Apparatus for folding and stacking of continuous web in zigzag arrangement

Claim 1

Apparatus for producing a stack of zigzag folded web sections from a continuous web of material having predetermined fold lines at which the web is weakened, comprising: a rack; a carriage movable between two end positions in reciprocal fashion in said rack; an opening through the carriage oriented essentially perpendicular to the reciprocal motion of the carriage for the passage of web through the carriage; said end positions being located to permit movement of said opening from one side of the produced stack to the other side of the produced stack; guide elements fixedly mounted in said carriage at the side adjacent said stack to define said opening; a positioning element of flexible material extending from said rack across the side of the carriage adjacent said stack, in the direction of travel of the carriage, to and around the nearest of said guide elements; each of said positioning elements bending around its associated guide element to separate progressively from the last web section added to the stack as the carriage moves in a first direction and to add a next web section to the stack as the carriage moves in a second direction opposite to said first direction; and drive means for driving said carriage between said end positions in reciprocal fashion.