Abstract: A sheet folding device includes: a sheet receiving unit with a pair of guide plates to restrict opposite sides of one or a plurality of stacked sheets and a striking portion to be struck by leading ends of the introduced sheets; a roller group to introduce the sheets into the sheet receiving unit, strike the introduced sheets on the striking portion to form a bent portion on the sheets, and nip and fold the formed bent portion and discharge the sheets from the sheet receiving unit; and a curve forming unit to form a curved portion on the sheets, at a position closer to the leading ends of the sheets than a position where the bent portion to be folded by the roller group is formed, the curved portion being curved in a width direction perpendicular to a direction of transfer of the sheets.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an assembly of a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet by mechanical means, wherein a longitudinal edge of the first flexible sheet is folded over for forming a hem therein, characterized in that said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet are mechanically cut to mutually different lengths, with the width of the hem being determined by the difference in length between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a stepped end on a tube of flexible material includes a tube slitting station having a slitting tool with double edge slitting blades penetrating through the tube to provide respective slits beside a first panel and beside a second panel, respectively; a first trimming station trimming a first panel of the tube to a first shortened length, a second trimming station trimming the side gussets to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first shortened length of the first panel; and an adhesive applying station applying adhesive on the tube above and below a fold line across the tube, wherein the tube is adapted to be folded along the fold line, and the adhesive material is adapted to form an adhesive to adhesive seal above and below the fold line while the tube is folded to provide a closed stepped end for a bag.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging with a packaging closure and a method for producing such a packaging. To provide a particularly easy to-use packaging, the packaging according to the invention comprises: a first side panel and a second side panel, said first and second side panel forming an opening of an interior of the packaging for receiving a product, and wherein the first side panel comprises a flap, and a coupling element, wherein the flap comprises a pulling area and a separation area, wherein said separation area is configured to be located in the opening, wherein the pulling area is configured to pull the separation area from the opening, and wherein the coupling element is configured to couple the separation area to the first and/or second side panel and to close the opening.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch. The machine includes first, second and third stations. The first station is capable of advancing discrete pouches and lifting and folding a portion of a first major surface of each pouch upon itself to form a lip, and exposing an inner surface of a second major surface. The second station is capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across the exposed inner surface. The closure system includes a track having first and second legs each having an outer surface. The first and second legs are joined together by an opening/closing mechanism which includes a movable member capable of being moved back and forth. The third station is located downstream from the second station and is capable of unfolding the lip and securing opposite ends of the lip to the outer surface of the second leg.

Abstract: A double fold seal having an ultrasonic stitch is provided as a closure means for a bag formed from synthetic resin material, and especially a woven synthetic resin material. A transverse heat seal is created using an ultrasonic welder, for example, and at least two flaps formed outboard from the seal. The flaps are folded over one of the bag panels and ultimately over the heat seal so as to create a bag closure that is strong and leak resistant.

Abstract: An expandable folder (10) is disclosed for holding reports. The folder (10) is formed of a single sheet of material (12). The folder (10) includes a back (14), a front (20), two sides (16, 18) and a flap (22). The sides (16, 18) are folded inwardly and the front (20) is folded upwardly to form a pocket. Tabs (68, 70) on the front fit into slots (58, 60) in the sides (16, 18) to hold the folder together. Two label sections (label section (82) and back (14)) are provided to allow the folder to be marked with identifying information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic manufacture of flat bottom bags from a substantially continuous supply of a sealable material whereby the material is formed as a bag having a reinforced sealed flat bottom formed by an interior bag forming assembly that is cooperable with a relatively movable bottom platform with sealers and a movable folder assembly that folds the bottom of the bag and removes it from the bag former assembly after a length of the bag is severed from the remainder of the material.

Abstract: A method of producing a purse or handbag from a single typically rectangular blank of flexible sheet material.

Abstract: An improved device for forming box joining flaps in a box splitting machine comprises a supporting frame for supporting a joining flap cutting assembly, the supporting frame being transversely driven with respect to the paperboard material feeding direction, by a worm screw in turn driven by a geared motor unit controlled by a controlling electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a bottom closure of a container employing multiple assembly lines and including a universally foldable seal fin as a part of the bottom closure. A novel blank for the container is disclosed.

Abstract: Mailing envelopes are made by using standard paper sizes with prescribed folds and application of adhesive. In one form, the envelope is of a horizontal configuration to receive a letter typical in countries like the United States of America and in another configuration, the envelope is more typical of envelopes for receiving a letter in countries like Japan.

Abstract: In order to fold folded products having sealing flaps with or without mating flaps, such as packaging bags including envelopes with or without self-adhesive glue, the envelopes are moved against a stationary stop and the mating flaps and the sealing flaps are then turned over by suction elements arranged on a mating flap roll and on a sealing flap roll. The mating flap roll, which bears the suction element that turns the mating flaps over, has a radius that is reduced on a part of the roll's circumference that is not equipped with the suction element. The mating flap roll can be locked in such a rotational position, that a folded product not having a mating flap can be moved past this roll to the stationary stop without contacting or virtually without contacting this roll.

Abstract: A packaging system (1) includes a telescoping platform assembly (100) having a guide mount (30) and an extension platform (40). The packaging system (1) incorporating the telescoping platform assembly (100) includes a panel (22) and a flap member (26). The flap member (26) is connected to the panel (22) along a pivot axis (27) and is adapted to move between a first position with respect to the panel (22) and a second position with respect to the panel (22). The guide mount (30) includes a guide mount slot (33) whereas the flap member (26) includes a flap guide slot (28) extending outwardly from the pivot axis (27) through the flap member (26). The extension platform (40) is mounted on the guide mount (30) and the flap member (26) and is adapted to slide between a stowed position and a deployed position along guide mount slot (33) and the flap guide slot (28).

Abstract: A series of overlapping envelope blanks are fed into contact with a pull-out roll which engages and accelerates the first blank to separate it from the remaining blanks. From the pull-out roll, the separated blank is fed onto the surface of a rotary aligning wheel. A plurality of aligning pins extend from the surface of the wheel and are positioned in spaced relation around the wheel. The separated blank is fed into contact with the aligning pins forcing the blank with its trailing edge engaged with the pull-out segment to maintain the separated blank aligned on the surface of the wheel. Vacuum ports are positioned on the surface of the wheel adjacent to the aligning pins. The negative pressure from the vacuum ports secures the sheet to the surface of the wheel as the sheet is aligned into a preselected position on the wheel by contact with the pins.

Abstract: A mailing machine has an envelope transport device extending longitudinally therethrough and a digital ink jet printing device located adjacent the downstream end of the transport device. Due to the criticality of the spacing between the upper surface of an envelope and the discharge nozzles of the ink jet print head, the envelopes passing through the mailing machine must have their upper surfaces registered with a fixed plane that extends in spaced relationship with the nozzles. The mailing machine includes a flap closing device having fixed and movable elements that can accommodate variations in thickness of the envelopes extending from the registration plane downwardly within a fixed range so that the flap closing device can simultaneously close the flaps of both thin and thick envelopes passing through the mailing machine in a mixed stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for closing an envelope having a body portion and a flap, and a crease between the body portion and the flap. An open envelope is gripped and transported toward an abutment, which can be either a leaf spring or a slideable weight. The abutment is biased toward the envelope, but the force of the advancing envelope moves the abutment in a direction opposite the direction of bias, until the crease clears the transport structure that is moving the envelope. Once this happens, then the advance of the envelope stops and the bias of the abutment forces the envelope, crease first, between rollers that press the folded flap against the envelope. Any size envelope can be handled, because the abutment can move under the force of the envelope, any distance required to accommodate the size of the envelope.

Abstract: Enveloping apparatus with an envelope filling position (4) and, extending therefrom, an envelope transfer track (46) extending along a closing nip (49) beside the envelope transfer track (46). Beyond the closing nip (49) the envelope transfer track (46) comprises opposite surfaces and a brake, blocking or drive mechanism (60) for at least delaying movement in direction of transport of those surfaces. The control structure (43, 61, 72) is adapted to activate an upsetting feature (55, 56, 71) in response to a displacement of that envelope (5) from the envelope filling position (4) through a fixed, specific distance. With the opposite surfaces with a nip thereinbetween, movement in direction of transport of envelopes with the leading edge in different positions can be delayed, stopped or reversed, without requiring adjusting a stop or the like. There is also described a method for filling and closing envelopes.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing cross bottom sacks from laid-flat tubular sections consists of a frame having:- a table, means for holding the tubular section thereon in a processing station where the ends of the tubular section become opened out into a bottom square or rectangle, a suction gap arranged in the table in the zone of one of the ends of the tubular section, and suction means mounted in the frame above the suction gap and which is able to be raised and lowered for opening one end of the tubular section. Above the plane of the tubular section situated in the processing station, a slide can be extended and retracted over the table in the direction of the median line of the tubular section, the median line of the slide defining with the median line of the tubular section a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tubular section. The width of the slide is less than the interspacing of the hypotenuses of the two opened-out corner folds from each other.

Abstract: A vacuum cylinder is disclosed. The vacuum cylinder may be used in an envelope manufacturing machine, or machines for manufacturing other articles, to facilitate folding of articles about a preformed fold line, such as envelope seal flaps, during the manufacturing process. The vacuum cylinder has at least two rows of suction holes which are arranged at least substantially adjacent to each other and preferably overlap to a certain extent.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening an envelope having a front panel, a back panel and a closing flap. The apparatus includes: a device for supporting the envelope in a substantially horizontal plane wherein the back panel is situated above the front panel; a pair of pivotable paddles located beneath the closing flap and the front panel, each of the paddles having an interior end and an exterior end; a pair of pivotable, hold-down fingers located above and spaced from the pivotable paddles; a device for rotating the interior ends of the paddles downward; and a device for pivoting the hold-down fingers into engagement with the paddles when the ends of the paddles are rotated downward, whereby the front and back panels of the envelope is caused to separate.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing bags preferably from a single sheet of bag forming material and bags produced thereby having reinforced handle sections integral with the wide sides of the bag.

Abstract: A folding machine which takes a prescored blank of paper, folds side flaps up, and glue tabs down, applies a glue line to the tabs, and folds end flaps of the blank about score lines onto the glue tabs to form boxed pockets and then delivers the finished folder for use.

Abstract: In a machine for processing a mailpiece, wherein the machine includes an elongate horizontally-extending deck, the machine includes structure for feeding a mailpiece in a downstream path of travel on the deck, the machine includes an upright mailpiece registration wall extending downstream alongside of the deck, and the machine includes a stripper blade horizontally aligned with the deck for operational engagement with a mailpiece fed thereto, an improvement for guiding a mailpiece out of operational engagement with the stripper blade, the improvement including: the deck including a horizontally-extending upstream portion; and an elongate mailpiece guide wall extending laterally from the registration wall and overhanging the upstream portion of the deck; the guide wall having an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the guide wall inclined downwardly from the upstream to the downstream edge thereof and forming an angle of substantially ten to twenty five degrees with respect to the upstream portion off the dec

Abstract: In a machine including structure for printing an indicia on a sheet at a predetermined printing speed, wherein the machine includes structure for feeding the sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, apparatus for detecting a malfunction of the machine, the apparatus comprising, structure for controlling the machine, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, structure for sensing the sheet in the path of travel, the sensing structure including a first sensor connected to the microprocessor for providing a first sensing signal thereto in response to sensing the sheet, the sensing structure including a second sensor connected to the microprocessor for providing a second sensing signal thereto in response to sensing the sheet, and the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to feed the sheet to the sensing structure at a first predetermined sheet feeding speed less than the printing speed, causing the printing structure to commence a printing cycle after a first p

Abstract: Self-sealing envelopes having an envelope front with two side flaps and a osure flap, and a bottom flap with an edge strip along the free edge of the bottom flap, are produced by cutting blanks to size, and producing precreases along lines where folds will be made to fold all flaps. A self-sealing adhesive is applied to the inner surface on the closure flap and on the outer surface of the bottom flap edge strip. All precreases are formed on the same side of the blank, whereby the edge strip must be folded in a direction opposite to its precrease. This feature facilitates the movement of the blank through the envelope production machine into which the blank moves with the edge strip leading in the feed advance direction, and all creasing tools operate in the same creasing direction, whereby all precreasing tools can be located on the same side of the blank.

Abstract: A mail handling machine includes a mechanism for serially transporting along a main path sealed and unsealed close-flapped envelopes, some of which may be mis-sealed. The machine also inlcudes a mechanism for opening the flaps of the unsealed close-flapped envelopes. The flap opening mechanism includes a shaped blade pivotally mounted on the machine and located along the main path. There is also a shaped portion of a deck that includes a fixed guide edge located along the path and downstream of the blade. The blade strips open the flaps of the unsealed envelopes. A member is hingedly mounted to the trailing edge of the blade. The member is biased so as to obstruct the gap between the blade and the guide edge to prevent opened flaps from entering the gap.When a mis-sealed envelope engages the blade, causing the blade to move pivotally, the shaped portion cams up the member, which contacts the mis-sealed envelope and urges it out of engagement with the blade.

Abstract: A bonded unitized envelope stack, manufacturing apparatus, and manufacturing method are provided in which envelopes in a stack are inter-connected by application of two spots of adhesive on the front panel of each envelope to engage the lower panel of the next above envelope. In one embodiment of the present invention, a conventional folding machine including a seal folder flap trap is modified to enable the application of the two spots of adhesive on the front panel of each envelope, and to produce bonded envelope stacks having a given fixed quantity of envelopes. When an envelope enters the seal folder flap trap, a photocell detects and triggers one counter of a dual counter system. A first counter increments each time an envelope enters the trap, until a count termed "preset 1" is reached. When "preset 1" is reached by the first counter, the glue applicator is deactivated. A second counter is then incremented.

Abstract: A rotary flap closer for closing envelope flaps during processing of mailable articles comprises a rotary member having a revolving arm and an elastically resilient member mounted along the arm and revolving therewith. At least a portion of the elastically-resilient member extends from the arm toward a conveyor surface on which envelopes are conveyed to and through the rotary flap closer, whereby the elastically-resilient member slidingly engages open flaps, deflects the flaps onto the envelope bodies, and thereby closes the envelopes. In one embodiment the elastically-resilient member is a brush.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. More particularly, an apparatus for producing mail pieces and a system and method for controlling it to produce mail pieces in a variety of configurations are disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer or may be windowed envelopes, folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor into a data structure and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus used in combination with an envelope feeder of the type having a frame with a generally horizontal feeder tray and a rack holding a stack of envelopes, the feeder having an endless belt supported on the feeder tray and the feeder serving to deliver envelopes from the stack onto the endless belt, the endless belt moving the envelopes to form a short-height stack at the outer end of the tray where the envelopes may be picked up by a printing press, a flap closure to close the envelope flaps so that open flaps do not interfere with the stacking process, the closure being in the form of an elongated member supported at the feeder tray outer end and having a first upper surface portion inclined upwardly in the direction away from the envelope feeder and a second horizontal upper surface spaced in a direction away from the envelope feeder, the second surface being in a plane parallel to and spaced above the plane of the endless belt.

Abstract: In a machine including framework and structure for feeding an unsealed envelope downstream in a path of travel, the envelope having a body portion and a flap portion folded in overlying relationship with the body portion, apparatus for unfolding the flap portion comprising: a guide member including a first portion extending downstream alongside the path of travel and a second portion angularly-extending from the first portion and into the path of travel; and structure for movably supporting the guide member, the supporting structure including an elongate arm pivotably connected to the framework, and the guide member connected to the arm and movable therewith.

Abstract: The apparatus for closing envelopes includes two sets of drive wheels (11A, 11B; 12A, 12B) defining a substantially linear envelope path (1) along which envelopes which are received open are displaced flat, are closed, and are then ejected. The apparatus includes a pair of pivotally mounted presser elements (30, 31) disposed between the two sets of drive wheels and put in a rest position off the path while the envelope is advancing and moved to a working position on the path when an open flap reaches the pair of presser elements, with the direction of displacement of the envelope along the path then being reversed substantially simultaneously with the pair of elements being put into the working position. The invention is applicable to processing mail.

Abstract: A specially designed envelope and a companion envelope opening mechanism are disclosed which operate in combination such that the envelope is automatically opened in a single motion to expose the contents of the envelope for high speed machine or manual extraction. The envelope includes longitudinally disposed slits which run from a rear side fold line to points disposed along the length of the envelope along top and bottom fold lines. Disposed on the front wall of the envelope perpendicularly to the fold line slits are connecting members, a plurality of additional slits and a plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures are disposed between the additional slits. The apertures provide openings into which extracting "fingers" of the automatic envelope opener enter the envelope during the envelope opening process to free a flap in the return address portion of the envelope to thereby expose the envelope contents.

Abstract: A fan-folded form set comprising a plurality of joined coupon/envelope members which are severable from adjacent coupon/envelope members along lines of perforation, and which coupon/envelope members are separable from each other. Each coupon/envelope is associated for a use, and each of the coupon/envelope members are related to the others in the set. The coupon/envelope members may be largely related in sequence. A method of producing the fan-folded form set and successive such form sets is described.

Abstract: The invention comprises a continuous paper strip scored and cut to form a recurring series of alternating panels and associated edge strips, said panels and edge strips being folded upon and secured to one another to produce a series of prefabricated envelopes detachably connected to each other, suitable for feeding to a printer by means of tractor feeding apparatus.

Abstract: A composite mailing wrapper suitable for use with a catalog or magazine is produced from an integral web and comprises front and rear cover sheets joined along a longitudinal fold line to which is detachably connected at least one preformed reply envelope, and optionally, at least one response device which is detachably connected to the envelope flap(s). When assembled to the catalog the envelope(s) and optional response device(s) are contained within the fold of the cover sheets. All of the elements comprising the composite wrapper can be personalized without risk of mismatching as they are produced from an integral web and are not detached from each other during manufacture.

Abstract: A multiple pocket envelope for storing a floppy disk, microfiche, photographic negatives and positives, and the like and information related thereto, the envelope being formed from a single sheet (10) susceptible of folding by machine. A sheet (10) suitable for forming the envelope and a method of folding the sheet to form the envelope are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a semi-automatic mail insertion machine which assists an operator in placing materials into envelopes by presenting automatically unfolded and opened envelopes in rapid succession to the operator for manual placement of the materials therein. The machine includes a horizontal conveyor which, under operator control, incrementally advances the envelopes to be processed from one processing station to another in succession. An envelope stacker is positioned above the conveyor and a feed means feeds the envelopes to the conveyor prior to each advancement of the conveyor. The envelopes are conveyed to a first process station which automatically unfolds the pre-folded unsealed envelope flaps. The envelopes are then advanced to a second processing station which opens the envelopes and presents the envelopes to the operator in a manner which permits ready placement of materials into the envelopes.

Abstract: Envelope blanks are scored and folded by pressing the flat blanks through a series of scoring and folding rolls. The rolls include vacuum rolls which invert the envelope blanks during the scoring operation. The blanks are scored laterally and as they pass over the outer surface of one of the vacuum rolls they are scored longitudinally. During the longitudinal scoring operation, the envelopes are curvilinear due to their being drawn down onto one of the vacuum rolls. After the longitudinal scoring operation, the blanks are inverted by being folded along the transverse score. The inverted, folded blanks are then moved along by a pair of cooperating vacuum rolls to a gumming station. After being gummed, the blanks are folded along their longitudinal scores with the folded flaps being secured in place by the gum.

Abstract: For a method of welding multi-layer paper sacks with weldable inner surfaces, the outer layers are folded back from the weldable inner layer during welding. The welding energy reaches the inner layer directly. The welding process is substantially shortened in comparison with known methods, and both the production time and processing time with such paper sacks is reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding, scoring, gumming, and folding a blank into an envelope.

Abstract: An envelope flap opening apparatus 11 includes a suction cup 21 mounted on a slidable rotatable shaft 23. The shaft 23 both rotates the suction cup 21 so as to partially open an envelope flap 17 engaged thereby and advances the suction cup 21 alongside the travelling envelope 15 until the partially opened flap 17 passes beneath a stationary blade member 91 which fully opens the envelope flap 17.

Abstract: The non-gusseted, side seamed expansible envelope of the present invention comprises a back panel, front panel and closure flap prepared from a single blank of paper or the like. The side seams are formed from a first pair of flaps foldably attached to the ends of the back panel and a second pair of flaps foldably attached to the ends of the front panel. Each of the side seam flaps are applied with diagonally oriented perforated lines that are located equidistant from the score line separating the front and back panels, and the second pair of side seam flaps are also applied with longitudinally oriented perforated lines which together with the diagonally oriented perforated lines provide the expansion characteristics of the envelope.

Abstract: A device and method for folding the main and secondary flaps of self-sealing envelopes into the inoperative condition. The envelopes (11) are fed, bottom edge leading, into a roller (20), the front panel of the envelope being in contact with the roller. The bottom edge lifts off the roller and the envelope is arrested and temporarily supported by abutment means (38,40,44) while the main flap (16) of the envelope is held to the roller by suction (22,24) and carried around the roller and thereby folded relative to the front panel of the envelope. In this position of the envelope, the secondary flap (18) slidably engages the surface of the roller and is then arrested by stop means (28) which carry the secondary flap (18) around and fold it relative to the back panel of the envelope.