Patent US2581004A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3754750A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3754750A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for folding sheets
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A compact sheet folder for longitudinal folding of ironed or ''''no-iron'''' sheets, including means for feeding the unfolded sheet into the machine with one edge of the sheet leading the remaining portions of the sheet. The feeding device advances the sheet to a number of parallel horizontal rollers which are arranged in a generally vertical alignment. The sheet moves downwardly from the feeding arrangement to the rollers and is passed transversely and repeatedly through the rollers to effect a number of folds. The last fold is made by a pair of rollers which advance the sheet horizontally toward the side of the machine at which the sheet was originally fed in. This enables the operator to both load and unload the machine from the same operating station. A cross folding device may be located at the unloading station to receive automatically the longitudinally folded sheets. The folder may be connected to an automatic ironer which delivers ironed sheets to the feeding means.
Inventors
- 👤 R Sjostrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:14
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F89/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A sheet folder comprising: a frame; means mounted to said frame for effecting a plurality of parallel folds in said sheet; means mounted to said frame and on one side thereof for drawing an unfolded sheet, leading edge first, along a path which is directed towards said folding means; means for guiding said sheet downwardly from said sheet drawing means and along a substantially vertical Path; means for diverting a portion of said sheet from said substantially vertical path to and along a transverse path, said folding and diverting means being effective to fold said sheet while said sheet is diverted along said transverse path; means for thereafter enabling said folded sheet to again advance downwardly along a substantially vertical path and for thereafter again diverting said sheet transversely while effecting a subsequent fold; the last of said means for diverting said sheet in a transverse direction being arranged to divert and eject said sheet toward said one side of said machine; and means wherein each of said fold is effected while said sheet is being diverted in a transverse direction, each successive transverse direction being opposite to that of the preceding transverse direction of diversion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A sheet folder comprising: a frame; means mounted to said frame for effecting a plurality of parallel folds in said sheet; means mounted to said frame and on one side thereof for drawing an unfolded sheet, leading edge first, along a path which is directed towards said folding means; means for guiding said sheet downwardly from said sheet drawing means and along a substantially vertical Path; means for diverting a portion of said sheet from said substantially vertical path to and along a transverse path, said folding and diverting means being effective to fold said sheet while said sheet is diverted along said transverse path; means for thereafter enabling said folded sheet to again advance downwardly along a substantially vertical path and for thereafter again diverting said sheet transversely while effecting a subsequent fold; the last of said means for diverting said sheet in a transverse direction being arranged to divert and eject said sheet toward said one side of said machine; and means wherein each of said fold is effected while said sheet is being diverted in a transverse direction, each successive transverse direction being opposite to that of the preceding transverse direction of diversion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
302 words
A sheet folder comprising: a frame; means for guiding an unfolded sheet into said frame and through said frame along a substantially vertical, downward direction; a folding unit mounted to said frame adjacent to the downward path of travel of said sheet, said folding unit including a first pair of fold rolls rotatably mounted to said frame along longitudinal axes parallel to the plane of said guided sheet, said first fold rolls cooperating to define a first nip line therebetween, said first fold rolls and first nip line being spaced from the plane of advancement of said sheet whereby said sheet may advance downwardly past said first nip line; means for urging a width-wise extending line of said sheet transversely toward and into engagement with said first nip line whereby said first fold rolls may grip and advance said sheet transversely through said first fold rolls to effect a first fold, said once-folded sheet exiting from said first fold rolls and thereafter advancing downwardly along a substantially vertical path; said fold unit further including a second pair of fold rolls disposed below said first pair of fold rolls, said second fold rolls being rotatably mounted to said frame in parallel to said first fold rolls and said plane of advancement of sheet, said second fold rolls cooperating to define a second nip line therebetween, said second fold rolls and second nip line being spaced from the plane of advancement of said sheet whereby said sheet may advance downwardly past said second nip line; and means for urging a width-wise extending line of said once-folded sheet transversely toward and into said second nip line whereby second fold rolls may grip and advance said sheet transversely through said second fold rolls to effect a second fold, said twice-folded sheet exiting from second fold rolls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
302 words
A sheet folder comprising: a frame; means for guiding an unfolded sheet into said frame and through said frame along a substantially vertical, downward direction; a folding unit mounted to said frame adjacent to the downward path of travel of said sheet, said folding unit including a first pair of fold rolls rotatably mounted to said frame along longitudinal axes parallel to the plane of said guided sheet, said first fold rolls cooperating to define a first nip line therebetween, said first fold rolls and first nip line being spaced from the plane of advancement of said sheet whereby said sheet may advance downwardly past said first nip line; means for urging a width-wise extending line of said sheet transversely toward and into engagement with said first nip line whereby said first fold rolls may grip and advance said sheet transversely through said first fold rolls to effect a first fold, said once-folded sheet exiting from said first fold rolls and thereafter advancing downwardly along a substantially vertical path; said fold unit further including a second pair of fold rolls disposed below said first pair of fold rolls, said second fold rolls being rotatably mounted to said frame in parallel to said first fold rolls and said plane of advancement of sheet, said second fold rolls cooperating to define a second nip line therebetween, said second fold rolls and second nip line being spaced from the plane of advancement of said sheet whereby said sheet may advance downwardly past said second nip line; and means for urging a width-wise extending line of said once-folded sheet transversely toward and into said second nip line whereby second fold rolls may grip and advance said sheet transversely through said second fold rolls to effect a second fold, said twice-folded sheet exiting from second fold rolls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising: said second fold rolls being arranged to eject said twice folded sheet in a selected direction and away from said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
an apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said first fold rolls advance said sheet transversely in one direction and wherein said second fold rolls advance said once folded sheet transversely in the opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said sheet is fed and guided into said frame from a loading station disposed in front of said frame, said first fold being effected transversely and in a rearward direction, said second fold being effected transversely and in a forward direction to eject said twice-folded sheet toward the front of said frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said fold rolls are in general vertical alignment and wherein said substantially vertical path of said sheet before engagement thereof with said first fold rolls is located in front of said first fold rolls and wherein said substantially vertical path of said one-folded sheet from said first fold rolls to said second fold rolls is located rearwardly of said second fold rolls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising: first sensing means for sensing the advancement Of the trailing edge of said sheet past a predetermined position; and means responsive to said first sensing means for actuating said means for urging said sheet into said first nip line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the distance between said first sending means and said first nip line as measured along the direction of travel of said sheet comprises one-half the length of said sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising: second sensing means for sensing the downward advancement of the folded leading edge of said once-folded sheet; and means responsive to said second sensing means for urging said once-folded sheet into said second nip line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said distance between said second sensing means and said second nip line as measured along the direction of travel of said once-folded sheet comprises one-half the length of said once-folded sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising: first sending means for sensing the advancement of the trailing edge of said sheet past a predetermined position; and means responsive to said second sensing means for actuating said means for urging said sheet into said second nip line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for guiding said unfolded sheet onto said frame comprises: endless belt feeding means adapted to support said sheet and draw said sheet into said frame and in the upper region of said frame above said folding unit, said belt means including a roller rotatably mounted across said frame for rotation along a longitudinal axis paralleling that of said folding rolls, said endless belt being wrapped about said roller, said roller defining the rearward and upper extremity of said endless belt whereby said sheet passes over and about said roller and thereafter hangs downwardly therefrom; said roller being disposed within said machine so as to support said hanging portion of said sheet in said spaced relation to said fold rolls and said nip lines thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising: a feeding bed including a substantially rigid plate supported beneath the upper run of said feeding belts to support said feeding belts; means mounted to said feeding bed for sensing the advancement of the trailing edge of said sheet past a predetermined location; and means responsive to said first sensing means for actuating said means for urging said width-wise extending line of said sheet transversely into said first nip line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for urging said sheet into said nip line comprises: an injection tube substantially paralleling said first fold rolls and being disposed on the other side of said downwardly advancing sheet, said injection tube including orifice means adapted to direct a jet of compressed air toward said sheet to urge said sheet into said first nip line; means connecting said ejection tube to a source of compressed air; valve means for controlling the admission of compressed air into said ejection tube; and means connecting said sensing means to said valve means for controlling the initiation and duration of said ejected air blast.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of folding sheets comprising: advancing said sheet in a generally planar configuration along a first predetermined direction with the edge of said sheet leading, said path of advancement of said sheet extending past one side of and in transverse, spaced relation to a first folding unit to advance a selected region of said sheet intermediate its ends into registry with a first folding station; diverting said region of said sheet transversely toward said first station when said region is in registry with said first station and folding said sheet along said selected region while passing said sheet transversely through said station to form a first fold line, said first fold line thereafter defining thE leading edge of said once-folded sheet; continuing advancement of said once-folded sheet along said first predetermined direction past and to one side of a second folding unit to advance a selected region of said once-folded sheet intermediate its ends into registry with said second folding station; diverting said region of said once-folded sheet transversely toward said second station when in registry with said second station and folding said once-folded sheet along said selected region while passing said once-folded sheet transversely through said second station to form a second fold line; and said sheet being diverted in opposite directions as it is passed through said first and second folding stations.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of folding sheets comprising: advancing said sheet in a generally planar configuration along a first predetermined direction with the edge of said sheet leading, said path of advancement of said sheet extending past one side of and in transverse, spaced relation to a first folding unit to advance a selected region of said sheet intermediate its ends into registry with a first folding station; diverting said region of said sheet transversely toward said first station when said region is in registry with said first station and folding said sheet along said selected region while passing said sheet transversely through said station to form a first fold line, said first fold line thereafter defining thE leading edge of said once-folded sheet; continuing advancement of said once-folded sheet along said first predetermined direction past and to one side of a second folding unit to advance a selected region of said once-folded sheet intermediate its ends into registry with said second folding station; diverting said region of said once-folded sheet transversely toward said second station when in registry with said second station and folding said once-folded sheet along said selected region while passing said once-folded sheet transversely through said second station to form a second fold line; and said sheet being diverted in opposite directions as it is passed through said first and second folding stations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said sheet initially is introduced along said first predetermined direction from a loading station and wherein said direction of diversion of said sheet toward and through said second station is directed toward said loading station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of folding sheets as defined in claim 15 further comprising: said selected region of said unfolded sheet being located at the midportion of said unfolded sheet; and said selected region of said once-folded sheet being disposed along the midportion of said once-folded sheet whereby said sheet is folded in quarters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method of folding sheets as defined in claim 17 further comprising: means for presenting and diverting said once-folded sheet toward and through said second folding station so that after said twice-folded sheet emerges from said second folding station the selvage of said twice-folded sheet will be located at the top of the folded sheet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of folding sheets as defined in claim 15 further comprising: sensing the advancement of the trailing edge of said sheet past a predetermined location; and diverting said sheet transversely toward said first folding station when said trailing edge of said sheet is located at said sensing station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of folding sheets as defined in claim 19 further comprising: sensing the advancement of said leading edge of said once-folded sheet to a predetermined location; and diverting said once-folded sheet transversely toward said second folding station when said folded leading edge of said once-folded sheet is located at said second sensing location.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
287 words
A method of folding sheets comprising: advancing said sheet in a generally planar configuration along a first predetermined direction with the edge of said sheet leading, said path of advancement of said sheet extending past one side of and in transverse, spaced relation to a first folding unit to advance a selected region of said sheet intermediate its ends into registry with a first folding station; diverting said region of said sheet transversely toward said first station when said region is in registry with said first station and folding said sheet along said selected region while passing said sheet transversely through said station to form a first fold line, said first fold line thereafter defining the leading edge of said once-folded sheet; continuing advancement of said once-folded sheet along said first predetermined direction past and to one side of a second folding unit to advance a selected region of said once-folded sheet intermediate its ends in registry with said second folding station; diverting said region of said once-folded sheet transversely toward said second station where in registry with said second station and folding said once-folded sheet along said selected region while passing said once-folded sheet transversely through said second station to form a second fold line; and said first predetermined direction being generally downwardly and said first and second folding stations being located in general vertical alignment with each other, said sheet being disposed on one side of said folding stations prior to diversion of said sheet toward said first folding station and being disposed on the opposite side of said folding stations after said sheet has passed transversely through said first folding station but before said sheet has been diverted transversely through said second folding station.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
287 words
A method of folding sheets comprising: advancing said sheet in a generally planar configuration along a first predetermined direction with the edge of said sheet leading, said path of advancement of said sheet extending past one side of and in transverse, spaced relation to a first folding unit to advance a selected region of said sheet intermediate its ends into registry with a first folding station; diverting said region of said sheet transversely toward said first station when said region is in registry with said first station and folding said sheet along said selected region while passing said sheet transversely through said station to form a first fold line, said first fold line thereafter defining the leading edge of said once-folded sheet; continuing advancement of said once-folded sheet along said first predetermined direction past and to one side of a second folding unit to advance a selected region of said once-folded sheet intermediate its ends in registry with said second folding station; diverting said region of said once-folded sheet transversely toward said second station where in registry with said second station and folding said once-folded sheet along said selected region while passing said once-folded sheet transversely through said second station to form a second fold line; and said first predetermined direction being generally downwardly and said first and second folding stations being located in general vertical alignment with each other, said sheet being disposed on one side of said folding stations prior to diversion of said sheet toward said first folding station and being disposed on the opposite side of said folding stations after said sheet has passed transversely through said first folding station but before said sheet has been diverted transversely through said second folding station.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |