IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOLDING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Messrs. Martini,
Tanner, and Company, of Frauenfeld, Switzerland.
Sealed the 5th April 1878, and dated the 31st October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1877.
"
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex: IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING MACHINES." (A communication from
abroad by Messrs. Martini, Tanner, and Company, of Frauenfeld, Switzerland.)
This Invention of improvements in folding machines has reference to machines
designed more particularly for folding paper intended to be bound into books.
The improvements are applicable to machines of various sizes and for various
numbers of breaks, for instance, machines embodying some or all of the improve-
ments may be constructed either to fold each sheet of paper twice or three times,
or four times:
The accompanying Drawing shews in end elevation a three-break machine,
according to the Invention, that is, a machine arranged to fold each sheet three
times.
Assuming the machine to be in operation, and that a sheet of paper to be folded
be placed on the table a at one end, the pointers b at that end descend nearly to the
sheet, the attendant adjusts its position; then the grippers c approach, seize the
edge of the sheet and carry it forward, until the part where the fold is to be made rests
under the vertically reciprocating horizontal blade d, which, descending, makes the
first fold, pushing the sheet down through an opening or space in the table, and
between guides which hold the once-folded sheet till a longitudinally reciprocating
vertical blade e, advancing, makes the second fold and retires, after which a horizontal
blade f, having a reciprocating motion at right angles to that of the blade e, advances

page_text: towards the sheet, makes the third fold by forcing the already twice-folded sheet
between suitable guides to the rollers g, between which the now thrice-folded sheet
is passed on to the travelling tapes h, which convey it to the taker-off or piler.
This taker-off or piler is shewn in the Drawing as double, but in some cases it may
be single. Two inclined trough-like guides i meet at their upper ends where they
are surmounted by a "piling fan "j, having a reciprocating radial motion. Each
guide has its bottom slotted lengthwise; at each side of the slot on the under part
of the bottom are two projections is of a wedge shape, the depth increasing gradually
towards their lower ends; against these travel antifriction wheels carried at one
end of a pin or bolt which passes through the slot and through a sliding bracket i².
The pin or bolt is screwed and provided with a pin and a nut.
The piling fan deposits the folded sheets alternately on one or other of the
brackets, and as the sheets accumulate the brackets are forced downward, the
inclined projections it causing the antifriction wheels to draw the lower ends of the
pins or bolts farther through the slots as the brackets travel downward, thus
increasing the pressure of the springs against the brackets and compensating for the
additional weight upon them. The use of reciprocating grippers, as described, in
conjunction with the folding blades is of material advantage, inasmuch as in the
event of the attendant not having got the sheet into proper position under the
pointers, on the approach of the grippers he can retain the sheet until the grippers
have retired, thus permitting him to properly place the sheet before it is carried to
the folding blades, and preventing waste without (in the case of this double-feeder
machine) interfering with the operations of the attendant at the other end of the
machine. The bed of the slide o, which carries the reciprocating gripper bar is
recessed, and has within it a pivotted longitudinally grooved bar operated from one
of the lower longitudinal shafts. In gear with the groove of this bar is a lever
arm through which and other parts the spindle or shaft carrying the opening and
closing parts of the grippers c is at the proper times, and independently of its
traverse motion partially rotated to grip or release, as the case may be, and is locked
in the gripping positions.
The bars carrying the pointers are adjustable in the direction of the table's length,
in grooved frames, having a radial movement imparted to them through suitable
connections from below, which connections may be so constructed as that one pointer
frame may be disconnected, whilst the other is in operation, or both may be in
operation at the same time. The positions of the pointer bars in their frames are
adjusted to suit the size of sheet to be folded; and in order to lessen the labour of
attendants, the table is constructed with flaps or ends, hinged or jointed to the
central portions, so that when small sheets are to be folded, the flaps may be let
down, thus reducing the distance the attendants have to reach.
The pointers,
instead of being arranged as in the Drawing, may be inverted, placed below the
table, and caused to pass upward through suitable openings in it.
In the machine illustrated k is the first motion shaft; it drives by means of
mitre wheels 1, the two pairs of rollers g, and the delivery tape rollers; through a
pinion and an intermediate wheel the shaft k also drives a toothed combined wheel
and segment wheel m, fixed on the main shaft n. The combined wheel m is furnished
at its pitch line with antifriction wheel, carried by suitable brackets; it is also
furnished with a concentric stop segment for the purpose of stopping at the required
periods the intermittent wheels on two other shafts, which I will call respectively
the second and third shafts. The second shaft through suitable connections operates
the vertically moving horizontal blade d, and the horizontally moving horizontal
blade. The third shaft through another shaft, which I will call the fourth shaft
and suitable connections gives reciprocating motion to the slide o, carrying the
gripper bar. The third shaft also through suitable connections operates the recipro-
cating vertical blade e.
The main shaft m through bevil gear p drives two lower longitudinal shafts in
opposite directions. The lower longitudinal shaft at the driving end of the machine
operates through suitable connections, the taking-off and piling motion, and also one

page_text: set of pointers; the other lower longitudinal shaft gives through suitable connections
the necessary motion for the other pointers, and also opening and closing motion to
the grippers.
It will be evident that the details of construction may be varied in various ways
without departing from the destinctive characteristics of the Invention, and that
single-feeder machines may be constructed according thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
April 1878.
<<
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING MACHINES." (A communication from
abroad by Messrs. Martini, Tanner, and Company, of Frauenfeld, Switzerland.)
This Invention of improvements in folding machines has reference to machines
designed more particularly for folding paper intended to be bound into books.
The improvements are applicable to machines of various sizes and for various
numbers of breaks; for instance, machines embodying some or all of the improve-
ments may be constructed either to fold each sheet of paper twice, or three times, or
four times.
The accompanying Drawings shew a three-break machine, according to the
Invention; that is, a machine arranged to fold each sheet three times.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the machine, looking from the left
hand when facing the driving side of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, viewed
from the driving side of the machine; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.
1 is a substantial cast-iron bed plate, on which are erected the frames and the
whole of the machine, with the exception of the piling apparatus.
2 are the side frames.
3 is a strong cast-iron table, planed on its surface, and fitted between the frames
2, in about the mid position of the machine generally, as shewn in Fig. 11
4 and 5 are two cast-iron "folding tables," furnished in this case with four longi-
tudinal grooves, of such a depth as to receive the fixed parts of the grippers herein-
after described, so that the upper surfaces of these parts coincide with the surface
of the folding tables 4 and 5, fixed in a horizontal plane on the top of the frames 2,
having a space (say, half an inch) between their ends, through which a blade, herein-
after called the first "folding knife," passes. At the outer ends of these tables are
fitted in the same plane the cast-iron planed "feeding tables" 6. The outer ends
(7) of these tables are jointed, and are capable of being let down, as shewn in side
elevation in Fig. 2, and are kept in their normal position by the set screws and
brackets 8, the object of this arrangement being to lessen the labour of the attendant
when small work is being done.
9 is a hand fly wheel. This wheel is firmly keyed on to the first motion shaft 10,
which shaft is supported transversely across the frames by two plummer blocks 11,

page_text: as shewn in Fig. 1, the outer end being carried by a cast-iron bracket and plummer
block 12.
13 is a pair of drums fast and loose, by which the whole of the motion is commu-
nicated to the machine through the shaft 10.
13* is a nitre wheel keyed on to the far end of the shaft 10, between the frames,
and gearing with a corresponding mitre wheel 56* for driving the pressing and
delivery rollers herein-after described.
14 is the ordinary striking gear for the purpose of throwing the band on and off
the fixed pulley, and is capable of being actuated at either end of the machine,
as shewn.
15 is the driving pinion firmly keyed on to the shaft 10.
16 is an intermediate wheel fixed by a stud in proper position on the ribs of the
front frame. This intermediate wheel is driven by the pinion 15, and drives a
compound segment wheel 17, as shewn. This compound segment wheel has 65 teeth
on its outer circumference, and is 161/2 inches diameter at the pitch line. It has a
toothed segment 17* on its side, of the same radius, and having 29 teeth. On the
same face, and opposite to the toothed segment, is formed a steadying segment 17**.
It is a turned segment of a circle concentric with the wheel, but of only 6 inches
radius. Between the ends of the toothed segment and the ends of the steadying
segment, and on the pitch line of the wheel are fixed, by means of brackets bolted
to the outer face of the wheel, two antifriction pulleys 18 (Figs. 2 and 4), which
take into gabs or notches, as herein-after explained, giving two wheels an inter-
mittent motion alternately, one of said rollers (that is, the roller in advance of the
toothed segment), commencing to give one intermittent complete revolution to each
of the said intermittent wheels during each revolution of the compound segment
wheel 17, and the other roller (in rear of the toothed segment), completing the revo-
lution of each intermittent wheel, and leaving it locked in a state of rest owing to
the then position of the steadying segment 17** with regard to the crutches 19*
and 29×× of the intermittent wheels 19 and 29, as shewn in Fig. 2, and more clearly
in Fig. 4.
The compound segment wheel 17 is keyed on to the main shaft 18×, which
extends entirely across the machine, and is carried by suitable plummer blocks on
each frame, as shewn in Fig..1. At the opposite end of this shaft, just inside the
frame, is keyed a bevel pinion 18** which gears into two bevel wheels keyed on to
the horizontal longitudinal shafts herein-after to be described, the proportion of
gearing being such that two revolutions of the pinion cause one revolution of each
of the wheels in contrary directions.
19 is the left-hand intermittent wheel. It is formed at its outer circumference
with twenty-nine small teeth, two larger teeth, two gabs or notches, into which the
antifriction rollers on segment wheel 17 take, and two projecting crutch steadying
pieces which coincide with and fit on to the steadying segment 17** on the face of
the wheel 17 when in position of rest. The wheel 19 is keyed on to a horizontal
transverse shaft 20 carried by suitable plummer blocks in the side frames (see
Fig. 1).
Near to the near side frame, and between the frames, is keyed on to this shaft a
small mitre wheel 21 which gears into another mitre wheel 22, which drives a
short horizontal shaft placed longitudinally and carried in a suitable bracket 23
attached to the under side of the table 3. At the other end of the said shaft is
another pair of mitre wheels 24, one of which is keyed to a vertical shaft 24* herein-
after described, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. The farther extreme end of the shaft 20
is fitted with a crank arm 25, shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively in section and
in dotted lines. On the pin of this crank arm is fitted freely a toothed wheel 26,
six inches in diameter at the pitch line. This wheel gears into an internally toothed
circle 27, and carries on its outer face a crank arm 28 having a radius af 51, and
at the end of which is fitted a pin which takes into a connecting rod 28× (Fig. 1)
to work the "folding knife" 76, herein-after to be described. The proportion of this
gearing is such that the wheel is one-half the diameter of the toothed circle at its
8

page_text: pitch line, and consequently the wheel 26 on the crank arm 25 makes two revolu-
tions during its complete traverse of the toothed circle 27, and the whole of these
mortions partake of the intermittent character given to the intermittent wheel 19,
before described. Thus the pin, consequently the connecting rod 28* on the crank
arm attached to the revolving wheel 26, has a long elliptical motion. This motion
is generally termed the epicycloidal motion, but inasmuch as the crank arm attached
to the revolving wheel is of greater length than the radius of that wheel, the motion
of the crank pin, instead of being rectilinear, is elliptical.
The
29 is the right-hand intermittent wheel, and is precisely similar to wheel 19, and
has a similar intermittent motion acting alternately with the wheel 19.
wheel (29) is keyed on to a short transverse shaft 29*, and is carried by one block
in the near side frame and a pedestal block 30, Figs. 1 and 2, fixed on to the base
plate. Between the two bearings on this shaft is keyed a toothed wheel 31 (Fig. 2),
which gears into a wheel 31*, shewn in dotted lines, Fig. 2, of twice the diameter
of the wheel 31, fixed on another transverse shaft herein-after to be described. At
the end of this shaft 29* is formed a crank arm 32 and pin, shewn in Figs. 1 and 2
(in dotted lines in Fig. 2). To this is attached a connecting rod 33, which is jointed
to a vibrating lever 34, jointed to the base plate 1, which by means of a short con-
necting rod 34* actuates a vertical folding blade or knife, herein-after called the
"second vertical folding knife," to be described herein-after (see Figs. 1 and 2).
35 is a transverse shaft carried by a plummer block in each frame, as shewn in
Figs. 2 and 3. On to this shaft is keyed a toothed wheel 31* driven by small
wheel 31 on the right-hand intermittent shaft, as before described. The near end
of this shaft is fitted with a cast-iron slotted crank arm 36, which crank arm is
fitted with an adjustable crank pin regulated by a screw, as shewn. This crank
pin is connected by a rod 37 to a long vibrating lever 38, whose lower end is
jointed to the base plate 1, and whose upper end by means of a connecting rod 39
is attached to the sliding saddle 61, herein-after to be described.
40 is the left-hand longitudinal horizontal shaft before referred to. This shaft is
carried by suitable plummer blocks fixed on to the base plate 1, as shewn. Its
inner end is furnished with a bevel wheel driven by the pinion 18** on shaft 18*,
as before stated, and makes one revolution for every two of the pinion. On to the
outer end of this shaft is fitted the small cam 41, which by means of the bell-crank
lever 42 and connecting rod and joint 43 (Fig. 1), actuates the left-hand pointing
frame, herein-after described. On the intermediate portion of this shaft is keyed a
face cam 44, which by means of the antifriction roller and bell-crank lever 45 (Figs.
1 and 2), actuates the grooved gripper motion bar by means of connecting rod 46
and lever 46*. The shaft 40 has a continuous rotary motion.
47 is the right-hand longitudinal shaft herein-before mentioned. This shaft, like
shaft 40, is supported by standards and plummer blocks from the base plate 1, and
is similarly fitted with a bevel wheel on the inner end and a small cam 48 on the
outer end for driving the right-hand point frame, but it revolves in the contrary
direction. On the intermediate part of this shaft is keyed a face cam 49 (Figs. 2
and 3) which by means of antifriction roller and bell-crank lever 50, and connecting
rod and bell crank 51 (Fig. 1), joint and connecting rod 52, gives reciprocating
motion to the piling fan herein-after described. On the top of the table. 3 is fixed
a framework 53, carrying, by suitable adjustable bearings, two pairs of pressing
rollers 54, 54, 55, 55*, whose axes are longitudinal with the machine, as shewn.
These rollers are geared together at the right-hand ends (Fig. 3), in pairs, by means
of small wheels keyed to their shaft, as shewn in Fig. 1. The lower one of each
pair of these rollers takes into, and the two lower rollers are driven (in common) by
a small toothed wheel 56 underneath, which in its turn is driven by the small
mitre wheel 56* (shewn in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, as before mentioned) mitre
wheel 13* and shaft 10.
Fitted in the frame 53, and at the back of the lower pressing roller is, on the
right-hand side, a pin, on which revolves a small pinion in gear with the wheel on
the back lower pressing roller. This small pinion gears into a pinion fixed on to

page_text: the end of the delivery tape spindle 57, supported in the frames 53, and revolving
freely in the same. The spindle 57 is corrugated in the usual manner so as to hold
the delivery tapes 58 in position, and by means of these delivery tapes 58 drives the
other tape roller 59 attached to the piling frame herein-after described.
60 is the gripper frame bed, which is truly planed on its face and V shaped edges.
It is cast open longitudinally, similar to a lathe bed, as shewn in end view, Fig. 1,
and side view, Fig. 2. It is provided with suitable lugs or fastening pieces, and
fastened firmly to the near side of the frame, near to the top, in a horizontal position,
with the flat face outwards, as shewn. In the longitudinal space of this bed is fitted
a rectangular bar 60*, free to move on eccentric pivots at each end. This bar has a
longitudinal groove in its outer edge, and is fitted with a lever 46* before men-
tioned, by which it is caused to reciprocate on its axis radially; consequently the
end of the lever taking into this longitudinal groove will be actuated by the partial
rotation of this bar, notwithstanding that the end of the said lever may have a
reciprocating motion; at the same time this is shewn in Fig. 1, at 60*.
61 is a saddle, planed to fit the bed 60, and to traverse truly and freely along the
same. The saddle is caused to traverse along the bed 60 by means of the connecting
rod 39 and vibrating lever 38, the connecting rod 39 working freely on the axis 62.
The axis 62 passes through the saddle 61 centrally, and is furnished at the inner
face of 61 with a small crank arm 63, extending towards the right, which crank is
furnished with a spherically headed crank pin, taking into grooves of the longitu-
dinal vibrating bar 60*.
It is evident that notwithstanding the reciprocating motion of the saddle 61, and
consequently of the axis 62, the reciprocating motion of the bar 60* will be com-
municated to the axis 62, and to the lever 64 attached to it.
65 is the gripper frame, firmly attached to the traversing saddle 61, at right angles
to the bed 60, and parallel to the folding tables 4 and 5. At the under side of this
gripper frame are formed two or more arm pieces 66, forming the under limbs of the
grippers proper, on each side of the gripper frame, as shewn in plan, Fig. 3. These
are made in one piece with or fixed to the gripper frame 65, and are placed at right
angles transversely to its length, as shewn. The gripper frame 65 is hollow
throughout its length. In the hollow space the gripper bar 67 (Fig. 2) is fixed to
revolve on pivots at either end, its axial line being parallel with the centre of the
gripper frame. On the bar 67 are fixed transversely, immediately over the lower
gripper limbs 66, two or more spring gripper arins 68 (Fig. 3), as required. These
are firmly attached to the gripper bar. The near end gripper bar 67 has a locking
piece 69 (Fig. 2) formed on it, as shewn, so that when this locking piece is caused
to reciprocate the gripper bar 67 reciprocates with it, and consequently the spring
grippers 68 (Fig. 3) are elevated or depressed on either side of the gripper frame
alternately. The position of the grippers 68 on the gripper bar 67 is such that
when the gripper bar is in the middle of its motion the spring grippers on either
side of it shall be away from the lower limbs 66 of the grippers; thus all the
grippers will be open. The lever 64 before mentioned is caused to reciprocate as
before explained. When it is in its mid position its length is so arranged that the
locking piece 69 shall be left perfectly free, and consequently all the spring grippers
68 raised; but when it is at either end of its traverse, as shewn in Fig. 2, to the
left, then the right-hand spring grippers are pressed and locked down in that
position by the action of the gripper bar 67, and when the lever 64 is over to the
right, then the spring grippers to the left are in a similar position, holding whatever
may be placed, such as paper, between themselves and the lower limbs 66. It will
thus be seen that when the grippers are open and traversing the table they are in a
condition to receive a sheet of paper lying on the folding table, the lower limbs of
the grippers 66 travelling in the before-mentioned longitudinal grooves planed in
the tables 4 and 5, with their upper surfaces at the level of the said tables, or
slightly below,
The numbers of the pairs of grippers may be arranged to suit any class of work,
and it will thus be seen that any sheet of paper properly placed and pointed on

page_text: either of the laying-on tables 6 will be seized by the open grippers as they trave!
towards the sheet. The grippers close on the sheet, which is taken under the:
away
first folding knife to be folded, as herein-after explained.
70 and 71 are the two point frames, which vibrate on axes at the level of the
folding and laying-on tables, in the position shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, at or near
the middle of the near side of the pointing tables. The upper parts of these frames
are elongated and T formed, as shewn, and on the inner surfaces of these T's are
formed recessed grooves suitable for taking the enlarged head or end of the point
bars 72, which are formed so as to slide freely in the recessed grooves of the T
heads, and to fasten in any position of their length by means of tightening nuts, as.
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2; thus the point bars can be shifted to and fixed in any
position in the length of the T heads of the point frames. Below the axes of the:
point frames and running inwards towards the machine are attached or formed.
levers 73 and 74, which are caused to vibrate on their axes by means of the con-.
necting rods 43 and 48*, as before explained. Thus vibrating motion imparted to.
the point frames will be communicated to the point bars 72, and to the points and
point holders 75, which slide freely along the point bars 72, and are capable of
adjustment in any position by means of their set screws. The points 75* are made
to slide vertically and freely in their holders 75, so that when the point bars 72.
bring the points down on to the paper, the points may slide in their holders and
prevent puncturing the paper, at the same time indicating the true position for the
paper to be laid in.
If necessary the pointing apparatusses can be worked singly by
disconnecting one of them.
In this three-folding or three-break machine, as it is termed, 76 is the horizontal.
first folding knife; it is fixed to a saddle 77, which has imparted to it (by the
connecting rod 28*, as before described), a vertical motion on the upright planed
bed 78; this bed 78 is fixed vertically to the side of the back frame, as shewn. The
knife 76 is capable of vertical adjustment on the saddle 77 by means of the slot
79 and the tightening nut 80. This folding knife (76) passes vertically through the
space, between the tables 4 and 5, and down between the flexible vertical guides 81
to a position so that its lower edge descends within a short distance of the.
table 3.
82 is the second vertical folding knife; it is firmly attached to the saddle 83,
which reciprocates horizontally and parallel with the length of the machine in the V
bed, planed in the table 3; this folding knife is driven by the lever 34 and con-
necting rod 34*, as before described, and travels from left to right, passing between
a suitable folding aperture and flexible guides, giving the second fold to the paper,
as herein-after described; this vertical folding knife is caused to reciprocate hori-
zontally, and partakes of the intermittent motion given to the left-hand intermittent
wheel 19.
84 is the third horizontal folding knife, which is attached to the V slide 85, which
works horizontally in a V bed 86 (Figs. 1 and 2), carried by a hollow standard 87,
which forms the bearings for the shaft 24*, passes through and is fixed on to the.
table 3 by means of a suitable flange 88. The shaft 24* is caused to rotate by
means of the mitre wheels 24, as before described. The upper part of this shaft 24*
passes longitudinally through a slot in the slide 85, so that the slide can work
without interfering with the shaft. The top of the shaft 42 is furnished with a.
crank arm, pin, and connecting rod 89, shewn in Fig. 1, which connecting rod is
attached by means of a suitable stud pin to the end of the slide 85, which it drives,
carrying with it the horizontally moving folding knife 84. The edge of this knife.
passes between guides 90, bringing its edge just between the pressing rollers 54
and 54*. This knife 84 partakes of the intermittent motion of the left-hand inter-.
mittent wheel 19.
´In Fig. 1, on the left hand, is shewn a side view of the taker-off or piler. This
taker-off or piler is shewn in the Drawing as double, but in some cases it may be
single. In such case the fan would return to its normal position at the passage of

page_text: 91 are the trough section guides, inclined towards each other, and meeting at their
upper ends, where they are surmounted by a piling fan 92, which is caused to reci-
procate radially to such an extent each way as to bring its face at right angles to
the bottom of each trough 91 alternately. For this purpose the fan 92 is fixed to a
reciprocating axis 93, having a pinion fixed on the further end, which pinion is
driven by the longitudinal reciprocating connecting rod 52 (before described), which
rod has a toothed rack cut at its end taking into the pinion on the shaft 93. The
rod 52, gearing with the pinion on the end of the shaft 93, and having the necessary
longitudinal reciprocating motion, causes the fan to vibrate, first one way, and then
the other, to the required position, as explained.
At the centres of the bottoms of the troughs 91 longitudinal slots are formed from
top to bottom, or nearly so. In these slots slide guide blocks attached to the
receiving brackets or tables 94, causing them to work truly up and down the
troughs 91. On the backs of the troughs 91, on each side of the longitudinal slots,
are fixed wedge-shaped pieces gradually increasing in depth to their lower ends.
Each of the brackets or piling tables 94 is provided with a T headed bolt 96 passing
through the longitudinal slots in the bottoms of trough 91 and brackets 94, as shewn.
The heads of these bolts are fitted with antifriction pulleys 97, as shewn, which
are drawn against the wedge-shaped pieces 05 by means of fly nuts fitted on to the
other ends of the T headed bolts (as shewn), which nuts by being turned are caused
to compress helical springs 98 sufficiently to give the necessary pressure to the
rollers 97 upon the inclines 95; thus, as the brackets 94 approach the lower ends of
the troughs 91, the rollers 97 will be forced further out by the inclines 95, thus
causing the friction of the descending brackets 94 with their load to increase pro-
portionately to the load placed upon them as they approach the lower end of the
troughs 91.
The modus operandi of the machine is as follows:-An attendant being at each
laying-on" table, 6, 6, 7, 7, places the paper under the points, which have been
previously adjusted; the machine is started by means of the striking apparatus
14; the gripper frame and grippers travel to one end of the table, seize hold of the
sheet, which has previously been placed there; the gripper frame stops in such a
position that the centre of the sheet shall be under the first folding knife 76; the
grippers release the sheet; the knife 76 descends through the break in the folding
tables and down between the flexible guides 81, taking with it the sheet of paper
folded exactly in the middle; the knife 76 recedes, leaving the paper between the
flexible guides in a once-folded state; the vertical "second" knife 82 then advances
from left to right, passes through the folding aperture and between flexible guides,
folding the once-folded sheet the second time in the middle vertically; the folding
knife 82 then retires to the left, leaving the twice-folded sheet between the flexible
guides; the horizontal third-folding knife 84 then advances, strikes the twice-
folded sheet in the centre, forces it between the horizontal guides 90, and passes it
between the pressing rollers 54 and 54*, 55 and 55*, which carry the folded sheet
on to the delivery tapes 58; the horizontal folding knife 84 then retires; at this
moment the other set of grippers, having previously seized the sheet of paper
already placed at the other pointing or laying-on table, advances towards the centre
of the machine, and places the centre of that sheet under the first folding knife 76,
and the operation of folding is repeated, as before. The brackets 94 having been
previously placed in their highest position in the trough, the first-folded sheet is
carried by the tapes 58 over the rollers 59 into the right-hand trough (Fig. 1), and
on to its bracket; the piling fan 92 then passes over to its right-hand position
(Fig. 1), and the next folded sheet slides over the piling fan and into the trough on
the left-hand side, and so the operation is carried on, the piling fan on each depres-
sion on either side pressing the pile of goods, and causing the brackets to give way
downwards as room is required.
In this machine there is no necessity to have spurs in the edges of the folding
knives, as is usual in other machines, thereby preventing puncturing of the sheets
to be folded, which sometimes is found inconvenient.

page_text: As is evident, this machine can fold simultaneously two different kinds of work,
one kind being fed in at one end, the other kind at the opposite end of the
machine.
The use of reciprocating grippers, as described, in conjunction with the folding
knives is of material advantage, inasmuch as in the event of the attendant not
having got the sheet into proper position under the points on the approach of the
grippers, he can retain the sheet until the grippers have retired, thus permitting him
to properly place the sheet before it is carried to the folding knives, and preventing
waste, without (in the case of this double feeder machine) interfering with the
operations of the attendant at the other end of the machine.
It will be evident that the details of construction may be varied in various ways
without departing from the distinctive characteristics of the Invention, and that
single feeder machines may be constructed according thereto.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of carrying it
into practical effect, I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me under the Letters Patent herein-
before in part recited is,-
1. Giving the intermittent motions to the folding knives or blades and gripper
frames of folding machines (whether double acting or single acting, and for three.
or other number of breaks) by means of toothed compound wheels, substantially as
herein-before described.
2. The method, described and shewn, of opening and closing the grippers.
3. The construction of duplex piling apparatus, as described, and shewn in Figs. 1
and 3.
4. The combination of parts constituting the improved folding machine, con-
structed, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.