US3250528A - Folder for a continuous web of paper - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1966 R. M. I oAsE FOLDER FOR A CONTINUOUS WEB OF PAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l?, 1964 May 10, 1966 R` M. LoAsE FOLDER FOR A CONTINUOUS WEB OF PAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND M. LOASE MMM/? ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M' Ohio Filed June 17, 1964, Ser. No. 375,89) 6 Claims. (Ci. 2'7-73) This invention relates to a folding machine for paper, and particularly, to an apparatus for receiving a continuous web of paper and folding the web in a zig-zag manner.

The present invention is especially adaptable for zigzag folding of a continuous web of successive business forms and for distributing the forms in an overlapping manner along a horizontal table. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the folding of only business forms, but may be used for folding webs of any type of sheet material, as for example, when the sheet material is folded in this manner for packaging.

For purposes of illustration of the invention, however, the folding apparatus shown in the drawings is intended to be mounted on the discharge end of a printing press or a collating machine which has processed a continuous web of successive business forms. Commonly, the web may have a line of transverse perforations in order that one form will lie tightly against an adjoining form, thus, enabling the maximum number of forms to be contained within a given space.

It is particularly desirable, for high-speed production, to have a folded web delivered along a horizontal table, primarily in order that a group of the folds may easily be separated for packaging without disturbing the continuous flow of the folds from the folding apparatus. The present invention is directed to a folding apparatus which smoothly delivers a continuous supply of folds onto a horizontal delivery table and is constructed for high-speed production in order that the folding apparatus will not hold back the output of the printing machine, collator, or the like, from which the folding apparatus may directly receive the web.

A basic advantage of the folding apparatus according to the present invention is the ability to receive and accurately fold high-speed webs of different thicknesses .and to distribute the folds uniformly along a horizontal delivery table, regardless of the thickness, surface quality, stiffness, moisture content, or other variable factors which may he present in different webs of paper.

Accordingly, a primary object of the presentinvention is to provide a zig-zag folding apparatus which cooperates with a delivery conveyor in order to receive and fold a high-speed paper web accurately and uniformly, and to distribute the folds of the web evenly onto the delivery conveyor.

As another object, the present invention provides a folding apparatus with a device for consistently spacing the web folds in the proper order along a delivery conveyor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a web folding apparatus which will precisely fold webs of different thicknesses, surface quality or stiffness, and consistently space the zig-zag folds uniformly along a horizontal delivery table.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a web folding apparatus which includes a sub- ICC stantally horizontal delivery conveyor, and is adapted to fold and crease a continuous paper web along vpredetermined parallel lines on the web and to deliver the folds uniformly onto the conveyor with a corresponding edge of each fold lying substantially in a common plane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings- FIG. l is a somewhat schematic elevational View of the web folding apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of only the delivery conveyor showing the path of the belts which form 'the conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the folding cylinders showing on an enlarged scale details of the construction of the cylinders; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of the stripping means which release the folded edges of the web from the folding cylinders.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows, in a somewhat schematic manner, the overall construction and arrangement of the folding apparatus and the path of the continuous folds 16 of the web 12 as the folds are delivered along the supporting top 14 of a delivery table, generally referred to as 15.

In FIG. l, the web 12 of paper is shown entering the folding machine` in the upper left-hand corner as it is received from a printing press, or the like, and is directed over a power-driven roller 17 downwardly into a feed chute 19. It is to be understood, however, that reference to a web is intended to include several webs which are overlaid on top of one another, as is commonly used to form multiple-copy business forms. As mentioned above, it is also common to provide the web with uniformly spaced perforations which lie transversely across the web and serve the purpose of allowing one form to be easily separated from an adjacent form.

The feed chute 19 which is employed includes a series of rods 22 which are positioned in a staggered relationship at an angle slightly from vertical. The rods are retained by the bars 23 and 24 which are mounted at the end to the main side frames (not shown) of the folding apparatus. Typically, the side frames may be extensions from the printing press, collator, or the like. The feed chute 19 is constructed to cause a slight corrugated effect in the web (across its length) in order to provide the web 12 with linear rigidity as it is directed into the folding apparatus.

Fixed to the parallel arranged shafts 27 and 28, which are rotatably mounted .within the side frames, are a pair of folding cylindersti and 32 which are spaced substantially adjacent each other and which are power driven in timed relationship so that the surface speed of the cylinders is the same as the speed of the web 12.

Mounted longitudinally and diametrically opposite on each cylinder, below the peripheral surface, are two pairs of folding jaws 35 and 36 which are constructed to open and close as the cylinders 30 and 32 are counter-rotated by a suitable power source (not shown).

Spaced from the folding jaws 35 and 36, on each of the cylinders 30 and 32, there is mounted a pivotable tucker blade 4G having a tip 41. The blade tip 41 is adapted to engage the web 12, and tuck a small portion of the web in between the folding jaws 35 and 36 mounted on the opposite cylinder when the folding jaws are in the open position. Each tucker blade 40 is mounted substantially radially within a rod 42 which is spaced within the cylinders 30 and 32 parallel to the axes 44 and 46 of the cylinders. The rod 42 is adapted to rotate slightly,

Patented May I0, 1966 is the cylinders 30 and 32 rotate, by a lever 49 which is :lamped over the end of the rod 42 and which carries on )ne end a roller 50 that follows within a` box cam 54 which is stationarily mounted on the side frame atthe :nd of each cylinder. The box cam 54 is circular in ;hape except for the rise 56 near the top of the cam.

Referring to FIG. 1,'when the left cylinder 31) rotates slockwise, the roller reaches the rise 56 in the box :am 54 causing the lever to rotate clockwise. The rise 56 in the box cam is so positioned that the tip 41 of the :ucker blade 40 will advance clockwise, ahead of the surface of the cylinder 3i), immediately before the tip of the tucker blade 40 picks up the web'12 coming from the feed chute 19. As the blade tip 41 picks up the web 12, the box cam 54 is so formed that thetip 41 of the tucker blade 4t? will begin to move counterclockwise in relation to the folding cylinder 30. As the blade tip 41 tucks a small portion of the web 12 into the open jaws 35 and 36, the peripheral speed of the blade tip 41 will be precisely the same as the speed of the web 12. Otherwise, since the surface speed of the cylinder is the same as the web speed, if the blade 40 did not retract by rotating counterclockwise as it picks up the web, the speed of the blade tip 41 would be faster than the web speed due to the fact that the tip of the tucker blade extends radially outward from the surface of the cylinder.

`This retracting of the blade tip 41 prevents the web from tearing as will happen with a rigidly mounted tucker blade. Furthermore, the timed retraction of blade tip 41 enables it to follow and remain in a precise engaged relationship .withithe row of cross performations as the web 12 is pushed into and around the jaw edge, and thus requiring that the blade tip Y41 travels slower than the folding jaws 35. and 36, after the tip picks up the web. When the tucker blade 49 is fully engaged between the foldingtjaws '35 and 36, which is essentially at the point when the blade 40 lies in a reference plane passing through the center axis of the vfolding cylinder, that is, the position shown in FIG. 1, the tip 41 of the tucker blade is nov longer retracted inr'elation to the cylinder 30. Instead, the rod 42 in which the tucker blade 40 is mounted, remains in a fixed position in relation to the cylinder on which'it is mounted due to the fact that the roller 50 is then within the circular portion of the box cam 54.

As the cylinders 3l) and 32 continue to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 1, the folding jaws and 36 are closed tightly on a small portion of the web12 which has been inserted within the jaws 35 and 36 by the tucker blade 40. This closing of the jaws is accomplished by the slight rotation of a lever 61) which is mounted on one end of the rod 62 which, in turn, supports the movable jaw 36. A compression spring 64 holds the jaws tightly closed after the roller 67, carried by the lever 61), drops off the circular surface 69 of a C-shaped cam 72 which is also mounted to one of the side frames of the folding apparatus. f

Since both of the cylinders 30 and 32 contain two pairs of folding jaws 36 and 35 and two tucker blades 4t?, each of the cylinders 30 and 32 requires both a box cam 54 and a C-shaped cam 72 in order to control the pivoting movements of the movable folding jaw 36 and the tucker blade 40. Preferably, the cams 54 and 72 are adjustably mounted on the side frames (not shown) in order to acquire the precise timing and spacing as the tucker blades enters the folding jaws 35 and 36.

Also mounted to the side frames of the folding apparatus and spaced adjacent the bottom portion of each cylinder 30 and 32, is a stripping member 77 which is adapted to engage the edges 78 and 79 of a fold 10 and releasethe edges from between the folding jaws 35 and 36, which have been opened by the cam 72 slightly before the folding jaws reach the stripping member 77.

The stripping members 77, one of which is shown in details in FIG. 4, include an elongated bar 80 which is adjustably mounted on a rod 82 by the set screws 84.

f of the pin 87 will readilyl engage the edges 7S or 79 of the folds 10 and will cam theredges downwardly along the pins onto a curved shelf 94 which is formed as part of the elongated bar 80. The shelf includes a` rounded nose 95 which allows the folded edge to drop smoothly off the shelf 94.

The stripping pins 87 are retained within the elongated bar S0 by the set screws 97 and are adapted to be adjusted longitudinally when the elongated barV S0Y is adjusted on the rod 82. By theuadjustable mount-ingof the pins 87 and the elongated bar 80, it is possible to set the stripping member 77 accurately `in order to acquire the smoothest and fastest stripping action of the folded edgesV 78 and 79 of the 'web 12 from the opened n jaws 35 and 36. The adjustments which are provided are especially desirable when webs of different thickness and f stiffness are to be run at different times through the folding apparatus.

Spaced substantially midway between the stripping members 77 is a power driven roller 100 which is adapted to support the center portion of a fold 10, the endsof l which are resting on the shelf 94 ofthe stripping memj ber 77. Preferably, the roller 160 is positioned to supr` port the center portion of the last fold to leave the cylinders 30 and 32, plus the end portion of a few preceding folds, slightly above'the supportingshelf 94 of the strippingv members 77. This has been found desirable in order to obtain accurate control over the releasing of the edges of the folds from the stripping members 77. If the folds are allowed to sag between the stripping members 77,'

several folds may drop together which can allow one According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

the roller 1116 is incorporated as part of a belt-'type delivery-conveyor 105 which transports the folds 11i` of the web 12 horizontally on the delivery table Y15. Preferably, the conveyor 1115 comprisesa frame 196 and a series of parallel spaced endless belts 107 which kproceed around a roller 109 ,mounted on the forward end of the frame 1116 and another roller 111 adjustably mounted I bythe screws 113 on the oppositeend of the frame' 1056.

Referring to FIG. '2, the conveyor Ibelts 1117 `are directed upwardlyraround the delivery roller to form a loop 113, which is dened, in` addition to the delivery roller 1019, by the three ' guide rollers 115, 116 and 117. The guide rolle-r 116 is mounted on -a shaft 121D which extends into a pair of mounting blocks 122,A one being spaced 'on .each side of the conveyor 105. The/.mounting blocks 122 also retain the ends of the shaft 124 which supports the delivery roller 100. The remaining two guide rollers 115 and 117 are mounted on . shafts 126 and 128, respectively, the ends of which are retained by a pair of larger mounting blocks 13(l,roneyblock 'being' spaced also on each sideof the conveyor 4105.

The delivery roller 11N) and guideroller 116 are adjust-able verti-cally in relation to the remaining portion of the conveyor and in relation to the stripping mem- 'f bers 77 rby a knob 135. The knob is kadapted to rotate a worm gear 137 which, in turn, rotates a pinion 140 to cause an 'engaging 'rack 142, which. is vertically mounted on the blocks 122, to move up or down in relation to the blocks 134). It will be seen from FIG. 2,

that due to the spacing of lthe delivery roller 100 andl the guide rollers 11.5, 116 and 117, which direct vthe S -roller 116', which are mounted on the blocks 122, may be moved vertically without affecting the tension preset within the belts 107 by the screw 113. The guide roller 116 will compensate for the belt length required by the delivery roller 100 as the delivery roller and guide roller 116 are adjusted vertically.

The larger mounting blocks 130 are horizontally slidable on the conveyor frame 106 and carry with them the delivery roller 100 and all of guide rollers 115, 116, land 117, since the mounting block 122 is slidably mounted within the larger block 130. A hand knob 150 is provided to rotate another set of pinions 152 which engage with a set of racks 154, one of which is horizontally mounted on each side of the conveyor frame 106. It will be apparent that the delivery roller 100 and three Vguide rollers 115, 116 and 117 are all adjustable together in a horizontal direction without ch-anging the belt tension.

By providing the delivery roller 100 with a mechanism for iine adjustment both vertically and horizontally, it has been found that the delivery roller 100 may be precisely positioned in relation to the stripping members 77 and the delivery table 15 so that when combined with the vertical adjustment of the table 15, the folding apparatus will perform equally well with webs of different thickness and stiffness.

That is, the thickness or weight and stiffness of each fold are the primary factors which determine the extent of web sag between the shelf 94 of the forward stripping member 77 and the supporting roll as shown in FIG. l. Thus by precisely spacing the roll 100 relative to the forward stripping member 77, the sag of the folds is controlled and llow of the edges 79 around the nose 95 is controlled precisely to produce a uniform flow of folds 10 along the delivery table 15.

The Ebase of the delivery table and included conveyor` 105 consists of a rectangularly shaped frame member 160 which is supported by four wheels 162 in order to permit the delivery table 15 to be moved independently from the folding cylinders and 32 and thereby enable the delivery table 15 to be used for other purposes, for example, for serving more than one set of folding cylinders mounted on separate printing machines which are in use at different times, or to allow access to the press when rewinder is used instead of folder.

Mounted on top of the rectangular frame 160 by the cross members 163 and the angle brackets 164 are a pair of screw jacks 166, the top of which supports the underneath side of the conveyor framej106. The screw jacks 166 are adjustable together by a hand wheel 16S which is adapted to turn, simultaneously the threaded heads 169 of the jacks 166 through -a set of sprockets 170 connected together by an endless chain 172. This parallel adjustment provided between the base frame 160 and conveyor frame 106 has ibeen found desirable in order to accurately space the delivery table 15 from the stripping members 77, so that, when combined with the independent adjustability of the delivery roller 100, a consistently uniform spacing of the folds 10 is obtained along the horizontal table 15. The vertical adjustment of the delivery table 15, by itself, however, will not' produce the consistent results obtainable from combining the delivery roller 100 and its fully independent adjustment mechanism. This is especially true when webs of different thickness, stiffness and surface condition are fed through the folding apparatus since thinner or lighter weight webs tend to sag more and lay closer together and usually require a higher position of the table 15 and a closer position of the roll 100 relative to the nose 95 6 the web onto the table 15 with slightly greater spacing between each fold.

Referring to FIG. 3 which shows a detailed view of the mounting of the tucker blade 40 and the mounting of the folding jaws 35 and 36, it will be seen that the tucker blade 40 is mounted within a slot 180 formed within the rod 42 and is retained therein by a series of bolts 184 having a pin 186 projecting from the end which extends into a corresponding series of holes Within the tucker blade 40. A supporting plate 188 is placed adjacent the tucker blade 40 within the slot 180 and is held firmly against the tucker blade 40 by a series of compression springs 190 which are adjus-tably retained therein by the corresponding set screws 192. In order to remove the tucker blade, the bolts 184 Iare merely unscrewed part way which alllows the blade to be pulled tout of the slot.

As explained above, the tucker blade 40 is adapted to rotate slightly as determined by the lever 49 which has a cam follower or roller 40 supported on one end. The spring-pressure on the tucker blade 40 is pro-vided to permit the movable jaw 36 to press the tucker blade firmly against the fixed jaw 35 and to enable the tucker blade 40 to slide out of lthe closed jaws 35 and 36 once the tucker blade 40 has passed the fully eng-aged central position, shown in FIG. 1. The folding jaws 35 and 36 are provided with a rounded engaging portion 'Which enables the tucker blade 40 to insert the web 12 easily into the jaws and to prevent the web 12 from creasing except for lalong the line where the-blade 40 engages the web. Also, the rounded portion 195 enables the tucker blade 40 to withdraw easily from the closed jaws after the blade passes the fully engaged position.

For fine adjustment, the lever 49 `is adjustably mounted on the reduced end portion 193 of the rod 42 by means of a clamping arrangement which is tightened to the rod at the desired position by the screw200.

As mentioned above, the folding jaw 35 is rigidly mounted to the folding cylinders by a series of countersunk screws 202 and the movable jaw 36 is pivotally mounted about the shaft 62 through a supporting bar 206 which supports the jaw 36 on one end by a series of countersunlc screws 268. The folding jaws are held normally open, against the force of the compression spring 64 acting on a pin 210 extending through one end of the lever 60, by the cam follower or roller 67 mounted on the other end of the lever 60. As the tucker Iblade 40 and folding jaws 35 and 36 advance towards the fully engaged position, the jaws are constructed to close at the point when the roller 67 reaches the flat section 214 of the C-shaped cam 72. As the tucker blade 40 and jaws 36 and 35 move past the central fully engaged position, the roller 67 moves into the open section 216 of the C-shaped cam 72 which causes the folding jaws to lbite against the web 12 as the tucker blade 40 withdraws and thereby creases the web 12 along the line which was engaged bythe tucker blade.

As the cylinders 30 'and 32 continue to rotate, substantially past the fully engaged position, the roller 67 picks up the outer surface 69 of the other end of the C- shaped cam 72 and rotates the shaft 62, shown in FIG. 3, counterclockwise, aga-inst the force of the compressing spring 64. This opens the jaws 35 and 36 so that the folded edge 79 of the web 12 may be released by the stripping member 77.

A ller bar 220 is mounted longitudinally along the outer surface of the cylinders and adjacent the movable folding jaw 36, 'by a series of countersunk screws 222. The outer surface 225 of the filler bar 220 conforms to to the outer surface of the cylinders 30 and 32 to assist in confining the web and to maintain a smooth ow of air currents which are caused by the rotating cylinder.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to Ibe understood that the invention is not limited to Athis precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from thevscope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for accordian folding of web materials of varying thickness, comprising guideA means for receiving and directing the path of the web, folding mechanism for forming tucks in the web material alternatively in opposite directions and in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the web material to initiate the accordian folding thereof, shelf means positioned generally below said folding mechanism for receiving the web material from said folding mechanism and to support the folded edges of the web temporarily initiating lthe accordian folding thereof, a conveyor spaced below said shelf means for receiving the folded web material from said shelf means, a power driven roller spaced below said folding mechanism for moving the folded web from said shelf means onto said conveyor, vand means mounting said roller for adjustable movement with respect to said shelf means to provide an adjustment for different ,thicknesses of web material while maintaining a constantly uniform spacing of the folded web material along said conveyor. I

2. Apparatus for folding a web material in a zig-zag manner along lines of transverse perforations land adapted to receive webs of different thicknesses, said apparatus comprising, a pair of folding cylinders rotatably mounted on parallel axes, a'set of folding jaws recessed within the peripheral surface of each cylinder, a pivotally mounted tucker blade projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of each cylinder, cam means for closing and Vopening said folding jaws, cam means for pivoting said tu'cker blade in timed relationship with the closing of said jaws to enable the tip of said tucker blade to follow a line of transverse perforations, power operated means for rotating said cylinders in opposite directions at the same speed, stripping-means rigidly mounted adjacent the bottom surface of each cylinder for releasing alternate folded edges of the web from said jaws and to support the edges momentarily after releasing, a power operated conveyor spaced below said cylinders for receiving the folded web from said stripping means in a continuous Zig-zag manner, a power driven roller having an axis parallel with the axis of said cylinders and spaced substantially midway lbetween said stripping means for moving the folded web from said stripping means onto said conveyor, and means for adjustably mounting said roller in relation to said conveyor and to said cylinders to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provmanner and adapted to receive webs of different thicknesses, said apparatus comprising, a pair of folding members rotatably mounted on parallel axes, means mounted on said members for tucking the web material alternatelyl in opposite directions land in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the web material to initiate the zig-zag folding thereof, power operated means `for rotating said folding members in opposite directions and in timed relationship, stripping means rigidly mounted below said members for releasing alternate folded edges of the web from said members and to support the edges momentarily after releasing, a power opera-ted conveyor spaced below said members for receiving the folded web from said stripping means in a continuous zig-zag manner, a power driven roller having an axis parallel with the axis of said members and spaced substantially midway between said stripping means for moving the folded web fromA said stripping means onto said conveyor, and means for adjustably mounting said roller in relation to said members and said stripping means to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provide each web with a consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag folds along said conveyor.

4. Apparatus for. folding web material ina zig-zag manner and adapted to receive webs of different thicknesses, said apparatus comprising, a pair of folding mem- *bers rotatably mounted on parallel axes, means mounted on said members for tucking the web material alternately in opposite directions and in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the web material to initiate the zig-zag folding thereof, power operated means for rotating said members in opposite directions in timed relationship, stripping means 4rigidly mounted Ibelow said members for releasing alternate folded edges of the web from said members and to support the edges momentarily after releasing, a power operated conveyor adjustably spaced below said mem-bers for receiving -the folded web from said ,stripping means in a continuous zig-zag manner, roller means on said conveyor for directing a portion of said conveyor upwardly to form -a loop substantially midway between said stripping means, and means for adjustably mounting said roller in relation to said conveyor and to said members to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provide each web with a consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag folds along said conveyor.

5. Apparatus for folding web material in a zig-zag manner and adapted to receive webs of different thickness, said apparatus comprising, a pair of folding cylinders rotatably mounted on parallel axes, guide means for directing the web between said cylinders, a set of folding jaws recessed within the peripheral surface of each cylinder, one of said jaws 4being movable and the other rigidly mounted to said cylinder, a pivotally mounted tucker blade projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of each cylinder, cam means for moving said movable jaw toward and away from said rigidly mounted jaw for closing and opening said jaws, cam means for pivoting said tucker blade in -timed relationship with the movement of sai-d movable jaw, power operated means for rotating said cylinders in opposite directions for engagement of said tucker vblade between said folding jaws, stripping means rigidly mounted adjacent the bottom surface of each cylinder for releasing alternate folded edges of the web from said jaws, a power operated conveyor spaced below said cylinders for receiving the lfolded web from said stripping means in a continuous Zig-zag manner, roller means on said conveyor for directing a 'portion of said conveyor`- upwardly to form a loop substantially midway between said stripping means, and means for adjustably mounting said roller means in relation to said stripping means and -to said cylinders to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provide each web with a consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag folds along said conveyor.

6. Apparatus for folding web material in a zig-zag manner and adapted to receive webs of different lthickness, said apparatus comprising, a pair of folding cylinders rotatably mounted on parallel axes, guide means for directing the web between said cylinders, means 4'mounted on said cylinders for tucking the web material alternately in opposite. directions and in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the web material to initiate the zig-zag folding thereof, power operated means for rotating said cylinders in opposite directions, stripping means rigidly mounted adjacent the bottom surface of each cylinder for releasing alternate folded edges of the web from said cylinders, a power operated conveyor spaced below said cylinders for receiving the folded web from said stripping means in a continuous zig-zag manner, a plurality of rollers on said conveyor for directing -a portion of said'conveyor upwardly between said stripping means, and means for adjus'tably mounting at least two of said rollers in relation to the remaining portion of said conveyor and to said stripping means to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provide each 9 10 web with a consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag 2,643,878 6/ 1953 Lach 270-73 X folds along said conveyor. 2,765,164 10/1956 Hand 270-73 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,079,169 5/ 1954 France.

1,346,502 7/1920 Johnston 27o-39 EUGENE R- CAPOZIO, Pfmwv Examiner- 2,506,004 5/ 1950 Ward et al. 270--7 3 X N. `MELLISON, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR ACCORDIAN FOLDING OF WEB MATERIALS OF VARYING THICKNESS, COMPRISING GUIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND DIRECTING THE PATH OF THE WEB, FOLDING MECHANISM FOR FORMING TUCKS IN THE WEB MATERAL ALTERNATIVELY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND IN PREDETERMINED SPACED RELATION LENGTHWISE OF THE WEB MATERIAL TO INITIATE THE ACCORDIAN FOLDING THEREOF, SHELF MEANS POSITIONED GENERALLY BELOW SAID FOLDING MECHANISM FOR RECEIVING THE WEB MATERIAL FROM SAID FOLDING MECHANISM AND TO SUPPORT THE FOLDED EDGES OF THE WEB TEMPORARILY INITIATING THE ACCORDIAN FOLDING THEREOF, A CONVEYOR SPACED BELOW SAID SHELF MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE FOLDED WEB MATERIAL FROM SAID SHELF MEANS, A POWER DRIVEN ROLLER SPACED BELOW SAID FOLDING MECHANISM FOR MOVING THE FOLDED WEB FROM SAID SHELF MEANS ONTO SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLLER FOR ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHELF MEANS TO PROVIDE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR DIFFERENT THICKNESSES OF WEB MATERIAL WHILE MAINTAINING A CONSTANTLY UNIFORM SPACING OF THE FOLDED WEB MATERIAL ALONG SAID CONVEYOR.

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