IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, AND FOR FOLDING AND STITCHING SHEETS OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIAL
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rudolph Bodmer, of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, AND FOR FOLDING AND STITCHING SHEETS OF PAPER
AND OTHER MATERIAL."-A communication from abroad by Dr. Carl
Bernhard Gruner and Dr. George Adolph Keller, trading under the
Firm of Maschinenbauanstalt Frauenfeld, of Frauenfeld, in the
Republic of Switzerland.
Sealed the 30th April 1861, and dated the 16th November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rudolph Bodmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
November 1860.
I, RUDOLPH BODMER, of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, AND FOR FOLDING AND STITCHING SHEETS OF
PAPER AND OTHER MATERIAL," (a communication to him from abroad by Dr.
Carl Bernhard Gruner and Dr. George Adolph Keller, trading under the
Firm of Maschinenbauanstalt Frauenfeld, of Frauenfeld, in the Republic
of Switzerland,) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to machines for folding one, two, or more
times, or for folding and stitching together sheets of paper or other material,
Price 8d1

page_text: . either blank or covered with letter-press printing, and intended for pamphlets
and other publications. The sheets of paper intended to be folded are piled
upon a table or form attached to the machine, within convenient reach of the
person attending the machine. From this pile the papers are taken one by
one, and placed upon the platform in the machine, where they are carefully
adjusted according to guide pins previously set to suit the size of the paper
and letter-press. The two plates forming the platform are divided by a
narrow slot, and the paper is so adjusted that the centre line beween the two
edges of letter-press where the sheet is to befirst broken and folded, falls as
near as possible in a line with the centre of the slot; when in this position a
knife or folding blade, held immediately over and in the direction of the slot,
is caused to descend and to force the paper through the slot, whereby it is
doubled up or folded, and downwards between two sets of elastic surfaces,
which form the continuation of the slot, and between which it is held after,
the folder has returned to its former position; when in this position a
second knife or folder will advance against the once folded sheet, and
again forcing it through a slot, double or fold it a second time and force it
between two sets of elastic surfaces, where it will be struck and folded in by
a third knife or folder in a similar manner; each succeeding blade moving
in a direction at right angles to the preceeding one and in alternate vertical
and horizontal directions. The blade giving the last fold at the same time
forces the folded sheet between a pair of pressure rollers, by which it is
more or less compressed, satined or smoothed to a certain extent, and finally
discharged at the required speed from the machine, and formed in a
compressed state into a regular pile by the side of the machine.
Apparatus for single or double stitching the folded sheets, if required,
is attached to and made to form part of the folding machine.
The stitching takes place before the last folding, and on the line in which
the last fold is formed. For double stitching, two pair of needles are used,
each with its bobbin of thread; for single stitching only one pair of needles
is employed, and the second pair with its bobbin is removed. The needles
are fixed to a bracket which has a backward and forward motion in the
direction of the folded paper. The threads from the bobbins are seized
at the ends by small pincers, cut to the required lengths by shears actuated
by the apparatus, and placed upon the needles, which latter pierce the paper
and deposit the threads in it. As soon as the needles have pierced the
paper, the folding blade advances, folds the paper for the last time, and
forces it between the pressure rollers, as already described. When the folded
paper is not to be stitched, the stitching apparatus is simply disengaged.

page_text: The second part of this invention relates to machines intended chiefly for
folding newspapers with or without their supplements, and capable of folding
two and more times into each other two and more sheets. The machine is
provided with as many receiving tables placed over each other as there are
sheets intended to be folded into each other, thus for two sheets two tables
are required, and for three sheets three tables, upon which the piles of papers
are placed. As correct folding is of less importance for newspapers than
rapidity, this machine is made entirely self-acting, and is distinguished from
the machine for folding pamphlets by having self-acting apparatus for seizing
the sheets and removing them from the piles and placing them upon the plat-
forms in position for receiving the first folding. Each receiving table has a
corresponding platform in the machine, placed exactly over each other. The
sheets intended to form the outside when folded are placed upon the lowest
table,and those which are to be inside upon the uppermost table. The blade
which causes the first folding occupies the position described with reference to
the machine for folding pamphlets above the uppermost platform. Supposing
there were two sheets to be folded into each other, this knife will, in descending,
first break and fold the first sheet, and with this first sheet upon it, it will
strike upon and double thesecond sheet upon the lowerplatform, and force the
two sheets,one upon the other, downwards between the elastic surfaces, which
will hold them ready for being folded the second time; after which the same
operations as described with reference to the machine for folding pamphlets
will be repeated. The apparatus for seizing the sheets and placing them
upon the platforms consists of tubes or hollow bars with small perforated
projections on their surfaces, and connected by suitable piping,partly rigid and
partly flexible, with an air cylinder. The hollow bar on the upper platform is
connected by brackets with the one on the lower platform, and by rack or
other suitable motion they are made to move across the platform, and to reach
the sheets at the top of each pile on the tables, when the action of the piston
in the air cylinder will exhaust the air from the bars and cause the top sheet
of each pile to adhere to the bars, which will then return to their former
position,drawing the sheets after them till they arrive in the place for receiv-
ing the first folding, whereupon the motion of the piston of the air cylinder
will cause the bars to release their hold on the paper. At the same time that
the sheets are drawn into the machine the compressed air from the other side
of the piston is forced through suitable pipes connected with the hollow cast
front part of the platform, and blown through air holes made for this purpose
between the sheets just being removed and those immediately below them,
whereby the former will be effectually separated from the latter.

page_text: The tables upon which the sheets are piled before entering the machineare
fixed to a vertical rack,gearing into a pinion, and actuated by worm and worm
wheel gear
gear at the necessary speed for raising the tables, so that each succeed-
ing sheet shall be on the same level as the preceding one before its removal
into the machine. These self-acting tables can also be used with the machine
for folding and stitching.
In both the machines described, the various motions can be regulated for
any size of paper within the limits of the machine.
These machines can be connected with and driven from the steam printing
press or by other power, or they can be driven by hand, the power required for
driving being very small. By the use of these machines a great saving of
labor is effected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Rudolph Bodmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RUDOLPH
BODMER, of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the City of London, serd greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Rudolph Bodmer, Her special licence that I, the said Rudolph Bodmer,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Rudolph
Bodier, my 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 OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, AND FOR FOLDING AND STITCHING SHEETS OF
PAPER AND OTHER MATERIAL," (a communication to me from abroad by Dr. Carl
Bernhard Gruner and Dr. Georg Adolph Keller, trading under the Firm
of Maschinenbauanstalt Frauenfeld, of Frauenfeld, in the Republic of
Switzerland,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Rudolph
Bodmer,my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writingunder my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Rudolph Bodmer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to machines for folding one, two, or more
times, or for folding and stitching together sheets of paper or other material,
either blank or covered with letter-press printing, and intended for pamphlets
and other publications. The sheets of paper intended to be folded are piled
upon a table or form attached to the machine, within convenient reach of the
person attending the machine. From this pile the papers are taken one by
one and placed upon the platform in the machine, where they are carefully
adjusted according to guide pins previously set to suit the size of the paperand
letter-press. The two plates forming-the platform are divided by a narrow
slot, and the paper is so adjusted that the centre line between the two edges of
letter-press where the sheet is to be first broken and folded, falls as near as
When in this position a
possible in a line with the centre of the slot.
knife or folding blade, held immediately over and in the direction of the slot,
is caused to descend and to force the paper through the slot, whereby
it is doubled up or folded, and downwards between two sets of elastic
surfaces, which form the continuation of the slot, and between which it is held
after the folder has returned to its former position. When in this position a
second knife or folder will advance against the once folded sheet, and again
forcing it through a slot, double or fold it a second time, and force it between
two sets of elastic surfaces, where it will be struck and folded in by a third
knife or folder in a similar manner, each succeeding blade moving ina direction
at right angles to the preceeding one, and in alternate vertical and horizontal
directions. The blade giving the last fold at the same time forces the folded
sheet between a pair of pressure rollers, by which it is more or less compressed,
satined, or smoothed to a certain extent, and finally discharged at the required
speed from the machine, and formed in a compressed state, into a regular pile
by the side of the machine.
Apparatus for single or double stitching the folded sheets, if required, is
attached to and made to form part of the folding machine. The stitching takes
place before the last folding, and on the line in which the last fold is formed.
For double stitching, two pairs of needles are used, each with its bobbin of
thread; for single stitching only one pair of needles is employed, and the

page_text: second pair with its bobbin is removed. The needles are fixed to a bracket
which has a backward and forward motion in the direction of the folded paper.
The threads from the bobbins are seized at the ends by small pincers, cut to
the required lengths by shears actuated by the apparatus, and placed upon the
needles, which latter pierce the paper and deposit the threads in it.
As soon
as the needles have pierced the paper the folding blade advances, folds the
paper for the last time, and forces it between the pressure rollers, as already
described. When the folded paper is not to be stitched, the stitching apparatus
is simply disengaged.
The second part of this Invention relates to machines intended chiefly
for folding newspapers with or without their supplements, and capable of
folding one, two, and more times into each other two and more sheets.
The machine is provided with as many receiving tables placed over each other
as there are sheets intended to be folded into each other; thus for two
sheets two tables are required, and for three sheets three tables, upon which
the piles of papers are placed. As correct folding is of less importance for
newspapers than rapidity, this machine is made entirely self-acting, and is dis-
tinguished from the machine for folding pamphlets by having self-acting
apparatus for seizing the sheets and removing them from the piles and placing
them upon the platforms in position for receiving the first folding. Each
receiving table has a corresponding platform in the machine placed exactly
over each other. The sheets intended to form the outside when folded are
placed upon the lowest table,and those which are to be inside upon the upper-
most table. The blade which causes the first folding occupies the position
described with reference to the machine for folding pamphlets above the
uppermost platform. Supposing there were two sheets to be folded into each
other, this knife will, in descending, first break and fold the first sheet, and
with this first sheet upon it, it will strike upon and double the second sheet
upon the lower platform, and force the two sheets one upon the other down-
wards between the elastic surfaces, which will hold them ready for being folded
the second time, after which the same operations as described with reference
to the machine for folding pamphlets will be repeated. The apparatus for
seizing the sheets and placing them upon the platforms consists of tubes or
hollowbars with small perforated projections on their surfaces, and connected by
suitable piping, partly rigid and partly flexible, with an air cylinder. The hollow
bar on the upper plation is connected by brackets with the one on the lower
platform, and by rack or other suitable motion they are made to move across
the platform and to reach the sheets at the top of each pile on the tables,
when the action of the piston in the air cylinder will exhaust the air from the

page_text: bars and cause the top sheet of each pile to adhere to the bars, which will
then return to their former position, drawing the sheets after them till they
arrive in the place for receiving the first folding, whereupon the motion of
the piston of the air cylinder will cause the bars to release their hold on
the paper; at the same time that the sheets are drawn into the machine,
the compressed air from the other side of the piston is forced through
suitable pipes connected with the hollow cast front part of the platform,
and blowing through air holes made for this purpose between the sheets
just being removed and those immediately below them, whereby the former
will be effectually separated from the latter. The tables upon which the
sheets are piled before entering the machine are fixed to a vertical rack
gearing into a pinion and actuated by worm and worm wheel gear at the neces-
sary speed for raising the tables so that each succeeding sheet shall be on the
same level as the preceeding one before its removal into the machine. These
self-acting tables can also be used with the machine for folding and stitching.
In both the machines described the various motions can be regulated for
any size of paper within the limits of the machine. These machines can
be connected with and driven from the steam printing press or by other
power, or they can be driven by hand, the power required for driving being
very small. By the use of these machines a great saving of labor is effected.
In order that this Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe the same, reference being
had to the annexed Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, and Fig. 3
a horizontal section, through the line, y, of one of the improved folding
machines, to which the stitching apparatus is attached, relating to the first
part of my Invention.
This machine is intended for treble folding and simultaneous stitching
of printed or blank sheets of paper, for pamphlets, or other purposes, and
by its operation such sheets can be converted into books in a superior
manner and far more easily and expeditiously than if they had to be stitched
by hand; the work is done more regularly and correctly, besides that the
sheets issue from the machine ready pressed and smoothed, whereby a
considerable saving of time is effected. With the help of a boy a machine
of this kind can be made to fold, stitch, and press from 900 to 1,200 sheets
per hour.
Upon the driving shaft a are mounted the fast and loose pulleys a¹ & a³,
and fly wheel a³, so that the machine can be set in motion either by power

page_text: or by hand; and the shaft b is actuated from the driving shaft through
the instrumentality of a train of three spur wheels at, c, & 61, (see Fig. 2).
Supposing now a sheet of paper to be folded and stitched to be spread upon
the tables or platforms d & d', which are separated from each other by a
narrow slit or interstice 1, 1, immediately under the folding blade or knife
e, in such a manner that the said slit shall divide the sheet as nearly as may
be into two equal parts. The machine being set in motion in the direction
indicated by the arrow on the fly wheel a³, the blade or knife e (see Figs.
1 & 2) is caused to descend perpendicularly upon the sheet to be folded by
the rotation of the grooved cam or excentric e', which being mounted upon
the shaft b, and acting upon the sector e² (see Fig. 1) through the guide pin
e3, gives motion to the spur wheel e4 and arm e5 (see Fig. 2), and draws the
knife e downwards by means of the rod or link e and slide e7, which latter
is guided by the standard es. As the folding blade or knife e thus descends,
.it forces the sheet of paper through the slit 1, 1, folds it, and presses it down
between the elastic guide straps e (see Fig. 2), which are fixed in exact
continuation of the slit 1, 1, and hold the sheet in that upright position.
The peculiar curve of the grooved cam or excentric e¹ having now caused
the blade or knife e to recede from between the folds of the sheet thus operated
upon, a second blade or knife f: placed perpendicularly opposite to the narrow
slit 2, 2, between the uprights f, f2, (see Figs. 2 & 3,) and being guided by
a slide 3 on the plate A of the framework of the machine, is now brought
into operation; this is effected by the grooved cam or excentric f, which
by a combination of levers f³, fe, & fƒ7, (see Fig. 1,) presses the blade or
knife forward at right angles to the once folded sheet, forcing it through
the slit 2, 2, and thus folding it a second time. This second operation
leaves the doubly-folded sheet immediately in front of a double pair of press
rollers I, sustained by elastic straps as before, and ready to be subjected to
the folding process for the third time. But previously to the folding pro-
cess being completed, and even before the blade or knife f has had time to
complete its retrograde motion, the operation of stitching commences.
Supported by the fork (see Fig. 3), which is in connection with a series
of levers & links h1, h2, & h³, a pair of needles furnished with barbs or hooks
is in position to receive the end of the thread which is to stitch the several
folds of the sheet together (and which is supplied by a bobbin suspended
from the under side of the folding table) through the instrumentality of
the stitching apparatus, by the rotation of the crank h4 (see Fig. 3), and
the reciprocating motion of the slide bar h5, to which the thread holding
pincers or tongs ho are attached. The guide pieces h³, h³, & h³, open and

page_text: close these pincers or tongs alternately as required, and by means of the
short lever h¹o a pair of shears h" is actuated and caused to cut the thread
the moment the length drawn out is sufficient to allow it to drop upon
the needles placed underneath, as already stated. Immediately afterwards
the cam or excentric h₁₂ (see Figs. 1 & 2) effects the forward and perforating
motion of the needles. The sheet to be operated upon is here confined
between two pairs of blades i & i¹ (see Figs. 2 & 3), one of which, placed
opposite the rollers gx, offers the requisite resistance to the insertion and
passage of the needles; and at the same time the blade or knife k advances,
in order to fold the sheet for the third time, by forcing it through between
the second pair of blades and into the rollers gx, placed behind them.
The blade or knife is caused to perform its functions by means of the excentric
(see Fig. 2), the sector 2, the pinion 3, the crank 4, connecting rod
or link, and slide ko. The first pair of rollers g* is grooved or fluted, in
order to take hold of and draw the sheet through; but the second pair is
smooth and polished, and is intended to compress and smooth the sheet
previous to its discharge, and to reduce its thickness to a minimum, facilitated
as this process is by the sharpness of the folds. The rollers g & g* receive
their motion directly from the shaft a, by means of a train of bevil & spur
wheels g¹, g², & g³, (see Fig. 3). For the reception and accumulation of
the folded sheets on their being discharged by the rollers g, an apparatus
similar to that described with regard to Sheet 2 of Drawings, in connection
with the machine for folding newspapers, may be applied.
In order to facilitate the adjustment of the sheets upon the platforms or
tables d & d' previously to their first folding, the attendant avails himself of
two sets of guids pins, one of which is placed over and the other under the
said platforms or tables. The upper set of guide pins 1, 1, (see Fig. 2), is
actuated by the excentric, the lever 12, and link or rod 13 (see Fig. 1),
the two latter serving to depress the bell-crank lever (see Fig. 2), and
thereby to raise the arm 1, which carries the guide pin sockets 5. The guide
pins move freely in their sockets or holders, and therefore press upon the sheet
with the force of their own weight only. The corresponding mechanism
underneath the platforms or table pierces the sheet as in the printing press;
the guide pins receiving their motion in this case through the arm m on the
fulcrum stud of the sector e² by means of the link m' and lever m² (see Fig. 1),
which has its fulcrum in 3, and imparts an upward and downward motion to
the bar or ruler which carries the guide pins, the latter projecting through
openings made for that purpose in the platform or table d. The greater or

page_text: less yield of this machine depends in a great measure upon the dexterity of
the person whose duty it is to adjust the sheets upon it.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a
ground plan, and Fig. 4 a horizontal section, through the line X, Y, of one
of the improved machines for folding newspapers, forming the second part
of this Invention.
As the yield of a machine of this kind is of greater importance than the
degree of precision with which the sheets can be folded, instead of employing
an attendant to spread the sheets on the table, this operation is effected by
means of a self-acting apparatus, and so contrived that two or three sheets can
be placed one within the other, and be folded up to five times in succession
without any other manual labor than that required for driving the machine,
supposing that there should be no power available to effect this purpose.
In this manner from 2,500 to 3,000 newspapers, together with one or two
supplements or sheets of a different kind, can be in succession detached from
two or three separate heaps or piles, folded into each other, compressed, and
discharged by a self-acting apparatus.
The general features and arrangement of this machine are similar to those
described with reference to Sheet 1 of Drawings, in so far as the process of
folding is concerned.
The newspapers and supplements which are intended to be folded are placed
in heaps or piles, containing from 3,000 to 4,000, and ranging from six to
seven inches in height, upon separate platforms or tables; and it is to be
observed that in cases where two sheets are to be folded into each other, the
machine is fitted with two, and for operating upon three sheets with three such
platforms or tables placed one above the other. By means of brackets B & B¹
and frames B2 and B³, which are connected and caused to move simultaneously
by means of racks and pinions in combination with a ratchet wheel motion,
the tables A & A¹ are supported and are made to supply the machine
regularly during more than one hour's time. Should one half the number of
newspapers only happen to require the supplement, the upper table or plat-
form must be placed a few inches higher. A desirable quantity of newspapers
& supplements having now been piled up in the manner described, and the
machine being ready for work, the sheets are seized and transferred from their
respective piles to the folding tables in the following manner:-The hollow
bars or tubes 6 & 6¹ (see Figs. 2 & 4) are in contact by means of their
perforated projections x, x, with the sheets to be folded upon the platforms or
tables A & A¹ respectively; whilst the hollow connection piece c is so adjusted

page_text: in the socket d, which forms part of the slide e, that it can rise and fall in and
share the backward and forward motion of the latter. The air pump f(see
Fig. 2), which is here represented as being actuated by the excentric g on the
shaft h, is, by means of the pipe i, placed in communication with the con-
necting piece c, rarefies the air in the suction tubes b & b, and thus causes
the uppermost sheet on each pile to adhere to them. By the upward motion
of the air pump piston, the air above the piston becomes simultaneously
compressed and forced at the proper point (which can be regulated at pleasure
by the ratchet motion) between the sheets, after passing through the pipes
k&k, and through a number of small perforations in the hollow plates or
rails a² & a³, against which the piles of paper abut, thereby separating the
sheets from the heap. At the same time the excentric by means of the
lever ', the link 2, and the lever (see Figs. 1 & 2), raises the two pairs of
guide rollers 2 & 3, and thereby the suction tubes b&b to the level of their
respective folding tables (see dotted lines in Fig. 2), the transfer of the sheets
upon which is then effected by means of the excentric m; the suction pipe
acting in this instance as a lever and moving the slide e, which carries the
sockets of the suction tubes b & backwards and forwards on the slide
bracket or rail e¹ the required distance.
The folding blade or knife n is actuated from the driving shaft o by means
of the elliptical wheels n¹ & n², the crank m³, and link or connecting rod n^,
the minimum velocity of the variable motion produced by these elliptical
wheels occurring just after the blade or knife n has been raised above the
upper folding table a, and whilst the sheets are being seized by the suction
tubes b & b, and places them over the slits 1, 1, in their respective folding
tables, through which the knife now forces down and folds,first, the supplement
and then both it and the newspaper together. Elastic bands 5, no, similar to
those described with reference to Sheet 1 of Drawings, hold the sheet ready in
its proper position to be acted upon and folded a second time by the knife
which is set in motion by the excentric p¹ and the lever på (See Figs. 1 & 2).
The elastic holding bands p, p³ (see Fig. 1.) here again hold the paper ready
for the third folding; the brackets p, p, forming between them the slit
through which the sheet is to be forced for this purpose. Finally, the blade
or knife q effects the third operation, and at the same time draws the sheet
over the rollers r. This is accomplished by means of the scroll q¹, which is
fixed upon the same axle as the wheel n', and actuates the blade or knife q by
means of the lever q² and the slide q* (see Figs. 1 & 4), the latter being
guided by the slide bar q³. The fourth folding operation is effected by the
P

page_text: ever, the outer arm of which is fitted with the link or connecting rod s¹,
through which it acts upon the lever s2, whereby the knife s, to which the
brackets³ serves as a guide, is depressed between the rollers 1 (see also Fig. 4)
which receive the folded paper, and being forced against each other by
springs compress the same to the requisite extent previously to delivery.
On leaving the rollers the folded papers.guided by plates fixed underneath
the said rollers, descend upon a travelling belt formed of two widths t (see
Fig. 1), which are stretched between two pairs of pulleys. One pair of these
pulleys revolves upon a stud, which is carried by the lugs t attached to the
frame of the machine, whilst the other pair is mounted upon a hollow axle t
(see Fig. 2), which runs loose upon the ratchet motion shaft 15. and nearly
covers it from end to end. The two widths of belts t are connected with each
other by slender cross pieces placed somewhat apart from each other, and thus
receive, moving as they do between stationary guide rails, the folded papers as
they successively drop down. Upon the outer end of the said hollow axle t
the ratchet wheel u is fixed, which at each revolution through the pall or
click u¹ is caused to move on its axis just as much as is necessary either to
carry off the successively discharged and to some extent piled up papers, or
to allow them to accumulate in the inclined guide trough v, according to the
position it is made to occupy as regards the pulleys t³. From time to time
the attendant may in a leisure moment carry off an armful of papers without
disturbing those which follow in their order of rotation.
The same lever (which raises the suction tubes & ¹, and effects the
ratchet motion just described, likewise actuates the feeding apparatus men-
tioned at the commencement of this description, by means of which the tables
A & A¹, upon which the papers are piled, are caused gradually to rise. To
this end the connecting rod or link 2 is fitted with two tappets 1, 4, at such
a distance from each other that at each rise and fall they act by means of a
small pall or click upon the ratchet wheel u, which is fixed upon the shaft to,
by which means and through theinstru mentality of the pinions w & w¹,
and the racks w² & w³, the whole of the framework B & B¹, B² & B³, along
with the tables A & A¹, is caused to rise gradually in proportion as the papers
are being removed from their piles.
Should
The various movements which depend upon the size of the paper to be
folded are all so contrived that they can be modified to a certain extent, so
as to admit of a variation of from six to seven inches either way.
the machine be required to fold a second supplement, it would then become
necessary to fit it with an additional table or platform for piling, and an

page_text: additional folding table and abutment plate, and the various supporting
and guide brackets would have to be lengthened in proportion to the
increased length of the crank n³.
It will appear on inspection of the Drawing that this machine is likewise
so constructed as to admit of being worked by power, the driving shaft
having a fast and loose pulley and a fly wheel mounted upon it. And it is
scarcely necessary to observe that the folding & stitching machine described
with reference to Sheet 1 of Drawings may, by the omission or removal of
the mechanism which actuates the stitching apparatus, be converted into a
simple folding machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rudolph Bodmer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
RUDOLPH BODMER. (L.B.)