IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Conquest, of Tudor Street, in the City of London,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
28 IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER." A communication from abroad by
Stephen Davis Tucker, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Conquest at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1876.
WILLIAM CONQUEST, of Tudor Street, in the City of London, Mechanical Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER."
This Invention consists in a novel arrangement and improved construction of
folding mechanism, the object being to obtain the utmost efficiency and exactness
in folding when operating upon paper as it issues at high speed from the continuous
web printing machine of which this folding mechanisin may form a part or be
adapted or attached thereto.
To attain this end the folding mechanism is so arranged and operated that
although the speed of the paper while passing through the machine during the
operation of folding is reduced the paper is never suddenly arrested as hitherto.
The present improvements consist in so arranging one or more rotary folding
cylinders (according to the number of folds required) in such a manner that the folds
will be in the same direction. The folding cylinders to be employed for this pur-
pose are of the class shewn and described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me, and dated September 4th, 1875, No. 3105. To the first of these folding
cylinders I lead up by means of tape or other guides the continuous web of paper,
while the part to be folded is yet only partially severed from the web by the
cutting cylinder, the distance being so regulated that when the paper has been
caught by the first folding cylinder, it will be torn from the continuous web, then
carried round the cylinder and operated upon by the folding knife of this cylinder,
and passed between the folding rollers and presented by tapes and guide bars to the
grippers of the second cylinder, where it will receive a second fold in like manner
and in the same direction. When issuing from the folding rollers of the second
cylinders, the now twice folded paper is deflected by a movable switch alternately
into one of two inclined passages formed of sheet metal, and in length slightly less
Price 1 Gill

page_text: than the width of the folded sheet; these passages lead the folded paper to pairs of
tape rollers travelling at half the speed of the folding rollers, and into the nip of
these tape rollers the papers are carried before being free from the folding rollers.
Any buckling of the paper in the passages will therefore be more distributed and be
gradually absorbed by the passage of the paper through these tape guide rollers.
The paper which has been deflected into either one of these two passages will
then be carried forward over a third pair of horizontal folding rollers, arranged
at right angles to the previous folding mechanism. Before the folded paper has
struck a stop bar which indicates the position to be reached it is itself struck by
the edge of the folding knife carried by a vibrating arm (operated in the peculiar
and novel manner as herein-after described). By this action the paper is thrust
between these folding rollers which are set at such a distance apart as to give to
the paper a slightly rounded fold without cracking or creasing the paper. The
velocity of rotation of these rollers is an increase upon the travel of the carrying
tapes so as to get the papers when caught in the nip of these rollers quickly out
of the way of the next following sheet of paper.
When folding the paper a third and fourth time at right angles to the previous
folds, the following new and improved arrangement of mechanism is employed :—
The folding rollers between which the fourth fold is to be inade are arranged
immediately below the third folding rollers, and parallel with them, so that
the fourth folding knife (constructed, arranged, and operated in like manner to the
previous one) may strike the paper and thrust it into the nip of the fourth folding
rollers, while it is yet held in or travelling through the third folding rollers, thereby
preventing any danger of doubling up, buckling, or creasing of the folded papers
by striking against stops, and having the motion of the paper arrested as hitherto
before the last fold is made. In order to present the paper in a position over the
fourth folding rollers suitable for making an exact and squaro fold, the third folding
rollers are made slightly conical, so that the thicker edge of the paper is fed forward
at a slightly increased speed, thus neutralizing the slight check to the speed of the
passing paper caused by the folding knife edge cracking, or creasing the thicker
edge of the paper, while the loose leaves of the opposite side are not yet operated
upon. By these means I am enabled to give the third and fourth folds, while the
paper is yet travelling, and without the assistance of fixed stops in an exact and
regular manner at high speeds. The two sets of folding mechanism for giving these
last folds to the divided streams of folded papers are exact duplicates of each other,
but may conveniently be arranged at different levels and distances from the folding
cylinders. The folded papers as they issue from the last pair of folding cylinders
are piled (by means of sheet flying apparatus) in an inclined position on an open
grid down which they are thrust by the action of the flyer.
By the novel construction and arrangement of apparatus for operating the
vibrating knives a rapid motion is obtained as the blade approaches the folding
rollers with a very slight dwell when between them, and a nearly stationary posi-
tion when the knife is lifted to its highest position. This improvement consists in
vibrating the arm of the knife blade shaft from a crank pin carried upon a disc
by means of a connecting rod which is but little longer than the radius of the
crank. This will give a very slow motion when passing over one of its centres,
and a very rapid one when passing over the other. To prevent any breaking of
the knife or of its arm from accidental choking of the folding rollers the crank pin
is mounted upon the disc by means of a swivel piece which is held in its place by
the action of a helical spring, or the connecting rod may be constructed in two
parts which are retained the suitable distance apart by a helical spring coiled around
its stem.
The folding mechanism as described, together with its guide, tape rollers, and
vibrating folding knives are all driven by direct spur gear from the continuous
web machino, so that the timing of their action will be exact. But the third and
fourth folding rollers are driven by belts to allow of their stopping without breakage
in case of accidental choking.

page_text: It will be understood that when two papers are printed in the width of the
machine a circular saw is to be used to separate the web longitudinally. This may be
conveniently done when the paper after receiving this first or second fold runs
out over the folding rollers which are set at right angles to the first folds. The
folding apparatus for operating on the now divided sheets are so connected together
in pairs as that each pair shall receive motion from the same crank pin and cach
pair of folded papers will issue from the last folding rollers simultaneously, and
they will be "flown" together and deposited on the grid or table.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Conquest in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th January
1877.
WILLIAM CONQUEST, of Tudor Street, in the City of London, Mechanical Engincer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER." A com-
munication from abroad by Stephen Davis Tucker, of the City and State of New
York, United States of America.
This Invention consists in a novel arrangement and improved construction of
folding mechanism, the object being to obtain the almost efficiency and exactness
in folding when operating upon paper as it issues at high speed from the continuous
weh printing machine of which this folding mechanism may form a part or bo
adapted or attached thereto.
To attain this end the folding mechanism is so arranged and operated that
although the speed of the paper (while passing through the machine) may be
reduced during the operation of folding, the progress of the paper is never suddenly
arrested as hitherto.
According to the present improvements two or more rotary folding cylinders
(according to the number of folds required), are arranged in such a manner that
the folds may be in the same direction or some of the folds may be at right angles
to the others if required. The folding cylinders to be employed for this purpose
are of the class shewn and described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me and dated September Fourth One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five,
No. 3105, in which the edges of the folding blades in the act of striking the paper
to be folded describe an epicycloidal curve or a-portion of such a curve.
In Sheets I and II. of the accompanying "Drawings, Fig. 1 is a sido elevation
of the left hand end of the improved folding machine and a portion of the endless
web printing machine to which it is adapted. Fig. 1ª, Sheet II., represents also
in side elevation the continuation of the folding machanism. Fig. 2, Sheet III.,
is an end view of the folding machine.
The several Figures in Sheet IV. show various parts of the machine drawn on
an enlarged scale. A; A¹, are two rotary folding cylinders constructed and arranged
as described in the Specification of the above-named Patent, No. 3105; a, a, and
a, a, are their respective folding rollers mounted in bearings in the side frames
of the folding machine. The lower folding rollers of each pair are mounted in
spring bearings (shewn detached in full size at Fig. 1b, Sheet IV.), so as to avoid
breakage in case the machine becomes choked by the advancing paper. To the
first of these folding cylinders A the continuous web of paper is led up by means
of tapes 1, 2, or other guides from the endless web printing machine, while the part
to be folded is yet only partially severed from the web by the cutting cylinders B, B.
In order to effect only the partial severance of the paper, portions of the cutter
blade have been removed therefrom. Grooves are cut circumferentially in the
surface of the cylinders B, B, and conducting bars are made to enter into those
grooves and they extend to the endless tapes 1, 2, and thus support and convey to
the endless tapes the fresh or broken ends of the web of paper. The distance apart
of the folding and cutting cylinders is so regulated that when the paper has been
caught by the grippers a² of the first-folding cylinder A it will be torn from the

page_text: continuous web and thus completely separated from the web as the folding cylinders
are larger in diameter than the cutting cylinders B, B. The severed sheets will
then be carried round the cylinder A and operated upon by the edge of the folding
knife a* of this cylinder (to which a kind of epicycloidal motion is imparted) and
passed between the folding rollers a, a. The lower set of tapes 1 do not pass round
the folding cylinder A but pass round a carrying roller 1b and return around a set
of pulleys back to the cutting cylinders B. The upper set of tapes 2 pass round
the roller 2* on and out between the folding rollers a, a, with the sheet of folded
paper and together with the guides a³ present the folded sheet to the grippers u³ of
the second folding cylinder A¹ and then return by the upper rollers to the cutting
cylinders B, B. From this cylinder A' the folded sheet will receive a second fold in
like manner and in the same direction by the action of its knife a*. The folding
cylinders being of greater diameter it follows that they will tear the sheets from the
web and leave about two inches spaces between each sheet, and through this space
the fingers or grippers project to seize the edge of the succeeding sheet. Guides a³,
a", are fixed under the folding cylinders in order to prevent the possibility of the
folding knives a and a* (after they have operated) from rebounding or being
displaced in any manner. When issuing from the folding rollers a¹, a', of the second
cylinder A¹ the stream of sheets now twice folded is separated into two streams,
each alternate sheet boing deflected by a moveable switch C, either upwards or
downwards, into one of two inclined passages D₁, D¹, formed of sheet metal, and in
length slightly less than the width of the folded sheets. The inner parts of these
shoots or passages D, D', are jointed so that by taking out a pin they will swing
open, and any obstruction that may be therein may be quickly removed. These
passages D, D', lead the folded sheets of paper to pairs of tape rollers E, E, and E, E¹,
which severally lead to separate folding mechanisms arranged at different levels, and
the one being beyond the other as scen best at Fig. 14, Sheet II. These rollers E
and E travel at half the speed of the folding rollers a, a, and into the nip of
those tape rollers the sheets are carried before being freed from the folding rollers a',
a. The switches C are carried by rocking levers from a rocking shaft c, carried in
slotted bearings on the upper end of standards bolted to the side frames of the
machine. These switches are operated by a slotted connecting rod from a disc or
cam plate keyed on all the horizontal shaft R as herein-after described, so that they
may be quickly removed and replaced when requisite.
The stream of folded sheets which has been thus divided and the two sets
deflected into either one of these two passages D, D', will then be carried forward by
the tapes 3, 4, over a third pair of horizontal folding rollers F, F, and F¹, F¹, arranged
at right angles to the previous folding mechanism. The tapes 3 are only employed
as carrying tapes, and do not extend over the folding rollers F of the upper
folding apparatus, but return by the roller E*, so that the sheets after issuing from
between the tapes at the rollers are carried forward by friction of contact
with the tapes which will be sufficient to carry the folded sheets of paper up
to the top or nearly so, but not so as to cause it to strike the bar f. The like
arrangement is applied to the lower folding apparatus F1, but in this case the
tape 3 is not required. Before the folding sheets of paper have struck the stop
bars, which indicates the position to be reached, they are struck by the edge
of their respective folding knives G, GL, (carried by vibrating arms g, g) which are
operated in the peculiar and novel manner herein-after described. By this action
the folded sheets of paper are thrust between these folding rollers F, F, and F, F,
respectively. These folding rollers are set at such a distance apart as to give to the
paper slightly rounded fold without cracking or creasing the paper. The
velocity of rotation of these rollers is an increase upon the travel of the carrying
tapes 3, 4, so that when the sheets are caught in the nip of these rollers F, F, and
F, F, they are quickly got out of the way of the next following sheet of paper.
When the sheet of paper is to be folded a third and fourth time at right angles
to the previous folds, the following new and improved arrangement of mechanism is
employed:-
The folding rollers J, J, and J¹, J¹, between which the fourth fold is to be made

page_text: In
are arranged immediately below the third folding rollers F, F, and F', F', (see end
view Fig. 2; Sheet III.) and parallel with them so that the fourth folding knives I, I',
(constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner herein-after described) may
strike the thrice folded sheet of paper and thrust it into the nip of the fourth
folding rollers J, J, and J¹, J¹, while it is yet held in or travelling through the
third folding rollers F, F, and F, F, thereby preventing any danger of doubling up
or creasing of the folded paper by striking against the stops i and having the
motion of the sheet arrested as hitherto before the last fold is made. The position of
the knives I, I, and I, II, and the fly K, K, and other parts are not shewn with
respect to the timing of the mechanism, but in the usual conventional manner.
order to present the sheets in suitable position over the fourth folding rollers J, J,
for making an exact and square fold the third folding rollers F, F, and F, F¹,
are inade slightly conical so that the thicker edge of the paper is fed forward at a
slightly increased speed, thus neutralizing the slight check to the speed of the
passing sheets caused by the folding knife edges G and G₁ cracking or creasing
the thicker edge of the papers while the loose leaves of the opposite side are not
yet operated upon. By these means I am enabled (without the assistance of
fixed stops) to give the third and fourth folds in a very exact and regular manuer
at high speeds while the paper is yet travelling.
The two sets of folding mechanism for giving these last folds to the divided
streams of folded sheets are exact duplicates of cach other but may conveniently
be arranged at different levels and distance from the folding cylinders, as shewn in
the Figures in Sheets I., II., and III. The folded sheets as they issue from the
last pair of folding cylinders J, J, and J, J, are piled by sheet flyers K in an
inclined position on an open grid L, down which they are thrust by the action of
the flyer K.
By the novel construction and arrangement of apparatus above referred to for
operating the vibrating knives G and G₁ a rapid motion of the blades is obtained
as they approach their respective folding rollers F, F, and F, F, and a very slight
dwell is given when the blades are between the folding rollers, and the blades are
nearly stationary when they are lifted to their highest position.
This actuating
nechanism is shewn in detail drawn full size in Sheet IV., where Fig. 3 is a front
view, Fig. 4 a side view, and Fig. 5 a plan of the several parts.
This improve-
ment consists in vibrating the arms g, g¹, of the knife blade shaft from a crank
pin M carried upon a disc N by means of the connecting rod n which is but little
longer than the radius of the crank. This will give a very slow motion when
passing over one of its centros, and a very rapid one when passing over the other.
To prevent any breaking of the knife or of its arm owing to the folding rollers
becoming accidentally choked the crank pin is mounted upon the disc by means of
a swivel piece M' which is held in its place by the action of a helical spring m. In
the mechanism employed to make the fourth fold (where a long connecting rod is
required) the latter is constructed in two parts (as shewn in Figures 6), and these
parts are retained a suitable distance apart by means of a helical spring coiled
round the stem. In order to obtain the rapid rise and the temporary dwell of the
blade between the rollers J, J₁, as in the other cases, the small crank arm and
the long connecting rod are so arranged as to be at a very slight angle to
cach other when the blade is between the folding rollers, as seen in the end view,
Fig. 2, Sheet IT.
The folding mechanism as described, together with its guide tape rollers and
vibrating folding knives, are all driven by direct spur gear from the continuous web
printing machine, so that the timing of their action will be exact.
Motion is cominunicated from the cutting rollers of the printing machine to the
toothed wheel 6 on the axle of the first folding cylinder A by the toothed wheels 5,
5, 5, 5, and by means of the toothed wheel 7 motion is given to the wheel 7* on
the axle of the second folding cylinder A'. From the axle of this cylinder motion is
given to the wheels 9 of the tape rollers E, E¹, of the duplicate folding apparatus by
the intermediate wheels 8, 8. From the toothed wheel 7 the longitudinal shaft P

page_text: derives its motion through the wheel 10 and bevil gear O. From this shaft P
another longitudinal shaft R (carrying the discs N and crank pin M of the lower
folding mechanism) is driven by the wheels Q. At the opposite end of the shaft P
are the toothed wheels Q*, Q", which communicate motion to the shaft P* carrying
the crank pin for operating the knives of the upper folding mechanism. From these
shafts R and P✶ the rocking shafts S and S¹ are operated by means of connecting
rods, discs N, and crank pins M similarly constructed to those before described.
R¹, R, are eccentrics for rocking the shafts T, T, which carry the flyers of the two
several folding mechanisms. But the third and fourth holding rollers are driven by
belts to allow of their stopping without breakage in case of accidental choking of the
mechanism; p is a belt pulley on the shaft P, which communicates motion by a belt
to the pulley p¹ on the shaft P¹. This shaft has belt pulleys p³, p², communicating
motion to belt pulleys p³, ps, on the axles of the upper rollers of the two pairs
of folding rollers J, J, and J, J. From the axles of these folding rollers J and J¹
the folding rollers F and F receive their motion by toothed pinions 11, 11, 11
(see Fig. 2). Both the third and fourth folding rollers are provided with spring
bearings. Those of the third pair are constructed as shewn at Fig. 1°, Sheet IV.,
and the fourth pair as shewn in Fig. 2.
It will be understood that when two newspapers or sheets are printed in the
width of the machine on the same continuous web of paper, a circular saw is to be
used to separate the web longitudinally. This may be conveniently done when the
paper after receiving this first or second fold runs out over the folding rollers which
are set at right angles to the first folds. The folding devices for operating on the
now divided sheets are so connected together in pairs that each pair shall receive
motion from the same crank pin, and cach pair of folded sheeets will issue from the
last folding rollers simultaneously and they will be "flown" at the same time and
deposited on the grid or table.
"3
In Sheets V. and VI, is shewn a folding machine suitably arranged for folding
"sideways' an eight-page printed sheet; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal elevation, and
Fig. 8 an end view of the machine. The folding mechanism is connected with the
mechanism for cutting the sheets from the continuous web as in the former instance,
but in Fig. 7. I have not thought it necessary to shew the cutting devices as they
are precisely the same as in the former case.
In the modification shown at Figures 7 and 8 the several parts of the machine which
are constructed like that previously described are marked with the same letters of
reference. The sheets after receiving a single fold from a folding cylinder A (similar
to those before described) are alternately diverted into two parts by means of a
switch C, constructed and arranged like that of the previously described machine.
The sheets are then carried towards a second pair of folding rollers F, and in their
course pass over a small circular saw F* driven by gearing and running in narrow
grooves made in guide tapo rollers E, E. This operation cuts or slits the once
folded sheets longitudinally through the centre, thus making each half or four-page
sheet. The two halves then receive their second or cross fold by the action of the
reciprocating knives or folding blades G which are mounted in bearings at cach
side of the machine. These blades are connected together by connecting rods G¹,
and as the two blades of cach pair receive motion from the same crank pin M
(mounted on a disc in the manner before described) they will work simultaneously.
These sheets as they issue from these second folding rollers F, F, are caught by the
vibrating flyers T, T', which are similarly connected together by a connecting rod
operated from the same crank pin or excentric, and will also act simultaneously
and lay the sheets as they issue from the folding rollers F, F, down on the fly
boards U, U', around which are coiled helical springs which are compressed as the
pile of papers increases, and so maintain the top of the pile at about the same
height. In this modification of the machine the connection of the folding blades G
with their shaft is maintained by a helical spring G coiled around their shafts, one
end being connected to the shaft and the opposite end to the boss of the recipro-
cating knives G, which are mounted loosely upon their shafts. This arrangement

page_text: will permit the folding blades of the knives G to yield should any obstruction or
choking of the folding rollers occur, and it will prevent the liability to breakage of
the arins or other parts of the reciprocating knives.
Fig. 9, Sheet VII., shews a modification of the above described mechanism for
"flying" the two halves of the divided sheets. In this arrangement tapes 1, 2,
pass around the folding rollers F, F, F', F', and serve to conduct the sheets to
a third set of plain rollers V, V, situated in a central position below the folding
rollers F, F, and F, F, so that the two half sheets will be simultaneously
carried from opposite sides of the machine towards and between the lower pair
of guide rollers V, V, and on issuing therefrom will be simultaneously "flown " by
the flyer T situated below.
In some newspaper printing offices the machines are required to print papers
of different sizes, say for instance, an evening edition of one half the size of the
morning edition. The cutting and folding mechanism must therefore be so far
modified in construction as to adinit of this being done with facility, such as by
simply throwing some parts out of gear and other parts into gear.
In Sheets VIII. and IX. I have shown the cutting and folding mechanism of
a continuous web printing machine arranged for this purpose; Fig. 10, Sheet VIII.,
represents the cutting and folding mechanism and their appendages and carrying
tapes arranged for the large or morning edition; Fig. 11, Sheet IX., represents the
same mechanism arranged for cutting and delivering the smaller or evening edition.
It will be seen that the cutting and folding mechanism is similar in principle
of construction to that already shewn and described, except that the carrying
tapes 1 and 2 of Fig. 1 (which carry the sheets from the cutting cylinder B, B, to
the large folding cylinder A above) instead of being continuous as in Fig. 1 are
divided into two lengths, for which purpose additional carrying rollers are required.
The carrying rollers for the lower section of the carrying tapos are mounted in
bearings in a swinging frame W, which turns on the axle of the carrying roller 1ª.
The lower carrying rollers a*, bx, for the upper section of the carrying tapes 1
and 2, are mounted in stationary bearings, and the carrying and guide rollers for
the other ends of the tapes are arranged in precisely the same manner as that shown
in Fig. 1a. I have not therefore thought it necessary to show these latter parts
in Figures 10 and 11. At Fig. 10 the carrying tapes and other parts are shown in
the positions required for cutting, carrying, and folding a full sized sheet. At
Fig. 11 the swinging frame W is depressed so as to carry the half sized sheets (when
cut from the continuous web) to a collecting cylinder C, such as that employed
in the Hoe press for collecting a number of sheets as they are cut or separated from
the continuous web.
The toothed gear for driving the large folding. cylinder A from the cutting
cylinder B, is the same as that shewn at Fig. 1, but in order to drive the lower
section of the carrying bands 1 and 2 additional gearing is required. This is
effected in the following manner :-The tape 2 of the upper section of the carrying
tapes is driven by friction of contact with the large folding cylinder A and the
folding rollers a, a, and a, a, the latter of which are not shewn in Figures 10 and 11,
The tape 1 of the upper section is driven by the roller 1b from the folding cylinder
A. By this means the carrying rollers a* and *, Figures 10 and 11 are driven, and
are geared together so that their tapes should travel at the same speed. The toothed
wheel on the axle of the roller b* gears into and drives an intermediate wheel c*,
which drives a toothed pinion on the axle of the carrying roller d of the swinging
frame W. On the axle of this roller is another toothed wheel which gears into
and drives a wheel of the same diameter on the axle of the other carrying roller g*,
so that both may travel at the same speed.
It will now be understood that when the swinging frame W is in the position
shewn at Fig. 10, both sections of the carrying tapes 1 and 2 will be driven at the
same speed as the large folding cylinder A, but when the swinging frame W is
depressed into the position shewn at Fig. 11, the wheel ax will be removed out of
gear with the wheel e* and the wheel g* will be brought into gear with the

page_text: wheel f*, which is one of the series of wheels connected with the collecting
cylinder C*.
It will thus be evident that the lower section of the carrying tapes will be driven
at the same surface speed as the collecting cylinder.
It will be seen that the cutting cylinders are provided at each side with cutting
knives, so that two half sheets may be cut from the continuous web at each rotation
of the cylinder B, but when the full sized sheet is being printed, one of the cutting
knives must be removed so that only one cut will be made for each rotation of the
cylinder.
It will now be understood that when the swinging frame W is depressed as
shewn at Fig. 11, the half sheet will be collected on the cylinder C*, and removed
therefrom in sets of four or six sheets as may be desired, the removal of the sheets
from the collecting cylinder being effected by means of a switch actuated by the
switch cam X in the well-known manner. They will then be deposited on a table
by a fly frame in the manner usually adopted in the Hoe press. It will of course be
obvious that if desired the full sized sheets may (by means of a swinging frame of
the character above described) be deflected away from the folding devices and con-
ducted direct to a fly frame and deposited in an unfolded state on a table.
.
In the arrangements shewn in the Drawings above described it will be seen that
the printed sheets are always folded at the middle, so as to divide them into two
equal parts, but it will be obvious that by altering the position of the folding
devices the sheet may be folded into three leaves. This is effected by causing the
folding blades to act on the sheet at one-third and two-thirds of its length.
This arrangement will be understood by referring to the diagram, Fig. 15,
Sheet XII., in which A and A¹ are the folding cylinders, and a* the folding blade,
to which a kind of epicycloidal motion is imparted, as in Fig. 1, so that the sheets
arc pushed in between the folding rollers a, a. One fold having been made on the
cylinder A the partially folded sheet is conducted to the second cylinder A', where
a similar operation takes place at two-thirds the length of the sheet, which may
then be passed on to other folders to receive as many cross folds as may be
required.
It has been already stated that one of the principal objects of the present Inven-
tion is to fold the sheets while the printing machine is going at a high spred, so
that time should not be lost and the printing operation retarded by the folding of
the printed sheets. In the arrangements above described this object is effected by
dividing the sheets into two streams, which are operated upon separately by two
sets of vibrating knives, cách of which having only to do half the work may
therefore operate at a moderate speed. In Figures 13 and 14, Sheets X. and XI.,
I have shewn an arrangement of folding apparatus in which the same speed is
maintained throughout the mechanism, and instead of vibrating folders rotary or
partially rotating blades having an epicycloidal motion are used for all the folds,
whereas in the former figures folding blades having this motion are only used to
make the first two folds. It will be seen in Fig. 13 that the first and second fold
is produced by the large folding cylinders A and A' as in the former figures, but the
twice folded paper is now carried from the folding rollers a¹, a, by means of tapes
3 and 4 to the rotary folder A* where it receives the third fold (but in a direction at
right angles to the former one) from the epicycloidal blade a*. Having received
the third fold the sheet is carried down by the rollers F, F, to another pair of folding
rollers J, J, where it receives a fourth fold from the epicycloidal blade of the
oscillating folding arm A³. As the epicycloidal blade ax of the arm A³ operates
precisely in the manner shewn and described in the Specification of my Patent of
February 10th, 1870, No. 543, it will not be necessary here to give any further or
more detailed description thereof. It is almost superfluous to say that the motions
of all these folding devices must be very accurately timed so that the folds may be
made at the proper part of the sheet. To this end all the toothed gear for
operating these parts must be connected together and driven from the cutting
cylinders of the printing machine as shewn at Fig. 1, Sheet I. The arrangement of

page_text: the driving gear is shewn by dots at Figures 13 and 14, and it will therefore be
only necessary to say that the shaft Y on which is mounted the wheel which carries
the crank pin for working the arm A, as shown at Fig. 14 is driven by bevil gear
actuated from the shaft of the folding cylinder A¹.
Having now described the invention of improvements in machinery or apparatus
for folding paper which has been communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect I claim as the
Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid-
First. The arrangement of one or more rotary folding cylinders provided with
folding blades, the edges of which (in folding) describe an epicycloidal curve in
combination with one or more vibrating knife folders constructed and operated as
herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement or combination of two, three, or more rotary folding
mechanisms provided with folding blades, the edges of which (in folding) describe
an epicycloidal curve for the purpose of producing the required number of folds
in the proper directions as herein set forth.
Third. The arrangement of two, three, or more rotary folding mechanisms pro-
vided with folding blades, the edges of which (in folding) describe an epicycloidal
curve in combination with one or more partially rotating folders, the edges of the
folding blades of which describe (in striking the paper to be folded) an epicy-
cloidal curve as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The novel arrangement of mechanisin shewn in Sheets II., IV., and VI.,
for giving motion to the vibrating folding knives G and G¹ at high speed without
noise or shock.
I also claim the devices shewn and described in reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6,
Sheet IV. for avoiding breakage or straining of the mechanisin in case of any
accidental obstruction to the working of the vibrating knives.
I further claim imparting elasticity to the bearings of the folding rollers for the
same purpose as shewn at Figures 16 and 1°, Sheet IV.
Fifth. I claim partially folding the printed sheet when it has been cut or
separated from the continuous web and dividing it into two parts which are com-
pletely folded simultaneously by means of vibrating folding knives arranged on each
side of the machine as shewn and described in reference to Figures 7 and 8,
Sheets V. and VI.
I
Sixth. The arrangement of the vibrating knife folding mechanism and the
rotating or partially rotating epicycloidal folding mechanism as shewn in Sheets III.
and XI., whereby the last cross fold is commenced by the folding rollers J, J, or J¹, J',
before the folded sheets have left the previous folding rollers F, F, or F¹, F¹, as
herein set forth.
Seventh. I claim dividing the tapes 1 and 2, Sheets VIII. and IX. which carry
the printed sheets from the cutting to the folding cylinders into two parts or
sections the lower section of which is adapted to a swinging frame, so that the full
sized sheets may be carried to the folding apparatus to be folded or the half sized
sheets may be diverted from the folding apparatus and carried direct to the col-
lecting cylinder in order to be "flown" and deposited on a table as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, 1, the said William Conquest, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM CONQUEST. (L.S.)