Perforating, scoring or slitting device for folding machine

Claim 2

In a paper folding machine having a frame, means supported by the frame for holding a stack of sheets and for feeding said sheets seriatim from the stack, means including a feeding and folding roller assembly mounted on said frame for sequentially folding said sheets as the latter are received by said latter means from said feeding means and for discharging the folded sheets from between a pair of cooperating rollers of said roller assembly on a discharge side thereof, and means for driving the roller components of said roller assembly, the improvement comprising: A. a unitary working assembly located on said discharge side of said roller assembly and adapted, when in an operative position to perform a working operation on a folded sheet passing therethrough; B. means movably mounting said working assembly on said frame for selective inplace movement between said operative position in which said working assembly is disposed in the discharge path of a folded sheeT being discharged by said cooperating rollers of said roller assembly and a self-storing position in which said working assembly is disposed out of said discharge path; and C. means for retaining said working assembly in each of said positions.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said working assembly comprises: A. a subframe movably mounted on said frame; B. a pair of shafts rotatably supported by said subframe; and C. a plurality of coacting feed rollers and working rollers carried by said shafts for simultaneously feeding a folded sheet between said shafts and performing a working operation thereon when said working assembly is in said operative position whereby said feed rollers and working rollers are removed into and out of said discharge path of a folded sheet by movement of said subframe between said operative and storage positions respectively.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting said working assembly on said frame comprises: A. a panel pivotably connected to said frame for swinging movement toward and away from said frame between a closed position and an open position in which the inner surface of panel is accessible; and B. means pivotably connecting said working assembly to said inner surface of said panel for swinging movement between opposed spaced apart positions on said panel whereby said working assembly assumes either said operative position or said storage position when said panel is in said closed position.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said paper working assembly comprises: A. an elongate generally rectangular subframe connected to said panel to normally lie in a plane perpendicular to said discharge path of a folded sheet; B. a pair of shafts rotatably supported on said subframe longitudinally thereof; and C. a plurality of coacting feed rollers and working rollers carried by said shafts for simultaneously feeding a folded sheet between said shafts and performing a working operation thereon when said working assembly is in said operative position whereby said feed rollers and said working rollers are moved into and out of a position of alignment with opposite sides of said discharge path of a folded sheet by movement of said subframe between said spaced apart positions on said panel and when said panel is subsequently moved to said closed positions.

Claim 6

In a paper folding machine having a frame, means supported by the frame for holding a stack of sheets and for feeding said sheets seriatim from the stack, means including a feeding and folding roller assembly mounted on said frame for sequentially folding said sheets as the latter are received by said latter means from said feeding means and for discharging the folded sheets from between a pair of cooperating rollers of said roller assembly on a discharge side thereof, and means for driving the roller components of said roller assembly, the improvement comprising: A. a substantially flat panel mounted on said frame on the discharge side of said roller assembly and having an opening therein through which a folded sheet can pass; B. means pivotally connecting said panel to said frame for swinging movement between a closed position in which an inner surface of said panel is spaced from said roller assembly and is perpendicular to said discharge path of a folded sheet, with said opening being aligned with said discharge path, and an open position in which said inner surface of said panel is accessible; C. a unitary paper working assembly mounted on said panel adjacent said inner face thereof and adapted, where in an operative position on said panel when the latter is in said closed position, to perform a working operation in a folded sheet; D. means pivotably connecting said working assembly to said inner surface of said panel for selective swinging movement between opposed spaced apart positions in one of which said working assembly is disposed adjacent said opening in said panel and in the other of which said working assembly is disposed away from said opening in said panel whereby, when said panel is moved to said closed position, said working assembly is in said operative position or in an inoperative storage position in accordance with whether said working assembly is placed in said one position or said other position on said panel; and E. means for retaining said working assembly in either said one position or said other position on said panel.

Claim 7

In a paper folding machine having a frame, means supported by the frame for holding a stack of sheets and for feeding said sheets seriatim from the stack, means including a feeding and folding roller assembly mounted on said frame for sequentially folding said sheets as the latter are received by said latter means from said feeding means and for discharging the folded sheets from between a pair of cooperating rollers of said roller assembly on a discharge side thereof, and means for driving the roller components of said roller assembly, the improvement comprising: A. a substantially flat panel mounted on said frame on the discharge side of said roller assembly and having an opening therein through which a folded sheet can pass; B. means pivotally connecting said panel to said frame for swinging movement between a closed position in which an inner surface of said panel is spaced from said roller assembly and is perpendicular to said discharge path of a folded sheet, with said opening being aligned with said discharge path, and an open position in which said inner surface of said panel is accessible; C. a unitary paper working assembly mounted on said panel adjacent said inner face thereof and adapted, where in an operative position on said panel when the latter is in said closed position, to perform a working operation in a folded sheet; D. means pivotably connecting said working assembly to said inner surface of said panel for selective swinging movement between opposed spaced apart positions in one of which said working assembly is disposed adjacent said opening in said panel and in the other of which said working assembly is disposed away from said opening in said panel whereby, when said panel is moved to said closed position, said working assembly is in said operative position or in an inoperative storage position in accordance with whether said working assembly is placed in said one position or said other position on said panel; and E. means for retaining said working assembly in either said one position or said other position on said panel.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said working assembly comprises: A. a subframe having an elongate bar extending substantially across the working length of said roller assembly, and side plates connected to said bar and extending perpendicularly thereto; B. a pair of shafts rotatably supported by said side plates; C. a plurality of coacting feed rollers and working carried by said shafts for simultaneously feeding a folded sheet between said shafts and performing a working operation thereon when said working assembly is in said operative position whereby said feed rollers and said working rollers are moved into and out of a position of alignment with opposite sides of said discharge path of a folded sheet by movement of said subframe between said spaced apart positions on said panel and when said panel is subsequently moved to said closed position; and D. means yieldably urging said feeding rollers and said working rollers into coacting relationship.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said last-named means comprises means on said side plates mounting one of said shafts for movement toward and away from said other shaft, and spring means interconnected between said side plates and said one shaft for urging said one shaft toward said other shaft to maintain contact between said rollers.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said retaining means comprises a member mounted on and projecting away from said inner surface of said panel, said member having a camming surface disposed in the path of said movable shaft to move said movable shaft against the force of said springs, said member having a retaining surface against which said movable shaft is pressed when said subframe is moved to said other of said spaced apart positions whereby said shafts are maintained apart sufficiently to remove the normal spring pressure from said feed rollers and said working rollers, and said working assembly is retained in said other of said spaced apart positions.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said working assembly includes means for engaging at least one of said shafts in driving relationship with said means for driving said roller components of said roller assembly, said engaging means being responsive to said working assembly being placed in said one position on said panel being placed in said closed position.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said engaging means comprises a driven element mounted on said one shaft and adapted to engage a driving element on said folding machine when said working assembly is in said one position on said panel and said panel is in closed position.