Patent ID: 8545658

Claim:
A method for fabricating pleat packs used in the formation of circumferentially pleated filter sleeves, the method comprising the acts of: positioning a pleating machine proximate a substantially horizontal contact surface; delivering continuous upstanding pleat packs of a predetermined pleat formation from the pleating machine to the horizontal contact surface, the predetermined pleat formation comprising adjoining upstanding pleats each comprising a first pleat leg and a second pleat leg, wherein the first pleat leg of each upstanding pleat does not overlap the second pleat leg of an adjoining upstanding pleat; guiding the continuous upstanding pleat packs received from the pleating machine into a flattened condition on the substantially horizontal contact surface; securing the pleat packs in the flattened condition; and after securing, forming the flattened pleat packs into a predetermined length for subsequent formation into sleeves of circumferential pleats.