Abstract: A method and an apparatus are for forming open-edge V-shaped notches (32) in a binding margin (42) of large-format sheets (11) such as shop drawings or construction plans for example, so that after the sheets have been folded the notches (32) are aligned in registration with binding holes (46) also provided in the binding margin. A cutting and crosswise folding table (20) is provided at the top of a folding machine, and stamping tools (22) are provided at an edge of the table. The large-format sheets are continuously, sequentially output from a device such as a plotter, and fed to the folding machine, where the sheets are folded lengthwise and transported onto the table (20). There, the notches are cut in the binding margin by the stamping tools. The binding holes may be simultaneously formed. Thereafter, a crosswise folding beam (65) folds the sheet in a crosswise direction.

Abstract: A sequentially timed vacuum grip system holds a sheet and transports it through a folding nip defined by a pair of folding cylinders. At the nip, the folded edge of the sheet is released and simultaneously picked-up by the paired companion cylinder. Additional folds are achieved in the same manner by the use of additional cylinder pairs.

Abstract: A stalled sheet folding and flattening apparatus for reducing a sheet, stalled between a withdrawable and a fixed component of a cut sheet handling system of a sheet handling machine, into a shape and size suitably enabling reliable removal of the stalled sheet through even a relatively narrow gap between the withdrawable and fixed components of the sheet handling system. The stalled sheet folding and flattening apparatus includes a fixed component of the sheet handling system connected to a frame of the machine and having a first section of a sheet path; a withdrawable component of the sheet handling system mounted to the frame, and having a sheet flattening side defining a relatively narrow gap between a fixed surface within the machine and the withdrawable component, and including a second section of the sheet path adjoining the first section of the sheet path; and a sheet folding device mounted to the fixed component.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding sheet blanks (1), e.g. for boxes and trays from carton or corrugated cardboard. It includes press means (6, 7) attached to at least one endless conveying means (10). The press means are intended to coact with selected parts (2, 3) of the blanks for folding them up or down from the plane of the blank during their passage through the apparatus. The blanks are arranged to be conveyed through the apparatus at the same speed as that at which the conveying means is driven. The latter is guided in a helical path by an elongate, rigid structure (8, 9) forming continuous support for the conveying means. During the entire folding operation the operative ones of the press means attached to the conveying means press against the same area on the part of the blank with which they coact.

Abstract: A controllable actuator for stopping and positioning a signature in a high speed printing press including a electric magnet or a solenoid and a break or a roller or both. Various arrangements of a plurality of such actuators can be used to orient, center, and steer signatures in a high speed printing press.

Abstract: A folding device includes one folding station in which a sheet can be folded zig-zag consecutively along a first dimension and in a second direction at right angles to said first dimensions. A control device automatically sets the folding device to a first folding program intended for folding an unfolded sheet, or a second folding program intended for folding a sheet already folded in one direction.

Abstract: A system for affixing cards to a form and folding the form with the cards attached. The system includes a card affixer for affixing cards to any location on a form having a form transporting mechanism for moving the form, a carriage for receiving and holding a card, a carriage translating mechanism for moving the carriage across the width of the form transporting mechanism and a pressing mechanism for pressing the card against the form. The system also includes a form folder for precisely folding forms with the cards already attached. The form folder includes a form guide structure having at least one scoring edge, a form transfer mechanism, a roller unit, a roller translating mechanism and a roller rotating mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding products utilizes interchangeable buckle plates and bypass plates as well as a buckle plate and diverting device combination to accomplish various folding formats, i.e. Z-folding, C-folding and half-folding. When the product is a combination of a document with an insert, the document is folded around the insert as initially the diverting device operates to deflect the leading edge of the product into its associated buckle plate to begin the folding process. The folding apparatus is design for use in an electronic publishing system.

Abstract: A side jogging mechanism for aligning a sheet to be folded into an outsert by an outsert folding apparatus comprises a frame including first and second oppositely disposed side frame members between which the outsert folding apparatus is received, an adjustable solenoid assembly mounted on the first side frame member, and a side stop assembly mounted on the second side frame member. The solenoid assembly includes a solenoid, a plunger extending from and actuated by the solenoid, and a pusher mounted at an end of the plunger located between the first and second side frame members. The side stop assembly includes a side stop located between the first and second side frame members. The solenoid assembly further includes an adjusting mechanism, e.g., a threaded shaft and handwheel, for adjusting the position of the pusher between the first and second side frame members, which adjusting mechanism is located outside the frame. Desirably, the side stop assembly also including an adjusting mechanism, e.g.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding a web of sheet material moving along a given linear path comprise three longitudinally spaced plates forming an overall slot having a base portion through which the central portion of the web passes, and short reversely curved slot portions at the ends of the base portion which join outer end slot portions which fold the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the web toward each other. The outermost of the plates having large aligned apertures whose margins fall along the outer margins of the slot. The plate between the outermost plates has a tongue with margins which fall along the inner margin of the slot.

Abstract: A sheet folder apparatus for use with a web-fed printing press includes upstream and downstream folding assemblies and a conveyor for delivering cross-folded sheets from the upstream assembly to the downstream assembly. A head stop is positioned within the delivery path defined by the conveyor for limiting the movement of the cross-folded sheet along the path and for positioning the sheet relative to the downstream folding assembly. The position of the head stop along the delivery path may be adjusted during operation of the apparatus so that it is not necessary to shut the apparatus down to make adjustments to accommodate various signature size and format changes in the apparatus. A registration system is also included for registering the two folding assemblies relative to the apparatus when either the upstream assembly is replaced or the downstream assembly is enabled.

Abstract: The blanks (1) are withdrawn one after another from a storage part (20) by transfer means (21) and are disposed on the cylindrical support surface of a drum (3) driven rotatingly by portions of a revolution. Various processing operations are performed on the blanks either while the drum is rotating or while it is stopped, e.g., folding a flap (16), gluing this flap to a surface portion (15) of the blank, or printing a code (17) on part of the blank. The presence, correct positioning, and proper alignment of the blank on the drum are checked before the aforementioned operations are carried out. After they have been effected, the blank is withdrawn from the drum to be sent on to a packaging machine. The processing apparatus and method can be utilized on a line for processing boxes or the like, particularly cigarette boxes, just before they are assembled to receive their contents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately positioning a plurality of slotted boxes which are in a flat collapsed state, in a magazine of a box erector. The box erector handles and sets up the boxes into a position having an open top for subsequently receiving items therein while moving bottom closure flaps into a generally closed position. A laser unit is mounted adjacent a box supply loading magazine of the box erector and projects a beam of light against a box placed in the magazine. The magazine then is adjusted until the fixed light beam strikes a predetermined location on the box, preferably the end of a slot formed between adjacent major and minor flaps of the box. This light beam strike location correlates with a location at an unfold station of the erector which receives a bottom corner of the box.

Abstract: A folding and depositing device for drawings provided with legends, comprising two folding stations for folding drawings in two directions at right angles to one another and a collecting station for depositing the folded drawings with their legends on the same side such that the folding stations fold drawings of a first group of formats (A1 and A2), first in the longitudinal direction and then in the transverse direction, and fold drawings of a second group of formats (A0 and A3), first in the transverse direction and then in the longitudinal direction and, depending on the group to which they belong, the folded drawings are directed via different discharge paths from the second folding station to the collecting station, and wherein an intermediate transport path between the folding stations is accessible via a routing switch to enable a subsequent drawing to be folded in the first folding station while a previous drawing is being transversely transported to the second folding station.

Abstract: The timing of the holder blade of a folding machine is adjusted in dependence on the force exerted by a signature impacting on a locating plate, the timing of the folder blade being advanced in relation to an increase in the impact force, the actual impact force being compared with an optimal impact force, a signal representing the difference between said forces being employed to adjust the timing of the folder blade.

Abstract: A chopper-folder for restraining movement of a paper sheet relative to a folding slot as the sheet is conveyed along a path in a rotary printing press. The chopper-folder includes stoppers for stopping the movement of the paper sheet, restraining members for restraining vertical movement of the side edge portions of the paper sheet during the chopper-fold operation, and a driving unit for supporting and simultaneously driving the restraining members and the stoppers to conduct the chopper-fold operation. The stoppers, restraining members and the driving unit are mounted to the chopper-folder in such a manner that they can be easily moved away from the folding slot when jamming occurs during the chopper-fold operation, to facilitate quick and easy correction of the problem.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically producing folded and sealed printed products from form sheets includes a high-speed printer interconnected with a conveyor which directs form sheets from the outfeed of the printer to the infeed of a folder gluer. In an alternative embodiment for producing such products from a form web, the system and method includes a burster interconnected with a conveyor to separate the printed form web into form sheets. Means for controlling the system include jam detection means for sensing and stopping all system components in the event of a form jam. Means for communicating between the printer and conveyor align those elements without need for conventional hard wiring or mechanical fasteners. Means for communicating between the burster and conveyor includes a simple cable and cable connections.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of paperboard tray forming machines which typically consist of an upper and lower die which interlock to deform a paperboard blank. The invention is an arcuate yoke having a pair of legs to which locating stops and side guide plates are rigidly attached. The die is angled to the earth so that a blank deposited onto the die is gravity biased toward the locating stops. The yoke is vibratingly driven and the blank is vibrated into position on the lower die by contacting the locating stops and side guide plates and vibrating to the blank's lowest position on the die.

Abstract: A paper tray forming machine with an improved blank centering device which consists of at least one finger which is moved upward and toward two passive stops. The finger may be shaped similarly to the blank's edge so that precise positioning occurs during the motion of the fingers.

Abstract: Bar scoring apparatus with a conveyor for moving a corrugated box in one direction, a first conveyor table that is adapted to align the box and feed it to a scoring press in another direction, perpendicular to the one direction, and a second conveyor table that is adapted to receive the fully-scored box and feed it to a subsequent process in yet another direction, opposite to the one direction. The first conveyor table is inclined downwardly from the conveyor, and includes a datum edge to align the box under the influence of gravity. Once the box is fully-scored, a rotatable frame on the second conveyor table rotates downwardly to a horizontal position for offload of the box.

Abstract: A paper tray forming machine with an improved blank centering device which consists of at least one finger which is moved upward and toward two passive stops. The finger may be shaped similarly to the blank's edge so that precise positioning occurs during the motion of the fingers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for introducing a gusset into a web of plastic film. The apparatus includes a pneumatically-biased protruding plate which varies the depth of the gusset to maintain a constant protruding plate-film web tension in response to variations in the transverse width of the film web. Further disclosed is a means for holding the zipper laterally stationary and in alignment while the gusset is introduced into the film web by the same apparatus.

Abstract: A table top buckle chute fold machine is disclosed in which improved and more reliable squaring of the paper to the folding rolls is accomplished by lightly driving an inserted sheet of paper with a friction roller against a selected one of several deflector assemblies. The deflector assemblies each include a deflector member spaced away from the rollers to direct the advancing edge of the paper inwardly so as to be abutted against the back of a recessed guide groove. An intermittently engaged drive roller causes the squared paper to be forcibly advanced against the groove, causing the sheet to buckle and be nipped between another pair of driven nip rollers, forming a first fold at the location determined by the location of the particular deflector assembly activated.

Abstract: An automatic fold-pan assembly for attachment to a sheet folding machine is provided which includes at least one fold-controlling paper stop disposed in the fold-pan assembly in a space between upper and lower plates. The positioning of the paper stop a predetermined distance from the sheet-entrance mouth of the assembly is controlled by a computer in conjunction with stepper motors which are arranged to direct the forward and rearward movement of the paper stop.

Abstract: A device for stacking pieces of fabric which includes a fold bar, at least one gripper movable in translation for grasping succesive pieces of fabric on the fold bar, a fold bar support which is movable between a rear position and a front position for receiving the pieces of fabric from the outlet of a sewing machine, a stacking table positioned adjacent to the fold bar, the gripper being driven in an alternating motion between a position in which it is located over the fold bar support when the support is in its rear position, and a position in which it is located over the stacking table and a guide bar which faces the stacking table at a level which is higher than the greatest possible height to which the fabric can be stacked.

Abstract: Various configurations of boxes of a corrugated or fiberboard material are manufactured by a machine and process in which scored marginal flaps of the preformed box blank material are laterally wrapped around forming mandrels or fingers to define corner and/or intermediate posts integral with a wall portion of the resulting box, with at least a portion of each flap laminated to the side wall.

Abstract: A case making machine is provided with an apparatus for folding rear portion of a feeding case blank and the apparatus comprises a claw mechanism for folding the rear portion of the case blank along the folding line. The claw mechanism is rotated at an angular speed which is changed by a cam mechanism operated by a driving source through a drive shaft and a link mechanism. An electromagnetic valve is further provided for controlling the operation of the claw mechanism. The valve is actuated by an electric circuit such that the electromagnetic valve can be operated in synchrony with the advancing speed of the blank. This result is achieved by increasing pulse numbers inputted into the circuit to account for the rise time interval of the electromagnetic valve.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus to test folded sheets for folding deviations from the reference folding line, to be used in pocket folding - or cutting folding machines, markings are made on the folding material, corresponding with the print format, and are sensed by sensors, preferably electro-optical reflection sensors after the material has been folded inside the machine, to obtain the position information. The evaluation position information derived from the output of the sensors for a number of folded sheets is rigid to determine the adjustments of the machine necessary to correct the deviations.

Abstract: In feeding a strip of continuous forms including forms arranged in a plurality of layers and having a plurality of series of perforations extending widthwise of the strip and arranged at regular intervals lengthwise of the strip, the strip is bent at one of the series of perforations to provide a bent portion, and a member is located inwardly of the bent portion of the strip for movement toward and away from the bent portion of the strip. When the member is brought into contact with the bent portion of the strip, the upper and lower layers of the strip are brought into alignment with one another through the series of perforations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding sheet stacks in a web-fed rotary printing press is disclosed. The sheet stacks are severed from groups of paper ribbons and are conveyed by suitable conveying cylinders to spaced folding tables. Each folding table is provided with rotating folding blades and cooperating driving folding roller pairs. Each folding table is further provided with a pulse absorber assembly having a plurality of stop rods or bars which are positioned to contact the leading edge of each group of sheet stacks to halt the motion of the stacks on the folding tables. The halted sheet stacks are then folded. A suitable drive assembly for the pulse absorber is also disclosed.