Improvements in Machines for Folding Sheets for Books.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Folding Sheets for Books.
MARK SMITH Engineer 20 Mayfield Road Whalley Range Manchester do hereby
declare the nature of this, invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in using cylinders with a mouth and gripper which forms a
groove in which the crease or fold is made.
The paper is laid on a table to guages or points until the centre of paper were the"
first fold is made is exactly over the centre of the mouth and gripper of the first
folding cylinder a folding knife is timed to insert the sheet into the mouth when the
gripper closes and thus inakes the first fold, this cylinder is then rotated making
about two revolutions the sheet with one fold being released and delivered between
two sets of tapes delivering the once folded sheet over the second folding cylinder in
the position to receive the second fold, the second folding cylinder delivers it in a like
manner over third folding cylinder and again passes to the fourth folding cylinders
in a like manner, these cylinders are arranged to rotate only one way by means of a
toothed segment and pinion, the pinion is loose on the cylinder shaft and as a catch
which drops in a notch in a fixed disc on cylinder shaft this rotates the cylinder one
way leaving the cylinder after its rotation fixed between two stops similar to those'
used on letterpress printing machines, then the segment and loose pinion returns and
again the catch drops in the notch and moves the cylinder forward with each sheet
this operation being repeated for every sheet folded, the second, third, and fourth
folding cylinders are actuated by the same means as the first folding cylinder, the
folding knife inserts the sheet into the gripper slot.
For the different sizes of sheets I arrange that the paper is delivered to the full
extent travelled by the cylinder, I do not use stops but move the third and fourth
fold cylinders until the gripper slot is opposite to were the third and fourth folds are
made.
11150
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Folding Sheets for Books..
I, MARK SMITH, Printers' Engineer, of 20 Mayfield Road, Whalley Range,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven- .
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention consists in using cylinders with a mouth and gripper, which forms a
groove in which the crease or fold is made.
The paper is laid on a table to gauges or points, until the centre of the paper,
where the first fold is made is exactly over the centre of the mouth and gripper of
the first folding cylinder; a folding knife is timed to insert the sheet into this
mouth, when the gripper closes, and thus makes the first fold. This cylinder is then
rotated making two revolutions, the sheet once folded being released, and delivered'
*Price 7
'

page_text: between two sets of bands, over the second folding cylinder, in position to receive the
second fold; the second fold cylinder in a like manner, delivers it with two folds
over the third folding cylinder, which gives it the third fold, and delivers it to the
fourth folding cylinder in a like manner.
I will describe my invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings
of which :-
Fig. 1. represents a front elevation and
Fig. 2. a sectional end elevation of a four folder machine, constructed according to
these requirements.
Fig. 3. represents a plan of machine, with the feeding boards removed, and shewing
first and second folding arrangement only.
Fig. 4. represents a sectional plan of the third and fourth folding arrangements.
Fig. 5. enlarged front and end views of the device for rotating cylinder in the
one direction only.
In the machine each fold is produced by means of a knife or blade A and a gap
cylinder B, in the gap of which a gripper is arranged. As these and other parts are
employed in each of the four folding devices, similar letters of reference are employed
to denote them in each case, but, I have for the sake of clearness, added numerals to
the letters of reference, indicating the cylinders in the drawings. Thus:-
B₁ is the cylinder of the first folder. B³ of the second, B³ of the third, and B' of
the fourth.
A slotted table N is arranged above the first folding cylinder B₁ with adjustable
gauges N against which the sheet to be folded is placed so that the part where the
fold is to be made is in position over the gap or mouth of the cylinder and underneath
the knife A.
The knife descends, inserts centre of sheet into the gap and produces the first fold,
which is immediately seized by the gripper.
The knife is carried at the end of a curved lever O; the opposite end of which is
fitted with a friction bowl riding upon the cam 0¹, by the rotation of which the
knife. is operated. The gripper in this position for taking the sheet is operated in
the usual manner; by the lever P also fitted with a friction. bowl worked by the box
cam P, revolving with O'.
The first, second and third cylinders, B1, B2, and B³, are arranged to rotate only
one way, by means of a pinion D, and toothed segment C reciprocated by the
connecting rod and disc. C', revolving with the cams P¹ and 01.
The pinion D runs loose on the cylinder shaft, and carries a catch or lever I.
which drops against a notch on a fixed disc D' this disc. D' being keyed on cylinder
shaft.
This rotates the cylinder one way only, leaving the cylinder after its rotation
fixed between the stops E. and F. similar to those used in letterpress stop cylinder
machines.
E. the front stop kept in position by a spiral spring, and F the back stop actuated
by a friction bowl on its opposite end, which rides on the cam F1, revolving with
disc C. The segment and loose wheel return alone, and then again, the catch drops
against the notch and moves the cylinder forward again with another sheet; this
cycle of operations being repeated for each sheet folded. This first cylinder makes
two revolutions for each sheet folded, and the second and third. cylinders B & B³
are actuated by similar means, but make only one revolution each...
The fourth gap cylinder B is oscillated continuously by the pinion U and
segment. U reciprocated by the connecting rod Z, and revolving crank dise Z¹;
making a pause at the commencement and finish of the stroke, by the stud G
riveted to the pinion plate U, striking against the fixed stop G¹; the connecting
rod Z having a spring as shewn on the drawing Fig. 2, expands and allows the
stoppage until the rod has passed over the centre. Or, it may be worked to stop
one way the same as, and actuated the same as, the first, second and third
cylinders before described.
The paper once folded is delivered from the gap cylinder B, between two sets

page_text: of travelling bands Q and R, driven by gearing from the cylinder itself. The:
lower set are carried by the pullies Q and Q. and the top set by the pullies R
and R'. It it be required the folded sheet can be delivered after the first, second
or third folds direct through the rollers Q' and R' without passing right through
the machine to the delivery end.
The liberation of the gripper is effected when the cylinder has made one half
a revolution or thereabouts, by means of the friction bowl S connected with the
gripper shaft, and the fixed cam S₁ carried by the frame, which moves the friction
bowl outwards, and opens the grippers at the proper time against the force of a
spring which closes the grippers.
To enable the folds to be adjustable, the knife is held in a suitable holder T,
and adjusted by the nut and screw T¹ which raises or lowers one end of knife,
to push one end of the sheet more or less into the cylinder, and so bring the
printed matter square, over the next folding groove to ensure register.
For the different sizes of sheets, I arrange that the paper is delivered to the full
extent travelled by the cylinder, and move the second, third and fourth folding
cylinders bodily forward, until the gripper slot is opposite to where the third and
fourth folds are made.
This is effected by providing separate frames to carry the second, third an I
fourth folding cylinders with all workings attached to same.
The base plate K carries the first frames K' rigidly bolted to it carrying
the first folding arrangement, and all the driving motion of machine.
The hand-wheel H with the screw H', moves the third folding cylinder B³, until
the gripper slot in this cylinder is opposite the centre of the once folded sheet
delivered from the cylinder B' so that when folded by the cylinder B² it is delivered
over the cylinder B³ in the correct position for the third fold. Likewise the
handwheel M with screw M¹ regulates the fourth folding cylinder B*, until the
gripper slot is in the proper position for the last or fourth fold.
The base plate J slides upon the base K regulated by the hand wheel & screw H,
and carries the frames J' rigidly bolted to it (which carry the second cylinder B',
knife, gripper, bands, and all connections to same) and also the frames L & L',
which slide upon it at right angles to its own movement, and which are inde-
pendently regulated by the hand wheel & screw M. These frames L & L', carry the
third and fourth folding cylinders, knives, grippers, bands shafts and all connections
to same.
The complete folded sheets, with four folds, are delivered from the fourth folding
cylinder between the roller Y and cylinder B into a box V by a flyer W, which
takes the sheet from the cylinder, and pushes it forward into the box V, returning
to the cylinder for the next sheet.
The folded sheets in the box are prevented from returning with the flyer, by
means of the stop ✗, which is operated up and down, by a friction bowl, on the
opposite end of the lever, upon a cam X, revolving with the cam W', which
actuates the flyer W, through the levers as shewn in the drawings. Y' is a guide
to prevent the sheet getting behind the flyer W.
The machine is driven by the pulley a. mounted upon the first motion shaft b.
upon which the spur pinion 1. is keyed. This spur pinion gears with spur wheel 2.
keyed upon the second motion shaft c. on which the cams P', O', F' and disc C
for the first folding arrangement are all fixed. The spur wheel 2. gears with an
equal wheel 3. revolving upon a stud d. in the frame side K¹, and also carries
fixed and revolving with it, the bevil wheel 4. that gears with 5. and drives the
longitudinal shaft e. This shaft e. carries the cams Pí, O', F' and disc C¹ for the
second folding arrangement, and moves longitudinally with the frames J, the bevil
wheel 5. being on a feather fixed in the shaft c. remains in gear with 4. all the time.
The shaft f. is driven from e. by the bevil wheels 6 & 7, and drives the third folding
arrangement through the cams P₁, 01, F₁, and disc C. This is also provided with a
feather for the bevil wheel 7. and the shaft moves in the direction of its length with
the frames L. In the same manner, the fourth folding cams P¹, O', W¹, X¹ and

page_text: disc Z¹ are mounted on the shaft g. driven by the bevil wheels 8 & 9. from the afore-
said shaft f.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the here-in-before
described system of gearing, or method of driving the various parts of the machine.
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. A stop cylinder with slot & gripper over which a sheet is laid,
descending and pushing sheet into slot to make the first fold.
and a knife
2. Combination of cylinders to make 1, 2, 3 and 4 folds constructed and arranged
as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of June 1896.
MARK SMITH,
Applicant.