IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER FOLDING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Cundall, of Thornton, near Bradford, in the
County of York, Corm Miller, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER
FOLDING MACHINES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Robert Cundall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th October 1881.
ROBERT CUNDALL, of Thornton, near Bradford, in the County of York,
Corm Miller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER FOLDING MACHINES."
This Invention has reference to machines employed for folding paper for book
binding and other purposes, and the improvements consist, firstly, in the means or
method of finding the middle of the paper, so that the "striker" will bend or
crease the paper always in the middle previous to its being seized by the feed
rollers, by which means the paper is always folded accurately or at right angles
with its sides.
This part of my Invention is shewn in Fig. 1 which is plan view and Fig. 2
cross section of so much of the machine as is necessary to illustrate my Invention.
A are the feed rollers, and B the feed board arranged in the ordinary manner; C is
a bar having pins c projecting therefroin and placed over the line where the feed
rollers meet; D are stop pieces adjustable in slots E.
When a number of sheets of paper of the same size require folding it is necessary
to fix the stop picces D in such a position that when the sheet of paper is
placed on the feed board (as shewn in dotted liues in Fig. 1) it shall be so placed
that the middle of the paper is exactly under the "striker" F. In order to find
the middle of the paper easily the bar C is first placed in the position shewn on
the Drawing with the pins c upwards, and the paper which has previously been
perforated in the middle is placed on the pins c and held in that position until
the stop pieces D are fixed. When the bar C is removed and the machine proceeds,
the "striker" always striking in the middle of the sheet whereby the folding is
accurately accomplished.
Secondly. My Invention consists in the means or method of putting the paper
straight or at right-angles with the "striker." In practice it is found that when
the paper is being carried from one pair of rollers to another by the tapes or cords
used in this class of machine that the said paper is not carried straight forward,
but frequently gets twisted.

page_text: The object of this part of my Invention is to put the paper straight before it
reaches the "striker," my improvements being shewn in Fig. 3, which is a plan
view of a paper folding machine. A are the feed rollers between which each sheet
of paper is passed and folded; B are adjustable stop pieces which prevent the paper
travelling any further in that direction. When a sheet of paper gets twisted, as
shown in dotted lines, and is travelling in the direction of the arrows, a corner
thereof comes in contact with an adjustable angular piece C which will tilt or
straighten the crooked paper before it is operated upon by the "striker," by which
means each sheet of paper is accurately folded. A slot is formed in the stop
pieces B so that the angular piece C can be set and adjusted as required.
Instead of the inclined gauges C being adjustable by thumb screw they may be
connected together by right and left hand screw D working in nuts E supported
by brackets F on the underside of the stop pieces B. By turning the handle G
the inclined gauges will open and close equal distances from the centre, and can be
set to the greatest nicety.
Thirdly. My Invention consists in a combination and arrangement of mechanism
for receiving each sheet of paper as it is folded, and removing same to a suitable
receptacle.
This part of my Invention is shewn in Fig. 4, which is cross section of machine,
and Fig. 5, longitudinal section. A are the last pair of feed or delivery rollers
through the paper passes; B is a reciprocating slide receiving its backward
and forward motion from the rack C operated upon in one direction by the
segment D, and in the opposite direction by the spring E, or these actions may be
vice-versa. This seginent receives its motion from the rod F and lever G connected
together by universal joint, actuated by the cam H fixed on the revolving cam
shaft I. The folded papers J are kept out of the way of each newly folded sheet
These rods
by a series of vertical rods K passing through the table or fixing L
are caused to rise up and down by means of a rack M operated by another
segment N which receives its motion by rod O and lever P from the cam R.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the folded pieces of paper leave the rollers A they drop between the
slide B and vertical rods K. The rods are then withdrawn and the slide pushes
the folded paper forward and then retires, when the vertical rods rise again so as
to be in position to receive another folded paper, and so on, one after another being
received and pushed forward into the receiver S. This receiver is provided with
suitable partitions, which are adjustable so as to suit the various sizes of paper.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The employment of right and left hand screw D for opening and closing
the gauges C, substantially as shewn and described.
Secondly. The employment of the racks and segments and apparatus connected
therewith for actuating the reciprocating slide B and vertical rods K, substantially
as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Cundall, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One