Buckling-type paper sheet folder with protective housing

A buckling-type folding machine comprising:

• a cylinder frame;
• a plurality of folding cylinders rotatably mounted to said frame for moving a sheet to be folded in a sheet path;
• first folding pocket means mounted for receiving a sheet on one side of said frame;
• second folding pocket means mounted on an opposite side of said frame and at a vertical level different from a level of said first folding pocket means;
• each of said first and second folding pocket means including a bottom wall and a displaceable sheet stop movable to establish a position at which a sheet fed by said plurality of rollers is stopped in respective pocket of said first and second pocket means;
• a housing substantially surrounding said first and second pocket means and said cylinder frame;
• said housing comprising a base which includes said bottom walls of said first and second folding pocket means, a box-like compartment defined between said bottom walls shaped to receive said cylinder frame, said cylinder frame disposed in said box-like compartment, said base including two lateral vertical walls between which said cylinder frame is disposed, said lateral vertical walls having upper edges;
• said housing also comprising a cover removably mounted to said base and defining a space with said base for substantially surrounding said cylinder frame and said first and second folding pocket means, said cover comprising a first cover wall extending above said first folding pocket means and including a wall portion projecting toward said cylinder frame and defining an upper edge of an intake opening into said space, said cover including a second cover wall extending over said second folding pocket means and defining a lower edge of said intake opening, said cover including a front wall connected to said second cover wall and extending downwardly of said second cover wall to said base, said cover including two lateral vertical side walls having lower edges engageable with said upper edges of said base and defining with said upper edges a parting line between said base and cover with said space closed, said parting line extending at least partly on a plane of a pocket of one of said first and second folding pocket means.