Patent US2848167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4494949A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4494949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet folding apparatus and method
Assignee: Lehigh Press LLC
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Filing: 1983-01-10
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Granted: 1985-01-22
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Expires: 2003-01-10
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus and method for folding a sheet or signature wherein the sheet or signature is passed edgewise along an arcuate path, a portion of the sheet or signature intermediate the leading and trailing edges thereof is gripped and withdrawn from the first arcuate path to a tangential second arcuate path, and a fluid or air stream is directed counter to and away from the second path to smoothly guide and gently fold the leading edge back upon the trailing edge.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Baley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/12; B65H45/16; B65H45/162; B65H45/167
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
In a sheet folding machine including rotary tangential tucker and jaw rolls for respective edgewise feeding of a sheet to the nip of said rolls and there gripping a bent portion of said sheet intermediate its leading and trailing edges, the improvement comprising a working surface on the downstream side of and facing toward said nip, and air stream producing means associated with said working surface for passing an air stream along said working surface in the direction away from said jaw roll, to maintain the leading sheet edge portion smoothly extended during folding back on the trailing edge sheet portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a sheet folding machine including rotary tangential tucker and jaw rolls for respective edgewise feeding of a sheet to the nip of said rolls and there gripping a bent portion of said sheet intermediate its leading and trailing edges, the improvement comprising a working surface on the downstream side of and facing toward said nip, and air stream producing means associated with said working surface for passing an air stream along said working surface in the direction away from said jaw roll, to maintain the leading sheet edge portion smoothly extended during folding back on the trailing edge sheet portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 1, said working surface being smooth to facilitate air stream flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 1, said working surface being convexly arcuate to effect convex curvature of said leading edge portion toward said trailing edge portion, for gradual engagement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 3, said working surface being convexly cylindrical and having spaced regions in facing spaced relation with respective rolls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 1, said air stream producing means comprising an air outlet adjacent to said jaw roll, and an air inlet adjacent to said tucker roll.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 5, said working surface being convexly arcuate between said air outlet and inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 6, said working surface being convexly cylindrical and having spaced regions thereof in facing spaced relation with respective rolls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 1, in combination with a hollow cylinder on the downstream side of said nip generally parallel to said rolls and defining said working surface, said hollow cylinder having a pair of internal air chambers communicating with said air stream producing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 8, said air stream producing means comprising an air outlet on said hollow cylinder adjacent to said jaw roll and communicating with one of said internal air chambers, an air inlet on said cylinder adjacent to said tucker roll and communicating with the other of said internal air chambers.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of folding a sheet comprising: feeding a sheet edgewise along a first path, gripping an intermediate portion of the sheet, moving the sheet by the gripped portion along a second path away from said first path with the leading and trailing edges of the sheet free, and directing a fluid stream counter to and away from said second path to extend and guide the leading edge portion of the sheet back against the trailing edge sheet portion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of folding a sheet comprising: feeding a sheet edgewise along a first path, gripping an intermediate portion of the sheet, moving the sheet by the gripped portion along a second path away from said first path with the leading and trailing edges of the sheet free, and directing a fluid stream counter to and away from said second path to extend and guide the leading edge portion of the sheet back against the trailing edge sheet portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 10, further characterized wherein said first and second paths are generally circular and tangent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 10, further characterized wherein said air stream is arcuate and generally tangent to said second path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
A sheet folding machine comprising a rotary jaw roll, a rotary tucker roll tangent to said jaw roll for edgewise feeding of a sheet to the nip of said jaw and tucker rolls for gripping by the jaw roll of a bent intermedaite sheet portion, and an air current on the outlet side of said nip moving away from said jaw roll and toward said tucker roll, to maintain the leading edge portion of said sheet smoothly extended during folding back on the trailing edge sheet portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A sheet folding machine comprising a rotary jaw roll, a rotary tucker roll tangent to said jaw roll for edgewise feeding of a sheet to the nip of said jaw and tucker rolls for gripping by the jaw roll of a bent intermedaite sheet portion, and an air current on the outlet side of said nip moving away from said jaw roll and toward said tucker roll, to maintain the leading edge portion of said sheet smoothly extended during folding back on the trailing edge sheet portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 13, said air current extending counter to the surface movement of said jaw roll and along the surface movement of said tucker roll.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet folding machine according to claim 14, said air current extending along an arcuate path generally tangent to said jaw and tucker rolls.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of sheet folding comprising moving a sheet edgewise along an arcuate first path, gripping an intermediate sheet portion, moving said gripped sheet portion along an arcuate second path tangent to said first path at the location of gripping, passing a fluid current along and counter to the direction of said second path at a location beyond the tangent region of said first and second paths, then passing the fluid current toward said first path, and then passing the fluid current along and in the direction of said first path, for maintaining the leading edge portion of the sheet smoothly extended during folding back on the trailing sheet edge portion.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of sheet folding comprising moving a sheet edgewise along an arcuate first path, gripping an intermediate sheet portion, moving said gripped sheet portion along an arcuate second path tangent to said first path at the location of gripping, passing a fluid current along and counter to the direction of said second path at a location beyond the tangent region of said first and second paths, then passing the fluid current toward said first path, and then passing the fluid current along and in the direction of said first path, for maintaining the leading edge portion of the sheet smoothly extended during folding back on the trailing sheet edge portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of sheet folding according to claim 16, further characterized in passing said fluid current along an arcuate path generally tangent to said first and second paths.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-22 | 1988-07-23 | 1989-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-22 | 1992-07-23 | 1993-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-22 | 1996-07-23 | 1997-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |