Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – Bending – Folding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-08-21
Kim, Eugene (Department: 3721)
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
Bending
Folding
C493S444000, C493S457000, C493S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277059
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a folding device comprising a folding station for double-folding at least one sheet, which folding station is provided with folding means disposed at a fixed place, a feed path for introducing the sheet to be folded to the folding station and adjustable positioning means for positioning the still unfolded sheet with respect to the folding means so that the folding means, following after positioning, can fold the sheet on its intended fold line.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a folding device wherein the folding station comprises a collecting station for collecting a number of sheets and wherein the folding means are adapted for folding the collected sheets together on their intended fold line.
A general device of this kind is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,469. In the device described therein, the folding station is provided with positioning means which are constructed as a stop, adjustable in the direction in which the sheets for folding are introduced. When, in this known device, a sheet or booklet is folded on a fold line which is not situated centrally, then on the basis of that result the stop is automatically adjusted over a distance such that the intended fold line of a following sheet or booklet does coincide with the center. A disadvantage of this known device is that whenever a series of identical sheets or booklets is folded, the first sheet or booklet may be folded incorrectly and thus become unusable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a folding device for the double-folding of a sheet.
To this end, according to the present invention, the feed path of the folding device is provided with measuring means for measuring the length of a supplied sheet and the adjustable positioning means are adjustable to the length of said supplied sheet as measured by the measuring means, for exact positioning of said sheet with its intended fold line straight opposite the folding means. As a result, a booklet is formed from a number of double-folded sheets wherein the sheet edges are situated substantially straight above one another. Preferably, the positioning means comprise a first stop for the leading edge of a supplied sheet, which first stop, as considered in the sheet feed direction, is adjustable to a distance from the folding means corresponding to half the length of the sheet as measured by the measuring means plus a predetermined distance. As a result, at least the longest sheet of the sheets belonging to a folded booklet can be folded on a line exactly at the center of the sheet, because after collection of these sheets against the stop, and possible stapling of the sheets on that line, the sheets are brought into the folding position by displacement of the stop over the predetermined distance in a direction opposed to the feed direction. Since the collected sheets are moved back over the predetermined distance from the collecting position to the folding position, the resulting device is also of compact construction.
In one advantageous embodiment of a device according to the present invention, the positioning means further comprise a second stop for the trailing edge of a supplied sheet, which second stop, as considered in the sheet feed direction, is adjustable to a distance from the first stop corresponding to the length of said sheet as measured by the measuring means. As a result, sheets collected between the first and second stops remain enclosed, even if the stops are displaced in a direction opposed to the sheet feed direction.
If the adjusted distance between the first and second stops is at minimum equal to the measured length of a supplied sheet, then the sheets are collected so as to fit between the stops, thus permitting a low overall height for the device, but, if required, guide means can be provided to ensure good sheet feed. If the adjusted distance between the first and second stop is at maximum equal to the measured length of a supplied sheet, then the sheets are collected with a loop formation between the stops, but if required swing-up parts of the device will enable a loop to form.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3485492 (1969-12-01), Iltis
patent: 3843113 (1974-10-01), Scgaffer
patent: 4059258 (1977-11-01), Grantham
patent: 4083552 (1978-04-01), Sioman
patent: 4578052 (1986-03-01), Engel et al.
patent: 5461469 (1995-10-01), Farrell et al.
patent: 5628501 (1997-05-01), Meier
patent: 5683338 (1997-11-01), Krasuski et al.
patent: 6004254 (1999-12-01), Murata
patent: 3544495 (1987-06-01), None
patent: 9104607 (1991-08-01), None
EPO, Patent Abstract of Japan, JP 62-211247, Publication Date 09/17/1987, Mikami Noriaki.
Kim Eugene
Oce--Technologies B.V.
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