IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Simon Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson, of Otley, in
the County of York, Machine Makers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER."
Sealed the 22nd November 1867, and dated the 23rd May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Simon Atkinson and
Thomas Atkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 23rd May 1867.
We, SIMON ATKINSON and THOMAS ATKINSON, of Otley, in the County of
York; Machine Makers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING PAPER," to be as follows:-.
This Invention relates to machinery for folding the sheets of paper used in
the manufacture of books, also for folding newspapers, circulars, letters, and
other sheets of paper requiring to be folded uniformly. And our improvements
consist of a rectangular or other suitable form of framework, the top part
forming a hopper of suitable size according to the size of the sheets of paper
to be folded. A horizontal platform in two parts is provided in this hopper
to support the papers, and a pair of india-rubber rollers having slightly
roughed surfaces are placed side by side betwixt the two parts of the platform
with their upper surfaces level or even with the upper surface of the platform,
and their point of contact in the middle of the hoppers or at the place where
the fold or crease in the paper is required to be made. The two parts of the
platform are hinged to the hopper and operated by a cam so as to alternately
raise the paper clear of the rollers, and then lower it into contact with the

page_text: rollers, which having rotary motion draw the undermost sheet by its middle
in betwixt them, folding or doubling it. As it immerges from these rollers it
is conducted by tapes or other suitable guides to another platform, where it
is pushed by a suitable instrument into contact with another pair of india-
rubber rollers which draw it in betwixt them as in the former case, folding or
doubling it in another place and as it immerges from them it is again con-
ducted to another platform and pushed into contact with another pair of
rollers, between which it is drawn in like manner as in the former cases, thus
folding it a third time, and for any further number of folds required an
additition platform and rollers may be employed. By this Invention machinery
for folding paper is rendered self-acting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent; filed
by the said Simon Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SIMON
ATKINSON and THOMAS ATKINSON, of Otley, in the County of York, Machine
Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Simon
Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson, Her special licence that we, the said Simon
Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson, our executors, adıministrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Simon Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FOLDING
PAPER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Simon
Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Simon Atkinson and Thomas Atkinson,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings (that is
to say)-
This Invention relates to machinery for folding the sheets of paper used in.
the manufacture of books, also for folding newspapers, circulars, letters, and
other sheets of paper requiring to be folded uniformly. And our improvements.
consist of a rectangular or other suitable form of framework, the top part
forming a-hopper of suitable size according to the size of the sheets of paper
to be folded. A horizontal platform in two parts is provided in this hopper to
support the papers and a pair of india-rubber rollers having slightly roughed
surfaces are placed side by side betwixt the two parts of the platform with
their upper surfaces level or even with the upper surface of the platform, and
their point of contact in the middle of the hopper or at the place where the.
fold or crease in the paper is required to be made. The two parts of the
platform are hinged to the hopper and operated by a cam so as to alternately
raise the paper clear of the rollers, and then lower it into contact with the:
rollers, which having rotary motion seize and draw the undermost sheet by its.
middle in betwixt them, folding or doubling it. As it emerges from these
rollers it is conducted by tapes or other suitable guides to another platform,
when it is pushed by a suitable instrument into contact with another pair of
india-rubber rollers which draw it in betwixt them as in the former case,
folding or doubling it in another place, and as it emerges from them it is
again conducted to another platform, and pushed into contact with another.
pair of rollers, between which it is drawn in like manner as in the former
cases, thus folding it a third time, and for any further number of folds required.
an additional platform and rollers may be employed. By this Invention
machinery for folding paper is rendered self-feeding.
In order that this Invention may be fully understood we have given reference
to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings of a machine constructed in accordance

page_text: a pair of india-rubber rollers: slightly roughed on their surfaces and carrying
tapes or bands D and E for conducting the papers after passing betwixt these
rollers to a platform F, which receivės. and holds them in position to be seized
by another pair. of india-rubber rollers G, 'by which they are folded a second
time and passed betwixt guides H to a hopper I, which again holds them in
suitable position to be passed betwixt a third pair of folding rollers J ;. these
rollers also carry tapes or bands K for the purpose of conducting the said
folded papers out of the machine.:: Motion is given to the roller C by'a spur,
wheel L fixed, on the axis of the hand wheel M gearing with another spur
wheel L', fixed on the axis of the said roller, and this roller by frictional
contact and also by the aid of the tapes D gives motion to the other roller C¹.
Motion is communicated from. rollér C. to the rollers G and J. by bevel wheels
Nand N¹, shaft O, and train of spur wheels. P; PP, P, P, P, P and P..
The hand wheel. also forms a cam or tappet plate having cam grooves of
suitable form cut or formed. on the inner surface; these grooves receive and
operate pins Q and R, the former being attached to a slidable bar. Q', on
which is fixed a cross head Q³, to which are attached two arms or con-
necting rods Q³ and Q', which are also hinged to the platform plates and give
a lifting and lowering motion thereto as req'''red; Q' is an adjusting screw for
various thicknesses of paper. The other is fixed to-another..slidable
bar R¹, to which is attached a rod R' connecting to a bell-crank lever R³,
which by a rod R connects to a bell-crank lever R³, which also by a rod R®
connects to another bell-crank lever R'; this lever R7 is mounted on a shaft
which also carries a presser S for pressing the paper into the nip or bite of
the rollers. G, and the lever R³ is mounted on a shaft which also carries a
presser T for pressing the papers betwixt or into the bite of the rollers J;
these parts are actuated simultaneously or at proper times so that a continual
passage of the papers through the machine is maintained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Atkinson, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Simon Atkinson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven.
•
THOMAS ATKINSON. (L.S.)