Method and system for directing an item through the feed path of a folding apparatus

• US 6,702,284 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Sloan, Richard A. Jr., Sette, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bower, Kenneth W
• Application Number:
  US10/064,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 271/291, 399/364
• US Class Current: 271/291
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/3332 Tri-rollers type
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1123 Folded article or web
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/60 diverting the stream into alternative paths B65H29/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/06 by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers transport by suction rollers B65H5/226
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 271/902 Reverse direction of sheet movement

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.

Claims

1. In a feed path of a folding machine wherein a piece of folded material having a folded end and an opposing open end moves in a traveling direction with the folded end leading the open end, an apparatus operable in a first mode for maintaining the traveling direction of the folded material and a second mode for reversing the traveling direction, said apparatus comprising:

(a) A turn chute having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first side and an opposing second side located between the front end and the rear end, wherein the first side and the second side define a front gap at the front end and a rear gap at the rear end;

(b) a first nip located at the front gap adjacent the first side of the turn chute for ingesting the folded material into the turn chute through the front gap with the folded end of the folded material leading the open end;

(c) a stop located at the rear end of the turn chute, wherein

(i) the stop is operable in an out position removed from the rear gap when the apparatus is operated in the first mode in order to allow the folded material to move out of the turn chute through the rear gap, thereby maintaining the traveling direction of the folded material, and wherein

(ii) the stop is operable in an in position blocking the rear gap when the apparatus is operated in the second mode in order to keep the open end of the ingested folded material from moving out of the rear gap;

(d) a second nip located at the front gap adjacent the second side of the turn chute; and

(e) means for urging the open end of the ingested folded material to move toward the second nip after the folded material has been moved into the turn chute and become disengaged from the first nip when the apparatus is operated in the second mode so as to cause the open end of the ingested folded material to be engaged with the second nip in order for the second nip to move the ingested folded material out of the turn chute.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second nip is formed by a first roller located adjacent the second side of the turn chute and a second roller located between the first roller and the first side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first nip is formed by a first roller located adjacent the first side of the turn chute and a second roller located between the first roller and the second side.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second nip is formed by the second roller and a third roller located adjacent the second side of the turn chute.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folded end and the open end of the folded material define a material length and the first nip and the stop in the in position define a first length of the turn chute and wherein the material length is slightly greater than the first length in order to cause the ingested folded material to buckle within the turn chute after the open end of the ingested folded material is disengaged from the first nip so as to allow the urging means to urge the open end to move toward the second nip when the apparatus is operated in the second mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folded end and the open end of the folded material define a material length and the second nip and the stop in the in position define a second length of the turn chute and wherein the material length is slightly greater than the second length in order to cause the open end of the ingested folded material to be engaged with the second nip after the urging means causes the open end to move toward the second nip when the apparatus is operated in the second mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folded material is ingested into the turn chute along a first path and wherein the urging means is moved substantially away from the first path when the folded material is being ingested by the first nip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folded material is ingested into the turn chute along a first path adjacent the first side and the urging means comprises a spring loaded roller pivotably mounted adjacent to the first side, said spring loaded roller operable at a first position adjacent the second side and a second position adjacent the first side, wherein the spring loaded roller is depressed by the folded end of the folded material to move to the second position when the folded material is being ingested by the first nip, and wherein the spring loaded roller resumes the first position after the open end of the ingested folded material is disengaged from the first nip in order to move the open end of the ingested folded material toward the second nip.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folded end and the open end of the folded material define a material length, and the first nip and the stop in the in position define a first length of the turn chute, and wherein the stop is adjustable in order to adjust the first length such that the material length is slightly greater than the first length.

10. An apparatus for controlling a traveling direction of an item having a first edge and an opposing second edge, wherein the item moves in the traveling direction with the first edge leading the second edge, and wherein the apparatus is operable in a first mode to maintain the traveling direction of the item and a second mode to reverse the traveling direction, said apparatus comprising:

(a) A turn chute having a front gap and an opposing rear gap narrower than the front gap;

(b) a first nip located at the front gap for ingesting the folded material into the turn chute with the first edge of the item leading the second edge;

(c) a stop located near the rear gap operable in a first position removed from the rear gap when the apparatus is operated in the first mode in order to allow the ingested item to move out of the turn chute through the rear gap, and a second position blocking the rear gap when the apparatus is operated in the second mode in order to keep the first edge of the ingested item from leaving the rear gap;

(d) a second nip located at the front gap adjacent the first nip; and

(e) means for urging the second edge of the ingested item to move toward to second nip after the item has been moved into the turn chute and become disengaged from the first nip when the apparatus is operated in the second mode so as to cause the second end of the ingested item to be engaged in the second nip in order for the second nip to move the ingested item out of the turn chute.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first nip comprises a pair of rollers rotating at opposite directions.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second nip comprises a pair of rollers rotating at opposite directions.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the urging means comprises a spring loaded roller.