Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Bending or Creasing Strawboard, Leatherboard, Cardboard, and similar Materials.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Bending
or Creasing Strawboard, Leatherboard, Cardboard, and similar
Materials.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham,
Cheshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The purpose of this invention is to effect the operation of bending or creasing
strawboard, leatherboard, cardboard, and similar materials, in a rapid and efficient
manner (without partially cutting through the board by grooving or scoring), and
yet permit of the board being bent to acute angles, or even doubled completely over,
without breaking at the bend or crease.
The process consists in creasing, compressing and pinching the board by
means of rotating tools, between or through which the board is passed as they
revolve.
A set for producing one line or crease may consist of a pair of discs which
revolve horizontally and another disc that revolves vertically. The direction of
motion of all is towards each other.
The edges of the horizontal discs are separated a sufficient distance apart, and
the edge of the vertical disc comes between them, say until level with their under
faces. Thus the three discs form what is practically equivalent to a tongue and
groove or male and female die.
It will be understood that if a board is pushed through as the discs revolve it
will be shaped into the form of a groove or crease by the action of the dies. The
depth of the groove will depend upon the depth that the vertical disc passes
between the horizontal ones, and its width will depend upon the distance between
the horizontal discs and the thickness of the vertical one. The distance apart and
position of the discs relative to each other is capable of adjustment and they are so
arranged as to pinch or squeeze and compress the board at the crease, which not only
improves the bend but prevents breaking of the board.
The process of forming the crease and effecting the desired amount of pinching
and compression is a gradual one, by reason of the fact that the discs are round,
thus forming an open mouth-shaped tool, therefore the two first points of contact
between the horizontal and vertical rotating discs continue to approach each other,
and increase their effect upon the advancing board, until the said points have passed
the deepest point of incision.
The strengthening and preventing of breaking of the board at the crease is chiefly
due to the method and means described.
A suitable machine for effecting the creasing may be constructed as follows:-A
table is supported on a framework or legs. The vertical disc is carried by a
shaft, let into the table, which is driven by a belt and pulley, toothed wheels, or
other gearing. The pair of horizontal discs run freely upon fixed pivots, or in
plain or ball bearings, supported by two laterally sliding blocks which work in a
vertically sliding block. The distance between the edges of the discs may be
adjusted by a screw which operates upon the two blocks, and is provided with a
right and left hand thread the rotation which causes the two discs to approach to
or recede from each other as desired. The vertically-sliding block works in a
carrier and is adjusted up or down by another screw. The carrier is supported upon

page_text: a bridge placed across the table, and immediately over the shaft already mentioned.
The disc on the shaft and the carrier on the bridge may be moved laterally, and
clamped by set screws at any desired position.
It will thus be seen that the pair of horizontal discs may be adjusted both
vertically and laterally relative to the vertical disc, and all the discs forming
the complete tool may be fixed at any desired distance from the side of the
table.
In practice it has been found sufficient to only drive the single vertical disc,
and allow the horizontal pair to run freely upon their bearings, but if necessary
the pair of horizontal discs also may be driven by belts or any other suitable form
of gearing.
It has been found sufficient for the boards commonly used to simply use
the three discs described, but if necessary a fourth, vertical disc may be used to
complete the set and form a support or compression tool acting upon the bottom
or outside of the crease. This may be carried on another shaft in a similar
manner to the one already described, and may run freely or be geared with it as
found necessary..
In some cases it may be convenient to make two or more parallel creases in the
board at the same time, in which case as many sets of tools as required may be used
in the same machine.
When producing parallel creases in very common boards, and, if the sets of tools
are all in one plane operating upon the board at the same time, there may sometimes
be a tendency of the board to break or tear between the creases, due to the strain
caused by the shortening or reduction in the width of the board between the sets
of tools owing to the amount taken up by the creases.
To overcome this I cause the board to take a curved shape before it enters the
creasing tools, thereby giving an increased length or width of board between them
equal to the amount of reduction or shortening. Thus the distance between
the two outside parallel edges of the board is reduced to about the same
before it enters the tools as it will be after it leaves them. The curving may
be effected by adjustable rollers, wheels, guide plates, ribs, or other suitable
means.
Another way to prevent the tearing of the board is to make the parallel creases
one after the other, by placing the sets of tools in different planes so that the board
clears through one before it is operated on by the other set.
For making creases at right angles to the first set, the board may either be
turned and passed through the machine again, or it may pass through a duplicate
set of creasing tools, combined in the same machine, at right angles to the first set,
the direction of travel of the board being changed between the two sets by the
board being thrown from the first set on to a platform on table, whence it is carried
into the second set by moving tapes, draw rolls, pushers, or other feeding mechanism.
Or the second set of tools may be in the same plane as the first set, and the board
be turned through a right angle between the two sets by a rotating table or
platform or other means.
The boards may be fed into the machine up to the usual guides by hand, being
drawn or carried forward to or between the rotating tools by moving tapes, draw
rolls, pushes, or other mechanism. Or any of the well known mechanical methods
of feeding the boards from a pile may be used if suitable.
Although I have described the discs as being used horizontally and vertically,
they may of course be used in any other way or at any other angle that will effect
the desired object.
The method and means described for creasing boards is new and novel, and
it will be obvious that modifications in the mechanism may be employed without
departing from the principle of the method described of producing the creases.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Bending
or Creasing Strawboard, Leatherboard, Cardboard, and similar
Materials.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, 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 :--
The purpose of this invention is to effect the operation of bending or creasing
strawboard, leatherboard, cardboard, and similar materials in a rapid and efficient
manner (without partially cutting through the board by grooving or scoring), and
yet permit of the board being bent to acute angles, or even doubled completely
over without breaking at the bend or crease.
The invention consists essentially in a process or method of creasing leather-
board cardboard strawboard and similar materials by a gradual process of creasing
compressing and pinching the board by means of rotating tools and in apparatus
therefor comprising a set of rotating discs the axes of two of which are set in a
plane at right angles to the axis of the other.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation of apparatus.
Fig. 2. Transverse section of same.
Fig. 3. Modified arrangement of bending discs.
Fig. 4. Front elevation of apparatus for curving the board before bending.
Fig. 5. Shows the gradual formation of the crease.
The apparatus is constructed with a pair of discs A and B which revolve
horizontally on vertical axles or spindles ab and a third disc C that revolves
vertically on a horizontal spindle or axle c the direction. of motion being towards
each other.
The horizontal discs A and B are affixed to the ends of vertical axles or
spindles a and b each of which is supported on bearings in a slide block D
the slide blocks D being capable of being moved to and from each other to set the
peripheries of the discs closer together or further apart as may be required.
The slide blocks D are mounted on the slide E and are moved to or from each
other by the screw F the part engaging with one slide block having a right hand
thread and that engaging with the other a left hand thread.
The slide E may also be raised and lowered by the screw G to lift the hori-
zontal discs A and B any desired distance above the vertical disc C. The vertical
disc C is mounted on a horizontal shaft c supported in bearings affixed to the end
frames M. The shaft c and vertical disc C is driven by a strap on to the pulley H
or in any other suitable way by gearing ropes or the like and the horizontal
discs A and B are free and are caused to rotate by the passage of the board
through the machine.
The slide blocks D and slide E are supported by a beam or bar K extending
across the machine and are clamped thereto by wing nut k so that their position
may be readily altered and adjusted as required. In front of the rotating discs or
tools is placed a table L supported on suitable framing M upon which the sheets
of board may be laid to direct them into the machine.
To form a crease across the board the horizontal discs A and B are set with
their edges or peripheries a sufficient distance apart and the vertical disc C is set
so that its periphery or edge is midway between the other two and on a level with

page_text: their under faces. Thus the set of three discs forms what is practically
equivalent to a set or pair of discs between which the board is creased to the
desired degree.
The vertical dise C is caused to rotate and a board passed between it the under
faces of the other two A and B the movement of the board causing them to rotate
and the action of the discs, upon it is to force a portion of it up between the
peripheries of the horizontal ones which is thereby shaped into the form of groove
or crease. The depth of the groove thus formed in the board will be determined
by the extent that the vertical disc extends or projects between the two horizontal
ones A and B and its width will depend upon or be determined by the distance
between the peripheries of the horizontal discs A and B and the thickness of the
vertical one C. The position of the horizontal discs A and B relative to each
other is so adjusted or arranged that they pinch or squeeze and compress the
board at the crease which not only improves the bend but prevents breaking of the
crease.
The process of forming the crease and effecting the desired amount of pinching
and compression is a gradual one, by reason of the fact that the discs are circular
thus forming an open mouth-shaped tool therefore the points of the horizontal
and vertical rotating discs which first come in contact with the advancing board
gradually approach each other and increase their pressure and effect upon it until
the said points have passed the centre line of deepest point of incision.
In practice I have found it sufficient to drive only the single vertical disc O,
and allow the horizontal pair to run freely upon their bearings, but if necessary
the pair of horizontal discs also may be driven by belts or any other suitable form
of gearing.
I have also found it sufficient for the hoards commonly used to use the three
discs A B and C described but if necessary a fourth vertical disc may be used to
complete the set and form a support or compressing tool acting upon the bottom or
outside of the crease. This may be carried on a shaft supported from the slide E
or in any other convenient manner.
Instead of a fourth disc where a pressure on the outside of the crease is desired
it will be more convenient to make the horizontal discs A and B with flanges a¹ b
(as shown in Fig. 3) with one overlapping the other the desired pressure being
applied by the board coming in contact with the upper flange a'.
In some cases it may be convenient to make two or more parallel creases in the
board at the same time in which case one two or more sets of tools as are required
may be used in the same machine.
When producing parallel creases in very common boards and if the sets of tools
are all in one plane operating upon the board at the same time there may be a
tendency for the board to break or tear between the creases due to the strain
caused by the shortening or reduction in the width of the board between the sets
of tools owing to the amount taken up by the creases.
To prevent such a transverse pull or strain being put upon the board I curve it
before entering the creasing tools and thereby increase the length or width of
board between the two sets of tools equal to the reduction of width that will take
place therein by reason of the bend or crease formed. The curving may be
effected by adjustable rollers, wheels, guide plates, ribs, or other suitable means,
a suitable apparatus for the purpose is illustrated in Fig. 4 in which two sets of
friction wheels G₁ covered with rubber are mounted on shafts g and geared
together by suitable gearing H¹ and on the shafts g are also loosely mounted two
additional wheels or pulleys K' and L. The wheels G' are of equal diameter and
fast to their respective shafts whereas the wheels K and L are of different
diameters and they run loosely on their respective shafts. At either side of the
wheels G are placed guide plates M¹ which direct the board through the machine.
The effect on the board of being passed through the machine is to curve it to about
the shape shown in Fig. 4.
The tearing of the board may also be prevented by making the parallel creases

page_text: therein one after the other by placing the sets of tools in different planes so that
the board clears through one set before it is operated on by the other set.
In order to crease the board in a direction at right angles to the first set of
creases it may either be turned and passed through the machine again or it may
pass through a duplicate set of creasing tools combined in the same machine, at
right angles to the first set the direction of travel of the board being changed
between the two sets by the board being thrown from the first set on to a platforin
or table whence it is carried into the second set by moving tapes draw rolls
pushers or other feeding mechanism. Or the second set of tools may be in the
same plane as the first set and the board be turned through a right angle between
the two sets by a rotating table or platform or other means.
The boards may be fed into the machine up to the usual guides N by hand,
being drawn or carried forward to or between the rotating tools by moving tapes
draw rolls pushers or other mechanism. Or any of the well known mechanical
methods of feeding the boards from a pile may be used if suitable.
Although I have described the discs as being used horizontally and vertically
they may of course be used in any other way or at any other angle that will effect
the desired object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of and apparatus for creasing or bending cardboard. leather-
board or similar material substantially as described.
2. The method of creasing or bending cardboard leatherboard or similar
material which consists of a gradual process beginning with the formation of a
slight crease which becomes deeper and sharper and is finally pinched on the
reverse side to draw it closer together substantially as described.
.3. Apparatus for creasing and bending cardboard leatherboard and similar
material comprising two sets of discs between which the board is passed one set of
discs set at right angles to the other to gradually crease bend and pinch the board
substantially as described.
4. In a machine for creasing and bending cardboard leatherboard and similar
materials the combination with a vertical disc C adjustable on a horizontal shaft
of two horizontal discs A and B carried on vertical shafts two adjustable sliding
brackets D by which the horizontal discs are supported and an adjustable or
movable slide E upon which the sliding blocks move to and fro substantially as
described.
Dated this 9th day of November 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.