Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for forming first folding and second folding in a sheet enables the sheet to be folded in an accurate fold position in second folding, when the front end of the sheet which is first folded in a nip position of a first folding roller pair and transported strikes a stopper member, a guide member guides a fold to undergo second folding of the first-folded sheet to a nip position of a second folding roller pair, and second folding is formed.

Abstract: A conveying device that conveys a sheet bundle with a flattened back-face portion includes a first conveying unit, a driving unit, and a second conveying unit. The first conveying unit retracts to a position where no driving force is exerted on the sheet bundle before a leading end of the sheet bundle formed in a flat spine shape enters, and abuts on the sheet bundle to exert conveying force after the leading end of the sheet bundle passes a conveying position. The driving unit moves the first conveying unit to retract to the position and to abut on the sheet bundle. The second conveying unit is positioned on an upstream side of the first conveying unit in a sheet bundle conveying direction and conveys the sheet bundle towards the first conveying unit.

Abstract: A creasing device that creases sheets on a per-sheet basis and includes: a first member extending perpendicularly to a sheet conveying direction and including a convex blade; a second member extending perpendicularly to the sheet conveying direction and including a concave blade, into which the convex blade is to be fitted; a drive unit that brings the first and the second members into and out of contact with each other, thereby producing a crease in a sheet interposed between the first and the second members; a sheet retainer driven by the drive unit and brought into contact with the second member with the sheet therebetween to retain the sheet across its full width; and a holding unit that holds the sheet retainer in a retaining state during creasing where the contact between the first and the second members starts at one point and develops in one direction.

Abstract: When a user sets, from a user interface window using a bookbinding application, instructions of dividing a document into a plurality of parts and stapling each part of the document, a printer driver generates one job in which the staple attribute of a binder corresponding to each part is set to “ON” or “OFF”, and issues the job for a printer. With this operation, the user can perform staple designation to an arbitrary part of the document, and can realize a plurality of staple processes in one print job.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus that performs bookbinding processing on a folded sheet bundle, includes a holding portion configured to hold a folded sheet bundle, and a pressing member configured to press a folded spinal portion of the sheet bundle held by the holding portion. At least one of the holding portion and the pressing member can move in a direction to approach each other along a surface of the sheet held by the holding portion to press the folded spinal portion of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: Binding apparatus and a related process are particularly suited for binding digitally-printed sheets into booklets. The apparatus is adapted to fold individual sheets and then to apply adhesive to the fold line before gathering the sheets in a collator ready for binding. The collator includes either a rotatable or retractable finger that is moveable to temporarily inhibit registration of a first sheet of a new stack on a stacking area, as a previous stack is transported away.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus, including: sheet folder configured to fold a sheet bundle; a sheet bundle discharger configured to discharge a folded sheet bundle, folded by the sheet folder, with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead; a folded edge support configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle discharged from the sheet bundle discharger, the folded edge support movable without rotation in a direction declined from a higher side near the sheet bundle provider to a lower side farther from the sheet bundle provider than the higher side; 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, the undersurface support comprising a hill on its upper surface between the folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill comprising a slope between the folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill further comprising a valley wall declined st

Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus includes a first path to convey a sheet bundle, a second path to convey a cover sheet, a joining stage disposed at an intersection of the first path and the second path, a gripping conveyance device arranged for gripping and a conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes clamping members to grip the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates the clamping members to grip a lower edge of the sheet bundle when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet, and the clamping members to retract to an upstream side of the first path and to grip the sheet bundle again when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the conveyance device.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a first and a second guide plate having a guide surface inclined to a perpendicular plane to take an open state having a gap of a first interval in a direction crossing the inclination direction and a closed state of a second interval narrower than the first interval, a sheet take-in portion standing by under the first and second guide plates to support sheets dropped from the guide surfaces with the leading edge thereof in a conveying direction directed downward in a standing position, and a controller configured to permit the first and second guide plates to enter the closed state and guide another sheets conveyed following the sheets supported internally by the sheet take-in portion by the guide surfaces and then to enter the open state and drop the another sheets from the gaps onto the preceding sheets.

Abstract: A method 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: supporting an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle by a hill, the hill including a slope between a folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill further including a valley wall declined steeper than the slope from the higher side to the lower side between the slope and the folded edge support; supporting the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle by the folded edge support; and moving the folded edge support without rotation in a direction declined from a higher side near the sheet bundle provider to a lower side farther from the sheet bundle provider than the higher side.

Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus includes a first path to convey a sheet bundle, a second path intersecting the first path to convey a cover sheet, a joining stage disposed at an intersection of the first path and the second path, a gripping conveyance device arranged for gripping and conveying the sheet bundle along the first path, an adhesive application device for applying adhesive to a bottom side edge of the sheet bundle, a backup member arranged to support the cover sheet at the joining stage, and a folding conveyance device for folding and conveying the cover sheet and sheet bundle. After the cover sheet and the sheet bundle are adhered together and before the backup member retracts from the first path to a position outside the first path, the gripping conveyance device is retracted to separate a bottom edge of the sheet bundle from the backup member.

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: 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: 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; a folded edge blocker configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle supported by the undersurface support, a lower end of the folded edge blocker being held by the undersurface support, and a canceller configured to release the lower end of the folded edge blocker from the undersurface support if a predetermined amount of sheet stacks are loaded on the undersurface support.

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 a lead, including: an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider; a folded edge blocker configured to take a blocking position to block the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle on the undersurface support and a releasing position to release the folded sheet bundle; and a joint configured to evacuate from an orbit of the folded edge blocker returning from the releasing position to the blocking position, the joint is configured to join the undersurface support with the folded edge blocker at the blocking position after the returning to the blocking position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a digitally printed product that includes at least one section of sequentially printed sheets folded approximately in the center. The sequentially printed sheets are conveyed one after another on a conveying device and folded inside a folding apparatus to form a first fold. The folded sheets are gathered in a gathering station to form a section which is fed to a work station where the section is folded approximately in the center to form a second fold.

Abstract: A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.

Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus to perform a folding processing to a sheet bundle, a folding roller drive motor to drive a pair of folding rollers is PWM driven, and its speed is changed according to the sheet type or sheet size and between a period before a blade comes in contact with the sheet bundle, a period when the blade is being inserted between the folding rollers after coming in contact with the sheet bundle, and a period when folding is being performed by the folding rollers.

Abstract: An air folder adjuster (10) includes an air supply (12) and air supply tubing (14) connected to air supply (12) at end (16). The opposite end (18) of air supply tubing (14) is connected to one or more air nozzles (20). In a printing press utilized for folding documents such as books, air folder adjuster (10) is positioned so that air nozzles (20) direct compressed air from air supply (12) downward onto the head (26) of document (24) on either side of chopper arm (34) during the folding process thus ensuring that the document (24) lies flat, square, and untouched during the folding process and thereby allowing the elimination of chopper brushes altogether.

Abstract: A quarterfold folding device and method forms groupings of signatures in a signature product stream by delaying selected signatures during transport to a chopper mechanism, the chopper mechanism adapted to fold multiple signatures in a single chop, thereby increasing throughput of the quarterfold folding device and reducing the rate of operation of the chopper mechanism.

Abstract: A collating device that collates one or more sheets of paper into a sheet collation that includes an input end that receives individual sheets and an output end through which passes the sheet collation. A plurality of sheet paths are provided each providing a sheet path between the input end and the output end. Each sheet path includes a switching mechanism located in proximity to the input end that is operative to selectively direct a sheet received in the input end to the associated sheet path and a drive mechanism operative to vary the speed at which a sheet is conveying in the sheet path associated with the drive mechanism to effectuate a common collation with other sheets being conveyed through other sheet paths.

Abstract: Postal items are assembled using a system with delivery stations and a folding station. Documents are delivered by the delivery stations. The documents are gathered into a stack having on one side substantially aligned document edges. The stack is supplied to the folding station in a direction transverse to these edges. According to the invention the documents, after being delivered, are displaced relative to each other in an area downstream of the delivery stations and upstream of the folding station until these document edges are substantially aligned on one side of the documents. By virtue of the invention, it is possible, inter alia, to use delivery stations and transport means of simple construction. There is also proposed a system with an aligning station for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A transfer conveyor for conveying an article. The conveyor has an article-receiving end and an article-releasing end. An article is moved from the article-receiving end to the article-releasing end by a plurality of moving belts. The article is placed between the belts. A mechanism supplies an article to the article-receiving end and an article-removing mechanism is provided to remove the article from the article-releasing end.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for half folding sequentially and nesting a plurality of paper sheets. The apparatus includes a buckle chute folder, the folder having a first pair of feed rollers rotatable at a given velocity, and a device for continuously feeding the paper sheets in shingled relationship at a second velocity greater than the given velocity to the feed rollers. The shingled relationship is defined by an overlap of the sheets of at least one-half of the length of the sheets. By using the apparatus and method, any desired number of sheets may be folded sequentially and nested one inside the other.

Abstract: A buckling-type paper sheet folder comprises at least two pairs of folding cylinders W1 and W2 and two folding pockets F1, F2. The adjustable sheet stops 65,66, embodied by stop rails, of the folding pockets F1, F2 are secured to endless belts 67,68,69 and 70 which are drivable, conjointly two and two, through a manually actuable shaft 79 or 80. Scales of length S1 to S8 are carried on scale bands 48 and 49 which are associated each with one of the folding pockets F1 or F2 and displaceable by, the respective drive shafts 79, 80 in synchronism with the sheet stops 65, 66. The scale bands 48 and 49 are mounted in the housing to be visible through windows which are provided with reference marks. The sheet stops 65 and 66 can be set to the desired position through the closed housing by means of knobs 81 and 82. To facilitate the setting of the sheet stops, a plurality of scales S1 to S8 is provided on each scale band, each associated with a folding manner and sheet size, and made separately noticeable by a light.

Abstract: A folding machine includes an entrance feed for the infeed of materials to be folded which are operated on by a plurality of folding devices arranged along the feed path, each of which feeds the material after folding into a receiving pocket which has an adjustable stop. The stop is adjusted so that the materials being fed are received in the pocket at the correct location so as to position them for subsequent folding or for ejecting at an ejection point. The invention provides a conveyor belt which operates so that an upper transport reach is movable below the ejection point to receive the folded materials. Associated with the conveyor is a brake element which overlies the materials which are fed on the conveyor transport reach. The brake element rests on the folding material and is mounted so that it applies a yieldable pressure on the materials as they moved therealong.

Abstract: A device for slowing down signatures to be folded in a chopper folder is disclosed comprising a table formed with a slot therein parallel to the direction of movement of the signatures, a headstop perpendicular to such direction, two fold rollers disposed below the slot, and a blade cooperating with the fold rollers for folding the signatures centered with respect to said slot, and further comprising a device for applying vacuum or under pressure acting upon each signature to be folded to slow it down progressively as it approaches the headstop, the slowing down force being applied to prevent bouncing of the signature off said headstop, on the one hand, and on the other hand, to produce tension in the signature until the vacuum is suddenly brought to atmosphere, the vacuum device comprising at least one series of holes disposed in accordance with the direction of movement of the signature to be folded in order to be obturated thereby one after the other until obturation of all the holes in the series of holes

Abstract: A higher speed paper sheet product cross or quarter folding system is afforded for use with high speed paper product transport conveyors such as used with web printing presses, and the like producing signatures. The higher speed is obtained by novel braking means for gradually slowing down the paper product, non-linearly, as it enters the folding station, thereby preventing damage to the product or erratic folding caused by high speed impact with the fixed stop in the folder that has previously prevented the system from running at the higher speeds that can now be obtained by this improved system. Moving slow down stops are carried by a cyclically moving timing belt to intercept a paper product moved thereinto at higher speed by a conveyor. This moving stop is synchronously timed to intercept the paper product moving at a highest transit speed and is non-linearly moved to slow the paper product down to a lowest speed before it engages the fixed stop for folding.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for automatically selecting a "secondary" sheet (6) of copying paper of a desired size from a store (7) containing secondary sheets (6) of different size arranged in groups (10) of the different sizes and for automatically aligning and associating the selected sheet (6) with a "primary" sheet (3) to be copied, the primary sheet (3) being inserted in the apparatus (1) and the size of the primary sheet (3) being sensed by the apparatus to determine the selection of the secondary sheet (6).Alignment is effected by bringing the leading edges (4 and 8) of primary and secondary sheets (3 and 6) into abutment with stop means (11 or 12) so that the leading end portion (8) of the secondary sheet (3) is provided with a wave-shaped portion upstream of the leading end portions (5 and 8) of the primary and secondary sheets (3 and 6).

Abstract: An air folder adjuster (10) includes an air supply (12) and air supply tubing (14) connected to air supply (12) at end (16). The opposite end (18) of air supply tubing (14) is connected to one or more air nozzles (20). In a printing press utilized for folding documents such as books, air folder adjuster (10) is positioned so that air nozzles (20) direct compressed air from air supply (12) downward onto the head (26) of document (24) on either side of chopper arm (34) during the folding process thus ensuring that the document (24) lies flat, square, and untouched during the folding process and thereby allowing the elimination of chopper brushes altogether.