Abstract: A converting machine is used to convert sheet material into packaging templates for assembly into boxes or other packaging. The converting machine includes a converting assembly that performs transverse conversion functions and longitudinal conversion functions on the sheet material to create the packaging templates. A fanfold crease sensing mechanism detects the presence and location of fanfold creases in the sheet material. Based on the location of the fanfold creases, the fanfold creases are either cut out of the sheet material, or the sheet material is cut to adjust the position of the fanfold crease in a packaging template.

Abstract: Apparatuses and/or equipment that automatically form containers with a reinforced bottom panel (pleats), methods of forming a container with a reinforced bottom panel, and methods of manufacturing an apparatus and/or equipment for making a container with a reinforced bottom panel are disclosed. The pleat(s) provide extra strength to the bottom panel of the container, thereby reducing or eliminating bottom sag. The apparatus and/or equipment is advantageously capable of automatically forming a container with a bottom panel having one or more pleats, while avoiding (1) damage to the containers and/or container blanks being folded, and (2) obstructions or instability in the containers that may result from inadvertent folding of the parts, pleats, flaps, and/or panels in the wrong or an inconsistent direction during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Buckles (b1 to b4) are each provided with a stopper (S1 to S4). A pair of uptake rollers (W, W1); (W, W2); (W2, W3); (W3, W4), to supply paper to the buckles, and a pair of discharge rollers (W, W2); (W2, W3); (W3; W4); (W4, W5), to fold the portion of the paper discharged outside the buckles, are disposed at each buckle inlet. The discharge roller for a previous buckle simultaneously functions as the uptake roller for the next buckle, and the paper is sequentially introduced into the buckles and folded into a bellows form. Stopper drive mechanisms (d1 to d4) are integrally controlled by a control unit (C).

Abstract: An off line apparatus for converting a rolled web into a fan-fold web and method of fan folding a web is described. The apparatus has a creasing station capable of receiving the web at a feed rate. The creasing station has a first die roller, wherein the first die roller comprises a first blade and a first cushion, and a second die roller. A coupling mechanism synchronizes rotation of the rollers such that the first blade engages the second cushion and the second blade engages the first cushion during one each rotation. A reader determines the location of a gap between the labels. A controller receives the location of the gap from said reader and communication with a drive mechanism to adjust the rotation rate such that the first blade and the second cushion engage.

Abstract: Automated machine to fold in a zigzag manner and stack a creased tape made of a sufficiently rigid material and provided with a plurality of transverse creasings equidistant with respect to each other, comprising feed means suitable to feed the creased tape in a determinate direction of feed toward a folding device of the rotary type suitable to fold it in a zigzag manner and to convey it toward collection means.

Abstract: An off line apparatus for converting a rolled web into a fan-fold web and method of fan folding a web is described. The apparatus has a creasing station capable of receiving the web at a feed rate. The creasing station has a first die roller, wherein the first die roller comprises a first blade and a first cushion, and a second die roller. A coupling mechanism synchronizes rotation of the rollers such that the first blade engages the second cushion and the second blade engages the first cushion during one each rotation. A reader determines the location of a gap between the labels. A controller receives the location of the gap from said reader and communication with a drive mechanism to adjust the rotation rate such that the first blade and the second cushion engage.

Abstract: A label product in web form has alternating, oppositely indented creases in the liner of the product to produce a fan-folded stack having alternating, reversely folded plies. Each crease is substantially, if not entirely, perforation-free to maximize the strength of the liner at the fold lines. The product is preferably produced on a narrow web press in a creasing station that includes a stack of rolls wherein a first die roll is on the bottom of the stack, a second die roll is on the top of the stack, and a pair of base rolls are located in the middle of the stack between the die rolls. A blade on each die roll cooperates with a cushion on the corresponding base roll to produce a crease during every other rotation of the die roll, each of the base rolls having a smaller circumference than its corresponding die roll.

Abstract: Interfolding machine of sheet material for making a stack of interfolded sheets (1) equipped with cutting and transferring means, including, for example, a cutting roller 2 that operates the division of the web (10) into sheets (11) of determined length. The cut sheets (11), all having the same length, are carried along the machine up to a transfer roller (3) that transfers them to an “overlap” roller (4). In particular the cutting roller (2) has peripherally a first series of cutting blades (21a)-(21d) arranged at a first angular distance equal to 90° and a second plurality of cutting blades (21?a)-(21?c) arranged at a second angular distance equal to 120°. The length of sheets 11 is therefore achieved by the angular distance existing between the blades (21). In order to adjust the length of the sheets, or cut-off length, one selects the blades on the cutting roller (2) located at an angular distance corresponding to the desired sheet length.

Abstract: An interfolding machine having a modular structure and with variable cut-off, including a frame having a first plate and a second plate, parallel to each other, interconnected by means of beams. Between the plates are arranged folding rollers, means for moving and an overlap roller. Each plate has a complementary shape to a respective upper plate, with upper plates connected by means of beams among one another. Between the plates, the cutting roller, the transfer roller and the cutter with the blade are arranged, such that a modular portion is formed removable independently from a main portion of the frame. Alternatively, the removable portion can include the only cutting roller and the cutter with the blade.

Abstract: A continuous length of pleated paper towel having a leading end and a trailing end. The continuous length of pleated paper towel including a connection at one of the leading end and trailing end that attaches to another continuous length of pleated paper towel to permit uninterrupted dispensing operation of paper towel.

Abstract: A label product in web form has alternating, oppositely indented creases in the liner of the product to produce a fan-folded stack having alternating, reversely folded plies. Each crease is substantially, if not entirely, perforation-free to maximize the strength of the liner at the fold lines. The product is preferably produced on a narrow web press in a creasing station that includes a stack of rolls wherein a first die roll is on the bottom of the stack, a second die roll is on the top of the stack, and a pair of base rolls are located in the middle of the stack between the die rolls. A blade on each die roll cooperates with a cushion on the corresponding base roll to produce a crease during every other rotation of the die roll, each of the base rolls having a smaller circumference than its corresponding die roll.

Abstract: A machine for converting a fabric from a rolled fabric into a superimposingly folded fabric for delivery to a dyeing machine. The machine includes a frame, a cradle, and a carriage. The frame rests on an unyielding surface. The cradle is operatively connected to the frame, holds the rolled fabric, and dispenses the fabric from the rolled fabric. The carriage is movably mounted to the frame, and receives the fabric dispensed from the rolled fabric, and in response thereto, moves back and forth relative to the frame to dispense the fabric into the superimposingly folded fabric for delivery to the dyeing machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a swing arc and centering of a swinging director chute during separating, folding, stacking and transporting a continuous web that allows stacks of web that are relatively large (four-feet-high or more) to be generated at high speed directly beneath the folding mechanism and to be transferred as complete, discrete stacks to downstream locations and stack utilization devices without interrupting the ongoing, upstream stack-folding and stack-formation process. The apparatus includes a lever arm, interconnected with the swinging director chute, and a connecting rod having a first pivot end and a second pivot end. The first pivot end is adjustable movable along the lever arm. A drive arm connected to the second pivot end includes a lead screw. The lead screw can be operatively connected to an index wheel having a plurality of directed posts and a movable pawl that advances the index wheel.

Abstract: A fabric folding machine structure is used for receiving and folding a fabric woven by a circular knitting machine. A fabric folding machine is added to the circular knitting machine without changing the length, width, and height of the fabric rolling machine. The fabric folding machine has a carrying base for carrying the fabric, and both ends of the carrying base are fixed to the bottom of two side seats, and a plurality of fabric rolling rods disposed between the two side seats define a carrying space, and the two side seats include a fabric folding unit for driving the fabric on the carrying base, and the fabric folding unit can drive the fabric back and forth in the carrying space to fold the fabric on the carrying base, so as to provide a larger carrying space and a higher fabric storing capacity than a prior art fabric folding machine.

Abstract: A creasing-folding machine, for producing paper and bookbinding articles, has a feed unit, for feeding sheets along a feed path, a creasing unit, and a folding unit in series with one another; the creasing unit has at least one creasing roller positioned with its axis perpendicular to the feed path and having, on its lateral surface, a creasing blade extending crosswise to the feed path, and a pressure roller which cooperates with an opposite face of each sheet to the creasing roller; the creasing unit is interposed between the feed unit and the folding unit to perform continuous transverse creasing operations upstream from the folding unit.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for separating, folding, stacking and transporting a continuous web that allows stacks of web that are relatively large (four-feet-high or more) to be generated at high speed directly beneath the folding mechanism and to be transferred as complete, discrete stacks to downstream locations and stack utilization devices without interrupting the ongoing, upstream stack-folding and stack-formation process. A zigzag folded web passes by a pair of opposing front and rear compression plate assemblies, with fingers that are extended to selectively project into the folding area, onto a stack supported by a vertically moving supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism cycles between an ever-lower position in which upper, loose pages of the folded web pass by plate fingers (when retracted) and an upper position in which the stack engages and presses upwardly against the now-extended plate fingers to compress the stack.

Abstract: A machine for converting a fabric from a rolled fabric into a superimposingly folded fabric for delivery to a dyeing machine. The machine includes a frame, a cradle, and a carriage. The frame rests on an unyielding surface. The cradle is operatively connected to the frame, holds the rolled fabric, and dispenses the fabric from the rolled fabric. The carriage is movably mounted to the frame, and receives the fabric dispensed from the rolled fabric, and in response thereto, moves back and forth relative to the frame to dispense the fabric into the superimposingly folded fabric for delivery to the dyeing machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for folding continuous medium including a swing arm pivotable about an axis at one end of the swing arm. The continuous medium is guided by the swing arm and accordion-folded with equal widths as a result of the swinging operation of the swing arm. The swing arm has a telescopic structure for varying the length of the swing arm over a range of a swing of the swing arm.

Abstract: Methods and devices for folding a continuous web of material are provided. Systems can include a spiral folder assembly having first and second sets of rotatable spirals, a deflection means to guide the continuous web toward the first set of spirals and the second set of spirals, a beater assembly to urge the continuous web against the first set of spirals to form a first fold in the web against the second set of spirals to form a second fold in the web, and a conveyor assembly to receive and transport the folded continuous web as it exits the spiral folder assembly, the conveyor assembly providing a support between the first and second sets of spirals, the support modulating an amount of sag in the continuous web as the web is suspended between the first and second sets of spirals.

Abstract: A recyclable cushioning material for packaging obtained by forming a cushioning material for packaging used to protect articles supplied for physical distribution from being impacted with one sheet of corrugated fiberboard and a method and device for manufacturing the cushioning material, wherein a plurality of cutting lines (11 to 21) are formed in one sheet of corrugated fiberboard (10) in parallel with each other in the direction perpendicular to a direction in which the pleats of the corrugated fiberboard extend and a plurality of connection parts (25) are formed intermittently on each of these cutting lines so that a plurality of unit corrugated fiberboard (41 to 52) can be folded up alternately each other, openings (30 to 33) including the cutting lines are formed in the plurality of unit fiberboard (46 to 52) located on the inner side, and zig-zag foldings at the cutting lines (11 to 21) in which hump-folds and trough-folds are formed alternately each other are performed simultaneously by a zig-zag fol

Abstract: In document output including mixture of different sizes, regarding a paper (A4 size) which is not Z-folded, header/footor information is printed on the paper as a designated manner, and, regarding a paper (A3 size) which is to be Z-folded, the header/footor information is combined with document data in such a manner that the position of the header/footor information after Z-folding apparently becomes the same as the position of the information on the A4 size. For example, in an opened condition, two header/footor information are printed at two positions, and positions of two header/footor informations are adjusted so that an information component (99/1) printed on an area A and an information component (2/31) printed on an area D constitute one header information as “99/12/31”. As a result, the header/footor information can be recognized at a glance without opening the folded page, apparently similar to the non-Z-fold paper.

Abstract: A promotional form is provided which includes a detachable element received within the surrounding margin of a base sheet, the base sheet being folded and sealed around one side of the detachable element to initially conceal a message, question or other indicia hidden until the detachable element is at least partially removed. The promotional form may include a plurality of detachable elements having correlated indicia printed on an exposed side and either on the concealed side of the element or in a portion of the opposing form section in registry with the detachable element. A game or educational piece may be inexpensively provided by correlating different indicia messages corresponding to respective detachable elements, so that in response to an initial query or instruction, a plurality of possible results may be revealed, leading in turn to an outcome revealed by removal of a further detachable element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and package for packaging a web. In the method of the invention, a web is slit into two or more narrower webs which are folded into superimposed layers. The method comprises the steps of directing the webs to a nip formed by two rotating reels and by inducing the webs, held alternately against the surfaces of the first and the second reel, to move with the reel the length of a predetermined rotational angle to provide folding, and joining the ends of the webs together so that the webs form a continuous whole whose length corresponds to the combined length of the webs.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material is formed by slitting or perforating a web to separate the web into side by side strips and fan folding the web to form a plurality of side by side stacks of the strips. The strip of each stack is spliced to the strip of the next stack to form a continuous strip through the package which can be unfolded for supply continuously to an end use machine. The package while compressed is wrapped by a packaging material which includes a bottom rigid plate, a top header and heat shrink bag wrapped around the package and under the bottom plate and heat sealed to a plastic layer covering a bottom surface of the bottom header plate.

Abstract: A packed tape (1) comprises a folded tape (2) and a package (3) preferably made of plastic film. The tape (2) is zigzag folded into an oblong stack in such a manner that some (2a) of the bendings of the tape flush with the ends of the stack whereas the remaining bendings (2b) are positioned at varying distances therefrom. The resulting tape, especially a seed tape, is suited for being pulled out through a dispensing opening in a germinating box on a bedding machine.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the folding of paper to produce accordion folds in which the web is engaged at each second groove previously formed in the web and moved at a speed matched to the feed of the web upwardly along a linear path and downwardly along an arcuate path so as to produce the accordion fold.

Abstract: A device for blank separation in a machine producing pieces of flat material cut out of a web is described, in which the web in one direction of conveyance is guided through the machine, and the web comprises at least two rows of blanks at right angles to the direction of conveyance, and in which the device comprises a cutting roll for cutting pieces of flat material out of the web. This device is to be improved in such a manner that it is possible to feed the pieces of flat material to an automated delivery, with the rows of blanks being positioned in relatively close proximity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet stack manufacturing process. At first, a plurality of band sheets are fed. Each band sheet is folded at least once along a longitudinal direction thereof at a first folding step, to form folded bands. Then, each folded band is folded along the longitudinal direction at a second folding step to have at least three fold lines by the first and second folding steps and to sandwich a portion of at least one of an overlying sheet and an underlying sheet thereof, thereby to form a band-shaped sheet stack in which a plurality of sheets are combined with one another so as to be stacked on one another. The band-shaped sheet stack is cut to a predetermined length to be separated into individual sheet stacks.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a package of a plurality of side-by-side stacks of continuous strips of material. Each strip is folded back and forth about first and second fold lines to form a stack of a plurality of folded overlying strip portions which are arranged side-by-side so that the side edges are aligned. The fold lines are transverse to the strip and arranged at opposite ends of the stack. A splice tail portion extending from a first strip end portion of each stack is spliced to a second strip end portion. The stacks are compressed such that their height is equal to that of the container and the splice tail portions remain loose and uncompressed.

Abstract: A paper web folding and cutting apparatus for a form printing machine includes a paper web traveling path which enables a continuous paper web to travel at a predetermined traveling speed. A cut portion forming device is disposed on the paper web traveling path and is adapted to form a cut portion formed in a line of a plurality of cuts. Each line of the cuts has at least one uncut portion, at every top and bottom directional dimension of the continuous paper web to be folded. Also, an oscillatory shooter assembly is disposed on the paper web traveling path on a downstream side of the cut forming means in a paper web traveling direction. The oscillatory shooter assembly is provided with a counter roller and a nozzle roller at a lower end portion thereof. The rollers are rotated at a peripheral speed which is faster than the paper web traveling speed, and the nozzle roller is movable into and out of contact with the counter roller.

Abstract: An adjustable card folding station includes an adjustable vacuum bed and moveable gates. The vacuum bed includes at least two sections that are movable with respect to each other to accommodate cards of different widths. Each section of the vacuum bed further includes multiple suction cups, each of which is individually connected to a vacuum supply. The vacuum supply independently controls each suction cup so that vacuum can be applied to selected or all suction cups such that cards of different lengths can be accommodated. The movable gates are pivotally mounted with respect to the vacuum bed and operated by motors to pivot 180 degrees from open to closed positions to fold the cards.

Abstract: A method for producing a batch of products having a multiplicity of interfolded, generally rectangular sheets including wet wipes, from a limited amount of a web material, at a high production speed and in efficiently used floor space.

Abstract: A paper folding mechanism for folding continuous paper is provided. The folding mechanism includes a swing guide caused to pivot for guiding the paper, and first and second paper guides which are spaced from each other. The first paper guide is displaceable relative to the second paper guide. The folding mechanism also includes a paper presser arranged adjacent to the first paper guide for folding the paper along fold lines. The paper presser is designed to move relative to the first paper guide.

Abstract: A subfolder insert, or otherwise short-termed a “subfolder” for depicting its sub-file contents, for holding related papers of its conventional file folder, and as such, the subfolder is inserted within the file folder, for separation of designated papers from other papers within the file folder. To avoid the subfolder causing the file folder from being bulky and obscuring the “sub-held” papers, its surface area is effectively less than the surface area of the sub-held papers of a respectively standard size, such as a U.S. letter size and legal size; this, too, allows visual, physical exposure of the sub-held papers for easy reference and manual retrieval from within the subfolder. The front and back panels of the subfolder are integrated along multiple adjacent edges, as ideally a vertical edge and the bottom horizontal edge.

Abstract: An accumulator system for foldable sheet-like material. The system includes an accumulator bin having a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls, a bottom wall, and an open top. An infeed mechanism conveys the material to the accumulator bin. A chute receives the material from the infeed mechanism and guides the material inside the chute. In a first state, the chute is stationary and the system operates in a steady-state condition with a loop in the material between the infeed mechanism and an outfeed mechanism. In a second state, the outfeed mechanism is shut off and the chute is capable of reciprocating such that the material is guided toward the bottom wall of the bin. The reciprocating motion of the chute causes the material to be folded endwise in alternating fashion.

Abstract: In a method for producing folded printed products a paper web is printed by at least one digital printing machine and the paper web is then processed by a sequence of processing steps, wherein full size sheets or web sections having at least four printed pages for a printed product with a multiple of four printed pages are cut from the paper web. The full size sheets or web sections are then folded to a folded state, respectively. The full size sheets or web sections are collected in the folded state and subsequently stitched. A buffer is formed of the full size sheets or the web sections during the sequence of the processing steps and the full size sheets or the web sections coming from the buffer are individualized to decouple the digital printing machine from at least some of the processing steps.

Abstract: A method of converting at least one strip of flexible material 12 into at least one stack of folded members 46. The method includes the step of conveying a number of festoons 20 formed from a strip of flexible material 12. The method is characterized by the step of depositing the respective festoons 20 into a stack of folded members 46. In the preferred method, the step of depositing the respective festoons 20 into a stack of folded members 46 can be characterized further by the steps of: (i) laying an initial flap 36 of flexible material 12 on a stacking surface 24; (ii) creating a first folded member 44 by placing a first festoon 42 on the initial flap 36 of flexible material 12; and (iii) creating additional folded members by placing each festoon upon a preceding festoon.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material has a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip. Preferably, the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip can be continuous through each stack and connected by a splice from the end of one stack to beginning of the next stack. To reduce the height of the stacks, the package is compressed and maintained in the compressed condition by, for example, an evacuated sealed bag. The strip of each stack is formed to have a varying width, for example to form diaper inserts when the strip is cut into individual strip elements. The length of each strip portion of the stack is arranged to equal a whole number of strip elements so that the cut lines can be arranged at the fold lines.

Abstract: A miniature, highly decorative kite that flies indoors or outdoors is made by cutting a small piece of tissue paper into any preselected shape, including the shape of a standard diamond-shaped kite. Very finely cut bamboo sticks serve as the frame of the miniature kite and are adhered to a first side of the kite body to form a frame that maintains the preselected shape. Two elongate ribbons are secured to one another at their respective leading ends and are secured to the trailing end of the kite body. A string is attached to the apex of a triangular flap that is adhered to a second side of the kite body. The flap is folded at its base so that it lies in a plane perpendicular to the kite body when functioning. The kite flies in the slightest breeze and may be flown indoors.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a package of a plurality of side-by-side stacks of continuous strips of material in a rectangular container. Each strip is folded back and forth about first and second fold lines to form a stack of a plurality of folded overlying strip portions which are arranged side-by-side so that the side edges are aligned. The fold lines are transverse to the strip and arranged at opposite ends of the stack. A splice tail portion extending from a first strip end portion of each stack is spliced to a second strip end portion. The stacks are compressed such that their height is equal to that of the container and the splice tail portions remain loose and uncompressed.

Abstract: A package has at least one stack of a strip of material repeatedly folded back and forth so that the stack contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip. Each strip portion is folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line. The strip portions form a plurality of first fold lines at each end of the stack. The stack can be arranged substantially upright and has a splice tail portion of the strip extending from the bottom strip portion beyond an end of the stack to be accessible for splicing. The entire top surface and the entire bottom surface of the stack is compressed from an external force in a direction at right angles to the top surface and the bottom surface of the stack. The stack is engaged by packaging which maintains the compression.

Abstract: The present invention is a new elongate single-ply paper napkin that achieves the necessary absorbency, strength, hand feel and softness for commercial use but which is less expensive than traditional napkin products. More particularly, the invention is a single-ply napkin that contains folds running only in the transverse direction of the product, i.e. perpendicular to the length of the napkin.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a package of a plurality of side-by-side stacks of continuous strips of material without intervening rigid container walls. Each strip is folded back and forth about first and second fold lines to form a stack of a plurality of folded overlying strip portions. The fold lines are transverse to the strip and arranged at opposite ends of the stack. The strip portions of each stack are arranged side-by-side so that the side edges are aligned. The strips are fed simultaneously through a guide slot in a movable carriage that is parallel to the stacks end upon which the stacks are arranged.

Abstract: A package of a continuous strip of material includes a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip and such that the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip of material includes a splice defined by the two ends of the strip. The two ends of the strip are held together by yarn stitches passing through and bridging the strip ends.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for folding a textile fabric length (11) is provided with at least two transport belts (2, 3) which can be driven in opposite directions, wherein a gap (27) is disposed between the transport belts (2, 3), through which gap the fabric length (11) can be drawn while forming a fold when the transport belts (2, 3) are driven in opposite directions. In order to achieve greater folding accuracy, a gripping member (4) is disposed above the two transport belts (2, 3), which member can move substantially parallel to the upper side of the transport belts (2, 3) and can be brought to lie between the front and the back end (12, 23) of the unfolded fabric length (11) with a fixing action.

Abstract: A package of a continuous strip of material comprises a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip and such that the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip is continuous through each stack and is connected by a splice from the end of one stack to beginning of the next stack. The package is compressed to reduce the height of the stacks and maintained in the compressed condition by an evacuated sealed bag. The preferred package arrangement uses the package for pay off of the strip in the orientation in which it is formed with the bottom of the stacks resting on a support and the package tilted to one side so that the stacks lean against a support surface for stability.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of easy to open handle bags is provided. The method includes providing a flattened tube of thermoplastic material oriented in a generally longitudinal direction. The flattened tube has a first longitudinal side edge, a second longitudinal side edge, and a transverse heat seal. The tube has first, second, and third sections. The second section is disposed between the first and third sections. The first section is joined to the second section along a generally longitudinal first fold line. The second section is joined to the third section along a generally longitudinal second fold line. A generally rectangular hole is cut through the second section. The generally rectangular hole has a top edge and a bottom edge. The generally rectangular hole is contained transversely between the first and second fold lines.

Abstract: A reciprocating stacker for relatively narrow, thin, and flexible continuous strip material provides for the stacking of such material in evenly distributed layers on a pallet or the like. The machine includes a distribution or feeder head which receives the strip material from a conveyor and distributes it evenly on the pallet. The head reciprocates or oscillates in a first direction to lay the material out in a zig-zag or accordion fold configuration, while simultaneously translating in a second direction normal to the first direction, to distribute the material evenly laterally across the surface. When a complete layer has been formed, the machine turns the pallet by ninety degrees so the orientation of the next layer is normal to the orientation of the immediately underlying layer. The process continues, with the feeder head being raised to maintain a substantially constant distance between the head and the underlying surface, until the stack is completed.

Abstract: Two movable members, one on either side of a pre-folded continuous form entering a paper stacking area, are driven according to a determined position of the pre-folded form to push a leading edge of the form to one or another side of the stacking area so that the folds in the form will develop correctly in a stack. Only one of the members is permitted to contact the form at any time, and the members are separated by a sufficient angle so that no position of the members permits both members to contact the form. After directing the first and second sheets of the form, the members return to a home position in which neither member obstructs or interferes with subsequent stacking of the form. The position of the pre-folded form may be determined by a leading edge sensor, by a sheet feed rate sensor, by a fold position sensor, by a fold orientation sensor, by timing from a predetermined position, or by manual input.

Abstract: A package of a continuous strip of material includes a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip and such that the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip is continuous through each stack and is connected by a splice from the end of one stack to beginning of the next stack. The package is compressed to reduce the height of the stacks and maintained in the compressed condition by an evacuated sealed bag. The fold lines in the package are marked by a machine readable marking so that the strip portions from the package can be cut into strip elements with the cut lines being arranged at the fold lines.