Abstract: A method of, and a device for, controlling the rotation of an element about an axis are disclosed. A continuous torque is exerted on the element to rotate it in one direction, and a control member engages with one end of a wrap spring, which extends around a cylindrical part of the element, to preclude rotation of the element when the control member is in a first position. When the control member is out of the first position, the wrap spring loosens about the cylindrical element, thereby allowing the element to rotate under the continuous torque. However, rotation of the element under the continuous torque indirectly causes the control member to return to the first position, thus preclouding further rotation of the element.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for folding paperlike material, such as documents, which may have different quality and length and are conveyed in assembled form or successively in a transport track, said paperlike material having a leading and a trailing edge and being provided with a fold at a location between its leading and its trailing edge by bending the leading edge and the contiguous portion of the material out of the transport track during conveying of the material until the trailing edge reaches a predetermined position and creating a sharp folding edge by bringing the edge to be folded between folding means by a folding blade moving substantially in the transport track.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for folding pliable material, such as documents, which may differ in quality and length and which are conveyed in assembled form or successively in a transport track. The material is provided with a fold by bending the leading edge and a contiguous portion of the material out of the plane of transport, creating a folding area by guide means and forming the folding edge by folding means. The bending out of the plane of transport of the leading edge and the contiguous portion of the material takes place during the conveying of the material, the bringing into a tubular form of the material, the flattening of the tubular form, and the feeding of the material in that flattened form to the folding means. The apparatus comprises a transport track with feeding means and, as viewed in transport direction, folding means arranged downstream thereof, as well as guide means arranged between the feeding and the folding means.

Abstract: A combined separating, bursting and sorting apparatus for a continuous web of multi-forms having sheet divisions fixed by perforation lines, provided with a bursting device, a path of travel, and a sorting device consisting of a plurality of receptacles for separated and bursted sheets, said path of travel beginning at a plurality of plate-shaped infeed elements with connected, elongated, tensioned guide elements which extend substantially linearly to a deflection at a receptacle, which infeed elements for inserting a layer of the continuous web of multi-forms are capable of being deflected or swivelled away from each other and are combined to a packet by inserting thin distance plates in the side edge regions on both sides of the path of travel and the guide function of a guide element receding at the point of deflection is taken over by a guide plate which extends to the next deflection and follows same, and adjoins the path of travel on one side, the other side of which is formed by belt conveyor means or

Abstract: A method of opening an envelope along three edges, in which the envelope is moved to an opening or edge removing device along a supply path, one edge being guided along said device for cutting open or removing the edge. Next, the envelope is rotated through 90.degree. to be subsequently guided again along the opening or edge removing device for opening the second edge, which cycle is repeated for the third edge. An apparatus for performing this method includes a housing having an inlet path leading to the supply path along which the opening or edge removing device is arranged, a first set of members for moving and guiding the envelope co-extensively with the inlet path, and a second set of members for moving and guiding the envelope in a direction perpendicular to the inlet path along the opening or edge removing device, and a third set of members for guiding and moving the envelope along a quarter-circular path, which returns the envelope, turned 90 degrees, to the first set of members in the inlet path.