Patent ID: 6050928
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A paper folding device comprising:a spaced pair of parallel partition plates;an elongated drive roller, an elongated delivery roller and an elongated first follower roller extending longitudinally between and mounted rotatably on said partition plates, said drive roller having a drive roller axis and said delivery roller having a delivery roller axis, said delivery roller being parallel to and being disposed on one side of said drive roller, said first follower roller being parallel to and being disposed below said drive roller, said delivery roller being mounted slidably on said partition plates so as to permit lateral movement of said delivery roller toward and away from said drive roller;a cam unit including a cam follower provided as an extension of one end of said delivery roller, for rotationally engaging a cam wheel coupled as a similarly end-positioned extension of one of said drive roller, said cam wheel acting on said cam follower and rotating with said drive roller during a paper folding operation from an initial paper inserting position, where said cam wheel pushes said cam follower to move said delivery roller away from said drive roller with said delivery roller axis moving away from said drive roller axis so as to form a clearance between said delivery roller and said drive roller in order to permit insertion of a paper sheet to be folded between said delivery roller and said drive roller, and a paper feeding position, where said cam wheel ceases to push said cam follower to permit movement of said delivery roller toward said drive roller with said delivery roller axis moving toward said drive roller axis for clamping the paper sheet to be folded between said delivery roller and said drive roller; anda first paper support member extending longitudinally between said partition plates and disposed below said delivery roller and said drive roller, said first paper support member confining a first paper inlet that is accessible via said clearance to permit extension of the paper sheet to be folded therein;rotation of said drive roller causing said can wheel to move from the paper inserting position to the paper feeding position, and forcing the paper sheet that extends into said first paper support member to bend toward said drive roller and said first follower roller so as to be grasped by said drive roller and said first follower roller in order to form a first fold in the paper sheet.