Patent ID: 6569074
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: B31B

Abstract:
An apparatus for selectively folding a single first flap on a first product and first and second flaps on a second product, said apparatus comprising:a first roll that is rotatable in a first rotation direction about a first rotation axis and that is equipped with a first suction element adapted to suction-engage said first flap respectively of said first product and of said second product, wherein a rotation of said first roll in said first rotation direction transports respectively said first product and said second product on a product transport path tangent to said first roll, and said first suction element suction-engaging said first flap respectively of said first product and of said second product folds over said first flap; a second roll that is selectively rotatable in a second rotation direction opposite said first rotation direction and selectively fixable in a particular fixed rotational position, and that is equipped with a second suction element adapted to suction-engage said second flap of said second product so as to fold over said second flap as said second product is being transported on said product transport path, which extends between said first roll and said second roll; and a stationary product stop arranged at a stop point of said product transport path downstream from said first roll and said second roll, against which stationary product stop a respective leading edge of said first product and of said second product will be physically stopped on said product transport path; wherein said second roll has a first circumferential portion at which said second suction element is provided and a second circumferential portion that faces said product transport path when said second roll is fixed in said particular fixed rotational position with said second suction element rotationally oriented away from said product transport path; and wherein said first circumferential portion has a first radius relative to said second rotation axis of said second roll, said second circumferential portion has a second radius relative to said second rotation axis of said second roll, and said second radius is smaller than said first radius.