Patent ID: 8323162
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A longitudinal folding apparatus, comprising: a folding table having an intake side and to which a product to be folded can be fed from the intake side along a first direction of transport and preferably parallel to a plane of the folding table plane; a folding gap in the folding table and extending in the first direction of transport; a folding blade that can be moved up and down relative to the folding table to direct the product to be folded into the folding gap; a pair of folding rollers beneath the folding table and having parallel folding roller axes of rotation extending parallel to the folding gap and defining a folding roller gap disposed underneath the folding table; a folded product transport path downstream of the folding roller gap and defining a second direction of transport different from the first direction of transport; at least first and second folded product sensors that detect the presence of a longitudinally folded product and which are spaced from one another transversely to the second direction of transport of the folded product ( a control module in which the folded product position signals from these at least first and second sensors are analyzed with respect to a skewed product position, and in which at least one control element is provided and which can be adjusted as a result of an output signal of the control module for the purpose of influencing a skewed folded product position; and at least one braking assembly disposed above the folding table to interact with the product to be folded, the at least one braking assembly including at least first and second braking devices positioned spaced in the first direction of transport, a braking effect of each of the first and second braking devices being appliable independently to the product prior to being folded, and which product braking effect of each of the first and second braking devices is actuable by a separate actuator for each of the first and second braking elements to vary a distance between each braking device and the folding table, each separate actuator being the control element usable to move each braking device selectively into contact with the product to be folded in response to folded product position signals produced by the at least first and second folded product sensors.