FR2944516A1 - Manual cutting and folding device for materials e.g. large sized documents, has work upper faces developed along respective plans, where plans of machines are secant in release position and articulated machine is raised - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a work upper face (1a, 2a) handling materials in sheet, developed along respective plans (P1, P2) and lengthened along respective longitudinal axes (I-I, II-II). A folding machine (1) or a cutting machine (2) is articulated along a posterior longitudinal axis (III-III). The plans of the machines are partially covered, and are parallel in position of covering. The plans of the machines are secant in position of release, where the articulated machine is raised and an upper face of the other machines is accessible for handling.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of manual folding machines and manual machines for cutting sheet materials, and more particularly manual machines for folding and cutting articles from the paper industry such as plans. and large format documents for example. In general, the bending machines and the cutting machines each have an upper working face for handling the sheet materials, developing substantially in respective elongated planes along respective longitudinal axes. Each of these machines is attached to a floor-standing frame. Folding machines are known, for example, documents FR 1 098 624 and EP 0 062 308. The cutting machines are generally in the form of a table provided with a knife slidably mounted on a longitudinal bar.

These two machines have the disadvantage of being bulky, especially when they are intended for large sheet materials such as plans for example. There is therefore a need to minimize the clutter these machines may have while preserving their ability to cut and fold large sheet materials.

A first problem proposed by the invention is to design a cutting and folding device that allows a substantial permanent gain of space, while allowing to perform in an ergonomic and simple way the cutting and folding tasks, without hindering the and without reducing the size of the sheet material to be cut and folded.

To solve these problems, as well as others, the present invention relates to a manual device for cutting and folding sheet materials, comprising a bending machine and a cutting machine each having an upper working surface for handling sheet materials, developing substantially in respective planes and elongated along respective longitudinal axes, attached to a single floor laying frame, and wherein: - one of the cutting or folding machines is hinged to pivoting along a rear longitudinal axis to be movable relative to the other machine between a covering position and at least one release position, - in the overlap position, the planes of the cutting machine and bending machine are overlapping at least partial and are substantially parallel, and the 02FDEP.doc 2 articulated machine is on top of the other machine, the upper working side of the articulated machine being then accessible for handling, - in the release position, the planes of the cutting machine and bending machine are secants, the articulated machine being raised and the upper working face of the other machine then being accessible for the handling. The machines being arranged one above the other, the footprint is reduced to that of a single machine. The user is not hindered in performing the cutting and folding tasks since the articulated mounted machine can be selectively disengaged from and above the user's field of intervention on the non-articulated machine. The footprint of the device is therefore reduced to the outer dimensions of a single machine, both when using the articulated machine than the non-articulated machine. This results in a substantial gain of space permanently. The pivot joint allows the user to easily move the articulated machine by providing a force corresponding to only a portion of the weight of the articulated machine. Preferably, abutment means can ensure the stop in the overlap position and in the release position of the pivotally articulated machine. The articulated machine is thus reliably immobilized for the user so as not to interfere with his use of the articulated machine. According to a first alternative, it is possible to provide a safety mechanism permitting pivoting movement in a single direction from the covering position to the release position and selectively disengageable by a user to allow pivoting movement from the release position to the covering position, preferably a ratchet type mechanism. The user can thus gradually release the articulated machine by a controlled pivoting movement, without the risk of being accidentally injured by a sudden return of the articulated machine in the covering position. According to a second alternative, provision may be made for: a pivoting aid mechanism, permanently urging the articulated machine to pivot towards its release position, preferably of the gas cylinder type, locking means in the recovery position of the pivotally articulated machine. 02FDEP.doc 3 Pivoting of the articulated machine is thus carried out with little effort of the user. The locking means make it possible to keep the articulated machine stable in the overlapping position so that the user is not hindered in his use of the machine articulated by the mechanism for assisting pivoting. Advantageously, it can be provided that the cutting machine is pivotally articulated and is located above the bending machine. The cutting machine is indeed lighter than the bending machine. Placing the heavier bending machine at the bottom makes it possible to stabilize the device so that it is not destabilized during the movement of the articulated machine. In addition, it has been observed that the efforts to be provided by the user when using a manual cutting machine are smaller than those provided when using a manual folding machine. The arrangement of the folding machine at the same height as a traditional folding machine makes it possible not to increase the difficulty of the task of the user during folding operations. And the arrangement of the cutting machine above the bending machine does not increase too much the difficulty of cutting operations. In addition, the precision of the cutting operations is improved, the user having the upper working face and the cutting knife closer to his eyes for placing the sheet material and cutting it. Preferably, it can be provided that: - the cutting machine protrudes longitudinally on either side of the bending machine, - the cutting machine is fixed to the frame by means of fastening means in the general form of a square , provided with first substantially horizontal sections each extending longitudinally from and away from the bending machine and provided with second substantially vertical sections. Such exceeding of the cutting machine, combined with such fastening means, allows to position the posterior longitudinal axis of articulation above or slightly behind the bending machine. As a result, the cutting machine does not protrude or only slightly behind the bending machine. The footprint of the device can be reduced to a minimum, that is to say limited to the strict size, in a horizontal plane of the bending machine.

Generally, the bending machines comprise a disengageable mechanism to allow the introduction of sheet materials to be folded and the removal of folded sheet materials. 02FDEP.doc 4 To disengage the mechanism, the user must operate with one of his hands a handle extending substantially in the plane and away from the machine to bend from a side face of that -this. The user is thus forced to release one of his hands to make a disengagement at least once per folding operation which makes him waste time. It has therefore been imagined to use a disengagement control member in the form of a foot pedal that can be actuated by the user. The user can operate a foot at the same time as his hands, the disengagement occurs in masked time, which facilitates the use of the folding machine and saves a substantial time during folding operations. The use of such a pedal is described in EP 0 062 308. The foot pedal system is based on the ground or at a very low height of the ground partially under the bending machine. However, a cutting machine is generally associated with a lower tray for the recovery of cutting scrap. The dimensions of the recovery tank are generally maximum, so that it occupies almost all the volume available under the cutting machine. In the context of the device of the invention, the presence of a recovery tank under the non-articulated machine hinders, or even totally prevents, the provision of a pedal operable by the user. In addition, the pedal actuated foot tends to hinder the user in its movements along the manual device for cutting and folding, especially along the longitudinal axis of elongation of the device, especially when s' This is to cut and fold sheet materials of very large dimensions such as planes for example. The user is indeed forced to move regularly along the entire length of the cutting or bending machine to verify the correct positioning of the sheet material in the mechanism. The foot pedal system thus induces user discomfort and a high risk of falling for the user, especially since the latter uses both hands for positioning, cutting and folding the sheet material. Finally, the presence of the foot pedal system on the ground or near the ground hinders the people in charge of cleaning. And these being inconvenienced usually have to malfunction the pedal system with their instruments, which can lead to damage and malfunctions preventing the user from disengaging the mechanism of the bending machine.

The present invention therefore also aims to design a release mechanism of the mechanism of a bending machine that allows the user to use both hands for folding operations, without inducing any discomfort or risk of bending. tripping for the user, and which is compatible with the presence of a lower recovery tray placed under the non-articulated machine. To solve this secondary problem, independent of the main problem that seeks to solve the invention, it is proposed a disengagement control member of the mechanism of the folding machine operable by a user by means of its leg portion located above the knee joint. The user has no difficulty in actuating his leg portion above the knee joint at the same time as his two hands, he gains a substantial time during his folding operations. The disengagement control member being actuated by the leg portion located above the knee joint, it is possible to locate it at a height such that it does not interfere with the user or the persons responsible for cleaning and as it is compatible with the presence of a lower recovery tray placed under the non-articulated machine. Since the leg portion above the knee joint is powered by strong muscles, the user does not tire. According to a first advantageous embodiment of the disengagement control member, provision may be made for: the disengagement control member comprises a longitudinal bar, the longitudinal bar is movable from an earlier position of rest to a position posterior declutching, and conversely, by a movement occurring substantially in an anteroposterior direction. When the user is placed in front of the bending machine with its front plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bending machine, the movement of movement of the disengagement control member during its actuation is ergonomic since it is oriented according to a privileged direction of work of the coxo-femoral articulation. Preferably, the longitudinal bar may extend at least over most of the bending machine, that is to say at least half the length of the bending machine taken along its longitudinal axis of elongation. . The clutch control member is thus rapidly accessible and easily manoeuvrable by the user while moving along the folding machine. The user does not have to return to a fixed location for the sole control of the clutch. According to a second advantageous embodiment of the clutch control member, it can be provided that: the clutch control member comprises a transverse rod, extending and protruding away from the folding machine; the transverse rod is movable from a rest position to a disengaged position, and vice versa, by a movement of at least a portion of the transverse rod being substantially in the longitudinal direction.

The user can thus, in a practical way, actuate the clutch control member during its movements along the bending machine. Preferably, it can be provided that a return mechanism constantly urges the disengagement control member to its rest position. The user has only to relax his effort to ensure the clutch mechanism of the bending machine. Advantageously, the disengagement control member may be located, in the rest position, at a height of between about 55 cm and about 75 cm, and preferably equal to about 62 cm. Such dimensions are generally compatible with most users, regardless of size, for both men and women. The invention also aims to allow the modular construction, fast and easy of a device according to the invention with a cutting machine hinged above a bending machine. For this purpose, there is provided a subassembly comprising a cutting machine developing substantially in a plane, comprising fastening means shaped to allow to report and fix the cutting machine above and pivoting along an axis longitudinally on the frame of another subassembly comprising a folding machine mounted on a frame. Advantageously, it is possible, according to a first variant of the subassembly, that the subassembly comprises a safety mechanism allowing a pivoting movement relative to the fastening means in one direction and selectively disengageable by a user to allow movement. in the opposite direction, preferably a ratchet type mechanism. According to a second variant of the subassembly, provision may be made for the subassembly to comprise: a support mechanism for pivoting, preferably of the gas jack type, 02PDEP.dac 7 - locking means for blocking the movement pivoting induced by the pivoting aid mechanism relative to the fastening means. The subassembly comprising the safety mechanism or the mechanism for assisting pivoting, it is possible to perform a mounting and prior adjustment of these mechanisms in the factory. This is all the more important for the pivoting assistance mechanism which must be constrained during its assembly, which may require extensive tooling. The assembly of the device according to the invention is then simple and fast since there is then only to report the subassembly formed on the frame of the bending machine. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manual device of FIG. cutting and folding according to a particular embodiment, illustrated with the machine articulated in the covering position; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the manual cutting and folding device of FIG. 1, illustrated with the articulated machine in the disengaged position; FIG. 3 is a front view of the manual cutting and folding device of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a front view of the manual cutting and folding device of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a side view of the manual cutting and folding device of FIG. 1; Figure 6 is a side view of the manual cutting and folding device of Figure 2; and FIG. 7 is a side view of the manual cutting and folding device of the preceding figures during assembly. A manual device of. In these figures, the device comprises a bending machine 1 and a cutting machine 2. Each of these machines comprises respectively a face and a bending machine according to one embodiment of the invention. upper work 1a and 2a for handling sheet materials. The folding machine 1 develops substantially in a plane P1 while the cutting machine 2 develops substantially along a plane P2. The bending 1 and cutting 2 machines are both elongated along respective longitudinal axes I-1 and II-II. The bending machines 1 and cutting 2 are attached to a single frame 3 of floor laying. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the cutting machine 2 is pivotally articulated along a rear longitudinal axis III-III to be movable relative to the bending machine 1 between a covering position (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) and at least one disengagement position (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6). More particularly, in Figures 1, 3 and 5, in the overlap position, the planes P1 and P2 of the cutting machines 2 and folding machine 1 are overlapping at least partially and are substantially parallel. The cutting machine 2 is above the bending machine 1, the upper working face 2a of the cutting machine 2 then being accessible for handling in order to proceed to cutting operations of sheet materials. More particularly, in Figures 2, 4 and 6, in the disengaged position, the planes P1 and P2 of the cutting machine 2 and folding machine 1 are intersecting, the cutting machine 2 being raised and the upper face The working machine 1 of the folding machine 1 is then accessible for handling in order to carry out folding operations of sheet materials. In Figures 5 and 6, it is more particularly seen that abutment means 4 and 5 respectively provide the stop in the overlap position and in the release position of the cutting machine 2 pivotally articulated.

With particular regard to the stop means 5 ensuring the stop in the release position, it is advisable to position them so that, in the release position, the planes P1 and P2 of the cutting machine 2 and bending machine 1 form an angle (see Figure 6) less than or equal to 90 °. This prevents the manual cutting and folding device is unbalanced by pivoting in the release position of the cutting machine 2. This avoids any risk of inadvertent tipping backwards (illustrated by the arrow 6) of the manual device cutting and folding. With particular regard to the abutment means 4 ensuring the stop in the overlap position, they allow to immobilize reliably and substantially horizontally the cutting machine 2. The user can thus rely without risk on the cutting machine 2 during its handling and cutting operations, without the risk of damaging the bending machine 1 disposed below. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the manual cutting and folding device comprises: - a pivoting aid mechanism 7, permanently urging the cutting machine 2 to pivot towards its release position, 02FDEP.doc 9 - locking means 8 in the overlapping position of the cutting machine 2 pivotally articulated. In this case, the pivoting aid mechanism 7 comprises two gas cylinders 7a and 7b continuously urging the cutting machine 2 to its disengagement position. The locking means 8 comprise in turn a locking lug 8a intended to penetrate into a slot 8b of the abutment means 4 for positioning and reliably immobilizing the cutting machine 2 in the covering position. In the particular embodiment of the invention, 1 to 7, the locking lug 8a is carried by the cutting machine 2 while the light 8b is carried by the abutment means 4. Alternatively, the locking lug 8a may be carried by the locking means. stop 4 and 8b light by the cutting machine 2 to allow easy and quick adjustment of the locking lug 8a by increased accessibility thereof.

In a variant not shown in the figures, there can be provided a safety mechanism allowing a pivoting movement in a single direction from the covering position to the release position and selectively disengaged by a user to allow a pivoting movement from the position clearance to the recovery position. Preferably, such a safety mechanism may be of the ratchet type. To allow easy handling of the cutting machine 2, it comprises a longitudinal lifting handle 9 extending substantially along its entire length L. It is more particularly seen in Figures 3 and 4 that the cutting machine 2 protrudes longitudinally. on either side of the folding machine 1, the cutting machine 2 having a length L greater than the length I of the folding machine 1. The cutting machine 2 is fixed to the frame 3 by means of fastener 10 in the general shape of a square, provided with first substantially horizontal sections 10a and 10b each extending longitudinally from and away from the bending machine 1 and provided with second substantially vertical sections 10c and 10d. Such fastening means 10 make it possible to articulate the cutting machine 2 above the bending machine 1 without significantly increasing the depth P of the manual cutting and folding device (FIGS. 5 and 6). It is thus possible to articulate the cutting machine 2 with the posterior longitudinal axis III-III located above or just behind the folding machine. 02FDEP.doc 10 1. To do this, it is sufficient to shift the means of fixing 10 towards the front of the device in the direction illustrated by the arrow 11 in FIGS. 5 and 6. It is thus possible to position the fastening means 10 in the fastening zone 12 of the frame 3 to reduce the depth P of the manual device of FIG. cutting and folding. Of course, if the attachment zone 12 is used to position the fastening means 10, the depth P of the frame 3 will be reduced accordingly. In order to increase the rigidity of the manual cutting and folding device, the fastening means 10 in the general shape of a square are respectively provided with reinforcing means 13 which hold relative to one another fixedly the first and second sections 10a and 10c on the one hand, and 10b and 10d on the other hand. In this case, the reinforcing means 13 are metal plates attached to the sections 10a and 10c on the one hand, and 10b and 10d on the other hand by welding for example. In order to improve the rigidity of the cutting machine 2, it comprises two rigid end flanges 14a and 14b pivotally articulated on the fastening means 10. These rigid end flanges 14a and 14b are for example made in a rigid metal material such as steel. The rigid end flanges 14a and 14b hold between them a setting table 15, a pressing rule 16 and a longitudinal bar 17 for guiding a knife 18. The pressing rule 16 makes it possible to keep pressed against the setting table A sheet material to be cut. The setting table 15, the pressing rule 16 and the longitudinal guide bar 17 being all held between the two rigid end flanges 14a and 14b, these are all held relative to one another in a reliable relative position. which will not change over time despite a large number of handling in pivoting of the cutting machine 2. When using the manual cutting and folding device according to the invention, the user is placed in front of the device with its frontal plane parallel to the longitudinal axis III-III, that is to say with its shoulders oriented along the longitudinal axis III-III. The first operations to be performed are generally cutting operations that the user performs using the cutting machine 2. The user then engages the sheet material to be cut between the setting table 15 and the pressing rule 16 and then a once the sheet material to be cut positioned correctly, moves the knife 18 on the longitudinal guide bar 17. The sheet material is then cut cleanly and frankly. The same operation can, if necessary, be reproduced on several sides of the sheet material. 02FDEP.doc 11 The user then proceeds to the folding operations. To do this, it needs to freely access the upper working surface 1 of the folding machine 1. The user then grabs the lifting handle 9 of the cutting machine 2 and moves the machine to cut 2 from its rest position (Figures 1, 3 and 5) to its release position (Figure 2, 4 and 6) by a movement illustrated by the arrow 19 shown in Figures 5 and 6. During the movement, the The user is assisted by the pivoting assistance mechanism 7. Once the cutting machine 2 is in the release position, the user has the necessary access to the upper working face 1a to carry out the folding operations. During folding operations, the user successively actuates two pairs of articulated arms 20 and 21. The first pair of articulated arms 20 is manipulated using a handling bar 20a while the second pair of articulated arms 21 is manipulated using a handling bar 21a.

During folding, the pairs of articulated arms 20 and 21 pivot about the respective longitudinal axes IV-IV and VV, the movements of the pairs of articulated arms 20 and 21 being performed simultaneously with the aid of an internal mechanism. the bending machine 1. The user thus has to maneuver only one of the handling bars 20a or 21a to actuate the two pairs of articulated arms 20 and 21. To introduce sheet materials to bend or remove materials in folded sheets, it is however necessary to disengage the mechanism of the bending machine 1 to make independent the movements of pairs of articulated arms 20 and 21 and to clear the upper working face 1 a. The mechanism of the bending machine 1 is thus disengageable, the disengagement being controlled by the user with the aid of a disengagement control member. The manual cutting and folding device being provided in the lower part with a receiving tray 22 of falling drop located under the bending machine 1, it is not possible to use a disengagement control member under the shape of a pedal. There is therefore provided a release control member 23 of the mechanism of the bending machine 1 operable by a user by means of its leg portion located above the knee joint. Such a disengagement control member 23 frees the hands of the user to save time during folding operations and avoids any risk of falling of the user during its many movements along the device. In the manual cutting and folding device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the clutch control member 23 comprises a longitudinal bar 23a extending along most of the bending machine 1, that is, at least half the length I of the bending machine 1. The longitudinal bar 23a is movable from an earlier rest position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 to a posterior disengaged position illustrated. in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, and conversely, by a movement taking place substantially in an anteroposterior direction VI-VI. It is seen more particularly in Figure 6 that the user has moved the longitudinal bar 23a in the rear declutching position by means of his thigh 24, which allows him to move the pair of articulated arms 20 in a position for the introduction of sheet materials to be folded into the folding machine 1 or the removal of folded sheet materials out of the folding machine 1. When the handling bar 20a is in the position of FIG. 6, the accessibility of the release control 23 is not hindered as it was the case of a disengagement control member in the form of a handle 25 extending substantially in the plane and away from the bending machine from a side face thereof (shown in dashed lines in Figure 6). In one embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, provision is made for: the clutch control member 23 comprises a transverse rod extending and protruding away from the bending machine 1, - The transverse rod is movable from a rest position to a disengaged position, and vice versa, by a movement of at least a portion of the transverse rod being substantially in the longitudinal direction III-III. In order not to mobilize a user's hand to return the disengagement control member 23 to the rest position, there is provided a return mechanism (not visible in the figures) continuously urging the disengagement control member. 23 to his rest position. Thus, to engage again the mechanism of the folding machine 1, the user only needs to remove his leg away from the longitudinal bar 23a to let it return freely 30 to the previous position of rest under the solicitation the return mechanism. Actuation of the disengagement control member 23 by the user's leg portion above the knee joint does not injure the user by intensive and repetitive use of the machine. Indeed, the longitudinal bar 23a is thus worn against the thigh of the user, that is to say against a fleshy part, and not against a bone as it would for example be the case with the tibia of the user if the manipulation was performed using the leg portion below the knee joint. To allow actuation by means of the leg portion located above the knee joint by a user, the longitudinal bar 23a is located at a height H of the ground of between about 55 cm and about 75 cm. A height H of 62 cm was found satisfactory to allow manipulation by a multitude of users, men or women, of different sizes. In order to allow a quick and easy assembly of the manual cutting and folding device, as shown in FIG. 7, a subassembly E is provided comprising the cutting machine 2 and the fastening means 10 making it possible to retrieve and fix the cutting machine 2 above and pivotally along the rear longitudinal axis III-III on the chassis 3 of another subassembly E 'comprising the folding machine 1 mounted on the chassis 3. The mounting of the manual device of cutting and bending is thus done in a modular, fast and easy way. In addition, in the case where there is provided a safety mechanism or a mechanism for assisting the pivoting 7 of the cutting machine 2, they can be mounted and adjusted in the factory before being fixed on the one hand to the means 10 and the cutting machine 2. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the gas cylinders 7a and 7b have a first end secured to the fastening means 10 in the general shape of FIG. while their second end is secured to the cutting machine 2. The subassembly E thus comprises, in addition to the fastening means 10 and the cutting machine 2, the pivoting aid mechanism 7 and the locking means. 8 (not visible in Figure 7). In all the foregoing, it should be understood that the arrangement of the cutting machine above the bending machine is not limiting, and it should be understood that a reverse arrangement is within the scope of the invention. invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS1 - manual device for cutting and folding sheet materials, characterized in that it comprises a bending machine (1) and a cutting machine (2), each having an upper working face (1a, 2a) for the handling of the sheet materials, developing substantially in respective (P1, P2) planes and elongated along respective longitudinal axes (1-I, I II I), attached to a single frame (3) for laying on the ground , and in that: - one of the cutting machines (2) or folding (1) is pivotally articulated along a rear longitudinal axis (III-III) to be displaceable relative to the other machine (1, 2) between an overlap position and at least one release position, - in the overlap position, the planes (P1, P2) of the cutting machines (2) and the folding machine (1) are at least partially overlapping and are substantially parallel, and the articulated machine (1, 2) is above the other machine (1, 2), the upper working face (1a, 2a) of the articulated machine (1, 2) being then accessible for the manipulation, - in the disengaged position, the planes (P1, P2) of the cutting machines (2) and the folding machine (1) are intersecting, the articulated machine (1, 2) being raised and the upper working face ( 1 a, 2a) of the other machine (1, 2) is then accessible for manipulation. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that stop means (4, 5) provide the stop in the overlapping position and in the release position of the articulated machine (1, 2) to pivot. 3 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a safety mechanism allowing a pivoting movement in one direction from the covering position to the release position and selectively disengaged by a user for allow pivotal movement from the release position to the overlap position, preferably a ratchet type mechanism. 4 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises: - a pivoting aid mechanism (7), permanently urging the articulated machine (1, 2) to pivot towards its position of clearance, preferably of the gas-lift type (7a, 7b), - locking means (8) in the overlap position of the articulated machine (1, 2) pivoted by means of a device according to any one of: Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pivoting articulated machine (1, 2) comprises a longitudinal lifting handle (9), extending preferably over the entire length (L) of the articulated machine (1, 2 ) to pivot. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cutting machine (2) is pivotally articulated and is located above the bending machine (1). 7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that: - the cutting machine (2) protrudes longitudinally on either side of the bending machine (1), - the cutting machine (2) is fixed to the frame (3) by means of fastening means (10) generally square-shaped, provided with first substantially horizontal sections (10a, 10b) each extending longitudinally from and away from the bending machine (1). ) and provided with second sections (10c, 10d) substantially vertical. 8 û Device according to claim 7, characterized in that each fastening means (10) in the general shape of a square is provided with reinforcing means (13) maintaining relative to each other fixedly the two sections (10a, 10c, 10b, 10d). 9 - Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the cutting machine (2) comprises two rigid end flanges (14a, 14b) hinged pivotally on the fastening means (10). Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the mechanism of the bending machine (1) is disengageable to allow the introduction of sheet materials to be folded and the removal of folded sheet materials, characterized in that it comprises: - a receiving tray (22) of cutting scraps, located under the bending machine (1), - a clutch control member (23) of the mechanism of the bending machine (1) operable by a user by means of his leg portion located above the knee joint. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that: the clutch control member (23) comprises a longitudinal bar (23a), preferably extending at least over most of the folding machine (1). ), the longitudinal bar (23a) is movable from an earlier position of rest to a posterior declutching position, and vice versa, by a movement occurring substantially in an anteroposterior direction (VI-VI). 12 - Device according to claim 10, characterized in that: - the disengagement control member (23) comprises a transverse rod, extending and protruding away from the bending machine (1), - the rod transverse is movable from a rest position to a disengaged position, and vice versa, by a movement of at least a portion of the transverse rod being substantially in the longitudinal direction. 13 - Device according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that a return mechanism continuously urges the clutch control member (23) to its rest position. 14 - Device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the clutch control member (23) is located, in the rest position, at a height (H) of between about 55 cm and about 75 cm, and preferably equal to about 62 cm. Subassembly (E) comprising a cutting machine (2) developing substantially in a plane (P2), characterized in that it comprises fastening means (10) shaped so as to make it possible to retrieve and fix the cutting machine (2) above and pivoting along a rear longitudinal axis (III-III) on the frame (3) of another subassembly (E ') comprising a folding machine (1) mounted on a frame (3), so as to constitute a device according to claim 1. 16-A subassembly according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a safety mechanism allowing a pivoting movement relative to the fixing means (10). ) in a single direction and selectively disengageable by a user to allow a pivoting movement in the opposite direction, preferably a ratchet type mechanism. 17-subassembly according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises: - a pivoting aid mechanism (7), preferably of the gas-jack type (7a, 7b) - locking means (8) for blocking the pivotal movement induced by the pivoting aid mechanism (7) relative to the fastening means (10).