Plural Folding Operations Making Multiple Folds Patents (Class 493/421)
  • Patent number: 11414294
    Abstract: Folder systems and related methods are provided for accurately and efficiently folding a paper carrier that has a card attached without bending or dislodging the card from the carrier. A movable fold chute receives a portion of the carrier with the card attached and allows the carrier to fold while protecting the card portion of the carrier. The fold chute moves between different positions which allow the carrier to enter and exit through folding rollers along a generally straight paper path without forcing the cards around small radii, thereby preventing damage to the cards or causing them to separate from the carrier sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: DMT Solutions Global Corporation
    Inventors: Brad Swinford, Robert J. Allen
  • Patent number: 10196228
    Abstract: A collation folding device comprising one or more fold rollers mounted in fixed positions. Below and adjacent to the fold rollers are adjustable nip rollers to form nip spacing between the rollers. The adjustable nip roller is mounted on a nip axis shaft. An adjustment mechanism is used for moving the nip axis shaft to adjust the nip spacing. The nip adjustment mechanism includes a bearing block cam follower on which the nip axis shaft is fixedly mounted and supported. An eccentric cam in operative contact with the bearing block cam follower. Rotation of the eccentric cam on the eccentric cam axis drives the bearing block cam follower in its linear motion to adjust the nip spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: DMT Solutions Global Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J Allen, Michael R Ifkovits, Boris Rozenfeld, George Cruz, Edward M. Ifkovits
  • Patent number: 9758338
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Dominique Mazeiller, Frederic Jost
  • Patent number: 9624065
    Abstract: A method of using a folding apparatus to form an outsert having product information printed thereon comprises making a plurality of folds in a first direction in a sheet of paper; making a plurality of folds in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction to form folded articles; making a fold in said second direction to form an outsert; and applying pressure to at least one of said folded articles or said outsert, said pressure being at least about 30 pounds per square inch, said pressure being applied by a pressing unit comprising a plurality of pressure rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: G&K-VIJUK INTERN. CORP.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Roger Mattila, Ilija Ilijevski
  • Patent number: 9624064
    Abstract: A method of using a folding apparatus to form an outsert having product information printed thereon comprises applying a plurality of parallel lines of water to a sheet of paper; making a plurality of folds in the sheet of paper in a direction parallel to a first direction with a first folding apparatus to form a first folded article; making a plurality of folds in the first folded article in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to form an intermediate folded article; and making a final fold in the intermediate folded article in the second direction to form the outsert. Making the final fold may include forcing the intermediate folded article between a pair of adjustably-spaced folding members, the adjustably-spaced folding members to be adjustably spaced apart from each other by a distance that is within a range defined by a lower boundary of 0.25 inches and an upper boundary of 0.45 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: G&K-VIJUK INTERN. CORP.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Roger Mattila, Ilija Ilijevski
  • Patent number: 9592990
    Abstract: A method of using a folding apparatus to form an outsert having product information printed thereon comprises applying a plurality of parallel lines of water to a sheet of paper using a plurality of spray nozzles and being applied at positions at which folds are to be made; making a plurality of folds in a first direction in the sheet of paper with a first folding apparatus; making a plurality of folds in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and making a fold in in the second direction to form an outsert including causing a movable member of a folding apparatus to make contact with and move a folded article towards a folding roller, and so that the folded article makes contact with the folding roller to form a fold in the folded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: G&K-VIJUK INTERN. CORP.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Roger Mattila, Ilija Ilijevski
  • Patent number: 9102117
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a first pair of conveying members that convey a sheet; a second pair of conveying members that receive the sheet conveyed by the first pair of the conveying members and further conveys the sheet to a subsequent stage; and a third pair of conveying members that fold the sheet by rotating the second pair of the conveying members in a reverse direction while the sheet is held by the first pair of the conveying members and the second pair of the conveying members. One of the conveying members of the second pair serves as one of the conveying members of the third pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuuji Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Shuuya Nagasako, Akira Kunieda, Michitaka Suzuki, Kyosuke Nakada, Kazuya Yamamoto, Takahiro Watanabe, Kiichiro Goto
  • Patent number: 8882649
    Abstract: The folding device includes a folding unit and a prior moving unit. The folding unit performs the folding process on the paper aligned by the alignment member positioned at the folding position. The prior moving unit moves the alignment member from the folding position to the home position or the alignment position according to a position of the end of the paper being moved in the folding process. This can put ahead the starting time for moving the alignment members and reduce the time required for a subsequent folding process, thereby improving efficiency (productivity) of the folding process as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8771159
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet, includes a first transport path for guiding the sheet from a carry-in portion to a carrying-out portion without folding; a second transport path branching off from the first transport path for folding the sheet; folding rollers to fold the sheet; a driving motor; and a control device for controlling the driving motor. The folding rollers are disposed in between the carry-in roller and the carrying-out roller. The first transport path has a pinch roller and a guide cover for covering the folding. The guide cover shifts between an actuation position in which the sheet does not contact the folding rollers and a non-actuation position in which the sheet engages with the folding rollers. The control device controls the guide cover to shift to the actuation position with the pinch roller separated from a periphery of the one of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Patent number: 8641590
    Abstract: A sheet folder comprising input rollers, exit rollers and a fold box having a fold plate which is curved substantially along its whole length, wherein the curved fold plate is configured to induce a sheet to curve in two different directions during the folding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventors: Damon Peter Smith, Paul Francis Hitchings, David John Barrett
  • Patent number: 8608200
    Abstract: When an air bag body beings to expand due to gas flowing from an inflator into the air bag body, a left side folded piece and a right side folded piece which have been folded into concertinas expand quickly to thrust laterally to the left and right. Vent holes are located to be exposed in upper faces of the folded pieces. Accordingly, the gas can flow out from the interiors of the folded pieces through the vent holes as soon as the folded pieces begin to expand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhito Miyata
  • Patent number: 8544832
    Abstract: A newspaper is provided. The newspaper includes printed materials. The printed materials have an off-center cross-fold which defines a longer part and a shorter part and an outermost page and an innermost page of the newspaper. The newspaper also includes an adhesive closure for securing the off-center cross-fold. The adhesive closure contacts a short part of the outermost page of the newspaper and a long part of the innermost page of the newspaper. A method for producing a newspaper is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sheridan Richards, Heiner Luxem
  • Patent number: 8419603
    Abstract: A folding machine and a folding method perform overlapped folding of sheets of paper, paperboard and the like. The folding machine has at least one first and one second folding station each having driven folding rolls, a transport device disposed between the first and second folding stations, a drive and a common control unit connected to the drives. The products are transported between the first and the second folding stations in an overlapping manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Martin Terlau
  • Patent number: 8357078
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet folding apparatus includes: a conveying roller pair configured to convey a sheet; a conveying path provided on a downstream side of the conveying roller pair, an opening being formed in a part of the conveying path if the sheet is triple-folded and being closed if the sheet is double-folded; a retracting conveying path, an inlet of which is opened to the opening of the conveying path and an outlet of which is closed by a stopper, the retracting conveying path leading the front end of the sheet, which is conveyed through the conveying path, from the inlet to the stopper and temporarily retracting the front of the sheet if the sheet is triple-folded; a first folding roller pair disposed near the inlet of the retracting conveying path, the first folding roller pair nipping, if the sheet is triple-folded, a bend caused by pushing of the sheet led by the conveying rollers into the retracting conveying path to form a first fold and nipping, if the sheet is double-folded, the fron
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8292283
    Abstract: To provide a post-processing apparatus for enabling a bunch of sheets and a single sheet to be folded in simplified structure, and further enabling the folded sheet and sheets that are not folded to be mixed and bound, the post-processing apparatus has a processing tray to collate and collect sheets to perform binding processing, and a folding processing path having a folding processing section, and a folded sheet carrying-out path for carrying out a folded sheet is provided on the downstream side of the folding processing path. Then, the folded sheet carrying-out path is comprised of a circulating path for guiding the folded sheet again to the folding processing section, a post-processing path for guiding the folded sheet to the processing tray to perform post-processing, and a sheet discharge path for guiding the folded sheet to a storage stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Matsuno, Satoru Matsuki, Komei Mohara, Hidetoshi Kinoshita, Yoshio Kobayashi, Yuichi Kubota, Koji Kurakano, Mamoru Kubo
  • Patent number: 8267391
    Abstract: Sheet pressing means (59) is provided that assists the formation of a bend in a sheet (S) and that freely swings to guide the bend into the nip portion of a second folding roller pair (a second roller (54) and a third roller (55)). The pivot point (594) of the sheet pressing mean (59) is arranged on the side of the nip portion of a first folding roller pair with respect to a common tangent (L1) of the first folding roller pair (a first roller (53) and the second roller (54)) on the downstream side in a sheet transport direction, and is arranged to be lower than a line (L3) that is parallel to a common tangent (L2) of the second folding roller pair on the upstream side in the sheet transport direction and that passes through the center (O) of the first roller (53). Thus, it is possible to reliably perform processing for folding the sheet in a predetermined position regardless of the material quality, the thickness and the like of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Hisao Hosoya, Satoru Shimizu, Zen Kayaba
  • Patent number: 8162811
    Abstract: A cross-fold system for use in combination with a device for folding sheet material and includes a rigid guide structure having a stationary reaction surface for supporting and guiding folded sheet material along a feed path between a sheet feed mechanism and a tensioning mechanism. Furthermore, the cross-fold system includes a paper break assembly disposed between the sheet feed mechanism and the tensioning mechanism. The paper break assembly, furthermore, includes an abrasion bar disposed transversely of the feed path and in opposed relation to the rigid guide. Moreover, the paper break assembly is repositionable from an active position to an inactive position such that, in the active position, the abrasion bar pressingly engages the sheet material against the stationary reaction surface of the guide assembly, and, in the inactive position, the abrasion bar permits the sheet material to pass to the tensioning mechanism without engaging the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Clarke, Daniel Everatt, Mark Woodliffe
  • Publication number: 20120004085
    Abstract: A sheet folder comprising input rollers, exit rollers and a fold box having a fold plate which is curved substantially along its whole length, wherein the curved fold plate is configured to induce a sheet to curve in two different directions during the folding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Damon Peter SMITH, Paul Francis HITCHINGS, David John BARRETT
  • Patent number: 8029430
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming informational items such as outserts and booklets may include (a) 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; (b) making a plurality of folds in the first folded article in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and (c) making a final fold in the second direction to form an outsert using a folding apparatus having a pair of adjustably-spaced folding rollers having a nip therebetween and a movable blade member, with the folding rollers spaced apart by a distance within a range of 0.25 inches and 0.45 inches. Water scoring may be used to facilitate folding of the sheet of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Vijuk Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Llija Llijevski, Roger Mattila
  • Patent number: 7896796
    Abstract: Outserts having printed information thereon are disclosed and are formed in accordance with a method in which a plurality of parallel folds are made in a sheet of paper in a first fold direction using a plurality of pairs of folding rollers and stop members to form an intermediate folded item and in which a plurality of cross-folds are made in the intermediate folded item to form the outsert. The cross-folds may be made to divide the length of the intermediate folded item into ten panels, fourteen panels, or eighteen panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Vijuk Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Mattila, William C. Neubauer
  • Patent number: 7794381
    Abstract: A Z-folding apparatus of an embodiment of the invention includes a pair of feed rollers to transport a sheet along a specified transport passage, a contact portion with which a head of the transported sheet comes in contact, a press member to press a specified position of the sheet apart from the head, and a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line on the sheet and to transport the sheet on which the fold line has been formed. When the head of the sheet comes in contact with the contact portion, the press member presses the specified position of the sheet apart from the head in a transport direction toward the pair of folding rollers, and guides it to a nip between the rollers of the pair of folding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20100137119
    Abstract: A paper folding station with a paper-feeder and a first pair of motorized rollers supported at a delivery end of the paper-feeder about respective parallel axes to draw sheets of paper from the feeder. One of the rollers is mounted on a first adjustable support. A folding buckle is provided to receive the sheets from the first pair of rollers through an inlet mouth. The buckle has a barrier causing the sheets to stop and bend into the shape of a groove below the inlet mouth. A second pair of rollers is supported near the inlet mouth about respective parallel axes to pinch the groove and to make a transverse fold on the sheet. The paper-folding station further comprises at least one transverse beam to guide the sheet near the inlet mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: PETRATTO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Vallonthaiel
  • Publication number: 20100069214
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming informational items such as outserts and booklets may include (a) 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; (b) making a plurality of folds in the first folded article in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and (c) making a final fold in the second direction to form an outsert using a folding apparatus having a pair of adjustably-spaced folding rollers having a nip therebetween and a movable blade member, with the folding rollers spaced apart by a distance within a range of 0.25 inches and 0.45 inches. Water scoring may be used to facilitate folding of the sheet of paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: VIJUK EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Ilija Ilijevski, Roger Mattila
  • Publication number: 20100016138
    Abstract: A cross-fold system for use in combination with a device for folding sheet material and includes a rigid guide structure having a stationary reaction surface for supporting and guiding folded sheet material along a feed path between a sheet feed mechanism and a tensioning mechanism. Furthermore, the cross-fold system includes a paper break assembly disposed between the sheet feed mechanism and the tensioning mechanism. The paper break assembly, furthermore, includes an abrasion bar disposed transversely of the feed path and in opposed relation to the rigid guide. Moreover, the paper break assembly is repositionable from an active position to an inactive position such that, in the active position, the abrasion bar pressingly engages the sheet material against the stationary reaction surface of the guide assembly, and, in the inactive position, the abrasion bar permits the sheet material to pass to the tensioning mechanism without engaging the sheet material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Clarke, Daniel Everatt, Mark Woodliffe
  • Patent number: 7621862
    Abstract: A method and 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; (b) making a fold in the first folded article to form a second folded article; (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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Vijuk Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Llija Llijevski, Roger Mattila
  • Publication number: 20090275456
    Abstract: A method of using a folding apparatus to form an outsert having product information printed thereon comprises making a plurality of folds in a first direction in a sheet of paper; aking a plurality of folds in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction to form folded articles; making another fold in said second direction to form an outsert including causing a movable member of a folding apparatus to make contact with and move an intermediate portion of a folded article towards a pair of adjustably-spaced folding members, at least one of said adjustably-spaced folding members having a position that is adjustable to allow said adjustably-spaced folding members to be adjustably spaced apart from each other by a distance that is within a range defined by a lower boundary of 0.25 inches and an upper boundary of 0.45 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: VIJUK EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Roger Mattila, IIija IIijevski
  • Publication number: 20090275455
    Abstract: A method of using a folding apparatus to form an outsert having product information printed thereon comprises making a plurality of folds in a first direction in a sheet of paper; making a plurality of folds in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction to form folded articles; making a fold in said second direction to form an outsert; and applying pressure to at least one of said folded articles or said outsert, said pressure being at least about 30 pounds per square inch, said pressure being applied by a pressing unit comprising a plurality of pressure rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: VIJUK EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Roger Mattila, Ilija Ilijevski
  • Publication number: 20090197751
    Abstract: A continuous paper feeder for supplying paper to be folded to a paper folding machine is provided. The continuous paper feeder includes a conveyor, a guide, a blower for introducing air between sheets of paper to be supplied to a paper folding machine, and a sensor for controlling the output of the air. The guide includes opposing first surfaces and second surfaces and a plurality of apertures communicating between the first surface and the second surfaces. The blower is adapted to introduce air through the apertures located on the guide as an operator is loading a stack of paper to be folded onto the conveyor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Greg Gale
  • Patent number: 7534201
    Abstract: A sheet conveying section (B) sequentially conveys a sheet (P) from a sheet feeding section (A), and a sheet folding section (D) folds the sheet (P) received from the sheet conveying section (B) in a conveying direction. The sheet conveying section (B) comprises a conveyer belt (3), and a positioning ruler (4) for positioning the sheet (P) while it is conveyed. The sheet folding section (D) comprises a folding knife (9), a pair of folding rollers (10), and first and second guides (11a, 11b) arranged on either side of the folding knife (9). The sheet (p) is positioned to a fold position by the first and second guides (11a, 11b) and folded by the folding knife (9) and the folding roller (10). The positioning ruler (4) is moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by a first driving mechanism (5, 6). The first and second guides (11a) are moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction respectively by second and third driving mechanisms (21, 22; 23, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Horizon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Tatsuaki Ida
  • Publication number: 20090062097
    Abstract: A Z-folding apparatus of an embodiment of the invention includes a pair of feed rollers to transport a sheet along a specified transport passage, a contact portion with which a head of the transported sheet comes in contact, a press member to press a specified position of the sheet apart from the head, and a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line on the sheet and to transport the sheet on which the fold line has been formed. When the head of the sheet comes in contact with the contact portion, the press member presses the specified position of the sheet apart from the head in a transport direction toward the pair of folding rollers, and guides it to a nip between the rollers of the pair of folding rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikio Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7470227
    Abstract: A paper folding apparatus which is used as a finisher equipment of an image forming apparatus. The paper folding apparatus can securely fold a sheet of paper, optionally change the starting position for folding a leading edge of the paper, and can produce a thin sheaf of papers even after the papers are folded, without causing the shape of the folded end section fluctuate even in the case of strong paper such as heavy paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Sekine, Takamichi Fujitate, Satoshi Hirata, Wataru Kurita
  • Publication number: 20080214377
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus, when a bundle of sheets subjected to the stapling process is folded into two to make a book, for pressing the fold, thereby improving the look. A stitch bookbinding unit 800 moves a press unit 860 having press rollers 861a and 861b, a press holder 862, and the like constituting a creasing unit along the fold of a bundle of sheets P subjected to the folding process by the press rollers 861a and 861b so as to reliably nip-press the fold by the nip between the moving press rollers 861a and 861b for pressing it. The press holder 862 performs intermittent movement in which it is stopped during movement. Thereby, the creasing process becomes more effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisaku Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7326166
    Abstract: For folding a sheet of paper, a portion of the sheet situated between opposite ends of the sheet is bent to a folding nip between a pair of folding rollers. By rotating the folding rollers in an output rotation sense, whereby sections of the folding rollers in the area of the folding nip transport the bent portion of the sheet into the folding nip, and transporting the bent portion of the sheet through the folding nip, a fold is formed in the bent portion of the sheet. Prior to the rotation of the folding rollers in the output rotation sense, at least a portion of the sheet is supplied between the folding rollers by rotating the folding rollers in an input rotation sense opposite to the output rotation sense. An apparatus for folding is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Neopost S.A.
    Inventor: Herman Sytema
  • Patent number: 7303520
    Abstract: A method and unit for folding coupons on a packing machine, whereby the coupons are fed to at least one folding station having two counter-rotating folding rollers, and at least one locating member located at one end of a feed path of the coupons extending over the two folding rollers; the operating speed of the folding station is determined cyclically, and, as a function of the operating speed of the folding station, the position of the locating member along the feed path of the coupons is adjusted during normal operation of the folding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: G. D Societa′ per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Biondi, Fausto Negrini
  • Patent number: 7247129
    Abstract: A method and 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; (b) making a fold in the first folded article to form a second folded article; (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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Ilija Ilijevski, Roger Mattila
  • Patent number: 7247130
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite informational item having information regarding a pharmaceutical product printed thereon from a first informational item, such as a bidirectionally folded outsert or a booklet, and a second informational item, such as a bidirectionally folded outsert or a booklet, may comprise (a) forming the first informational item; (b) automatically conveying the first informational item from a location in a first feed apparatus to a bonding location; (c) providing a plurality of the second informational items in a second feed apparatus different than the first feed apparatus; (d) automatically depositing a releasable adhesive on a face of one of the informational items; (e) automatically conveying one of the second informational items from a location in the second feed apparatus to the bonding location; and (f) causing a face of the first informational item to make contact with a face of the second informational item so that the first informational item and the one second informational item
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventors: Roger B. Mattila, William C. Neubauer
  • Patent number: 7156799
    Abstract: A paper folding machine is provided including a housing having upper and lower fold plates constructed for quick and easy removal of the upper plates from the machine so that repairs may be made. The machine includes an automatically adjustable stacking arm movable to positions corresponding to the settings of the machine for fold type and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Hedman Company
    Inventors: Richard Abramson, John Kosla
  • Patent number: 7125374
    Abstract: A paper folding machine is provided including a housing having upper and lower fold plates constructed for quick and easy removal of the upper plates from the machine so that repairs may be made. The machine includes an automatically adjustable stacking arm movable to positions corresponding to the settings of the machine for fold type and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Hedman Company
    Inventors: Richard Abramson, John Kosla
  • Patent number: 7081080
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stack of fan folded material and related systems and processes. The stack includes at least two clips of fan folded material. Each clip includes a plurality of fan folded sheets, with each sheet joined to at least one adjacent sheet by a weakened line. Each clip is joined to an adjacent clip by a last sheet of one clip being interfolded with or adhesively joined to a first sheet of a succeeding clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Keith Sosalla, John David Amundson, Andrew Kuo
  • Patent number: 7077798
    Abstract: To avoid displacement of the fold formed on a sheet and misalignment between sheets when a fold is formed on a bundle of sheets stacked one on top of another, a sheet folding apparatus, for forming a plurality of folds on the sheet on which an image is formed, includes a first folding section and a second folding section. The first folding section has a first folding roller, a second folding roller in contact with the first roller, and a first folding plate member for inserting the first fold of the sheet between the first and second folding rollers. The second folding section has the second folding roller, a third folding roller in contact with the second folding roller provided downstream from the first folding roller in the sheet feeding direction, and a second folding plate member for inserting the second fold of the sheet between the second and third folding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawatsu, Toshio Shida, Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Masaaki Uchiyama, Masato Hattori
  • Patent number: 6899664
    Abstract: A folded paper return device is provided for use in combination with a sheet material folding machine, such as a paper folding machine. A paper folding machine including the inventive folded paper return device is also provided. The sheet material folding machine is particularly suited for folding sheets of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Gregory R. Gale
  • Patent number: 6846278
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventors: Gregory S. Hill, Jeffery L. Hill, Robert J. Bretl
  • Patent number: 6837290
    Abstract: An informational item processing apparatus is provided with a conveyor unit that transports a plurality of informational items having printed information thereon from a first location to a second location; an adhesive applicator that applies adhesive to a plurality of the informational items as the informational items pass from the first location to the second location; and a controller operatively coupled to the adhesive applicator, the controller comprising a processor and a programmed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Vijuk Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vijuk, William C. Neubauer, Ilija Ilijevski
  • Patent number: 6793614
    Abstract: A method and 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; (b) making a fold in the first folded article to form a second folded article; (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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Ilija Ilijevski, Roger Mattila
  • Patent number: 6776749
    Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for creating at least two pockets in a keycard holder comprising the steps of, cutting a piece of paper across one length at an angle between 20 and 30 degrees to the width, such that the width is approximately 6 inches on one side and the length is approximately between 5.5 and 6.5 inches on one side, folding the said paper in half across its length, folding the right and left edges of the width along the length in to meet at a midline, folding the left side over the right side along the midline to make a rectangle of approximately 2 ¾ by 4 ¼ inches, to create a first and second pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Bahram Hedayatpour
  • Patent number: 6773388
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to a folder apparatus for sheets, and more particularly a folder with a fold path transverse to a feed path. In an embodiment, the folder comprises a channel for receiving a sheet, feed rollers for feeding the sheet along the feed path and through the channel, the feed rollers are axially aligned with the feed path, guide rollers positioned transverse to the feed path for feeding the sheet along a fold path to pinch rollers which pinch the sheet to form folds. The paper path does not reverse and the folding action is smooth so that noise and vibration are reduced. Also, the folder has a smaller footprint than other folders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Darryl T. Rathbun
  • Patent number: 6743161
    Abstract: In the case of the method of setting the folding-nip width of a plurality of pairs of folding rollers which are provided on a folding machine, the two folding rollers (12 to 22) of the pairs of folding rollers are brought into contact with one another. A sheet is then guided through between the two folding rollers (12 to 22) of the pairs of folding rollers, as a result of which at least one of the two folding rollers (12 to 22) moves in relation to the other, with a folding nip being formed in the process, it being the case that, for each pair of folding rollers, a measured value corresponding to the folding-nip width is detected as the sheet is guided through. Finally, the folding-nip widths of the individual pairs of folding rollers are set by adjustment of the at least one moveable folding roller (14 to 22) by means of a drive (42), which is connected kinematically thereto, based on the corresponding measured values which have been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg-Dietrich Dannemann, Klaus Stocklossa, Eberhard Krieger
  • Patent number: 6730012
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet stack manufacturing process. At first, a plurality of band sheets are fed. Each band sheet is folded at least once along a longitudinal direction thereof at a first folding step, to form folded bands. Then, each folded band is folded along the longitudinal direction at a second folding step to have at least three fold lines by the first and second folding steps and to sandwich a portion of at least one of an overlying sheet and an underlying sheet thereof, thereby to form a band-shaped sheet stack in which a plurality of sheets are combined with one another so as to be stacked on one another. The band-shaped sheet stack is cut to a predetermined length to be separated into individual sheet stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Bando
  • Patent number: 6663551
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Auerbach, William J. Wright
  • Patent number: RE41976
    Abstract: A sheet conveying section (B) sequentially conveys a sheet (P) from a sheet feeding section (A), and a sheet folding section (D) folds the sheet (P) received from the sheet conveying section (B) in a conveying direction. The sheet conveying section (B) comprises a conveyer belt (3), and a positioning ruler (4) for positioning the sheet (P) while it is conveyed. The sheet folding section (D) comprises a folding knife (9), a pair of folding rollers (10), and first and second guides (11a, 11b) arranged on either side of the folding knife (9). The sheet (p) is positioned to a fold position by the first and second guides (11a, 11b) and folded by the folding knife (9) and the folding roller (10). The positioning ruler (4) is moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by a first driving mechanism (5, 6). The first and second guides (11a) are moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction respectively by second and third driving mechanisms (21, 22; 23, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Horizon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Tatsuaki Ida