Packet ironing system for document folders
AssigneePrintfold Co., Inc.
InventorsWarren S. Funk, Phillip L. Henderson, Christopher K. Cleal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packet ironing system for documents fan-folded into a packet which includes a conveyer path bounded laterally by an ironing plate on one side and an opposite-facing backing plate on the other side, defining a conveyance gap therebetween. The leading end of the ironing plate is rotatable about a vertical axis hinge. An actuator for moving the ironing plate about a point of rotation defined by the hinge alters the gap between the ironing plate and the backing plate. Control means which includes a sensor located downstream of infeed rollers signals the actuator to forceably move the ironing plate against the fan-fold document as the document is pulled through the conveyance gap by the infeed rollers.
Claims7
A packet ironing system for fan-folded documents, comprising;
- a packet conveyor;
- a path along said conveyor bounded laterally by an ironing plate on one side and an opposing backing plate on the other side defining a conveyance gap, said ironing plate being laterally rotatable about a vertical axis hinge;
- actuator means for moving said ironing plate about a point of rotation defined by said hinge to alter the conveyance gap between said ironing plate and said backing plate;
- infeed rollers for moving said packet along said conveyer path;
- sensor means located down-stream of said infeed rollers for detecting the position of said packet along said conveyer path;
- and
- control means for receiving signals from said sensor and signaling said actuator means to move said ironing plate against said fan-folded document as the document is moved through said gap by the infeed rollers.
A method of compacting a folded paper sheet, comprising:
- delivering a folded paper sheet to a conveyor having a conveyance path;
- moving said folded sheet along said path toward folding means to apply a cross fold to said folded sheet;
- and
- pressing said folded sheet between opposing side plates as said folded sheet is moved, said side plates being located just ahead of said rollers and applying a clamp force to opposite sides of said folded sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.