Abstract: A strip feed roller for feeding paper or paper-like material or the like. The roller is created for use as a part of apparatus, such as a folder machine, or the like. The strip feed roller has a cylindrical surface portion of substantially uniform diameter along the length thereof. The cylindrical surface portion of the roller has axially extending relatively straight sections of relatively hard or rigid material, such as metal, and relatively straight sections of a rubber-like material, such as urethane. The sections are arranged in alternating relationship. Thus, the roller is capable of applying a firm grip upon a strip, without creasing or wrinkling or cutting the strip. Also, the roller is capable of feeding the strip accurately and precisely without angular, lateral, or longitudinal slippage.

Abstract: A mechanism is described for selectively engaging a handwheel with a shaft to manually rotate the shaft with the handwheel. The mechanism automatically disengages the handwheel from the shaft when the shaft is rotated by a power source above a predetermined speed. Further, when the shaft is thusly rotated by a power source, the mechanism does not allow an operator to engage the handwheel with the shaft. The mechanism includes a complementary groove system and a cam, one being on the shaft and the other on the handwheel. The groove system comprises at least two laterally-spaced grooves encircling the axis of the shaft, and a third groove spiralling about the axis between the first and second grooves. In one embodiment, the cam is mounted on the handwheel and rides in the grooves in the shaft. When the handwheel is axially depressed, to engage the shaft, the cam rides in the innermost encircling groove.

Abstract: A folding machine of the type comprising at least two fixed rolls or rollers and one adjustable roller which is movable substantially circumferentially about the two fixed rollers to automatically adjust the "spacings" between the adjustable roller and the fixed rollers, includes automating mechanisms for automatically locking the spacing positions of the adjustable roller and/or resetting the adjustable roller to a "home" position. The adjustable rollers ride on contoured surfaces formed on first arms of levers which pivot about the axes of the fixed rollers. The automating mechanisms include cams which contact second arms of the levers. Cam actuators automatically rotate the cams to cause cam surfaces thereof to follow the outward movement of the contoured surfaces of the levers.

Abstract: A folding machine includes movable or adjustable rollers, or rolls, each of which forms nips with two fixed rollers. The movable rollers have freedom of movement substantially circumferentially about the two fixed rollers substantially on projected radii of the two fixed rollers, to set the spacings between the fixed and the movable rollers.The mechanism for supporting and adjusting the movable rollers includes levers pivoted at the axes of the fixed rollers having contoured mounting surfaces. The contoured mounting surfaces are rounded substantially on projected radii of the surfaces of the respective fixed rollers. The shafts of the movable rollers ride on the contoured surfaces.Automatic adjustment of the spacing between the movable rolls and the fixed rolls is provided by cams which operate on the levers to hold them in specific "spacing" relationships once paper stock has been run between the movable to fixed rolls to move the movable rollers a desired distance from the fixed rollers.

Abstract: A storable rack assembly to be used to drive a paper stop of a buckle-type sheet folding pan includes a perforate reversed crown extension spring attached at its outer end to the paper stop while the opposite end thereof is coiled within a housing. A rotatable sprocket located outside of the housing meshes with perforations in the reversed-crown extension spring to drive the spring and thereby move the paper stop. An indicator mechanism for indicating the amount of movement of the paper stop includes an indicator sprocket, which rotates with the rotatable sprocket and meshes with apertures in an indicator steel band. The storable rack assembly is mounted on a bias bar which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on the fold pan.