With Means To Advance Work Or Product Patents (Class 493/416)
  • Patent number: 12049056
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to ensure rigid formation of the folds of the protrusions of the paper sheet and smooth conveyance of the folding-processed paper sheet to the downstream side of the folding position in the paper conveyance direction without causing the problems such as jamming. A folding unit includes a lower guide plate arranged at a position facing a folding plate at the folding position, and an arrangement position of a turning shaft of the folding plate is vertically movable with respect to the lower guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: DUPLO SEIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chikara Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11358815
    Abstract: Sheets are set on the top face of a lift plate. A lift mechanism makes a lift plate ascend and descend. A sheet feeding roller and a distance sensor are provided over the lift plate. The distance sensor measures a distance (measured distance) to a measurement target placed below. Based on the measured distance before the lift plate is raised, the controller calculates a remaining quantity value indicating a remaining quantity of sheets. When, after the lift plate starts to rise, the recognized measured distance becomes equal to or smaller than the upper limit distance, the controller makes the lift mechanism stop raising the lift plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Junichi Takigawa
  • Patent number: 11042112
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a cutting unit including a cutting member, a polarity of the cutting member being opposite to a polarity of the medium in a triboelectric series; an image formation unit that forms an image on the medium cut by the cutting unit; and a pressure contact unit arranged between the cutting unit and the image formation unit, and including a first pressure contact member and a second pressure contact member that are put in pressure contact with each other across the medium cut by the cutting unit, a polarity of the first pressure contact member being opposite to the polarity of the medium in a triboelectric series, a polarity value of the second pressure contact member shifted from a polarity value of the first pressure contact member toward the polarity of the medium in the triboelectric series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Kaseda
  • Patent number: 11034542
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for optional cross-folding of successively following, sequentially printed sheets on a first transport segment. A compressed air device comprises a first control element that is connected to a control unit for triggering or suppressing a compressed air blast from at least one exit opening in the compressed air device. A printed sheet is diverted into a second transport segment for the folding operation or a third transport segment for bypassing the folding operation. The latter empties downstream of folding rolls into the second transport segment at a joint segment point, at which a fourth transport segment adjoins in downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: MÜLLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Christian Troxler
  • Patent number: 10960664
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus (1) includes an image forming section (40), a decurler (20), a changing section (50), a first calculating section (72), storage (60), a second calculating section (73), and a controller (75). The image forming section (40) ejects ink onto a sheet (S). The decurler (20) bends the sheet (S). The changing section (50) changes a bending amount of the sheet (S). The first calculating section (72) calculates an ink ejection rate (?) to the sheet (S) for each of areas of the sheet (S). The storage (60) stores therein first bending information (62) indicating a first target bending amount (?) of a specific area of the sheet (S) corresponding to the ink ejection rate (?) to the specific area. The second calculating section (73) calculates a second target bending amount of each of the areas. The controller (75) controls the changing section (50) based on the second target bending amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Hiroyuki Ueda, Hiroatsu Tamai, Takatoshi Nishimura, Noriaki Ozawa, Toyotsune Inoue, Susumu Hiroshima
  • Patent number: 10324409
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet is provided with a hold member that holds a transported sheet in a substantially cylindrical shape, a shift member that presses the outer circumferential surface of the sheet of the substantially cylindrical shape held by the hold member to make a substantially flat shape, and a discharge section that further presses the sheet made the substantially flat shape by the shift member, while discharging in a direction crossing a transport direction. By this means, it is possible to provide a relatively compact sheet folding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventor: Misao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9643811
    Abstract: A system for selectively C, Z or half-folding sheet(s) of paper of variable format, comprising: a pocket-like channel (10) with a stop element (12) for defining a paper sheet position and positioning the sheet(s) according to a location of a recipient's address A and a type of fold required; two folding rollers (2, 4) arranged diametrically opposite to each other and forming a folding/nipping area (6); an inducing element (8) movable towards and away from the folding/nipping area for defining a fold line position; and a curved guiding path (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) which substantially covers at least one of the two folding rollers for receiving and guiding the sheet(s) completely around one or the other of the two folding rollers without changing their rotational direction during the folding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventor: Laurent Farlotti
  • Patent number: 9017241
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to tucking opposing side panels into a chassis of a diaper pant. The apparatuses and methods may utilize one or more conveyors that advance the chassis along a machine direction. Each conveyor may have a vacuum zone that applies a vacuum force to hold the chassis. The chassis may be positioned between a first conveyor having a first vacuum zone and a second conveyor having a second vacuum zone. The conveyors may apply opposing vacuum forces to hold the first waist region apart from the second waist region while the chassis advances in the machine direction toward a tucking device. The vacuum forces are then removed from the waist regions as the tucking device pushes the side panels toward each other. Pushing the side panels toward each other causes the inner surfaces of the waist regions to simultaneously move toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean Lavon, Uwe Schneider, Joseph Hung Lam
  • Publication number: 20150094195
    Abstract: In apparatuses for automatically folding items of laundry, items of laundry of different lengths usually are folded in an irregular sequence, resulting in idling and/or delays in particular in the longitudinal-folding station (13). The invention provides for determining the length of each item of laundry (10) upstream of the longitudinal-folding station (13) and for accelerating short items of laundry as they are transported through the longitudinal-folding station (13), whereas larger items of laundry are slowed down in the longitudinal-folding station (13). Following completion of the longitudinal-folding operation, the respectively folded item of laundry is located at the end of the longitudinal-folding station (13) and, immediately following completion of the longitudinal folding, is transported away out of the longitudinal-folding station (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Sielmann, Christian Herzberg, Alexander Serikow, Lars Herzog, Rene Pleitner, Engelbert Heinz
  • Publication number: 20150065324
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a supporting section over which a sheet is hung to be supported from below, the sheet being folded in a mountain shape with a folding line formed at a central portion; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet supported by the supporting section in a direction orthogonal to the folding line in a horizontal plane including the folding line; a control section which controls a sheet conveyance operation by the conveyance section; a first pressing section which presses the folding line of the sheet supported by the supporting section from above; and a second pressing section which presses the sheet from a rear side in an advancing direction when the conveyance section conveys the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Masato Hattori
  • Publication number: 20150065325
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus vertically conveys a sheet which includes a crease at a center of the sheet and which is in a vertical state where the crease is on the top and a fore edge of the sheet is on the bottom. The apparatus includes the first holder which clamps and holds the sheet and the second holder which clamps and holds the sheet while corrugating the sheet. The second holder holds the sheet while the first holder holds the first part of the sheet, and then, while the second holder holds the sheet, the first holder releases the first part of the sheet, moves along the sheet and holds the second part of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi SHIOKAWA, Atsushi ARAI
  • Publication number: 20150050452
    Abstract: A stack of folded paper products. The stack can include first and second paper products, each having first and second centerlines and first and second fold lines. The first fold line can be substantially parallel to, and offset from, the first centerline. The second centerline can be substantially perpendicular to the first centerline. The second fold line can be substantially parallel to the second centerline. The first and second paper products can each be folded about the first fold line prior to being folded about the second fold line, thereby forming first and second larger panels and first and second smaller panels. At least one of the panels of the second paper product can be at least partially disposed between at least two of the panels of the first paper product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventor: Robert Michael Penfield
  • Publication number: 20140319195
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus configured to collect printed sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus and to handle the printed sheets. The post-processing apparatus has: a stacker configured to collect and stack a plurality of printed sheets with one end of each of the printed sheets placed down; a movable stopper configured to stop each of the printed sheets sliding down in the stacker at a specified position; a motor configured to move the stopper along the stacker and stops the stopper; and a control unit configured to control the motor. The control unit increases a current supplied to the motor in preparation for a collision between each of the printed sheets and the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhide KOKURA
  • Patent number: 8870732
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to tucking opposing side panels into a chassis of a pant diaper. The apparatuses and methods may utilize one or more conveyors that advance the chassis along a machine direction. Each conveyor may have a vacuum zone that applies a vacuum force to hold the chassis. The chassis may be positioned between a first conveyor having a first vacuum zone and a second conveyor having a second vacuum zone. The conveyors may apply opposing vacuum forces to hold the first waist region apart from the second waist region while the chassis advances in the machine direction toward a tucking device. The tucking device may discharge air to push the side panels into the chassis and create longitudinal fold lines along edges of the absorbent core of the diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Joseph Hung Lam
  • Publication number: 20140284241
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of off-folded absorbent sheet products (e.g., paper napkins, etc.) that are interfoldable or interfolded in a stack for dispensement from a dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Tarzana Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Miles Pearson
  • Patent number: 8814772
    Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a first conveyance path connected to a sheet conveyance inlet, a second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path, a folding roller device disposed in the second conveyance path for folding the sheet, and a sheet discharge path arranged vertically parallel to the second conveyance path and guiding the folded sheet from the second conveyance path to a sheet conveyance outlet. The second conveyance path includes a first guide path located at a downstream side relative to the folding roller device and guiding a rear side of the sheet, and a second guide path located at an upstream side relative to the folding roller device and guiding a front side of the folded sheet conveyed from the folding roller device. A gate is formed for selectively guiding the folded sheet from the second guide path to the storage device or the sheet discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Mimura, Toshihiro Horii, Misao Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140213424
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets comprising a curved conveyance path along which the sheets are moved successively in first and second opposite directions, the curved conveyance path being such that the sheets cannot naturally register to reach a folding position by simple effect of gravity, wherein to register the sheets before to fold them transport rollers having loaded the sheets in the first direction moves back in the second opposite direction for compressing the sheets against an adjustable low stop member to generate an elastic deformation of the sheets sufficient to compensate friction in the curved conveyance path and automatically register the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Dominique Mazeiller, Frederic Jost
  • Publication number: 20140213425
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: an abutting member that abuts against a sheet surface to bend a sheet; a first moving unit that moves the abutting member; a folding unit that performs a folding process on the sheet bent by the abutting member; a pressing unit that presses a folded portion of the sheet subjected to the folding process; a second moving unit that moves the pressing unit in a direction along a fold of the sheet; and a single operation unit that allows the first moving unit and the second moving unit to be operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Kiyoshi HATA, Atsushi KIKUCHI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Makoto HIDAKA, Shohichi SATOH, Satoshi SAITO, Takao WATANABE, Takuya SANO
  • Publication number: 20140206517
    Abstract: The present invention is concerning to a sheet processing apparatus comprising: a pressing unit configured to provide additional folding to a fold line portion of a sheet bundle by pressing the fold line portion; a carriage unit configured to reciprocate the pressing unit in width directions of the sheet bundle; a guiding shaft configured to support the pressing unit and guides movement of the pressing unit; and a supporting unit configured to support the pressing unit and moves on a structure provided to the sheet processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi KIKUCHI, Takuya SANO, Takao WATANABE, Makoto HIDAKA, Satoshi SAITO, Shohichi SATOH, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Kiyoshi HATA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140206519
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a pressing unit including a first pressing member and a second pressing member. The pressing unit is configured to press a fold in a folded sheet bundle by holding the fold between the first pressing member and the second pressing member. The sheet processing apparatus also includes a moving unit configured to move a pressing position of the pressing unit in a direction of the fold in the sheet bundle; and a position changing unit configured to change relative positions of the first pressing member and the second pressing member in the direction of the fold in the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomomichi HOSHINO, Kiyoshi HATA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Atsushi KIKUCHI, Mamoru KAMBAYASHI, Makoto HIDAKA, Shohichi SATOH, Satoshi SAITO, Takao WATANABE, Takuya SANO
  • Publication number: 20140206516
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a flexure forming unit configured to flex sheets to include a portion on which no fold line is formed in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction; a first pressing member pair configured to press a flexure portion of the flexed sheets to form a fold line thereon; and a moving unit configured to move a pressing position of the first pressing member pair in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiyoshi HATA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Atsushi KIKUCHI, Satoshi SAITO, Makoto HIDAKA, Takuya SANO, Takao WATANABE, Shohichi SATOH
  • Publication number: 20140206518
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises a pressurizing unit including a first pressurizing member and a second pressurizing member; and a moving unit moving the pressurizing unit and including a driving motor, wherein the position where a sheet bundle is pressurized by the first pressurizing member and the position where the sheet bundle is pressurized by the second pressurizing member are shifted in the direction of the fold line of the sheet bundle, and a driving condition of the driving motor is changed between a first orientation in which the pressurizing unit moves in the positional relation that the first pressurizing member precedes the second pressurizing member and a second orientation in which the pressurizing member moves in the positional relation that the second pressurizing member precedes the first pressurizing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto HIDAKA, Takuya SANO, Takao WATANABE, Satoshi SAITO, Shohichi SATOH, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Atsushi KIKUCHI, Kiyoshi HATA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140206520
    Abstract: A method for collecting addressed letters in grippers and for conveying the collected letters further in the grippers, wherein the grippers each have a first and second gripper limb, and these limbs form an accommodating space. The method includes supplying a sheet that is partially folded along a folding line to form two sheet portions that are delimited from one another by the folding line, introducing the folded sheet into the accommodating space between the gripper limbs, wherein the folded sheet is subjected to a restraining force in the direction of a planar position of the sheet by the non-folded sections along the folding line, and pushing the portions of the sheet onto the adjacent gripper limbs by the restoring force, with an accommodating pocket being formed in the accommodating space in the process, and retaining the folded sheet in the accommodating space by the contact-pressure force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Werner Honegger
  • Publication number: 20140202123
    Abstract: A filter element has a multi-layered filter medium web with several layers that is folded along folding lines. The filter medium web has at least one functional region in at least one section located between adjacent folding lines. The at least one functional region is a first embossment. The layers of the filter medium web are firmly bonded to each other along the first embossment. A device for folding a multi-layered filter medium web has an energy-introducing embossing unit that embosses the filter medium web fed by a feed unit to the embossing unit. A folding unit for folding the filter medium web along folding lines is provided. The energy-introducing embossing unit embosses and firmly bonds the layers of the filter medium web along at least one functional region in at least one section of the filter medium web located between adjacent folding lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Walz, Mario Keller
  • Patent number: 8777830
    Abstract: In a paper folding device, a first driving unit for forming a first folding line on the paper moves a first folding plate member to the paper fed to a first feeding position until load on the first folding plate member reaches a prescribed value or higher. A time period from the start of driving of the first folding unit by the first driving unit to the start of driving of a second folding unit by a second driving unit is determined based on characteristic of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Toyoizumi, Takashi Watanabe, Hiroaki Takatsu, Hitoshi Asano, Takafumi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140187407
    Abstract: The present invention is concerning to a sheet processing apparatus comprising: a pressing member configured to press a folding line portion of a sheet bundle being folded; and a moving unit configured to move the pressing member to a folding line direction of the sheet bundle, wherein the pressing member pressurizes a part of the sheet bundle corresponding to a downstream side of a conveyance direction of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi KIKUCHI, Kiyoshi HATA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Mamoru KAMBAYASHI, Makoto HIDAKA, Satoshi SAITO, Shohichi SATOH
  • Publication number: 20140171283
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a folded part forming unit that forms a folded part on the sheet by nipping a curved portion formed on a part of the sheet between an upstream first sheet conveying unit and a downstream second sheet conveying unit by holding a part of the sheet by the first sheet conveying unit and applying conveying force to the sheet to reverse the sheet upstream by the second sheet conveying unit; and a sheet leading end detection unit disposed downstream of or at almost same position as the second sheet conveying unit. The sheet is conveyed based on a detection timing of the sheet leading end detection unit such that the leading end of the sheet protrudes by a predetermined protrusion amount from the second sheet conveying unit immediately before applying conveying force to the sheet to reverse the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Shuuya NAGASAKO, Michitaka SUZUKI, Kazuya YAMAMOTO, Kyosuke NAKADA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Yuji SUZUKI, Kiichiro GOTO
  • Patent number: 8733751
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a stacking face (84) is inclined such that a downstream side in a sheet discharging direction is lower, and is composed of a first supporting face (84a) supporting a sheet to be stacked at its front end part in a sheet discharging direction and a second supporting face (84b) supporting the sheet to be stacked at its rear end part in the sheet discharging direction. The first supporting face (84a) is structured to be shorter than ½ of a minimum size length of the sheet to be stacked, and this is provided rotatably upward around a rotating shaft (85x) furnished to a registration part (85r) of regulating the front ends of the sheets. The first supporting face (84a) raises the front ends of the sheets to be discharged by rotation of the registration part (85r).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kagami, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Publication number: 20140135196
    Abstract: A method for producing a lid for a secondary package, the secondary package intended to encase primary packages, wherein the method comprises: folding the lid from a cardboard blank, comprising: side areas along a length of the blank, and the method comprises: picking the cardboard blank from a magazine with a picking unit; moving the picking unit, holding the cardboard blank to a position adjacent to a folding unit; transferring the cardboard blank from the picking unit to the folding unit, whereby the folding unit acts as an anvil and the picking unit acts as a stamp; thereby folding the side areas of the cardboard blank to form long lid sides, and forming short edges of the cardboard blank to short lid sides by folding them and holding them together, to form the lid for the secondary package. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Berglin, Nils-Olof Jönsson
  • Patent number: 8707662
    Abstract: A packaging machine for producing sealed packages from a web of packaging material having a surface of uneven thickness comprises a pressure roller to press the surface against a corresponding forming roller for sealing the package. The pressure roller comprises an elastically deformable body; and a core of greater rigidity housed therein, with the core comprising a first end surface cooperating with the body, and a radially inner second end surface. The core includes a first portion and a second portion, with the radial distance between the first and second surface at the first portion being greater than at the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Borsari, Stefano Costa, Claudio Ferrari
  • Publication number: 20140100100
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a first folding unit, a retreat path, a sheet retaining mechanism, and a second folding unit. The first folding unit forms a first fold in a sheet. The retreat path is entered by the sheet having the first fold formed by the first folding unit, and has a stop portion to be contacted by the first fold. The sheet retaining mechanism moves a movable member with respect to the sheet that enters the retreat path, and regulates movement of the sheet in the retreat path in a direction of thickness of the sheet. The second folding unit forms a second fold in the sheet having the first fold while allowing the sheet that has contacted the stop portion to exit the retreat path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Sachio Izumichi
  • Patent number: 8672823
    Abstract: A napkin folding device is provided having a folding unit provided for folding individual napkins, a storage unit provided for holding the folded napkins from the folding unit, a delivery unit provided for holding out unfolded napkins, and a transport unit provided for feeding the unfolded napkins from the delivery unit to the folding unit. The delivery unit has a magazine including at least two delivery levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rofobox GmbH
    Inventors: Elio Parruca, Christian Abt
  • Patent number: 8657729
    Abstract: A method (1) includes: a step (S10) of conveying the wearing article (1) in such a manner that a front waistline portion (10) and a back waistline portion (20) extend in a conveyance direction (MD) of the wearing article (1); a step (S20) of changing the conveyance direction (MD) of the wearing article (1) by 90 degrees; a step (S30) of folding a flap portion (70) toward the front waistline portion (10), while conveying the wearing article (1); a step (S40) of folding the wearing article (1) along a middle portion, which is located in the middle between the front waistline portion (10) and a crotch portion (30) in the front-to-back direction of the wearing article (1), in such a manner that the front waistline portion (10) and the crotch portion (30) face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8647248
    Abstract: A device for folding blanks has a bottom conveyor (30) capable of conveying blanks along a conveyance path (10). The bottom conveyor (30) includes several longitudinal side frame members (40a, 40b, 40c) each supporting an endless conveyor belt (38) guided along the conveyance path (10) by top rollers (31, 31a, 31b, 32, 33). At least one member (50) folds a front tab of a blank. The folding member (50) is static. At least one top roller (32) is offset vertically from the other top rollers so that the conveyance path is curved, and the folding member (50) is suspended in the vicinity of the offset roller (32) in a position to intercept a front tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bobst SA
    Inventors: Pascal Criblez, Olivier Favre
  • Publication number: 20140018226
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet transport path along which a sheet is transported and plural folding members that perform folding processing on the sheet, wherein any folding member of the plural folding members includes a transport unit that includes first and second transport members coming into contact with each other and transports a sheet, which is sent to a contact portion between the first and second transport members, to the downstream side, a first sending member that is positioned on the upstream side of the transport unit and sends the sheet to the contact portion so that a portion of the transported sheet becomes a head, and a second sending member that is positioned on the upstream side of the transport unit and sends the sheet to the contact portion so that any of upstream and downstream end portions of the transported sheet becomes a head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsunori HARADA
  • Publication number: 20130307207
    Abstract: An inserter including a pocket for holding an unevenly folded printed product having a fold edge, a first section on a first side of the fold edge and a second section on a second side of the fold edge that is at least 20 percent shorter than the first section is provided. The pocket includes a lower support surface for supporting the fold edge, a first wall for supporting the first section and a second wall for supporting the second section. The first and second walls each have at least one cutout defined therein. The at least one cutout of the second wall includes a lower cutout edge that is less than a length of the second section away from the lower support surface. The inserter also includes a gripper for securely gripping unevenly folded printed product and removing the unevenly folded printed product from the pocket by passing through the at least one cutouts in the first and second walls. A method of inserting an insert into an unevenly folded printed product is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc
    Inventor: Peter Roy TASSINARI
  • Patent number: 8506466
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting folded signatures is provided which includes a first roller and a second roller forming a first nip with the first roller. The first and second rollers each have a compressible outer layer, and are rotatable about respective axes. Preferably, the compressible outer later comprises a microcellular foam. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first transport tapes passing through the first nip and a plurality of second transport tapes passing through the first nip. The plurality of second transport tapes are wrapped at least partially around the second roller so that a signature transported between the first and second transport tapes between the first nip undergoes a change in transport direction as it is transported at least partially around the second roller. Preferably, the signatures enter the first nip perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Roger Douillard, David Elliot Whitten, David Clarke Pollock
  • Patent number: 8506465
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a medium in a folder, which includes a rotatable folding cylinder, a first rotatable press member capable of engaging with said folding cylinder to form a first folding pinch, a second rotatable press member capable of engaging with said folding cylinder to form a second folding pinch, and a medium feed means, wherein the medium is fed with the medium feed means towards the folding cylinder between the first and second pinch; b) the medium is then directed into the first folding pinch, formed by engaging said first rotatable press member with said folding cylinder, by rotating the folding cylinder in a first direction; c) a blouse is formed in the medium between said feed means and the folding cylinder; and d) said blouse is moved into said second pinch by rotating the folding cylinder in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Michiel A. C. Terhaag, Jeroen A. A. Van Assen
  • Publication number: 20130203579
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a sheet transport system, adjustable folding members arranged to bend and fold a sheet fed by the transport system, and a control system arranged to adjust the folding members to set positions in accordance with information on sheet properties. The control system stores a table that specifies different set positions of the folding members for different bending properties of the sheets and is adapted to read information on the bending properties of the sheets to be folded and to adjust the folding members to set positions as specified by the bending properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: OCE TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: OCE TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
  • Patent number: 8439814
    Abstract: Blanks used in the manufacture of nappies/diapers are folded on a machine comprising a first aspirating roller (5) by which single blanks (2) are advanced in succession toward a second aspirating roller (6) rotating counter and substantially tangential to the first roller (5) at a folding station (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: GDM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Piantoni, Diego Sacchi, Marco Rosani, Alberto Perego
  • Patent number: 8419604
    Abstract: A device for manipulation of flat articles such as sheets of paper, plastic, cardboard and the like has at least one adjustable conveying unit with conveying elements, especially rollers. The at least one conveying unit is adjustable between at least two positions for performing at least two manipulations on the article. At least one switch that is adjustable between at least two positions for performing at least two manipulations on the article is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Jürg Paul Haller
  • Publication number: 20130005555
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to allow for creation of a cross-machine direction fold boundary, so that a laminate with a defined foldover can be created. A laid open two-ply material can then undergo processing operations such as addition of discrete disposable product components, or printing, and then be laid closed and sealed to form disposable products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20120329628
    Abstract: A folding apparatus for folding of non-rigid material parts has a folding unit for folding of individual non-rigid material parts, a storage unit for receiving the folded non-rigid material parts from the folding unit, a supply unit for keeping non-folded non-rigid material parts on hand, and a transport unit for feeding the non-folded non-rigid material parts from the supply unit to the folding unit, and a provisioning unit keeping set items on hand for the folding unit. The provisioning unit has a withdrawal unit for storage of unsorted set items and a deposit unit for receiving sorted set items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: ROFOBOX GMBH
    Inventors: Christian ABT, Dieter FAUDE
  • Publication number: 20120316047
    Abstract: A device for making, on a web element (W), which is advancing, a fold along a line of fold (W3) oriented in the direction of advance of the web so as to bring a first portion (W1) and a second portion (W2) of the web element (W), originally situated on opposite sides of the line of fold (W3), to assume a folded configuration, in which the second portion (W2) is turned over on the first portion (W1). The device comprises:—a surface of feed (10) for feeding the first portion (W1) of the web element (W), the surface having an edge (100), which defines the aforesaid line of fold (W3); and—a motor-driven belt conveyor (20), set alongside the surface of feed (10) along the folding edge (100) for conveying the second portion (W2) of the web element (W) subjected to folding; the belt conveyor (20) extends according to a path of twisting around said folding edge (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Gabriele Sablone, Paolo Pasqualoni
  • Patent number: 8273003
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention includes: a folding section 2 for folding a web W in two so that opposite side edges Wa and Wb of the web W are brought into a predetermined positional relationship with each other by bringing the web W into contact with an abutting member 4; a pair of carrying means 10A and 10B arranged along opposite sides of the web W for carrying the web W in the longitudinal direction X; a plurality of holding means 20 provided in each of the carrying means 10A and 10B wherein the holding means 20 can be displaced in the transverse direction D of the web W; displacement means 30 for displacing the holding means 20 in the transverse direction D upstream of the abutting member 4 so as to correct a positional relationship between the web W and the abutting member 4; detection means 3 for outputting positional information regarding a position of the web W in the transverse direction D; and control means 200 for controlling the displacement means 30 based on the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoshi Umebayashi, Takahiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 8256757
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet from a carry-in entrance to carry out to a carrying-out exit has a sheet feeding apparatus, a first transport path, a second transport path, and a folding processing device. The sheet feeding apparatus includes a transport roller pair in press-contact with each other, a gate stopper device having a stopper member, a register area to curve and deform the sheet with the front end regulated, and a stopper driving device for shifting the gate stopper device. The stopper member is formed so that a shift trajectory of the regulation surface is to guide the front end of the sheet to the press-contact portion of the transport roller pair. The first transport path is provided with the sheet feeding apparatus for aligning a front end of the sheet fed from the carry-in entrance to feed to a predetermined processing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Publication number: 20120220440
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a conveying path forming member that forms a sheet conveying path having a curved portion through which a front edge of the sheet passes, a sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveying path, a sheet folding unit that folds the sheet along the folding line in the sheet conveying path, and then conveys the sheet toward a discharge direction with the folding line discharged first as a front edge, and a sheet position defining unit that defines a position of the front edge of the sheet in the curved portion of the sheet conveying path so that a target position of the folding line on the sheet coincides with a folding position of the sheet folding unit. The sheet position defining unit can adjust an inclination of the front edge of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya Murata, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Toshikazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20120175280
    Abstract: To provide a wet tissue package that allows for easy taking out of a wet tissue accommodated in a package body. A wet tissue package includes: a package body having an opening; and a plurality of wet tissues accommodated in the package body in a state of being individually folded and stacked without being interfolded, in which each of the plurality of wet tissues includes: a first folding line parallel to the first side edge; a second folding line parallel to the first folding line; and a turn-back portion formed by folding the wet tissue on the first folding line and the second folding line, in which the turn-back portion is directed toward the opening and a part of the turn-back portion is disposed so as to be exposable through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Bando, Takahiro Ueda, Ikue Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20120157286
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding a product having a first portion and a second portion has a receiving roll with a drive assembly for rotating the receiving roll at variable surface speeds in a first direction of rotation. The receiving roll is adapted to selectively hold the first and second portions of the product thereto. A folding roll has a drive assembly for rotating the folding roll at variable surface speeds in a second, opposite direction of rotation. The folding roll is adapted to selectively hold the first portion of the product thereto. An oscillating member is adapted to transfer the first portion of the product from the receiving roll to the folding roll. The oscillating member has a drive assembly for moving the oscillating member at variable surface speeds in both the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gregory J. Rajala, John Soosai Alphonse, Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Publication number: 20120142510
    Abstract: A sheet bundle treatment apparatus may include a folding device, a conveying unit, a flattening device, and a control unit. The folding device performs a folding process on a sheet bundle to produce a folded sheet bundle. The conveying unit conveys the folded sheet bundle. The flattening device performs a flattening process to press a folded portion of the sheet bundle from the folded portion toward a fore edge to flatten the folded portion after the conveyance of the sheet bundle. The control unit causes the sheet bundle to be conveyed at a first velocity when the flattening process is not to be performed, and causes the sheet bundle to be conveyed at a second velocity which is slower than the first velocity when the flattening process is to be performed, thereby stopping the sheet bundle at a position where the flattening process is to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Hitoshi Kato, Tomoharu Sato