Zigzag folding apparatus having web cutter means

A zigzag folding apparatus, comprising a machine frame, means at a folding station for zigzag folding a continuous web along spaced apart foldlines thereof into a zigzag fold of interconnected web segments, conveyor means on said frame for supporting and transporting the zigzag fold edgewise in a forward direction from said folding station to a discharge station, the zigzag fold having a forward leaning attitude on said conveyor means, an apparatus for separating the interconnected web segments along selected foldlines thereof form groups of interconnected, folded web segments before reaching the discharge station, said separating apparatus comprising a web cutting device including a flexible web cutting element and means for moving said element between extended and retracted positions between selected folds of the webs, said element being angled essentially to said forward leaning attitude to permit entry of said element between adjacent web segments in an initial extended position thereof, said web cutting device being mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said forward direction to permit said cutting element to pivot and due to its flexibility to flex for matching the attitude of the moving zigzag fold after said entry thereof to effect web separation, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of first conveyors movable at a predetermined speed, a second conveyor movable at a speed lower than said predetermined speed, said second conveyor being initially retracted relative to one of said first conveyors and being located adjacent said discharge station, means for shifting a portion of said second conveyor relative to said one conveyor for supporting the zigzag fold by said portion to delay movement to said discharge station for achieving groups of scales.