Apparatus for folding of envelope blanks

Claim 2

Apparatus for folding blanks, particularly envelope blanks, comprising a plurality of folding stations including an initial station and a terminal station, at least one of said folding stations comprising a rotatable member; a plurality of rotary folding grippers and folding blades provided on each of said folding stations with some of each of said grippers and blades being mounted on said rotatable member; drive means for rotating the grippers and blades of said initial station so as to effect folding of a blank in one direction, and for rotating the grippers and blades of all other folding stations so as to effect folding of the blank in an opposite direction to said one direction; and removing means for removing folded blanks from said terminal station.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said blanks require a plurality of folding operations and the number of said folding stations is equal to the plurality of folding operations.

Claim 4

Apparatus for folding blanks, particularly envelope blanks, comprising a plurality of folding stations including an initial station and a terminal station, said folding stations comprising a first cylinder, a pair of second cylinders each cooperating with said first cylinder, and a third cylinder cooperating with one of the preceding cylinders; a plurality of rotary folding grippers and folding blades provided on each of said folding stations, each of said first and second cylinders being provided on its periphery with circumferentially spaced alternately arranged ones of said folding grippers and blades, and said third cylinder being provided on its circumference with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ones of said folding blades; drive means for rotating the grippers and blades of said initial station so as to effect folding of a blank in one direction, and for rotating the grippers and blades of all other folding stations so as to effect folding of the blank in an opposite direction to said one direction; and removing means for removing folded blanks from said terminal station.

Claim 5

Apparatus for folding blanks, particularly envelope blanks, comprising a plurality of folding stations including an initial station and a terminal station, said folding stations comprising a first cylinder, a pair of second cylinders each cooperating with said first cylinder, and a third cylinder cooperating with one of the preceding cylinders; a plurality of rotary folding grippers and folding blades provided on each of said folding stations, each of said first and second cylinders being provided on its periphery with circumferentially spaced alternately arranged ones of said folding grippers and blades, and said third cylinder being provided on its circumference with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ones of said folding blades; drive means for rotating the grippers and blades of said initial station so as to effect folding of a blank in one direction, and for rotating the grippers and blades of all other folding stations so as to effect folding of the blank in an opposite direction to said one direction; and removing means for removing folded blanks from said terminal station.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3; further comprising at least one pressing belt for pressing an envelope blank against the periphery of said first cylinder.

Claim 7

Apparatus for folding of envelope blanks requiring a plurality of folding operations, comprising a plurality of folding stations corresponding in number to the plurality of folding operations and including an initial station and a terminal station, two of said folding stations being constituted by a first pair of cooperating cylinders, and at least one additional one of said folding stations being constituted by a second pair of cooperating additional cylinders; a transport cylinder intermediate said pairs of cylinders for transporting an envelope blank from said first pair to said second pair; a plurality of folding grippers and folding blades provided on each of said folding stations, each of said first pair of cylinders being provided on its periphery with alternately arranged circumferentially spaced ones of said folding grippers and blades, and one of said second pair of cylinders being provided with circumferentially spaced ones of said folding grippers, the other of said second pair of cylinders being provided with circumferentially spaced ones of said folding blades; drive means for rotating the grippers and blades of said initial folding station so as to effect folding of a blank in one direction, and for rotating the grippers and blades of all other folding stations so as to effect folding of the blank in an opposite direction to said one direction; and removing means for removing folded blanks from said terminal folding station.

Claim 8

Apparatus for folding of envelope blanks requiring a plurality of folding operations, comprising a plurality of folding stations corresponding in number to the plurality of folding operations and including an initial station and a terminal station, two of said folding stations being constituted by a first pair of cooperating cylinders, and at least one additional one of said folding stations being constituted by a second pair of cooperating additional cylinders; a transport cylinder intermediate said pairs of cylinders for transporting an envelope blank from said first pair to said second pair; a plurality of folding grippers and folding blades provided on each of said folding stations, each of said first pair of cylinders being provided on its periphery with alternately arranged circumferentially spaced ones of said folding grippers and blades, and one of said second pair of cylinders being provided with circumferentially spaced ones of said folding grippers, the other of said second pair of cylinders being provided with circumferentially spaced ones of said folding blades; drive means for rotating the grippers and blades of said initial folding station so as to effect folding of a blank in one direction, and for rotating the grippers and blades of all other folding stations so as to effect folding of the blank in an opposite direction to said one direction; and removing means for removing folded blanks from said terminal folding station.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising at least one pressing belt for pressing an envelope blank against the periphery of one of said cylinders of said first pair.

Claim 10

ApparaTus as defined in claim 4, said first cylinder rotating at a first angular speed, and said pressing belt advancing relative to said first cylinder at a higher second angular speed.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, said one cylinder of said first pair rotating at a first angular speed, and said pressing belt advancing relative to said one cylinder at a higher second angular speed.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, said one cylinder of said second pair comprising gripping devices in addition to said folding grippers.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said removing means comprising blank-depositing means for depositing the respective blanks on edge on a supporting surface.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10; further comprising a supporting table provided with said supporting surface and located between said folding stations and said blank-depositing means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, said blank-depositing means including a rotary cylinder element and a plurality of gripping devices provided on the same.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 3; and further comprising suction devices provided on said third cylinder.