Patent ID: 6090032
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: B31F,B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for folding a sheet of paper comprising;a table surface for receiving a flat sheet of paper;means for moving said sheet of paper across said table surface;an opening in said table surface;a first paper restraining means spaced above said table surface a distance just sufficient to permit the passage of said sheet between it and said table surface and positioned along each side of said table opening;second paper restraining means spaced above said table a distance equal to the length of a fold in said sheet of paper positioned at the forward end of and in alignment with the center of said table opening;two spaced apart pulley support frames each said frame mounted on said apparatus for substantially free rotation about a separate central axis of rotation of each corresponding said frame, said axis being substantially parallel one to another and to, and positioned beneath, said table surface;a sheet folding mechanism including a closed loop flexible member extending about a pair of spaced apart pulley assemblies each of which includes a plurality of pulleys mounted in evenly spaced fashion one to another for free rotation on each of said support frames;means for rotatably driving said pulley assemblies about each said central axis of rotation causing the upper reach of said flexible member to rise and fall while remaining substantially parallel to said table surface;rotatable sheet ejecting means positioned above said sheet folding mechanism contacting said sheet when said flexible member reaches its uppermost movement to drive said sheet onto said second paper restraining means.