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US3729186A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for folding paper

Assignee: BFLDR Corp
•
Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1990-12-14
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Abstract

Abstract A method of and apparatus for folding paper wherein sheets of paper are folded by a plurality of rolls including three horizontal rolls which are stacked vertically with respect to each other and a fourth roll directly laterally adjacent the middle roll of the stack. The middle roll os driven and in turn rotates the other rolls which idle. With this arrangement of rolls, a sheet may be folded in different ways, and sheets can be handled efficiently and rapidly. The middle roll preferably is in a fixed position, and the other rolls are preferably adjustable, thus facilitating independent adjustment of the latter rolls relative to the middle roll. A feed system for transporting sheets to and from the rolls is disclosed, which system includes a simple clutch device. In accordance with the method and apparatus of the invention, the sheets are slit, perforated or creased in a preliminary step prior to folding of the sheets. This is accomplished by feeding the sheets through a slitter, perforator or creaser before they enter the rolls, after which the sheets pass through successive pairs of rolls which make successive folds in the sheet. The folded sheets are transported back to the initial feed point so that only one operator is required. It has been found that this pre-treatment of the sheets can be accomplished in alternate embodiments; for example, an embodiment employing a different arrangement of rolls than that referred to above. In connection with all embodiments, the pre-treatment device, whether for slitting, perforating, creasing or the like, will sometimes be referred to herein as line scoring means.

Inventors

  • 👤 T Macke

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 02:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/12; B65H45/14; B65H45/142; B65H45/144; B65H45/145; B65H45/147

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 447 words
In an apparatus for folding sheets of paper which apparatus has a plurality of folding rolls arranged to make successive folds in a sheet, a first rack means cooperating with said rolls to receive a sheet from a first pair of said rolls and buckle the same to deliver a buckled sheet to a second pair of said rolls which fold the sheet, a second rack means cooperating with said rolls to receive the folded sheet from the second pair of rolls and buckle The same to deliver a further buckled sheet to a third pair of said rolls which again fold the sheet and supply the same as an output, said apparatus further having feed means ahead of said rolls for feeding unfolded sheets into the rolls, and drive means for said rolls, the combination therewith of adjustable line scoring means in the path of said unfolded sheets between said feed means and said folding rolls to treat the sheets by slitting, perforating or creasing them before said sheets reach said folding rolls, said line scoring means including a wheel means positioned on one side of the path of said sheets, said wheel means having a treating edge for slitting, perforating or creasing said sheets, a backing member positioned on the other side of the path of said sheets providing backing for the action of said treating edge, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said wheel means and said backing member to control the depth of the action of said treating edge and the pressure thereof against said backing member, said drive means including a motor coupled to one of said rolls to rotate the same and thereby rotate the other rolls which idle, said other rolls each having an adjusting means for adjusting the position thereof, said feed means including a driven shaft, means coupling said driven shaft to said motor, a paper feeding shaft having a wheel thereon for contacting paper sheets to feed the same, an intermediate shaft coupled to said driven shaft, said feeding shaft and said intermediate shaft having grooved wheels thereon located on one side of the apparatus, and a clutch means on said one side for coupling and uncoupling said paper feeding shaft, said clutch means including a clutch wheel made of soft material that is frictionally engageable with both of said grooved wheels and means for moving said clutch wheel into and out of engagement with said grooved wheels including a handle on the side of said apparatus opposite said one side, an arm traversing the apparatus and connected to said handle, and a linkage at said one side connecting said arm to said clutch wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 447 words
In an apparatus for folding sheets of paper which apparatus has a plurality of folding rolls arranged to make successive folds in a sheet, a first rack means cooperating with said rolls to receive a sheet from a first pair of said rolls and buckle the same to deliver a buckled sheet to a second pair of said rolls which fold the sheet, a second rack means cooperating with said rolls to receive the folded sheet from the second pair of rolls and buckle The same to deliver a further buckled sheet to a third pair of said rolls which again fold the sheet and supply the same as an output, said apparatus further having feed means ahead of said rolls for feeding unfolded sheets into the rolls, and drive means for said rolls, the combination therewith of adjustable line scoring means in the path of said unfolded sheets between said feed means and said folding rolls to treat the sheets by slitting, perforating or creasing them before said sheets reach said folding rolls, said line scoring means including a wheel means positioned on one side of the path of said sheets, said wheel means having a treating edge for slitting, perforating or creasing said sheets, a backing member positioned on the other side of the path of said sheets providing backing for the action of said treating edge, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said wheel means and said backing member to control the depth of the action of said treating edge and the pressure thereof against said backing member, said drive means including a motor coupled to one of said rolls to rotate the same and thereby rotate the other rolls which idle, said other rolls each having an adjusting means for adjusting the position thereof, said feed means including a driven shaft, means coupling said driven shaft to said motor, a paper feeding shaft having a wheel thereon for contacting paper sheets to feed the same, an intermediate shaft coupled to said driven shaft, said feeding shaft and said intermediate shaft having grooved wheels thereon located on one side of the apparatus, and a clutch means on said one side for coupling and uncoupling said paper feeding shaft, said clutch means including a clutch wheel made of soft material that is frictionally engageable with both of said grooved wheels and means for moving said clutch wheel into and out of engagement with said grooved wheels including a handle on the side of said apparatus opposite said one side, an arm traversing the apparatus and connected to said handle, and a linkage at said one side connecting said arm to said clutch wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 75 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said adjusting means for said wheel means includes an arm supporting said wheel means, means pivoting said arm, and control screw means connected to said arm for pivoting the same to controllably adjust the position of said wheel means relative to said backing member, and each of said adjusting means for said rolls is of the same construction as said adjusting means for said wheel means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1831246A Cited
US2589436A Cited
US2757927A Cited
US3157398A Cited
US3240090A Cited
US3490335A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-04-23 1976-10-23 1977-04-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-04-23 1980-10-23 1981-04-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-04-23 1984-10-23 1985-04-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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