides of the slot respectively by hooks S S and a winding rod T in the manner
in which blanketing is ordinarily attached to a printing cylinder. In machines in
which there is a pair of drawing rollers in addition to the folding rolls, the drawing
rollers may be longitudinally fluted like the rolls P P in Figures 2 and 3, and be
covered with cloth or the like for the purpose of giving the desired gentle touch to
the paper that is being drawn through; in this case the rolls P P may be plain.
Figure 4 illustrates this modification on a smaller scale, P P being the external
folding rolls, U the internal guide and V V the fluted and cloth-covered drawing
rollers.
i
From the longitudinal folder the folded web or associated webs pass (see
Figures 5 and 6, in which P P are the external folding rolls and U the internal
guide) to a pair of cylinders W and X. The cylinder W carries a perforator or
cutting knife a and the other cylinder X carries a folding blade b and a set of pins
operated by a rod d and crank e. It is preferred to have these cylinders of half
the diameter of the printing cylinders so that they may make two revolutions for
every revolution of these cylinders. When the web passes in between the
cylinders W and X the perforator or knife a in the cylinder W divides the sheet
from the web. The row of pins c at the same time impale the leading edge of the
web and carry it round for about three fourths of a revolution. The pins then
withdraw and at the same time the folding blade b tucks the middle of the sheet
under the grippers of the large folding cylinder Y below; this cylinder Y is
twice the diameter of the cylinder X and therefore has two sets of grippers fat
diametrically opposite points. The pins c are operated as has been already stated
by a rod d and crank e. These are on the outer end of the cylinder X and the
crank has a roller y Figure 6, which is pressed against the circular ring by a
spring. The withdrawal of the pins is effected as follows:-A bracket i Figure 6
is hinged at the point and is operated by means of a cam l acting against the roller m.
The cam is on the shaft of the cylinder Y and it causes the bracket i to alter-
nately rise and fall with each revolution of this cylinder. The roller
9 upon the
cranke on the end of the pin rod d thus strikes the projection n upon the bracket i
and withdraws the pins inside the cylinder. When it is desired to fold each sheet
as it is cut off the web, the bracket is fastened to the side frame by a bolt at p.
The roller on the end of the pin rod thus comes in contact with the bracket at n
and withdraws the pins every revolution of the small folding cylinder X. In order,
however, to collect the one sheet inside the other sheet on this cylinder the bolt
at p is withdrawn and thus the cam raises the bracket i only once every alternate
revolution of the small folding cylinder X. By this means the pins c retain the
first sheet until they receive the second sheet and both sheets are thus carried round
the cylinder Y together and folded. The sheets thus receive their first transverse fold
on this cylinder, and if no more folds are required it deposits the product with the
aid of the switch q upon a travelling apron of tapes Z in a manner well known; in
order to ensure delivery upon the apron I fit the cylinder with two sets of flyers rr
operated in the known manner by a rod, crank and cam or otherwise. When an
additional fold is required the flyers rr are rendered inoperative and the switches
for switching off the folded sheets put out of action. The grippers ff then carry
the sheets into the bight of two sets of tapes s, & Figure 6 which conduct it to the

page_text: cross folder. On the way to the cross folder one set of tapes t is according to my
invention diverted by means of a roller m' out of the direct course, and near this
diversion I fit a set of switches u which in one position, namely the position shown
in dotted lines, direct the sheets over the diverting roller and in another position,
that shown in full lines, switch them into the direct course. The position of the
switches is changed after every passage of a predetermined number of sheets,
say 12, by means of the rotating cam which acts upon the tail w of the switches.
This novel arrangement effects the counting of the sheets into parcels of say 12,
because those sheets that are diverted out of the direct line arrive late at the cross
folder and are therefore folded before they get so far along the path as the others
that follow the direct course. The delayed sheets are consequently delivered upon
the travelling apron at a sufficiently different part of its width from that where
the non-delayed sheets are delivered as to form distinct parcels or groups of the
predetermined number; this is illustrated in Figure 7.
I construct the cross folder as shown in Figure 8. and represent the tapes
which conduct the sheet & from the cylinder Y Figure 6. yy are a pair of rollers
over which the sheet passes, and between which when it reaches a certain distance
it is tucked by a rotary folding blade which is shown in side view on a larger
scale in Figure 9. The spiudle of this blade is carried by arms or brackets on a
revolving frame and as the blade revolves with this frame it is caused to rotate
on its own axis by spur gearing, the pinion being fixed to the spindle =¹
and the pinion to the stationary side frame 2, while the pinion is an inter-
mediate one; it is carried on a stud fastened to the revolving frame. The
blade makes one rotation on its axis for one revolution of the frame 22. This
frame is mounted on rotating axles 27. The effect of the combined movements,
which constitute a sort of sun and planet motion is to cause the blade z to wo...
and down and at each downward movement to pass between the pair of rollers y y
so as to tuck in and fold the sheet.
The cross folded sheet is carried by switches a' a' on to a revolving cylinder a²
with grippers a³ which catch the sheet and then deposit it upon the moving apron
of tapes or other receiver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of two web printing machines arranged end to end, two
folding machines, one to each printing machine, and tapes, switches and other
apparatus substantially as herein before described with reference to Figure 1, so
that the two machines can be run either separately and independently or in unison
in which latter case the web that is printed in the one machine is carried in the
uncut state so as to join and become associated with the web also uncut which has
been printed in the other machine, the two uncut webs then passing together to the
folding machine as set forth.
2. The external folding rolls having longitudinal grooves or flutes over which
cloth, felt or other suitable yielding material is stretched substantially as aud for
the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3.
3. The modification herein before described with reference to Figure 4 in which
longitudinally grooved or fluted and covered rolls such as are referred to in Claim 2.
are employed as drawing rollers.
4. In the folding and cutting mechanism, the combination with a cutting cylinder
such as W, Figures 5 and 6, of a folding cylinder such as ✗ having a set of
impaling pins carried by a rod which is operated substantially as hereinbefore
described so as to withdraw the pius at the required time to release the sheet as
set forth.
5. The arrangement substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figure 6, of tapes and other devices for conveying the sheets to the cross folder
in such manner that first a given number of sheets is conveyed along one pathway

page_text: and then an equal number of sheets along a diverted pathway and so on, an equal
number of sheets being alternately conveyed along the two pathways respectively,
whereby the sheets are counted as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1895.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.