Folded leaflet and method and apparatus for making same

• US 5,667,210 A
• Filed: 04/07/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: G&K-Vijuk Intern. Corp.
• Original Assignee: Freeport Miniature Folding Company, Inc.
• Inventors: DeLise, Stephen W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US08/418,184
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 270/37, 270/45, 270/51, 493/458, 493/331, 493/436, 493/437, 493/438, 493/444, 493/445, 493/446, 53/429, 281/2, 281/5, 283/34, 283/61, 283/62, 283/81
• US Class Current: 270/37
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/008 Foldable or folded sheets

Abstract

A folded medical outsert and method and apparatus for making same. The outsert consists of a printed sheet provided with a series of parallel fold lines. A first cross fold divides the sheet in half. Two off-center cross folds are then provided with an adhesive securing the last folded flap in place. The apparatus for folding the printed sheet includes a parallel folder and a cross folder to form the first and second cross folds. An adhesive applicator dispenses an adhesive before a knife folder performs the third cross fold. The method for forming the outsert includes the steps of forming a series of parallel fold lines. The first cross fold is then formed perpendicular to the parallel fold lines to divide the sheet into half. The second cross fold is then formed in the sheet following which an adhesive is dispensed onto the sheet. The third cross fold is then formed between the first cross fold and the second cross fold to provide a closed secured outsert.

Claims

1. A folded closed leaflet formed from a printed sheet having a longitudinally extending edge, the leaflet comprising:

a plurality of parallel fold lines formed in the sheet dividing the sheet into overlapping strips, each parallel fold line extending between a first free end and a second spaced opposite free end;

a first cross fold perpendicular to said plurality of parallel fold lines forming substantially equal halves of said strips and positioning said second free end adjacent said first free end to form a combined free end;

said combined free end bordering a first panel and said first cross fold bordering a second panel with a third panel disposed between said first and second panels;

a second cross fold superimposing said first panel onto said third panel;

a third cross fold folding said first and third panels in half to superimpose a first portion of said first and third panels onto a second portion of said first and third panels to form a stack with four panels;

a final cross fold superimposing said second panel onto said stack of four panels formed from said folded first and third panels; and

adhesive means interior of the leaflet joining said second panel to said third panel to form the closed leaflet.

2. An apparatus for folding a printed sheet, having a longitudinally-extending edge, into a closed, secured outsert as the sheet is conveyed in a downstream direction, comprising:

means for supporting a plurality of printed sheets in a stack and individually feeding sheets from the stack;

parallel folding means for forming a plurality of parallel fold lines in an individual sheet fed from the stack to divide the sheet into overlapping strips before discharging the sheet in a first direction perpendicular to the parallel fold lines, wherein the parallel fold lines are parallel to the longitudinally-extending edge;

conveyor means downstream from said parallel folding means for feeding the folded sheet in a second direction which is parallel to the longitudinally-extending edge and perpendicular to the first direction;

cross folding means downstream from said conveyor means for;

(i) forming a first cross fold in the sheet perpendicular to said parallel fold lines to divide the strip into substantially equal halves including a free end opposite said first cross fold;

(ii) forming a second cross fold in the sheet; and

(iii) discharging the sheet in the second direction with said second cross fold facing the second direction, said first cross fold facing away from the second direction with said free end positioned therebetween;

adhesive application means downstream from said cross folding means for dispensing an adhesive onto a section of the sheet;

blade folder means downstream from said cross folding means for forming a third cross fold between said first and second cross folds to enclose the free end and the adhesive before discharging the closed, secured outsert in the second direction, wherein said third cross fold is adjacent said free end and positions said first cross fold adjacent said second cross fold, said blade folder means comprising;

(i) a stationary front stop for contacting said second cross fold and positioning the sheet along the second direction;

(ii) two side tampers for contacting said parallel fold lines and positioning the sheet along the first direction;

(iii) a first and second fold rollers rotatably mounted on first and second roller axles and positioned below said side tampers, said roller axles extending parallel to the first direction;

(iv) a folder blade slidably disposed between said side tampers for creasing the sheet and feeding the sheet from said tampers to said rollers;

(v) an input pulley rotatably mounted on a pulley axle and positioned generally above said first fold roller for feeding the sheet toward said front stop;

(vi) each of said side tampers has a first nib extending between said pulley axle and said first roller axle and a second nib extending downwardly between said first roller axle and said second roller axle; and

means located downstream of said blade folder means for stacking the closed, secured outserts in a row.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said side tampers are reciprocating side tampers which extend toward and retract away from each other, said reciprocating side tampers are retracted when the sheet is fed into said blade folder means and extend to press the sheet therebetween to align said parallel folds before creasing the sheet.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of said side tampers is a stationary side tamper and the other of said side tampers is a reciprocating side tamper which extends toward and retracts away from said stationary side tamper, said reciprocating side tamper is retracted when the sheet is fed into said blade folder means and extends to press the sheet against said stationary side tamper and align said parallel folds before creasing the sheet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said blade folder means comprises:

a cantilevered top guide connected to said stationary front stop and extending toward said input pulley to contact and guide the sheet;

wherein said blade includes a first aperture for accommodating said top guide and a second aperture for aligning with the adhesive to avoid contact therewith.

6. A method for folding a printed sheet with a longitudinally-extending edge into a closed, secured outsert, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of parallel fold lines in the sheet to divide the sheet into overlapping strips;

forming a first cross fold perpendicular to said parallel fold lines to divide the strips into substantially equal halves including a free end opposite said first cross fold;

forming a second cross fold in the sheet to position the free end between said first cross fold and said second cross fold;

positioning the sheet within an alignment apparatus with said second cross fold placed against a stationary front stop and at least one of said parallel folds placed adjacent a stationary side tamper;

sliding a reciprocating side tamper against the remaining parallel folds to press the sheet against the stationary side tamper;

providing a folder blade with an operating edge and two sides adjacent the operating edge;

supporting the two sides of the folder blade within slots formed in the side tampers;

dispensing an adhesive onto a section of the sheet; and

sliding the operating edge of the blade against the sheet to move the sheet out of the alignment apparatus and into the fold rollers to create a third cross fold between said first cross fold and said second cross fold to enclose the free end and the adhesive to provide a closed, secured outsert.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said parallel fold lines are parallel to the longitudinally-extending edge, wherein said first, second and third cross folds are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinally-extending edge;

wherein said third cross fold is adjacent the free end and positions said first cross fold adjacent said second cross fold.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

feeding individual sheets from a stack, before said step of forming a plurality of parallel fold lines; and

stacking the closed, secured outserts in a column, after said step of forming a third cross fold.

9. A method for folding a printed sheet with a longitudinally-extending edge into a closed, secured outsert, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of parallel fold lines in the sheet to divide the sheet into overlapping strips;

forming a first cross fold perpendicular to said parallel fold lines to divide the strips into substantially equal halves including a free end opposite said first cross fold;

forming a second cross fold in the sheet to position the free end between said first cross fold and said second cross fold;

positioning the sheet within an alignment apparatus with said second cross fold placed against a stationary front stop;

sliding a pair of reciprocating side tampers against opposed parallel folds to align the overlapping strips;

providing a folder blade with an operating edge and two sides adjacent the operating edge;

supporting the two sides of the folder blade within slots formed in the side tampers;

dispensing an adhesive onto a section of the sheet; and

sliding the operating edge of the blade against the sheet to move the sheet out of the alignment apparatus and into the fold rollers, to create a third cross fold between said first cross fold and said second cross fold, to enclose the free end and the adhesive to provide a closed, secured outsert.