Improvements in Registering or Aligning Apparatus for Use in Paper Folding or other Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan,, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Registering or Aligning Apparatus for Use in
Paper Folding or other Machines.
We, TALBOT CHAMBERS DEXTER, of Pearl River, in the County of Rockland;
and State of New York, Manufacturer, and THE DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, a
Corporation organized under the laws of the State of Iowa, in the United States
of America, and having its principal place of business at 97-101 Reade Street, in
the City of New York, State of New York, United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to devices employed for registering or aligning sheets of
paper to proper position for passing the same to the folding-rollers of a paper-
folding-machine or to other machines designed to operate on paper fed thereto one
sheet at a time and requiring the sheet to be registered or aligned preparatory to
being ruled or otherwise treated by said machine.
And the invention has special reference to the class of registering devices in
which pins or points are made to enter slits made in the paper during its passage
through the printing-press.
The chief object of the invention is to effect said registering automatically and
more perfectly and without danger of tearing or injuring the paper, and to that end
the invention consists firstly in novel devices for opening the slits in the paper so
as to more effectually utilize the edges of the said slits for the engagement of the
registering point or instrument.
And the invention also consists in the employment of an automatic sheet-
restraining brake, which checks the motion of the sheet preparatory to subjecting
the same to the action of the registering-instrument, all as hereinafter more fully
described and pointed out in the claims.
In the annexed drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken immediately inside of the main
supporting frame of a paper-folding machine equipped with our invention,
Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged plan views of the front and rear-end portions
respectively of the said folding-machine with our invention connected thereto,
Fig. 4 is a further enlarged side view of the electrically controlled paper-
registering mechanism,
Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged side and plan views of the sheet-restraining brake,
showing the means for obtaining the lost motion between said brake and its
supporting shaft,
Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line X X in Fig. 4, and
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sheet of paper provided with slits by which to register
the sheet.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts: A represents the main
upporting-frame of the paper-folding machine. B B denote the rolls which
receive the paper between them and fold said paper, C designates the blade which
ucks the sheet between said folding-rolls, D is the feed-roller upon which run the
apes a a, which convey the sheet across the folding-machine, and D' D' are the
Irop-rollers which press the sheet upon the traveling tapes. All of said parts are
rranged to operate in the usual and well-known manner.
E represents the front-stop or end-gage, against which the end of the paper is

page_text: made to abut during the process of feeding said sheet to the folding-machine, this
gage is made to intermittently move partway toward and from the folding-rolls by
means of suitable mechanism, which in this case is represented to consist of a rock-
shaft F having depending from it near each end thereof an arm F', the lower end of
which is connected to one of the longitudinal bars G, to which the aforesaid gage is
adjustably secured by means of a screw-rod b passing through a nut E¹ on the gage
and journaled in a bracket attached to the bar G. A gear H on the end of the
screw-rod 6 meshes with a worm H' on a shaft 6", which extends across the machine
and is provided with a hand-wheel or crank, by which to turn it. The rock-shaft F
receives motion from a lever F", which is attached thereto and oscillated by a rotary
cam N.
In connection with said movable gage, we employ suitable sheet-propelling
mechanism for imparting a secondary impulse to the sheet after the gage E has
receded from the paper arrested by said gage, which secondary movement of the
sheet, we utilize in conjunction with a sheet-restraining brake for subjecting the
sheet to sufficient tension to smoothen it into uniform plane, as hereinafter
described. For imparting the. aforesaid secondary impulse to the sheet and at the
same time registering said sheet, we prefer to employ electrically controlled devices,
consisting of the roller R, which is fastened to a transverse shafte journaled in bearings
on the sides of the frame A and rotated by suitable gearing as indicated in Fig. 3
of the drawings. Upon a bar c', which is parallel with the shaft c, and secured to
the frame A, rides a carriage S, which is adjustable lengthwise of said bar to
accommodate to the width of the paper the sheet-registering devices carried on said
carriage. The adjustment of the carriage is effected by means of a screw-rod c",
which is parallel with the bar c¹ and journaled in a suitable bearing of on the
frame A and passes through a nut o formed on the carriage.
To the end of the carriage facing toward the folding-rolls B B is hinged or
pivoted the arm T, to the free end of which is pivoted the roller R¹ arranged
directly over the rotary roller R, which latter is faced with hard rubber.
In proximity to the arm T', is another arm U pivoted to the carriage and
provided with a lug U, by which it bears on the top of a shoulder. T' formed on
the heel of the arm T. In the opposite end of the carriage S is journaled a rock-
shaft v, to which is fastened a lever o, the free end of which is connected by a
rod P to the end of the arm U, which latter thus receives oscillatory motion from
said rock-shaft, and, by the engagement of the lug U₁ with the shoulder T', it
intermittently lifts the roller R from the lower roller R. In order to allow said
motion of the roller R to be regulated to lift it to the desired height from the said
lower roller, the rod P is adjustably connected to the lever v', which connection
may be made by means of the screw-threaded end-portion of the rod passing freely
through an ear d¹ on the lever and provided with nuts d d at opposite sides of
said ear.
The rock-shaft receives its motion by means of a lever P¹ fastened to said
shaft and having its free end held in operative contact with a rotary cam N, as
shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The aforesaid mechanism lifts the roller R' to
its extrenie elevation to allow the front portion of the sheet to pass under it, as
hereinafter more fully explained.
The roller R' receives also another lift by means of the armature e of an
electro-magnet M, the energy of which is controlled by a circuit maker and
breaker actuated by the paper when propelled by the aforesaid rollers R R¹.
Said armature is provided with a lug e, by which it bears upon the top of the
shoulder T of the arm T. To the arm T of the roller R' is firmly secured a
block W, the free end of which is formed with a vertical face, on which is
supported the bracket f, the attaching end of which consists of a vertical
bar which is connected to the aforesaid face of the block W by a
vertical tongue on
one of said parts sliding in a corresponding groove ou
the other of said parts, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. A set-
screw f" connected to a projection on the upper end of the bar f¹ and bearing on

page_text: top of the block W, serves to support the bracket adjustably in a vertical
direction so as to carry said bracket a greater or less distance from the plane of
the paper-supporting bars a¹. On the bracket f rides a hanger 9, which is movable.
in a horizontal direction and adjustably sustained in its position by means of the
horizontal screw-rod 91 journaled on the bracket and passing through a nut hon
the hanger, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. To the hanger g is
pivoted the vertically disposed circuit-making and breaking finger I, designed to
be operated by the paper moved by the rollers K R'. The electric terminal i
is attached to the upper end of said finger and in position to be brought in contact
with the terminal i, which is attached to the hanger 9. In connection with the
said finger 1, we employ the bridge, which rises gradually from the plane of the
paper-supporting bars a¹ and terminates abruptly adjacent to the lower end of
the finger I, which is in front thereof and presents thereat an abutment j¹ for the
edge of the slitted portion of the paper lying upon the bridge j, which in con-
junction with the sheet-depressing shoe serves to open or distend the slit made in
the paper during its passage through the printing-press, from which the paper is
delivered to the folding-machine. Said slit being made for registering the paper
so as to bring it in alignment with the folding-rolls. In order to sustain said shoe
in, its proper operative position, we attach it to an extension gll of the hanger g'so
as to adjust the shoe simultaneously with the finger I. The sheet-depressing shoe,
in conjunction with the sheet raising bridge for opening the slit in the paper so
as to cause one of the edges of the slit to abut against the finger I, which
controls the registering mechanism, constitutes the most important part of our
invention.
The registering of the paper is effected in the following manner: The paper is
usually provided with three slits X X and Y, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.
The slits X X are used in registering the sheet end wise and the slit Y for
registering said sheet laterally and a corresponding number of the herein-
described registering mechanisins is arranged to correspondingly register the sheet
by said slits.
In the operation of the folding-machine the tapes a a carry the sheet in the
usual manner over the folding-rolls B B until the front edge of the sheet comes in
contact with the gage E, by which it is arrested. During this movement of the
sheet, the roller R' is lifted by the arm U and its connection with the rock-shaft v
and the bearing of the lug 'U' on the shoulder T' of the roller-arm T. Said
lifting of the roller R₁ allows the sheet to pass freely under it. As soon as the
sheet has been arrested by the gage E, the latter recedes and the arm U is tilted
to allow the roller R¹ to drop onto the portion of the sheet riding on the revolving
roller R, by the frictional contact of which the sheet receives a secondary impulse,
and, in drawing the same forward, the slitted portion of the sheet is drawn over
the bridge j, the upward pressure of which at the rear of the slit with the down-
ward pressure of the shoe in front of the bridge, strains the paper so as to open
the slit and allow the shoe to enter the slit and cause the raised end of the slitted
portion to abut against the lower end of the finger I, which is thereby tilted so as
to close the electric circuit. The magnet M, which is thereby energized, attracts
its armature e and causes the same to lift the roller R¹ by the engagement of the
lug e' with the shoulder T. The roller R thus loses its hold upon the paper and
leaves the same in its registered position.
. '
We further utilize the forward draft of the rollers R R¹ on the paper in
conjunction with a sheet-restraining brake bearing on the opposite end of the sheet
to hold it properly registered and smoothly across the folding-rolls B B.
Said brake I prefer to form of an arm n, which is hung loosely on a transverse
shaft o and has,its free end provided with a brake-shoe n of, either felt or rubber
or other suitable material affording the required frictional hold on the paper, with
which it is held normally in contact by gravity of the arm, which may be provided.
with an adjustable weight n" by, which to regulate the pressure of the brake upon
the paper according to the quality of the latter.
:
.

page_text: The rock-shaft o receives its motion from the rock-shaft v, which lifts the
roller R¹. Said motion is transmitted from shaft to shaft by means of arms o¹
and p attached respectively to the shafts o and and connected by a rod p', as
shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
The bearing of the brake n on one end of the sheet simultaneously with the
draft exerted on the opposite end of said sheet by the rollers R.R', stretches the
paper as aforesaid. The cam N, which actuates the rock-shaft v, is formed with
two cam-faces of different radii stepped to impart to said shaft two successive
increasing turns in one direction and thus cause the arm U to lift the roller-arm T
and bracket ftwice in succession to increased elevations. The first lift of said arm
causes the shoe to lift the slitted portion of the sheet above the bridge ; to
prevent the latter from tearing the sheet in its movement to the folding-rolls, and
the second lift of said arm raises the roller R' still farther to permit the next
sheet to freely enter under said roller.
In order to allow the brake n to retain its hold on the sheet until the blade C
has tucked the sheet between the folding-rolls, we provide a lost motion between
the shaft o and brake-arm sufficiently to allow the rock-shaft v to lift the roller-
arm T with the bracket fattached thereto for raising the slitted portion of the
sheet from the bridge j, as aforesaid, without disturbing the brake n from its
bearing on the sheet, but cause the herein before described second motion of the
rock-shaft v to lift the brake n from the sheet and thus allow said sheet to be
freely drawn in between the folding-rolls B B.
The aforesaid lost motion may be obtained by means of a pint projecting from
the side of the brake-arm in such a position as to cause it to come in contact with
a pin t¹ projecting from a collar u fastened to the shaft o, as shown in Figs. 5
and 6 of the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. In a machine for automatically registering paper provided with slits for
determining the degree and direction of the registering of the sheet, a bridge
rising from the plane of the travel of the sheet toward its registering position
and in the path of the slit, and a sheet-depresser in front of said bridge and
in conjunction therewith opening the slit to facilitate the registering of the sheet,
as set forth.
2. In a machine for automatically registering paper provided with slits for said
purpose, the combination of mechanisms moving the paper toward the registering
mechanism, an end-gage temporarily arresting the motion of the paper, paper-
shifting mechanisms imparting an impulse to the arrested paper, electro-magnets
controlling the latter mechanisms, slit-opening devices in the path of the paper,
and a circuit-controller actuated by the slitted portion of the shifting paper, as set
forth.
3. In combination with paper-conveying tapes, an end-gage temporarily arresting
the motion of the paper, mechanism imparting a secondary impulse to the paper,"
an electro-magnet controlling said mechanism, a bridge rising from the plane of
travel of the paper and in the path of the slit in said paper, a paper-depresser in
frout of the bridge to open the said slit and a circuit-controller actuated by the
slitted pcrtion of the shifting paper, as set forth.
4. In combination with the folding-rolls, folding-blade, and sheet-conveying
tapes passing the sheet to said rolls, a sheet-restraining brake engaging one end of
the delivered sheet, and sheet-propelling mechanism engaging the opposite end of
said sheet during the restraining action of the brake and thereby stretch the sheet
during the impact of the folding-blade, as set forth.
5. In combination with the folding-rolls, folding-blade and sheet-conveying tapes,
à sheet-restraining brake engaging the rear-end of the sheet, sheet-propelling

page_text: mechanism engaging and releasing the opposite end of the sheet and mechanisms
transmitting motion from the propelling mechanism to the aforesaid brake to apply
the latter to the sheet simultaneously with the engagement of the propelling
mechanism, as set forth.
6. In combination with the folding-rolls, folding-blade and sheet-conveying tapes,
a rock-shaft over the sheet-feeding end of the machine, a sheet-restraining brake
carried on said rock-shaft, sheet-propelling mechanism engaging and releasing the
opposite end of the sheet and a rock-shaft controlling the action of said propelling.
mechanism and connected with the rock-shaft of the brake to apply the latter
simultaneously with the engagement of the propelling mechanism, as set forth.
7. In combination with the folding-rolls, folding-blade and sheet-conveying tapes,.
a rock-shaft over the sheet-feeding end of the machine, a sheet-restraining brike
carried on said shaft, an arm attached. to the latter shaft, sheet-propelling mechanism.
engaging and releasing the opposite end of the sheet, a rock-shaft throwing sid
propelling mechanism out of operative position, an arm attached to the latter rock-
shaft and a rod connecting said two rock-arms, as set forth.
8. In combination with the folding-rolls, folding-blade and sheet-conveying tapes,.
a rock-shaft over the feeding-end of the machine, a sheet-restraining brake hung-
on said shaft with a lost motion between them, a rock-arm attached to said shaft,.
sheet-propelling mechanism over the opposite end of the machine and having one
of its sheet-engaging members movable vertically to and from the sheet, a cam-..
wheel having cam-faces of different radii, a rock-shaft imparting the vertical.
movement to said member, a rock-arm attached to the latter rock-shaft, and a
rod connecting said two rock-arms, as set forth and shown.
9. In combination with the folding-rolls, folding-blade, sheet-conveying tapes..
and gage arresting the longitudinal movement of the sheet and movable to recede
from the arrested sheet, sheet-propelling mechanism imparting a secondary impulse-
to the arrested sheet, an electro-magnet controlling the action of said propelling
mechanism, a circuit maker and breaker actuated by the paper moving under the
aforesaid secondary impulse, a rock-shaft having an arm throwing the sheet-.
propelling mechanism out of operative position, a rock-shaft over the feeding-ed
of the machine, a sheet-restraining brake connected to said rock-shaft with a lost
motion between them, a rock-arm attached to the latter shaft, and a rod counecting
said two rock-arms, as set forth.
10. In combination with the sheet-propelling roller R, carriage S, arm T, pivoted.
to one end of said carriage and provided with the shoulder T¹, and the roller R¹
pivoted to said arm, the rock-arm U pivoted to the carriage in proximity to the
arm T and provided with a lug U¹ for engaging the shoulder T', the rock-shaft v
journaled in the opposite end of the carriage, the lever v¹ attached to said shaft,
and the rod P connecting said lever with the arm U adjustably to regulate the lift
of the roller R', substantially as described..
11. In combination with the sheet-conveying tapes a, bridge j, rotary roller R,.
drop-roller R¹, electro-magnet M and armature of said magnet lifting said drop-
roller by energy of the maguet, a bracket carried on the arm of the drop-roller,.
a circuit making and breaking finger pivoted to said bracket and having its lower
end presenting in front of the aforesaid bridge, an abutment for the edge of the
slitted portion of the sheet, and a sheet-depressing shoe attached to the aforesaid
bracket and extending under the aforesaid end of the circuit making and breaking-
finger, substantially as set forth and shown.
12. In combination with the sheet-conveying tapes a, bridge j, rotary roller R,.
drop-roller R, electro-magnet and armature of said magnet lifting said drop-roller,
a bracket connected to the arm of the drop-roller adjustably in a vertical direction
and horizontally toward and from the drop-roller, a circuit making and breaking
finger pivoted to said bracket and having its lower end presenting in front of the
aforesaid bridge an abutment for the edge of the slitted portion of the sheet, and
a sheet-depressing shoe attached to said bracket and extending under the aforesaid.

page_text: end of the circuit-making and breaking finger, said adjustable bracket permitting
the said finger and shoe to be adjusted in relation to the position of the bridge, as
set forth.
Dated this 12th day of January 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.