Abstract: An automated system is disclosed for folding vehicle air bags so that a small folded-bag profile and a desirable bag deployment pattern results. A machine having numerous moveable arms is controlled by a controller. An edge folding assembly (EFA) of the machine has five arms, including a center arm, two outer blades, and two outwardly facing U-channel forks, which reside between respective outer blades and the center arm. The EFA moves forward so that all of its five arms engage an unfolded air bag. The forks then raise upward to a level at which the outer blades are aligned with a gap between tines in the forks. The outer blades mesh with this gap causing two pleats to be formed in the edge of the bag. Pleat clamps then move inwardly sideways to engage the two pleats and form a third pleat. Then, the EFA is removed from the bag. The pleat clamps may clamp top and bottom sections of the bag together while tightly gripping the pleats.

Abstract: A hand held, manually operated paper folding device, made out of thin, high density material, divided into four sections by specially introduced flexible joints. Three of the sections are similar and together equal the size of a standard paper sheet which is placed on top of these sections prior to the folding process. The fourth section is about 1/8" narrower, which allows it to be folded on top of the adjacent third section, providing means to accommodate, align and hold paper sheets between the third and the forth sections, while also permitting the following folding of all three equal sections in a zig zag fashion, generating within one motion, buckling, formation of two sharp creases and the uniform triple folding of all inserted paper sheets. The inherent springiness of the folded paper sheets and the paper sheet folding device itself assures the release of all paper sheets after the completion of the folding process and release of the paper sheet folding device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically folding an airbag is provided whereupon an airbag is positioned securely over receiving tooling, and a plurality of portions of the airbag are automatically manipulated in a plurality of directions, respectively, to place the airbag in a folded condition. The apparatus includes a processor to automatically operate means for manipulating the airbag. The apparatuses for manipulating the airbag preferably include an apparatus for fanfolding a portion of an airbag, an apparatus for folding over a portion of an airbag, and at least one hold-down mechanism to receive portions of an airbag. The various apparatuses for manipulating the airbag can be variously combined in accordance with the present invention to automatically prepare airbags of various types in various folding patterns.

Abstract: A folding machine including a feeding unit which successively feeds sheets form a stack to a folding station. At the folding station an intermediate portion of each sheet is pushed by a pushing unit between two counter-rotating rollers to be folded in half. Advantageously, the feeding unit, the pushing unit and the rollers are driven by independent motors and controlled by a programmed control unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for cross-folding paper sheets, including: a first folding device for imparting a first fold to a paper sheet; a transport module secured to the first folding device for receiving a once folded paper sheet, and a second folding device oriented perpendicular to the first folding device and secured to the transport module, wherein the transport module includes a pivotable paper stop assembly having a self-centering stopping surface to stop and align the once folded paper sheet and a brush for controlling bounceback of the once folded paper sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for automatically folding airbags a plurality of times in stages of predetermined width. Both longitudinal and lateral folds may be accomplished. A plurality of inward and outward folding bars are automatically positioned relative to the airbag and transferred to interleaving positions to fold the airbag.

Abstract: An automated system is disclosed for folding vehicle air bags so that a small folded-bag profile and a desirable bag deployment pattern results. A machine having numerous moveable arms is controlled by a controller. An edge folding assembly (EFA) of the machine has five arms, including a center arm, two outer blades, and two outwardly facing U-channel forks, which reside between respective outer blades and the center arm. The EFA moves forward so that all of its five arms engage an unfolded air bag. The forks then raise upward to a level at which the outer blades are aligned with a gap between tines in the forks. The outer blades mesh with this gap causing two pleats to be formed in the edge of the bag. Pleat clamps then move inwardly sideways to engage the two pleats and form a third pleat. Then, the EFA is removed from the bag. The pleat clamps clamp top and bottom sections of the bag together while tightly gripping the pleats.

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

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a hose package by folding a hose of flexible material, where the hose package consists of folds adjoining one another and forming wall elements connected to one another. The elements are situated outside one another in relation to a central axis of the hose package. The device for carrying out the method has a fixing element and upper and lower folding plates in the shape of polygons. Through a controlled sequence of movements, the fixing element and folding plates form the folds situated outside one another, and thereby the hose package. The folding plates are placed adjacent to one another and in end regions form corners of the polygon. In the respective corner regions the plates are spaced from one another to form an opening or gap through which a pressing member can travel to contact the folds of the hose package and smooth out any wrinkles.

Abstract: An improved folder apparatus includes a first folder assembly which forms a first fold in sheet material along the path of movement of the sheet material. A second folder assembly forms a second fold in the sheet material in a direction extending transversely to the path of movement of the sheet material. A third folder assembly forms a third fold in the sheet material with the first and third folds extending along the path of movement of the sheet material through the third folder assembly and the second fold at a leading edge portion of the sheet material. During the forming of the three folds, the sheet material is continuously moved through the folder assemblies without stopping. The third folder assembly includes an array of upper and lower tapes. The array of tapes tapers from a wide inlet portion of the third folder assembly toward a discharge portion of a third folder assembly.

Abstract: Folded articles, such as paper napkins, handkerchiefs, and the like are puced of an intially continuous web or sheet material which is moved into a folding machine in a feed advance direction at a controllable feed-in speed. The sheet material may be folded once lengthwise around the feed advance direction before it is cut by a cutter operating at equal time intervals. The cut sheet material sections are then accelerated and after the acceleration they are folded at least once crosswise around a direction perpendicularly to the feed advance direction, whereby the cut sections travel at a constant speed during the crosswise folding and subsequent stacking. The feed-in speed is kept constant as long as articles of a given size are being produced. When the article size is to be changed, the feed-in speed is accordingly changed.

Abstract: A device for the manufacture of a hose package formed by folding of a hose of flexible material, where the hose package consists of folds adjoining one another and forming wall elements connected to one another. The elements are situated outside one another in relation to a central axis of the hose package. The device has a fixing element and upper and lower folding plates in the shape of polygons. Through a controlled sequence of movements the fixing element and folding plates form the folds situated outside one another, and thereby the hose package. The folding plates are placed adjacent to one another and in end regions form corners of the polygon. In respective corner regions the plates are spaced from one another to form an opening or gap through which a pressing member can travel to contact the folds of the hose package and smooth out any wrinkles.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus comprises a substantially planar surface for receiving and supporting a substantially rectangular extended sheet. The apparatus includes a first folder for folding the substantially rectangular extended sheet along a first diagonal axis thereof to form a once folded sheet defining a long base, a second folder for folding the two halves of the base of the once folded sheet towards each other and into parallel disposition with an axis transverse to the axis of the base to form a twice folded sheet, and a third folder for folding the two halves of the twice folded sheet along a second diagonal axis thereof to form a thrice folded sheet while simultaneously removing the sheet from the substantially planar surface.

Abstract: In a folding apparatus with a transverse cutting and transverse folding unit fed by a first longitudinal folding unit and with a second longitudinal folding unit followed by a delivery unit, simple development and expansion of the folding apparatus step by step is made possible by arranging the transverse cutting and transverse folding unit on a basic frame and arranging the second longitudinal folding unit on a lower additional frame. Furthermore the basic and additional frame are arranged at the same level and are provided with connection structure adjacent to each other and over the connection on the basic frame there is a further connection structure for a superposed frame with transverse and longitudinal forming unit. The additional frame is provided with support surfaces for the superposed frame which has corresponding surfaces.

Abstract: A method of folding into packages, in connection with the manufacture thereof, disposable absorbent articles such as diapers or incontinence protectors comprising an absorbent body (1) enclosed in a casing extending laterally beyond the absorbent body and having casing portions intended to seal around the abdomen of the wearer, as well as elastic leg bands or threads (6, 7) affixed to the casing with portions (6', 7') extending at least partially along either side edge of the article at a distance beyond the absorbent body. The ends of the article are folded in with approximately equal lengths toward the mid-section of the article, which is thereafter folded together in the same direction into a four-folded state. The elastic portions (6', 7') at the center of the article are simultaneously held laterally stretched so as to encompass the laterally positioned article ends. The folded article, upon release of these elastic portions, is held together thereby in the state of a compact, four-folded package.

Abstract: A method of installing a sheet of thermoplastic film on a greenhouse wherein the sheet of thermoplastic film has been folded over in a somewhat U-shaped fold and rolled into a roll, comprising placing the roll of thermoplastic film on the apex of the greenhouse roof, and unrolling the roll of thermoplastic film down each side of the greenhouse.

Abstract: The dual former (1, 2) apparatus includes a central housing and support (7) within which is retained a central common drive train (8). Located symmetrically with respect to a center line (21) through the housing and support (7) are respective transport roller units (9-12), cutting cylinder units (13, 14) and distribution apparatus units (15, 16; 27, 28), all driven from the common drive train (8). Some (9, 10) of the units may be cantilevered from the central housing and support (7), others (11, 12, 13, 14) have their remote ends journalled in bearing plates (17, 18) secured to the central housing structure (7) while still others (15, 16, 27, 28) are journalled in bearing plates secured on a base (6) which can also support the central housing structure, for example by being a metal element to which the central housing structure is welded. Delivery of folded, cut and separated printed subject goods is, preferably, laterally of the central housing structure.

Abstract: Gauze pads ready for packaging are formed by drawing web material from a roll and then folding the same longitudinally into a vertical attitude. Nip rolls driven at a controlled rate, draw the web from a folding station and then into an air stream which is directed horizontally at the vertical web where a tensionless loop is maintained. The web then passes through a vertical support guide and then to a folding station where reciprocating blades push the web alternately right and left, the alternations being held against side plates by flexible wire pads to prevent the fold from being pulled out by the next alternation of direction. The folded web is then pushed past a cutter by successive alternations of added material, the now cut pads being further pushed into diverging trays for packaging.

Abstract: A fabric folding machine includes a conveyor belt on which the fabric is held and its motion controlled by suction. A pair of lateral blades are hinged about an axis parallel to a fabric feed direction for creating longitudinal folds. Transverse folds are produced by comb-like blades hinged perpendicular to the fabric feed direction. Two sets of comb-like blades are provided which are movable in opposite senses.One of the two sets of comb-like blades can assume two or more positions. The lateral blades can also be adjusted in terms of their distance apart, orthogonal to the fabric feed direction.

Abstract: Towels or other segments of sheet material are moved along an upper pair of downwardly inclined guide plates 31, 32, and the side edge portions 16 of the segments are folded inwardly and under the central portion 20 of the segment and under the upper guide plates. The leading end portion of the segment is moved off the lower ends of the upper guide plates and onto a lower pair of guide plates 34, 35 that are coextensive with the upper guide plates, the two pairs of guide plates are then separated, and a fold blade 101 moves upwardly between the separated guide plates to form a cross fold 106 intermediate the ends of the segment. The movement of the intermediate folded portion of the segment is continued in an upwardly-inclined direction, which pulls the leading and trailing end portions together.

Abstract: A sheet folding machine used with a copying machine has a first conveying mechanism provided in succession with the sheet discharging path of the copying machine and functioning to widthwise displace a sheet discharged through the sheet discharging path. A second conveying mechanism is arranged below the first conveying mechanism and is adapted to convey the sheet selectively in one direction and in an opposite direction. A switch assembly is provided at the sheet loading ends of the first and second conveying mechanisms for switching the delivery of the sheet to the first and second mechanisms so that the sheet is delivered through the first conveying mechanism to said second conveying mechanism or alternatively directly to the second conveying mechanism. A sheet folding mechanism disposed below the second conveying mechanism folds the sheet in two in a first direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a piece of welt material along longitudinal and transverse fold lines. The method and apparatus produce a folded piece of welt material with sharply defined transverse and longitudinal folds in a safe and efficient manner. A preferred embodiment of the garment welt folder (26) utilizes a template (30) having a recessed area (34) and a slot (38) with sharply defined longitudinal and transverse edges corresponding to longitudinal and transverse folds to be made in the welt material (64). Finger blades (50, 52) are positioned to secure the welt material (64) at the longitudinal fold lines by a vertical double-acting fluid cylinder (44) and two horizontal double-acting fluid cylinders (46, 48). Two portions (68, 70) of the welt material (64) extending beyond the longitudinal fold line are folded over the portion (66) of the area of the welt material (64) within the longitudinal fold lines by two folding blades (58, 60).

Abstract: A manually fed folding machine comprising a horizontally reciprocal fold plate for making a first fold in an article, a pivotally movable fold bar clamps the leading edge of the article while the first fold is made and then unclamps the leading edge and carries it about a second predetermined fold line and into superposed relation with the first fold line. A vertically reciprocable fold knife is pivotally connected to spring-clip clamps and the vertically reciprocable fold knife is elevated to move the clamps into clamping position against the article during the second fold and the fold knife is then lowered against the article to impart a third fold while simultaneously lifting the clamps from the article.