Patent ID: 6644646
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A paper folding machine comprising:a. a frame having at least one cutout therethrough; b. a paper supply station at an upstream end of the frame comprising: i. a pickoff wheel mounted in the frame for rotation about an axis of rotation; ii. a tray shaft held to the frame for swinging therein; iii. a tray having an upstream end that is swingable about the tray shaft and a downstream end proximate the pickoff wheel, the tray being loadable with a stack of paper sheets each having a predetermined thickness and a leading edge, the tray downstream end swinging in a downward direction in an arc when the stack of sheets is loaded thereon; iv. a pin having a first end in the tray proximate the downstream end thereof, the pin passing through said at least one cutout in the frame; and v. means for biasing the pin in an upward direction and thereby biasing the tray downstream end in the upward direction against the pickoff wheel to enable the pickoff wheel to propel a topmost sheet from the stack in a downstream direction; c. a gate tip proximate the downstream end of the paper tray that cooperates with the pickoff wheel to propel the sheets one at a time in the downstream direction; d. means for receiving the sheets from the paper supply station and the gate tip and for folding the sheets one at a time; and e. means for conveying the folded sheets away from the paper folding machine.