Patent ID: 7329221

Claim:
A folding machine for folding material, comprising: a first rotating folding roll; and a second rotating folding roll positioned adjacent to the first rotating folding roll, wherein the first and second folding rolls each include a plurality of alternating tucker assemblies and gripper assemblies, wherein one of the plurality of gripper assemblies of one of the first and second folding rolls is positioned to interact with one of the plurality of tucker assemblies of the other folding roll for folding the material therebetween, and wherein at least one of the plurality of gripper assemblies comprises: a blade; a shaft configured to rotate the blade, wherein the shaft defines a pair of ends, and wherein each end of the shaft has a circular cross section; a pair of spaced apart bearings carried by the roll and located one at each end of the shaft, wherein each bearing includes a series of bearing members that rotatably support the shaft on the roll, wherein the bearing members engage an outer surface defined by the circular cross section of the shaft at the ends of the shaft; one or more mounting members interposed between the blade and the shaft; wherein the shaft defines a circular cross section at the location of each mounting member, and wherein each mounting member includes an arcuate inner surface that engages a facing arcuate outer area of the shaft defined by the circular cross section of the shaft, wherein the shaft includes one or more transverse passages, each of which extends inwardly into the shaft from the arcuate outer area of the shaft at the location of each mounting member; and a plurality of fasteners configured to couple the blade to the shaft, wherein each fastener extends through the blade and the mounting member into one of the transverse passages to secure the blade and the mounting member to the shaft.