Method and apparatus for making fuel elements from newspaper sheets or the like

A method for preparing a fuel element from one or more newspaper sheets or the like comprising the steps of:

• folding said newspaper sheets so that one of the edges of said newspaper sheets is spaced from the opposite edge and substantially parallel thereto;
• rolling said folded newspaper sheets into substantially a cylindrical form;
• tying said rolled sheets to prevent said bundle from unrolling, whereby a single combustible fuel element results;
• and
• wherein said one edge is folded to be approximately 2/3 to 3/4 the distance to the opposite folded edge.

A method for producing a fuel element from newspaper sheets or the like comprising the steps of:

• folding a first set of said sheets together so that one of the edges of said set of sheets is spaced from the opposite edge and is substantially parallel to the opposite edge with each of said edges spaced from its opposite edge in a direction substantially parallel to or in the plane of said sheets so that a portion of the folded set of sheets has a double thickness and another portion has a single thickness,
• rolling said folded set of sheets into a substantially cylindrical form,
• placing said folded and rolled sheets in a fixture to hold them against unrolling,
• preparing additional similarly folded and rolled sets of sheets,
• placing said additional folded and rolled sheets in said fixture,
• and tying all said folded and rolled sheets in a single bundle to form a fuel element.