Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for folding cut sheet paper

US4588393A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
8References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 1983
Grant dateMay 13, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H45/22
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic paper folding apparatus and method for folding cut sheet paper products, whether single sheets or multiple piles as in a "signature" that is already folded by a printing press. The apparatus of the invention contains at least one pair of opposed belts which continuously grip the products and carry them through the apparatus. At least one set of freely rotatable rollers is arrayed along the direction of travel. Each belt has a flat paper-gripping surface, a longitudinal groove on the opposite surface that receives a guide roller, and at least one side surface that slopes away from the folding line. Each roller has a conical forming surface. The angle of inclination of the conical surfaces of the rollers in a set increases incrementally along the direction of travel. As the belts carry the sheets through the apparatus, they each engage the conical surface to fold the sheet against a belt with no substantial degree of relative movement between the sheets and either the belts or rollers. A first set of rollers folds the paper from 0.degree. to 90.degree.. A second set of rollers, each of which has an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to that of the roll…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.