Apparatus for folding pluralities of product webs advancing along parallel paths

An article folding apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of side frames to support;
• means for advancing a web,
• means to slit said web into a pluraliuty of juxtaposed product width webs,
• means to longitudinally fold, turn, advance and cut said webs into segments,
• means to advance said segments along a carrier cylinder path,
• a carrier
• means intermediate one of said side frame pluralities to support;
• means to meter advancement of at least two pluralties of said juxtaposed longitudinally folded product webs, at a speed slower than the surface speed of said carrier,
• a plurality of means to cut said product webs into segments, each of said means circumferentially spaced at least one product repeat from the other of said segment cutting means, each including a cooperating anvil/knife roll couple,
• each of said anvil rolls including low vacuum apertures for slipping advancement of said slower speed web, and high vacuum apertures for gripping advancement of said cut segment at a speed equal to the surface speed of said carrier,
• said anvil roll including high vacuum conduits communicating with surface apertures and a vacuum source via a cooperating valve means to grip, uplift, and release a leading portion of a segment.
• said carrier cylinder including means to secure and advance a trailing portion of said segment, said means including conduits arranged along a transverse line on said carrier cylinder and in communication with surface ports and a vacuum source,
• said anvil roll including means to interrupt said vacuum to release said leading panel for folded superposition over said trailing portions to complete a fold as said trailing portions advance.
• means to remove said folded segment from said carrier path.