US3178171A - Adjusting means for buckle folding machine - Google Patents

Description

April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Fez ward 5 Ham r J f A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 ger A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 l lnnlll l' fmsr Pow IN VEN TORS Z c/wara MSprz'zz er I g; E'afl r 5? Fl! er A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACH INE 1:5 Shee ts -She a 4 Filed Sept. 28, 1960 April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Edward JL K 531112381" 5" Jim/f J. flzder April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13 Sheets-Sheat 9 w 2 a. na y 0 Ed A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 1O 'nger Edward M 1& g Haz /c J: I 160 M INVENTORS' @012 Z 1 de fiw WZW a April 3, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 16 mmvrons f I dwafd M 5 012225 3 f'azzfi 6'. Fl z'cler 1 MfiwMW April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACKINE File d Sept. 28, 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTORS' April 5 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 IN V EN TORS United States Patent 3,173,171 ADEUSTKNG MEANS F032 BUCKLE FG B N MACH F Edward M. Springer and Frank S. Flider, Chicago, ilh' assignors, by niesne assignments, to Beyer inc, Ch!- cago, 1 11., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 59,969

12 Claims. ((31. 270-768) The present invention relates to a folding machine and is of the type particularly adapted to folding sheets such as letters, and customarily utilized in an office.

The folding machine of the present invention is of the type in which sheets, e.g., letters, are fed into the machine and the machine includes an arrangement for folding the letters once or a plurality of times, selectively, with adjustments for folding a sheet at different positions, for forming different kinds of folds. For example, a sheet may be folded in the following ways which are considered the usual kinds of folds, namely, standard fold, accordion fold, single fold and double fold.

The means for forming the folds in the sheets includes feeding means such as rollers for advancing the sheets through the machine, and stops located at certain positions for limiting the movement of the sheets and causing them to buckle or be folded at certain steps in their passage through the machine, whereupon they are advanced further through the machine in folded condition. These stops are adjustable to diiferent locations for producing the different kinds of folds.

A broad and main object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine of the foregoing general character in which means is provided for easily and quickly adjusting the stops referred to for controlling the kind of fold to be produced. The stops referred to, by the nature of the folding machine, are in generally opposite locations in the folding machine, relative to the fore and aft portions thereof and the direction of advancement of the sheets through the machine. These stops being spatially separated, it was required, in folding machines heretofore made, that the means for adjusting those stops be positioned closely adjacent the stops. Serious disadvantages of this arrangement included the fact that all adjusting means and th ir correspondin indicating means were not observable by the operator while viewing from a single vantage point.

Another broad object of the present invention is to overcome the objection just stated, and more specifically to provide a remote control type of adjustment for one of the stops and to arrange the adjusting means for the several stops in closely disposed relation so that the operator may observe them in viewing the machine from a single vantage point, and with the advantage that adjustments may be made more quickly and easily.

Another object is to provide a remote control type of adjusting means of the kind just referred to which is of simple construction and which includes for the sake of convenience, a single side-positioned manipulating memer, and stop means extending the full transverse dimension of the machine, and having such novel construction that notwithstanding this arrangement, the stop means is always maintained in true position without any binding effect.

Due to the nature of folding machines of the general type which includes the present folding machine, the rollers for feeding the sheets through the machine are located generally at a central portion of the machine. One of the stops for effecting a folding operation is mounted in a plate which has an entrance portion adjacent the feeding rollers but otherwise is generally exteriorly exposed. Another object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a novel construction in which the plate r. 3,178,171 Patented Apr. 13, 1955 just referred to containing one of the stops is easily demountable from the remainder of the machine whereby to facilitate access o the central portion of the machine and to facilitate removing any papers that should be jammed therein, which is a difiiculty encountered in all folding machines although minimized and substantially eliminated in the machine of the present invention.

A further object is to provide a folding machine of the foregoing general character having intermittent or ev l f e sh ets th g t e machine w y to minimize and substantially eliminate jamming of the sheets in the machine.

A still further object, and a refinement included in the object just above stated, is to pr vide feeding means which is of the stripper type, i.e., the sheets which are placed on the feed'table for the purpose of feeding them through the machine are released singly from the feed table, each ef r a li s ssiv sheet is rel a d Another object is to provide a folding machine having feed means of the kind just referred to in which effective pressure on the means for removing the sheets from t e e tab e may b vari s as vtov pro uce the req pressure for sheets of different character such, for example, as thin and thick sheets, smooth and rough sheets, etc.

Still another object is to provide a folding machine of qresq n ene al har te wh s i readily a p lable for automatic successive feeding of sheets and fold: ing them, or manual and individual feeding of the sheets d v dins thei tiv y. w erein a n v single trol member is utilized for controlling each operation.

$til a o he old s is t pro ide a foldin machine of the foregoing general character including novel adjustn means f r o e o the old ng s ops above referred to, to etfect even folding of the sheets where uneven folding may otherwise result due to uneven shape of the sheets;

Another object is to provide, in a folding machine of the foregoing general character, novel conveying means for receiving the folded sheets and conveying them' out of the machine onto a tray.

A still further object is to provide conveying means of the kind just referred to, which is actuated intermittently or cyclically in synchronism with the intermittent or cyclic operation of the feeding means whereby to facilitate even Sl t k n 9. e famed shee s o a t a A further object is to provide novel means for resiliently retaining the folded sheets on the receivingmean's during their course of conveyance onto the tray, including resilient fingers and novel means for mounting them in t m ch n Another object is to provide a mechanical counter, and means for connecting it with the driving means of the machine in such a Way as to operate the counter in synchronism with the cyclic operation of the machine vand additionally in which a single sheet is advanced through the machine in each cycle of operation whereby to enable a mechanical counter to accurately indicate the number of sheets advanced through the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a folding machine made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the folding machine taken from the left of FIG. 1, but with certain parts removed or shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the machine but with certain parts removed or shown insection;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a fore-and-aft vertical sectional view of the machine, taken approximately on line 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a View from the right-hand side of the machine 3 (right side of FIG. 2), but with the side casing member removed;

FIG. '7 is a view from the left hand side of the machine (left side of FIG. 2), but with the side casing member removed;

FIG. 8 is a view taken aproximately on line 8-8 of FIG. 9 but with the receiving tray shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the conveyor means and receiving tray taken approximately on staggered line 9-9 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view taken aproximately in line 10-1t3 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on staggered line 11-11 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the first fold plate and taken approximately on line 1212 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of certain control mechanism shown at the left hand portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but with certain elements in alternate positions;

FIG. 15 is also a view similar to FIG. 13, but with elements in other positions;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the members of FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 FIG. 17 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the members shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 but from the opposite side thereof, being taken approximately on line 17-17 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the members effecting the folding operations, showing a step at the beginning portion of the operation for folding a sheet in a standard form;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but showing a further step in making a standard fold;

lFIG. 20 is a detail view of a sheet folded in a standard fo d;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but showing an early step in a folding operation for making an accordion fold;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21, but showing a further step in making an accordion fold;

FIG. 23 is a detail View of a sheet folded in an accordion fold;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but showing an early step in a folding operation for making a single fold;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24, and showing a further step in making a single fold;

f 1FIG. 26 is a detail view of a sheet folded in a single FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 18 and showing an ealrly step in a folding operation for making a double fo d;

FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 27, but showing a further step in making a double fold; and

FIG. 29 is a detail View of a sheet folded in a double fold.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed first to FIG. 1 showing the folding machine of the present invention in overall view. The machine indicated in its entirety at 12 includes a main body 14, a feed table 16 upon which the sheets 18 to be folded are placed, and a receiving tray 20 upon which the folded sheets are deposited after passing through the machine and being folded. Also shown in FIG. 1 are a first fold plate 22 and a second fold plate 24 which function with other members of the machine to fold the sheets. The fold plates 22 and 24 are shown also and in better view in FIG. 5, this figure also showing a set of rollers 26 which serve to pass the sheets through the machine and in conjunction with the fold plates 22 and 24 to perform the folding operations thereon.

The machine proper or body 12 has a framework including right and left vertical side plates 28 and 30, respectively, spaced apart and secured together by necessary structural elements which need not be identified individually. These side plates in so far as the description of the function of the machine is concerned may be considered to constitute the framework of the machine, supporting other members in and between the side plates, as well as other members outwardly of the respective side plates. Casing members 29 and 31 are secured to the side plates for enclosing most of the operating parts mounted on the outer sides of the side plates.

The feed table 16, while it may be any of various constructions, preferably is of the kind disclosed in the copending application of the present Springer, Serial No. 795,699, filed February 26, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,029,074, to which reference may be had for complete details of the structure thereof. Briefly, for present purposes, the table 16 includes a bottom supporting plate element 32 upon which the sheets 18 are placed and side flanges 34 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5). The plate element is provided with a surrounding depending flange 36, including a front element 38 (FIG. 5) having apertures for receiving pins 46 mounted in a transverse member 42 secured to the side plates of the machine and having a depending portion 44 in which the pins are directly mounted and an upper deflecting portion 46 utilized for guiding sheets in passing through the machine, as will be described in detail hereinbelow. The flange 36 also includes side elements 48 which are received between clips 50 mounted on the side plates, and those side plates. The feed table 16 is thus demountably supported in the frame of the machine by means of the pins 40 and clips 50, being placed in position by holding the feed table at an angle with the leading end (right end FIG. 5) lowermost to insert the pins 40 in the apertures and then lowering the outer and opposite end to insert the flange elements 48 in the spaces between the clips 59 and the corresponding side plates. The tray is removed by opposite and corresponding movements.

The sheets 18, as a stack are butted against a front post 52 which serves as a locating means for placing the stack on the tray. The sheets are also constrained against displacement from the feed table by a releasing means shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 5 which includes fingers 54 which overlie and engage the top sheet. The feed table is of the stripper type in the operation of which the sheets are stripped and delivered from the stack individually and only one at a time. The specific method of accomplishing this will be referred to again hereinbelow, and further details of the stripping and feeding operation may be found in the copending Spring er application referred to hereinabove.

The means for feeding the sheets from the table shown generally at 56 is disclosed and claimed in the copending Springer application referred to above and as shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, herein it includes a pair of feed wheels 58 mounted on a rotatable shaft 60. The feed wheels 58 rotate with the shaft 60 and thereby frictionally engage the top sheet of the stack of sheets, when the feed means is lowered into operative position, and feed the sheets from the stack. Associated with the shaft 60 and the feed wheels 58 is a rigid bar 62 which, together with the shaft (it), is mounted in arms 64 and 66 at opposite sides of the machine outwardly of the side plates. The bar 62 and shaft 69 together form a rigid assembly movable as a unit, the bar 62 serving as a hand grip for raising the shaft 60 and the feed wheels 58 thereon upwardly out of engagement with the sheets on the feed table, and thus out of operative position.

In the feeding operation, the feed means 56 rests on the top of the stack of sheets 18 and lowers by gravity pursuant to depletion of the sheets. After the last sheet from the stack is fed through the machine, the feed wheels 58 fall into depressions 63, as described fully in the copending Springer application referred to above, and effect a shutting off operation, to be explained in detail hereinbelow in conjunction with other operating members of the apparatus.

The set of rollers 26 includes individual rollers 25a, 26b, 26c, and 26d mounted in and between the side plates and arranged for rotation in the directions of the associated arrows for feeding the sheets through the machine. These rollers include two positively driven rollers, namely 26a and 26c, and two follower rollers 26b and 26:1. The means for driving the driven rollers will be described hereinbelow. The rollers 26 in themselves may be of any suitable construction having the desired friction surface for en aging the sheets to be passed therebetween, such as a rubber or rubber-like material mounted on shafts 79a, 79b, 7&0, and 76d, respectively. The shafts 76a and 700 are mounted in bushings stationarily located in the side plates while the shafts 76b and 70d project through slots 72b and 72d in the side plates for movement toward and from the associated ones of the driven rollers. Springs 74 are arranged for biasing the latter shafts, and thus the rollers mounted thereon, toward the associated driven rollers, being compressed between the the shafts and fixed elements in the side plates. The roller 26b is biased into a position in which it engages both the rollers 26a and 260, while the roller 26d is biased into engagement only with the roller 26c.

The deflecting element 46 referred to above cooperates with another deflecting element 76 which may be part of a shield 78 having a top element 86 secured to a transverse bar 82 serving as a means for supporting the member 78 in position, and the top element 8% serves also to cover and conceal certain otherwise exposed elements. The deflecting elements 76 and 46 form a hopperlike guiding means having a wide entrance space for receiving the sheets 18 from the feed table 16 and converging toward the rollers 26 to a narrow space 84 forming an outlet opening directed toward and closely adjacent to the bight between the rollers 26a and 26b. Pursumt to a sheet being fed from the stack on sheets on the feed table 16, it enters the space between the deflecting elements 76 and 46 and is fed through the space 84 to the bight between the two rollers mentioned and gripped by the latter rollers and passed further along to the succeeding pairs of rollers.

Drive means is provided for driving all of the driven members in the apparatus which include the feed means 56 and the rollers 26, as well as other instrumentalities, namely, conveyor means 36 and a counter 88. The latter two instrumentalities will be described in detail hereinbelow but for the purpose of fully describing the drive means it is pointed out that the conveyor means 86 includes a driven shaft 95) (FIG. 5) which is mounted in and between the side plates of the machine and the counter 83 includes in its drive train a gear 92 (FIG. 7). The drive means includes any suitable source of motive power such as an electric motor 94- (FIGS. 2 and 5), having a drive shaft 96 connected with a shaft 98 suitably mounted in the frame of the machine and having a pulley 169 (FIG. 6) at its extended end outwardly of the associated side plate 28. Trained on the pulley 1613 is a belt 11, 2 which is also trained over another pulley 194 mounted on a stub shaft 1th: in the side frame 28. The stub shaft 166 also bears another pulley 108 (FIGS. 2 and 6) over which is trained a belt 110 which is also trained on another pulley 112 mounted on a shaft 114. The shaft 114 extends through to the other side of the machine, with its opposite end supported in the associaated side plate 3t) and on its outer end outwardly of the latter side plate provided with a gear 116 and a cam 118 (FIGS. 3 and 7). The gear 116 meshes with the gear $2 referred to above, in the drive train for the counter 82, and it also meshes with another gear 129 mounted on a stub shaft 122 upon which is also mounted a gear 124 arranged for conjoint rotation with the gear 129.

The cam 113 cooperates with a clutch 126, these members being preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of the present Springer Serial No. 623,492, filed November 20, 1956, now US. Patent No. 2,961,947. in that application a double clutch and cam arrangement is shown, while in the present instance only a single clutch and cam are utilized, the present arrangement being equivalent to one-half of the assembly utilized in said copending application. The clutch 126 (FIGS. 3 and 7) is mounted on a shaft section 128 which is mounted coaxially with and in a bearing means supported by the shaft 70a on which the roller 26:: is mounted (FIG. 5). The latter shaft is provided with a gear 130 meshing with the gear 124 and arranged for constant driving thereby. The roller 26a is thus positively driven through the gear 130. It is desired also that at least one additional roller be positively driven so e that at least one roller in each pair of rollers 26 be positively driven. Referring to FIG. 6, the shaft 76a has a gear 131 on its opposite end, i.e., the end opposite the gear 13%, disposed on the right side of the machine outwardly of the side plate 28 (FIGS. 3 and 6). This gear 131 meshes with an idler gear 133 rotatably supported on a stub shaft 135 mounted in the side plate 28, the latter gear 135 meshing with another gear 137 on the shaft 70c which bears the roller 260. Thus are the two rollers 26a and 260 positively driven, as mentioned above, while the other two rollers 26b and 26d are rotated by friction engagement with the driven rollers. It will be seen that in each pair of rollers 26 which cooperate to feed a sheet therebetween, one is positively driven.

Mounted on the shaft section 128 together with the clutch means 126 is a gear 132 arranged for driving a train of gears 134 and in mesh with one of those gears. The clutch means 126 is controlled by the cam 11% which includes a high point 134 extending a substantial portion of the angular dimension of the cam and in the present instance in the neighborhood of 75% thereof and a low point 136. The clutch means 126 includes a control lever 138 engaged by the high point 134 of the cam, and when it is so engaged, the clutch means is deactivated but upon movement of the low point 136 into registration with the control lever 138, the latter is enabled to move outwardly and activate the clutch means whereupon it is rotated with the shaft 70a. The clutch means 126 makes one complete revolution each time the low point 136 comes into registration with the control lever 138 or, in other words, at each revolution of the cam 134. Check means indicated in its entirety at 141 is provided for preventing back lash of the clutch means 126.

The gear train 134. includes a first gear 142 mounted on a shaft 144 which extends through the machine to the opposite side, to which reference will be made hereinagain. The arm 54- referred to above in connection with the feed means 56 (FIG. 5) is pivoted on the shaft 144 for swinging about the axis thereof, and it supports the remainder of the gears of the gear train, namely, gears 146, 14-8, and 150. The gears 146 and 148 are mounted on stub shafts supported by the arm 64, while the gear 150 is mounted on the shaft 69 on which also the feed wheels 53 are mounted. A one-way clutch 151 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is interposed between the gear 154? and shaft 60. The gear 142 remains in stationary location and in mesh with the gear 132 while the remaining gears 146, 148, and 150 remain in mesh with the respective adjacent gears but are carried by the arm 64- in the swinging movements of the latter. The side plate 30 is provided with an arcuate slot 152 for receiving the shaft 69 and rod 62 and providing for the movements of the latter. In the opposite side plate 28 is provided a similar arcuate slot 154 (FIG. 6). Thus the drive from the gear 132 to the gear 156 and thus the shaft 60 on which the feed wheels are mounted is maintained regardless of the vertical position of the shaft 60.

The shaft 144 referred to above extending through to the opposite side plate 28 is provided with a pulley 156 (FIG. 6) on which is trained a belt 158, this belt also being trained on a pulley 160 mounted on the shaft 96 7, which is included in the conveyor means as mentioned above and shown best in FIG. 5. Upon rotation of the gear 132 (FIG. 7), drive is transmitted to the feed wheels 58, and to the conveyor means 86, this drive in the case of both instrumentalities being intermittent, in accordance with the intermittent rotation of the clutch means 126. It may be here stated that all of the drive from the motor 94 to the clutch means 126 is constant.

As the next step in the description of the apparatus and the operation, attention is directed to the fold plates 22 and 24, a detailed description of which follows pres ently. Briefly, the fold plates 22 and 24 are adapted for receiving or otherwise controlling the sheets in their passage through the machine by means of the rollers 26 for performing the folding operation. Referring first in detail to the fold plate 22, this plate includes a pair of plate elements 162 and 164 (FIGS. 4 and both extending substantially throughout the area of the plate. These plate elements are spaced apart a slight distance, slightly greater than the thickness of the heaviest paper intended to be folded by the machine. These plate elements may be secured together in any suitable way such as by means of spacers 166 and screws 168 (FIG. 4). One of the plate elements may be provided with downturned flanges 170 at the sides for engagement with the inner surfaces of the side plates 28 and 39 and for providing the means for detachably mounting the fold plate in the side plates. This means for mounting the fold plate in the side plates includes inwardly projecting pins 172 secured in the side plates received in notches 174 formed in the inner end edges of the side flanges. Cooperating with these pins and notches are latch means 176, two of which are provided, one shown in end view in FIG. 5 and both shown in FIG. 12. These latch means may be identical and a description of one will suffice for both. The latch means 176 includes a body member 178 in which is slidably mounted a plunger 1343 projected through an aperture in the flange 170 and biased to outer position by a tension spring 1&2 connected between the plunger and a fixed portion of the latch. Extending inwardly from the plunger is a slide element 184 terminating in a finger-grip angle piece 186. These two finger grips 186 may be grasped by the thumb and finger and drawn toward each other inwardly for releasing the plungers 180 from their securing positions which are in apertures in the corresponding side plates 28 and 30, one of which is shown at 188 in FIG. 6. The fold plate 22 may be inserted in position by inserting the inner end (left hand FIG. 5) into the space between the side plates to a position in which the pins 172 are received in the notches 174 and then adjusting the outer end until the plungers 180, after having been drawn inwardly, are in line with the apertures 188 in the side plates, and then releasing these plungers to enable them to enter into the apertures. The plate is then demountably secured in place by the pin-notch connection 172174 and the plunger-aperture connection 1881488. The fold plate is removed from its position by similar and opposite movements.

The fold plate 22 has an entrance opening 190 at its inner end leading to the interior space 163 between the plate elements. When the fold plate is in its proper position, this entrance opening 198 is closely adjacent the exit bight of the rollers 26a and 2612 as well as the entrance bight of the rollers 26b and 260. This entrance opening is appropriately shaped for accommodating the sheet being folded, in the present instance formed at least partially by an upturned portion 192 of the upper plate elemen-t162.

In the folding operation the sheet on leaving the exit bight of the rollers 26a and 26b enters into the space 163 in the fold plate and the element that is directly engaged by this sheet is a stop element 194 which functions as described in detail hereinbelow. This stop element 194 is in the form of an elongated strip or bar (FlG. 12) disposed between the plate elements and carried by an adjusting-locking means indicated in its entirety at 196, enabling manual adjustment of the stop element 194 longitudinally of the fold plate as well as locking the stop element in adjusted position. For accommodating the assembly 196 and the stop element 194, the plate 22 is provided with a plurality of elongated lon itudinally extending slots including a central slot 198 cut in both of the plate elements and side slots 200 which may be cut in only one of the plate elements such as the lower plate element 164 for receiving projections 2&2 formed on the stop element 194. This stop element 194 extends the greater portion of the transverse dimension of the fold plate and is mounted on a pin 2M for swinging movement about the axis of that pin, the pin being included as an element of the assembly 196. The pin is directly mounted in a block 206 riding in the central slot 193. A thumbscrew 208 extends through an aperture in the block 266 (FIGS. 4 and 5 and threaded into a clip 210. The block 206 has side portions overlying and engaging the upper surface of the plate element 162 while the clip 216 has lateral portions engaging the under surface of the lower plate element 164 and upon tightening of the thumbscrew 298 the elements 206 and 210 are brought to bear on opposite sides of the plate for locking the assembly 196 in adjusted position. Upon releasing the pressure provided by this thumbscrew, the assembly can be adjusted longitudinally of the slot 198 for adjusting the stop 194 toward and from the entrance opening and thus the rollers 26.

For the purpose of preventing the plate elements 162 and 164 from being compressed or moved together excessively, a shim 212 is included in the assembly 196 and interposed between the plate elements. Also, for the purpose of providing guiding functions, the block 206 is provided with a reduced portion 214 (FIG. 4) riding in the slot 198 in the upper plate element, and an element 216 rides in the groove in the lower plate element 164. The reduced portion 214 and the element 216 have substantial dimension longitudinally of the slot for maintaining the assembly in accurate position and against cocking or binding. The block 206 and the elements 212 and 216 may be secured together by shouldered screws 217 having outer end portions extended loosely through apertures in the clip 210 for guiding the latter.

The element 216 is provided with an elongated extension 218 (FIG. *5) terminating in an upturned tab 220 receiving one end of a stem 222 of a thumbscrew 224, and serving as a reaction member for that thumbscrew. The other end of the stem 222 is threaded in a tapped transverse hole in a cylindrical stud 226 (FIG. 12) received in a circular enlargement 228 of a slot 230 in the stop element 194. The stud 226 is offset from the pin 204 on which the stop element 194 is supported, and upon threading the thumbscrew 224 in one direction or the other the stop element 194 is made to swing about the axis of the pin 2&4 to any of various positions including a perpendicular position or angular positions in either direction therefrom. In folding operations irregularities are often encountered, including inaccuracies of the sheets being folded, and to overcome uneven folding of the sheets due to such inaccuracies, adjustments may be made in the stop element 194 to the desired position.

An indicating finger 232 (FIG. 3) is mounted for swinging movement with the stop element 194 such as by mounting it on an end of the pin 204 extended through to the top of the assembly (FIG. 3). The indicating finger 232 is provided with an indicating mark 234 which cooperates with another mark 236 on a fixed portion of the assembly such as the block 206.. Appropriate indications are thus provided, such, for example, as the perpendicular position of the stop element 194 being indicated by registration of the marks 234 and 236.

240 on the upper surface of the fold plate. These indicating markings 241) may include the letters A, B, C, etc., as indicated at. 246a, or other markings indicated at 24012,

which may be inch markings. The letter markings 240a may be utilized for indicating desired predetermined positions for eifecting certain forms of folds, while the markings 2401) may be utilized for determining absolute distances of the stop element 194 from the entrance opening 191) of the fold plate, and thus the rollers 26. As will be explained in detail hereinbelow, the position of the stop element 194, as determined by the position of the assembly 196 determines, with other elements of the machine, the kind of fold to be made in the sheet.

The fold plate 22, as will be observed particularly from FIGS. 1 and 5, is disposed adjacent an upper portion of the machine and its upper surface is exposed substantially entirely to the observation of the user. The assembly 196 utilized for adjusting the stop element is readily and easily accessible to the user or operator, and closely ad jacent this assembly, is another adjusting means indicated broadly at 242 for making corresponding adjustments in the stop element of the second fold plate 24 which, as will be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, is at a position remote from the first fold plate 22.

Referring to the detail construction of the second fold plate 24 (FIGS. 5 and 11), this plate is made up of upper and lower plate elements 244 and 245, respectively, extending across the space between the side plates 28 and 30. One of the plate elements, such as the lower one 246, is provided with side flanges 248 engaging the side plates and serving as a means for supporting the fold plate thereon, such securing means being represented by screws 250 (FIG. 5). The plate elements 244 and 246 are spaced apart by spacers 252 (FIG. 11) and secured together as by screws 254.

The plate elements 244 and 246 define a space 245 therebetween which is slightly greater than the thickness of the thickest folded sheet intended to be received therein. The fold plate has an entrance opening 247 disposed for receiving a sheet issuing from the rollers 26b and 260 in a manner described in detail hereinbelow.

Mounted in the bottom fold plate 24 is an assembly indicated in its entirety at 256 (FIG. 5) and mounted for movement longitudinally of the fold plate. For this purpose the fold plate is provided with a plurality of central slots 257 and two side slots 259 (FIG. 2) extending the greater distance of the longitudinal dimension of the plate (FIG. 5). The assembly 256, in certain positions thereof, provides a stop for effecting a folding operation and, in another position, a deflector means for preventing entry of the sheets into the space 245. This assembly includes a rigid subassembly 258 made up of upper and lower elongated strips 260 and 252 extending transversely across the plate, the strips being, respectively, above and below the plate, and having stop elements 264 mounted therebetween. These stop elements 2&4, shown in FIG. 11, include outer sleeves 266 serving as rollers and rotatably mounted on stems 268 having one end secured in for example the lower strip 262 and the upper end secured to the upper strip 250 as by screws 269. These stop elements 264 ride in the slots .257 in the fold plate, the rollers or sleeves 266 enabling free movement of those rollers within the slots for facilitating adjusting movements of the assembly in the plate, while aiding in maintaining the assembly 256 in accurate transverse position, perpendicularly of the slots.

The upper strip 264 has downturned end portions forming tabs 270 projected for free movement in the side slots 259, these tabs being utilized for pivotally mounting a deflector member 272. This deflector member 272 also is in the form of a strip extending transversely across the plate with downturned lugs or tabs 274 also projected freely in the slots 259 and engaging the tabs 279 where they are secured thereto by means such as pins 276 for limited swinging movement of the member 272 relative to the subassembly 256. The strip or member 272 has a downwardly inclined portion 278 at its inner end to which 10 is secured a deflecting element 280 disposed at a predetermined angle, as explained below.

The deflector member 272 is arranged for lowering by gravity and rides on the upper surface of the fold plate in retracted position of the assembly 256, but is in position for dropping over the opening 247- of the fold plate when the assembly is moved to its advanced position as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 for deflecting sheets from entering into the space 245.

The lower strip 262 has an extension projected through a slot 282 in the side plate 23 (FIGS. 6 and 11) where its outer end is connected to one end of an actuating link 284, the characteristic shape of which is shown in FIG. 6 The link 284 at its opposite end is secured to an element 286 extended through a slot 288 in the side plate 28 and cooperating with the adjusting means 242 referred to above. The link 284 may be made up of a pair of spaced elements for convenience in fabricating, and strength and rigidity, but the points of connection between the link 284 and the elements 262 and 286 are rigid and transversely spaced to provide a rigid assembly between the element 236 and the assembly 256 in all positions of adjustment, and in the adjusting movements thereof. The link 284 is specially designed for positioning on the outer side of the adjacent side plate 28 in the midst of various other operating and moving parts to be covered by the adjacent casing member and forming a remote control member between the fold plate 24 and the adjusting means 242 which are at quite remotely spaced positions, the fold plate being in a relatively inaccessible position but providing the adjusting means 242 at a position adjacent an upper and fully exposed area in the folding machine, namely above the first fold plate and adjacentthe adjusting assembly for enabling these two adjusting means to be readily observed together, due to their close proximity, by the operator of the machine. The slots 282 and 238 (FIG. 6) are disposed at the angle of the second fold plate 24.

The adjusting means 242 (see particularly FIG. 11) is mounted in and cooperates with mounting means 290 whichis in a form of a strip folded to U-shape and having flanges 292 engaging the inner surface of the side plate 28 and secured thereto. The strip 290 thus provides an upper element 294 and a lower element 296 spaced apart to freely receive the element 286. An elongated slot 298 is formed in these two elements, extending the greater portion of the length of the strip and of sufiicient length to accommodate the degree of adjustment desired for the assembly 256. The adjusting means 242 includes a thumbscrew 3% having a stem externed through an element 3M. with a reduced portion 304 riding in the slot in the element 294. The stem is projected through an aperture in the element 236 and through another element 306 riding in the slot in the lower element 296. The stem finally is threaded in a tapped hole in a clip 308 engaging the under surface of the element 2%. Upon tightening the thumbscrew 30f? opposite pressures are brought to bear by the element 304 on the element 286, and by the clip 3% on the under surface of the element 296 for locking the adjusting means in adjusted position.

The elements 332, 256 and 396 are secured together in an assembly by means of screws 310 (FIG. 10). The reduced portion 364 and the element 366 which ride in the respective portions of the slot 298 are of substantial length longitudinally of that slot to provide a desired guiding effect and prevent any cocking or binding movements or actions of the element 286. This guiding action together with the rollers of the assembly 256 (FIGS. 5 and 11) in the slots in the lower fold plate, together with the rigid and strong connections between the element 286, link 284 and strip 262, provides easy adjustment of the assembly 256 while maintaining the assembly 256 in accurate position transversely of the fold plate. 4

The element 392 of the adjusting means (FIG. 3) is provided with indicator markings 312 which cooperate with other indicator markings 314 on a fixed portion of the machine such as the upper surface of the mounting means 290. These indicator markings may include letters 314a and other markings such as inch markings 3145 for a purpose similar to that of the markings 240.

As will be observed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the stop adjusting means 196 and 242, and the associated indicator markings 240 and 314 are disposed closely adjacent each other. The operator can make the necessary adjustments in the two adjusting means in a very simple and coordinated manner. From a single position in the use of the machine both adjusting means can be easily and clearly observed due to the remote control arrangement between the adjusting means 242 and the lower fold plate 24. All settings of the stops are made by means of only these two adjusting means. If desired, the upper surface of the fold plate 22 may be provided with imprinted instructions such as in area 316 with respect to the settings for the adjusting means for producing the various folds in the sheets, to be described hereinbelow.

Reference is now made to the conveyor means 86 (FIGS. 5, 8, and 9) which includes a plate 318 extending transversely across the machine having downturned flanges 320 provided with slots 322 receiving pins 324 mounted in the side plates of the frame. Tension springs 326 are interconnected between the plate, such as by means of lugs 328 struck in from the flanges, and corresponding ones of the pins 324- The flanges are provided with extensions 330 having notches 332 receiving the reduced end portions 334 of a shaft 336 which can be lifted out of the notches by forcing the plate 318 relatively away from it (to the left FIG. 5) as by holding the shaft and moving the plate by the hand. This arrange ment maintains an accurate and taut condition of the belts 338 on the conveyor means. These belts are trained over the shaft 336 and over the drive shaft 90 referred to above in surrounding relation to those two shafts and the plate 318. The shafts 90 and 336 are provided with reduced portions 340 (FIG. 9) for receiving the belts 338 and retaining the belts in the intended lateral spacing. The springs 326 bias the plate 318 and the shaft 336, together as a unit, away from the drive shaft 90, maintaining the belts 338 in taut position, it being understood that the shaft 90 remains fixed in location.

Cooperating with the belts 338 for the purpose of controlling the sheets as they are being conveyed by the conveyor means 86 are spring fingers 342 which yieldingly engage the upper surfaces of sheets being conveyed by the belts. Each of these fingers, all identical, includes an outer portion 344 overlying a substantial length of the upper run of the corresponding belt and its inner end is mounted in the frame of the machine. The mounting means for the inner ends of the fingers includes clip 346, each substantially U-shaped in plan view having a web 348 to which the spring finger is secured, and flanges 350 having apertures receiving a mounting rod 352 which is mounted in and between the side plates 28 and 36. Preferably, the rod is square or polygonal, the clip having similarly shaped apertures for preventing rocking or rotation of the clips about the axis of the rod. The upper extreme end portion of the spring finger is turned over at 354 and yieldingly engages a surface of the mounting rod 352. The clips are slidable along the rod and the end portions 354 through friction engagement with the rod yieldingly retain the fingers in adjusted positions along the rod.

For the purpose of preventing or dissipating static electricity from the sheets being deposited on the conveyor means, an element such as a strip of tinsel 356 is extended transversely across the space between the side plate above the conveyor means in position for the sheets to rub thereon. This tinsel means may be mounted in any suitable manner such as by means of lugs 358 secured to the rod 352 as by means of clips 36% (PEG. 9).

The receiving tray 21' identified above (FIG. 1) is shown in detail in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9. The tray includes a bottom panel 362 and an upturned flange 364- or a backstop at its outer end. The tray is provided with'a notch 366 cut through both the bottom panel and the back flange to enable the operator to insert the hand in the notch and grip the stack of folded sheets on the tray and liftthem out in an upward direction. The tray is adapted to be positioned relative to the discharge end of the conveyor means 36, being slidably mounted for this purpose in clips or holders 368 secured to the inner surfaces of the side plates 23 and 30. As here shown, these clips each include a flat piece fitted against the surface of the respective side plate and a hook portion 370 in which is received a flange element 372 of a member 374 secured to the under surface of the tray. The flanges 372 are slidable in the hook portions 370 and enable the tray to be slid or adjusted in and out, the clips or brackets 368 being of sufficient length to support the tray, and suffiCiEIlt friction is established to prevent undue displacement of the tray, considering the fact that the tray slopes downwardly and outwardly, this sloping position facilitating stacking of the fold sheets thereon. It will be understood that the tray is adjusted to various positions according to the particular fold being performed, for positioning the rear flange 364 outwardly sufficiently to enable the sheets to engage the flange and yet clear the outer end of the conveyor means.

Reference is next made to the counter 88 (FIG. 5) and the drive means therefor (FIG. 7). The counter is a mechanical counter having indicating elements moved in advancing direction pursuant to operation of the drive means therefor which includes the gear 92 (FIG. 7) referred to above, which in turn is driven by the drive means of the machine through the gear 116. The ratio between the gears 116 and 92 is such that the counter is advanced one unit indication for each complete revolution of the gear 116. It will be recalled, from the description above, that the shaft 66 with the feed wheels 58 thereon (FIG. 2) is rotated once for each revolution of the gear 116 which rotates in unison with the earn 118, due to the actuation of the clutch means 126 one time each revolution of the cam, as controlled by the low point 136 on the cam. Each time the shaft 60 and the feed wheels thereon make one revolution, one sheet from the feed table is fed through the machine, as described more fully hereinbelow, and since this shaft 60 makes one revolution for each unit indication advancement of the counter, the counter acts as a trip counter and accurately counts the number of sheets folded. This kind of counter and the drive means therefor provides a distinct advantage over those kinds of machines in which the sheets are fed continuously, since in the latter kinds of machines, it has been found virutally impossible to provide a mechanical counter that accurately performs its intended function.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 13 to 17, inclusive, in connection with the following description of the control means having a novel arrangement for selectively setting up automatic or manual control. The arm 66 referred to above (FIG. 2) supporting one end of the shaft 60 and bar 62 of the feed means is shown at least partially in certain of these figures, and referring to FIG. 6 it will be seen that this arm is pivoted on the shaft 144 and thus pivoted coaxially with the arm 64 of the opposite end. The shaft 60 is rotatably supported in the swinging end of the main portion of this arm, and the arm has an upstanding ear 376 supporting the end of the bar .62. The arm 66 at its swinging end also has :1 depending arcuate leg portion 373 having a notch 336 at an upper point thereof and a cutout portion 382 (FIGS. 6 and 13) forming a shoulder 334 facing in a generally downward direction and utilized for retaining the arm 66 in elevated position, as described below. Fixedly secured to the side plate 28 is a bracket 386 having an arm 388 for a purpose to be described later, and a generally downwardly depending 1% leg 398 on which is supported an electric switch 392 having an actuating finger 394.

An actuating assembly is incorporated in the controls and includes a lever or arm member 396 (see also FIG. 16) pivoted on a stud 398 mounted in the side plate 28. This member includes an arm 480 on which is mounted a stud 482 and another arm 484 in which is formed an arcuate slot 466 receiving a stud 4G8 mounted in the side plate. A hairpin spring 418 has a central portion supported on the stud 398 with its arm portions engaging the studs 482 and 488 and operative for biasing the member 396 to a position which will be referred to herein as a'neutral position and as illustrated biases it clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 13, 15 and 16.

The arm 404 of the member 396 has a lateral extension 412 on which is rigidly mounted a main arm 414. This arm 414 may for example, be of channel shape in cross section and has its web elementengaging the extension 412 and rigidly secured thereto. The flanges of the arm have longitudinal slots 416 at their lower ends. At the upper end of the arm 414 is a secondary arm or lever member 418 pivoted on a pin 420 supported in the upper end of the flange elements of the arm 414. At an outer end ofthe secondary arm 418 is a hand grip button or lever 422 which extends to the exterior as seen in FIG. 1 for grasping by the hand and manipulating the control members. This secondary arm 418 also may be in the form of a channel in cross section and has a cutout porttion forming a shoulder 424 (FIG. 14) which engages the upper edge of the web of the arm 414 and forms a stop limiting swinging movement of the arm 418 relative to the arm 414 in corresponding direction, namely, counterclockwise. This shoulder 424 being ofiset relative to the axis of the pin 428 provides the limiting means referred to, and when this shoulder 'is in engagement with the upper edge of the web element of the arm 414, downward movement of the button 422 results in swinging the arms 418 and 414 rigidly together as a unit in the corresponding direction or counterclockwise. This movement results in similar movement of the member 3% about the axis of the stud 398. v

At the inner end of the secondary arm 418 is a pin 428 on which is pivoted a link 426 which has another pin 430 at its lower end received in the slots 416. The arm 418 can be swung, however, in a clockwise direction relative to the arm 414 .as will be observed from a comparison of FIGS. 13 and 14. Assuming a starting neutral position shown in FIG. 13 in which the pin 430 is elevated above the lower end of the slots, swinging movement of the arm 418 in clockwise direction as by grasping the button 422 results in the link 426 being moved downwardly, the pin 430 riding downwardly in the slot 416 in this movement.

A hairpin spring 432 (FIG. 17) is mounted on and carried by the arm 414 and arranged with its end portions reacting between a fixed element 434 on the arm and the inner swinging end of the arm 418 for providing friction for releasably retaining the arm 418 in its set position, such, for example, as the position in FIG. 14. The friction between the pin 430 and slots 416 also aids in retaining the arm 418 in set position.

The stud 402 on the member 396 is adapted for engagement in the notch 388 in the leg 378, and also for engagement under the shoulder 384, in the control operations of the machine.

Depression of the button 422 and resulting swinging movement of the arm 414 and member 396 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot of the stud 398 results in the pin 430 engaging the actuating finger 334 and moving the lower end thereof in corresponding direction (to the right FIG. 13') and closing the switch, the switch being so oriented for that purpose, and the switch being opened when the arm 414 is in its opposite or neutral position. In another operation the button 422 may be raised with consequent downward movement of the link 14- 426 as explained, and this movement moves the pin 430 against the finger 394 of the switch and closes the switch while the arm 414 remains in its neutral position.

Pivoted on the arm 388 referred to above is a link 436 to the other end of which is connected a tension spring 438, the opposite end of the spring being connected to a pin 448 carried by and located adjacent the outer swinging end of the arm 66. The link 436 adjacent its swinging end is provided with a slot 442 receiving a pin 444 in one arm of a bellcrank lever 446 which is pivoted on a stud 448 fixed in the side plate 28. The other arm of the bellcrank lever is provided with a pin 450 engageable in any of a series of notches in an eccentric 452 mounted on stub shaft 454 rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing in the side plate 28 and having on its opposite end a control knob 456 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2). Rotation of the eccentric 452 results in swinging of the beliorank lever 446 about the stud 448 in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the eccentric and the other arm of the hell'- crank lever acting through the pin 444 and working in the slot 442 results in corresponding swinging of the link 436 about its pivot mounting. This swinging movement of the link 436 results in pressure exerted on the swinging end of the arm 66 and consequent pressure exerted on the feed wheels 58 which is transmitted to the sheets on the feed table. The swinging end of the link .436 is closely adjacent the axis of the arm 66, in the shaft 144, and consequently the pressure exerted on the feed means may be either positive or negative, depending on the position of the link 436, as adjusted, except in the uppermost range of movement of the arm 66. Other features and advantages of this pressure control means are set out in the copending application of the present Springer Serial No. 795,747, filed February 26, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,063,711, to which reference may be had for complete description.

'In order to set the folding machine in operation the control means here described is actuated. Assuming a neutral position, the feed means 56 is in elevated position in which the feed wheels 58 are out of engagement with the sheets on the feed table and the arm 66 is in its uppermost position. The pin 402 engages under the shoulder 384 in the leg 378 and retains the feed means in its upper position. Assuming it is desired to set the machine to automatic operation, the operator depresses the control button 422 which swings the arm 414 and member 396 in clockwise direction. This control movement performs two operations or functions, namely, it closes the switch 392, and it withdraws the pin 402 from the shoulder 384. As a-consequence of the latter function, the arm 66 and the feed means 56 drop by gravity until the feed wheels 58 engage the sheets on the feed table. The drive means is now in operation, due to closing the switch, and as the sheets are fed from the feed table, the'feed means and arm 66 gradually lower, and the pin 482 rides on the outer surface 3'78a-of the leg portion 378 until the stack of sheets is depleted, as a result of which the feed wheels drop into the depressions 68 (FIG. 5) and at this position of the feed means and leg 378, the pin 402 is in register with and moves into the notch 388. As a result, the arm 414 and member 396 swing to their neutral position permitting the switch 392 to open. This stops the operation of the machine. To reset the machine the operator grasps the rod 62 (FIG. 2) and lifts the feed means 56 to its upper position in which the pin 482 again engages under the shoulder 384 and retains the feed means in its upper position. While the feed means is being lifted the switch 392 may again be closed due to the pin 402 riding on the'surface 378a, but this interval is very short.

The foregoing operational control is for automatic operation, but assuming that it is desired .to :perform a manual operation without automatic shutoff, ;the button 422 is merely raised. This rocks the arm T418 and de-

Claims (1)

1. A FOLDING MACHINE INCLUDING A FRAME HAVING SPACED VERTICAL SIDE PLATES, A FEED TABLE FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF SHEETS TO BE FOLDED, MEANS FOR FEEDING SHEETS FROM SAID FEED TABLE, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF ROLLERS MOUNTED IN AND BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATES AND ARRANGED IN A LONGITUDINAL SERIES AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SHEETS FROM SAID FEED TABLE AND TO ADVANCE THEM FROM THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS TO SUCCESSIVE ONES, A FIRST FOLD PLATE MOUNTED IN AND BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATES AND HAVING AN ENTRY OPENING ADJACENT THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS, SAID FIRST FOLD PLATE BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT THE TOP OF THE SIDE PLATES, STOP MEANS IN SAID FIRST FOLD PLATE ADJUSTABLE THEREALONG FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STOP AND THE FIRST PAID OF ROLLERS, A SECOND FOLD PLATE ADJACENT THE ROLLERS OF A SUCCEEDING PAIR AND HAVING AN ENTRY OPENING FOR RECEIVING A SHEET FROM THE ROLLERS OF THAT PAIR, A STOP IN SAID SECOND FOLD PLATE ADJUSTABLE THEREALONG FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STOP AND THE ENTRY OPENING IN THE FOLD PLATE, SAID LATTER STOP INCLUDING ELEMENTS DISTRIBUTED TRANSVERSELY ALONG THE CORRESPONDING FOLD PLATE, A SINGLE LINK CONNECTED TO THE STOP IN SAID SECOND FOLD PLATE AT ONE SIDE OF THE FOLD PLATE AND DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID SIDE PLATES, AN ADJUSTING KNOB CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID LINK AND DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID ASSOCIATED SIDE PLATE, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID ADJUSTING KNOB IN A FIXED PORTION OF THE SIDE PLATE, SAID ADJUSTING KNOB, LINK AND STOP IN SAID SECOND FOLD PLATE TOGETHER FORMING A RIGID UNIT WHEREBY TO ADJUST THE STOP IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE ADJUSTING KNOB, MEANS INCLUDING ELEMENTS REACTING BETWEEN SAID STOP IN THE FOLD PLATE AND THAT FOLD PLATE FOR RETAINING THAT STOP ACCURATELY POSITIONED TRANSVERSELY OF ITS FOLD PLATE AND ENABLING THE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE STOP WITHOUT BINDING OR COCKING, NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN THE STOP AND ADJUSTING KNOB IS DISPOSED AT ONE SIDE OF THE CORRESPONDING FOLD PLATE, AND A CASING MEMBER SECURED ON SAID ONE SIDE PLATE ENCLOSING SAID LINK.

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