Abstract: A device for folding successively fed sheets which have a plurality of transversely spaced dried adhesive areas thereon includes a plurality of folding rolls arranged in a sheet feedback between which the sheets are fed and which have at least one pocket into which the sheets are fed after they have been folded at least once as they are passed between folding rolls. The sheet wetting device comprises a plurality of moveable belts which are arranged over the sheets as they are fed through the sheet feed path, they are guided and moved through a path in which they overlie each sheet in succession. Construction includes means for holding at least some of the belts into contact with the sheets as they are moved in order to wet the sheets in selected areas in it includes means for passing the belts into association with a belt wetting device or reservoir so that they wet the dry areas which they contact.

Abstract: Paper folding apparatus includes means for controlling machine operation and a buckle chute having opposed end regions of which one is generally open to a folding chute. The chute is arranged in use to receive a part of the item to effect a fold therein and the other end includes deflector means arranged in use to deflect an oncoming stationery item to continue along the paper path. Location means reversibly locate the buckle chute adjacent the paper path with either said open end or said deflector means presented to the path. Moreover orientation detection means are associated with the location means for determining which of the open end and the deflector means are presented to the path. In this way the machine control is informed via a signal from the orientation detection means of which end of the buckle chute is in operative position.

Abstract: A sheet recirculating, folding and gluing system folds documents, holds them at a wait station and then inserts them into another sheet which is folded and glued "on-line" to form an envelope.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for half folding sequentially and nesting a plurality of paper sheets. The apparatus includes a buckle chute folder, the folder having a first pair of feed rollers rotatable at a given velocity, and a device for continuously feeding the paper sheets in shingled relationship at a second velocity greater than the given velocity to the feed rollers. The shingled relationship is defined by an overlap of the sheets of at least one-half of the length of the sheets. By using the apparatus and method, any desired number of sheets may be folded sequentially and nested one inside the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying moisture to a flexible document containing water-activated adhesive includes a buckle chute having a pair of opposing plates defining a document path therebetween, a stopping bar situated between the opposing plates, and an adjustable plate slidably mounted on one of the opposing plates. A moistening assembly is secured to the adjustable plate situated adjacent to one of the buckle chute plates on one side of the document path. The moistening assembly includes a reservoir and a wick secured to the reservoir and extending toward the document path. A hammer/gate unit is pivotably mounted to the adjustable plate on the other side of the document path for engaging the wick and urging the document against the wick. The hammer/gate unit is pivotable between a position adjacent to the moistening assembly for moistening operation and a non-moistening position remote from the moistening assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding and sealing seriatim a supply of documents into envelopes, each of the documents containing water-activated adhesive on at least one portion thereof. The apparatus comprises a hopper for storing a supply of the documents, means for applying moisture to a portion of the documents, and a pair of folding rollers for imparting a fold to the documents. The apparatus further includes a buckle chute for stopping the forward progress of the documents and causing the documents to enter the nip of the folding rollers, means mounted on the buckle chute for applying moisture to a interior portion of the documents, a pair of ironing rollers located downstream of the folding rollers for maximizing adhesive contact of the documents and forming the envelopes, and conveying/curing means located downstream of the ironing rollers for holding the envelope together during transport prior to their release for further processing.

Abstract: A glue head mounting bracket for glue applying folding machines is disclosed which holds a glue head for dispensing glue onto a sheet of paper that is to be folded and secured at the glue lines, which bracket permits the glue head to be placed at a predetermined location and the glue head swiveled out of the way for non-glue application. The bracket is of two piece fixed and demountable construction with the glue head carried in the demountable bracket piece, so that the glue head can be moved for cleaning and repair or replacement, and the glue head placed back into service without changing the location of the glue line.

Abstract: Apparatus for making a gatefold in a central portion of a sheet along a gatefold line where the sheet has first and second outer leaves folded inwardly toward the central portion along first and second parallel fold lines, respectively, include a fold pan for receiving the sheet with the first outer leaf folded. The fold pan has upper and lower plate elements and a stop member therebetween. First and second rolls are positioned to engage the sheet upon movement of the central portion and the first outer leaf of the sheet into the fold pan, thereby folding the second outer leaf of the sheet inwardly toward the central portion at the second parallel fold line as the sheet passes between the second roll and a third roll. A gatefold pan receives the sheet from between the second and third rolls with the second outer leaf folded. The gatefold pan includes upper and lower plate elements and a stop member therebetween.

Abstract: An inserter is provided for use with one or more feeders. The inserter will receive material ejected from the first feeder, create at least one fold in the insert and then direct the insert into an awaiting envelope. The envelope is gradually opened as it is moved into position to receive the insert. A second insert may be urged into the first insert to initiate the fold in the first insert and urge the first insert into the envelope. The inserter may be provided with a slotted roller to create a channelized flow of air for opening the envelope to receive an insert therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially folding paper includes a first pair of rollers which feeds the paper to a first uncovered concave buckling chute. A paper stop mechanism aligns an end of the paper in a gap between the chute and a second pair of rollers which in turn receives the document to form a first fold in the paper. The second roller pair conveys the paper to a second uncovered curved chute which coacts wih a third pair of rollers to form a second fold in the paper. Use of uncovered buckle chute facilitates clearance of paper jams without requiring disassembly of the apparatus.

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: Apparatus for applying moisture to a flexible document containing a water-activated adhesive. The apparatus includes a reservoir for storing a source of water, a mounting bracket extending from the reservoir, a pivotable hammer pivotably mounted to the bracket and extending toward the reservoir, and a moistening wick extending from the reservoir toward the pivotable hammer. The area between the moistening wick and the pivotable hammer defines a document path. The apparatus further comprises a flexible, one-way gate secured to the lower portion of the hammer for movement therewith, the gate having an end portion extending into the document path. The apparatus also includes a gate deflector secured to the gate and lower hammer portion for movement therewith.

Abstract: In the context of a folding device comprising at least one transverse folding part which is supplied and discharged by feed tapes and is in the form of a buckle folder with a buckle passage flanked by two outer rolls cooperating with a center roll with the formation of feed nips, such folder having a set of tapes running through it over the center roll, a greater degree of adaptability to the processing of different products and of possibilities of modification of the feed paths may be ensured if the outer roll on the delivery side may be pivoted away from the center roll so as to open up and render ineffective the delivery feed roll nip and the buckle passage may be shifted so that its inlet is over the inlet-side feed plane of the tape set running over the center roll.

Abstract: A universal roller for glue applying folding machines is disclosed which engages paper sheets to be advanced for folding, and which sheets have had one or more lines of glue applied thereto, which roller includes a plurality of spaceable segmented roller elements, detachably secured to a metal shaft, which elements, have an outer surface for engagement with said paper sheets.

Abstract: A folder suitable for automatically folding successive sheets of paper, such as engineering drawings, by conveying them into a folder pocket to various distances depending upon where the fold is to be formed. To arrest the sheet at the proper position in the pocket, a photosensor senses when the leading edge of the sheet has reached a reference position in the pocket and, when the sheet has advanced further to the desired position, a solenoid-operated clamp is actuated to move transversely into the pocket and clamp the sheet momentarily in the desired position while the fold is being made. The amount by which the sheet advances beyond the reference position is controlled by producing an electrical pulse each time the sheet conveyor moves a predetermined amount, and counting these pulses to cause the clamp to be actuated when a count corresponding to the desired fold position has been accumulated.

Abstract: A roller for glue applying folding machines is disclosed which grips paper sheets to be advanced for folding, and which sheets have had one or more lines of glue applied thereto, which roller includes a plurality of spaceable segmented roller elements, detachably secured to a metal shaft, which elements have a resilient outer layer bonded thereto with an end to end helical groove, providing for advancing the paper sheets, and which grooves expel debris picked up from the surfaces of the advanced paper sheets.

Abstract: A folding machine for folding sheet material comprises a housing defining a space and having an in-take opening and a discharge opening for sheet material before and after it is folded. A frame is provided in the housing and carries four rollers which are engaged with each other to form a take-in nip for receiving sheet material from the in-take opening, a first folding nip for executing a first fold on the paper and a second folding nip for executing a second fold of the paper. The rollers are engaged to each other by gears and are rotated by a single electric motor for moving the sheet material from the take-in nip to the first folding nip and from the first folding nip to the second folding nip. A pocket is formed upstream of the first folding nip in the housing for receiving the sheet of paper to stop its forward progress. The sheet of paper is continued to be fed by the take-in nip so that it folds into the first folding nip which draws the now once folded paper from the first pocket.

Abstract: A paper folding device wherein two wing members are supported for pivotal movement between an open and a closed position, with a gap formed between the two wing members in the closed position. A sheet of paper to be folded is fed into the gap by rollers until the forward edge of the paper hits an adjustable stopper in the gap, so that as the sheet is farther moved by the rollers, a portion of the sheet outside the gap is bent, and the bent portion is nipped and then folded by the rollers. A sound absorber is so arranged adjacent each of the two wing members so as to absorb the sound caused by the forward edge of the sheet of paper striking the stopper inside the gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for setting roller clearances is disclosed, particularly suitable for folding machines, in which the desired clearance between adjacent rollers can be set at a predetermined thickness, with contact pressure between the rollers at a desired amount, and which clearance can be easily varied for different thicknesses of paper to be folded.

Abstract: The material to be folded (a, b) and consisting of one or several sheets is introduced into a flat cartridge (1) up to the point (A) of the fold to be formed by means of a pair of supply rollers (29, 30). Subsequently, the cartridge (1) is turned around an axis (2) in a right angle to the introductory direction whereby a feed roll (9) presses temporarily the point (A) of the material to be folded (a, b) against the edge (6) of the cartridge at which it was introduced and folds the material to be folded (a, b) thus over the edge (6) at this point (A). Finally, the material to be folded (a, b) is taken over by a pair of folding rollers (11, 12) with the top of the thus formed fold leading which presses the fold together.

Abstract: A sheet deflector for noise reduction in multi-stage folding machines having first and second folding rollers (1,3) with a clearance space (5) between them, with said space (5) being in the path of a sheet (8) to be folded, comprising a sheet deflector (4) having a curved guide surface (20) for deflecting the sheet, at least one slot-shaped opening in the sheet deflector (4) extending toward the bottom of said curved guide surface (20) and extending towards an intake opening (7) between a third folding roller (2) and the second folding roller (3) and a blade-shaped slide (12) which can be horizontally moved out of said slot-shaped opening towards the intake roller opening (7) when the sheet deflector (4) is inserted between said first and second rollers (1,3), whereby the blade-shaped slide (12) is adapted to guide the sheet so that it is folded exactly and faultlessly with very little noise into the bite between first and second rollers (1,3).

Abstract: A fold roller is disclosed for use in paper folding machines, to rip sheets of paper advanced for folding which roller includes a metal core with a resilient sleeve bonded thereto, the surface of the sleeve having ribs with flat faces separated by helical grooves thereon from one end to the other, providing for paper folding with reduced side slip and expelling debris picked up from the surface of the sheets of paper while maintaining constant grip.

Abstract: A device for reducing the emission of noise in buckle folding units provided with noise control enclosures, comprising a noise control hood 5 essentially completely enclosing the upper 41 and lower folding pockets 42 and the folding rolls 7, said noise control hood 5 being at least partially slidingly displaceable, tiltable and/or removable and being provided with a slot for the passage of the sheet in the associated hood section, which slot is aligned with the nip of the pair of intake and discharge rolls, respectively, is improved by further reducing the noise emission in the sheet discharge area without influencing dependable function and easy access to this area.

Abstract: A machine for folding sheet material comprises a plurality of rollers opposedly arranged in pairs and engaged at the ends with a stationary frame and biased towards each other by pushers. Each roller has a surface provided with resilient lugs and intervening smooth surfaces. Owing to the resilient lugs the rollers are forced to move away from each other, as the sheets move past, only to a limited extent thereby accommodating any uneveness in the sheets.

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