IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS."
A communication from abroad by. William Clark Cross, of Boston, Massa-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
FOLDING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by
William Clark Cross, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
The main object of this Invention is to turn the sheet of paper or other material
at the time it is folded, giving it a quarter turn or thereabouts, so that for the
time being what were its side edges will become its ends, and what were its ends
will become its side edges. The means employed for this purpose are used in
connection with a tucker for tucking the paper on the proper line of fold into the
bite of the rolls. In order to produce the best result one end of the fold line in
the paper should when the sheet is tucked into the bite of the rolls coincide with
the point of intersection of the axis of the cones, so that the paper at this point
will have no movement, the folded sheet which is fed by the conical rolls pro-
gressively faster as it departs from the said apex or point of intersection, swinging
around on the said point as a centre, so that by the time it is ready to pass from
between the conical rolls it will have described a quarter turn or circle. In practice
however it is feasible to locate this end of the fold line at one side or the other of
the said point, although the further the departure in either direction from tbat
point the less complete the reversal of the sheet.
The advantage of the improvement is that the whole apparatus is compact and
comparatively inexpensive, and requires no tapes or conveyers beyond the folding
rolls themselves to carry the sheet from the set of folding rolls to the other.

page_text: In carrying out this Invention a frame is provided for supporting the working
parts of the machine. Upon the top of the frame is the folding table, which is
provided with a central transverse opening through which the paper sheet is tucked
into the bite of the first set of folding rolls. These rolls, which are conical in shape,
are arranged horizontally beneath the opening in the folding table, and are driven
by power and geared to move at the same.peripheral speed. They may be sup-
ported in elongated bearings at one end only and taper to a point at the other end,
or they may be truncated and be supported in bearings at each end, the bearings at
their smaller ends being arranged in such a manner as to permit the edge of the
paper at that.side to extend to the desired point.
In order to carry successive sheets to their proper place on the folding table
various devices may be employed. In some cases, when folding small sheets, such
for example as book or pamphlet 'sheets, the sheets may be fed by hand, in which
case the table should be provided with proper guides and guages; but when used
in connection with power printing presses mechanism for feeding the said sheets to
their place on the folding table is requisite. This mechanism may consist of endless
tapes running around and moved by power-driven pulleys or wheels, the papers
running on the top just above the surface of the folding table. These tapes carry
clamp bars, say for example three, in number, which extend across from one tapo
to the other, and carry at each side or end a clamp. The clamps each consist of a
jaw provided in a slot in the clamp bar, and having its forked inner end straddling
a pin projecting laterally from a rod, the latter being adapted to slide in and out
in the clamp bar. The pivot and pin of one or both clamps are made adjustable,
fitting in any hole of two series of holes in the bar and rod respectively. In this
manner the clamps may be set nearer together or farther apart, as required, by the
exigencies of the work or the width of the paper to be operated on.
The outward movement of the rod which causes the closing of the. clamp is
induced by a spring, and the inward movement of the said rod, which raises the
clamp, is caused by cams on the frame of the machine which act on the projecting
end of the rod, and force the latter in against the stress of the spring. There being
three clamp-bars and sets of clamps the tapes make one complete revolution for
every three successive sheets delivered to them, they being so timed that each
clamp bar with clamps open in turn comes up in position to receive on it the front
end of the sheet to be folded. As soon as the sheet is in this position on the bar
the clamps close on it and carry it along until they bring it to the desired place on
the folding table, at which point the clamps rise and release the paper sheet which
is then acted on by the tucker, which may be a blast of air or any other known
means or device used in folding machines for this purpose. A convenient con-
trivance consists of a power driven vibratory tucking blade of the ordinary con-
struction, the movement of which is so timed that as soon as the paper is brought
to. the proper position under it and released by the clamps it will descend and tuck
the paper into the bite of the revolving conical rolls beneath. When thus tucked
between the rolls one edge of the paper sheet at the fold line is at the point of
intersection of the axis of the cones or thereabout. The conical rolls when the
-paper is thus introduced between them act not only to fold the sheet but at the
same time to turn it, so that by the time the sheet is ready to pass from the rolls
the edges which when the sheet started between the rolls were at front and rear
will be at the sides relatively to the feed or direction of movement of the sheet
through the machine, and the edges which were at the sides will be at the front
and rear:
The paper sheet having thus been simultaneously folded and turned is in position
to be acted on by other folding mechanism, such for example as that adapted for
newspaper-folding, next hereinafter described.
At the proper distance below the first set of conical rolls is a second set of like
rolls with a tucker blade, these rolls are say about two thirds the length of the
first set of rolls, and are. set one above the other instead of side. by side. The
centre line of the folded sheet comes opposite the line of contact between these rolls

page_text: just as the paper passes out from the first set of rolls; at this moment the blade
tucks the sheet between the rolls, which fold and turn the sheet simultaneously.
Beyond the second set of rolls is a third set of conical rolls, say about two thirds
the length of the second set of rolls, and a third tucker-blade, and beyond the said
third set of rolls are three cylindrical rolls and two tucker blades which make the
last two folds. All the rolls and tucker blades are driven by power, and are so
positioned and timed and speeded as to make the proper fold at the requisite
time.
In order to secure the proper presentation of the folded sheet to the succeeding
set of folding rolls, there may be used a pocket formed of guide-plates provided.
with an opening for the passage of the tucker-blade, and closed below by a
vertically adjustable bar for properly bottoming the sheet in case it should be
released from the one set of conical rolls before being taken by the other.
It should be observed that although the conical rolls have been described as
being combined with a tucker, whereby they are caused to fold and turn the sheet
simultaneously, they may be used without the tucker, simply to receive a sheet
already folded, and to turn it so as to present the succeeding folding rolls whether
conical or cylindrical.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's ; Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR.
FOLDING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by
William Clark Cross, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
The said Invention has for its main object turning the sheet of paper or other
material at the time it is folded, giving it a quarter turn or thereabouts, so that for
the time being what were its side edges will become it ends, and what were its ends
will become its side edges. The means employed for this purpose, consisting in
part of a peculiar arrangement of rolls hereinafter described are used in connection
with a tucker for tucking the paper on the proper line of fold into the bite of the,
rolls. In order to produce the best result one end of the fold line in the paper
should when the sheet is tucked into the bite of the rolls coincide with the point
of intersection of the axis of the cones, so that the paper at this point will have no
movement, the folded sheet, which is fed by the conical rolls progressively faster as
it departs from the said apex or point of intersection, swinging around on the said
point as on a centre, so that by the time it is ready to pass from between. the
conical rolls it will have described a quarter turn or circle. In practice, however,
it is feasible to locate this end of the fold.line at one side or the other of the said
point, although the further the departure in either direction from that point the
less complete the reversal of the sheet.
The advantage of the said Invention is that the whole apparatus is compact and
comparatively inexpensive, and requires no tapes or conveyers beyond the folding
rolls themselves to carry the sheet from one set of folding rolls to the other.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of referenco
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a sectional side elevation of
a folding machine embodying the said Invention; Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 3
is an end elevation of the same, both corresponding to Figure 1; Figures 4, 5,
and 6 are views, to be hereinafter referred to, drawn to an enlarged scale, of
clamping mechanism, which may be used to carry the paper sheets to their proper
place on the folding.table.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, are diagrams representing the various positions successively
assumed by the paper as it passes through the machine.
Figure 11 is a modification to be hereinafter referred to.
A is the frame which supports the working parts of the machine; B is the
folding table provided with a central transverse opening a through which the
paper sheet is tucked into the bite of the first set of folding rolls C. These rolls,
which are conical in shape, are arranged horizontally beneath the opening a in the
folding table and are driven by power and geared to move at the same peripheral
speed. They may be supported in elongated bearings at one end only and taper to
a point at the other end, as in the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3;
or they may be truncated, as shewn, in plan in Figure 11, and be supported in
bearings at each end, the bearings at their smaller ends being arranged in such a
manner as to permit the edge of the paper at that side to extend to the desired
point.
In order to carry successive sheets to their proper place on the folding tablo
various devices may be employed. In some cases when folding small sheets, such,

page_text: for example, as book or pamphlet sheets, the sheets may be fed by hand, in which
case the table should be provided with proper guides and guages; but when used in
connection with power printing presses, mechanism for feeding the said sheets to
their place on the folding table is requisite. The mechanism shewn in the Drawings
consists of endless tapes D running around and moved by power driven pulleys or
wheels E, the tapes running on the top just above the surface of the folding table.
These tapes carry clamp bars F (three in number in the example illustrated), which
extend across from one tape to the other and carry at each side or end a clamp G
(shewn on an enlarged scale in the plan, Figure 4, and in two positions in the
sections, Figures 5 and 6). The clamp consists of a jaw pivotted at b in a slot in
the clamp bar and having its forked inner end straddling a pin c projecting laterally
from a rod d, the latter being adapted to slide in and out in the clamp bar. The
pivot band pin c of one or both clamps are made adjustable, fitting in any hole of
two series of boles b¹, c', in the bar F and rod d respectively. In this manner the
clamps may be set nearer together or further apart as required by the exigencies of
the work or the width of the paper to be operated on.
The outward movement of the rod which causes the closing of the clamp is
induced by a spring e, as shewn in Figure 6, the inward movement of the said rod
which raises the clamp is caused by cams d' on the frame of the machine, which
act on the projecting end of the rod d, and force the latter in against the stress of
the spring. There being three clamp bars and sets of clamps, the tapes make one
complete revolution for every three successive sheets delivered to them, they being
so timed that each clamp bar with clamps open in turn, comes up in position to
receive on it the front end f of the sheet to be folded, as indicated in Figures 1
and 2. As soon as the sheet is in this position on the bar, the clamps close on it
and carry it along until they bring it to the desired place on the folding table, at
which point the clamps rise and release the paper sheet, which is then acted on by
the tucker. This may be a blast of air or any other known means or contrivance
used in folding machines for this purpose. In the example illustrated, it consists
of a power driven vibratory tucking blade H of the ordinary construction, tho
movement of which is so timed that as soon as the paper is brought to the proper
position under it and released by the clamps, it will descend and tuck the paper
into the bite of the revolving conical rolls beneath.
When thus tucked between
the rolls one edge of the paper sheet at the fold-line is at the point of intersection
of the axes of the cones or thereabouts. The conical rolls, when the paper is thus
introduced between them, act not only to fold the sheet, but at the same time to
turn it, as indicated in Figure 7, so that by the time the sheet is ready to pass
from the rolls, the edges 1 and 2 (2 being the folded edge) which when the sheet
started between the rolls were at the front and rear, will be at the sides relatively
to the feed or direction of movement of the sheet through the machine, and the
edges 3 which were at the sides, will be at the front and rear.
The paper sheet having thus been simultaneously folded and turned is in
position to be acted on by other folding mechanism, one arrangement of which,
adapted for newspaper folding, is shewn in the Drawings.
At a suitable distance below the first set of conical rolls is a second set of like
rolls I, with a tucker blade J. These rolls are, say, about two thirds the length of
the rolls C, and are set one above the other, instead of side by side. The centre
line of the folded sheet comes opposite the line of contact between these rolls just
as the paper passes out from the first set of rolls. At this moment the blade J
tucks the sheet between the rolls I which fold and turn the sheet simultaneously
as indicated in Figure 8.
Beyond the rolls I is a third set of conical rolls K, say, about two thirds the
length of the rolls I, and a third tucker blade L, and beyond the rolls K are three
cylindrical rolls M, N, O, and two tucker blades P, R, which make the last two
folds. All the rolls and tucker blades are driven by power, and are so placed,
timed, and speeded as to make the proper fold at the requisite time.
In order to secure the proper presentation of the folded sheet to the succeeding

page_text: set I of folding rolls, there may be used a pocket formed of guide plates S, Figure 1,
provided with an opening s for the passage of the tucker blade, and closed below by
a vertically adjustable bar t for properly bottoming the sheet in case it should be
released from the one set of conical rolls before being taken by the other.
It should be observed that although the conical rolls are shewn in the
accompanying Drawings, and have been hereinbefore described as combined with a
tucker whereby they are caused to fold and turn the sheet simultaneously, they
may be used without the tucker simply to receive a sheet already folded, and to-
turn it so as to present it to the succeeding folding rolls, whether conical.or
cylindrical.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original;
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,
First. In a folding machine the combination, substantially as herein before set
forth, of conical folding and feeding rolls arranged and operating to carry along the
paper faster at one side than at the other, thereby partially turning the sheet, so
that when the fold is completed, what were the front and rear edges will have
become the side edges of the sheet as described, and means, substantially as
hereinbefore described, for tucking the paper to be folded into the bite of the said
rolls.
Second. The combination of a vibratory tucker blade and conical folding rolls
arranged and operating to carry along the paper faster at one side than at the other,
thereby partially turning the sheet, so that when the fold is completed, what were
the front and rear edges will have become the side edges of the sheet, substantially
as herein before described.
Third. In combination with the endless power driven tapes and transverse clamp
bars the vibratory nippers or jaws mounted independently of one another, one at
each end of each clamp bar; so as to vibrate in a plane transverse to the line of
movement of the bar adjustable to and from each other, and arranged and operated
as set forth to close and open at stated intervals, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In combination with the tapes and the transverse clamp bar carried by
the same, the vibratory jaws, each hung on a pivot badjustable in the clamp bar,
the laterally projecting slide rods. d. provided with pins c adjustable thereon, the
springs e and cams d', substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings..
Fifth. In machinery for folding paper and other materials, the combination with
folding mechanism of conical rolls which receive and partially turn the sheet
before presenting it to the said, folding mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, "I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)