US3711085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folder for business forms
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-28
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1990-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A machine for producing zigzag folds in continuous business forms or like strip material. The strip material moves over a horizontal feed roller and then downward between a pair of opposed endless belt units to an underlying support surface. A hold-down roller is biased to engage the feed roller, with the material sandwiched therebetween, immediately above the point at which the material discharges from the feed roller. The material, upon engagement with the support surface, loops alternately in opposite directions beneath the belt units and between spaced stops, one of which is rounded so as to allow for a smooth continuous movement of the folded material therebeyond. Material boosting means periodically engage the looped material immediately prior to engagement with the stops so as to insure a proper movement thereagainst.
Inventors
- 👤 E Bunch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/02; B65H45/06; B65H45/10; B65H45/101; B65H45/1015; B65H45/12; B65H45/20; D; D06; D06J; D06J1/00; D06J1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
For use in a machine for making continuous zigzag folds in a strip of flexible material by the feeding of the material toward a support surface for an alternate looping of the material in opposite directions, a pair of stop assemblies above the support surface and spaced apart to the opposite sides of the point at which the material is fed, each stop assembly extending transversely of the material and having upstanding abutment means thereon for engagement of the material loops against one face thereof, a first one of said stop assemblies being positioned further from the support surface than the second of said stop assemblies, the abutment means on the first stop assembly having a lower end portion curving smoothly away from the face against which the material loops engage, said abutment means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced upstanding fingers, each stop assembly including an elongated flange extending along and interconnecting the lower ends of said fingers, said flange being orientated at approximately 90* to said fingers, and a material boosting means parallel to each stop assembly in spaced relation forward of the loop engaging face of the abutment means thereon, each material boosting means comprising an elongated rotatable shaft positioned above the lower portion of the corresponding stop assembly fingers, each shaft having material engaging narrow fingers fixed thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom at spaced points therealong, said shaft fingers, at each of the spaced points along the shaft, consisting of a single pair of fingers with the fingers of each pair being diametrically opposed from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
For use in a machine for making continuous zigzag folds in a strip of flexible material by the feeding of the material toward a support surface for an alternate looping of the material in opposite directions, a pair of stop assemblies above the support surface and spaced apart to the opposite sides of the point at which the material is fed, each stop assembly extending transversely of the material and having upstanding abutment means thereon for engagement of the material loops against one face thereof, a first one of said stop assemblies being positioned further from the support surface than the second of said stop assemblies, the abutment means on the first stop assembly having a lower end portion curving smoothly away from the face against which the material loops engage, said abutment means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced upstanding fingers, each stop assembly including an elongated flange extending along and interconnecting the lower ends of said fingers, said flange being orientated at approximately 90* to said fingers, and a material boosting means parallel to each stop assembly in spaced relation forward of the loop engaging face of the abutment means thereon, each material boosting means comprising an elongated rotatable shaft positioned above the lower portion of the corresponding stop assembly fingers, each shaft having material engaging narrow fingers fixed thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom at spaced points therealong, said shaft fingers, at each of the spaced points along the shaft, consisting of a single pair of fingers with the fingers of each pair being diametrically opposed from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein the boosting means fingers are of a length so as to terminate in spaced relation to the stop assembly fingers during the rotation of the material boosting means and engage and subsequently disengage from the material prior to the material engaging the stop assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The construction of claim 2 including an endless driven belt unit positioned to each side of the fed strip of mateRial, each belt unit overlying one of said stop assemblies and the associated material boosting means, each stop assembly and the associated material boosting means being mounted on laterally spaced mounting blocks, each mounting block having a rotatable pinion thereon, the associated belt unit having a pair of elongated racks, and means for effecting a selective travel of the pinions along the racks for an adjustment of the position of the corresponding stop assembly and associated material boosting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The construction of claim 3 including an elongated guide rod fixed to each belt unit adjacent each mounting block for a sliding guided movement of the block therealong, and lock means for selectively locking each block to the associated guide rod at any adjusted position therealong.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The construction of claim 4 wherein said belt units alternately engage and guide the said strip of material, said belt units consisting of inner and outer end rollers having a series of laterally spaced flat material gripping belts engaged thereover for a frictional gripping of the strip of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The construction of claim 5 including a positioning roller associated with each belt unit, said positioning roller underlying the spaced belts transversely thereacross and including a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting roller sections receiving and guiding the flat belts therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The construction of claim 6 including an elongated feed roller positioned above the belt units for an initial movement of the strip of material thereover, said feed roller being so positioned as to enable a downwardly movement of the strip of material between the belt units, said strip of material discharging from the feed roller in a generally vertical plane tangential to the roller, and a hold-down roller cooperating with the feed roller for a frictional gripping of the strip of material therebetween, said hold-down roller engaging the material against the feed roller approximately at the point of discharge of the strip of material from the feed roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
The construction of claim 1 including an endless driven belt unit positioned to each side of the feed strip of material, each belt unit overlying one of said stop assemblies and the associated material boosting means, each stop assembly and the associated material boosting means being mounted on laterally spaced mounting blocks, each mounting block having a rotatable pinion thereon, the associated belt unit having a pair of elongated racks, and means for effecting a selective travel of the pinions along the racks for an adjustment of the position of the corresponding stop assembly and associated material boosting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
The construction of claim 8 wherein said belt units alternately engage and guide the said strip of material, said belt units consisting of inner and outer end rollers having a series of laterally spaced flat material gripping belts engaged thereover for a frictional gripping of the strip of material, a positioning roller associated with each belt unit, said positioning roller underlying the spaced belts transversely thereacross and including a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting roller sections receiving and guiding the flat belts therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
The construction of claim 8 including an elongated feed roller positioned above the belt units for an initial movement of the strip of material thereover, said feed roller being so positioned as to enable a downward movement of the strip of material between the belt units, said strip of material discharging from the feed roller in a generally vertical plane tangential to the roller, and a hold-down roller cooperating with the feed roller for a frictional gripping of the strip of material therebetween, said hold-down roller engaging the material against the feed roller approximately at the point of discharge of the strip of material from the feed roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
241 words
For use in a machine for making continuous zigzag folds in a strip of flexible material by the feEding of the material toward a support surface for an alternate looping of the material in opposite directions, a pair of stop assemblies above the support surface and spaced apart to the opposite sides of the point at which the material is fed, each stop assembly extending transversely of the material and having upstanding abutment means thereon for engagement of the material loops against one face thereof, a first one of said stop assemblies being positioned further from the support surface than the second of said stop assemblies, a material boosting means parallel to each stop assembly in spaced relation forward of the loop engaging face of the abutment means thereon, each material boosting means comprising an elongated rotatable shaft positioned above the lower portion of the corresponding stop assembly fingers, each shaft having material engaging narrow fingers fixed thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom at spaced points therealong, said shaft fingers, at each of the spaced points along the shaft, consisting of a single pair of fingers with the fingers of each pair being diametrically opposed from each other, the boosting means fingers are of a length so as to terminate in spaced relation to the stop assembly fingers during the rotation of the material boosting means and engage and subsequently disengage from the material prior to the material engaging the stop assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
241 words
For use in a machine for making continuous zigzag folds in a strip of flexible material by the feEding of the material toward a support surface for an alternate looping of the material in opposite directions, a pair of stop assemblies above the support surface and spaced apart to the opposite sides of the point at which the material is fed, each stop assembly extending transversely of the material and having upstanding abutment means thereon for engagement of the material loops against one face thereof, a first one of said stop assemblies being positioned further from the support surface than the second of said stop assemblies, a material boosting means parallel to each stop assembly in spaced relation forward of the loop engaging face of the abutment means thereon, each material boosting means comprising an elongated rotatable shaft positioned above the lower portion of the corresponding stop assembly fingers, each shaft having material engaging narrow fingers fixed thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom at spaced points therealong, said shaft fingers, at each of the spaced points along the shaft, consisting of a single pair of fingers with the fingers of each pair being diametrically opposed from each other, the boosting means fingers are of a length so as to terminate in spaced relation to the stop assembly fingers during the rotation of the material boosting means and engage and subsequently disengage from the material prior to the material engaging the stop assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |