Patent ID: 7976002

Claim:
A gatherer-stitcher, comprising: a folded-sheet feeder; a transporting configuration; and an apparatus for transferring folded sheets from said feeder to said transporting configuration; said apparatus having a plurality of shafts or drums with grippers for gripping the folded sheets; said apparatus opening the folded sheets and placing the folded sheets astride said transporting configuration; said apparatus having a blowing configuration subjecting a folded sheet to a surge of air in time with a folded-sheet transportation, as the folded sheet is transferred from one shaft or drum to another, to ensure that the folded sheet is not missed by at least one of said grippers, said blowing configuration including nozzles rotating with one of said shafts or drums; and said blowing configuration being configured to direct said surge of air obliquely onto an overfold of the folded sheet and force said overfold onto at least one of said grippers.