Folding apparatus
First Claim
1. A folding apparatus for providing a product with at least one fold, the product including a document with at least one insert thereon, the document having leading and trailing edges, each insert having a leading edge spaced from the leading edge of the document and having a trailing edge aligned with the trailing edge of the document, the folding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first conveying device for delivering the product in a first path to a folding device, said first conveying device having means for maintaining the trailing edges of each insert in alignment with the trailing edge of the document until the leading edge of each insert is engaged by the folding device; and
(b) a folding device for receiving the product from said conveying device, said folding device comprising;
(i) a diverting device for diverting the leading edge of the document as the product moves in the first path and changing a direction of movement of the leading edge of the document to a second path, said diverting device being moveable between an operative position in the first path of the product as the leading edge of the document exits from said first conveying device and an inoperative position spaced from the first path of the product,(ii) means located in the second path for stopping movement of the leading edge of the document along the second path, and(iii) first driven roller means creating a first nip for engaging an intermediate portion of the document between the leading and trailing edges thereof after movement of the leading edge thereof has been stopped in the second path, said first driven roller means drawing the product through said first nip in a third path to create a first folded edge at the intermediate portion of the document without folding the at least one insert, each insert being located between the first folded edge and the trailing edge of the document.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for folding products utilizes interchangeable buckle plates and bypass plates as well as a buckle plate and diverting device combination to accomplish various folding formats, i.e. Z-folding, C-folding and half-folding. When the product is a combination of a document with an insert, the document is folded around the insert as initially the diverting device operates to deflect the leading edge of the product into its associated buckle plate to begin the folding process. The folding apparatus is design for use in an electronic publishing system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A folding apparatus for providing a product with at least one fold, the product including a document with at least one insert thereon, the document having leading and trailing edges, each insert having a leading edge spaced from the leading edge of the document and having a trailing edge aligned with the trailing edge of the document, the folding apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first conveying device for delivering the product in a first path to a folding device, said first conveying device having means for maintaining the trailing edges of each insert in alignment with the trailing edge of the document until the leading edge of each insert is engaged by the folding device; and (b) a folding device for receiving the product from said conveying device, said folding device comprising; (i) a diverting device for diverting the leading edge of the document as the product moves in the first path and changing a direction of movement of the leading edge of the document to a second path, said diverting device being moveable between an operative position in the first path of the product as the leading edge of the document exits from said first conveying device and an inoperative position spaced from the first path of the product, (ii) means located in the second path for stopping movement of the leading edge of the document along the second path, and (iii) first driven roller means creating a first nip for engaging an intermediate portion of the document between the leading and trailing edges thereof after movement of the leading edge thereof has been stopped in the second path, said first driven roller means drawing the product through said first nip in a third path to create a first folded edge at the intermediate portion of the document without folding the at least one insert, each insert being located between the first folded edge and the trailing edge of the document. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A kit for forming a folding apparatus for providing a product with at least one fold, the product including a document with at least one insert thereon, the document having leading and trailing edges, each insert having a leading edge spaced from the leading edge of the document and having a trailing edge aligned with the trailing edge of the document, the kit comprising:
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(a) a first conveying device for delivering the product in a first path to a folding device, said first conveying device having means for maintaining the trailing edges of each insert in alignment with the trailing edge of the document until the leading edge of each insert is engaged by the folding device; and (b) a folding device for receiving the product from said conveying device, said folding device having a first station, said first station having; (i) a diverting device being moveable between an operative position in the first path of the product as the leading edge of the document exits from said first conveying device and an inoperative position spaced from the first path of the product, said diverting device being moved to its operative position when a fold is to be made at said first station and being adapted to divert a leading edge of the document as the product moves in the first path and changing a direction of movement of the leading edge to a second path, (ii) means located in the second path for stopping movement of the leading edge of the document along the second path when a fold is to be made, and (iii) first driven roller means creating a first nip for engaging the product, said first nip engaging an intermediate portion of the document between the leading and trailing edges thereof after movement of the leading edge thereof has been stopped in the second path, said first driven roller means drawing the product through said first nip in a third path to create a first folded edge at the intermediate portion of the document without folding the at least one insert. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification