Patent Publication Number: US-7896796-B2

Title: Methods of forming outserts and outserts formed thereby

Description:
This patent is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/673,376, which was filed on Feb. 9, 2007, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/084,988, which was filed on Mar. 21, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,175,586, and which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to methods of forming outserts and to outserts formed thereby. 
     An outsert is an informational item formed from a sheet of paper which is folded in two perpendicular directions. The sheet of paper has information printed thereon, which may be information relating to a pharmaceutical product or drug. The outsert may be adhesively attached to the top or side of a pharmaceutical container, such as a bottle of pills. Alternatively, the outsert may be inserted loosely into a cardboard box in which a pharmaceutical container is disposed. After purchase of the pharmaceutical product by a consumer, the outsert may be unfolded so that the consumer may read the information printed thereon. 
     There are a number of patents which disclose methods of forming outserts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,374 to Vijuk, et al. discloses four different methods of forming outserts from a sheet of paper having information printed thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,700 to Vijuk, et al. discloses five different methods of forming outserts from a sheet of paper having information printed thereon. 
     A prior art outsert-forming machine sold by Vijuk Equipment, Inc., the assignee of this patent, more than one year prior to the filing date of this patent included a first folding unit that formed a first folded article from a sheet of paper having printed information thereon by making a plurality of folds in the sheet of paper, each of the folds being parallel to a first direction, a second folding unit operatively coupled to receive the first folded article that formed a second folded article by making a fold in the first folded article in a direction parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an adhesive applicator that applied adhesive to a portion of the second folded article, and a final folding unit operatively coupled to receive the second folded article that formed an outsert from the second folded article by making a final fold parallel to the second direction, the final fold being made so that the adhesive held the outsert in a substantially closed position so that the outsert had no exposed unfolded exterior edges in a direction parallel to the final fold. 
     The first and second folding units of the prior art outsert-forming machine were substantially the same as the folding unit shown in FIG. 12 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,931 to Vijuk and included two frame members, a first pair of folding rollers rotatably mounted between the frame members, a first stop member associated with the first pair of folding rollers that was positioned to cause a leading edge of the sheet of paper to contact the first stop member so that continued feeding of the sheet of paper with the leading edge of the sheet of paper in contact with the first stop member caused an intermediate portion of the sheet of paper to buckle and be passed between the first pair of folding rollers to make a first fold in the sheet of paper, a second pair of folding rollers rotatably mounted between the frame members, and a second stop member associated with the second pair of folding rollers. The second stop member and the second pair of folding rollers were positioned to cause a leading portion of the sheet of paper to contact the second stop member so that continued feeding of the sheet of paper with the leading portion of the sheet of paper in contact with the second stop member caused an intermediate portion of the sheet of paper to buckle and be passed between the second pair of folding rollers to make a second fold in the sheet of paper parallel to the first fold. The operation of the first and second folding units of the prior art outsert-forming machine was the same as the operation of the folding units  210 ,  212  shown in  FIGS. 10A-11B , respectively, of this patent. 
     The final folding unit of the prior art outsert-forming machine was substantially the same as the folding unit shown in FIGS. 26-30 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,195 to Vijuk and included a pair of frame members, a first folding roller mounted between the frame members, a second folding roller disposed adjacent the first folding roller, the first and second folding rollers having a nip therebetween, the first and second folding rollers causing the final fold to be made when the second folded article passed between the first and second folding rollers, and a movable member that made contact with a portion of the second folded article to move the portion of the second folded article towards the nip between the first and second folding rollers of the final folding unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention is directed to an outsert having at least 130 outsert panels formed from a sheet of paper having information printed thereon by making at least 12 folds in a first direction using a folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers to form a first intermediate folded item having at least 13 sheet panels and by making folds at nine points along the first intermediate folded item to form the outsert. 
     The outsert is formed in accordance with a method that comprises (a) making at least 12 folds in the sheet of paper in a first direction using a folding apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of folding rollers and a plurality of stop members to form a first intermediate folded item having a first end and a second end. The at least 12 folds divide the first intermediate folded item into at least 13 elongate sheet panels, and each of the elongate sheet panels has a length and a width, with the lengths of the elongate sheet panels being parallel to the first direction. 
     The method comprises (b) making a cross-fold in the first intermediate folded item in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction using a folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers and a stop member to form a second intermediate folded item having a first end and a second end. The cross-fold is made at a point in the first intermediate folded item between the first end of the first intermediate folded item and the second end of the first intermediate folded item; the cross-fold divides the first intermediate folded item into a first portion having a length corresponding to five outsert panels and a second portion having a length corresponding to five outsert panels; and the second end of the second intermediate folded item comprises the cross-fold. 
     The method comprises (c) making a cross-fold in the second intermediate folded item in the second direction using a folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers and a stop member to form a third intermediate folded item having a first end and a second end. The cross-fold is made at a point in the second intermediate folded item between the first end of the second intermediate folded item and the second end of the second intermediate folded item; the cross-fold divides the second intermediate folded item into a first portion having a length corresponding to three outsert panels and a second portion having a length corresponding to two outsert panels; and the first end of the third intermediate folded item comprises the cross-fold. 
     The method comprises (d) making a cross-fold in the third intermediate folded item in the second direction using a folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers and a stop member to form a fourth intermediate folded item having a first end and a second end. The cross-fold is made at a point in the third intermediate folded item between the first end of the third intermediate folded item and the second end of the third intermediate folded item; the cross-fold divides the third intermediate folded item into a first portion having a length corresponding to two outsert panels and a second portion having a length corresponding to one outsert panel; and the first end of the fourth intermediate folded item comprises the cross-fold. 
     The method comprises (e) making a cross-fold in the fourth intermediate folded item in the second direction using a folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers and a stop member to form the outsert having at least 130 outsert panels. The cross-fold is made at a point in the fourth intermediate folded item approximately midway between the first end of the fourth intermediate folded item and the second end of the fourth intermediate folded item. 
     In another aspect, the invention is directed to an outsert formed in accordance with a similar method and having at least 126 outsert panels. The outsert is made by making at least 6 parallel folds in a sheet of paper in a first fold direction to form an intermediate folded item and then by making cross-folds at least 13 points along the intermediate folded item to produce the outsert. In one embodiment, an outsert having at least 126 outsert panels is made by making at least 8 folds in the first fold direction and then by making cross-folds at 13 points along the intermediate folded item to produce the outsert. In a further embodiment, an outsert having at least 126 outsert panels is made by making at least 6 folds in the first fold direction and then by making cross-folds at 17 points along the intermediate folded item to produce the outsert. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate a plurality of folds being made in a sheet of paper; 
         FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate five different embodiments of intermediate folded items, each of which may be used in connection with a first method of making cross-folds shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E ; 
         FIGS. 3A-3E  illustrate a first method of making cross-folds to form outserts; 
         FIGS. 4A-4H  illustrate eight different embodiments of intermediate folded items, each of which may be used in connection with a second method of making cross-folds shown in  FIGS. 5A-5F ; 
         FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate a third method of making cross-folds to form outserts; 
         FIGS. 6A-6K  illustrate eleven different embodiments of intermediate folded items, each of which may be used in connection with a third method of making cross-folds shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F ; 
         FIGS. 7A-7F  illustrate a third method of making cross-folds to form outserts; 
         FIG. 8A  is an overall block diagram of an embodiment of an outsert-forming machine; 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of one embodiment of the transfer unit shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a top view of one embodiment of the accumulator station shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8D  is a cross-sectional side view of the accumulator station of  FIG. 8C  taken along lines  8 D- 8 D of  FIG. 8C ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view of a portion of one embodiment of the sheet feeder shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of a portion of the sheet feeder of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate one embodiment of the folding unit  210  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate one embodiment of the folding unit  212  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of a pressing unit shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a portion of one embodiment of a folding unit shown schematically in  FIG. 8A  and a glue application and verification system; 
         FIG. 13A  illustrates a portion of the folding unit embodiment of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 13B  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the glue computer shown schematically in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 13C  is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a glue application and verification routine that may be performed by the glue computer of  FIG. 13B ; 
         FIG. 13D  is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a glue application and verification routine that may be performed by the glue computer of  FIG. 13B ; 
         FIGS. 14 ,  14 A and  14 B illustrate one embodiment of the handling unit shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 15  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the controller shown schematically in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a number of acts that may be performed during the process of bonding a plurality of informational items together in a stack; 
       FIGS.  17  and  17 A- 17 C illustrate a second possible embodiment of a pressing unit shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIGS. 18A-18E  illustrate a second possible embodiment of a folding unit shown schematically in  FIG. 8A ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic illustration of a modular informational item processing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     Outserts may be formed utilizing any one of a number of different methods. As described in detail below, these methods utilize: 1) different embodiments of intermediate folded items which are formed by making a plurality of folds in a sheet having printed information thereon in a first fold direction, and 2) different methods of making cross-folds in the intermediate folded items. 
     Methods of Forming 10 Panels in Cross-Fold Direction 
     A first set of embodiments described herein are directed to methods of forming outserts by forming an intermediate folded item and then making a plurality of cross-folds in the intermediate folded item to divide the length of the intermediate folded item into ten panels. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a sheet of paper  10  having information  12  printed thereon from which an outsert may be formed. Referring to  FIG. 1A , the sheet  10  may have a length L and a width W. Referring to  FIG. 1B , the sheet  10  may be folded in a direction parallel to its length L by making a fold  20   a , which results in the formation of an elongate sheet panel  22   a  that has a length that is parallel to the direction in which the fold  20   a  was made. Referring to  FIG. 1C , the sheet  10  may be folded again in a direction parallel to its length L by making a second fold  20   b , which results in the formation of an elongate sheet panel  22   b  that has a length that is parallel to the direction in which the fold  20   b  was made. The folding process may continue in the same manner until the desired number of folds have been made, resulting in an intermediate folded item having a number of elongate sheet panels that is one more than the number of folds that were made in the first direction. 
       FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate five different intermediate folded items, each of which may be further folded by making a number of cross-folds as described below in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E . Each of the intermediate folded items shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E  may be formed by making parallel folds in a sheet of paper as described in connection with  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
       FIG. 2A  is an end view of a first embodiment of an intermediate folded item  30   a  that has twelve folds  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f ,  32   g ,  32   h ,  32   i ,  32   j ,  32   k  and  32   l  made therein, with each of the folds being parallel to each other and to a first fold direction. The folds divide the intermediate folded item  30   a  into thirteen elongate sheet panels, with the uppermost sheet panel being designated  34   a  and the lowermost sheet panel being designated  34   m.    
       FIG. 2B  is an end view of a second embodiment of an intermediate folded item  30   b . The intermediate folded item  30   b  is the same as the intermediate folded item  30   a  described in connection with  FIG. 2A , except that the intermediate folded item  30   b  has one additional fold  32   m  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  34   n , for a total of thirteen folds and fourteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 2C  is an end view of a third embodiment of an intermediate folded item  30   c . The intermediate folded item  30   c  is the same as the intermediate folded item  30   b  described in connection with  FIG. 2B , except that the intermediate folded item  30   c  has one additional fold  32   n  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  34   o , for a total of fourteen folds and fifteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 2D  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  30   d . The intermediate folded item  30   d  is the same as the intermediate folded item  30   c  described in connection with  FIG. 2C , except that the intermediate folded item  30   d  has one additional fold  32   o  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  34   p , for a total of fifteen folds and sixteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 2E  is an end view of a fifth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  30   e . The intermediate folded item  30   e  is the same as the intermediate folded item  30   d  described in connection with  FIG. 2D , except that the intermediate folded item  30   e  has one additional fold  32   p  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  34   q , for a total of sixteen folds and seventeen elongate sheet panels. 
     Although the parallel folds  32  are shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E  to be alternating or accordion-type folds, the folds  32  could be made in other ways. 
       FIGS. 3A-3E  illustrate a method of making a number of cross-folds in an intermediate folded item  30  that has been formed by making a plurality of equally spaced parallel folds in a first folding direction. The intermediate folded item  30  shown in  FIG. 3A  may be any one of the intermediate folded items  30   a - 30   e  shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E . In accordance with the method shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E , four folds are made in the intermediate item  30  in a direction that is perpendicular to the first direction in which the folds  32  in the intermediate folded item  30  were made and in such a manner as to produce folds at nine points along the length of the intermediate item  30 , each of the nine equally spaced points being shown in  FIG. 3A  as a respective one of nine dotted lines designated  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d ,  40   e ,  40   f ,  40   g ,  40   h  and  40   i . The folds made in accordance with the method of  FIGS. 3A-3E  will divide the length of the intermediate folded item  30  into ten panels, which are designated  42   a ,  42   b ,  42   c ,  42   d ,  42   e ,  42   f ,  42   g ,  42   h ,  42   i  and  42   j . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the intermediate folded item  30  has a first end  44  on its left-hand side and a second end  46  on its right-hand side. 
       FIG. 3B  is a top view of a second intermediate folded item  50  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  30  shown in  FIG. 3A  in half along the dotted line  40   e  shown in  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 3B-1  is a side elevational view of the second intermediate folded item  50 . Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 B- 1 , the second intermediate folded item  50  may be formed by making a cross-fold  52  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  40   e  shown in  FIG. 3A , so that the ends  44 ,  46  of the intermediate folded item  30  are disposed at one end of the second intermediate folded item  50  and so that the cross-fold  52  constitutes the other end of the second intermediate folded item  50 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the second intermediate folded item  50  has a length corresponding to five panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  42   a - 42   j  of the intermediate folded item  30  shown in  FIG. 3A . 
       FIG. 3C  is a top view of a third intermediate folded item  54  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  50  shown in  FIG. 3B  along a dotted line  40   j  shown in  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C-1  is a side elevational view of the third intermediate folded item  54 . Referring to  FIGS. 3B ,  3 C and  3 C- 1 , the third intermediate folded item  54  may be formed by making a cross-fold  56  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  40   j  shown in  FIG. 3B , so that ends  44 ,  46  of the intermediate folded item  30  are disposed between the fold  52  and the fold  56 , as shown in  FIG. 3C-1 . Referring to FIGS.  3 C and  3 C- 1 , the third intermediate folded item  54  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to two panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  42   a - 42   j  of the intermediate folded item  30  shown in  FIG. 3A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to three such panels. 
       FIG. 3D  is a top view of a fourth intermediate folded item  58  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  54  shown in  FIG. 3C  along a dotted line  40   k  shown in  FIG. 3C , and  FIG. 3D-1  is a side elevational view of the fourth intermediate folded item  58 . Referring to  FIGS. 3C ,  3 D and  3 D- 1 , the fourth intermediate folded item  58  may be formed by making a cross-fold  60  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  40   k  shown in  FIG. 3C , so that the fold  56  is disposed substantially over the ends  44 ,  46  of the intermediate folded item  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3D-1 . Referring to FIGS.  3 D and  3 D- 1 , the fourth intermediate folded item  58  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to one panel, wherein the panel is the same size as the panels  42   a - 42   j  of the intermediate folded item  30  shown in  FIG. 3A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to two such panels. 
       FIG. 3E  is a top view of an outsert  62  that is formed by folding the fourth intermediate folded item  58  shown in  FIG. 3D  in half. Referring to  FIGS. 3D and 3E , the outsert  62  may be formed by making a cross-fold  64  at a point that substantially coincides with the ends  44 ,  46  of the intermediate folded item  30  and the fold  56  shown in  FIG. 3D . Referring to  FIG. 3E , the outsert  62  has a length and a width that substantially correspond to the dimensions of one of the panels  42   a - 42   j  shown in  FIG. 3A . The outsert  62  has a sheet thickness that corresponds to ten times the sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  30  shown in  FIG. 3A , which should be apparent from the method of folding described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E . 
     For example, if the intermediate folded item  30   a  shown in  FIG. 2A  is used in the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E , the resulting outsert  62  would have a total thickness of 130 sheets. The total sheet thickness is determined based on the 13-sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  30   a  of  FIG. 2A  and the fact that the sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  30  is increased by a factor of ten when the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E  is utilized. Since the length and width of the outsert  62  shown in  FIG. 3E  substantially corresponds to the size of the panels  42   a - 42   j  shown in  FIG. 3A , the outsert  62  is considered to have a total of 130 outsert panels, which is equal to the sheet thickness of the outsert  62 . It should also be understood that, if the outsert  62  were to be completely unfolded, the resulting sheet would have an array of bidirectional folds that divided that outsert  62  into 130 outsert panels, with the folds dividing the sheet into a two-dimensional array of outsert panels having ten rows of outsert panels and thirteen outsert panels in each row. 
     Any one of the intermediate folded items  30   a - 30   e  shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E  may be used in conjunction with the folding method described above in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E . 
     In particular, when the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E  is applied to the intermediate folded item  30   a  shown in  FIG. 2A , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 130 sheets and 130 outsert panels. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E  is applied to the intermediate folded item  30   b  shown in  FIG. 2B , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 140 sheets and 140 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  30   b  has an overall thickness corresponding to 14 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E  is applied to the intermediate folded item  30   c  shown in  FIG. 2C , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 150 sheets and 150 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  30   c  has an overall thickness corresponding to 15 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E  is applied to the intermediate folded item  30   d  shown in  FIG. 2D , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 160 sheets and 160 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  30   d  has an overall thickness corresponding to 16 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3E  is applied to the intermediate folded item  30   e  shown in  FIG. 2E , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 170 sheets and 170 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  30   e  has an overall thickness corresponding to 17 sheets. 
     Methods of Forming 14 Panels in Cross-Fold Direction 
     A second set of embodiments described herein are directed to methods of forming outserts by forming an intermediate folded item and then making a plurality of cross-folds in the intermediate folded item to divide the length of the intermediate folded item into fourteen panels. 
       FIGS. 4A-4H  illustrate eight different intermediate folded items, each of which may be further folded by making a number of cross-folds as described below in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F . Each of the intermediate folded items shown in  FIGS. 4A-4H  may be formed by making parallel folds in a sheet of paper as described in connection with  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
       FIG. 4A  is an end view of a first embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   a  that has eight folds  72   a ,  72   b ,  72   c ,  72   d ,  72   e ,  72   f ,  72   g  and  72   h  made therein, with each of the folds being parallel to each other and to a first fold direction. The folds divide the intermediate folded item  70   a  into nine elongate sheet panels, with the uppermost sheet panel being designated  74   a  and the lowermost sheet panel being designated  74   i.    
       FIG. 4B  is an end view of a second embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   b . The intermediate folded item  70   b  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   a  described in connection with  FIG. 4A , except that the intermediate folded item  70   b  has one additional fold  72   i  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   j , for a total of nine folds and ten elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 4C  is an end view of a third embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   c . The intermediate folded item  70   c  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   b  described in connection with  FIG. 4B , except that the intermediate folded item  70   c  has one additional fold  72   j  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   k , for a total of ten folds and eleven elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 4D  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   d . The intermediate folded item  70   d  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   c  described in connection with  FIG. 4C , except that the intermediate folded item  70   d  has one additional fold  72   k  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   l , for a total of eleven folds and twelve elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 4E  is an end view of a fifth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   e . The intermediate folded item  70   e  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   d  described in connection with  FIG. 4D , except that the intermediate folded item  70   e  has one additional fold  72   l  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   m , for a total of twelve folds and thirteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 4F  is an end view of a sixth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   f . The intermediate folded item  70   f  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   e  described in connection with  FIG. 4E , except that the intermediate folded item  70   f  has one additional fold  72   m  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   n , for a total of thirteen folds and fourteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 4G  is an end view of a seventh embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   g . The intermediate folded item  70   g  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   f  described in connection with  FIG. 4F , except that the intermediate folded item  70   g  has one additional fold  72   n  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   o , for a total of fourteen folds and fifteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 4H  is an end view of an eighth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  70   h . The intermediate folded item  70   h  is the same as the intermediate folded item  70   g  described in connection with  FIG. 4G , except that the intermediate folded item  70   h  has one additional fold  72   o  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  74   p , for a total of fifteen folds and sixteen elongate sheet panels. 
     Although the parallel folds  72  are shown in  FIGS. 4A-4H  to be alternating or accordion-type folds, the folds  72  could be made in other ways. 
       FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate a method of making a number of cross-folds in an intermediate folded item  70  that has been formed by making a plurality of equally spaced parallel folds in a first folding direction. The intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A  may be any one of the intermediate folded items  70   a - 70   h  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4H . In accordance with the method shown in  FIGS. 5A-5F , five folds are made in the intermediate item  70  in a direction that is perpendicular to the first direction in which the folds  72  in the intermediate folded item  70  were made and in such a manner as to produce folds at thirteen equally spaced points along the length of the intermediate item  70 , each of the thirteen points being shown in  FIG. 5A  as a respective one of thirteen equally spaced dotted lines designated  76   a ,  76   b ,  76   c ,  76   d ,  76   e ,  76   f ,  76   g ,  76   h ,  76   i ,  76   j ,  76   k ,  76   l  and  76   m . The folds made in accordance with the method of  FIGS. 5A-5F  will divide the length of the intermediate folded item  70  into fourteen panels, which are designated  78   a ,  78   b ,  78   c ,  78   d ,  78   e ,  78   f ,  78   g ,  78   h ,  78   i ,  78   j ,  78   k ,  78   l ,  78   m  and  78   n . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the intermediate folded item  70  has a first end  80  on its left-hand side and a second end  82  on its right-hand side. 
       FIG. 5B  is a top view of a second intermediate folded item  84  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A  in half along the dotted line  76   g  shown in  FIG. 5A , and  FIG. 5B-1  is a side elevational view of the second intermediate folded item  84 . Referring to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 B- 1 , the second intermediate folded item  84  may be formed by making a cross-fold  86  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  76   g  shown in  FIG. 5A , so that the ends  80 ,  82  of the intermediate folded item  70  are disposed at one end of the second intermediate folded item  84  and so that the cross-fold  86  constitutes the other end of the second intermediate folded item  84 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the second intermediate folded item  84  has a length corresponding to seven panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  78   a - 78   n  of the intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A . 
       FIG. 5C  is a top view of a third intermediate folded item  88  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  84  shown in  FIG. 5B  along a dotted line  76   n  shown in  FIG. 5B , and  FIG. 5C-1  is a side elevational view of the third intermediate folded item  88 . Referring to  FIGS. 5B ,  5 C and  5 C- 1 , the third intermediate folded item  88  may be formed by making a cross-fold  90  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  76   n  shown in  FIG. 5B , so that ends  80 ,  82  of the intermediate folded item  70  are disposed between the fold  86  and the fold  90 , as shown in  FIG. 5C-1 . Referring to FIGS.  5 C and  5 C- 1 , the third intermediate folded item  88  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to three panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  78   a - 78   n  of the intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to four such panels. 
       FIG. 5D  is a top view of a fourth intermediate folded item  92  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  88  shown in  FIG. 5C  along a dotted line  76   o  shown in  FIG. 5C , and  FIG. 5D-1  is a side elevational view of the fourth intermediate folded item  92 . Referring to  FIGS. 5C ,  5 D and  5 D- 1 , the fourth intermediate folded item  92  may be formed by making a cross-fold  94  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  76   o  shown in  FIG. 5C , so that the fold  90  is disposed substantially equidistant between the ends  80 ,  82  of the intermediate folded item  70  and the fold  94 , as shown in  FIG. 5D-1 . Referring to FIGS.  5 D and  5 D- 1 , the fourth intermediate folded item  92  may have an uppermost leg portion that has a length corresponding to one panel, wherein the panel is the same size as the panels  78   a - 78   n  of the intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A , a middle leg portion that has a length corresponding to two such panels, and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to three such panels. 
       FIG. 5E  is a top view of a fifth intermediate folded item  96  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  92  shown in  FIG. 5D  along a line corresponding to the fold  90  shown in  FIG. 5D , and  FIG. 5E-1  is a side elevational view of the fifth intermediate folded item  96 . Referring to  FIGS. 5D ,  5 E and  5 E- 1 , the fifth intermediate folded item  96  may be formed by making a cross-fold  98  at a point that substantially coincides with the fold  90  shown in  FIG. 5D , so that the fold  94  substantially coincides with the ends  80 ,  82  of the intermediate folded item  70 , as shown in  FIG. 5E-1 . Referring to FIGS.  5 E and  5 E- 1 , the fifth intermediate folded item  96  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to one panel, wherein the panel is the same size as the panels  78   a - 78   n  of the intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to two such panels. 
       FIG. 5F  is a top view of an outsert  100  that is formed by folding the fifth intermediate folded item  96  shown in  FIG. 5E  in half. Referring to  FIGS. 5E and 5F , the outsert  100  may be formed by making a cross-fold  102  at a point that substantially coincides with the ends  80 ,  82  of the intermediate folded item  70  and the fold  94  shown in  FIG. 5E . Referring to  FIG. 5F , the outsert  100  has a length and a width that substantially correspond to the dimensions of one of the panels  78   a - 78   n  shown in  FIG. 5A . The outsert  100  has a sheet thickness that corresponds to fourteen times the sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  70  shown in  FIG. 5A , which should be apparent from the method of folding described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F . 
     For example, if the intermediate folded item  70   a  shown in  FIG. 4A  is used in the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F , the resulting outsert  100  would have a total thickness of 126 sheets. The total sheet thickness is determined based on the 9-sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  70   a  of  FIG. 4A  and the fact that the sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  70  is increased by a factor of fourteen when the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is utilized. Since the length and width of the outsert  100  shown in  FIG. 5F  substantially corresponds to the size of the panels  78   a - 78   n  shown in  FIG. 5A , the outsert  100  is considered to have a total of 126 outsert panels, which is equal to the sheet thickness of the outsert  100 . It should also be understood that, if the outsert  100  were to be completely unfolded, the resulting sheet would have an array of bidirectional folds that divided that outsert  100  into 126 outsert panels, with the folds dividing the sheet into a two-dimensional array of outsert panels having fourteen rows of outsert panels and nine outsert panels in each row. 
     Any one of the intermediate folded items  70   a - 70   h  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4H  may be used in conjunction with the folding method described above in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F . 
     In particular, when the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   a  shown in  FIG. 4A , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 126 sheets and 126 outsert panels. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   b  shown in  FIG. 4B , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 140 sheets and 140 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   b  has an overall thickness corresponding to 10 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   c  shown in  FIG. 4C , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 154 sheets and 154 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   c  has an overall thickness corresponding to 11 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   d  shown in  FIG. 4D , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 168 sheets and 168 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   d  has an overall thickness corresponding to 12 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   e  shown in  FIG. 4E , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 182 sheets and 182 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   e  has an overall thickness corresponding to 13 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   f  shown in  FIG. 4F , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 196 sheets and 196 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   f  has an overall thickness corresponding to 14 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   g  shown in  FIG. 4G , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 210 sheets and 210 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   g  has an overall thickness corresponding to 15 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 5A-5F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  70   h  shown in  FIG. 4H , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 224 sheets and 224 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  70   h  has an overall thickness corresponding to 16 sheets. 
     Methods of Forming 18 Panels in Cross-Fold Direction 
     A third set of embodiments described herein are directed to methods of forming outserts by forming an intermediate folded item and then making a plurality of cross-folds in the intermediate folded item to divide the length of the intermediate folded item into eighteen panels. 
       FIGS. 6A-6K  illustrate eleven different intermediate folded items, each of which may be further folded by making a number of cross-folds as described below in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F . Each of the intermediate folded items shown in  FIGS. 6A-6K  may be formed by making parallel folds in a sheet of paper as described in connection with  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
       FIG. 6A  is an end view of a first embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   a  that has six folds  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ,  112   d ,  112   e  and  112   f  made therein, with each of the folds being parallel to each other and to a first fold direction. The folds divide the intermediate folded item  110   a  into seven elongate sheet panels, with the uppermost sheet panel being designated  114   a  and the lowermost sheet panel being designated  114   g.    
       FIG. 6B  is an end view of a second embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   b . The intermediate folded item  110   b  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   a  described in connection with  FIG. 6A , except that the intermediate folded item  110   b  has one additional fold  112   g  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   h , for a total of seven folds and eight elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6C  is an end view of a third embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   c . The intermediate folded item  110   c  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   b  described in connection with  FIG. 6B , except that the intermediate folded item  110   c  has one additional fold  112   h  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   i , for a total of eight folds and nine elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6D  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   d . The intermediate folded item  110   d  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   c  described in connection with  FIG. 6C , except that the intermediate folded item  110   d  has one additional fold  112   i  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   j , for a total of nine folds and ten elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6E  is an end view of a fifth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   e . The intermediate folded item  110   e  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   d  described in connection with  FIG. 6D , except that the intermediate folded item  110   e  has one additional fold  112   j  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   k , for a total of ten folds and eleven elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6F  is an end view of a sixth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   f . The intermediate folded item  110   f  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   e  described in connection with  FIG. 6E , except that the intermediate folded item  110   f  has one additional fold  112   k  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   l , for a total of eleven folds and twelve elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6G  is an end view of a seventh embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   g . The intermediate folded item  110   g  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   f  described in connection with  FIG. 6F , except that the intermediate folded item  110   g  has one additional fold  112   l  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   m , for a total of twelve folds and thirteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6H  is an end view of an eighth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   h . The intermediate folded item  110   h  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   g  described in connection with  FIG. 6G , except that the intermediate folded item  110   h  has one additional fold  112   m  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   n , for a total of thirteen folds and fourteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6I  is an end view of a ninth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   i . The intermediate folded item  110   i  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   h  described in connection with  FIG. 6H , except that the intermediate folded item  110   i  has one additional fold  112   n  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   o , for a total of fourteen folds and fifteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6J  is an end view of a tenth embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   h . The intermediate folded item  110   j  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   i  described in connection with  FIG. 6I , except that the intermediate folded item  110   j  has one additional fold  112   o  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   p , for a total of fifteen folds and sixteen elongate sheet panels. 
       FIG. 6K  is an end view of an eleventh embodiment of an intermediate folded item  110   k . The intermediate folded item  110   k  is the same as the intermediate folded item  110   j  described in connection with  FIG. 6J , except that the intermediate folded item  110   k  has one additional fold  112   p  made therein and has one additional sheet panel  114   q , for a total of sixteen folds and seventeen elongate sheet panels. 
     Although the parallel folds  112  are shown in  FIGS. 6A-6K  to be alternating or accordion-type folds, the folds  112  could be made in other ways. 
       FIGS. 7A-7F  illustrate a method of making a number of cross-folds in an intermediate folded item  110  that has been formed by making a plurality of equally spaced parallel folds in a first folding direction. The intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A  may be any one of the intermediate folded items  110   a - 110   k  shown in  FIGS. 6A-6K . In accordance with the method shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F , five folds are made in the intermediate item  110  in a direction that is perpendicular to the first direction in which the folds  112  in the intermediate folded item  110  were made and in such a manner as to produce folds at seventeen equally spaced points along the length of the intermediate item  110 , each of the seventeen points being shown in  FIG. 7A  as a respective one of seventeen equally spaced dotted lines, three of which are designated  116   a ,  116   i  and  116   q . The folds made in accordance with the method of  FIGS. 7A-7F  will divide the length of the intermediate folded item  110  into eighteen substantially equal-sized panels, two of which are designated  118   a  and  118   r . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the intermediate folded item  110  has a first end  120  on its left-hand side and a second end  122  on its right-hand side. 
       FIG. 7B  is a top view of a second intermediate folded item  124  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A  in half along the dotted line  116   i  shown in  FIG. 7A , and  FIG. 7B-1  is a side elevational view of the second intermediate folded item  124 . Referring to  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 B- 1 , the second intermediate folded item  124  may be formed by making a cross-fold  126  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  116   i  shown in  FIG. 7A , so that the ends  120 ,  122  of the intermediate folded item  110  are disposed at one end of the second intermediate folded item  124  and so that the cross-fold  126  constitutes the other end of the second intermediate folded item  124 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , the second intermediate folded item  124  has a length corresponding to nine panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  118  of the intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A . 
       FIG. 7C  is a top view of a third intermediate folded item  128  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  124  shown in  FIG. 7B  along a dotted line  116   r  shown in  FIG. 7B , and  FIG. 7C-1  is a side elevational view of the third intermediate folded item  128 . Referring to  FIGS. 7B ,  7 C and  7 C- 1 , the third intermediate folded item  128  may be formed by making a cross-fold  130  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  116   r  shown in  FIG. 7B , so that ends  120 ,  122  of the intermediate folded item  110  are disposed between the fold  126  and the fold  130 , as shown in  FIG. 7C-1 . Referring to FIGS.  7 C and  7 C- 1 , the third intermediate folded item  128  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to four panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  118  of the intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to five such panels. 
       FIG. 7D  is a top view of a fourth intermediate folded item  132  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  128  shown in  FIG. 7C  along a dotted line  116   s  shown in  FIG. 7C , and  FIG. 7D-1  is a side elevational view of the fourth intermediate folded item  132 . Referring to  FIGS. 7C ,  7 D and  7 D- 1 , the fourth intermediate folded item  132  may be formed by making a cross-fold  134  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  116   s  shown in  FIG. 7C , so that the fold  130  is disposed over the ends  120 ,  122  of the intermediate folded item  110 , as shown in  FIG. 7D-1 . Referring to FIGS.  7 D and  7 D- 1 , the fourth intermediate folded item  132  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to two panels, wherein the panels are the same size as the panels  118  of the intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to three such panels. 
       FIG. 7E  is a top view of a fifth intermediate folded item  136  that is formed by folding the intermediate folded item  132  shown in  FIG. 7D  along a dotted line  116   t  shown in  FIG. 7D , and  FIG. 7E-1  is a side elevational view of the fifth intermediate folded item  136 . Referring to  FIGS. 7D ,  7 E and  7 E- 1 , the fifth intermediate folded item  136  may be formed by making a cross-fold  138  at a point that substantially coincides with the dotted line  116   t  shown in  FIG. 7D , so that the fold  134  substantially coincides with the fold  130 , as shown in  FIG. 7E-1 . Referring to FIGS.  7 E and  7 E- 1 , the fifth intermediate folded item  136  may have an upper leg portion that has a length corresponding to one panel, wherein the panel is the same size as the panels  118  of the intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A , and a lower leg portion that has a length corresponding to two such panels. 
       FIG. 7F  is a top view of an outsert  140  that is formed by folding the fifth intermediate folded item  136  shown in  FIG. 7E  in half. Referring to  FIGS. 7E and 7F , the outsert  140  may be formed by making a cross-fold  142  at a point that substantially coincides with the ends  120 ,  122  of the intermediate folded item  110  and the fold  134  shown in  FIG. 7E . Referring to  FIG. 7F , the outsert  140  has a length and a width that substantially correspond to the dimensions of one of the panels  118  shown in  FIG. 7A . The outsert  140  has a sheet thickness that corresponds to eighteen times the sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  110  shown in  FIG. 7A , which should be apparent from the method of folding described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F . 
     For example, if the intermediate folded item  110   a  shown in  FIG. 6A  is used in the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F , the resulting outsert  140  would have a total thickness of 126 sheets. The total sheet thickness is determined based on the 7-sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  110   a  of  FIG. 6A  and the fact that the sheet thickness of the intermediate folded item  110  is increased by a factor of eighteen when the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is utilized. Since the length and width of the outsert  140  shown in  FIG. 7F  substantially corresponds to the size of the panels  118  shown in  FIG. 7A , the outsert  140  is considered to have a total of 126 outsert panels, which is equal to the sheet thickness of the outsert  140 . It should also be understood that, if the outsert  140  were to be completely unfolded, the resulting sheet would have an array of bidirectional folds that divided that outsert  140  into 126 outsert panels, with the folds dividing the sheet into a two-dimensional array of outsert panels having eighteen rows of outsert panels and seven outsert panels in each row. 
     Any one of the intermediate folded items  110   a - 110   h  shown in  FIGS. 6A-6K  may be used in conjunction with the folding method described above in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F . 
     In particular, when the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   a  shown in  FIG. 6A , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 126 sheets and 126 outsert panels. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   b  shown in  FIG. 6B , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 144 sheets and 144 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   b  has an overall thickness corresponding to eight sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   c  shown in  FIG. 6C , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 162 sheets and 162 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   c  has an overall thickness corresponding to nine sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   d  shown in  FIG. 6D , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 180 sheets and 180 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   d  has an overall thickness corresponding to 10 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   e  shown in  FIG. 6E , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 198 sheets and 198 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   e  has an overall thickness corresponding to 11 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   f  shown in  FIG. 6F , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 216 sheets and 216 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   f  has an overall thickness corresponding to 12 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   g  shown in  FIG. 6G , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 234 sheets and 234 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   g  has an overall thickness corresponding to 13 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   h  shown in  FIG. 6H , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 252 sheets and 252 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   h  has an overall thickness corresponding to 14 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   i  shown in  FIG. 6I , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 270 sheets and 270 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   i  has an overall thickness corresponding to 15 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   j  shown in  FIG. 6J , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 288 sheets and 288 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   j  has an overall thickness corresponding to 16 sheets. 
     When the folding method described in connection with  FIGS. 7A-7F  is applied to the intermediate folded item  110   k  shown in  FIG. 6K , the resulting outsert will have a sheet thickness of 306 sheets and 306 outsert panels, due to the fact that the intermediate folded item  110   k  has an overall thickness corresponding to 17 sheets. 
     Outsert-Forming Apparatus 
       FIG. 8A  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an outsert-forming apparatus  200  that could be used to perform the outsert-forming methods described above. Referring to FIG.  8 A, the apparatus  200  may include a printer  202 , which may be in the form of a web printer that prints textual subject matter on a paper web (not shown) provided to the printer  202  and cuts the paper web into individual sheets after it is printed. The printer  202 , which may also make one or more folds in the individual sheets, produces a stream of printed sheets which may be provided to a sheet transfer unit  204 . The stream of sheets may be in the form of a shingled stream, in which case the sheets are overlapping each other in a conventional manner. Each of the sheets in the stream may be unfolded, or may have one or more folds formed therein. 
     The transfer unit  204  may act to transfer the sheets to an accumulator station  206 , at which the sheets may temporarily accumulate in a stack of sheets, before being provided by an automatic sheet feeder  208  to a folding unit  210  that may make a plurality of folds in a first direction. The accumulator station  206  may be designed to accumulate sheets due to differences in the sheet processing capacity between the printer  202  and the folding unit  210 . The folded articles produced by the folding unit  210  may be automatically conveyed to a folding unit  212  that may make one or more cross-folds, which are made in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
     The folded articles that exit from the folding unit  212  may be passed through a pressing unit  214 , such as a spring-activated press, in order to flatten the folded articles. The pressing unit  214  may cause folded articles passing therethrough to be subjected to a pressure that lies within any one of the following pressure ranges: a) 30-100 psi; b) 30-200 psi; c) 30-500 psi; d) 50-200 psi; or e) 50-500 psi. Passing folded articles through the pressing unit  214  may make it easier for subsequent folding actions to take place, or may result in better folds being formed. 
     After exiting the pressing unit  214 , the folded articles may be transferred to one or more folding units  216 , such as knife-edge folding units, each of which may make an additional cross-fold in each of the folded articles, to transform each of the folded articles into an outsert. The outserts formed by the folding unit  216  may be conveyed to a second pressing unit  214 , and then they may be automatically conveyed to a handling unit  218 , such as a bonding unit  218 . 
     Although the following text describes various embodiments of various apparatuses that may be used in connection with one or more of the folding methods described above, it should be understood that the use of any particular equipment, other than that specifically recited in the claims, is not considered important to the invention. 
     Transfer Unit  204   
       FIG. 8B  is a side view of a portion of one possible embodiment of the sheet transfer unit  204  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . Referring to  FIG. 8B , the transfer unit  204  may have a plurality of upper conveyor belts  220  and lower conveyor belts  222  between which the stream of sheets from the printer  202  passes. The lower belts  222 , which may be in the form of flat belts composed of fabric having a non-slip coating, may be supported by a plurality of rotatable metal rods  224  supported by a pair of frame members  226  (only one of which is shown), at least one of the rods  224  being rotatably driven by a motor shown schematically at  228 . 
     The upper belts  220 , which may be composed of rubber and which may have a circular cross section, may be supported by a plurality of rollers  230 , each of which may be rotatably supported by a respective pivot arm  232  connected to one of a pair of pivot rods  234  supported between the frame members  226 . The upper belts  220  may be sized so that, when they are placed onto the rollers  230 , the tension of the upper belts  220  forces the pivot arms  232  downwards so that the upper belts  220  and the lower belts  222  make sufficiently firm contact with the stream of sheets to ensure that the sheets do not move relative to one another as they are transferred from the printer  202  to the accumulator station  206  by the transfer unit  204 . 
     Accumulator Station  206   
       FIGS. 8C and 8D  illustrate the basic structure of one embodiment of the accumulator station  206  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . Referring to  FIGS. 8C and 8D , the accumulator station  206  may have a flat base plate  240 , a front plate  242 , a rear wall  244 , and a pair of elongate hexahedral side members  246 ,  248  each having a respective inner side surface  246   a ,  248   a . As shown in  FIG. 8D , the upper and lower conveyor belts  220 ,  222  of the transfer unit  204  may be positioned so as to deposit sheets into the hexahedral space defined by the base plate  240 , the front plate  242 , the rear wall  244 , and the side surfaces  246   a ,  248   a.    
     Pressurized air may be forced against the lower portion of the stack of sheets in the accumulator station  206  in a conventional manner to slightly levitate the lowermost sheets to reduce the coefficient of friction between the lowermost sheet in the stack and the base plate  240  and to provide slight physical separation between the lowermost sheets in the stack. The pressurized air may be provided by a number of apertures  250  formed in each of the inner side surfaces  246   a ,  248   a  and a number of apertures  252  formed in the base plate  240 . 
     The side members  246 ,  248 , which may act as pneumatic pressure manifolds, may have a hollow interior which is divided into a number of individual pressure compartments, each of which may be pneumatically coupled to a source of pressurized air (not shown) and to a respective one of the apertures  250  in the side surfaces  246   a ,  248   a . The pressure of the air provided through each aperture  250  may be varied by a respective regulator knob  254  associated with each of the pressure compartments by an internal valve structure shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,815 to Michael Vijuk, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Pressurized air may be provided to the apertures  252  formed in the base plate  240  via one or more pressure manifolds  256  disposed beneath the base plate  240 . Pressurized air may also be provided through a number of apertures (not shown) formed in the rear wall  244 . Sheet transfer units, accumulator stations, and automatic folding machines of the type described above are commercially available from Vijuk Equipment Co. of Elmhurst, Ill. 
     Sheet Feeder  208   
       FIGS. 8D ,  9 A and  9 B illustrate one possible embodiment of the sheet feeder  208  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . Referring to  FIG. 8D , the sheet feeder  208  may have a first part in the form of a vacuum drum or roll  260  and a second part in the form of a conveyor  262 . The vacuum roll  260 , which may be controlled to periodically remove the lowermost sheet from the bottom of the stack of sheets, may be provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical drum having a plurality of holes formed in its cylindrical outer surface and may be positioned directly beneath a rectangular aperture  263  formed in the base plate  240 . The vacuum roll  260  may have a hollow interior portion  264  in which a reduced or suction pressure may be selectively provided. To that end, the interior of the vacuum roll  260  may be pneumatically coupled to a vacuum pump (not shown) via a pneumatic line (not shown) and a pneumatic valve (not shown) adapted to selectively open and close the pneumatic line. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate the structure of the conveyor  262  shown schematically in  FIG. 8D . Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the conveyor  262  may have a conveyor belt  280  driven by a pair of spaced rollers  282 ,  284  each of which may be rotatably driven by a respective drive rod  286 ,  288 . The conveyor  262  may also include a sheet alignment mechanism  290  positioned directly over the conveyor belt  280 . The alignment mechanism  290  may include a retainer arm  292  having a plurality of cylindrical bores  294  formed therein, a respective metal ball  296  disposed within each of the bores  294 , and an L-shaped side guide  298  connected to the retainer arm  292 . 
     Sheets from the accumulator station  206  may be periodically and individually fed by the vacuum roll  260  to the conveyor  262  so that they pass between the bottom of the metal balls  296  and the top of the conveyor belt  280 . The weight of the metal balls  296  resting on top of the sheets may maintain the alignment of the sheets relative to the conveyor belt  280 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , the side guide  298  may be angled slightly relative to the conveyor belt  280 . Consequently, as the sheets pass through the conveyor  262  (from right to left in  FIG. 9B ), the side edges of the sheets may gradually be moved against the edge of the side guide  298  to cause the side edges of the sheets to become justified or flush against the side guide  298  for proper alignment as the sheets enter the folding apparatus  210 . 
     Further details regarding the design and operation of the accumulator  206  and sheet feeder  208  are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,512, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Folding Unit  210   
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic side views of one possible embodiment of the folding unit  210  shown as a block in  FIG. 8A . The folding unit  210  may be used to make one or more folds in an unfolded sheet of paper, all of the folds being parallel to each other. Referring to  FIG. 10A , the folding unit  210  may be provided with a pair of spaced apart frame members  302 ,  304  (not shown in  FIG. 10B ), a plurality of cylindrical folding rollers  310 - 321  rotatably supported between the frame members  302 ,  304 , a plurality of folding plates  322 - 326  each of which may be provided with one of a plurality of stops  327 - 331  positioned to stop the leading edge or portion of an article  340  passing through the folding unit  210  at desired positions, and a plurality of deflectors  341 - 345 , each of which may cause the leading edge or portion of the article  340  passing through the folding unit  210  to be deflected towards the next pair of folding rollers. The folding rollers  310 - 321  may have non-smooth, knurled or abraded surfaces to facilitate gripping the article  340 . 
     When it first enters the first folding unit  210 , the article  340  shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  may correspond to an unfolded sheet of paper, such as the sheet of paper  10  shown in  FIG. 1A . When the leading edge of the article  340  hits the stop  327 , an intermediate portion of the article at a point  350  may be forced downwardly towards the nip of the folding rollers  311 ,  312 . When the point  350  passes between the folding rollers  311 ,  312 , the article  340  may be folded at the point  350  by the folding rollers  311 ,  312  and then deflected by the end of the deflector  341  towards the nip of the folding rollers  312 ,  313 , as shown in  FIG. 10B . 
     The process may continue in a similar manner until all of the desired folds are made in the article  340 . The folding unit  210  shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  would make five folds in the article  330 . The number of folds and the positions at which they are made could be varied in a known manner by varying the number and/or position of the folding rollers  310 - 321 , the folding plates  322 - 326  and the deflector plates  341 - 345 . 
     Although a particular embodiment of the folding unit  210  is described above, numerous other embodiments and types of folding units could be utilized, and the particular type of folding unit used is not considered important to the invention. 
     Folding Unit  212   
       FIG. 11A  is a side view of a first portion of one possible embodiment of the folding unit  212  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . The folding unit  212  may be used to make one or more folds in an article in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which one or more initial folds were made. Referring to  FIG. 11A , the folding unit  212  may be provided with a pair of spaced-apart frame members  346 ,  348  (not shown in  FIGS. 11B-11D ), a plurality of cylindrical folding rollers  350 - 353  rotatably mounted between the frame members  346 ,  348 , and a pair of folding plates  354 ,  356 , each of which may be provided with one of a pair of stops  358 ,  360  positioned to stop the leading edge of an article  370  passing through the folding unit  212  at desired positions. 
     When it first enters the folding unit  212 , the article  370  shown in  FIG. 11A  may correspond to a folded article having a plurality of parallel folds made in a first direction, such as the folded article  30   a  shown in  FIG. 2A . When the leading edge of the article  370  hits the stop  358 , an intermediate portion of the article at a point  372  is forced downwardly towards the nip of the folding rollers  351 ,  352 . When the point  372  passes between the folding rollers  351 ,  352 , the article  370  is folded at the point  372  by the folding rollers  351 ,  352 , and then the leading folded edge  372  of the article  370  moves along the folding plate  356  until it makes contact with the stop  360 , as shown in  FIG. 1   l  B. As the rear portion of the article  370  continues to advance, an intermediate portion of the article  370  buckles at a point  374  and moves downwardly towards the nip of the folding rollers  352 ,  353 . When the point  374  passes between the folding rollers  352 ,  353 , it is folded by the folding rollers  352 ,  353 , as shown in  FIG. 11C . At that point, the article  370  may have a leading portion  380  and a trailing portion  382 , with the leading portion  380  being twice as thick as the trailing portion  382 , which is shown most clearly in  FIG. 11D . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11C and 11D , the article  370  may be passed through a pair of cylindrical flattening rollers  386 ,  388  and then to a conveyor  390 , which may be provided with one or more upper conveyor belts  392  supported by a plurality of cylindrical rollers  394  and one or more lower conveyor belts  396  supported by a plurality of cylindrical rollers  398 . 
     Although a particular embodiment of the folding unit  212  is described above, numerous other embodiments and types of folding units could be utilized, and the particular type of folding unit used is not considered important to the invention. 
     Pressing Unit  214 A 
       FIG. 12  illustrates one embodiment  214   a  of the pressing unit  214  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . The pressing unit  214   a  may include a support structure  400 , which may include a pair of spaced-apart frame members. The pressing unit  214   a  may have an entry conveyor comprising one or more upper conveyor rollers  401 , one or more conveyor belts  402  supported by the upper conveyor roller(s)  401 , one or more lower conveyor rollers  403 , and one or more conveyor belts  404  supported by the lower conveyor roller(s)  403 . The pressing unit  214   a  may have an exit conveyor comprising one or more upper conveyor rollers  405 , one or more conveyor belts  406  supported by the upper conveyor roller(s)  405 , one or more lower conveyor rollers  407 , and one or more conveyor belts  408  supported by the lower conveyor roller(s)  408 . 
     The pressing unit  214   a  may have a pair of upper and lower pressure rollers  409  rotatably supported by the support structure  400 . The lower pressure roller  409  may be coupled to the support structure  400  so as to rotate in a fixed position, and the upper pressure roller  409  may be rotatably supported by the support structure  400  so that the upper pressure roller  409  is slightly movable or adjustable in a vertical direction to accommodate folded articles having different thicknesses. One of the pressure rollers  409  may be coupled to a pressure-setting mechanism, such as a spring mechanism (not shown in  FIG. 12 ), to exert pressure on folded articles as they pass through the nip between the pressure rollers  409 . 
     For example, the pressure rollers  409  may cause folded articles passing through the pressing unit  214   a  to be subjected to a pressure that lies within any one of the following pressure ranges: a) 30-100 psi; b) 30-200 psi; c) 30-500 psi; d) 50-200 psi; or e) 50-500 psi. Passing folded articles through the pressing unit  214   a  may make it easier for subsequent folding actions to take place, or may result in better folds being formed. 
     As an alternative, the pressing unit  214   a  may be integrated into the folding unit  212  instead of being a stand-alone apparatus. In that case, the pressing unit  214   a  may comprise a pair of pressure rollers that are mounted to the frame or housing of the folding unit  212 , and one pair of the conveyors  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408  may be eliminated. 
     Folding Unit  216 A 
       FIGS. 13 and 13A  are side views of one possible embodiment  216   a  of the folding unit  216  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . The folding unit  216   a  may be provided with a guide member  410 , a stop member  411  associated with the guide member  410 , a linearly translatable deflection or knife member  412 , a pair of cylindrical folding rollers  413 ,  414  rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced-apart frame members  415 ,  416 , and a conveyor  417 . Each of the frame members  415 ,  416  (or another support member coupled to the frame members  415 ,  416 ) may have a respective horizontally disposed aperture or slot formed  418  therein, and a support or axle portion  419  formed at each end of one of the folding rollers  413 ,  414  may be supported within the slot  418  to allow the spacing between the outer diameter of each of the folding rollers  413 ,  414  to be adjusted to accommodate the folding of outserts of different thicknesses. 
     In particular, the slot  418  could be sized to allow the distance between the outer diameter of the folding roller  413  and the outer diameter of the folding roller  414  to be adjusted to any distance in the range from zero inches to a distance that is up to 0.45 inches so that the distance may be any distance within that range. That distance range includes the range defined by a lower boundary of 0.25 inches and an upper boundary of 0.35 inches, and the range having a lower boundary of 0.25 inches and an upper boundary of 0.45 inches. The slot  418  could be sized to allow the distance between the outer diameters of the folding rollers  413 ,  414  to be larger than 0.45 inches while still allowing adjustment of the position of at least one of the folding rollers  413 ,  414  so that the spacing between the folding rollers  413 ,  414  lies within one or more of the ranges set forth above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 13A , after the folded article  370  exits the conveyor  390 , the leading edge of the folded article  370  may abut against the stop member  411 , and one or more spots of glue may be disposed on one of the upper surfaces of the folded article  370  (the glue may be applied in a manner described below). With the folded article  370  in that position as shown in  FIG. 13 , the bottom edge of the deflection member  412  may be positioned generally in the middle of the folded article  370  at the intersection between the relatively thick leading portion  380  and the relatively thin trailing portion  382 . 
     With the folded article  370  so positioned, the deflection member  412  may be moved downwardly so that it makes contact with an intermediate portion of the folded article  370  and so that it pushes the intermediate portion towards the nip between the folding rollers  413 ,  414 , as shown in  FIG. 13A . As the folded article  370  passes through the folding rollers  413 ,  414 , the article  370  may be folded so that the portion  382  is folded over the portion  380 , with the glue spot(s) disposed between the two portions  380 ,  382  so that the resulting outsert remains in a substantially closed orientation with the portions  380 ,  382  adhered together. 
     The outsert may then be automatically conveyed by the conveyor  417 , which may be provided with one or more endless conveyor belts  417   a  and a plurality of rotatable conveyor rollers  417   b , to the bonding unit  218  shown schematically in  FIG. 7A . 
     Further details regarding folding units that could be used for the folding units  210 ,  212 ,  216  are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,616,815, 4,812,195, 4,817,931, 5,044,873, 5,046,710 and 6,273,411, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Although a particular embodiment of the folding unit  216  is described above, numerous other embodiments and types of folding units could be utilized, and the particular type of folding unit used is not considered important to the invention. 
     Glue Application and Verification System  420   
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a glue application and verification system  420  may be associated with the folding unit  216   a  which makes the final cross-fold in the informational item. For example, in the outsert-forming machine  200  shown in  FIG. 8A , the rightmost folding unit  216  may be provided with the glue system  420 . 
     The glue system  420  may include a glue computer  421 , a sensing wheel  422  that may be provided in contact with one of the belts  392 ,  396  of the conveyor  390  in order to sense the speed of the conveyor belts  392 ,  396  and thus the speed at which a folded article such as the article  370  is being conveyed, a rotary encoder  423  coupled to the sensing wheel  422  and coupled to the glue computer  421  via a signal line  424 , a sensor  425  coupled to the glue computer  421  via a signal line  426  that is capable of detecting the passage of a folded article through the conveyor  390 , one or more glue applicators  427 , operatively coupled to the glue computer  421  via one or more signal lines  428 , that apply one or more drops of glue to folded articles as they pass by, a glue detector  429  operatively coupled to the glue computer  421  via a signal line  430 , and an output signal line  431 . 
     The conveyor  390  may have a plurality of upper conveyor belts  392  and a plurality of lower conveyor belts  396 . The upper conveyor belts  392  may be spaced apart so that a first upper conveyor belt  392  makes contact with a first end of a folded article and a second upper conveyor belt  392  makes contact with a second end of the folded article, and the two upper conveyor belts  392  may have a space disposed between them in which a middle portion of the folded article is exposed so that the detector  425  may detect the middle portion of the folded article, so that the glue applicator(s)  427  may apply glue to the middle portion of the folded article, and so that the glue detector  429  may detect the glue applied to the middle portion of the folded article. 
     The number of glue applicator(s)  427  used may depend on the width of the folded article, and if multiple glue applicators  427  are used, either one or more glue detectors  429  may be utilized, depending on the type of glue detector  429  used. For example, where a camera having a relatively large field of view is used as the glue detector  429 , only one camera may be necessary where multiple glue applicators  427  are used. Alternatively, a laser scanner, a light sensor, or any other type of detector or sensor, may be used as the glue detector  429 . A suitable glue detector is commercially available from HHS America in Dayton, Ohio. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13B , the glue computer  421  may include a controller  432  that may comprise a random-access memory (RAM)  433 , a read-only memory (ROM)  434  that may be used as a computer program memory, a microcontroller or microprocessor (MP)  435 , and an input/output (I/O) circuit  436 , all of which may be interconnected via an address/data bus  437 . In that case, a computer program may be stored in the ROM  434  and executed by the microprocessor  435  to control the operation of the glue system  420 . The glue computer  421  may also include an input device, such as a keyboard  438 , and an output device, such as a display device  439 . A suitable glue computer is commercially available from HHS America in Dayton, Ohio. 
     It should be appreciated that although only one microprocessor  435  is shown, the controller  432  may include multiple microprocessors  435 . Similarly, the memory of the controller  432  may include multiple RAMs  433  and multiple program memories  434 . Although the I/O circuit  436  is shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuit  436  may include a number of different types of I/O circuits. The RAM(s)  433  and program memories  434  may be implemented as semiconductor memories, magnetically readable memories, and/or optically readable memories, for example. Alternatively, the controller  432  could be implemented as a logic circuit, a programmable logic array, or another electrical control apparatus or circuit. 
     Glue Application and Verification Routine  440   
     One manner in which the glue system  420  may operate is described below in connection with a flowchart which may represent one or more portions of a computer program, which may be stored in one or more of the memories of the controller  432 . The computer program portions may be written in any high level language such as C, C+, C++ or the like or any low-level, assembly or machine language. By storing the computer program portions therein, various portions of the memories  433 ,  434  are physically and/or structurally configured in accordance with computer program instructions. 
       FIG. 13C  is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a glue application and verification routine  440  that illustrates a number of acts that could be performed by the glue system  420  to apply glue to folded articles and to verify that the glue was applied. The folded articles to which glue is being applied may correspond to, for example, the folded article  58  shown in FIGS.  3 D and  3 D- 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13C , at block  441 , the controller  432  may determine whether a folded article passing through the conveyor  390  was sensed by the sensor  425 . If a folded article is detected below the sensor  425 , at block  442  the controller  432  may wait for a period of time for the folded article to move from beneath the sensor  425  to beneath the glue applicator  427 , which period of time may depend on the path distance between the sensor  425  and the glue applicator  427  and the speed of the upper and lower conveyor belts  392 ,  396 . At the end of the time period, when the folded article is below the glue applicator  427 , at block  443  the controller  432  may cause the adhesive applicator  427  to apply glue to the folded article. 
     At block  444 , the controller  432  may wait for a period of time for the folded article to move from beneath the glue applicator  427  to the glue detector  429 , which period of time may depend on the path distance between the glue applicator  427  and the glue detector  429  and the speed of the upper and lower conveyor belts  392 ,  396 . At block  445 , the controller  432  may read detection data or a detection signal generated by the glue detector  429  to determine whether glue was properly applied to the folded article via the glue applicator  427 . The detection data may vary depending on the type of glue detector utilized. Where a camera is used as the glue detector  429 , the detection data may comprise image data corresponding to an image of the field of view of the camera. Where a light sensor is used, the detection data may correspond to the amount of light detected. Alternatively, the glue detector  427  may generate a detection signal that simply indicates whether or not glue was detected. 
     If glue was not detected as determined at block  446 , which indicates a fault condition, at block  447  the controller  432  may take remedial action in response thereto. For example, the controller  432  may cause a warning message to be displayed on the display unit  439  of the glue computer  420  ( FIG. 13B ). Alternatively, the controller  432  may cause the processing of folded articles to cease, for example, by turning off a main drive motor M ( FIG. 13B ) operatively coupled to the glue computer  420  via the signal line  431 . The main drive motor M may be coupled to drive the conveyor  390  and/or other components of the machine that is forming the informational items  20 . If glue was detected at block  446 , the operation may return to block  441  to await the passage of another folded article. 
     Glue Application and Verification Routine  440 A 
     A second manner in which the glue system  420  may operate is described below in connection with a flowchart which may represent one or more portions of a computer program, which may be stored in one or more of the memories of the controller  432 . The computer program portions may be written in any high level language such as C, C+, C++ or the like or any low-level, assembly or machine language. By storing the computer program portions therein, various portions of the memories  433 ,  434  are physically and/or structurally configured in accordance with computer program instructions. 
       FIG. 13D  is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a glue application and verification routine  440   a  that illustrates a number of acts that could be performed by the glue system  420  to apply glue to folded articles and to verify that the glue was applied. The glue routine  440   a  may be identical to the glue routine  440  described above, except for the addition of a number of acts, depicted at blocks  448   a ,  448   b ,  448   c , that cause remedial action to be taken only in response to the failure to detect the application of glue to a predetermined number of consecutive folded articles. The number of consecutive folded articles to which glue was not applied may be tracked by a COUNT variable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13D , at block  448   a  the COUNT variable may be reset to zero if glue was detected on the most recent folded article as determined at block  446 . If glue was not detected on the most recent folded article as determined at block  446 , the value of the COUNT variable may be incremented by one at block  448   b . If the value of the COUNT variable is greater than a predetermined maximum number or limit as determined at block  448   c , an appropriate remedial action may be taken at block  447  as described above. The number of consecutive folded articles missing glue (i.e. the value of “Max” in block  448   c ) that triggers the remedial action may be selected to be any desired number, such as two, three, five, ten, etc. 
     Although two specific examples of glue routines  440 ,  440   a  are described above, it should be understood that other routines could be utilized in order to verify that glue was properly applied to the folded articles being processed. As a further example, a verification routine could determine the percentage of folded articles to which glue was properly applied. In that case, the verification routine could keep track of the number of folded articles to which glue was properly applied (as detected by the glue detector  429 ) and the number of folded articles to which glue was not properly applied (as detected by the glue detector  429 ). Upon receiving each signal or set of data from the glue detector  429 , the controller  432  could determine the current percentage of folded articles to which glue was not properly applied. If that percentage is greater than a desired percentage, such as 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1% or 2%, the controller  432  could cause a remedial action to be performed as described above. 
     Handling Unit  218   
       FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment, with portions shown schematically, of a bonding unit  218  that may be used as the handling unit  218  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . The bonding unit  218  may be used to bond together individual outserts into stacks of outserts, such as the stack  10  of outserts shown in  FIG. 14A . The outserts bonded together are also referred to herein using the more general term “informational items.” 
     The adhesive used to glue the outserts together, which may be a cold adhesive or a hot-melt adhesive, may be selected so as to allow easy removal of one of the informational items from the stack  10  without tearing or otherwise damaging the removed informational item or the remaining informational items of the stack  10 . One adhesive that may be used is a cold glue adhesive, GMS Part No. GLUE-23704, which is commercially available from Graphic Machinery &amp; Systems of San Rafael, Calif. That adhesive is also marketed by its manufacturer as Capitol Latex Adhesive L179. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the bonding unit  218  may be provided with a pair of spaced-apart support frames  450 , a conveyor unit  452  having an upper conveyor assembly  452   a  and a lower conveyer assembly  452   b , a pusher unit  454 , and a guide tray  456  that supports one or more stacks  10  of informational items. 
     The upper conveyor unit  452   a  may be provided with a plurality of support rollers  460 ,  462 ,  464 ,  466 ,  468  and a rotatable rod  470  which support a plurality of endless conveyor belts  472 . Referring also to  FIG. 14B , at least two spaced-apart conveyor belts  472  and two sets of rollers  460 ,  462 ,  464 ,  466 ,  468  may be utilized. The support rollers  460 ,  462 ,  464 ,  466 ,  468  may be supported by a plurality of support rods  474 ,  476 ,  478 ,  480 ,  482  which may be supported by the spaced-apart support frames  450 . 
     The support rods  476 ,  478  may be disposed through a pair of slots  484 ,  486  formed in each of the support frames  450  so that the distance between the rollers  462 ,  464  can be adjusted in order to adjust the tension on the conveyor belts  472 . The support rods  476 ,  478  may be fixed at a particular desired position within the slots  484 ,  486  by tightening end caps (not shown) threaded onto the ends of the rods  476 ,  478  or by utilizing other fastening structures. 
     The rods  480  that support the rollers  466  may be connected to support arms  490  that are fixed to a rod  492  connected between the frame supports  450 . The angular position of the support arms  490  may be adjusted and then fixed via tightening bolts  494 . 
     The lower conveyor unit  452   b  may be provided with a plurality of support rollers  496 ,  498  and a rotatable rod  500  which support a plurality of endless conveyor belts  502 . The rollers  468  may support both of the conveyor belts  472 ,  502 . The support rollers  496 ,  498  may be supported by a plurality of support rods  504 ,  506 , which may be supported by the spaced-apart support frames  450 . 
     The rollers  496  may be fixed to the support rod  504 , the support rod  504  may be rotatable, and a motor  510  may be coupled to rotatably drive the support rod  504  via a gearing system (not shown) comprising one or more drive gears. The gearing system may include a pair of intermeshed gears that simultaneously cause the rods  474 ,  504  to rotate at the same rate in opposite directions so that the conveyor belts  472 ,  502  are driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 14 . 
     The bonding unit  218  may be provided with a glue application system  520 . The glue application system  520  may be provided with a sensor  522  that is capable of detecting the passage of informational items, one or more glue applicators  524  that apply one or more drops of glue to informational items, a sensing wheel  526 , a rotary encoder  528 , and a controller  530  that is operatively coupled to the sensor  522 , the glue applicator(s)  524 , and the rotary encoder  528  via a plurality of signal lines  532 ,  534 ,  536 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the controller  530  may be provided with a random-access memory (RAM)  540 , a program memory such as a read-only memory (ROM)  542 , a microprocessor  544 , and an input/output (I/O) circuit  546 , all of which are interconnected by an address/data bus  548 . In that case, a computer program may be stored in the ROM  542  and executed by the microprocessor  544  to control the operation of the glue application system  520 . Alternatively, the controller  530  could be implemented as a logic circuit, a programmable logic array, or another electrical control apparatus or circuit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the guide tray  456  may be provided with one or more base members  560  and a plurality of spaced-apart side walls  562 . The base members  560  may be supported on a plurality of mounting blocks  564 , each of the mounting blocks  564  having a cylindrical hole formed therein through which a cylindrical rod  566  passes. The ends of each of the cylindrical rods  566  may be supported by the spaced-apart support frames  450 . As shown in  FIG. 14A , the interior face of each of the side walls  562  may be provided with a retention clip  567 , which may act to retain the upright position of the rearmost informational item in the stack  10  or which may act to apply a pressure to the rearmost informational item in the stack  10  to facilitate bonding of the rearmost item to the stack  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14B , which is an end view of the guide tray  456  looking from right to left in  FIG. 14A , the base members  560  may have a U-shaped cross section, and the base members  560  may be connected to the mounting blocks  564  via a plurality of bolts  568 . The lateral position of the base members  560  may be adjusted by sliding the mounting blocks  564  along the rods  566 , and the lateral position may be fixed with a set screw (not shown) or another position-fixing device. 
     Each of the side walls  562  may be fixed to one or more mounting blocks  570  through which the cylindrical rods  566  pass. The side walls  562  may be spaced apart by a distance substantially corresponding to, or slightly larger than, the width of the stack  10  of informational items, as shown in  FIG. 14B . The lateral positions of the side walls  562  may also be adjusted by sliding the mounting blocks  570  along the rods  566 , and the side walls  562  may be fixed in a particular lateral position via a set screw (not shown) or other means. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14A , the pusher unit  454  may be provided with a laterally extending pusher arm  580  having a pusher plate  582  attached thereto. The pusher arm  580  may be connected to a mounting plate  584  which may in turn be connected to a slide block  586  which is slidably supported by a plurality of slide rods  588 . The slide block  586  may be connected to a drive arm  590  having a first end connected to the slide block  586  and a second end connected to a rotatable drive wheel  594 . The drive wheel  594  may be rotatably driven by a motor  596  through a clutch mechanism  598 . 
     The clutch  598  may be operatively coupled to a first sensor  600  that detects the presence of one of the informational items as it moves downwardly between the upper and lower conveyor belts  472 ,  502  and to a second sensor  602  that senses the angular position of the drive wheel  594 . For example, the sensor  602  may be a magnetic proximity sensor that detects when an enlarged portion  604  of the drive wheel  594  is adjacent the sensor  602 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , in the operation of the bonding unit  218 , informational items may be automatically provided, one at a time, to the nip or intersection of the upper and lower conveyor belts  472 ,  502  at the left-hand portion of the bonding unit  218  which is disposed immediately adjacent the support rollers  460 ,  496 . The informational items may be automatically provided to the bonding unit  218  directly from the conveyor  430  ( FIG. 13B ) of the folding unit  216   a , or they may alternatively be automatically provided via an intermediate conveyor (not shown) between the folding unit  216   a  and the bonding unit  218 , or another conveyor can be added to the bonding unit  218 . The details regarding the design and number of the conveyor units used to transfer the informational items from the folding unit  216   a  to the bonding unit  218  are not considered important to the invention. 
     Each time an informational item is introduced between the upper and lower conveyor belts  472 ,  502 , it may be conveyed upwardly due to the frictional contact between the conveyor belts  472 ,  502  and the informational item and the fact that the conveyor belts  472 ,  502  are driven via the motor  510 . As it moves upwardly and to the right in  FIG. 14 , the informational item may pass underneath the sensor  522 , which may detect its presence and transmit a detect signal to the controller  530  via the line  532 . 
     When the informational item passes underneath the adhesive applicator  524 , which may be in the form of a nozzle, for example, the adhesive applicator  524  may apply adhesive to the upwardly disposed face of the informational item. Whether or not adhesive is applied to the informational item depends upon whether the informational item is to be bonded to a preexisting stack  10  of informational items being bonded together. 
     For example, if the bonding unit  218  is to form stacks  10  of informational items, with each stack  10  being composed of eight informational items bonded together, the controller  530  may be programmed to cause the adhesive applicator  524  to not apply adhesive to the first informational item, then to apply adhesive to the next seven informational items which successively pass underneath the adhesive applicator  524  (causing the first eight informational items to be bonded together). After passage of the first eight informational items, the controller  530  could be programmed to then cause the adhesive applicator  524  to skip a single informational item by not applying adhesive thereto, and then to apply adhesive to the next seven consecutive informational items. Further details regarding the controller  530  are described below. 
     The precise time at which adhesive is applied by the applicator  524  may be controlled based on the speed of the conveyor belts  472 ,  502 , as sensed by the sensing wheel  526  and transmitted to the controller  530  via the rotary encoder  528 , and the known path distance between the sensor  522  and the adhesive applicator  524 . Thus, after sensing of an informational item by the sensor  522 , the controller  530  may wait a length of time, which varies with the speed of the conveyor belts  472 ,  502 , before signaling the adhesive applicator  524  to deposit adhesive, during which waiting time the position of the informational item will have changed from being beneath the sensor  522  to being beneath the adhesive applicator  524 . 
     After passing underneath the adhesive applicator  524 , the informational item continues moving upwardly and to the right between the conveyor belts  472 ,  502  until it reaches the support wheels  468 , after which the informational item may be conveyed downwardly between the belts  472 ,  502  in a generally vertical direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14A , when the informational item reaches a sensing position disposed horizontally adjacent the sensor  600 , the sensor  600  may activate the clutch  598  to cause the motor  596  to begin to rotate the drive wheel  594 . As the drive wheel  594  rotates, the slide block  586  and the pusher arm  580  and pusher plate  582  which are connected thereto may move from left to right in  FIG. 14A . 
     By the time the pusher plate  582  moves rightwardly past the conveyor belt  502 , the informational item will have moved from its sensing position adjacent the sensor  600  to a loading position on top of the ends of the base members  560 , which extend between the laterally spaced apart lower conveyor belts  502 , as shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B . In the loading position, both faces of the informational item are disposed vertically, and one of the faces rests against the conveyor belts  502 . 
     With the informational item in that loading position, the continued rightward movement of the pusher plate  582  may force the informational item from its loading position to a contact position, in which the informational item may be forced against the rearward face of the last (or most leftward) informational item in the stack  10  being formed. If adhesive was deposited on the forward (or rightward) face of the informational item, the force applied by the pusher plate  582  may cause the informational item to be bonded to previous informational item in the stack  10 . 
     In order to enhance bonding efficiency, various ways of increasing the force with which the most recent informational item is pushed against the stack  10  may be utilized. For example, the rightward movement of the stack  10  may be retarded by placing a weight, such as a brick or metal plate (not shown) on top of the base members  560  and to the right of the rightmost stack  10  to retard the rightward movement of the stack(s)  10 . Alternatively, the base members  560  may be disposed at an inclined angle (their elevation may increase from left to right) to achieve a similar effect. 
     As the drive wheel  594  continues to rotate, the pusher plate  582  may be retracted back towards its starting position. When the drive wheel  594  reaches its starting position, as sensed by the sensor  602 , the clutch  598  may disengage the motor  596  from the drive wheel  594  so that the pusher plate  582  may return to its position shown in  FIG. 14A . 
     It should be understood that the structural details shown in  FIG. 14A  are not shown to scale and that the stroke length of the pusher plate  582  could be changed by varying the diameter of the drive wheel  594  or by changing the point at which the arm  590  connects to the drive wheel  594 . At any one time, there may be multiple informational items in transit within the bonding unit  214  between the starting position and a loading position on top of the base members  560 . 
     Further details regarding the operation of the controller  530  are shown in  FIG. 16 , which illustrates a number of acts that could be performed during a gluing process  700 . Referring to  FIG. 16 , at block  702  a count variable may be initialized to zero. The count variable may be used to keep track of the number of informational items that pass through the bonding unit  218  as detected by the sensor  522  ( FIG. 14 ). For example, the first informational item in each stack  10  could correspond to a count of one, the third informational item in each stack  10  could correspond to a count of three, etc. 
     At block  704 , the controller  530  may wait until an informational item is detected by the sensor  522 . When an informational item is detected, at block  706  the value of count may be incremented by one. 
     Where adhesive is applied to the leading face of each informational item, or the face that is disposed forwardly (to the right in  FIGS. 14 and 14A ) when the informational item is oriented in a vertical position, adhesive is not applied to the first informational item of each stack  10  to be formed, but is applied to every informational item in the stack  10  to be formed that follows the first informational item. Thus, at block  708 , only if the value of the count variable is greater than one, meaning the current informational item is not the first one in the stack  10 , the process passes to blocks  710  and  712  which cause adhesive to be applied to the current informational item. 
     At block  710 , the controller  530  may wait for a period of time, which may depend on the path distance between the sensor  522  and the glue applicator  524  and the speed of the upper and lower conveyor belts  472 ,  502 , and then at block  712  the controller  530  may cause the adhesive applicator  524  to apply glue to the moving information item, which was detected at block  704  and which is now positioned underneath the adhesive applicator  524  due to the waiting period of block  710 . 
     At block  714 , if the current value of the count variable equals a pre-selected number of informational items to be included in each stack  10 , meaning that the current informational item to which glue may have just been applied is the last informational item in the current stack  10 , the process may branch back to block  702  where the count variable is reset to zero since the next stack  10  is to be formed. Otherwise, the process may branch back to block  704  to wait for the next informational item. Obviously, if adhesive is applied to the opposite face of each of the informational items, adhesive would be applied to each informational item in the stack  10  to be formed except for the last informational item in the stack  10 . 
     Instead of utilizing a bonding unit as the handling unit  218  shown in  FIG. 8A , the outsert-forming machine  200  may utilize a stacking unit, which may have any structure that is capable of manipulating the outserts so that they form, for example, a horizontal stack or a vertical stack. The bonding unit  218  described above could be used as a stacking unit. When used as the stacking unit, the bonding unit  218  may be programmed not to apply any adhesive to the outserts via the adhesive applicator  524  ( FIG. 14 ). Alternatively, the stacking unit may be substantially the same as the bonding unit  218 , except for the omission of the adhesive applicator  524  and the controller  530  used to control the application of adhesive. 
     The stacking unit could include a kicker arm or other mechanism to periodically laterally offset a selected informational item. For example, the kicker arm could laterally offset, such as by one-fourth of an inch, every 20th informational item that is stacked to allow, for example, an operator to readily determine how many informational items have accumulated. Such a kicker arm could be disposed to laterally offset an information item disposed between the belts  472 ,  502  ( FIG. 14 ) after the informational item passes underneath the sensor  522 . The controller  530  could keep track of a continuing count of passing informational items and could periodically activate the kicker arm to laterally offset every 50th informational item, for example. 
     Overall Operation of Outsert-Forming Machine 
     In the overall operation of the outsert-forming machine  200  shown in  FIG. 8A , the printer  202  may continuously generate sheets of material having printed information disposed thereon, such as the sheet  10  shown in  FIG. 1A . The printed sheets may then be transferred by the transfer unit  204  from the printer  202  to the accumulator  206 , and then fed by the sheet feeder  208 . 
     Prior to being folded by the folding unit  210 , the sheets could be subjected to a water scoring process to make subsequent folding of the sheets easier. In the water scoring process, a plurality of spray nozzles or other apparatus could be used to spray or otherwise apply a plurality of parallel lines of water or other liquid to the sheet at linear positions at which subsequent folds are to be made. The application of the water or other liquid may allow the subsequent folding to be made better or easier. 
     The folding unit  210  may make one or more folds in each of the sheets, with each fold being made parallel to a first direction. For example, the folds may correspond to the folds described above in connection with  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
     After being folded by the folding unit  210  and prior to being fed into the folding unit  212 , the folded articles may be subjected to a physical scoring process to make subsequent folding easier (for example, if the water scoring process described above was not used). For example, each of the folded articles may be passed through a physical scoring apparatus so that a plurality of parallel, non-cutting scores or slight bends are made in each folded article, with each score line being positioned to coincide with the position at which a subsequent fold is to be made. The scoring apparatus may include, for example, an upper and lower scoring assembly, with each such assembly comprising a plurality of non-cutting, scoring disks mounted on the rod at spaced-apart locations. 
     The folded articles may be supplied to the folding unit  212 , which may make one or more folds in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the folds were made by the folding unit  210 . For example, the folding unit  212  may make one or more folds like the ones described above in connection with  FIG. 3B ,  5 B or  7 B. 
     The folded articles may then by conveyed to the pressing unit  214  where they are subjected to pressure so that subsequent folds are easier to make. The folded articles may then be conveyed to one or more of the folding units  216 , where the cross-folds may be made to transform the folded articles into outserts. The outserts may then be automatically conveyed to the bonding unit  218  where they are bonded together into stacks  10  as described above in detail in connection with  FIGS. 14 ,  14 A,  14 B,  15  and  16 . 
     Pressing Unit  214 B 
     FIGS.  17  and  17 A- 17 C illustrate an embodiment of a pressing unit  214   b  that could be used as one of the pressing units  214  schematically shown in  FIG. 8A . The pressing unit  214   b  of FIGS.  17  and  17 A- 17 C could be used to apply a pressure in various ranges between about 30 psi and about 500 psi to folded articles that pass through the pressing unit  214   b.    
       FIG. 17  is a side view illustrating a number of components of the pressing unit  214   b  and omits a number of components for the sake of clarity, a number of which are shown in  FIGS. 17A-17C . Referring to  FIG. 17 , the pressing unit  214   b  includes a support frame or structure  830  that rotatably supports an upper pressure roller  832  and a lower pressure roller  834 . The support structure  830  could include two parallel, spaced-apart support frames between which the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  could be disposed, in which case only the rear support frame is shown in  FIG. 17  to allow the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  and other components to be shown. In  FIG. 17 , folded articles may be passed between the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  from left to right. 
     The pressing unit  214   b  may be provided with an upper inlet transfer roller  836  and an upper outlet transfer roller  838 , each of which may be disposed adjacent a respective side of the upper pressure roller  832 . Similarly, the pressing unit  214   b  may be provided with a lower inlet transfer roller  840  and a lower outlet transfer roller  842 , each of which may be disposed adjacent a respective side of the lower pressure roller  834 . In  FIG. 17 , the vertical spacing between the upper and lower pressure rollers  832 ,  834  and the upper and lower transfer rollers  836 ,  838 ,  840 ,  842  has been exaggerated for purposes of clarity. 
     The pressure rollers  832 ,  834  may be rotatably driven in any manner, such as by an electric motor (not shown) that is drivably coupled to the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  by any type of coupling mechanism (not shown). For example, the coupling mechanism could be provided in the form of a plurality of rotatable shafts coupled between a pair of spaced-apart plates of the support structure  830 , with each of the rotatable shafts having one or more sprockets or pulleys. The coupling mechanism could also include one or more sprockets or pulleys disposed or integrally formed with shafts that support the pressure rollers  832 ,  834 . The coupling mechanism could further include one or more drive belts or chains that pass around the sprockets or pulleys so that rotation of one set of sprockets or pulleys, caused by the drive shaft of the electric motor, causes rotation of the remaining sprockets or pulleys. The particular manner of rotatably driving the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  is not considered important to the invention, and various ways of driving them could be utilized. 
     The pressing unit  214   b  may be provided with an inlet conveyor  850 . The inlet conveyor  850  may include an upper support structure, which may comprise a pair of spaced-apart upper conveyor frame members  852  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 17 ), each having a first end proximal to the support structure  830  (to the right in  FIG. 17 ) and a second end distal from the support structure  830 . The inlet conveyor  850  may include a lower support structure, which may comprise a pair of spaced-apart lower conveyor frame members  854  each having a first end proximal to the support structure  830  and a second end distal from the support structure  830 . 
     The upper conveyor frame members  852  may have a first conveyor roller  856  rotatably mounted between them at their distal ends and a second conveyor roller  858  rotatably mounted at their proximal ends. The lower conveyor frame members  854  may have a first conveyor roller  860  rotatably mounted between them at their distal ends and a second conveyor roller  862  rotatably mounted at their proximal ends. One or more conveyor belts  864  may be supported by the upper conveyor rollers  856 ,  858 , and one or more conveyor belts  866  may be supported by the lower conveyor rollers  860 ,  862 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 17A , one or more drive belts  870  may be supported in a pair of grooves or slots formed in the upper conveyor roller  858  and the upper inlet transfer roller  836  to cause the upper conveyor roller  858  to rotate with the upper inlet transfer roller  836 , and one or more drive belts  872  may be supported in a pair of grooves or slots formed in the lower conveyor roller  862  and the lower inlet transfer roller  840  to cause the lower conveyor roller  862  to rotate with the lower inlet transfer roller  840 . 
     One or more drive belts  874  may be supported in a pair of grooves or slots formed in the upper inlet transfer roller  836  and the upper pressure roller  832  to cause those two rollers  832 ,  836  to rotate together, and one or more drive belts  876  may be supported in a pair of grooves or slots formed in the upper outlet transfer roller  838  (not shown in  FIG. 17A ) and the upper pressure roller  832  to cause those two rollers  832 ,  838  to rotate together. Instead of having only two grooves or slots formed in each of its ends as shown in  FIGS. 17A and 17C , each pressure roller  832 ,  834  may have four grooves or slots formed in each end to facilitate mounting of two drive belts on each end of each adjacent roller. 
     One or more drive belts  878  may be supported in a pair of grooves or slots formed in the lower inlet transfer roller  840  and the lower pressure roller  834  to cause those two rollers  834 ,  840  to rotate together, and one or more drive belts  880  may be supported in a pair of grooves or slots formed in the lower outlet transfer roller  842  and the lower pressure roller  834  to cause those two rollers  834 ,  842  to rotate together. 
     The pressing unit inlet conveyor  850  may be adjustable in a variety of ways. For example, the distal ends of the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854  may be raised and lowered to allow the pressing unit  214   b  to be positioned adjacent a variety of article folding or processing units, and to facilitate the automatic transfer of folded articles from such units to the pressing unit  214   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , the proximal ends of each of the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854  may be pivotally connected to the main support structure  830 , and one or both of the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854  may be supported by an adjustable support mechanism  890 , which may be coupled between the lower conveyor frame members  854  and a lower portion of the support structure  830 . 
     The adjustable support mechanism  890  may include a threaded rod  892  directly or indirectly coupled to the lower support frames  854  via a bracket  894 , a hollow cylindrically shaped member  896  coupled to the main support structure  830  via a bracket  898 , a hand-rotatable crank or handwheel  900  having an interior threaded bore passing therethrough, and a washer, such as a nylon washer  902 . 
     The vertical position or elevation of the distal end of the lower conveyor frame members  854  may be adjusted by manually turning the handwheel  900 , which due to the threaded connection between the threaded rod  892  and the internally threaded bore formed in the handwheel  900 , causes the rod  892  either to move inwardly into the hollow interior of the cylinder  896  and thus lower the proximal end of the lower conveyor frame members  854 , or to move outwardly out of the interior of the cylinder  896  and thus raise the proximal end of the lower conveyor frame members  854 . 
     Movement of the proximal end of the lower conveyor frame members  854  may cause similar movement of the upper conveyor frame members  852 . For example, the upper conveyor frame members  852  may rest on the lower conveyor frame members  854 . Alternatively, the distal ends of the upper conveyor frame members  852  may be supported by a support mechanism (not shown in  FIG. 17 ) that rests on or is otherwise coupled to the lower conveyor frame members  854 , that causes the upper conveyor frame members  852  to be supported a given distance (which may be adjustable) above the lower conveyor frame members  854 . 
     For example, such a support mechanism could include a threaded rod (not shown in  FIG. 17 ) that extends through a threaded bore in one of the upper conveyor frame members  852  and makes contact with an upper surface of one of the lower conveyor frame members  854 . Rotation of the threaded rod, such as by rotation of a knurled knob or crank attached to the threaded rod, may vary or adjust the distance between the distal ends of the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854 . 
       FIG. 17B  is an end view (looking from the left in  FIG. 17  at a point midway along the length of the inlet conveyor  850 ), shown partly in cross-section, of portions of the pressing unit  214   b  with other portions not being shown in  FIG. 17B  for sake of clarity. Referring to  FIG. 17B , the proximal end of each of the lower conveyor frame members  854  may be pivotally connected to a portion of the main support structure  830 . That pivot connection could be accomplished by a fixed-position, non-rotatable lower pivot rod  910  which passes through a hole in each of the lower conveyor frame members  854  so that the lower conveyor frame members  854  may pivot about the lower pivot rod  910 . Each proximal end of the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854  may be U-shaped, and a threaded locking screw may be threaded through the end of each U-shaped portion so that the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854  may be held at a desired position and then locked into that position by tightening the locking screws. The proximal ends of each of the upper conveyor frame members  852  may be pivotally connected to the main support structure  830  in a similar manner via an upper pivot rod  912 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17B , the spacing between the conveyor rollers  858 ,  862  may be changed by changing the elevation of the upper conveyor roller  858  via an adjustment mechanism, which may be provided in the form of an adjustment screw  916 . The adjustment screw  916  may be threaded into a threaded bore formed in an upper plate  918  of the main support structure  830  so that rotation of the adjustment screw  916  changes the elevation of the top of the screw  916  relative to the upper plate  918 . 
     The adjustment screw  918  may have a hollow interior portion in which a support bolt  920  is disposed. The support bolt  920  may have an upper head portion having a relatively large diameter that is supported on an annular shelf or shoulder portion formed in the interior of the adjustment screw  916 . The support bolt  920  may pass through an upper washer  922 , a helical spring  924 , a lower washer  926 , and a nut  928 . The lower end of the support bolt  920  may be threaded into a support block  930  that supports the upper pivot rod  912 , which in turn supports the upper conveyor frame member  852  and the upper conveyor roller  858 . 
     The elevation of the upper conveyor roller  858  may be changed by rotating the adjustment screw  916 . Rotation in one direction will cause the position of the adjustment screw  916 , and thus the support bolt  920  and the upper conveyor roller  858 , to be raised relative to the main support structure  830 , and thus to the lower conveyor roller  862 , increasing the vertical spacing between the conveyor rollers  858 ,  862 . 
     The upper portion of the support bolt  920  (at least the portion disposed above the spring  924 ) may be provided with a smooth shaft and a smaller diameter than that of the bore formed in the adjustment screw  916 . In that case, the upper conveyor roller  858  may freely move upwardly, in which case the support bolt  920  will move upwardly relative to the adjustment screw  916 , compressing the spring  916  in the process. The spring  924  may provide a relatively small amount of spring force or pressure, such as about 20 psi or lower. Allowing such upward movement of the upper conveyor roller  858  may be desirable to prevent damage to the conveyor rollers  858 ,  862  in case an unexpectedly thick item unintentionally or accidentally passes through the conveyor rollers  858 ,  862 . 
       FIG. 17C  is a side view of a portion of the pressing unit  214   b  that illustrates one manner in which the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  may be supported within the pressing unit  214   b . Referring to  FIG. 17C , each end of the lower pressure roller  834  may be rotatably supported in a fixed position in a respective bearing member  938  supported by the main support structure  830 . Each end of the upper pressure roller  832  may be rotatably supported via a respective bearing member  940 . The bearing members  940  may be slidably supported by the main support structure  830 , for example, by at least a portion of the bearing member  940  being disposed within a vertically disposed slot formed in a portion of the main support structure, so that each bearing member  940  is vertically slidable. 
     A bracket  942  may be mounted to the main support structure  830 , and the bracket  942  may have an upper portion with a threaded hole formed therein. An elevation-adjustment member  944  may be provided to allow adjustment of the elevation of the upper pressure roller  832 . The elevation-adjustment member  944  may be provided with a lower threaded portion that passes through and mates with the threads of the threaded bore formed in the bracket  942 . In that case, rotation of the elevation-adjustment member  944  will raise or lower the elevation-adjustment member  944  relative to the bracket  942 , the main support structure  830 , and the lower pressure roller  834  fixed to the main support structure  830 . 
     The elevation-adjustment member  944  may be provided with a hollow interior portion and a lower end having an annular collar or shoulder that may support a support bolt  946  that may pass through a washer  948 . The support bolt  946  may have a threaded end that passes through a lock nut  950  and is threaded into the bearing member  940  to support the bearing member  940  at an elevation. Rotation of the elevation-adjustment member  944  will change its elevation relative to the bracket  942  fixed to the main support structure  830 , which will thus raise the elevation of the upper pressure roller  832  relative to the main support structure  830 , thus changing the spacing between the pressure rollers  832 ,  834  since the lower pressure roller  834  is fixed relative to the main support structure  830 . 
     The interior hollow portion of the elevation-adjustment member  944  may be provided with one or more spacers  952 , a plurality of pressure members  954 , and a pressure-adjustment member  956 . Each of the pressure members  954  may be provided in the form of a generally cone-shaped washer, which is commonly known in the art as a Belleville washer. The pressure-adjustment member  956  may be a cylindrically shaped member having an exterior threaded portion that threadably mates with a corresponding threaded portion formed in the upper interior portion of the elevation-adjustment member  944 . The upper surface of the pressure-adjustment member  956  may have a shaped recess  958 , such as a hexagonally shaped recess, to allow the pressure-adjustment member  956  to be rotated by using a tool, such as a hex wrench, that is passed through an opening  960  formed in the upper portion of the elevation-adjustment member  944 . The position of the pressure-adjustment member  956  may be fixed or locked by a locking screw  962  that is threaded through a threaded bore formed in the side of the elevation-adjustment member  944 . The end of the locking screw  962  may make physical contact with the outer surface of the pressure-adjustment member  956  to lock the latter in place. 
     Rotating the pressure-adjustment member  956  within the hollow interior of the elevation-adjustment member  944  may vary the pressure which is exerted on the folded articles as they pass through the pressing unit  214   b . The pressure exerted on the folded articles by the pressing unit  214   b  also depends on the size and shape of the pressure members  954  that are used. For example, where Belleville washers are used, the pressure exerted by the Belleville washers depends on the diameter of the washers, the material from which the washers are made (e.g. steel or a particular type of steel) and the degree to which the side surfaces of the washers are angled. The pressure members  954  may be selected so that folded articles passing through the pressing unit  214   b  are subjected to a pressure that lies within any one of the following pressure ranges: a) 30-100 psi; b) 30-200 psi; c) 30-500 psi; d) 50-200 psi; or e) 50-500 psi. 
     Folding Unit  216 B 
       FIGS. 18A-18E  illustrate a folding unit  216   b  that could be utilized as one or more of the folding units  216  shown schematically in  FIG. 8A . Referring to  FIG. 18A , the folding unit  216   b  may be provided with a main support structure  1000  and an inlet conveyor  1010 . The inlet conveyor  1010  may include an upper support structure, which may comprise a pair of spaced-apart members or frames  1012  and a lower support structure, which may comprise a pair of spaced-apart members or frames  1014 . 
     The upper conveyor frame members  1012  may have a plurality of upper conveyor rollers  1016  rotatably mounted between them, and the lower conveyor frame members  1014  may have a plurality of lower conveyor rollers  1018  rotatably mounted between them. One or more conveyor belts  1020  may be supported by the upper conveyor rollers  1016 , and one or more conveyor belts  1022  may be supported by the lower conveyor rollers  1018 . The conveyor rollers  1016 ,  1018  may have the same structure as the conveyor rollers  858 ,  862  shown in  FIGS. 17 and 17B  and described above. 
     The proximal ends of each of the upper conveyor frame members  1012  may be pivotally connected to the main support structure  1000 , and one or both of the lower conveyor frame members  1014  may be supported by an adjustable support mechanism  1030 , which may be coupled between the lower conveyor frame members  1014  and a lower portion of the support structure  1000 . 
     The adjustable support mechanism  1030  may include a threaded rod  1032  directly or indirectly coupled to the lower conveyor frame members  1014  via a bracket (not shown), a hollow cylindrically shaped member  1034  coupled to the main support structure  1000  via a bracket  1036 , a hand-rotatable crank or handwheel  1038  having an interior threaded bore passing therethrough, and a washer, such as a nylon washer  1040 . The position and elevation of the conveyor frame members  1012 ,  1014  and the spacing between the conveyor frame members  1012 ,  1014  may be adjusted in the same manner as the elevation of and spacing between the conveyor frame members  852 ,  854  of the pressing unit  214   b  described above in connection with  FIGS. 17 and 17B . 
     The upper conveyor roller  1016  shown in  FIG. 18A  may be disposed adjacent a transfer roller  1050 , and one or more conveyor belts  1052  may be disposed around the upper conveyor roller  1016  and the transfer roller  1050 . The lower conveyor roller  1018  shown in  FIG. 18A  may be disposed adjacent a folding roller  1054  and may be operatively coupled to rotate with the folding roller  1054  via one or more drive belts  1056 . A second folding roller  1058  may be disposed adjacent the folding roller  1054 , and the second folding roller  1058  may be mounted between a pair of vertically disposed side plates  1060 . Each of the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  may be provided with a non-smooth, knurled or abraded surface to allow the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  to readily grip folded articles passing between them. 
     One of the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  may be horizontally movable or adjustable relative to the other of the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  via an adjustment mechanism, that may be the same or different than the adjustment mechanism (e.g. the horizontally disposed apertures or slots  426 ) described above in connection with the folding unit  216   a  shown in  FIG. 13A , to allow the spacing between the outer diameter of each of the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  to be adjusted to accommodate the folding of outserts of different thicknesses. 
     In particular, the distance between the outer diameter of the folding roller  1054  and the outer diameter of the folding roller  1058  may be adjusted to any distance in the range from zero inches to a distance that is up to 0.45 inches so that the distance may be any distance within that range. That distance range includes the range defined by a lower boundary of 0.25 inches and an upper boundary of 0.35 inches, and the range having a lower boundary of 0.25 inches and an upper boundary of 0.45 inches. The distance between the outer diameters of the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  could be adjusted to be larger than 0.45 inches while still allowing adjustment of the position of at least one of the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  so that the spacing between the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  lies within one or more of the ranges set forth above. 
     An exit conveyor  1070  may be provided to transfer folded articles from between the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  to a further processing unit, which may be another pressing unit  214 , a bonding unit  218 , or a stacking unit  760 , for example. The exit conveyor  1070  may include a first pair of conveyor rollers  1072 ,  1074  disposed below the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058 , a second pair of conveyor rollers  1076 ,  1078  that may be rotatably supported between a pair of frame members  1080 , a third pair of conveyor rollers  1082 ,  1084  that may be rotatably supported between the frame members  1080 , and one or more sets of conveyor belts  1090 ,  1092 ,  1094 ,  1096 ,  1098 ,  1100  supported by the conveyor rollers  1072 ,  1074 ,  1076 ,  1078 ,  1082 ,  1084 . The conveyor rollers  1072 ,  1074 ,  1076 ,  1078 ,  1082 ,  1084  may have the same structure as the conveyor rollers  858 ,  862  shown in  FIGS. 17 and 17B  and described above. The conveyor roller  1072  may be operatively coupled to the folding roller  1054  via one or more drive belts, and the conveyor roller  1074  may be operatively coupled to the folding roller  1058  via one or more drive belts. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18A and 18B , a knife or blade member  1110  may be supported for reciprocating vertical movement by a blade-drive assembly  1120 . The blade-driving assembly  1120  may include an electric motor  1122 , a rotatable drive wheel  1124  having an eccentric portion  1126 , a drive arm  1128  having an upper end pivotally attached to the rotatable drive wheel  1124  and a lower end pivotally attached to a vertically reciprocable slide block  1130  to which the blade  1110  is mounted. 
     The slide block  1130  may have a plurality of vertically disposed bores therethrough, and a pair of guide rods  1132  may pass at least partially through the bores. The guide rods  1132  may be supported by a support plate  1134  having a hole or slot  1136  formed therein to accommodate passage of the drive arm  1128 . The support plate  1134  may be slidably disposed in a pair of slots  1138  formed in a pair of vertically disposed plates  1140 , and the horizontal position of the support plate  1134 , and thus of the slide block  1130  and the blade member  1110 , may be adjusted by an adjustment screw  1150 , which may be threadably coupled to a side of the support plate  1134 . 
     In operation, upon rotation of the drive wheel  1124  caused by the motor  1122 , the drive arm  1128  will move up and down (and pivot somewhat), forcing the slide block  1130  and the blade member  1110  attached to the slide block  1130  to vertically reciprocate. Downward movement of the blade member  1110  may be synchronized so that such downward movement occurs when a folded article overlays the nip between the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  so that downward movement of the blade member  110  will force a central portion of the folded article downwards into contact with the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058 , causing the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  to make another fold in the folded article as the article passes therebetween. 
     The synchronization of the downward movement of the blade member  1110  and the passage of folded articles may be accomplished by a first sensor (not shown) that senses folded articles as they pass through the conveyor  1010 , a second sensor, such as a proximity sensor, that senses the position of the eccentric portion  1126  of the drive wheel  1124 , and/or a third sensor that senses the speed of the conveyor  1010 . 
     For example, upon sensing a folded article at a particular point in the conveyor  1010 , a clutch mechanism (not shown) coupled between the motor  1122  and the drive wheel  1124  may cause the motor  1122  (perhaps after a predetermined delay to allow the folded article to become positioned over the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058 ) to drive the drive wheel  1124  one complete revolution, so that the blade member  1110  moves from its uppermost position to its lowermost position (i.e. the position shown in  FIG. 18A ) and then back to its uppermost position. 
     The folding roller  1058  may be part of a folding assembly  1150 , which may include the vertically disposed side plates  1060  and a base plate  1154 . The folding roller  1058  may be rotatably supported between the side plates  1060 , and the bottom of each of the side plates  1060  may be provided with a key portion  1156  ( FIG. 18D ) that may be slidably disposed within a respective slot  1158  formed in the base plate  1154 . 
     The folding assembly  1150  may also include a horizontally disposed stop bar  1160  and one or more retention arms  1162  that may extend outwardly from, or pass through, a forward face of the stop bar  1160 . The folding assembly  1150  may include a relatively thin base sheet  1164  having a forward portion disposed above the folding roller  1058  that is curved to generally conform to the shape of the folding roller  1058 . 
     The horizontal position of the folding assembly  1150  may be moved relative to the base plate  1154  via an adjustment screw  1170  that may be threaded through a spring  1172  and into a portion of the folding assembly  1150 . Turning the adjustment screw  1170  may cause the folding assembly  1150  to slide on the base plate  1154 . Such horizontal movement of the folding assembly  1150  will cause horizontal movement of the folding roller  1058 , and thus will cause the horizontal spacing between the two folding rollers  1054 ,  1058  to change. Such a change in spacing may be desired due to differences in thicknesses of various types of folded articles that may be passed through the folding unit  216   b.    
     The horizontal position of the stop bar  1160  may be changed by an adjustment mechanism or adjustment screw  1180  that may have an end that is supported by a bracket  1182  (which may be L-shaped) that may be bolted to the base plate  1154  of the folding assembly  1150 . The adjustment mechanism  1180  may be provided with a knurled adjustment knob  1184  and a threaded screw  1186  operatively coupled to the stop plate  1160  so that turning the knob  1184  causes the horizontal position of the stop plate  1160  to be changed. That may be desirable in the event the position in the folded article at which the folding unit  216   b  is to make a fold is to be changed. 
     For example, if it is desired to make a fold relatively close to the leading edge of the folded article, the stop bar  1160  would be positioned relatively close to the blade member  1110 . In that case, forward movement of the folded article through the rollers  1050 ,  1054  would stop when the leading edge of the folded article made contact with the stop bar  1160 . Since the stop bar  1160  would be relatively close to the horizontal position of both the blade member  1110  and the nip between the folding rollers  1054 ,  1058 , a fold would be made relatively close to the leading edge of the folded article. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18A , the folding unit  216   b  may include a glue application and verification system  1190  that may be used to apply one or more drops or spots of adhesive to each folded article passing through the entry conveyor  1010  so that after a final fold is made, the folded article will remain in a closed position as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 H. The glue system  1190  may be identical to or similar to the glue system  420  described above in connection with  FIGS. 13 and 13B , and the glue system  1190  may operate in the same or a similar manner as described above in connection with  FIGS. 13C and 13D . Where the folding unit  216   b  is not used to make the final fold, but is instead used to make an intermediate fold (such as in the apparatus  200   c  of  FIG. 5C ) the glue system  1190  may be omitted, or it may be controlled not to apply adhesive. 
       FIG. 18C  is a top view of the folding assembly  1150 . Referring to  FIG. 18C , the folding assembly  1150  may include a C-shaped mounting bracket  1200  having a main portion  1202  and a pair of side portions  1204 . The mounting bracket  1200  may be disposed on top of the plate  1164 , and the side portions  1204  of the mounting bracket  1200  may be bolted or otherwise connected to the side plates  1060 . The upper portions of the side plates  1060  may be connected together by a cylindrically shaped front bracing rod  1206  and a cylindrically shaped rear bracing rod  1208 . 
     The stop bar  1160  may have a pair of cylindrically shaped guide members  1210 ,  1212  connected thereto. The forward end of each of the guide members  1210 ,  1212  may extend into a respective bore formed in the stop bar  1160 , and the forward ends of the guide member  1210 ,  1212  may be anchored in place by a locking screw threaded into a respective side face  1214 ,  1216  of the stop bar  1160 , with each locking screw making contact with the forward end of each of the guide members  1210 ,  1212 . Each of the guide members  1210 ,  1212  may be slidably disposed within a cylindrical bushing or bearing  1218  mounted within the mounting bracket  1200 . 
     The guide member  1210  may be hollow and internally threaded, and the threaded screw  1186  of the adjustment mechanism  1180  may have an end that is threadably connected inside the guide member  1210 . The adjustment knob  1184  may have a relatively small-diameter portion that is disposed between a pair of upwardly extending arms  1220  of the L-shaped bracket  1182  and a relatively thin, larger-diameter portion  1222  that is disposed on the opposite side of the L-shaped bracket  1182  as the knurled outer portion of the knob  1184 . The adjusting knob  1184  may be fixably secured to the adjusting screw  1186  via one or more set screws  1224  threaded through the knurled outer portion of the adjusting knob  1184  and which make locking contact with the adjusting screw  1186 . 
     The lateral or horizontal position of the stop bar  1160  may be adjusted by rotating the adjusting knob  1184 , which, due to the threaded interconnection of the adjustment screw  1186  and the guide member  1210 , will cause the guide member  1210  and the stop bar  1160  connected thereto to be drawn towards or away from the adjusting knob  1184 , depending on the direction in which the adjusting knob  1184  is rotated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18D , the stop bar  1160  may have a plurality of evenly spaced slots  1230  formed therein (some of which are not shown), and each of the retention arms  1162  may extend through a respective one of the slots  1230 . The slots  1230  may be shaped so as to allow the height of the retention arms  1162  to be adjusted. Referring to  FIGS. 18C and 18D , a plurality of mounting blocks  1240  may be mounted to the rear bracing rod  1208  (the front bracing rod  1206  is not shown in  FIG. 18D  for sake of clarity). One mounting block  1240  may be provided for each of the retention arms  1162 . Each mounting block  1240  may be secured to the rear bracing rod  1208  via a locking screw  1242 . Each mounting block  1240  may have a bore formed therein with a vertical height-adjustment rod  1244  passing through the bore. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 18E , the lower end of each height-adjustment rod  1244  may extend into a bore formed in a respective connecting block  1250  and be secured thereto by one or more locking screws  1252 . Each of the connecting blocks  1250  may receive the rear end of a respective one of the retention arms  1162 , with each retention arm  1162  being secured in the connecting block  1250  via one or more locking screws  1254 . 
     Each of the height-adjusting rods  1244  may pass completely through the bore formed in its associated mounting block  1240  so that the elevation of each of the height-adjusting rods  1244  may be moved relative to its associated mounting block  1240  and then secured at a desired elevation by a locking screw  1260 . Thus, the elevation of each of the retention arms  1162  may be independently adjusted. Alternatively, a retention arm adjustment mechanism that simultaneously adjusted the height of all retention arms  1162  could be utilized. 
     Modular Processing Apparatus 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic illustration of a modular informational item processing apparatus  1300  for forming informational items such as outserts. Referring to  FIG. 19 , the modular apparatus  1300  may include an upstream processing unit  1310 , a modular pressing unit  1320 , a modular folding unit  1330 , a modular downstream processing apparatus  1340 . 
     The upstream processing unit  1310  may be, for example, the folding unit  212  shown in  FIG. 8A  or the first (leftmost) folding unit  216  shown in  FIG. 8A . 
     The modular pressing unit  1320  may be the pressing unit  214   a  shown in  FIG. 12  or the pressing unit  214   b  shown in FIGS.  17  and  17 A- 17 C. The modular pressing unit  1320  may be provided with an entry conveyor  1350 , a conveyor support mechanism  1352 , and a support structure  1354 . The conveyor support mechanism  1352  may be an adjustable support mechanism as described above in connection with the pressing unit  214   b  or the conveyor support mechanism  1352  may be a fixed, non-adjustable support mechanism. In either case, the conveyor support mechanism  1352  may support the end of the conveyor  1350  at substantially the same elevation at which informational items exit the upstream processing unit  1310  so that information items can be automatically transferred from the upstream processing unit  1310  to the pressing unit  1320 . 
     The modular folding unit  1330  may be the folding unit  216   a  shown in  FIGS. 13A-13B  or the folding unit  216   b  shown in  FIGS. 18A-18E . The modular folding unit  1330  may be provided with an entry conveyor  1360 , a conveyor support mechanism  1362 , and a support structure  1364 . The conveyor support mechanism  1362  may be an adjustable support mechanism as described above in connection with the folding unit  216   b  or the conveyor support mechanism  1362  may be a fixed, non-adjustable support mechanism. In any case, the conveyor support mechanism  1362  may support the end of the conveyor  1360  at substantially the same elevation at which informational items exit the modular pressing unit  1320  so that information items can be automatically transferred from the pressing unit  1320  to the folding unit  1330 . 
     The downstream processing unit  1340  may be a modular unit such as the bonding unit  218  or the stacking unit  760 . The downstream processing unit  1340  may be provided with an entry conveyor  1370 , a conveyor support mechanism  1372 , and a support structure  1374 . The conveyor support mechanism  1372  may be an adjustable support mechanism as described above in connection with the folding unit  216   b  or the conveyor support mechanism  1372  may be a fixed, non-adjustable support mechanism. In any case, the conveyor support mechanism  1372  may support the end of the conveyor  1370  at substantially the same elevation at which informational items exit the folding unit  1330  so that information items can be automatically transferred from the folding unit  1330  to the processing unit  1340 . 
     The fact that the modular processing units  1320 ,  1330 ,  1340  have separate support structures  1354 ,  1364 ,  1374  contributes to their ability to be connected to and disconnected from upstream processing units. 
     Since each of the structures and acts described above is only exemplary and may be used in various embodiments of the invention, numerous structures and acts described above are intended to be optional. Structures and acts described above can be omitted, and other structures and acts may be substituted therefor. 
     Numerous additional modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. This description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and method may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.