Patent ID: 7402130

Claim:
An apparatus for folding and stacking a continuous web comprising: a folding and stacking mechanism that outputs folded continuous web defining a plurality of zigzag folded pages to a folding area; a compression plate assembly that projects into a portion of the folding area at predetermined times to interfere with movement of edges of the folded pages past the compression plate assembly; a supporting mechanism that moves cyclically away from the compression plate assembly and toward the compression plate assembly to cause the edges of the folded pages in a stack supported between the compression plate assembly and the supporting mechanism to pressurably engage and be compressed by the compression plate assembly; a temporary support assembly that extends into the folding area when the continuous web is separated so as to support the folded pages of a leading end of the separated web while the folded pages of the trailing end of the separated web are directed away by the supporting mechanism in the stack to a stack transfer location; and wherein the compression plate assembly includes spring-loaded compression plates that move upwardly against a bias force of springs in response to pressurable engagement with the stack so as to compress the stack.