Abstract: A buckle-folding unit for a folding machine has at least one buckle plate (10) including a plurality of plate-bar structures (12) which are spaced apart one beside the other in a single plane, each of the plate-bar structures (12) including two plate bars (14, 16) spaced apart from one another to form a gap (18) therebetween, the gaps (18) being located in a single plane. The plate bars (14, 16) have an inner recess (33) in the side thereof which is directed toward the gap (18). A sheet-stopping device (22), which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the plate-bar structures (12), is arranged transversely to the plate-bar structures (12) and passes through the gaps (18) of the plate-bar structures (12).

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for accumulating and directionally reorienting the movement of a stack of sheets after first folding the stack, each sheet of the stack being fed from a feed conveyor along a feed path. The apparatus includes a turnplate, for receiving each of a series of sheets which are there accumulated into a stack of sheets. Stops protrude from a sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, which holds the stack of sheets edge aligned against the stops.

Abstract: A buckle chute having a deflector disposed in front thereof to allow a sheet of document to enter the buckle chute channel or to deflect the sheet away from the channel. The deflector is pivotally linked to two actuator arms on the left and right sides of the buckle chute. Each actuator arm is pivotally linked to a bell crank, which is also pivotally linked to a linking member. The linking members are further connected to a lever such that they can be moved in opposite directions from left to right or from right to left so as to cause the bell cranks to rotate in opposite directions. As such, the actuator arms are simultaneously moved toward or away from the front side to control the deflector position.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming informational items such as outserts and booklets may include folding a sheet of paper having product information printed thereon by making a plurality of folds in the sheet of paper to form a first folded article, the folds in the sheet of paper being made using a first folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers; (b) making a fold in the first folded article to form a second folded article, the fold being parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the fold being made using a second folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers; (c) applying pressure at least about 30 psi and no greater than about 500 psi to the second folded article a first pressing unit having a pair of pressure rollers; and (d) making one or more folds in the second folded article to form an outsert using a third folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers having a nip therebetween and a movable blade member, the movable blade member making contact with a

Abstract: A buckle chute having a stop to cause a sheet of document entering the buckle chute to buckle for making a folded edge. The ends of stop are threadably engaged with two lead screws, which are mechanically linked together by a chain, so that the lead screws can be simultaneously turned in order to adjust the position of both ends of the stop. Each end of the stops has a split nut with grooves for engaging with the threads of the lead screws. The split nut can be disengaged from the threads so that the position of one or both ends of the stop can be adjusted.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing brochures, books or like products, having a jacket constructed with turned-in flaps, the folded edges of the flaps preferably protruding beyond the front cut of the block or terminating flush with the latter in which (a) leaves or folded sheets are gathered in a gathering machine (3) to form a block (1), (b) the block (1) is fed to a first cutting station (A) and trimmed on the front side (1a) and (c) then is transferred into an adhesive binding machine (4) in which the leaves or folded sheets are joined by the application of an adhesive, (d) the block (1) is cased into a jacket and (e) the block (1), provided with a jacket, is fed to a second cutting station (B) where the product (2) is trimmed at the top and bottom sides (2a, 2b).

Abstract: A sheet finisher includes: a sheet stacking section on which sheets are stacked; a pair of folding rollers for pressing and conveying the sheets; a roller driving device for driving the pair of folding rollers; a protruding member which is protruded toward a nipping position of the pair of folding rollers to fold the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking section in two; and a protruding member driving device for driving the protruding member to protrude toward the nipping position. When the protruding member driving device drives the protruding member toward the nipping position, the roller driving device is suspended to drive the pair of folding rollers to be conveyed.

Abstract: A buckle chute having a stop to cause a sheet of document entering the buckle chute to buckle for making a folded edge. The ends of stop are threadably engaged with two lead screws, which are mechanically linked together by a chain, so that the lead screws can be simultaneously turned in order to adjust the position of both ends of the stop. Each end of the stops has a split nut with grooves for engaging with the threads of the lead screws. The split nut can be disengaged from the threads so that the position of one or both ends of the stop can be adjusted.

Abstract: A buckle chute having a deflector disposed in front thereof to allow a sheet of document to enter the buckle chute channel or to deflect the sheet away from the channel. The deflector is pivotally linked to two actuator arms on the left and right sides of the buckle chute. Each actuator arm is pivotally linked to a bell crank, which is also pivotally linked to a linking member. The linking members are further connected to a lever such that they can be moved in opposite directions from left to right or from right to left so as to cause the bell cranks to rotate in opposite directions. As such, the actuator arms are simultaneously moved toward or away from the front side to control the deflector position.

Abstract: An outsert-forming apparatus and method that forms outserts and booklets having printed product information thereon. The apparatus may comprise a first folding unit that forms a first folded article from a sheet of paper having printed information thereon, a second folding unit that forms a second folded article from the first folded article, a first detector positioned to detect the second folded article, an adhesive applicator positioned to apply adhesive to the second folded article, a second detector positioned to detect the adhesive applied to the second folded article, and a controller operatively coupled to the first detector, the second detector and the adhesive applicator.

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for accumulating and directionally reorienting the movement of a stack of sheets after first folding the stack, each sheet of the stack being fed from a feed conveyor along a feed path. The apparatus includes a turnplate, for receiving each of a series of sheets which are there accumulated into a stack of sheets. Stops protrude from a sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, which holds the stack of sheets edge aligned against the stops.

Abstract: A signature folding device includes a rotating belt and a plurality of blades attached to the belt, each of the plurality of blades contacting one of the signatures over an entire length of the one signature at a same time. Also disclosed is a method for folding a signature comprising transporting the signature on a fold table having a gap, the signature moving in a transport direction and forming a plane. A folding blade having a blade edge is moved in a direction both perpendicular and parallel to the transport direction, the blade edge being parallel to the plane upon contact with the signature, so as to pass through the gap and fold the signature.

Abstract: Vacuum folding apparatus to make longitudinal and transverse folds in product width webs for folded napkins using a plurality of full speed web feed and cutoff anvil/knife roll couples each to process a portion of product webs slit from a wide parent web. The preferred apparatus includes two or more cutoff units in circumferentially spaced contact with a carrier cylinder having a hollow cylinder with shaped vacuum conduits attached to the inside surface and cooperating with pluralties of anvil/knife rolls having drilled conduits and valve means to control vacuum independently for each plurality of webs being processed. Intermediate between frame members support one end of multi-width anvil/knife roll couples.

Abstract: A high speed paper folding machine for cutting a continuously fed web of paper into sections and folding said sections is disclosed. The machine includes a rotating hollow drum on which the web is deposited and on which the cutting and folding operations are performed without transferring the web or the cut or folded sections off of the drum. The drum includes a knife for cutting the web. The knife preferably is situated within the drum interior and adapted to extend through elongated apertures defined on the drum outer surface. Grippers on the drum hold the web on the drum through the operation. At least one folding station is operably associated with the drum. At least one pack-off station can be provided for stacking the folded product in separate stacks.

Abstract: A sheet feeding, folding and accumulating machine has an integral sheet storing and feeding mechanism, and a plurality of feeding inputs from which sheets are fed to a path of travel through the machine from the sheet storing and feeding mechanism or from an external source. A pair of buckle chutes are mounted in the machine, and suitable feeding and folding rollers are mounted adjacent the input ends of the buckle chutes for folding sheets that are fed into the buckle chutes. A movable buckle chute bypass gate is mounted adjacent the input end of each buckle chute, the gates being movable between opposite positions to cause sheets either to enter one or both of the buckle chutes or to bypass the buckle chutes and proceed directly to an accumulating mechanism that is mounted adjacent an outlet end of the machine to control whether each sheet will be folded or not folded before being deposited in the accumulating device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing a collation in a folding station (100) having a folding roller assembly (106, 108, 110, 112), a first fold plate assembly (102) and a second fold plate assembly (104) downstream of the folding roller assembly and the first fold plate assembly. The second fold plate assembly includes a stop member (126) movable at least between a distal position away from the folding roller assembly and a proximal position in proximity to the folding roller assembly. A portion of the collation is first conveyed into the first fold plate assembly (102) and the collation is then conveyed from the first fold plate assembly, through the folding roller assembly, and into the second fold plate assembly. Once in the second folding plate assembly the collation abuts against the stop member, whereafter the stop member (126) is moved from its distal position to its proximal position so as to cause the collation to convey out of the second fold plate assembly (104).

Abstract: An apparatus for folding and sealing a sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive positioned thereon is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first roller and a second roller. The second roller has a roller surface, and a plurality of independent sealing protrusions extending from the roller surface. The sealing protrusions are positioned in operative contact with the first roller during advancement of the sheet between the first roller and the second roller. The apparatus yet further includes a third roller. The sealing protrusions of the second roller are positioned in operative contact with the third roller during advancement of the sheet between the second roller and the third roller. The sealing protrusions extend from the roller surface at locations such that advancement of the sheet between the second roller and the third roller causes the sealing protrusions to operatively contact the adhesive.

Abstract: Selectable inverting or folding of various sizes of sheets in various fold positions is provided with an integral dual mode inverting or folding apparatus including a sheet inverting chute for receiving and guiding a sheet therein and having both an input and an intermediate aperture; and a reversible servo driven sheet drive in the chute downstream of the intermediate aperture. A sheet fed into the chute for inversion is reverse driven back to the chute input. A sheet fed into the chute for folding is instead stopped at the desired folding position by the servo drive and reverse driven out of the intermediate aperture into a sheet folding nip, preferably with the assistance of a blade member moved through the intermediate aperture to buckle and push that portion of the sheet adjacent to the intermediate aperture into the sheet folding nip.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for processing printed sheets that are output from a high speed printer of a card processing system. The modular apparatus is capable of buffering or storing the sheets that are in progress in the printer when the system is stopped or paused, flips them so that they face upward, folds the sheets if necessary, and reorientates the sheets so that all sheets exit the module in the same orientation for further processing by the next module.

Abstract: An improved sheet folder for flimsy printed sheets with an automatic fold position correction system. The folder may have an input sheet feeder, a fold chute with a chute entrance, reversible sheet feeding rollers in the fold chute adjacent to the chute entrance, fold rollers, a folded sheets output path, and a sensor system for sensing the length of folded sheets in the folded sheets output path. A sheet to be folded is may be partially fed into the fold chute, engaged by the reversible rollers, and fed thereby further into the chute by a selected distance corresponding to a desired folding position along the sheet. Then, the reversible rollers are stopped at a selected sheet stopping position and reversed to feed the sheet into the fold rollers, cooperatively with the input sheet feeder. The fold rollers feed the folded sheet into the folded sheets output path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet folding apparatus comprising a folding means for folding a sheet by feeding a folded portion of the sheet by a pair of rotary members, in which the folded portion of the sheet is passed through a nip between the pair of rotary members by plural times by rotating said pair of rotary members in normal and reverse directions alternately. It further comprises a switch-back control means for controlling so that a return speed of the sheet obtained by the pair of rotary members becomes slower than an advancing speed of the sheet.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is applied to a case of folding, for example, the sleeve cloth of short-sleeved T-shirt in half while conveying. A holding device grips the leading end of the cloth conveyed on a conveying surface of narrow conveyor belts, lifts the gripped leading end of the cloth from the conveying surface, and holds it above the conveying surface temporarily. A cloth stopping device stops conveying of the front side portion of the conveyed cloth on the conveying surface at a position of an upstream side in the conveying direction from the holding device. When cloths are put on the conveying surface by overlaying mutually in part, a space is formed between the preceding cloth and succeeding cloth by the cloth stopping device, so that the leading end of the cloth is gripped and lifted by the holding device.

Abstract: A buckle folding machine comprises a stationary machine frame (1) and four parallel working cylinders (3, 4, 5, 6) which have the same outside diameter and in pairs define at least two folding nips for the material to be folded and are adapted to be rotated at the same speed by a common transmission. It is proposed that the four working cylinders (3, 4, 5, 6) and the common transmission are arranged in the rotary frame (2), which is rotatably mounted in the machine frame (1) and is adapted to be rotated by a drive in order to draw in, fold and eject the material which is to be or has been folded. At least one of the working cylinders (3, 4, 5, 6) which revolve with the rotary frame is displaceable in said rotary frame. At least one of the working cylinders (3, 4, 5, 6) is adapted to be positively displaced within the rotary frame (2) by a mechanical control device.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming one or more folds in a sheet having a trailing edge and a leading edge. The apparatus including: a device for forming a buckle in the sheet, a mechanism for folding the sheet along the buckle, and an auxiliary feed path for directing the leading edge of the sheet out of contact with the folding mechanism and returning the sheet back to the buckle forming device. In the preferred embodiment, the folding mechanism includes a first folder roller and a second fold roller and the auxiliary feed path is race track shaped. Additionally, the auxiliary feed path may include: a first pathway, a second pathway which is longer in length than the first pathway and a gate for controlling whether the sheet enters the first pathway or the second pathway depending upon the length of the sheet.

Abstract: Postal items are assembled using a system with delivery stations and a folding station. Documents are delivered by the delivery stations. The documents are gathered into a stack having on one side substantially aligned document edges. The stack is supplied to the folding station in a direction transverse to these edges. According to the invention the documents, after being delivered, are displaced relative to each other in an area downstream of the delivery stations and upstream of the folding station until these document edges are substantially aligned on one side of the documents. By virtue of the invention, it is possible, inter alia, to use delivery stations and transport means of simple construction. There is also proposed a system with an aligning station for carrying out the method according to the invention.

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 folding device for the zigzag folding of a sheet, including two pairs of folding rollers which form two folding nips and which rollers are drivable alternately in opposite directions of rotation, and a pair of feed rollers which alternately feed a sheet for folding to the folding nips, the speed of conveyance of the folding rollers being initially 120% of the speed of conveyance of the feed rollers and, after passage of the leading sheet edge through the first of the two folding nips, it is 110% of the speed of conveyance, wherein after each reversal of direction of rotation of the folding rollers, the speed of conveyance of the folding rollers is initially 110% of the speed of conveyance of the pair of feed rollers and, shortly after passage of a fold made in the associated folding nip, it is 100% thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping, folding and transferring a stack of flexible plastic bag products such as a stack of zippered plastic bags. The apparatus can be retrofitted in existing bag sealers used for producing and packaging a stack of plastic bags in order to produce novel shallower plastic bag products.

Abstract: The apparatus for folding and sealing a one piece mailer is of compact construction for mounting on a desktop. The feed path for a mailer includes the curvilinear guide path for guiding the mailer from one horizontal path into a second horizontal path above the first horizontal path. Stops are provided to stop movement of the mailer at the end of the second horizontal path. A first water applicator applies water or a moistening solution to adhesive on the edges of the moving mailer while a second water applicator applies water or a moistening solution to a leading transverse edge of the mailer. Folding rollers are provided to fold the mailer in half or in thirds.

Abstract: A card package production system (20) for producing card packages (22) with cards (26) mounted to bifold carrier forms (24) with a pair of parallel, spaced, preweakened fold lines (33) and (34) dividing the body (32) of the carrier forms into leading end (35), middle (36) and lagging end (37) sections, a card carrier form folding apparatus (30) having a stop member (46) located extending downwardly into a blocking position along a folding path (44), a plurality of rollers (38)(39) and (40) for moving the carrier forms (24) along the folding path (44) and into the stop member (46) to buckle the leading end (35) and middle section (36) away from the folding path (44), a pushing member (56) driven by an electric motor (57) engaging the lagging end section (37) to push the carrier form (24) along the folding path (44) to pivotally swing the stop member (46) to a nonblocking position enabling the middle section (36) to fall back against the lagging section (37) folding the carrier (24) along fold lines (33) and (3

Abstract: This folding machine comprises two input rollers (5) for feeding the paper, two output rollers (18, 18') for discharging the paper controlling the movement, a paper guide (8) pivotally mounted between the input rollers (5) and the output rollers, capable of assuming a first and a second position and comprising a press roller (14, 14'), the assembly being controlled to permit forming loops and folds of the paper.

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

Abstract: A paper folding apparatus for folding a copied sheet of paper discharged from a copying machine. The apparatus includes a feed roller pair for feeding a sheet of paper, a first folding roller pair, a second folding roller pair. This second folding roller pair is disposed in opposition to the first folding roller pair, for folding the sheet of paper fed from the feed roller pair in cooperation with the first folding roller pair. A swingable paper guide unit is disposed above the first and second folding roller pairs, for guiding the sheet of paper fed from the feed roller pair selectively to the first folding roller pair or the second folding roller pair. A paper guide plate is disposed between the first and second folding roller pairs, for leading a leading edge of the sheet of paper guided by the paper guide unit to a nip portion of the first folding roller pair or the second folding roller pair.

Abstract: A box with integral corner reinforcements and a method of making the same is described. The method comprises folding the box from a prescored sheet of material so as to leave a flap adjacent each corner. The flap is prescored and is pushed towards its hinged corner whereby it buckles into a curved shape. The end of the flap is secured by gluing or stapling so as to stabilize the curved shape. The curved shape considerably increases the stiffness and crush resistance of the whole box and may allow may more boxes to be stacked.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding and depositing drawings having legends, the apparatus having two folding stations for folding drawings in two directions perpendicular to one another, and a collecting station for collecting the folded drawings with their legend on the same edge. The folding stations fold drawings of a first group, formats (A1 and A2) fed in the transverse direction, first lengthwise and then transversely, and fold drawings of a second group, formats (A0 and A3) fed in the longitudinal direction, first transversely and then lengthwise. Depending upon the group to which they belong, drawings to be folded are folded differently in the two folding stations, namely placing the folding stations selectively in operating states in which the folding stations apply each of the folds to be formed consecutively in directions which are the inverse of one another.

Abstract: An improved folder includes a "soft stop" reversible roll nip. Folding is accomplished by feeding a copy sheet into a stepper/servo controlled pinch roll that is under software control. The copy sheet is measured and the reversible roll nip is cycled from full forward to full reverse velocity with controlled acceleration. The reversing of the sheet causes a buckle to be created and the sheet creased by a secondary set of rolls.

Abstract: A machine for folding sheets of paper, particularly for folding large sheets leaving a printer or copier, including first, second and third flexible entrainment means for entraining a sheet to be folded and defining first and second fold channels and actuable alternately in opposite senses to supply a sheet to be folded to the first and to the second folding channel alternately so as to achieve a fold each time the sheet passes from one to the other of the folding channels.

Abstract: In a finisher unit 1, two rectilinear guide channels 9, 16 are arranged which cross each other at an acute angle (.alpha.). In the area of the point of intersection 19 of the guide channels 9, 16, a plurality of deflectors 24 are arranged which, under the action of gravity, cover the steeply inclined guide channel 16 such that they extend into the transport path of the sheets guided therein. The pivotally mounted deflectors 24 are pivoted counter-clockwise by an arriving sheet and thus are transferred to a position in which they close the transverse guide channel 9,9b such that they form a guiding surface connecting guide channel 16 across the point of intersection 19. The deflectors 24 which are mounted outside the guide channels 9,16 extend through recesses 9d, 16a, 16c, 16d into the channels and are limited in their end positions by end faces 9a and 16brespectively of the guide channels 9 and 16 respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously inverting a carton blank and folding end flaps thereon includes a system of endless belts, nip rollers, and inversion guides. A blank passes between a first nip assembly and the belts to be fed upwardly between a pair of guides, and withdrawn downwardly and fed out again inverted second nip assembly cooperating with the belts. Flap folders fold flaps on the blank during the operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for facilitating manual feeding of business forms into business forms handling equipment to bypass the automatic feeder, primarily in the production of mailers from forms having pressure sensitive adhesive strips. Mounted at the interface between the conveyor and folder of the handling equipment is a transparent plastic plate having a slot with forms guides, and a forms centering scale adjacent the slot. A finger opening in, and an upstanding finger tab on, the quadrate plate may be provided to allow it to be lifted out of place covering the interface area between the conveyor and folder. An interlock engaging projection is provided on the plate for stopping operation of the equipment when it is removed. One may bypass the automatic feeding of the conveyor by manually inserting forms into the slot guided by the forms guides.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically folding one or more sheets of paper into three substantially equal sections for later insertion into a mailing envelope. Rollers are used to introduce the sheet into a guide which guides the leading edge of the sheet back against an upstream line in the same sheet, where a first fold is to be made. Upon further operation, the lead edge of the sheet forces the upstream line in the sheet into a nip between two rollers, which then seize, pass and fold the sheet along the upstream line with the leading edge of the sheet still within the fold. Still further operation pulls the remaining loop and the remaining upstream portion of the sheet into the roller nip to form the desired second fold.

Abstract: A paper folding machine is improved by grooving the fold rollers. Grooves in the fold rollers extend along a curved path, from one end of the roller and terminating adjacent to the center of the roller. Complementary grooves extend from the opposite end of the roller towards the center of the roller. The surface of the roller is rubber or the like, and has a durometer hardness in the range of 65 to 72 Shore A. The grooves are shallow enough that the paper is not crimped or wrinkled by the grooves.

Abstract: A system and method for creasing continuous web at predetermined locations. A continuous web material is biased in the first direction. The web is then pinched in a second direction. This pinching is accomplished by drawing a bend in the web into the pinching element, and, following the pinching, the web including a crease is driven out of the pinching element. This section of web containing a crease is then output from the system. A second pinching may also be performed subsequent to the first pinching. This second pinching would occur on the opposite face of the web at a further point along the web. This would result in a zig-zag pattern of creases.

Abstract: Method and device for folding pliable material. Arranged approximately on opposite sides of a feeding plane and directly opposite each other are folding rollers. The starting point is a position of the pliable material where a portion of the pliable material is in the feeding plane and a portion is bent out of that plane. An arcuate poriton of the portion of the pliable material that is bent out of the plane is folded over and conducted to a folding/nipping area between the folding rollers by pressing that portion at at least one location against the proximal folding roller and rotating this folding roller. A trailing portion of the pliable material is fed from the feeding plane in a controlled fashion. The folding rollers then make the fold. The invention enables accurate control of the location where the fold is made and the exertion of a relatively small force is sufficient for the pliable material to be conducted into the folding nip.

Abstract: A folding apparatus for zigzag folding a paper web with a cylinder driven in rotation alternately in one direction and the other. Two folding rollers are biased against the cylinder. A return stop is provided in the end region of the paper web feed. Two jointly pivotal guide members having guide rails arranged in the manner of a rake with free ends being directed towards one another are located upstream of the cylinder. In the lower end position, the guide rails of the upper guide member project into the built-up space defined between the folding rollers and the rotatable cylinder. The upper guide member, together with the lower folding roller, delimit a guide passage for the paper web. In the upper end position, the guide passage for the paper web is formed by the upper folding roller and the guide rails of the lower guide member.

Abstract: To fold large sheets of different sizes with different folding patterns, in zig-zag folds, the sheets are introduced into a folding system having first, second and third belts (5, 6, 10) which, between the first, second and third belt define a folding gap. The belts are driven, respectively, in selected directions of rotation to fold a sheet in a zig-zag pattern. A control system (35) having a memory (50) with folding patterns stored therein, is responsive to a sheet-length signal derived, for example, from a printer (75). A stepping motor moves a sheet, in accordance with a selected program stored in the memory, to form the fold based on the length of the sheet. Prior to folding sheet a maybe end-for-end a sheet is flung upwardly in a reversing gap (46) whereupon the sheet is transported by paper removal rollers (44, 48) and transport belts (55, 63) to sheet supply rollers (3) of the folding apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus comprises a feed roller mechanism consisting of a pair of roller adapted to feed a sheet clamped therebetween, a working roller mechanism mounted on the outlet side of the feed roller mechanism consisting of a central roller, a press roller in press contact with one side of the central roller, and a shift press roller in press contact with the other side of the central roller, and a shift guide mechanism mounted between the feed roller mechanism and the working roller mechanism. The shift press roller of the working roller mechanism is held for shifting movement between a first or access position where it is opposed to the press roller and a second or shifted position where it is in press contact with the other side of the central roller, along an outer peripheral surface of the central roller in a condition remaining in press contact with the central roller.

Abstract: A folding apparatus in which an intermediate span of a signature at the folding station is buckled by a pair of oppositely driven signature feeding surfaces into the nip of a pair of converging signature folding and feeding surfaces which fold the signature and feed it from the folding station.

Abstract: An apparatus dispenses an elongate tape product, with a leading end portion tab. The tape product is drawn along a feeding path to a dispensing end at which a cutting edge is disposed. A stationary touch element is positioned just upstream of the cutting edge, and a movable touch element is disposed in the feeding path upstream of the stationary touch element. The movable touch element translate along the feeding path toward the stationary touch element and into juxtaposition therewith and away from the stationary touch element to a position remote therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming an axial flow filter element from a fan or sectorial shaped sheet having parallel curved ends, straight sides converging at an angle less than 180.degree. and a plurality of curved ridges and valleys extending between the sides parallel to the curved ends. Holding wedges are inserted into the valleys in the upper side of the sheet while the latter is supported on a table. The pitch between the holding wedges is then reduced uniformly to reduce the radial length of the sheet. The sheet is then partially rounded into a semi-circular shape to increase the central angle of the sectorial shape sheet to as much as 180.degree. by forcing the wider convex end of the reduced sheet toward a circular post centrally engaging the midpoint of the smaller concave end of the sheet.