Abstract: A post-processing device includes first and second opposite members extending in a predetermined direction of a recording medium, the opposite members each including a first surface having a protrusion and a second surface having a recess, mutually facing to interpose the recording medium therebetween and being rotatable. A position of the opposite members is switched between a first position, at which the first surface of the first opposite member and the second surface of the second opposite member engage with each other and form a crease protruding in a first direction on the recording medium, and a second position, at which the second surface of the first opposite member and the first surface of the second opposite member engage with each other and form a crease protruding in a second direction reverse to the first direction on the recording medium, depending on an output destination of the recording medium.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a folding processing unit that folds a sheet by reversely rotating a second conveying member in a condition in which the sheet is held by a first and the second conveying members; a calculating unit that calculates an amount of deflection of the sheet held by the first and second conveying members from timings at which the sheet is detected by first and second detecting units disposed upstream of the first conveying member and downstream of the second conveying member and a distance between disposed positions of the first and second detecting units; and a control unit that sets, from the calculated amount of deflection of the sheet, an amount of conveyance for the first conveying member in a direction opposite to a sheet conveying direction in a condition in which the sheet is held by the first and second conveying members.

Abstract: A web product folding and stacking machine includes two folding line making rolls, two folding fingers, a first carrier unit, a stoppage unit and a holder. The folding line making rolls and the folding fingers are operated to fold up web products on the first carrier unit to form a stack of interfolded web products. Further, there is at least one suction device arranged on the top surface of the first carrier unit to suck the web products nearing the top surface of the first carrier unit and facilitate accurate stacking of the interfolded web products.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of completing a bound document containing appropriately Z-folded sheets when performing folding together with edge cutting and binding. The sheet processing apparatus controls a Z-folding process, a cutting process, and a binding process for a sheet. A first folding position from a free end of the sheet coincides with a position corresponding to half a width of the sheet excluding a cut width of the sheet a binding margin, when the Z-folding process, the cutting process, and the binding process are executed.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet post-processing device folding a sheet output from an image forming device at a predetermined target fold position, comprising: a first rotating body pair conveying the sheet; a second rotating body pair disposed along a sheet conveyance path and further downstream than the first rotating body pair in a sheet conveyance direction; a push unit moving a push member in a direction transverse to the sheet conveyance path so that, while the sheet is being conveyed, the push member comes into contact with the sheet and pushes the sheet into a nip of the second rotating body pair, the push member being disposed opposite the second rotating body pair across the sheet conveyance path; and a control unit controlling the push unit so that the pushing operation of the push member is performed at a timing preset according to the target fold position.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet, includes a first transport path for guiding the sheet from a carry-in portion to a carrying-out portion without folding; a second transport path branching off from the first transport path for folding the sheet; folding rollers to fold the sheet; a driving motor; and a control device for controlling the driving motor. The folding rollers are disposed in between the carry-in roller and the carrying-out roller. The first transport path has a pinch roller and a guide cover for covering the folding. The guide cover shifts between an actuation position in which the sheet does not contact the folding rollers and a non-actuation position in which the sheet engages with the folding rollers. The control device controls the guide cover to shift to the actuation position with the pinch roller separated from a periphery of the one of the rollers.

Abstract: To provide a folding mechanism for folding a sheet with a simplified structure having no fear of causing a deviation from the fold position, wrinkle and the like, provided are a transport path 33 for transporting a sheet, and folding processing means 48 disposed in the transport path to fold the sheet. Then, the folding processing means is comprised of folding roll pairs (41b, 49, 50) coming into press-contact with one another to rotate in the opposite directions, and folding deflecting members (53, 54) for guiding the fold of the sheet to the nip portions (Np1, Np2) of the folding roll pairs. Then, the folding deflecting members are provided with driven rollers (53a, 54a) in contact press-contact with the roll periphery of one of the folding roll pair, and curved guides (53a, 54a) along the roll periphery of the other one.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for performing folding processing, has a first transport path for guiding a sheet from a carry-in entrance to a carrying-out exit without performing the folding processing; a second transport path for performing the folding processing on the sheet from the carry-in entrance; and a folding processing device disposed in a folding position in the second transport path to fold the sheet from the carry-in entrance. The second transport path is disposed to cross the first transport path, and includes a path end portion for guiding the sheet to the folding position, and another path end portion for guiding the folded sheet from the folding position to a downstream side. The path end portion and the another path end portion are disposed opposite to each other relative to the first transport path.

Abstract: A first folding portion includes: a first folding roller pair consisting of a common roller and a first roller; and a blade member that feeds a sheet to a first nip, thereby forming a first fold on the sheet in the first nip. A second folding portion includes a second folding roller pair consisting of the common roller and a second roller, thereby forming a second fold on the sheet in a second nip. The common roller and the first roller are parallel in a conveying direction in a case where the sheet is guided toward the first folding portion. A feeding portion evacuates the sheet to the evacuation guiding portion for evacuating the sheet that on which the first fold is formed, switches back the sheet, and then feeds the sheet into the second nip.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.

Abstract: When sheets (1, 2) with different sizes are processed to a mail item, sheets (1, 2) with different sizes in conveying direction are supplied along first and second conveyor tracks, gathered into a stack and then folded. The folding of the stacked set (7) takes place with at least one predetermined folding length (a). In response to a difference between the folding length (a) and the size of the sheet (2) of the second size, which is within a predetermined range, the conveyor tracks (5, 6) are controlled by the control structure (9) for combining at least the sheets (1, 2) with leading edges (10, 11) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) and with trailing edges (12, 13) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) to form the set (7). From the combining until the folding, the sheets (1, 2) are mutually fixed and during folding, at least one fold (14) is provided in the sheets (1, 2).

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus that forms folding lines at a predetermined position of a sheet after image formation and outputs the sheet. The apparatus includes a contact unit with which a tip end or a rear end of the conveyed sheet comes into contact and by which a deflection is formed at a middle part of the sheet; folding units that form the folding lines by conveying the middle part of the sheet, at which the deflection is formed by the contact unit, between the folding units; and a deflection controlling unit that controls the deflection at the middle part of the sheet formed by the contact unit.

Abstract: In a sheet folding apparatus, to enable a jammed sheet to be removed with ease when a jam occurs, a casing having a carry-in entrance and a carrying-out exit is divided into an upper unit and a lower unit via a first transport path for carrying a sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit, a second transport path for performing folding processing on a sheet is disposed in the direction for crossing the first transport path, and in the upper unit are disposed a sheet front end switchback path for reversing and carrying the sheet toward a folding roller pair and sheet deflecting means for guiding the sheet to the folding roller pair. Then, the upper unit is coupled to the lower unit to be openable and closable by a hinge shaft rotating around one side end portion orthogonal to the sheet transport direction of the first transport path.

Abstract: Sheet pressing means (59) is provided that assists the formation of a bend in a sheet (S) and that guides the bend in the sheet (S) into the nip portion between a second roller (54) and a third roller (55). The sheet pressing means (59) is formed with a cylindrical sheet member (591) and a bar-shaped member (592) that is inserted into the cylindrical sheet member (591). The top portion of the sheet member (591) is attached to a base member (593), and thus the bar-shaped member (592) is supported by the sheet member (591) such that the longitudinal direction of the bar-shaped member (592) is held substantially in a horizontal state.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.

Abstract: Signature prints are provided. In one aspect a signature print comprises a receiver medium having a length that extends from a first edge to a second edge to provide a row of page areas along a first side and a second side of the signature print, with the receiver medium being predisposed in a manner that causes the receiver medium to z-fold of across a width of the receiver medium to form a z-folded stack of sheets of portions of the length of the receiver medium and with the z-folds being arranged along the length such that the sheets generally decrease in length. The lengths of the sheets are defined so that when the z-folded stack is saddle folded the z-folds are positioned along a common face to form a determined profile.

Abstract: To provide a post-processing apparatus for enabling a bunch of sheets and a single sheet to be folded in simplified structure, and further enabling the folded sheet and sheets that are not folded to be mixed and bound, the post-processing apparatus has a processing tray to collate and collect sheets to perform binding processing, and a folding processing path having a folding processing section, and a folded sheet carrying-out path for carrying out a folded sheet is provided on the downstream side of the folding processing path. Then, the folded sheet carrying-out path is comprised of a circulating path for guiding the folded sheet again to the folding processing section, a post-processing path for guiding the folded sheet to the processing tray to perform post-processing, and a sheet discharge path for guiding the folded sheet to a storage stacker.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: Sheet pressing means (59) is provided that assists the formation of a bend in a sheet (S) and that freely swings to guide the bend into the nip portion of a second folding roller pair (a second roller (54) and a third roller (55)). The pivot point (594) of the sheet pressing mean (59) is arranged on the side of the nip portion of a first folding roller pair with respect to a common tangent (L1) of the first folding roller pair (a first roller (53) and the second roller (54)) on the downstream side in a sheet transport direction, and is arranged to be lower than a line (L3) that is parallel to a common tangent (L2) of the second folding roller pair on the upstream side in the sheet transport direction and that passes through the center (O) of the first roller (53). Thus, it is possible to reliably perform processing for folding the sheet in a predetermined position regardless of the material quality, the thickness and the like of the sheet.

Abstract: An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

Abstract: A web product folding and stacking machine includes two folding line making wheels, two folding fingers, a first carrier unit, a stoppage unit and a holder. The folding line making wheels and the folding fingers are operated to fold up web products on the first carrier unit to form a stack of interfolded web products. When a stack of a predetermined number of interfolded web products is finished, the stoppage unit is extended out to isolate the interfolded web products. Further, a retractable member of the stoppage unit is extended out to hold down the finished stack of interfolded web products when the stoppage unit is lowered to carry the finished stack of interfolded web products with the holder, keeping the finished stack of interfolded web products in integrity.

Abstract: A web product folding and stacking machine includes two folding line making rolls, two folding fingers, a first carrier unit, a stoppage unit and a holder. The folding line making rolls and the folding fingers are operated to fold up web products on a pad on the first carrier unit to form a stack of interfolded web products. When a stack of a predetermined number of interfolded web products is finished, the stoppage unit is extended out to have the finished stack of interfolded web products be carried with the holder and the stoppage unit to a predetermined location for delivery. Subject to the effect of the pad on the first carrier unit, web products are effectively folded up and stacked in a neat status.

Abstract: Interfolding machine of sheet material for making a stack of interfolded sheets (1) equipped with cutting and transferring means, including, for example, a cutting roller 2 that operates the division of the web (10) into sheets (11) of determined length. The cut sheets (11), all having the same length, are carried along the machine up to a transfer roller (3) that transfers them to an “overlap” roller (4). In particular the cutting roller (2) has peripherally a first series of cutting blades (21a)-(21d) arranged at a first angular distance equal to 90° and a second plurality of cutting blades (21?a)-(21?c) arranged at a second angular distance equal to 120°. The length of sheets 11 is therefore achieved by the angular distance existing between the blades (21). In order to adjust the length of the sheets, or cut-off length, one selects the blades on the cutting roller (2) located at an angular distance corresponding to the desired sheet length.

Abstract: Imaging-system bookbinding apparatus avoids cutting any folded sheets mixed into booklets it trims. Furnished with: an imaging unit; a sheet-folding unit that folds imaging-unit sheets; a stacking unit that stacks sheets from the sheet-folding or image-forming units; a cover-sheet binding unit that encases stacking-unit sheet bundles with, and binds them into, cover sheets; a trimming unit that trims true the bundle fore-edge; and a fold-position computing unit that determines where a sheet is pleated by the sheet-folding unit. The sheet-folding unit has a sheet conveyance path along which folded sheets are transported elsewhere than the stacking unit, while the fold-position computing unit in a first control mode transports to the stacking unit sheets folded over by the sheet-folding unit, and in a second control mode transports them from the sheet conveyance path elsewhere than the stacking unit.

Abstract: A representative stack of sheets including sheet bodies each of which is formed by folding a sheet and has a plurality of pieces between both ends of the sheet body. The sheet bodies are stacked one on another in such a manner that one of the plurality of pieces of each of the sheet bodies on one side in a stacking direction and another piece on the other side are inserted between pieces of an adjacent sheet body on one side in the stacking direction with respect to the sheet body and between pieces of an adjacent sheet body on the other side in the stacking direction, respectively, wherein an auxiliary piece is formed by folding an end of the piece of the sheet body.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus including: a conveyance device having a first pair of rollers for nipping and conveying a paper sheet; a folding device disposed downstream of the conveyance device in a paper sheet conveyance direction, the folding device having a second pair of rollers for nipping and conveying the paper sheet, wherein the conveyance device conveys the paper sheet to the folding device by making the paper sheet bent toward the folding device, and the folding device conveys the bent paper sheet to fold the paper sheet; and a folding assist member for pushing the paper sheet so that the paper sheet moves toward the folding device, the folding assist member being pivotally arranged to be capable of rotating downstream of the conveyance device in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for depositing a flexible material web, said web being introduced into a folding unit and being deposited from said folding unit at a depositing point. The aim of the invention is to achieve higher production speeds with an excellent fold quality, even for material webs with a low weight. To achieve this, compressed air is applied to the material web after the latter has exited the folding unit in order to support the festooning process by means of a blower device.

Abstract: An accordion folding mechanism folds a sheet fed from an image forming apparatus in an accordion shape by repeating a mountain fold and a valley fold in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction. A size setting unit sets a folding size of the mountain fold and the valley fold. A size adjusting unit compares a size of the sheet fed from the image forming apparatus with the folding size, and adjusts the folding size of a predetermined number of folds at a trailing end of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for folding a sheet of foil (11) includes a feeder (23) and a folding means (24). The feeder (23) can feed a sheet of foil to the folding means (24). The folding means (24) includes a first surface (27) and a second surface (28) which can be arranged to bear against first and second opposing faces respectively of a portion (31) of the sheet of foil (11) at or near to the leading edge (11?) of the sheet of foil. One or both of the first and second surfaces (27,28) can be rotated about a foldable axis between the first and second opposing faces to create a first fold along the foldable axis.

Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a folding unit, a punch unit, and a cross folding unit. The folding unit folds a sheet conveyed to the sheet processing device a plurality of times. The punch unit punches a hole in a predetermined portion of the folded sheet. The cross folding unit cross-folds the punched sheet on a vertically-extending conveying path.

Abstract: Sheets after having been sequentially folding-processed are stowed neatly without becoming dog-eared, wrinkled, etc. in the course of being transported to a stacker. A folding process unit folds sequentially fed copy paper or other sheets, and a sheet stacking unit loads/stows sheets from the folding unit. A conveyance device conveying one folding-processed sheet at a time is furnished between the folding unit and the sheet stacking unit. The conveyance device includes a first, upstream conveyance unit conveying sheets from the folding process unit in a direction approximately orthogonal to the sheets' crease(s), and a second, downstream conveyance unit conveying sheets in the orientation of the crease(s). The second conveyance unit is configured with a tray member where sheets are supported one at a time, and is configured so as to sequentially deliver each sheet to the sheet stacking unit along the tray member in the orientation of the crease(s).

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a regulating portion which regulates the opening of the folded sheet bundle, and a conveying portion which pushes the sheet bundle from an upstream side in a conveying direction in a state that the regulating portion regulates the opening of folded sheet bundle.

Abstract: A folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using its one end as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into its inside, and a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded. The swinger fin includes a feed roller pair for feeding the continuous paper while sandwiching the paper therebetween, and at least a pair of guide plates facing each other with a given gap therebetween, in which the continuous paper is fed through the gap. One of the feed rollers constructing the feed roller pair and one of the guide plates, which are located on one side of the continuous paper, can be integrally opened or detached from the swinger fin.

Abstract: A fabric folding machine structure is used for receiving and folding a fabric woven by a circular knitting machine. A fabric folding machine is added to the circular knitting machine without changing the length, width, and height of the fabric rolling machine. The fabric folding machine has a carrying base for carrying the fabric, and both ends of the carrying base are fixed to the bottom of two side seats, and a plurality of fabric rolling rods disposed between the two side seats define a carrying space, and the two side seats include a fabric folding unit for driving the fabric on the carrying base, and the fabric folding unit can drive the fabric back and forth in the carrying space to fold the fabric on the carrying base, so as to provide a larger carrying space and a higher fabric storing capacity than a prior art fabric folding machine.

Abstract: A device for laying continuously supplied web material in zigzag lengths has a pendulous arm positioned within a supply path of the web material and a holding-down device pushing down the web material at least in the area of the reversal points of the zigzag length. By arranging the holding-down device on the pendulous arm, a particularly a simple construction of such a laying device is provided.

Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: a folded edge support configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider, the folded edge support movable back and forth in a direction declined from a side near the sheet bundle provider, and an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle.

Abstract: An interfolding apparatus including a knife roll, a first interfolding roll, a second interfolding roll, and a transfer roll. The knife roll cuts sheets from a stream of web material issuing from a source in a downstream direction. The first interfolding roll is positioned downstream of the knife roll and receives the sheets. The first interfolding roll rotates in a first direction and the second interfolding roll rotates in a second direction. The first and second interfolding rolls interfold the sheets with additional sheets received by the second interfolding roll. A transfer roll is positioned between the knife roll and the first interfolding roll. The transfer roll has a non-uniform surface configuration and rotates in the second direction and receives the sheets from the knife roll, forms a bend in each of the sheets, and transfers the formed sheets to the first interfolding roll.

Abstract: An interfolding apparatus including a knife roll rotatable about an axis and operable to cut successive sheets from a stream of web material issuing from a source in a downstream direction. A folding roll is positioned downstream of the knife roll and is rotatable in a first direction at a first roll speed. An additional roll is disposed adjacent to the folding roll and is rotatable about an axis in a second direction at a second roll speed. The additional roll is operable to receive the successive sheets and release the successive sheets in the downstream direction toward the folding roll. The folding roll and the additional roll define a nip therebetween, the successive sheets passing through the nip. The first roll speed of the folding roll is different from the second roll speed of the additional roll, the difference in speed between the folding roll and the additional roll operable to overlap adjacent portions of the successive sheets onto the folding roll.

Abstract: An interfolding machine for sheet material for making a stack of interfolded sheets includes at least one web of material to interfold that is cut into sheets of predetermined length and rolls for partially overlapping the sheets in order to form an overlapped portion between two consecutive sheets. Interfolding rolls are also provided, adapted to produce the stack, as well as a conveyor adapted to convey the partially overlapped sheets in a zone set between the roll and the interfolding rolls. Further, the overlapping portion of the sheets is maintained constant through a plurality of belts and guides facing the belts so that between the belts and the respective guides a channel is formed for conveying the partially overlapped sheets.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for separating, folding, stacking and transporting a continuous web that allows stacks of web that are relatively large (four-feet-high or more) to be generated at high speed directly beneath the folding mechanism and to be transferred as complete, discrete stacks to downstream locations and stack utilization devices without interrupting the ongoing, upstream stack-folding and stack-formation process. A zigzag folded web passes by a pair of opposing front and rear compression plate assemblies, with fingers that are extended to selectively project into the folding area, onto a stack supported by a vertically moving supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism cycles between an ever-lower position in which upper, loose pages of the folded web pass by plate fingers (when retracted) and an upper position in which the stack engages and presses upwardly against the now-extended plate fingers to compress the stack.

Abstract: A device for laying a flexible material web 1 on a point of deposit 4 and which has at least one pair of deposit rollers 2, 3 that rotate in opposite directions. The deposit rollers 2, 3 form part of a deposit carriage 5 which is reciprocated in a reversible direction over at least the deposit length L of the material web 1. The device is more cost-effective in that the deposit carriage 5 has a smaller width than the point of deposit 4 and is reciprocated in a reversible direction over at least the deposit width B of the point of deposit 4.

Abstract: An interfolding apparatus including first and second interfolding rolls. The interfolding rolls issue a stream of web material to form a stack of interfolded web material. A first packer finger is movable with respect to the first interfolding roll and includes a retracted position at least partially received within the first interfolding roll and an extended position at least partially inserted into the stream of interfolded web material. A second packer finger is movable with respect to the first interfolding roll and includes a retracted position at least partially received within the first interfolding roll and an extended position at least partially inserted into the stream of interfolded web material.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing multi-layer metal feedstock material for stamping shaped parts eliminates the need for rolls of metal at the stamping site. Multilayer metal feedstock material is assembled from multiple rolls of metal stock, then folded in a zig zag fashion, or “Z-fold” configuration, whereby the multilayer metal assembly is stacked vertically, usually on conventional pallets, for ease of moving with a forklift or otherwise. The multilayer metal z-fold stack of material is then transported to a parts stamping operation where the material is used as it unfolds as a continuous feed to machines to produce shaped multilayer metal parts. This invention is most useful in making multilayer metal foil z-fold feedstock material and using the z-fold material as continuous feed to processes for making shaped multilayer metal foil parts. The layers may have non-metal layers of material, such as fiber, between the metal layers or on the outside of the metal layers.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing multi-layer metal feedstock material for stamping shaped parts eliminates the need for rolls of metal at the stamping site. Multilayer metal feedstock material is assembled from multiple rolls of metal stock, then folded in a zig zag fashion, or “Z-fold” configuration, whereby the multilayer metal assembly is stacked vertically, usually on conventional pallets, for ease of moving with a forklift or otherwise. The multilayer metal z-fold stack of material is then transported to a parts stamping operation where the material is used as it unfolds as a continuous feed to machines to produce shaped multilayer metal parts. This invention is most useful in making multilayer metal foil z-fold feedstock material and using the z-fold material as continuous feed to processes for making shaped multilayer metal foil parts. The layers may have non-metal layers of material, such as fiber, between the metal layers or on the outside of the metal layers.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is provided which can conduct folding processing that is suitable for a process to form an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a first folding device and a second folding device both of which conduct folding processing while conveying a sheet, a controller to control both of the first folding device and the second folding device, and a selector to select a two-folding mode or a three-folding mode. The controller controls the first folding device so as to eject the sheet after folding the sheet double when the two-folding mode is selected by the selector, while the controller controls the first folding device so as to fold the sheet double, and then, further controls the second folding device so as to eject the sheet after further folding the sheet in three when the selector selects the three-folding mode.

Abstract: The invention includes methods and products which use contact adhesives to secure separate sheets of multiple ply documents to form finished documents, such as integrated letters and envelopes, billing statements, invoices, etc. Sheet material for production of completed documents having plural plies is disclosed, the production of which includes the steps of providing a continuous web of material having sequential parts therealong, the sequential parts including a first part having a first and a second surface and a second part adjacent to the first part having a third and a fourth surface. Contact adhesive is applied to at least the first and second parts in patterns which preclude adhesive contact and bonding of adjacent facing surfaces of the first and second parts when the web is interfolded and the first and second parts are in registry but which permit adhesive contact and bonding of the first and second parts when separated and sequentially stacked.

Abstract: A package of a continuous strip of material includes a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip and such that the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip of material includes a splice defined by the two ends of the strip. The two ends of the strip are held together by yarn stitches passing through and bridging the strip ends.