Folding machine

摘要

A folding machine includes a vacuum conveyor and a plurality of flip folders spaced along the length of the conveyor. A length of sheet material is fed downstream along the conveyor to position the lead end of the sheet in clamp members at a first flip folder. The end is clamped and rotated downstream and up above the remainder of the sheet which is continuously fed down the conveyor. The clamps are released to allow the lead end to fall over the trailing edge of the sheet, thereby completing a first fold which reduces the length of the sheet 50 percent. Successive lead ends of the sheet are folded by second and third flip folders to reduce the length of the sheet to +E,fra 1/8+EE the length of the original sheet and increase the thickness of the sheet to eight plies. The final folded bundle is fed to a tuck folder which further reduces the length of the package 50 percent forming a folded package +E,fra 1/16+EE the length of the original sheet and having 16 plies.