Patent ID: 6689040
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: B43M

Abstract:
An apparatus for folding and selective, multi-directional, multi-path, right angle turning of a sheet fed from a feed conveyor along a feed path, the apparatus comprising:a) a turnplate for receiving the sheet, the turnplate having stops protruding from a sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, for holding the sheet edge aligned against the stops; b) a chute pusher disposed so as to have a pusher tab movable across the sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, for pushing the sheet along the sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate in a chute direction at substantially ninety degrees from the feed path; c) a chute feed flip, disposed at the edge of the turnplate toward which the pusher tab pushes, for grabbing the sheet and driving it onward in the chute direction; d) a chute, disposed so as to receive the sheet being provided in the chute direction by the chute feed nip, the chute having a chute stop disposed a distance along the chute approximately equal to a half-width of the sheet, for continuing to receive the sheet until it stops at the chute stop and then to provide a buckle in the sheet that is caused to protrude from the chute under the continuing action of the chute feed nip, until the sheet is clear of the chute feed nip; e) a folder nip, disposed to grab the buckle in the sheet, for providing the sheet folded in half; f) a diverter, rotatably disposed to receive the sheet folded in half, for directing the sheet upon exit from the apparatus to either of two opposite directions substantially orthogonal to the feed path, depending on the orientation of the diverter; and g) a main path conveyor and an alternative path conveyor for respectively transporting sheets in the two opposite directions, as directed by the diverter, the main path conveyor and the alternative path conveyor transporting sheets to different downstream processing stations.