With Reciprocatory Folding Knife Patents (Class 493/444)
  • Patent number: 7931576
    Abstract: This table for a chopper folding device comprises a surface (20) for application of products to be folded (17), the application surface (20) extending along an application plane (PA), a folding opening (22) suitable for the passage of the products to be folded (17), at least one first guide portion (28) disposed adjacent to the folding opening (22) and comprising a first guide surface (32) inclined with respect to application plane. The table (12) comprises guiding means suitable for urging the product to be folded towards the first guide surface (32) and a first main suction hole (36) which opens on the first guide surface (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Goss International Montataire SA
    Inventors: Franck Chagnon, Philippe Herda, Thierry Melon, Jérôme Peres, Eric Pierda, Jean-François Robert, Mathieu Rossi, Thierry Vauchelle
  • Patent number: 7914433
    Abstract: A folding roller is provided for a device for folding a flat product to be folded which extends along a center axis and includes a first axial portion and a second axial portion, the first axial portion having a first surface for folding the product to be folded. The second axial portion includes a main relief which is radially recessed relative to the first folding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Goss International Montataire SA
    Inventors: Philippe Herda, Jéröme Peres, Eric Pierda, Franck Chagnon, Thierry Vauchelle, Thierry Melon, Mathieu Rossi
  • Patent number: 7913988
    Abstract: A crease forming apparatus includes a crease forming member, an insertion groove and a drive unit. The crease forming member extends along a given line of a recording member for forming the crease in the given line. The insertion groove is formed in a portion disposed opposed to the crease forming member and that allows insertion of the crease forming member thereinto. The drive unit drives the crease forming member in such a manner that the crease forming member advances and retreats between a wait position and a crease forming position, and that inserts the crease forming member situated at the wait position into the insertion groove up to the crease forming position against a holding force to the recording member in such a manner that a peripheral portion of the given line of the recording member is set along the crease forming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Awano
  • Patent number: 7909316
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a fold roller pair which forms a nipping portion and inserts the center of a sheet bundle into the nipping portion to form a fold in the sheet bundle; a folding blade which moves from a standby position and presses the center of the sheet bundle against the nipping portion when the fold is formed, and returns to the standby position after the pressing of the nipping portion is completed; and a protection member which prevents an access to a front edge of the folding blade in a longitudinal direction of the front edge when the folding blade is located at the standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7892161
    Abstract: A sheet folding unit, including: a first folding roller configured to rotate around a first axis; a second folding roller configured to rotate around a second axis which is in parallel with the first axis and biased to the first folding roller separably to a separating direction to make a nip together with the first folding roller therebetween; a blade configured to push a surface of a sheet into the nip; and a roller cover configured to move together with the second folding roller in the separating direction to prevent the second folding roller contacting the sheet when the blade unit starts contacting the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tomomi Iijima
  • Patent number: 7883079
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a stack tray on which a sheet successively delivered from a delivery port is stacked, the stack tray including: a folding route receiving the sheet from the delivery port; a sheet folding device provided in the folding route to fold the sheet; and a sheet stacking surface for stacking the sheet, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is operable in selectively between a first mode in which a sheet from the delivery port is stacked on the sheet stacking surface, and a second mode in which a sheet folded by the sheet folding device is stacked on the same sheet stacking surface as in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Koki Sato, Satoshi Iwama, Eiji Fukasawa, Hisashi Osada, Shin Tsugane
  • Patent number: 7862024
    Abstract: According to the invention, a sheet finisher has a folding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a stacking mechanism, and a slip amount calculator. The folding mechanism forms a folding line by folding a sheet which an image forming unit discharges. The discharging mechanism discharges the sheet including the folding line which the folding mechanism forms. The stacking mechanism stacks the sheet which the discharging mechanism discharges. The slip amount calculator outputs a fullness state of the stacking mechanism to the image forming unit, if a slip amount of the discharging mechanism exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20100278577
    Abstract: A device for folding sheets of a medium is provided. The device has a frame; a cam mechanism attached to the frame; a lever attached to the frame, the lever being actuated by the cam mechanism; a first scissor arm attached to the frame, the first scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of first rolls, one of the first rolls being movable by the first scissor arm; a second scissor arm attached to the frame, the second scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of second rolls, one of the second rolls being movable by the second scissor arm; and a crease blade for contacting the sheets to create a crease in the sheets. Rotation of the cam mechanism through a first period of rotation causes the crease blade to move in a contact direction to create the crease in the sheets by pushing the sheets between the first rolls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Hubbard, Mike Snelling, Jeff Ryan, Ian Parks, Christopher Pearce
  • Patent number: 7815179
    Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a punch unit to punch a sheet, and a saddle unit to bundle and to fold the sheets. A position and an inclination angle of a puncher are changed according to a skew amount of the sheet, the puncher is controlled to form punch holes in the sheet at positions symmetric with respect to a folding line, and punching is performed so that an interval between the folding line and the punch hole becomes small at the inside of a bundle of the sheets and becomes large at the front cover side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taguchi, Tetsuhiro Morita
  • Patent number: 7798950
    Abstract: A folding unit folds a sheet. A pressing unit presses a folded side of the folded sheet. A driving unit causes the pressing unit to slide in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction. A control unit independently sets number of slides at which the pressing unit is to slide on each of a plurality of sections of the folded side depending on a distance of each of the sections from a reference position, and controls the driving unit so as to slide in each of the sections for the number of slides set for that section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Hiroshi Maeda, Atsushi Kuriyama, Makoto Hidaka, Hitoshi Hattori, Junichi Tokita, Akira Kunieda, Takashi Saito, Ichiro Ichihashi
  • 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: 20100190629
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for feeding and folding sheets. Providing a folding blade having a free edge, reciprocably movable between a retracted position and a folding position, provided with blade surfaces adjacent to the free edge converging towards the free edge at a first angle in the folding position, and by further providing a pressing mechanism having pressing surface areas reciprocably movable between a retracted position and a pressing position, and enclosing in the pressing position a second angle larger than the first angle of the folding blade, allows an apparatus, having a pair of folding rollers and a sheet support, selectively to fold only an outer sheet from a set of sheets or to fold a set of sheets simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Marcus Francisus EIJKELKAMP
  • Patent number: 7703599
    Abstract: A method of reversing direction of an article is disclosed by engaging an article with a first belt to move the article in a first direction; disengaging the article from the first belt; and then engaging the article with a second belt to move the article in a second direction. An apparatus to reverse direction of an article is also disclosed by a first belt rotating in a first direction; a second belt rotating in a second direction; the first belt engaging an article at a first time while the second belt is disengaged with the article, the first belt disengaging the article at a second time, and the second belt engaging the article at a third time while the first belt is disengaged with the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7628748
    Abstract: A chopper table comprises table bodies for guiding a signature transported by transport belts, and a pair of inlet guides for guiding the signature pushed in by a chopper blade. The table bodies are detachably supported on chopper frames, and the inlet guides are detachably supported on the chopper frames via brackets. The chopper table improves the returnability of the table body and inlet guide when they are removed at the time of a paper jam or replacement of the transport belt, and can easily adjust the gap of a slit between the inlet guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7625330
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a folding machine for a web-fed printing press is disclosed. The folding machine includes a cutting blade cylinder operable with a folding blade cylinder and a folding jaw cylinder. A drive is connected to the cutting blade cylinder. The drive is operable in a non-uniform manner in a collecting mode of the folding machine to supply a first and a second exemplar of different sheet lengths and is operable in a uniform manner in a non-collecting mode of the folding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Seyffert
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7585267
    Abstract: A chopper table comprises table bodies for guiding a signature transported by transport belts, and a pair of inlet guides for guiding the signature pushed in by a chopper blade. The table bodies are detachably supported on chopper frames, and the inlet guides are detachably supported on the chopper frames via brackets. The chopper table improves the returnability of the table body and inlet guide when they are removed at the time of a paper jam or replacement of the transport belt, and can easily adjust the gap of a slit between the inlet guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20090221412
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a fold roller pair which forms a nipping portion and inserts the center of a sheet bundle into the nipping portion to form a fold in the sheet bundle; a folding blade which moves from a standby position and presses the center of the sheet bundle against the nipping portion when the fold is formed, and returns to the standby position after the pressing of the nipping portion is completed; and a protection member which prevents an access to a front edge of the folding blade in a longitudinal direction of the front edge when the folding blade is located at the standby position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 7575545
    Abstract: A system comprises alternative processing sections for use in the further processing of products. A separator, at which a transport section is divided into several alternative transport sections for the further processing of products in processing stages, is provided. A sensor, that detects the phasing of the products, is located upstream of the separator. A request from the sensor acts on a drive which actuates the separator through a control device. A further sensor, which detects the product phasing, is located on each of the at least two transport sections. This further sensor is connected to a drive for the processing stage served by respective ones of the separate transport sections. The drive of each such processing stage is controlled independently of the drive for the respective transport section by a suitable control unit which takes into consideration the detected product phasing for the associated transport section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 7549361
    Abstract: A vibration damping device is described that dampens vibration produced during the conversion of rotational motion into reciprocal motion. The damping is performed using a simple structure wherein first and second conversion mechanisms are symmetrically arranged with respect to a plane of symmetry, first and second rotating shafts rotate opposite to each other at a constant speed, and the rotational motion is converted into reciprocal motion. The total of mass acting on gravity centers of a first balancer and a second balancer is approximately equal to the total of mass reciprocally driven by a first driving shaft and a second driving shaft. Both gravity centers are positioned 180 degrees to the first driving shaft and second driving shaft across the axes of the first rotating shaft and second rotating shaft. As a consequence, the forces in the direction of an axis can be balanced suppressing vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: Kenji Ikoma
  • 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: 20080307940
    Abstract: This table for a chopper folding device comprises a surface (20) for application of products to be folded (17), the application surface (20) extending along an application plane (PA), a folding opening (22) suitable for the passage of the products to be folded (17), at least one first guide portion (28) disposed adjacent to the folding opening (22) and comprising a first guide surface (32) inclined with respect to application plane. The table (12) comprises guiding means suitable for urging the product to be folded towards the first guide surface (32) and a first main suction hole (36) which opens on the first guide surface (32). Application to folders of rotary presses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL MONTATAIRE SA
    Inventors: Franck Chagnon, Philippe Herda, Thierry Melon, Jerome Peres, Eric Pierda, Jean-Francois Robert, Mathieu Rossi, Thierry Vauchelle
  • Patent number: 7438677
    Abstract: A chopper table comprises table bodies for guiding a signature transported by transport belts, and a pair of inlet guides for guiding the signature pushed in by a chopper blade. The table bodies are detachably supported on chopper frames, and the inlet guides are detachably supported on the chopper frames via brackets. The chopper table improves the return ability of the table body and inlet guide when they are removed at the time of a paper jam or replacement of the transport belt, and can easily adjust the gap of a slit between the inlet guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7427259
    Abstract: A sheet folding device, method, and computer program product for conveying one of a sheet and a sheet bundle with pressure by a sheet conveying unit toward a sheet position adjusting unit; moving the sheet position adjusting unit to a standby position located downstream of a folding position of a folding plate in a sheet conveying direction; releasing the pressure of the sheet conveying unit; adjusting said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle to the folding position by supporting and moving said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle; putting a fold line in said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle conveyed along a sheet conveying path at the folding position; and folding said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle by pinching a portion of said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle around the fold line at a nip part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7344130
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet processor apparatus comprising: a sheet stack portion on which a sheet is stacked; a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; a sheet conveyor for conveying to the sheet conveyance path the sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; and a sheet folding device for folding a sheet in the sheet-set conveyance path. The sheet folding device is provided in the sheet conveyance path, and at least a portion of the sheet conveyance path at which the sheet folding device is positioned is formed into a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisaku Kamiya, Masaharu Nemura, Junichi Moteki, Yuzo Matsumoto, Shunsuke Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7328892
    Abstract: A paper processing apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes a first and second convey mechanism, a first and second alignment mechanism, and a folding mechanism, where the second alignment mechanism is configured to align a paper bundle conveyed by the first convey mechanism in the vicinity of a folding position to fold the paper bundle, and the second convey mechanism is configured to convey the paper bundle aligned by the second alignment mechanism to the folding position, and the folding mechanism is configured to fold the aligned paper bundler at the folding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Hitoshi Hattori, Takeshi Sasaki, Shohichi Satoh
  • 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: 7326167
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a folding plate configured to push out a sheet or sheet stack in a direction pre-set against a conveying path; a couple of folding rollers configured to push the sheet being pushed into a nip of the folding roller couple; and a guide part configured to guide the sheet or the sheet stack so as to prevent the sheet from coming contact in with the folding rollers in the conveying path where the sheet or the sheet stack is conveyed. The sheet or the sheet stack is folded while being put between and conveyed by the couple of the folding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Masahiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 7325799
    Abstract: A stack of sheets of sheet material is stapled along an axis and fed to a position from which it is folded along the axis by a blade to form a booklet having a curved spine. The blade also inserts the booklet into a position between clamping jaws and determines its final position therebetween. Rotatable guide rollers guide the sheets into the gap and are fitted with one-way clutches to resist upward movement of the folded sheets upon retraction of the blade from the gap. In a first mode of operation, the curved spine of the booklet protrudes a short distance beyond the jaws. The spine is then flattened by a forming roller which passes along the spine. In a second mode of operation, the spinal portion lies between the jaws and the curved end surface is flattened by the clamping force alone. The first mode is suited to booklets having or more sheets; the second to booklets having fewer than sheets or having loop staples and any number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Watkiss Automation Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Robin Watkiss
  • Publication number: 20080001338
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a bundle of sheets at its center includes a pair of center-folding rollers including a first roller and a second roller. Each roller is rotatable about an axis thereof. The first roller and the second roller are pressed in contact with each other to define a nipping portion, but are separable from each other. A center-folding blade projects towards the nipping portion for pushing a folding portion of the bundle of sheets into the nipping portion. The pair of center-folding rollers nips and conveys the folding portion to fold the bundle of sheets into a two-fold. A pivotal shaft is provided for swingably supporting the center-folding blade. A projecting leading end of the center-folding blade is swung in accordance with the thickness of the bundle of sheets that is to be folded at its center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kotani
  • Patent number: 7288059
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray on which sheets are stacked in a bundle form, an intermediate portion stapler which staples the intermediate portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, a sheet bundle conveying member which conveys the stapled sheet bundle, a curved sheet bundle conveying path which is downwardly curved on the downstream side of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction and adapted to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying member, and a folding device which is arranged in the intermediate portion of the curved sheet bundle conveying path and which folds the stapled sheet bundle, wherein the processing tray is set to be lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and wherein the curved guide path has an extended portion extending to a position under the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Wataru Kawata, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • 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: 7152856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet processor apparatus comprising: a sheet stack portion on which a sheet is stacked; a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; a sheet conveyor for conveying to the sheet conveyance path the sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; and a sheet folding device for folding a sheet in the sheet-set conveyance path. The sheet folding device is provided in the sheet conveyance path, and at least a portion of the sheet conveyance path at which the sheet folding device is positioned is formed into a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisaku Kamiya, Masaharu Nemura, Junichi Moteki, Yuzo Matsumoto, Shunsuke Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7137944
    Abstract: A folding device of the present invention includes a fold plate and a fold roller pair for folding a sheet or a sheet stack conveyed thereto. A controller causes the fold roller pair to move back and forth while nipping the folded portion of the sheet or that of the sheet stack at its nip for thereby continuously exerting pressure on the folded portion. The fold roller pair is rotated in opposite directions for thereby sharpening the fold of the sheet or that of the sheet stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kenji Yamada, Masahiro Tamura, Hiromoto Saitoh, Hiroki Okada, Junichi Iida, Shuuya Nagasako
  • Patent number: 7115088
    Abstract: A folding cylinder includes a plurality of gripping devices supported on a first rotatable support with a first gripping device for holding a signature on the cylinder. A plurality of tucking devices are supported on a second rotatable support, the tucking devices including a first tucking device and a second tucking device. The first gripping device is located circumferentially between the first tucking device and second tucking device and a cover fixed to the second rotatable support extends circumferentially over the first gripping device between the first tucking device and the second tucking device. The cover has at least one aperture, with the first gripping device capable of extending through the at least one aperture. With the folding cylinder of the invention gaps between the tucking and gripping spiders can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Mark Jackson, David Clarke Pollock
  • Patent number: 7111837
    Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet postprocessing apparatus which includes a first crease forming unit for forming a first crease on a sheet in its width direction, a second crease forming unit for forming a second crease parallel to the first crease, a first abutting member against which the leading end of a sheet introduced into the first crease forming unit abuts to position the sheet, a second abutting member against which the first crease abuts to position the sheet, a first driving mechanism for driving the first abutting member, a second driving mechanism for driving the second abutting member, and a control device for controlling the first crease forming unit, first driving mechanism, second crease forming unit, and second driving mechanism, and makes one folding process selected from a center folding process, inward three-fold process, and Z-fold process executable in the same sheet convey path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Itou, Kohji Yoshie, Hitoshi Tamura, Hisao Hosoya
  • Patent number: 7087007
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is provided with a pushing device for pushing a predetermined position of a sheet stack in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction that the sheet stack is conveyed, and a pair of rotating bodies for performing a folding operation. In the folding operation, a position of the sheet stack pushed by the pushing device is moved away from a contact point between rotational centers of the rotating bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Iwama
  • Patent number: 7077393
    Abstract: A finisher that is capable of accurate sheet processing but is small in size, the finisher controlling a feeder and a sheet folding unit and executing 1) an operation in which the sheet is conveyed in the first direction, and after a downstream edge thereof relative to the first direction is detected by the detector during conveyance, the sheet is conveyed in the second direction, 2) an operation in which after such sheet edge is detected by the detector during conveyance in the second direction, the conveyance of the sheet in the second direction is continued for a prescribed amount based on a sheet length along a direction of conveyance, whereupon the sheet is stopped, and 3) an operation in which after the sheet is stopped, the sheet folding unit is operated to create a fold line at a prescribed position in the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishida
  • 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: 7040612
    Abstract: A folding apparatus for folding sheets of flexible sheet materials, which includes a feeding mechanism (11, 17) for feeding sheets of material, a folding mechanism including a pair of rollers (11, 13) having a nip (23) into which a sheet of material (7) is inserted to create a fold (7b), and an inserter mechanism (21) for inserting a sheet (7) into the nip (23). The inserter mechanism (21) includes knife element (29) having an edge (31) that is arranged to engage a sheet (7) along a designated fold line (7a) and to insert said sheet (7) into the nip (23) to produce a fold (7b) along said fold line (7a). The inserter mechanism (21) is constructed and arranged to insert the sheet (7) into the nip (23) while the sheet (7) is positively engaged by the feeding mechanism (11, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Morgana Systems Limited
    Inventors: Wilfred Macleod Garner, Paul Stuart Garratt
  • Patent number: 7022059
    Abstract: A chopper folder for a rotary press folds signatures which are periodically conveyed, one signature at a time, from a folding machine. The chopper folder includes a pair of folding rollers for folding a signature parallel to the conveyance direction, a prime mover, a crank arm fixed to an output shaft of the prime mover to be rotated together with the output shaft, a blade holder connected to the crank arm via a link, a chopper blade held in the blade holder and adapted to push the signature from an upper surface thereof in order to insert the signature into a space between the pair of folding rollers, and guide units for restricting motion of the blade holder such that the blade holder reciprocates only in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance plane along which the signature is conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kitai, Yuuji Iiizumi, Takeo Nanba
  • Patent number: 6949060
    Abstract: A device and a method are described for folding a flexible material web using at least one pair of counterrotating laying rollers, between which the material web may be fed to a folding location, the laying rollers being part of a laying carriage which is movable over the folding length of the material web with reversible orientation. The object of the present invention is to guide the material web to the folding location with its position and composition largely unimpaired. This object is achieved in that the laying carriage includes at least two transport bands, which rotate around the laying rollers and set them into motion, the material web is transportable at least partially guided between the transport bands, and the speed of the material web has the same absolute value as the speed of the transport bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: KORTEC GmbH Business Technology
    Inventor: Christian Lenk
  • Patent number: 6916281
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus is described including a fold blade, a clamp movable to engage the fold blade, and a fold blade receptacle having two flexible spring members. The flexible spring members are biased toward one another by preloading material of the spring members. The fold blade and fold blade receptacle are movable toward one another to fold a sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven W. Trovinger
  • Patent number: 6878104
    Abstract: A system for folding sheet material is provided, including a fold blade, two fold components biased toward one another, and first drive means for moving at least one of the fold blade and the two fold components to position the fold blade between the two fold components and thereby displace the two components away from one another, where the two fold components are mounted on different support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven W. Trovinger, Ross R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6840616
    Abstract: An air folder adjuster (10) includes an air supply (12) and air supply tubing (14) connected to air supply (12) at end (16). The opposite end (18) of air supply tubing (14) is connected to one or more air nozzles (20). In a printing press utilized for folding documents such as books, air folder adjuster (10) is positioned so that air nozzles (20) direct compressed air from air supply (12) downward onto the head (26) of document (24) on either side of chopper arm (34) during the folding process thus ensuring that the document (24) lies flat, square, and untouched during the folding process and thereby allowing the elimination of chopper brushes altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Scott Summers
  • Patent number: 6837840
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for folding a sheet bundle at a predetermined position includes paired rotating bodies for folding the sheet bundle having nip portions, a pressing device for pressing the predetermined position of the sheet bundle into the nip portions of the paired rotating bodies, and a device connected to the paired rotation bodies for providing rotation to the paired rotating bodies. A pulling force of the rotating bodies to pull the sheet bundle pressed into the nip portions of the rotating bodies has an amount which does not separate a sheet of the sheet bundle contacting the rotating bodies from the subsequent sheets in the sheet bundle when pulling the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Yonekawa, Satoshi Iwama
  • Patent number: 6837841
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus is described including a fold blade, a clamp movable to engage the fold blade, and a fold blade receptacle having two flexible spring members. The flexible spring members are biased toward one another by preloading material of the spring members. The fold blade and fold blade receptacle are movable toward one another to fold a sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven W. Trovinger
  • Patent number: 6808480
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Vijuk Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Roger Mattila
  • 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