Sheet folding systems and methods
AssigneeFirst Data Corporation
InventorsJon A. Gates, Fred C. Casto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides exemplary sheet folding systems and methods, including systems and methods for printing on a continuous sheet, and removing and folding individual sheets from the continuous sheet. In one embodiment, a sheet folding system (100) includes a separator (200) adapted to separate an individual sheet from a continuous form sheet, a receiver (300) adapted for receiving the individual sheet, a first folder (500) adapted to perform a first fold of the individual sheet, and a second folder (800) adapted to perform a second fold of the individual sheet. In some embodiments, the first and second folders include two different types of folders.
Claims27
A sheet folding system comprising:
- a separator adapted to separate an individual sheet from a continuous form sheet;
- a receiver adapted for receiving said individual sheet;
- a first folder, said first folder adapted to perform a first fold of said individual sheet;
- a second folder, said second folder adapted to perform a second fold of said individual sheet, wherein the first and second folders comprise two different types of folders;
- and
- a sheet transfer mechanism coupled to and between the first folder and the second folder, the sheet transfer mechanism defining a generally right angle alignment between the first and second folders to reduce a system footprint.
A sheet folding system comprising:
- a receiver adapted for receiving a sheet to be folded;
- and
- a knife folder coupled to said receiver and adapted to perform a first fold of said sheet, said knife folder comprising:
- a knife blade coupled to a pneumatic movement mechanism;
- a pair of rollers adapted to at least partially receive said knife blade and said sheet therebetween;
- and
- a deflector positioned on a side of said pair of rollers that is generally opposite said knife blade, said deflector adapted to deflect said sheet having said first fold;
- a second folder coupled to the knife folder and adapted to perform a second fold of the sheet, wherein the second fold is generally orthogonal to the first fold;
- and
- an inserter coupled to the second folder, the inserter adapted for inserting the folded sheet into an envelope.
A method of folding a sheet of paper, said method comprising:
- printing on a continuous form sheet;
- separating an individual sheet from said continuous form sheet;
- performing a first fold of said individual sheet with a knife folder;
- and
- performing a second fold of said individual sheet with a second folder, wherein the second folder is not a knife folder;
- wherein the first and second folds are generally orthogonal to each other.
A method of folding a sheet of paper, the method comprising:
- printing on a continuous form sheet;
- separating an individual sheet from the continuous form sheet;
- performing a first fold of the individual sheet with a knife folder;
- and
- performing a second fold of the individual sheet with a second folder;
- wherein the individual sheet further comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first fold is positioned between the first and second portions;
- and
- wherein the printing comprises printing a customer statement on the first portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.