A collating machine for gathering a plurality of folded sheet product into a complete product, each of said plurality of product being folded into folded portions, said collating machine comprising:
- a frame;
- conveying means mounted to said frame for carrying said folded sheet product in only one predetermined conveying direction, said conveying means having two continuous drive elements mounted to said frame and a forward turn-round end, said drive elements moving in spaced drive planes, respectively;
- a plurality of driver bars spaced between said two continuous drive elements, said plurality of driver bars extending perpendicular to said conveying direction and perpendicular to said spaced drive planes of said continuous drive elements;
- means for mounting said two continuous drive elements to said frame;
- means for stitching said complete product mounted adjacent to said forward turn-round end of said conveying means, said stitching means further being mounted transverse to said spaced drive planes for stitching said complete product in the conveying direction of both drive elements, said stitching means further comprising a reciprocally movable counter-piece member located adjacent to said stitching means such that the driver bars may pass between said counter-piece member and said stitching means, said counter-piece member further being movable into said folded sheet product to cause said folded sheet product to move towards said stitching means;
- means for reciprocally moving said counter-piece member with respect to the drive elements and drive bars, said moving means located adjacent said frame for cooperation therewith;
- first means for delivering a plurality of said folded sheet product to said driver bars, said first delivery means mounted above said conveying means and having an axis of orientation extending substantially horizontal and perpendicular to said conveying direction, such that said folded sheet product is deposited on said driver bars with the fold leading, while said folded sheet product surrounds a respective driver bar;
- and
- at least one additional means for delivering a plurality of said folded sheet product to said driver bars, said at least one additional delivery means mounted above said conveying means, each of said at least one additional delivery means having an axis of orientation extending substantially horizontal and perpendicular to said conveying direction, such that said folded sheet product is deposited on the folded sheet product delivered by said first delivery means in timed relationship to said first delivery means, said folded sheet product of said at least one additional delivering means being deposited on said folded sheet product of said first delivery means with the fold leading, while said folded product surrounds the product previously delivered by said first delivery means, such that as said first and at least one additional delivery means deliver said folded sheet products, said conveying means gathers said sheet product into said complete product, which is stitched by said means for stitching.