Improvements in Machinery for Counting, Feeding, Folding, and Pressing Paper in Sections.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1893-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Counting, Feeding, Folding, and
Pressing Paper in Sections.
WILLIAM HOWARD, Stationer 83 Patshull Road, Camden Town and WILLIAM
JAMIESON, Engineer 130 Fenton Street Leeds, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in machinery for counting, feeding, folding
and pressing paper in sections which work has hitherto been done by hand or partly.
by hand and partly by machines.
In forming sections of paper for account books or for notepaper or other purposes.
it is necessary to count off a given number of flat sheets, knock them up square to
the edges and then fold them in half. Subsequently a number of such folded:
sections are placed together in a powerful press to complete the necessary compact
creasing of the paper..
In our machine we place on a rising table a quantity of paper to be counted and
folded and we bring down on the top of such paper a feeding apparatus consisting
generally of a rigid hollow shaft or bar inside of which slides freely a rod carrying
at its outer end a cross piece on which are mounted two discs or wheels covered
with india rubber or other suitable material. Each disc or wheel is connected with
a ratchet wheel and pawl which permits the disc to revolve only in one direction-
each disc with its accompanying ratchet wheel and pawl is separate and distinct in
its action from the other. This is for the purpose of ensuring a perfectly parallel
motion as it is found that when two discs or wheels are on one spindle and revolving
together there is a tendency in case the discs are not exactly the same diameter-
to cause the bar or rod on which they are mounted, to advance in a slightly circular
direction thereby feeding in the paper otherwise than in a perfectly parallel
direction.
The rod or bar on which are mounted the two discs or wheels with their accom-
panying ratchet wheels and pawls, is caused to slide in and out by means of a lever
working by and in connection with the driving shaft of the machine and when such
rod or bar is advancing the rubber covered discs or wheels by reason of their
ratchet wheels and pawls are prevented from rotating and by the friction of the
rubber or other material on the surface of the paper cause such paper to be pushed
forward, disengaging the top sheet from the remainder & placing it between two
rollers which revolving at a sufficient speed, carry the sheet forward and place it on
the folding table. The feeding rod or bar then retires and by reason of the rubber
covered. discs or wheels travelling in the same direction as the teeth on their
accompanying ratchet wheels-revolve or roll on the paper thereby exerting no
displacing power thereon.
At each stroke of the feeding bar a lever in connection therewith causes a ratchet
bar having on its edge teeth generally 24-to be lifted up one tooth and by setting
a stop pin in a given position in relation to either of the 24 teeth-causes such
ratchet bar to engage with and remove a rod which by rotating or sliding brings
into operation a clutch on the driving shaft, which communicating motion to the
folding apparatus causes the knife or blade to descend forcing the paper, already
fed on to the folding table, through and between the edges of such table and down
into and between the plates forming the press-which plates immediately closing on
the paper with requisite power hold and press it during the time in which the
succeeding number of sheets to form a section are being fed on to the folding table.
The press then opening and allowing the finished section to fall into a delivery table
where it is held in position by suitable fingers.
:

page_text: For example should it be required to form sections of 10 sheets each the before
mentioned stop pin would be placed in relation to the tenth tooth on the ratchet bar
and when by reason of the feeding bar having acted on 10 sheets or made 10 strokes
backwards and forwards, the ratchet bar has been lifted up 10 teeth-then the stop
pin would act on before mentioned rod in connection with the clutch-bringing the
folding apparatus into action and folding the 10 sheets as before described, the
ratchet bar then resuming its original position is ready to repeat the operation.
We make the folding table slanting downwards towards the centre thereby
allowing the paper to bend or assume a curved form so that the air can readily
escape and the successive sheets fall into their correct position with relation to each
other. Side guages are also placed on the folding table to assist or compel the
paper to occupy the correct position.
In order to prevent the sheets rebounding by reason of the speed or force with
which they are propelled on to the folding table, we place two light and pointed
rods longitudinally over the folding table with their points resting thereon in such
a position that the sheet is driven under such points, that is, between them and the
sheet immediately underneath-these hold the sheet lightly but sufficient to prevent
its recoil.
Dated this Fifteenth day of August 1892.
WILLIAM HOWARD.
WM. JAMIESON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Counting, Feeding, Folding, and
Pressing Paper in Sections.
We, WILLIAM HOWARD, of 83 Patshull Road, Kentish Town_London
Stationer, and WILLIAM JAMIESON of 60 Peel Street, Dresden, Longton,
Staffordshire (late of 119 Powerscroft Road and 130 Fenton Street Leeds)
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:-
In forming sections of paper for account books or for note paper or other
purpose it is necessary to count off a given number of flat sheets-knock them up
square to the edges and then fold them in half-subsequently a number of such
folded sections are placed together in a powerful press to complete the necessary
compact creasing of the paper. According to our invention these operations may
be all performed by mechanical means, which mechanism is hereinafter described
with reference to drawings.
On a rising table A is placed a quantity of paper to be acted on-& on to it is
brought down a feeding apparatus consisting of a rigid hollow shaft B inside of
which slides freely a rod C carrying on its outer end a crosspiece D Fig. 4. on
which are mounted two discs or wheels 1 & 2 covered with indiarubber or other
suitable material. Each disc or wheel is connected with a ratchet wheel &
pawl 1 & 2 which permits the discs to revolve only in one direction-each disc
with its accompanying ratchet & pawl is separate and distinct in its action from
the other. This is for the purpose of ensuring a perfectly parallel motion, as it is
found that when two discs or wheels are on one spindle and revolving together-
there is a tendency, in case the discs are not exactly the same diameter, to cause
the bar or rod on which they are mounted, to advance in a slightly circular
direction, thereby feeding in the paper otherwise than in a perfectly parallel
direction. The rod or bar C is caused to slide in & out by means of a lever
working by & in connection with the driving shaft of the machine-& when such
rod or bar C is advancing the rubber covered discs or wheels-by reason of their
ratchet wheels & pawls are prevented from rotating, & by the friction of the
rubber or other material on the surface of the paper cause such paper to be pushed

page_text: forward-disengaging the top sheet from the remainder & placing it between two
rollers L. L. which revolving at a sufficient speed carry the sheet forward & place
it on the folding table N. The feeding rod C then retires-& by reason of the
rubber covered discs or wheels travelling in the same direction as the teeth on
their accompanying ratchet wheels, revolve or roll on the paper thereby exerting
no displacing power thereon. While these rollers 1 & 2 Fig. 4 move one sheet for
every stroke the carriage A, A is slowly raised by ratchet wheels so as to present
the upper sheet as nearly as possible opposite to the mouth of the rollers L L.
Each stroke of D accounts for the delivery of one sheet between these rollers so
long as the pawls are in gear with the ratchet wheels 1 & 2 Figure 4 but when-
ever these pawls are lifted and the wheels 1 & 2 can run freely in either direction
no sheet will be delivered between the rollers. This lifting is performed by light
rods Y. Y 1. Y 2. Y 3 which are set into action by the lower set of lock-nuts upon
the spindle I when it is raised upon its last or final notch.
The rack G (or equivalent rack wheel) is arranged so that the last tooth that is
raised shall lift the rod 1 and a latch (within the frame work) by which a cam upon
the shaft in connection with Y shall throw the clutch J into gear for one revolu-
tion of J that is for two revolutions of K after which it is thrown out of gear by
another cam and the rack G becoming disengaged at the same time is permitted
to fall to wherever the stop has been placed in the holes 1 to 12 and this it is which
settles the number of sheets to be counted the lever X it will be seen on its
opposite end carries a ratchet H which takes into the teeth of rack G (or if
preferred these teeth can just as readily be formed on the edge of a wheel) and
these teeth serve as the counting apparatus. This rack is permitted to fall to a peg
which may be placed in any of the holes marked 1-12 and all is arranged that by
the action of the final or last tooth raised, the pawl 1* 2 shall be put out of
action and this determines the number of sheets that can be passed between the
rollers L L.
The main driving shaft K gives an equal number of revolutions to a cross shaft
which carries a disc crank V and through a connection rod W the double ended
lever F by means of a spindle within the hollow shaft B. F in its turn moves the
carriage D and rollers 1 & 2*. Another spindle within the opposite end of this
hollow shaft B 1 Figure 3 carries a connection Y 1 by which the pawls are thrown
out of gear when the proper number of sheets have been counted, leaving the
rollers 1 & 2 free to run in either direction.
Referring now to that of the mechanism which comprises the folding gear, it
will be remembered, that its action is intermittent, and the whole of its operation
occurs during one revolution of the crank R or two revolutions of the shaft K.
Through the connecting rod Q the knife M is caused to descend thereby forcing
the paper already fed on to the folding table N through between the inner edges of such
table down into and between the plates 0-forming the press-which plates closing on
the paper by means of toggle or elbow joint movement T actuated by eccentrics P 1
& P2 on shaft P. holds and presses the paper during the time in which the
succeeding number of sheets to form a section are being fed on to the folding
apparatus. The press plates O then open and allow the finished section to fall on
to a delivery table A where it is held in position by suitable fingers or uprights U
and Y. For example should it be required to form sections of 10 sheets each the
stop rod I would be placed in relation to the tenth peg hole to stop ratchet bar G
and when by reason of the feeding bar C having acted on 10 sheets or made
10 strokes backwards & forwards the ratchett bar G has been lifted up 10 teeth
then the stop rod I causes the clutch J to bring the folding apparatus into action &
fold the 10 sheets as before described-the ratchett bar G. being released and
resuming its original position ready to repeat the operation.
We make the folding table N. slanting downwards towards the centre Fig. 2
thereby allowing the paper to bend or assume a curved form so that the air can
rapidly escape & each successive sheet fall into its correct position---side
guage T. T. are placed on the folding table to assist or compel the paper to occupy

page_text: the correct position-light pointed rods are hung longitudinally over the folding
table with their points resting thereon in such a position that the sheet is driven
under such points to prevent any recoil or rebounding of the sheet by reason of the
speed at which it is propelled by the rollers L. L.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An improved feeding apparatus consisting of friction discs with ratchett &
pawls to each-working independent of each other-for the purpose of feeding
sheets of paper in a perfectly parallel direction.
2. A counting apparatus for indicating the completion of a given number of
strokes or revolutions-& acting on a clutch and other mechanism on the completion
of such number of revolutions substantially as described.
3. Improvements in folding apparatus for paper as far as relates to a folding
table slanting downwards towards the centre.
4. An improved pressing apparatus inasmuch as being hinged at the top the
greatest pressure is brought to bear on that part of the paper where it is most
required namely-at the folded part.
Dated this 6th day of June 1893.
WILLIAM HOWARD.
WM. JAMIESON.