Claims
- 1. Apparatus for continuously forming a stand-up or bed bottom in an article of manufacture made of sheet material having precreases for forming said stand-up bottom, comprising a drive device for transporting said sheet material through said apparatus in a feed advance direction, and a back folding mechanism (55, 56) cooperating with said drive device for folding a first portion (43) of said sheet material about a first precrease (33, 34) in a direction opposite to said feed advance direction (A), and for folding a second portion (8, 9, 10) of said sheet material forming part of said stand-up bottom about a second precrease (27, 28) in said feed advance directions (A), whereby a zig-zag fold is formed, wherein said back folding mechanism comprises at least one suction member (55) for lifting said second portion (8, 9, 10) while said sheet material is advancing, whereby said first portion (43) is folded back opposite to said feed advance direction and said second portion (8, 9, 10) is folded forward, and at least one folding member positioned for cooperation with said suction element (55) in producing said zig-zag fold.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said back folding mechanism comprises a plurality of suction elements (55A, 55B, 55C) for lifting said second portion while said sheet material is advancing, whereby said first portion (43) is folded back opposite to said feed advance direction and said second portion (8, 9, 10) is folded forward, and a plurality of folding knives positioned for cooperation with said plurality of suction elements in producing said zig-zag fold.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising first and second journals (59, 60) and first and second tilting arms (57, 58) respectively mounted to said journals, each of said suction elements (55) being mounted to a free end of a respective first tilting arm (57), each of said folding knives being mounted to a free end of a respective second tilting arm (58), so that said suction elements and said folding knives are tiltable about the respective journal with the respective tilting arm forming a tilt radius, and drive means for operating said tilting arms.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first and second tilting arms are so mounted relative to each other that said first tilting arms extend approximately perpendicularly to said second tilting arms and vice versa in a rest position and in a working position of said arms.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of said journals (59, 60) has a journal axis extending in parallel to a plane defined by said sheet material and cross-wise to said feed advance direction.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said journal axes are extending in parallel to each other.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said folding member or members has a folding edge (65) pointing substantially in said feed advance direction.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said folding member has a forward folding edge that contacts said first precrease (33, 34).
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article has a back side and said second portion (8, 9, 10) forms a bottom flap (10) as part of said back side, said suction member (55) being so positioned that it contacts an outwardly facing surface of said bottom flap (10) for lifting said bottom flap (10).
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising drive means (57, 59, 57A, 59A) connected to said suction member (55) for operating said suction member (55) so that said suction member (55) is first lifted with said bottom flap (10) as said feed advance continues and then again lowering said suction member (55) with said bottom flap (10) to complete said zig-zag fold.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said drive means lift and lower said suction member (55) at least partly along an approximately linear motion path.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive device comprises a drive roller (48, 48A) positioned below said back folding mechanism.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said drive roller has suction openings in its circumferential surface for transporting articles.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
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Kind |
43 17 071.4 |
May 1993 |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. Ser. No.: 07/839,108, filed on Feb. 20, 1992, entitled: METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCING ENVELOPES, BAGS, AND SHIPPING POUCHES, AND THE PRODUCT SO PRODUCED; refiled as FWC No. 08/240,540, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,302; issued Dec. 26, 1995.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
839108 |
Feb 1992 |
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