Abstract: A feeder-folder unit for use in folding paper sheet stock and delivering it to a signature gathering machine comprises a main frame with a hopper assembly carried by the main frame for receiving and storing a supply of sheets of paper stock. A sheet extractor and transfer drum assembly is located adjacent the hopper for extracting individual sheets of paper stock from the hopper means and conveying the extracted sheets along a path to a scoring and folding unit located adjacent the path. The hopper assembly includes a pair of spaced support surfaces for supporting the sheets of stock and intermittently actuated drive chains are provided for driving the sheets along the support surfaces toward the sheet extractor and transfer drum assembly.

Abstract: An improved folder apparatus includes a first folder assembly which forms a first fold in sheet material along the path of movement of the sheet material. A second folder assembly forms a second fold in the sheet material in a direction extending transversely to the path of movement of the sheet material. A third folder assembly forms a third fold in the sheet material with the first and third folds extending along the path of movement of the sheet material through the third folder assembly and the second fold at a leading edge portion of the sheet material. During the forming of the three folds, the sheet material is continuously moved through the folder assemblies without stopping. The third folder assembly includes an array of upper and lower tapes. The array of tapes tapers from a wide inlet portion of the third folder assembly toward a discharge portion of a third folder assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of folded paper boxes with a hemmed seal. One of two edges to be overlapped is skived and folded into a hem. After the edges are locally heated, blanks move individually and successfully along a conveyor for folding and sealing. Just before sealing, the hemmed edge passes between a hem holder and the conveyor to maintain the hemmed edge. The hem holder is heated to prevent the edges from cooling. In one embodiment hot air directed onto the hem from the hem holder forms an air cushion between the hem and the hem holder thereby to minimize any contact between the hem holder and the blank.

Abstract: Textile material is transferred by an upstream conveyor to a downstream belt conveyor such that a front end of the material rests on the downstream conveyor and a rear end thereof rests on the upstream conveyor. The upstream conveyor is displaced relative to the downstream conveyor such that the upstream conveyor passes over the downstream conveyor in a manner causing the material to be folded about a transverse fold line and deposited onto the downstream conveyor. The downstream conveyor is actuated to transfer the folded textile material to a folding mechanism.

Abstract: A card webber is disclosed including two rotating conveyor belts carried by deflection rollers and two folding carriages movable between a first position and a second position. Variable velocity actuators are provided, a first velocity actuator associated with the belts and a second velocity actuator associated with the reversibly movable carriages. The velocity actuators are settable such that the velocity of the belts and the velocity of the folding carriages may be adjusted at different velocities with the velocity of the belts being different from the velocity of the carriages.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a sheet along concentric circular arcs comprises two series of chain driven comb-shaped folding elements. The folding elements of each series are spaced apart by a distance which is approximately twice the distance between the intended fold locations on the sheet, with the elements of one series being arranged to act against one side of the sheet and the elements of the other series being arranged to act against the other side of the sheet. The folding elements of one series are offset relative to those of the other series a distance equalling the distance between adjacent fold locations on the sheet. The elements of one series increasingly overlap the elements of the other series along the length of the sheet, whereby a plurality of folds are simultaneously being formed progressively as the sheet is fed between the two series of folding elements.

Abstract: Sheet material (30) is cut into rectangular segments (35). The segments are then moved in sequence parallel to their cut edges (26) rapidly away from the cutting station (34) into a slower operating first sewing station (40) where elastic bands (20, 21) are sewn to the cut head and foot edge portions (26, 27) of the segments. The rapidly moving trailing portion of each segment (35) of sheet material is temporarily accumulated at the accumulation station (39) and progressively fed at a lower rate from the accumulation station to the first sewing station (40). The head and foot edge portions (26, 27) of each segment are folded into overlying relationship with respect to the main body portion by passing the main body portion through a U-shaped turn (49) and at the same time passing the head and foot edge portions through a pair of reverse 90 degree turns (50 and 53).

Abstract: A paper product traverses a straight line path through a folding apparatus defined by two folding stations that are mounted independently of one another. Each station includes supports, a central frame extending along the paper folding path, and belt arrangements for gripping, propelling and folding a laterally projecting portion of the paper. Each station is mounted for a lateral translation of the entire station perpendicular to the paper path. In the preferred form, this translation is accomplished with racks associated with each stand and pinions carried on a common drive shaft that engage the racks. Both stations also preferably include an arrangement for rotating the station as a whole in the horizontal plane to adjust the squareness of the fold.

Abstract: A device supported on a tubular frame and having a vertical cheek supporting pulleys including drive pulley and tension pulley, a belt having a circular cross section running over these pulleys and cooperating with a lower conveyor to fold parts of a composite flap of a box blank as the blank passes therebeneath. Depending on the construction of the box blank, several cheeks with associated pulleys and belts can be positioned above the conveyor conveying the blanks therethrough. Preferably, the belt has a circular cross section and moves at a linear speed approximately the same as the conveyor of the device.

Abstract: A laundry folding unit comprises a transfer conveyor on to which laundry articles are fed by a bridge mechanism from a feed conveyor. At the appropriate time the transfer conveyor is braked momentarily to allow a fold line of the article to be caught in the nip between the feed conveyor and a fold roller. Bypass is effected either by failure to operate the bridging mechanism or by failure to stop the transfer conveyor, which leads the article back to the feed path of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of operation for automatically folding obstetrical pads into a so-called three-fold configuration which occupies approximately 40% less volume than two-fold pads of the prior art. The obstetrical pads, as fabricated, have two opposed, elongated tab portions extending beyond the pad proper, and the pad is folded by the apparatus so that these tab portions are juxtaposed adjacent one another in order to facilitate removal of the pad from its package and provide enhanced convenience in preparation of the pad for use. More importantly, the placement of the tab portions in this fashion permits the handling of the pad without contaminating the sterile field in the inner fold area of the pad. By virtue of the reduced volume of the three-fold pad, substantial savings are realized in the manufacturing process, in the storage facilities required for warehousing and inventory at each step in the distribution process, as well as in shipping.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding spaced segments of web material such as diapers having intermediate side flaps overfolded in the crotch portion making use of a vacuumized continuously moving belt system for gripping one surface of a planar web except for the flap portions and a frictionalized belt system aligned with the vacuumized belt system for engaging the other surface of the web to progressively fold the flap portions.

Abstract: A device for folding at least one edge of a fabric for making a single or a double hem, said fabric edge being passed through shaping means contained in the device. The object of the invention is to provide a folding device, which within a relatively large area with respect to the most common fabrics, is insensitive to variations in thickness of the fabric, whether several fabric edges are to be folded simultaneously or whether transverse seem with considerable thickness occur. This object has been solved by the fact that the shaping means comprises portions of at least one endless, driven band, which is twisted in correspondance with the gradual folding of the fabric edge during the transport thereof through the device and said band being arranged to cooperate with at least one fixed rule arranged in direct connection with at least a part of the band portions.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus made up of a plurality of pairs of links which are pivotally interconnected and which are entrained around and co-operable with first and second index members to define an endless path. The index members move in synchronism at different speeds and guide means are provided to control movement of the links between the first and second indexing members. The differential speed of the indexing members results in the links moving at different speeds when on the two indexing members and this is made possible by the links pivoting so they close up with one another when on the slower moving of the two indexing members. The ability for the parts of the conveyor to move at different speeds is particularly useful for example in many types of manufacturing operations. One use of the apparatus is in arraying sheet material into a series of superimposed plies. For this purpose a plurality of rollers are provided to interconnect two of said endless chains. Thus, the rollers move in an endless path.

Abstract: Sheet-folding machine, especially for packaging cases made of corrugated cardboard, after they have been produced and printed.It incorporates advancing (10) and folding (22) belts which are maintained at the exact cycle of the machine by means of pulleys (14) provided with recentering fingers (15). The conveyor belts are provided with suction elements (19), and the folding belts are provided with push-studs (25) arranged to correspond to the turned-down portions (5) to be folded.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling carrier-mounted documents includes a glue station, a folding station and a document feeding station. Adhesive is selectively applied to an elongate sheet of carrier paper having a plurality of transverse perforations. The carrier paper is fed into a moving paddle belt, the paddles striking the carrier paper proximate selected perforations and causing the carrier paper to fold thereon. The paddle belt moves the partially folded carrier paper past a high-speed document feeder where documents are inserted into the folds in the carrier paper and retained there by the previously applied adhesive. The folds in the carrier paper position and align the documents on the carrier paper as they are received from the document feeder. Pin holes along the elongate margins of the carrier paper cooperate with pin chains and pin rollers on the apparatus to time and position the pre-perforated carrier paper with respect to the apparatus.

Abstract: A corrugated box machine having improved delivery means is disclosed. A conveyor belt assembly works in combination with tensioning apparatus, a support bracket assembly and an idler guide assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for rolling elongated tubular fabric surgical drapes and the like comprising an arrangement of at least four opposed drive belts mounted on a support frame for receiving an open end of the tubular article engageable with longitudinal runs of the belts to propel the article along the frame and into engagement with a second set of belts having longitudinal runs disposed at acute angles with respect to the direction of the runs of the primary drive belts. Propulsion of the end of the article along the primary drive belts and into engagement with the secondary drive belts results in forming the article into a toroidal rolled configuration. A support frame for the primary drive belts is mounted on a linear actuator which provides for movement of the support frame with respect to the secondary drive belts in response to operation of a control circuit to complete the rolling process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequentially forming folds in a sheet of paper which is continuously moving in a single plane. A first fold is formed in the center of the continuously-moving sheet of paper and subsequent pairs of folds are sequentially formed, one on each side of the previously-formed folds, until the entire continuously-moving sheet is folded. Guide wires retain each folded section until the entire sheet is folded.