Method and system for directing an item through the feed path of a folding apparatus

In a feed path of a folding machine wherein a piece of folded material having a folded end and an opposing open end moves in a traveling direction with the folded end leading the open end, an apparatus operable in a first mode for maintaining the traveling direction of the folded material and a second mode for reversing the traveling direction, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) A turn chute having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first side and an opposing second side located between the front end and the rear end, wherein the first side and the second side define a front gap at the front end and a rear gap at the rear end;
• (b) a first nip located at the front gap adjacent the first side of the turn chute for ingesting the folded material into the turn chute through the front gap with the folded end of the folded material leading the open end;
• (c) a stop located at the rear end of the turn chute, wherein
• (i) the stop is operable in an out position removed from the rear gap when the apparatus is operated in the first mode in order to allow the folded material to move out of the turn chute through the rear gap, thereby maintaining the traveling direction of the folded material, and wherein
• (ii) the stop is operable in an in position blocking the rear gap when the apparatus is operated in the second mode in order to keep the open end of the ingested folded material from moving out of the rear gap;
• (d) a second nip located at the front gap adjacent the second side of the turn chute;
• and
• (e) means for urging the open end of the ingested folded material to move toward the second nip after the folded material has been moved into the turn chute and become disengaged from the first nip when the apparatus is operated in the second mode so as to cause the open end of the ingested folded material to be engaged with the second nip in order for the second nip to move the ingested folded material out of the turn chute.