Improvements in Combined Folding and Wrapping Machinery or Apparatus for Preparing Newspapers, Journals, Prospectuses, Circulars, and the like for Postal and similar Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Folding and Wrapping Machinery or
Apparatus for Preparing Newspapers, Journals, Prospectuses,
Circulars, and the like for Postal and similar Purposes.
We, JAMES STOTT, of 16, Jennett's Crescent Otley in the County of York,
Printer's Engineer, FRED WAITE, of 32, Mount Pisgah, Otley aforesaid Printer's
Engineer and JASON SAVILLE, of Harris Street, Bradford in said County,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvenients in combined wrapping and folding
machinery or apparatus for preparing newspapers, journals, periodicals, pamphlets,
prospectuses, circulars and the like (requiring one or more parallel folds) for postal
and similar purposes.
For this purpose we employ an arrangement for automatically feeding the
wrappers consisting of a feed roller or its equivalent fed with a suitable adhesive
substance. This feed roller is operated in such a manner that it is intermittently
brought to bear upon a pile of wrappers adjacent thereto and by reason of its
adhesive nature it lifts and partly withdraws the top wrapper. When in this
position the article to be folded and wrapped hereinafter called the paper is placed
in position on the feed table against an adjustable fence and over the wrapper
carried by the feed roller with the front edge of the latter in advance of the paper.
Fingers carried by oscillating arms and opened by a tappet now approach the front
edge of the paper and wrapper and being then closed grasp the two and carry them
forward on their return stroke until the paper lies mid-way over the first pair of
folding rollers. At this point a folding knife or blade arranged to pass between
said oscillating arms strikes the middle of the paper and doubling it and the
wrapper across presses them in that condition between the folding rollers which
carry them by means of suitable guides into a box having an adjustable stop or
bottom which supports the doubled paper in position opposite the second pair
of folding rollers. A second folding knife then passes the paper and wrapper
between these rollers which fold them a second time and deposit them in a
carrier with the wrapper round the paper and the flap projecting. This carrier
has spring fingers operated by a tappet and has a vibrating motion imparted to
it to carry the paper to a third pair of rollers and in its course such carrier is
partly rotated so as to fold down the flap of the wrapper against a wiper or
against one of the rollers as it is fed in between them and these rollers press down
or seal the flap and complete the process delivering the paper compactly folded
and wrapped.
Instead of this method of wiping over the flap of the wrapper the paper and
wrapper may be guided opposite the third pair of rollers and placed in such a
position that a knife striking the extreme edge of the paper feeds the paper between
such rollers and at the same time folds the flap over.
The pressure between the herein mentioned pairs of rollers is regulated by
springs and adjustable stops are provided to regulate the distance between them to
suit the different thicknesses of papers. And such rollers have preferably flutes,
flats or reduced parts in their peripheries to facilitate the introduction of the
paper. If the paper only requires to be folded once the second pair of folding
rollers may be dispensed with, or if necessary a third pair may be introduced.
The various parts are relatively operated by cranks, cams or equivalent means
and the rollers are geared together and may all be operated by the same spur
wheel. Adjustable side plates may be fitted to suit different widths of papers.
The pile of wrappers are preferably brought to an uniform height for the feed

page_text: rollers by lifting levers mounted on rocking shafts fitted beneath which under the
influence of a weight or its equivalent keeps the wrappers pressed against the
underside of the table until the feed roller comes down upon them and engages
the top wrapper. The said rocking shafts are then partly rotated by a clutch
arrangement which lowers the remainder of the wrappers sufficiently to allow the
top wrapper to be withdrawn, the clutch is then released and the weight restores
the wrappers to their normal position.
In addition to the adhesive substance supplied by the feed roller a supplemental
arrangement may be provided to supply the wrapper with an adhesive substance
for sealing purposes at any convenient point.
Dated this 20th day of October 1891
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Folding and Wrapping Machinery or
Apparatus for Preparing Newspapers, Journals, Prospectuses,
Circulars, and the like for Postal and similar Purposes.
We JAMES STOTT, of 16, Jennett's Crescent, Otley, in the County of York,
Printer's Engineer, FRED WAITE, of 32, Mount Pisgah, Otley aforesaid, Printer's
Engineer and JASON SAVILLE, of Harris Street, Bradford, in the said County,
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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in combined folding and wrapping
machinery or apparatus for preparing newspapers, journals, periodicals, pamphlets,
prospectuses, circulars and the like (requiring one or more parallel folds) for
postal and similar purposes.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of
this Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in each of the figures.
Figure 1, represents a plan view of our improved machine.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3, is a side view in which certain parts omitted or not clearly shown in
the other figures are illustrated.
Figures 4 to 17 are views of detail hereinafter referred to.
The fine parallel lines A Figure 2 represent a pile of wrappers. They are
contained in the wrapper box formed by the movable bottom B and the adjustable
side guides B¹ the rear end guide B and the front stop B³. The side guides B¹ on
each side are connected together by the connecting piece B* fixed by the thumb
screw B to the cross stay Be and slots B' are made in the bottom B to allow such
guides to be moved in or out. The end guide B2 is arranged in a similar manner it
is secured by the thumb screw B' to the cross piece B8 whilst the stop B3 at the
opposite end secured to the cross stay B10 is a fixture. The lugs G on the underside
of the bottom B are connected by the links C¹ to the ends of the levers C
projecting from the two rocking shafts C and C+ geared together by the pinions C
The weight C secured to the arm C projecting from the shaft C³ tends to raise
the bottom B through the medium of the above mentioned connecting parts and
normally keeps the pile of wrappers firmly pressed upwards against the cross
stay B. But each time a wrapper is required this pressure is relieved by a clutch
arrangement consisting of a clutch disc D mounted on the shaft C. Figure 17 is
a separate plan view of the wrapper box and certain other parts. The disc D has
a circular recess in its inner face and a pendant arm D' hangs loosely from the
shaft C³ and its lower end is connected by the rod D² to the arm D³ carrying the
antifriction roller Da vibrated periodically by the cam D' on the main cam shaft G.

page_text: A clutch pawl D³ connected to D' lies within the recess in D and its extremity
bears against the periphery of such recess as usual in this class of clutch so that at
each vibration of the arm D' it is partly turned thus lifting the weight C and
lowering the plate B sufficiently to allow the top wrapper to be withdrawn from
beneath the cross stay 16. As soon as the top wrapper has been withdrawn and
before the vibration of the arm D' is complete the finger D connected to the pawl D'
comes in contact with the stud D7 projecting from the side frame F and thus
disengaging such pawl from the periphery of the recess allows the weight C to
drop and again lift the bottom B. A pawl and ratchet may be used instead of said
clutch but we prefer the arrangement shown.
The gumming roller E is carried between the extremities of the levers J and J'
swung between the pendant arms E¹ hanging from the arms F projecting from
the rocking shaft F3 supported by the standards F' secured to the top of the side
frames F and F. The shaft F3 is rocked by the arm F5 projecting therefrom
connected by the rod F to the lever F7 vibrated by the cam F8 on the cam shaft G.
A spring H coiled round the shaft F3 and secured at one end to the standard F*
and the other end to the collar H¹ on said shaft is provided of sufficient strength to
lift the arms F2 with their attachments and keep the antifriction roller F on the
lever F against the cam F.
The pendant arms E¹ have guide slots E' at their lower ends sliding on the
guide rod E3 as such arms are raised and lowered and the guide rod is fixed between
the lug E and the tappet E' secured to the cross bar E' fixed to the lugs E7 on
the standards F. Pins J projecting from near the top of the levers J and J1
bear against the edges of the arms E¹ and prevent said levers assuming a more
vertical position than that shown in Figure 5. And when the arms E' pass towards
the top of their stroke a tappet J³ rigidly secured on the same spindle J* as the
levers J and Jengages the anti-friction roller Js mounted on E3 and turning the
spindle J lifts the lower end of the levers J and J' until the roller E comes in
contact with the gum supply roller K.
The gum supply roller K is mounted on the spindle K¹ between the carriers K'
secured to the cross bar E' and forming the sides of the gum box K³ filled with
strong gum or other suitable adhesive substance. A spring bottom K is rigidly
secured at the back to the bar E' and adjusted at the front by the set screw K³ so
as to allow a supply of gum to pass from the box on the periphery of the roller K
as the latter is operated in the manner now described. Two or more set screws K³
may be used.
A ratchet wheel K (clearly shown in Figure 4) is secured on the end of the
spindle K and a pawl K' carried by the arm a of the lever K8 loosely mounted on
said spindle engages said ratchet wheel. The arm of K8 is connected by the
rod K³ to the arm K10 projecting from the rocking shaft M, and by the motion of
this shaft whilst the roller E is in contact with K the latter is partly rotated thus
transferring a portion of the gum or adhesive matter to the roller É. A disc K"
having preferably an india-rubber faced periphery slightly larger in diameter than the
roller E is rigidly secured on the spindle E of E and a disc K" the same diameter
as K is mounted on the opposite end of K' to the ratchet wheel K.
pressure of the disc K against the disc K" ensures the roller E revolving when
in contact with K and the latter is rotated. To prevent the roller E sticking to
the roller K after the arms E¹ begin to drop the arm e is provided on the lever K³
arranged at the latter part of the motion of said lever to come in contact with the
end of the spindle E and separate the two rollers K and E immediately the
arms E' commence to drop. Before the top wrapper is withdrawn its front edge is
separated from the wrapper beneath in the following manner.
The
When the arms E have almost reached the lowest point and are in the position
shown in Figures and 6 (which respectively represent a section similar t
Figure 3 but in a different position and a front view of the roller E and certain
other parts) the roller E comes in contact with the top wrapper close to the edge
as shown by the diagram Figure 9 and further depression of the arms E' cause the

page_text: roller E to roll a short distance along the wrapper and as the wrapper adheres to
the roller this motion raises its edge as shown in Figure 10. The ratchet wheel e
on the end of the spindle Es of the roller and the pawl i prevent the roller turning
in the wrong direction. When the edge of the wrapper is thus raised the
bottom B of the wrapper box is lowered by the above described mechanism and
the remaining wrappers drop down below the top of the stop B3 without being
relatively disturbed. Then an upward movement of the arms E' and roller E
raises the wrapper adhering to it to the position shown in Figure 11 ready to be
laid hold of by the feeding mechanism. Figure 18 is a plan view of Figure 11.
When the arms E are at the bottom the studs K¹³ on J rest against the tappet E³
and prevents J and J' swinging back when the wrapper box is lowered.
The feed mechanism consists of the sliding gripper O mounted in the horizontal
guides formed in the side frames F and F immediately below the table T.
Figures 7 and 8 represent a separate cross section and plan view of the gripper.
The gripper O has slide blocks O2 at each end fitting the guides 01 and connected
together by the plate 03. Bearing lugs O are secured to the plate O³ in which
the gripper rod is fitted. The gripper rod carries the gripper fingers 0°, OⓇ and
a crank arm having a projecting pin 09 is secured to one end. The gripper O is
moved to and fro along the guides O' by the connecting rods O connecting the
studs projecting from 0 to the arms O2 secured to the rocking shaft M. The
rocking shaft M is operated by its arm M' connected by the rod M² to the crank
pin M projecting from the face of the cam D to the crank pin M* projecting
from the face of the cam D₁ mounted on the cam shaft G.
Tappets P and P¹ secured to the side frame F engage the pin O" at each end of
the stroke of the gripper and by partly rotating the rod O open the grippers.
But the tappet P is in such a position that after the end of the wrapper held by
the roller E is between the fingers 0 and the plate Os as shown in Figure 11 the
pin passes completely over the tappet P' and the spring H' arranged in a
similar manner to the spring H closes the said fingers against O³ and grips the
wrapper between them. The tappet P¹ is rigidly fixed to the frame F but the
tappet P is hinged thereto. This tappet separately shown with the portion of
the frame to which it is attached in Figures 15 and 16 which respectively
represent an inside view and a plan view. It is hinged or pivoted to the stud P
projecting from the frame and it rests on the frame so that the pin O after having
passed completely over it on the return stroke passes beneath lifting the tappet
sufficiently to allow it to go by. The gripper now passes to the opposite end of
its stroke to the position shown in Figure 2 carrying the wrapper with it and the
pin O coming in contact with P' opens the gripper fingers sufficiently to leave the
wrapper free which now lies rather more than midway over the first pair of folding
rollers R, R.
The article to be folded and wrapped hereinafter called the paper having been
placed upon the table T against the adjustable fences T' and T and midway over
the opening the first folding knife S moves down and folds the paper and
wrapper together between the rollers R and the guide tapes U and switch U guide
it thus folded down into the box U. Figure 13 represents a section of the box
with the paper and wrapper therein in their relative position the thick line
represents the paper and the thin one the wrapper. When in this position the
second folding knife S' strikes the paper in the middle and folds it between the
second pair of rollers R' R' and the tapes Us carry it into the box U. Figure 14
shows the box and the paper and wrapper in section. The third folding
knife S2 now striking near the edge of the paper as shown in the section Figure 14
passes the paper in between the rollers R2, R2, and folding the flap of the wrapper
(previously gummed by the roller E) against the upper roller it is pressed down
and secured as it passes between them and is delivered into any suitable receptacle
on the floor.
The paper and wrapper may be folded in a different manner to that above
described as for instance the first fold may be made approximately one third of the

page_text: width of the paper from the edge. In this case the fence T' is adjusted to enable
the paper to be placed in the proper position over the opening T3 for the folding
knife to fold it that distance from the edge. And the screw coupling M6 in the
rod M2 and the slot M' in the lever Mare provided to allow the stroke of the
gripper to be adjusted to bring the wrapper to the position required to suit the fold
given to the paper. Or by introducing a third pair of folding rollers and another
folding knife a third fold may be given to the paper before the wrapper is sealed.
Or the machine may be constructed to give only one fold to the paper and seal the
wrapper at the second pair of rollers.
The boxes U and U₁ have adjustable bottoms U³ to support the paper and
wrapper in the proper position to be folded opposite the folding rollers. A separate
view of U is shown in Figure 14. The bottom U is adjusted by the screws U
passing through the cross piece, U' fixed at each end to brackets Us secured to the
side frames. The sides of the box are preferably formed of thin and somewhat
springy metal strips U bent round and secured to U7.
The first folding knife S is mounted on the arm V passing through the opening T+
in the table and mounted on the rocking shaft V₁. The rocking shaft is operated
by the arm V the free end of which carries the anti-friction roller V3 bearing on
the cam V. This cam is arranged to operate the shaft so as to move the knife
away from the rollers R, R and the spring H coiled round the shaft V¹ and
secured by one end to the frame F1 and by the other to the collar V on said shaft
is arranged to move the said knife towards the rollers. The knife S¹ is mounted
on the arm W carried by the rocking shaft W₁ and this shaft is operated by the
arm W2 connected by W³ to the lever W* vibrated by the cam W. The knife S*
is mounted on the arm W10 carried by the shaft W which shaft is also operated
by the cam W vibrating the lever W7 connected by the rod W to the arm W
on the shaft W. The cam W' is arranged to move the knives S1 and S2 towards
the folding rollers to pass the paper between them and springs similar to Hare
coiled round their shafts but in this case arranged to move the knives away from
the rollers.
Each pair of folding rollers are geared together by the pinious X and one of
each pair of pinions engages the large toothed wheel X' mounted on the cam
shaft G. Driving pulleys Y, Y and a fly wheel Y¹ (Figure 1) are mounted on a
prolongation of the shaft of the roller R' engaging the wheel X'.
The folding rollers preferably have longitudinal flutes, flats or reduced parts o in
their peripheries to facilitate the introduction of the thick folded papers. When
comparatively thick papers are being wrapped the said fluted rollers are arranged
to meet just as the knife folds the paper thus enabling the thick fold to be more
readily introduced between the rollers.
The rollers in gear with the wheel X1 are mounted in rigid bearings in the
frame F and F¹ but the other rollers of each pair are mounted in arms similar to Z
Figure 2 secured to the rocking shaft Z. A screw stop Z' fitted in a lug 73 on
the side frame bears against the arm Z and determines the distance between the
rollers. And the spring Z' mounted on the spindle Z' and compressed between
the lug Z on the frame and the screw collar Z' on said spindle forces this spindle
against the arm Z and keeps it against the stop Z³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare what we
claim is:
1. In a combined folding and wrapping machine, feeding the wrappers by means
of a roller or its equivalent charged with adhesive material, substantially as
herein shown and described.
2. In a combined folding and wrapping machine, the arrangement of weighted
levers or the like adapted to apply pressure to the pile of wrappers and the clutch
or similar device for relieving said pressure previous to a wrapper being withdrawn,
substantially as herein shown and described.

page_text: 3. In a combined folding and wrapping machine, the construction and arrange-
ment of mechanism for operating the wrapper feed roller to charge it with adhesive
material and bring it in contact with the wrapper and also to carry the wrapper
into position to be fed into the machine, substantially as herein shown and
described.
4. The means or method of closing and sealing the flap by means of a knife
adapted and arranged to strike near the edge of the paper so as to partly fold
down the flap without folding the paper and at the same time feed the paper
between a pair of rollers which completely fold and seal the flap, substantially as
herein shown and described.
5. In a combined folding and wrapping machine, forming flutes, flats or
depressions in the folding rollers to facilitate the introduction of the paper, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of August 1892.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.