Abstract: The invention relates to a folding machine for producing folded seam connections between partial surfaces (38a) consisting of flat material closed in a tubular form. The inventive folding machine comprises a machine stand (2a, 2b, 2c), a fixed wheel (3), a pressing wheel (4) which is able to move in relation to said fixed wheel (3), and a closing plate (3) which is displaceable in relation to said pressing wheel (4) and which is arranged on a first bearing part (14) in such a way that it can turn. The folding machine also comprises a guiding device (17, 18) by which means the first bearing part (14) swings forward between a final release position and a final pressing position. During the movement between these two final positions, the distance between the edge areas of the closing plate and the pressing wheel (4) which project against the fixed wheel changes, as does the orientation of the closing plate (5).