EP0037343B1 - Method of manufacturing a pile suitable for forming at least one expansible file, and machine for executing the method - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the present invention is a method for producing a bundle capable of forming at least one bellows filing cabinet, consisting of a selected plurality of partitions and of an accordion-pleated bellows connecting the partitions in pairs. on three sides, and a machine for implementing such a process.

Binders are known for the storage of documents which consist of an accordion-fold bellows, and inside which parallel partitions secured to the folds of the bellows form pockets in which documents can be classified.

Usually, such binders are produced by hand, that is to say individually and manually, from which various operations result for the formation of the folds of the bellows, the preparation and the installation of the partitions in folds, as well as various finishing operations.

Furthermore, US Pat. No. 1,968,165 teaches a process for producing a bellows filing cabinet according to which the partitions are glued onto a defined marginal area and on three sides, then inserted into the folds of an accordion bellows, the assembly then being transported to a machine capable of compressing it using rollers.

Such manufacturing techniques require a large and specialized workforce leading to obtaining bellows binders which are high cost; moreover, the production rates are slow and most often cannot adequately meet demand.

The present invention seeks to remedy such drawbacks set out briefly in the foregoing, and for this purpose proposes a method of manufacturing a bundle capable of forming at least one bellows file cabinet with a selected plurality of pockets and a machine for the implementation of this process, according to which, with reduced labor, not only high production rates are obtained, but a product with an impeccable finish.

According to the invention, the method of producing a bundle capable of forming at least one bellows filing cabinet, consisting of a selected plurality of parallel partitions previously glued along three sides on a marginal area, which are inserted in a bellows with accordion folds and pressed to connect by glue two by two said partitions by three sides, thus forming storage pockets, is characterized in that, starting from a flexible strip, suitable for the formation of such bellows, we form it in a U along its longitudinal axis, then, having pulled forward a length of strip of a dimension equal to the development of a fold of the bellows, we place at the rear of this length, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a precut partition having on at least two sides a folded and glued tab, then a fold is made in the median zone of this length, by a pushing from the outside to the inside on the three sides of the U-band, and o n press the fold thus formed in an axial direction until it is crushed so as to ensure the bonding of said partition, a new length is drawn and the operations are repeated successively until the desired bundle is formed.

For the implementation of the above method the invention provides a machine which is characterized in that it comprises on a frame, following the longitudinal axis of the strip, and from back to front, the rear being a location where the strip is wound on a reel, and the front a location where the bundle is produced, a profiled element capable of gradually giving the strip a U-shaped section, traction means capable of pulling a length of strip in U corresponding to the development of an accordion fold to be formed, pushing means arranged laterally on the three sides of the strip formed in U, these means being movable back and forth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the U-shaped band, means capable of pressing a fold that has just been formed, retractable retaining means capable of holding the bundle during the formation of a fold, and means capable of slowing the bundle in its forward progression .

The machine is completed, according to another characteristic of the invention, by a partition distribution station arranged substantially overhanging the length of the drawn strip, and essentially comprising a plate movable between a substantially horizontal position for which it receives a partition with folded and glued tabs and a substantially vertical position for which it is inserted, with the partition, at the rear of the length of strip drawn; the face of this plate carrying the partition being connected to a source of vacuum so that the partition is maintained during its transfer.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine is also supplemented at its front end, by means capable, on the one hand, of retaining the bundle formed, and, on the other hand, allowing it to be cut off for obtaining d 'a bellows filing cabinet, such means being essentially constituted by a frame movable vertically on uprights, which frame is arranged to penetrate a fold, and to allow the sectioning of the bundle using a cutting tool.

Such a machine has undeniable advantages compared to the prior art; it allows, practically without manual intervention, the realization in continuous automatic, of bundles from which one can draw a multiplicity of bellows binders having a selected plurality of partitions linked to the bellows by forming pockets for the storage of documents.

Given the automaticity of the machine, the production rates of the bundles which can be high, we solve the problem until now posed of productivity. In addition, the final cost of such binders obtained from bundles made with the machine according to the invention is significantly lowered compared to previous binders of the same kind, due, on the one hand, to the production rates and, on the other hand, the extremely reduced manpower required. Another not insignificant advantage lies in the fact that the folds of the bellows being made mechanically, they are perfectly regular and give rise to a product having an impeccable finish.

• la fig. 1 est une vue en élévation de la machine suivant l'invention;
• la fig. 2 est une vue en plan de la machine suivant la flèche F de la fig. 1;
• la fig. 3 est une vue à plus grande échelle, au plan de la partie indiquée en III à la fig. 1, le poste d'alimentation de cloisons n'étant pas représenté sur cette figure;
• la fig. 3A est un détail à plus grande échelle de la partie entourée et indiquée par IIIA à la fig. 3;
• la fig. 4 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la fig. 3;
• les figs 5, 6 et 7, montrent le dispositif de tronçonnage de la liasse, disposé à l'extrémité avant, respectivement en élévation, vue de côté, et vue de dessus avec arrachement partiel;
• les figs 8 à 13 illustrent les différentes phases de la formation d'un pli en accordéon;
• la fig. 14 montre en perspective une liasse obtenue avec la machine selon l'invention, cette liasse étant apte à constituer une multiplicité de classeurs à soufflet, chacun avec une pluralité choisie de cloisons;
• la fig. 15 est une vue à plus grande échelle de la partie entourée et indiquée par XV à la fig. 10, cette partie montrant en détail quelques plis du soufflet obtenu.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will moreover emerge from the description which follows, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing sheets in which:

• fig. 1 is an elevational view of the machine according to the invention;
• fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine according to arrow F in FIG. 1;
• fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale, in the plane of the part indicated in III in FIG. 1, the partition supply station not being shown in this figure;
• fig. 3A is a detail on a larger scale of the part surrounded and indicated by IIIA in FIG. 3;
• fig. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;
• Figs 5, 6 and 7 show the cutting device of the bundle, arranged at the front end, respectively in elevation, side view, and top view with partial cutaway;
• Figs 8 to 13 illustrate the different phases of the formation of an accordion fold;
• fig. 14 shows in perspective a bundle obtained with the machine according to the invention, this bundle being capable of constituting a multiplicity of bellows binders, each with a selected plurality of partitions;
• fig. 15 is a view on a larger scale of the part surrounded and indicated by XV in FIG. 10, this part showing in detail some folds of the bellows obtained.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the machine according to the invention comprises a frame generally indicated by 10 carrying at the rear a coil 11 on which a strip 12 is wound, for example made of canvas paper; the reel 11 with the associated strip is rotatably mounted on a frame 13 carrying guide and return rollers 14 to 18 so that the strip 12 is presented at the rear end of the frame 10 of the machine and in the upper part of that -this.

From the roll 18 the strip 12 is progressively formed in a U along its longitudinal axis, by means of a profiled element 20 associated with the chassis, which profiled element extends generally from the roll 18 to two lateral rollers 21, 22, with axes vertical, capable of pressing over their entire height, the lateral sides of the strip thus formed in a U against the vertical walls of the above-mentioned profiled element.

A block 26 suspended from the frame 10 by attachment means 27 themselves slidingly mounted in a support 28 secured to the frame 10 is arranged to receive a jack 30, the piston rod of which is equipped with a generally rectangular base 31 of which the front wall 31A is connected by channels 31 B and pipe 31C to suction means not shown. The dimensions of this base both in height and in width correspond substantially to the U-shaped profile of the strip; the bed 31 being coupled to the jack 30, it is therefore movable longitudinally between an advanced position and a retracted position. The amplitude of the movement of the bed base can be adjusted as a function of the length of strip to be pulled by the sliding mounting of the attachment means 27 in the support 28 (fig. 1).

In order to prevent the jack 30 from rotating about its axis in the block 26, the jar of this jack has a radial extension 38 (fig. 3), the end of which is provided with a roller 39 is engaged in a fork 40 fixed on the rear face of the box spring 31.

The box spring 31 has two functions, namely: ensuring the pressing of a fold formed, and simultaneously driving the U-shaped band forward of a length corresponding to the development of a fold.

The forward drive of the U-shaped band is obtained by means of side-clamps arranged substantially at the level of the bed base, along the three sides of the U-shaped band.

These sidewalls (figs 1 and 3) include a frame 45 surrounding the U-shaped band; this frame is fixed by one side to the upper edge of the box spring 31 and is therefore movable therewith, the other three sides of the frame each carry a pressing device constituted by a strip 46, arranged opposite the sides of the this box spring being itself coupled to a small cylinder 47 fixed to the frame.

It is understood that if the jacks are put under pressure, the associated strips will be moved towards the corresponding sides of the bed base and will thus pinch the strip, because it passes between said strips and the sides of the bed base.

A little in front of the base 31, the frame 10 carries laterally on the three sides of the U-folded strip, folding units indicated generally at 50 capable of forming an accordion fold in the length of the pulled strip, and retaining units able to hold the formed bundle indicated as a whole at 51.

The three folding units 50 thus arranged to form a fold of the bellows being similar in their construction and only one will be described in the following.

Each folding unit 50 comprises a first carriage 52 mounted movable perpendicularly to the axis of the strip folded in a U on a fixed slide 53 and this, using a jack 54 to which the aforementioned first carriage is coupled. The first carriage 52 is arranged (fig. 4 in particular) to form bearings 56, 57, with an axis 58 whose ends - protruding with respect to said first carriage - are coupled with discs 59, 60, themselves coupled with crank pins 61, 62, wedged on arms 63, 64, forming a second carriage 65 which carries a folding blade 66. Substantially in the middle of the axis 58 receives a pinion 70 capable of cooperating with a rack 71 which can be driven in translation by means of a jack 72 which is associated with it.

It will be noted, as is clearly visible in FIG. 3 that each folding unit 50 capable of forming the folds of the bellows comprises two axis, pinion, and crankpin assemblies as described above, driven by a single rack.

The folding blade 66 fixed to each folding unit has a terminal edge 66A, parallel to said sides of the strip formed in a U shape.

It will be noted that the folding unit arranged opposite the base of the U formed by the strip comprises a folding blade which extends at least over the entire length of this base, while the associated folding blades the folding units arranged opposite the sides of the U are slightly shorter than these sides; they are arranged in such a way that their respective lower ends are at some distance from the base of the U. Such an arrangement is necessary to allow the simultaneous formation of a fold of the bellows on the three sides of the U-shaped strip.

As for the retaining units 51 (FIG. 3), they are, like the folding units suitable for forming a fold, arranged in the immediate vicinity of the sides of the strip formed in a U shape; these restraint units all having a similar construction, only one will be described below. Such a retaining unit comprises a lever in the shape of a stirrup 75 facing one side of the strip, this stirrup is pivotally mounted on a pin 76 fixed to the end of the slide 53 and extends on either side of this axis being, at one front end, connected to a return spring 77 associated with a tension adjustment device 78 secured to the fixed slide 53, and at the other end equipped with a retaining head indicated as a whole by 79. The end face of this retaining head (fig. 3A) has on either side of a clearance 80 one or more claws 81 capable of cooperating with an edge of a fold , and a ramp 82 able to cooperate with a cam 83 integral with the folding blade 66. The usefulness of such an arrangement will appear later on during the description of the operation.

Another complementary restraint unit indicated generally at 90 in FIG. 1, is provided to cooperate with the upper edge of the last partition in place; this retaining unit is carried by a cross member 91 secured to the frame, and it comprises a jack 92 whose pot is pivotally mounted on a bracket 93 provided at the upper end of a vertical arm 94 fixed to the cross member, while the piston rod 95 of this jack is coupled to a lever 96, mounted by a pivoting end on the aforementioned vertical arm, the other end of this lever 96 comprising at least one claw 98.

The aforementioned claw 98 as well as the claws 81 fixed to the retaining units 51 may each be in one piece extending over the greater part of the sides of the U, and of the upper edge of a partition, but they can be made up of several elements attached to the end of levers 75 and 96.

Above the zone of forming an accordion fold by pushing back, and beyond the open side of the U-shaped strip, a partition supply device indicated as a whole by 99 is carried by the frame 10 This device (FIG. 1) comprises a plate 100 extended forwards by an arm 101, carrying a roller 102, able to cooperate with a ramp 103 arranged in an arm 104 extending vertically.

The plate 100 is coupled by axis 107 to the piston rod of a jack 108 itself carried by a cross member 109 fixed to cheeks 110 fixed to the frame.

The face of the plate 100 intended to carry a partition 113 is connected by pipeline 112 to a source of vacuum (not shown here); this tray is suitable for transferring a partition 113 from a substantially horizontal position where said partition is disposed on the tray at a substantially vertical position situated at the rear of the developed length of a fold to be formed, as will be seen further.

The partition 113 has on three sides tongues 114 folded and glued, and it is arranged on the plate 100 so that said tongues are in the case considered - after the formation of a fold - facing the rear face of the fold formed, as is clearly visible in particular in FIGS. 10 to 13, the tongues being cut so that they follow the vertical sides as well as the horizontal lower side of the fold.

At some distance in front of the retaining and folding units, the frame 10 carries two pressing rollers 115, 116 (figs 1 and 2) mounted to rotate around vertical axes, they are adjustable in spacing and adapted to effect a braking effect on the vertical sides of the bundle indicated as a whole by which it rests on a support table 118.

At the end of the aforementioned table 118, the machine is completed by means of retaining the bundle L generally indicated at 120, these means being also adapted to allow the cutting of the bundle in order to constitute a bellows filing cabinet with a chosen plurality of pockets.

The retaining and cutting means essentially comprise (FIGS. 5 to 7) a frame 130 mounted vertically movable by its uprights between two pairs of guide rollers 131, 132, rotatable on a frame 133 fixed to the frame. The frame has on its front face an operating handle 134, and it is associated by cable 135 and pulley 136 with a counterweight 137. On these lateral sides the uprights of the frame 130 have grooves 140 able to cooperate with the guide rollers 131 , 132. On these same lateral sides, the uprights of the frame 130 have in a median zone recesses 139 from which the grooves 141, 142 extend downwards, in parallel with the grooves 140. Similarly, the lower edge of the frame has a throat 143.

The lower edge of the frame has bevelled front and rear faces 145 in order to facilitate the introduction of the latter between two consecutive partitions, therefore inside a pocket, while the thickness E of this frame (fig. 7 ) is capable of ensuring the deployment of a fold of the bellows in order to facilitate the transverse cutting which is effective carried out manually using a blade guided by the aforementioned grooves 141 to 143 formed in the frame.

The formation of a fold in the bellows can be analyzed in the following manner, with particular reference to FIGS. 8 to 13 in which we see the formation of a fold in the base of the U formed by the strip, it being understood that the formation of vertically extending folds is similar and simultaneous.

In fig. 8, all the retaining units 51 arranged laterally and below the strip 12 formed in a U are in the active position, as is the upper retaining unit 90, so that the last partition 113 is retained by the claws associated with each unity, that is to say on its four sides; it will be noted that the aforementioned retaining units are active by the springs 77 and the tension adjustment devices 78. The bed base 31 is in the rear position, the side clamps 46 are in the active position and clamp the strip 12 against the bed base 31, the folding blades 66 of the folding units are in an intermediate position and a strip length "LB", of length equal to the extent of a fold, is provided between the last partition 113 and the front face of the bed base 31.

In fig. 9 the supply plate 100 of partitions has been ordered to bring a partition 113A (arrow F2) opposite the front face of the bed base 31, that is to say behind the aforementioned length of strip, this partition 113A being pressed against the bed base because the front face 31A of the latter is, by the conduits 31B, 31C connected to a source of vacuum; it is noted that the parallel tongues 114, in the example shown, at the vertical and lower horizontal sides of the U-shaped strip are oriented towards the front.

In fig. The bed 31 is moved forward (arrow F3) and, simultaneously, the folding blades associated with the folding units 50 have been moved together by the control of the second associated carriages 65 using the jacks 72; the blades 66 therefore pass from a waiting position to an advanced position towards each of the sides of the strip formed in a U, and this, substantially in a median zone of the length "L _B ".

Since the second carriages 65 are linked to crank pins 61, the latter do not print to the second carriages and therefore, to the blades 66, a rectilinear displacement, but a displacement substantially in an arc (arrow F4) so that the cams 83 penetrate into the recesses 80, while the folding blades follow, by this displacement in an arc, the progression towards the front of the bed base 31. In FIG. 11, the bed base 31 continues to move forward and initiates the pressing operation of the fold just formed in order to stick the tongues to the corresponding faces of the fold, while the first carriages 52 are moved along the arrow F5 by pressurizing the associated cylinders 54 so that the folding blades 66 pass from an advanced position to a retracted position, the cylinders 72 associated with the second carriages 65, being in turn, kept under pressure to maintain the blades folding in a position identical to that shown in fig. 10, for which the cam 83 is engaged in the clearance 80. The displacement of the first carriages has the effect, on the one hand, of disengaging the folding blades 66 from the hollow of the fold formed, and, on the other hand, of bring the cam 83 into contact with the ramp 82 provided in the retaining units 51 and drive the lever 75 (arrow F6) by pivoting about its axis 76 from an active position (FIGS. 8 to 11) to an erased position set back (fig. 12).

Simultaneously with the erasing of the levers 75, the lever 96 of the upper retaining unit 90 is also erased by means of the jack 92 so that the four sides of the U-band are released for the operation of pressing.

In fig. 12 the bed 31, continuing its movement forward to an extreme advanced position, performs the pressing of the tongues of the partition 113A on the corresponding rear face of the fold just made.

When the pressing is finished (fig. 13) the side clamps 46 are loose (arrow F7) and the bed 31 is returned to its initial rear waiting position; at the start of the return of the box spring 31, the second carriages 65 are driven into the retracted position (arrow F8), the blades 66 being opposite a new length LB 'of strip, being located substantially in a middle zone of this length.

At the start of the drive of the second carriages to their withdrawal position, the cams 83 release the levers 75 which automatically return to the active position (arrow F9) under the effect of the springs 77, position for which the claws 81 hold the last fold form.

It will be noted that the new length LB ′ is formed at the same time as the formation of the fold because the three sides of the U-shaped strip are driven simultaneously by the advance of the bed base 31 and this, by means of the clamps 46 which make the U-shaped band temporarily secured to the bed base 31, (FIGS. 8 to 12), while at the end of pressing, before the bed base 31 returns back, the side clamps 46 are rendered inoperative; in fact, said side-clamps are inoperative only during the stroke towards the rear of the bed base 31.

The above operations are repeated successively until the desired bundle L is formed comprising a multiplicity of pockets P visible in particular in FIGS. 14 and 15.

On this last fig. 15 it can be seen that the folding blade fitted to the folding unit arranged laterally at the base of the U-shaped strip forms a fold extending over the entire length of this base, while the folding blades fitted to the folding units folds arranged laterally to the sides of the U-shaped strip, form a fold - given their length - which stops at the top of the fold formed in the base of the U-shaped strip.

In front of the fold formation area, the bundle L capable of forming at least one pocket binder is guided and slightly braked in its advance by the pressure rollers 115, 116, so that the folds are tightened by then the formation zone up to these pressure rollers, which ensures good bonding of the partitions.

At its front end, the frame 10 is advantageously equipped with means for retaining the bundle L produced, these means being able to allow easy cutting of the bundle to constitute a bellows filing cabinet, with a selected plurality of partitions forming pockets of storage.

The frame 130 is normally in the low position and forms a stop at the front end of the bundle L; to cut the frame 130 is reassembled using the handle 134, which allows to release a desired number of folds of the bellows and associated partitions and therefore pockets. Such an operation is carried out manually, and when a selected plurality of pockets is obtained, the frame 130 is lowered by inserting it into a pocket between two consecutive partitions; it will be noted that the two partitions considered are manually moved aside in order to favor the insertion of the frame between them, and the frame is lowered until it abuts on the table. At this stage, given the thickness of the frame, the accordion fold concerned is completely stretched and the actual cutting is practiced using a sharp blade which is guided along the grooves 141, 142, 143, so that the fold is sectioned on its three sides in its median zone given the median location of said grooves in the thickness of the frame.

The bellows file thus obtained with a selected plurality of pockets resting on a table 121 extending the table 118 is then evacuated, and a new cutting can be carried out, in parallel with the formation of new folds.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, which may on the contrary be subject to modifications within the framework defined by the claims.

Claims (22)

1. A method of manufacturing a pack suitable for forming at least one expansible file comprising a selected plurality of parallel partitions (113) which are previously glued along three sides over a marginal region, which are fitted into an expansible member with accordion-like folds, and pressed in order to join said partitions (113) in pairs over three sides by glueing, in order to form storage pockets, characterised in that, starting from a flexible strip (12) suitable for forming such an expansible member, the strip is formed into a U-shape along the longitudinal axis thereof, then, with a length (LB) of strip of a dimension which is equal to the developed dimension of a fold of the expansible member having been drawn forwardly, a partition (113) which has been previously cut out is placed at the rear of said length, perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, said partition (113) being provided on at least two sides with a folded- over and glue-coated tongue portion (114), then a fold is made in the central region of said length by pushing in an outward direction on the three sides of the strip which is of U-shaped form, and the fold which is formed in that way is pressed in an axial direction until it is squashed so as to ensure gluening of said partition, a fresh length of strip (LB') is drawn, and the operations are successively repeated until the pack (L) required, comprising a multiplicity of pockets (P), is formed.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that, at the same time as a fold is formed, a fresh length of strip (LB') is drawn forward.

3. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the pushing operation is carried out simultaneously on the three sides of the U-shaped strip (12).

4. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the pack (L) is cut to form an expansible file, with a selected plurality of storage pockets (P).

5. A machine for carrying out the foregoing method characterised in that it comprises, on a frame structure (10), in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the strip (12) and from the rear towards the front, the rear being a location at which the strip (12) is wound on a reel (11) and the front being a location at which the pack (L) is formed, a profiled element (20) for progressively imparting a U-shaped section to the strip (12), pulling means (30,31,46) for drawing a length (LB) of U-shaped strip corresponding to the developed dimension of an accordion-like fold, pushing means (50) disposed laterally with respect to the three sides of the U-shaped strip, said means being reciprocal in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the U-shaped strip, means (30) for pressing together a partition (113) and a fold which has just been formed, retractible retaining means (51) for maintaining the pack (L) during the formation of a fold, and means (115, 116) for braking the pack in its movement in a forward direction.

6. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that it further comprises, substantially in overhanging relationship to the drawn length of strip, a station (99) for feeding partitions (113), which is capable of positioning a partition (113) at the rear of said length (LB).

7. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that it further comprises, at its front end, means (120) for retaining the pack (L) formed, and for permitting cutting thereof to produce an expansible file having a plurality of pockets (P).

8. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that the pulling means for drawing a length of strip comprise, in association, a bearing member (31) which is movable longitudinally with a reciprocating movement, which is adapted at three sides substantially to the internal configuration of the U-shaped strip (12), and side gripping members (46) which are movable longitudinally at the same time as the bearing member, said side gripping members (46) being disposed in facing relationship with respect to said three sides of the bearing member, being capable of assuming an advanced position in which the strip (12) is gripped between said side gripping members and said bearing member, and is entrained forwardly by the movement of the bearing member (31), and a retreated position in which the strip is free.

9. A machine according to claim 8 characterised in that the bearing member (31) and the side gripping members (46) are suspended from the frame structure (10) of the machine adjustably along the axis of the strip, said bearing member (31) further comprising a front face (31A) which is connected by conduits (31B, 31G) to a depression means.

10. A machine according to claim 8 characterised in that the means for pressing a fold which has just been formed comprise the bearing member (31) in the position at the end of its forward travel.

11. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that the pushing means for forming an accordion-like fold comprise folding units (50) which are disposed laterally with respect to the sides of the strip, each unit comprising a folding blade (66) which is movable substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the U-shaped strip under the action of associated actuating means between a retracted waiting position and an advanced active position.

12. A machine according to any one of claims 5 and 11 characterised in that the actuating means for displacing a folding blade (66) comprise a first carriage (52) which is displaceable with a reciprocating movement on a slide member (53) which is perpendicular to the axis of the strip (12) and, mounted on said first carriage (52), a second blade-carrier carriage (65) coupled to means for displacing it with respect to said first carriage (52) from a retracted position to an advanced position with, at the same time, horizontal displacement in a forward direction along substantially a circular arc.

13. A machine according to claim 12 characterised in that the means for displacing the second blade-carrier carriage (65) with respect to the first carriage (52) comprise at least one rack (71) associated with a jack (72), said rack engaging with at least one pinion (70) associated with the carriage (52), said axis carrying crank pins (61, 62) themselves coupled to said second carriage (65).

14. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that the retaining means comprise units (51) which are disposed laterally with respect to the three sides of the accordion-like folds, each unit (51) comprising a lever (75) which is pivotal about an axis (76), said lever having a free rearward terminal portion comprising at least one claw (81) adapted to co-operate with a last fold formed, and a front terminal portion coupled to resilient return means (77), said lever (75) being capable of occupying a retracted position in which the claw (81) is spaced with respect to the edges of the pack (L) or an active position in which the claw-operates with the last fold formed.

15. A machine according to claim 14 characterised in that the rearward terminal portion of the lever comprises, besides said claw (81), a ramp (82) which is arranged to co-operate with a cam (83) that is fixed with respect to the folding blades (66), said cam being capable of causing temporary retraction of the retaining lever (75) at the end of the operation of pressing a fold by the bearing member (31).

16. A machine according to any one of claims 5 to 15 characterised in that, besides the retaining units (51) for retaining said pack (L), which are disposed laterally with respect to the accordion-like folds, a complementary retaining unit (90) is capable of co-operating with the upper edge of a last partition (113) set in place in a fold, such a unit comprising a pivotal lever (96), the rearward end of which comprises at least one claw (98), the lever associated with a jack (92) being capable of occupying an active position in which the claw (98) co-operates with a marginal region of the partition (113) or a retracted position of disengaging said partition.

17. A machine according to claim 5 characterised in that the means for braking the pack (L) in its progression are formed by a pair of pressing rollers (115, 116) having vertical axes, which are cooperable with the lateral sides of the pack (L), the spacing of such rollers being adjustable.

18. A machine according to claim 6 characterised in that the station for feeding partitions (113) to the interior and to the rear of the length (LB) of strip which is drawn forwardly comprises a plate (100) which is movable between a substantially horizontal position in which it receives a partition (113) and a substantially vertical position in which it is inserted into said length (LB) and delivers said partition (113).

19. A machine according to either one of claims 6 and 17 characterised in that the plate (100) is associated with an actuating jack (108) and a ramp (103) for pivoting itfrom its substantially horizontal position to its substantially vertical position, the face of said plate receiving the partition (113) being connected by a duct (112) to a depression source.

20. A machine according to claim 7 characterised in that the means disposed at the front end of the machine for retaining the pack (L) and cutting it comprise a frame (130) which is movable vertically by its uprights between a raised position which permits a portion of pack (L) to pass and a down position in which the frame retains said pack.

21. A machine according to claim 20 characterised in that the lower edges of the frame (130) comprise bevels (145) and the thickness (E) of the latter is substantially equal to the developed dimension of an accordion-like fold while grooves (141,142,143) which are disposed respectively on the uprights and the lower edge of said frame (130) are adapted to guide the movement of a cutting tool.

22. A machine according to claim 21 characterised in that said grooves (141, 142, 143) extend along a median line relative to the thickness (E) of the frame (130).

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