Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Pleated Paper.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Pleated
Paper.
I, AUSTIN GIBB, of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, United States, Baptist
Minister, but temporarily resident in England, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for making folded or box pleated paper for
carpet linings and other purposes.
My present invention has for its object to produce a machine by means of which
the said article may be produced in a rapid, cheap and effectual manner, the
machine being automatic in its action and dispensing with the employment of
manual labour, except such as is necessary to supervise the operation of the
machine. To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features which 1
will now proceed to describe.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown an organized machine in which
my invention is practically carried out in one form, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention;
Figure 2, a plan view of the same;
Figure 3, a sectional view, taken on the line 1, 1, of Figure 2;
Figure 4, a detail view of one of the crimping gear-rollers, detached;
Figure 5, a detail view of one of the tucking arms, detached ;
Figure 6, a similar view of one of the tucking arm lifters and its cam,
detached;
Figure 7, a detail elevation, partly in section, of the compressing plunger,
detached;
Figure 8, a view illustrating the general operation of the machine upon the
paper;
Figure 9, a detail plan view of the pressure fingers;
Figure 10, a detail view of one of the supports thereof;
Figure 11, a detail view showing one of the springs and the bumper of the .
tucker; and
Figure 12, a detail perspective bottom view of the finished product.
Figures 1 and 2 are upon the same scale; Figures 4 and 5 are on a larger
scale; Figures 5, 6, 7, 3, 9, 10 and 11 are on a still larger scale; and Figure 12
is on a full sized scale.
Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawing.
In this construction, A represents the main frame of the machine, which is
suitably constructed to receive and support the various mechanisms of which the
machine as a whole is composed. At one end of the frame A there is provided a
series of bearings, b, 1, 2, to receive the rollers, B, B1, B2, upon which the
continuous webs or rolls of paper, B³, B4, B³, are mounted. In the present
instance, I have shown three of these rolls, but it is obvious that any desired
number, greater or smaller, may be employed, if desired. The bearings, b, b1, b
are open at the top, as shown, so that the rollers may be readily placed in
position and removed, as desired, the said rollers being free to rotate in their
bearing as the paper is drawn from the rolls by the action of the crimping rollers.
These latter are shown at C and C¹, and consist of a pair of transverse rollers,
the one, C, arranged above the other, C, the two being provided with inter-
meshing ribs and grooves e rectangular in cross-section for the purposes hereinafter
specified, and meshing with each other. The shaft, c', of the upper roller is
mounted in boxes c³, mounted to slide vertically in suitable upright ways, C².

page_text: Above each box is arranged a coiled spring, c³, arranged to bear upon said box,
surmounted by a thrust block C³, also sliding on the ways C2, and adjustable by
means of an adjusting screw, C4, which serves to regulate the action of the spring.
The upper roller C₁ is driven by the lower roller C, and this latter is mounted on
a shaft, c, provided with a gear-wheel, C, which meshes with a pinion, e, (shown
in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings) on the main shaft C of the machine.
This latter shaft is provided with pulleys, c, by means of which it may be driven
from any suitable source of power.
The bed, A', of the machine, along which the paper travels, is cut away at a to
allow the lower crimping roller to project upward. In order to strip the paper
from the crimping rollers, I employ strippers, composed of two sets of bars, the
lower set, D, arranged flush with the surface of the bed A' and extending across
the opening a in said bed, as shown. The crimping roller C is provided with a
series of deep circumferential grooves d to receive the stripper bars, the said
grooves being of sufficient depth to allow the intermeshing ribs and grooves c,
when in operation, to project above the stripper bars clear of the same.
The
upper series of stripper bars, shown at D₁ are preferably of considerably greater
length than the under ones and, having their front ends pivoted at d, extend
through grooves d in the upper crimping roller C¹, to a support, D2, to which
they are attached, the said support being vertically adjustable by means of adjusting
screws d², and supported by springs . These upper stripper bars extend over the
bed A', through and beyond the tucking and compressing mechanism to the pasting
mechanism. These upper stripper bars D₁ are preferably shaped as shown more
particularly in Figure 9 of the drawings, in which it will be seen that they have
a very slight inclination towards the bed, beginning at the crimping rollers and
extending, almost to the plunger or presser bar, but being arranged at such a
distance above the bed of the machine that they do not compress the crimped
paper during this portion of its course. Immediately in advance of the plunger,
each stripper bar is provided with a rather sharp downward inclined, and beyond
this point they are, for some distance, quite close to the bed, against which they
compress the tucked paper. At their rear extremities they are bevelled upward
on their under side, as shown at d³, to allow the folds of the paper free play before
they reach the pasting mechanism.
Next to the crimping rollers is arranged the tucking mechanism. This consists
of two sets of vibrating arms E and E', reciprocating lengthwise of the bed A',
above the same. One of these arms is shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings,
from which it will be seen that the said arm is provided with a tucking finger e of
considerable transverse breadth, inclined to the proper angle to the bed for its
purpose. A second finger e¹ to extend horizontally over the top of the paper, is
also provided on the said tucking arm. The arms E are attached to a transverse
shaft E2 mounted in boxes e sliding in suitable ways E³ on each side of the bed A¹
and the arms E' are similarly attached to a corresponding shaft E' mounted in
boxes e, reciprocating in ways e³ below the ways E³. In order to operate the
tucker-arms, I employ a shaft, E', provided with eccentrics eat each end thereof,
connected by eccentric rods or pitmen Ee to the projecting ends of the shaft E2 on
which the arms E are mounted. Similar eccentrics e, of equal but opposite
eccentricity, are similarly connected, by means of eccentric rods or pitmen E, to
the shaft E on which the arms E' are mounted. It will be seen that, by reason
of this construction, the arms E and E' reciprocate simultaneously in opposite
directions. In order to vibrate the said arms during their reciprocation, I attach,
to each of the shafts E2 and E, lifters E³, one to cach, which are operated by
suitable cams, E, as shown in Figure 6, in contact with which they travel, to rock
the shaft to which they are attached, and thereby vibrate the tucker arms thereon.
In order to cause the tucker arms to rest on the paper during their forward
motion and to rise and clear the same during their return, I prefer to employ the
following device. Each lifter E8 is provided with an inclined slot, e, in which is
pivoted a finger, es, of smaller dimensions from front to rear than the slot, and held

page_text: normally upright by means of a spring, e, in which position it bears against
the lower edge of the front wall of the slot, which thus forms a stop which
prevents its yielding forward. In this upright position the finger projects
some distance below the bottom of the lifter Es, but it is capable of yielding
rearward and upward during the forward movement of the arm, this yielding
being caused by its contact with the cam E³, which throws the finger into the
position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. During the forward movement of
the tuckers, therefore, they are not lifted, but during their rearward movement,
the fingers es occupy the upright position shown in full lines in Figure 6, and
consequently ride over the cams E, thus throwing the lifters upward, rocking
the tucker shaft to which they are attached, and raising the tuckers clear of the
paper.
In order to hold the tucker arms E down to their work, I attach to each rock
shaft, near each end thereof, a spring, E, provided with a roller elo, which travels
upon the bed at the side of the paper, the said spring tending to throw the tucker
arms downward and thus assisting them in their engagement with the paper by
causing them to act more quickly and positively than if gravity were alone relied
upon. In order to prevent the tucker arms from striking the bed, or the paper
thereon, a sharp blow, I provide for each series of tucker arms a transverse buffer
bar, E, provided with a rubber cushion, e", and I attach to each rock shaft rigid
arms, E, which, when the tucker is dropped, come in contact with the cushion e",
and thus prevent the tucker arms from coming in violent contact with the bed or
paper.
The shaft E' is driven by means of a sprocket chain, F, passing over a sprocket
wheel, f, on said shaft and also over a sprocket wheel,, on a shaft F. This
latter shaft is provided with a pinion, f2, which meshes with a gear wheel, F2, on
the main shaft Co.
Immediately adjacent to the tuckers, and in the rear thereof, is arranged the
compressing mechanism. This consists of a compressor or plunger, G, extending
across the bed A¹ from side to side thereof. This compressor moves vertically with
relation to the bed and is normally depressed by means of coiled springs, G¹,
bearing against a cross-head g, mounted on supports g' on each side of the bed, and
against the compressor, which latter is provided with sockets 92, one of which is
shown in Figure 7, to receive the said springs. From the ends of the compressor G,
arms G2 extend downward, mounted in suitable ways 93, and provided with anti-
friction rollers g', to bear upon the cam wheels G³ which serve to operate the
compressor upward. These cams are so constructed as to hold the compressor
steadily in its raised position for a sufficient length of time, and then allow it to
drop suddenly and forcibly under the action of its own weight and the force of the
springs G', returning it quickly to its raised position, and holding it there until the
next stroke. In the present instance, I have shown each cam G³ as provided with
two diametrically opposite depressions, g', of slight length compared with the total
perimeter of the cam, so that two quick strokes of the compressor are produced by
each complete revolution of the said cams. The cams G³ are mounted on a shaft, G*,
provided with a sprocket wheel 96, over which and over a similar wheel g' on the
shaft F', a sprocket chain G³ passes by which means the compressing mechanism is
driven. The compressor G is provided with slots 8 through which the upper
stripper bars D' extend.
Next to the compressing mechanism is arranged the pasting mechanism. A series
of paste wheels H mounted on a shaft h project upward through the bed A'. In
the present instance, I have shown four of these wheels, but it is obvious that the
number may be varied as desired. These wheels run in a paste trough or
reservoir Harranged under the bed A¹. Between the paste wheels H are
arranged carrier belts 1, one between each pair of wheels. These belts run in
suitable grooves or depressions i in the bed A' so as to project but slightly above
the surface of the same, and are actuated by means of a shaft provided with a
roller over which the belts I pass. The said belts also pass over a roller on a

page_text: shaft I at the front of the pasting mechanism, and over a roller ³ on a shaft I³
below the said mechanism, this latter shaft being adjustable, as shown, to tighten
the belts. This adjustment is effected by mounting the boxes of the said shaft
in suitable ways 1* and providing an adjusting screw I to move the same vertically.
The shaft I is actuated by means of a sprocket chain I passing over a sprocket
wheel on said shaft and over a similar wheel on the shaft c'. Above that
portion of the bed upon which the belts I travel, is arranged a series of elastic
pressure fingers J which are connected at their forward ends to a cross-bar .J¹
which is pivoted at its ends in boxes j. These boxes are supported by springs j₁
and are adjusted by means of adjusting screws. To the cross-bar J' are secured
arms Jone at each end which arms are provided at their free ends with adjusting
screws Js by means of which the cross-bar may be turned upon its pivots, so as to
adjust the pressure of the fingers J upon the fabric which passes beneath them.
The boxes may be adjusted vertically in an obvious manner to regulate the height
of the forward end of the fingers J. It will be observed that these fingers press
upon the paper with an increasing pressure towards the rear end and hold the
fabric firmly in contact with the paste wheels, so as to insure the application of the
paste to the same. This pressure is, moreover, a yielding pressure which will
prevent clogging or binding during the passage of the fabric through the pasting
mechanism.
At the rear of the machine, beneath the pasting mechanism, is arranged a series
of bearings l, in which are mounted the rollers L, which carry the rolls L' of
binding strips. These rollers are independent and free to revolve in their bearings
as the strips are drawn off from them. In the present instance, I have shown four
of these binding strip rollers, but it is obvious that the number may be varied as
desired. Each strip is carried up through a tension device, which consists of a
transverse shaft M provided with weighted arms m and having a series of
springs M', which are pressed, by means of the torsional action of the weighted
arms m upon the shaft M against suitable tension blocks m'. The binding strip
passes between the spring and block, and is pressed by the former against the
latter.
Above the shaft 11 is arranged the roller N, upon which the finished fabric is
wound. It revolves freely between vertical guides n n', which support it laterally
and at the same time permit it a free vertical movement. The rear guides n' are
hinged to the bed so that they may be swung down, and are held up in operative
position by means of hinged catches N¹.
The machine thus organised operates in the following manner :-
The machine may, of course, be organized to operate either upon a single web
of paper, or upon any desired number of webs simultaneously, and in the present
instance, I have, as hereinbefore stated, shown a machine which operates upon three
webs at the same time. These webs are drawn from the rolls of paper, B3, B4, 13³,
upon the rollers B, B1, B2, and pass thence through the crimping rollers C and C¹.
As hereinbefore stated, these rollers are provided with intermeshing ribs and
grooves e which are rectangular in cross-section, so that as the paper passes between
the rollers and is crimped, the lines upon which the paper is folded are formed into
permanent creases by means of the sharp corners of the intermeshing ribs and
grooves. In fact, the intermeshing ribs and grooves of the two rollers co-operate
with each other in such a manner as to form dies, which not only crimp the paper,
but make the crimp permanent by means of this creasing operation due to their
sharp edges. It will thus be seen that these rollers act not only as crimping rollers,
but also as creasing or marking rollers. As the paper leaves the crimping rollers,
it is prevented from adhering to them, or, in other words, is stripped from them, by
means of the stripper bars D and D', and is fed forward along the bed A¹ of the
machine, as shown more particularly in Figure 9 of the drawings. During this
portion of its course, intermediate between the crimping rollers and the tuckers,
the paper is not compressed upon the bed A', and is consequently free to expand
and contract longitudinally and also, to a certain extent, vertically When it reaches

page_text: the tuckers, that set thereof (for instance, the tuckers E), which are beginning
their forward stroke, strike the paper in the manner illustrated in Figure 9 of the
drawings, the finger e striking the rear inclined surface of the crimped paper and
tucking the inclined sides thereof under the top in the manner indicated in Figure 9.
The shape of the tucking fingers e and obliges the rear inclined side to slide
under the top to form one-half of the pleat, (the upper fingers E' preventing the
paper from rising under the action of the fingers e') and the forward motion
imparted to the whole crimp by the tuckers, causes the forward inclined side of the
crimp to slide under the top thus completing the pleat, or in other words, giving it
the general form desired. At about this time, that is to say, when the tuckers
strike the paper, the forward edge of the pleat comes in contact with the inclines (
of the stripper bars D', and the pleat is thus tilted downward and caused to pass
under the compressor G, to which position it is carried by the tuckers E. During
this forward movement of the tucker E, the tuckers E' have been lifted up by the
mechanism provided for this purpose and carried rearward into a position to begin
a new stroke. As the tuckers É begin to recede after the completion of their
forward stroke, the tuckers E' begin to advance to form another pleat and to feed
to same under the compressor, and this forward movement of the tuckers E¹ holds
the pleats already formed in position under the compressor the stripper bars D'
aiding them in effecting this result. When the tuckers E have been withdrawn a
slight distance, so as to clear them from under the compressor, the said compressor
descends and strikes the pleated paper which is under it a forcible blow, which
compresses the same and renders its pleated form permanent. The compressor is
then lifted, and the tuckers E', which have been advancing during this operation,
complete their forward stroke and begin to recede, when the operation begins as
before at this point. After leaving the compressor, the pleated paper is then
allowed to rise being permitted to accomplish this by means of the inclines d³ so
that when the paper in its onward movement reaches the pasting mechanism, it is
again free to expand and contract longitudinally and also vertically to a slight
extent. It will be observed that the paper is allowed to expand and contract
longitudinally on each side of the tucking and compressing mechanism, and by this
means provision is made for passing from the continuous movement imparted by the
crimping rollers C and C₁ to the step-by-step motion which characterizes the
tuckers and compressor, and also of the passing from this step-by-step motion to
the continuous motion which the paper has imparted to it by the belts I during its
passage through the pasting mechanism. It will be observed that the pressure
fingers above the pasting mechanism are inclined downward from front to rear this
feature being shown more particularly in Figure 9, so that the paper is gradually
compressed as it passes under the said pressure fingers, under which it is carried by
means of the belts I. During its advance under the said pressure fingers, the
paper passes over the paste wheels H and receives upon its under side a supply of
paste from each paste wheel, which extends, of course, in a continuous line having a
width equal to the paste wheel. These paste wheels correspond in number with
the rollers L which carry the rolls L' of binding strips. Each binding strip, after
passing through its tension mechanism, is laid upon and held against the corre-
spondingly pasted surface of the pleated paper, with which it is rolled, and thereby
caused to adhere to the same, thus completing the fabric, which, as shown in
Figure 12 consists of the three crimped and pleated layers B3, B4, B³, secured by
the binding strips L'. The finished fabric then winds itself upon the roller N, to
which movement is imparted by reason of its resting upon the belts I and rollers i
on the shaft 1. It will be seen that the roller N is driven from its periphery, or
more strictly speaking, from the periphery of the roll which is formed thereon by
the finished fabric, so that no matter how small or how large the roll thereon may
be, the circumferential speed of the roll will always be the same, and will exactly
correspond to the rate at which the finished fabric is fed from the machine. When
the roll upon the roller N has reached such a size as to render it desirable or
necessary to remove the same from the machine, the catches N' are raised, the rear

page_text: guides of the roller N are swung down, and the said roller, along with the roll of
fabric thereof, is rolled out upon the table N2, which is provided at the rear end of
the machine to receive the same. The roller N
may be then removed from the roll
and be replaced in the position shown in the drawings, or another roller similar in
construction may be substituted therefor and the operation proceeds as before.
In the preceding description, the various connecting and adjusting mechanisms
have not been referred to in detail, as their construction has been herein before fully
explained, and their operation will be readily understood. It will be seen that the
entire machine is automatic in its operation, and will produce the completed fabric
in a rapid, cheap and efficient manner, requiring, as it does, only the amount of
attention necessary to replenish the stock of raw material, and remove the finished
fabric.
It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the details of con-
struction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the principle of
my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself
strictly to the precise details hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of November 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Pleated
Paper.
I, AUSTIN GIBB, of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, United States, Baptist
Minister, but temporarily resident in England, 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 :-
My invention relates to machines for making folded or box pleated paper for
carpet linings and other purposes.
My present invention has for its object to produce a machine by means of which
the said article may be produced in a rapid, cheap and effectual manner, the
machine being automatic in its action and dispensing with the employment of
manual labour, except such as is necessary to supervise the operation of the
machine. To these ends, my invention consists in certain novel features which I
will now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point out in the claims.
In the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification, I have shown an
organised machine in which my invention is practically carried out in one form, in
which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention ;
Figure 2, a plan view of the same;
Figure 3, a sectional view, taken on the line 1, 1, of Figure 2;
Figure 4, a detail view of one of the crimping gear-rollers, detached ;
Figure 5, a detail view of one of the tucking arms, detached;
Figure 6, a similar view of one of the tucking arm lifters and its cam, detached ;
Figure 7, a detail elevation, partly in section, of the compressing plunger,
detached;
Figure 8, a view illustrating the general operation of the machine upon the
paper;
Figure 9, a detail plan view of the pressure fingers;
Figure 10, a detail view of one of the supports thereof;
Figure 11, a detail view showing one of the springs and the bumper of the
tucker; and
Figure 12, a detail perspective bottom view of the finished product.
Figures 1 and 2 are upon the same scale; Figures 4 and 5 are on a larger scale ;

page_text: Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are on a still larger scale; and Figure 12 is on a
full sized scale.
Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawing.
In this construction:―
A, represents the main frame of the machine, which is suitably constructed to
receive and support the various mechanisms of which the machine as a whole is
composed. At one end of the frame A there is provided a series of bearings, b, b1, b2,
to receive the rollers B, B1, B2, upon which the continuous webs or rolls of
paper B3, B4, B5 are mounted. In the present instance, I have shown three of
these rolls, but it is obvious that any desired number, greater or smaller, may be
employed, if desired. The bearings, b, b, 2 are open at the top, as shown, so that
the rollers may be readily placed in position and removed, as desired, the said
rollers being free to rotate in their bearing as the paper is drawn from the rolls by
the action of the crimping rollers. These latter are shown at C and C, and consist
of a pair of transverse rollers, the one, C', arranged above the other C, the two
being provided with intermeshing ribs and grooves c rectangular in cross-section
for the purposes hereinafter specified, and meshing with each other. The shaft, c',
of the upper roller is mounted in boxes c², mounted to slide vertically in suitable
upright ways C². Above each box is arranged a coiled spring c³ arranged to bear
upon said box, surmounted by a thrust block C³, also sliding on the ways C², and
adjustable by means of an adjusting screw C, which serves to regulate the action
of the spring. The upper roller Cis driven by the lower roller C, and this latter
is mounted on a shaft c¹, provided with a gear-wheel C, which meshes with a
pinion (shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings) on the main shaft C
of the machine. This latter shaft is provided with pulleys, by means of which it
may be driven from any suitable source of power.
8.8
The
The bed A¹ of the machine, along which the paper travels, is cut away at a to
allow the lower crimping roller to project upward. In order to strip the paper
from the crimping rollers, I employ strippers, composed of two sets of bars, the
lower set, D, arranged flush with the surface of the bed A¹ and extending across
the opening a in said bed, as shown. The crimping roller C is provided with a
series of deep circumferential grooves d to receive the stripper bars, the said
grooves being of sufficient depth to allow the intermeshing ribs and grooves c,
when in operation, to project above the stripper bars clear of the same.
upper series of stripper bars, shown at D', are preferably of considerably greater
length than the under ones, and, having their front ends pivotted at ', extend
through grooves d in the upper crimping roller C', to a support D2, to which they
are attached, the said support being vertically adjustable by means of adjusting
screws d² and supported by springs d³. These upper stripper bars extend over the
bed A', through and beyond the tucking and compressing mechanism to the pasting
mechanism. These upper stripper bars D' are preferably shaped as shown more
particularly in Figure 9 of the drawings, in which it will be seen that they have
a very slight inclination towards the bed, beginning at the crimping rollers and
extending almost to the plunger or presser bar, but being arranged at such a
distance above the bed of the machine that they do not compress the crimped
paper during this portion of its course. Immediately in advance of the plunger,
each stripper bar is provided with a rather sharp downward incline d', and beyond
this point they are, for some distance, quite close to the bed, against which they
compress the tucked paper. At their rear extremities they are bevelled upward
on their under side, as shown at d³, to allow the folds of the paper free play before
they reach the pasting mechanism.
Next to the crimping rollers is arranged the tucking mechanism. This consists
of two sets of vibrating arms E and E', reciprocating lengthwise of the bed A',
above the same. One of these arms is shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings,
from which it will be seen that the said arm is provided with a tucking finger e of
considerable transverse breadth, inclined to the proper angle to the bed for its
purpose. A second finger e', to extend horizontally over the top of the paper, is

page_text: also provided on the said tucking arm. The arms E are attached to a transverse
shaft E' mounted in boxes e' sliding in suitable ways E³ on each side of the bed A¹,
and the arms E' are similarly attached to a corresponding shaft E' mounted in
boxes e, reciprocating in ways e below the ways E³. In order to operate the
tucker-arms, I employ a shaft E, provided with eccentrics e at each end thereof,
connected by eccentric rods or pitmen E to the projecting ends of the shaft E' on
which the arms E are mounted. Similar eccentrics e, of equal but opposite
eccentricity, are similarly connected, by means of eccentric rods or pitmen E', to
the shaft E on which the arms E' are mounted. It will be seen that, by reason
of this construction, the arms E and E' reciprocate simultaneously in opposite
directions. In order to vibrate the said arms during their reciprocation, I attach,
to each of the shafts E' and E, lifters E³, one to each, which are operated by
suitable cams E, as seen in Figure 6, in contact with which they travel, to rock
the shaft to which they are attached, and thereby vibrate the tucker arms thereon.
In order to cause the tucker arms to rest on the paper during their forward
motion and to rise and clear the same during their return, I prefer to employ the
following device :-
Each lifter E8 is provided with an inclined slot e, in which is pivotted a
finger, of smaller dimensions from front to rear than the slot, and held normally
upright by means of a spring e, in which position it bears against the lower edge
of the front wall of the slot, which thus forms a stop which prevents its yielding
forward. In this upright position, the finger es projects some distance below the
bottom of the lifter E³, but it is capable of yielding rearward and upward during
the forward movement of the arm, this yielding being caused by its contact with
the cam E, which throws the finger into the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 6. During the forward movement of the tuckers, therefore, they are not
lifted, but, during their rearward movement, the fingers e occupy the upright
position shown in full lines in Figure 6, and, consequently, ride over the cams E',
thus throwing the lifters upward, rocking the tucker shaft to which they are
attached, and raising the tuckers clear of the paper.
In order to hold the tucker arms E down to their work, I attach to each rock
shaft, near each end thereof, a spring E, provided with a roller e¹o, which travels
upon the bed at the side of the paper, the said spring tending to throw the tucker
arms downward and thus assisting them in their engagement with the paper by
causing them to act more quickly and positively than if gravity were alone relied
upon. In order to prevent the tucker arms from striking the bed, or the paper
thereon, a sharp blow, I provide, for each series of tucker arms, a transverse
buffer bar E, provided with a rubber cushion el, and I attach, to each rock shaft,
rigid arms E, which, when the tucker is dropped, come in contact with the
cushion e, and thus prevent the tucker arms from coming in violent contact with
the bed or paper.
The shaft E is driven by means of a sprocket chain F, passing over a sprocket
wheel fon said shaft and also over a sprocket wheel f' on a shaft F. This latter
shaft is provided with a pinion f², which meshes with a gear wheel F on the main
shaft Co.
Immediately adjacent to the tuckers, and in the rear thereof, is arranged the
compressing mechanism. This consists of a compressor or plunger G, extending
across the bed A' from side to side thereof. This compressor moves vertically
with relation to the bed and is normally depressed by means of coiled springs G¹,
bearing against a cross-head g, mounted on supports g¹ on each side of the bed, and
against the compressor, which latter is provided with sockets g², one of which
is shown in Figure 7, to receive the said springs. From the ends of the
compressor G, arms G² extend downward, mounted in suitable ways 9³ and
provided with anti-friction rollers g' to bear upon the cam wheels G³ which serve
to operate the compressor upward. These cams are so constructed as to hold the
compressor steadily in its raised position for a sufficient length of time, and then
allow it to drop suddenly and forcibly under the action of its own weight and the

page_text: force of the springs G¹, returning it quickly to its raised position and holding it
there until the next stroke. In the present instance, I have shown each cam G³
as provided with two diametrically opposite depressions 9 of slight length
compared with the total perimeter of the cam, so that two quick strokes of the
The
compressor are produced by each complete revolution of the said cams.
cams G³ are mounted on a shaft G* provided with a sprocket wheel g*, over which
and over a similar wheel g' on the shaft F¹ a sprocket chain G³ passes, by which
means the compressing mechanism is driven. The compressor G is provided with
slots 98 through which the upper stripper bars D¹ extend.
Next to the compressing mechanism is arranged the pasting mechanism. A
series of paste wheels H, mounted on a shaft h, project upward through the
bed A'. In the present instance, have shown four of these wheels, but it is
obvious that the number may be varied as desired. These wheels run in a paste
trough or reservoir H, arranged under the bed A¹. Between the paste wheels H
are arranged carrier belts l, one between cach pair of wheels. These belts run in
suitable grooves or depressions i in the bed A', so as to project but slightly above
the surface of the same, and are actuated by means of a shaft I¹ provided with a
roller over which the belts I pass. The said belts also pass over a roller ² on a
shaft I at the front of the pasting mechanism, and over a roller 13 on a shaft I³
below the said mechanism, this latter shaft being adjustable, as shown, to tighten
the belts. This adjustment is effected by mounting the boxes of the said shaft
in suitable ways I and providing an adjusting screw 1' to move the same
vertically. The shaft I' is actuated by means of a sprocket chain I passing over
a sprocket wheel on said shaft and over a similar wheel i on the shaft c. Above
that portion of the bed upon which the belts I travel, is arranged a series of
elastic pressure fingers J, which are connected at their forward ends to a cross-
bar J, which is pivotted at its ends in boxes j. These boxes are supported by
To the cross-bar Ji
springs and are adjusted by means of adjusting screws j².
are secured arms J2, one at each end, which arms are provided at their free ends
with adjusting screws J³ by means of which the cross-bar may be turned upon its
pivots, so as to adjust the pressure of the fingers J upon the fabric which passes
beneath them. The boxes; may be adjusted vertically in an obvious manner to
It will be observed that
regulate the height of the forward end of the fingers J.
these fingers press upon the paper with an increasing pressure towards the rear
end and hold the fabric firmly in contact with the paste wheels, so as to insure the
application of the paste to the same. This pressure is, moreover, a yielding
pressure, which will prevent clogging or binding during the passage of the fabric
through the pasting mechanism.
At the rear of the machine, beneath the pasting mechanism, is arranged a series
of bearings 1, in which are mounted the rollers L which carry the rolls L' of
binding strips. These rollers are independent and free to revolve in their bearings
as the strips are drawn off from them. In the present instance, I have shown four
of these binding strip rollers, but it is obvious that the number may be varied as
desired. Each strip is carried up through a tension device, which consists of a
transverse shaft M provided with weighted arms m and having a series of springs M¹,
which are pressed, by means of the torsional action of the weighted arms m upon
the shaft M against suitable tension blocks m¹. The binding strip passes between
the spring and block, and is pressed by the former against the latter.
Above the shaft I' is arranged the roller N, upon which the finished fabric is
wound. It revolves freely between vertical guides n n', which support it laterally
The rear guides n¹ are
and at the same time permit it a free vertical movement.
hinged to the bed so that they may be swung down, and are held up in operative
position by means of hinged catches N'.
The machine thus organised operates in the following manner :-
The machine may, of course, be organised to operate either upon a single web of
paper, or upon any desired number of webs simultaneously, and, in the present
instance, I have, as hereinbefore stated, shown a machine which operates upon
B

page_text: three webs at the same time. These webs are drawn from the rolls of paper B³,
B4, B5 upon the rollers B, B1, B2, and pass thence through the crimping rollers C
and C. As hereinbefore stated, these rollers are provided with intermeshing ribs
and grooves c which are rectangular in cross-section, so that, as the paper passes
between the rollers and is crimped, the lines upon which the paper is folded are
formed into permanent creases by means of the sharp corners of the intermeshing
ribs and grooves. In fact, the intermeshing ribs and grooves of the two rollers
co-operate with each other in such a manner as to form dies, which not only crimp
the paper, but make the crimp permanent by means of this creasing operation due
to their sharp edges. It will thus be seen that these rollers act not only as
crimping rollers, but also as creasing or marking rollers. As the paper leaves the
crimping rollers, it is prevented from adhering to them, or, in other words, is
stripped from them, by means of the stripper bars D and D', and is fed forward
along the bed A' of the machine, as shown more particularly in Figure 9 of the
drawings. During this portion of its course, intermediate between the crimping
rollers and the tuckers, the paper is not compressed upon the bed A', and is
consequently free to expand and contract longitudinally and also, to a certain
extent, vertically. When it reaches the tuckers, that set thereof (for instance, the
tuckers E), which are beginning their forward stroke, strike the paper in the
manner illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings, the finger e striking the rear
inclined surface of the crimped paper and tucking the inclined sides thereof under
the top in the manner indicated in Figure 9. The shape of the tucking fingers e
and e¹ obliges the rear inclined side to slide under the top to form one-half of the
pleat (the upper fingers E¹ preventing the paper from rising under the action of
the fingers e) and the forward motion imparted to the whole crimp by the tuckers
causes the forward inclined side of the crimp to slide under the top, thus completing
the pleat, or, in other words, giving it the general form desired. At about this
time, that is to say, when the tuckers strike the paper, the forward edge of the
pleat comes in contact with the inclines d' of the stripper bars D', and the pleat is
thus tilted downward and caused to pass under the compressor G, to which position
it is carried by the tuckers E. During this forward movement of the tucker E,
the tuckers E¹ have been lifted up by the mechanism provided for this purpose and
carried rearward into a position to begin a new stroke. As the tuckers E begin to
recede after the completion of their forward stroke, the tuckers E' begin to
advance to form another pleat and to feed the same under the compressor, and
this forward movement of the tuckers E' holds the pleats already formed in
position under the compressor, the stripper bars D₁ aiding them in effecting this
result. When the tuckers E have been withdrawn a slight distance, so as to clear
them from under the compressor, the said compressor descends and strikes the
pleated paper which is under it a forcible blow, which compresses the same and
renders its pleated form permanent. The compressor is then lifted, and the
tuckers E', which have been advancing during this operation, complete their
forward stroke and begin to recede, when the operation begins as before at this
point. After leaving the compressor, the pleated paper is then allowed to rise,
being permitted to accomplish this by means of the inclines d' so that, when the
paper, in its onward movement, reaches the pasting mechanism, it is again free to
expand and contract longitudinally and also vertically to a slight extent. It will
be observed that the paper is allowed to expand and contract longitudinally on
each side of the tucking and compressing mechanism, and by this means provision
is made for passing from the continuous movement imparted by the crimping
rollers C and C' to the step-by-step motion which characterises the tuckers and
compressor, and also of the passing from this step-by-step motion to the continuous
motion which the paper has imparted to it by the belts I during its passage through
the pasting mechanism. It will be observed that the pressure fingers above the
pasting mechanism are inclined downward from front to rear, this feature being
shown more particularly in Figure 9, so that the paper is gradually compressed as
it passes under the said pressure fingers, under which it is carried by means of the

page_text: belts I. During its advance under the said pressure fingers, the paper passes over
the paste wheels H and receives upon its under side a supply of paste from each
paste wheel, which extends, of course, in a continuous line having a width equal to
the paste wheel. These paste wheels correspond in number with the rollers L
which carry the rolls L₁ of binding strips. Each binding strip, after passing
through its tension mechanism, is laid upon and held against the correspondingly
pasted surface of the pleated paper, with which it is rolled, and thereby caused to
adhere to the same, thus completing the fabric, which, as shown in Figure 12,
consists of the three crimped and pleated layers B3, B4, B5, secured by the binding
strips L' The finished fabric then winds itself upon the roller N, to which
movement is imparted by reason of its resting upon the belts I and rollers i
on the
shaft I. It will be seen that the roller N is driven from its periphery, or, more
strictly speaking, from the periphery of the roll which is formed thereon by the
finished fabric, so that, no matter how small or how large the roll thereon may be,
the circumferential speed of the roll will always be the same, and will exactly
correspond to the rate at which the finished fabric is fed from the machine. When
the roll upon the roller N has reached such a size as to render it desirable or
necessary to remove the same from the machine, the catches N¹ are raised, the
rear guides n' of the roller N are swung down, and the said roller, along with the
roll of fabric thereof, is rolled out upon the table N2, which is provided at
the rear end of the machine to receive the same. The roller N may then be removed
from the roll and be replaced in the position shown in the drawings, or another
roller similar in construction may be substituted therefor and the operation proceeds
as before.
In the preceding description, the various connecting and adjusting mechanisms
have not been referred to in detail, as their construction has been hereinbefore fully
explained, and their operation will be readily understood. It will be seen that the
entire machine is automatic in its operation, and will produce the completed fabric
in a rapid, cheap and efficient manner, requiring, as it does, only the amount of
attention necessary to replenish the stock of raw material, and remove the finished
fabric.
It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the details of construc-
tion and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the principle of my
invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly
to the precise details hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
1. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the crimping rollers for crimping
the paper, in combination with tuckers for forming the crimped paper into box
pleats, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination, with the
crimping rollers, of the tuckers for forming the box pleats, and a compressor for
compressing the pleats and rendering their folds permanent, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
3. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination, with the
crimping rollers, of the tuckers, the compressor, a pasting mechanism for supplying
paste to the pleated paper, and means for applying binding strips to the pasted
portions thereof, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination of two rollers
provided with intermeshing teeth to simultaneously crimp and crease or mark the
paper, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
5. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the crimping rollers provided
with intermeshing teeth, rectangular in cross-section, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.

page_text: 6. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the crimping rollers provided with
intermeshing teeth and having circumferential grooves, in combination with the
stripper bars arranged in said grooves, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
7. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the crimping rollers provided
with intermeshing teeth, in combination with springs of adjustable tension for
forcing one of said rollers towards the other, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
8. The combination, with the lower crimping roller C, of the upper crimping.
roller C³, the boxes c², the upright ways C2 on which said boxes slide, the thrust
blocks C³ mounted on said ways, the coiled springt c3 arranged between the thrust
blocks and the boxes, and the adjusting screws C*, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
9. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the tuckers arranged in two,
series, reciprocating in opposite directions and engaging with the paper during
their forward movement only, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
10. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the tuckers arranged to strike
the crimped paper at the rear fold of the base of the crimp, and form the same into
a pleat, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
11. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the tuckers E, each provided
with an inclined finger e, and a horizontal finger e¹, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
12. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the transverse rock shafts, each
provided with a series of tucker arms and having their boxes mounted to slide in
suitable ways, in combination with the operating shafts provided with eccentrics of
equal but opposite eccentricity, and pitmen connecting said eccentrics to their
respective rock shafts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
13. The combination, with the rock shaft which carries the tucker arms, of the
slotted lifters attached to said shaft and each provided with a pivoted and spring
controlled finger arranged in said slot, and a cam arranged in the path of each
lifter, with which said finger engages during its rearward motion and which
tilts said finger during its forward motion, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
14. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the compressor, consisting of a
vertically reciprocating plunger mounted above the bed upon which the pleated
paper travels, and arranged to strike the said paper a forcible blow and compress
the same upon the bed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
15. The combination, with the compressor G, and the spring G₁ for depressing
the same, of the cams G³ for lifting said compressor against the action of the
springs, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
16. The combination, with the compressor G having arms G2 with rollers g³,
of the cam wheels G³, provided with depressions g, and the springs G¹ bearing
upon the top of the compressor, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
17. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination, with the
compressor G, of the reciprocating tucker arms arranged to engage with the
crimped paper and tuck the same under the compressor, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
18. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination, with the
compressor, of two series of tucker arms reciprocating simultaneously in opposite
directions and engaging with the paper during their forward movement to
tuck the same under the compressor, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
19. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination, with the bed
of the machine along which the paper travels, of crimping rollers arranged at the
front end of the bed, the tuckers and compressor arranged in the rear of the
crimping rollers, a pasting mechanism arranged in the rear of the tuckers and com-

page_text: pressor, and the stripper bars extending above the bed from the crimping rollers
through the tuckers and compressor to the pasting mechanism, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
20. In a machine for making box pleated paper, the combination, with the bed,
of the continuously operating crimping rollers and pasting mechanism arranged at
the ends thereof, the intermittently operating tuckers and compressor intermediate
between them, and the stripper bars, extending above the bed from the crimping
rollers to the pasting mechanism and constructed and arranged to allow the paper
free play to expand and contract to each end and to compress the same upon the bed
during the tucking and compressing operations, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
21. The combination, with the tuckers and the compressor, of the upper stripper
bars extending above the bed through the tuckers and compressor, and provided
with inclines d between the tuckers and compressor, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
22. The combination, with the bed A', of the upper stripper bars D₁ pivoted at
their forward ends, and the springs supported and adjustable cross-bar D' to which
said stripper bars are connected at their rear ends, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
23. The combination, with the bed A¹, of the belts I travelling on the same,
and the paste wheels H arranged in a suitable paste trough or reservoir and pro-
jecting above the bed between the belts I, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
24. The combination, with the bed A', of the belts I travelling thereon, the paste
wheels H arranged between the belts, and the elastic pressure fingers arranged
above the belts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
25. The combination, with the bed A', of the belts I travelling thereon, the paste
wheels H arranged between the belts and the inclined elastic pressure fingers,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
26. The combination, with the bed, the belts travelling thereon, and the paste
wheels arranged between the belts, of adjustable pressure fingers arranged above
the belts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
27. The combination, with the feeding belts, and the paste wheels intermediate
between the same, of pressure fingers for holding the paper upon the paste wheels,
and independent rollers corresponding in number to the paste wheels and arranged
to supply the binding strips to the fabric, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
28. The combination, with the independent rollers L, and the binding strips L¹
carried thereby, of tension devices for regulating the feed of the binding strips,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
29. The combination, with the tension blocks m' of the shaft M, having weighted
arms m, and the springs M¹ attached to said shaft and held against the blocks m³,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
30. The combination, with the feed belt or belts of the pasting mechanism, of the
receiving roller mounted between vertical guides and resting upon and driven by the
said belt or belts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
31. The combination, with the belts I, of the roller N mounted between vertical
guides nn, one pair of which is hinged to swing downward, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
32. The combination, with the roller N of the guides n and n¹, the latter hinged
to swing out of the way, and the catches N' for retaining the same in an upright
position, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 11th day of August 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Agents for the Applicant.