Pleat pack cutter

An apparatus for shearing the knuckles off pleated paper which comprises:

• a source of pleated paper from which a continuous source of pleated paper may be obtained;
• a table with a slot therethrough and having a top on which the paper may ride;
• a pair of parallel tooth roller chains above said table top with the teeth designed to fit into said pleats;
• a tooth sprocket below each said chain and spaced so that the teeth of the chain and of the sprockets mesh and when moved pull the pleated paper;
• a paper pusher for pushing a pleat of the paper through the slot upon the alignment of the pleat and the slot;
• and
• cutting means to cut the knuckle off the pleat when it is pushed through the slot.

An apparatus for shearing the knuckles of pleated paper which comprises:

• a source of pleated paper;
• a table with a slot;
• two paralleled toothed roller chains supported along the top of the table;
• motor means to drive said chains;
• two paralleled toothed sprockets directly under the roller chains with teeth meshing with the teeth of the teeth of the chain so that when the chain is moved, paper can be pulled;
• means to push one pleat at a time through said slot, such means including a cylinder having a drive piston,
• a first proximity switch located on the upper part of said cylinder having an output signal when the cylinder piston is adjacent thereto;
• a second lower proximity switch having an output signal when the piston reaches such switch;
• knife means provided to cut off the knuckle of said pushed pleat;
• an air-cylinder for driving said knife means;
• a third proximity switch having an output signal when said knife means is in its retracted position;
• a fourth proximity switch having an output signal when said knife means is in its extended position;
• means to actuate said knife means when the signal is emitted from said second proximity switch;
• means to drive said pusher upwardly when there is a signal on said fourth proximity switch;
• means to move said servo motor to drive said chain a distance of one pleat when the computer receives signals from said first and third proximity switches and;
• the signal from said fourth proximity switch initiates (a) retraction of the air-cylinder for driving the cutter and (b) initiates lifting the paper pusher.