Embodiments of the present invention provide new and improved folding apparatuses and methods for interfolding a continuous stream of sheets into a single-fold interfolded pattern of sheets while passing all of the sheets substantially along a single sheet path. More particularly, all sheets in the continuous stream of sheets pass through the nips between adjacent components.

A sheet folding device includes a sheet conveyance path, first and second side plates, a first folding roller pair, a first folding guide, and a guide drive mechanism. The first folding guide is reciprocatable between a folding position and a retracted position, and includes a guide main body and first and second arms provided respectively at both ends of the guide main body. The guide drive mechanism includes a drive source provided on the first side plate, a first drive transmission portion that transmits a drive force of the drive source to the first arm, a second drive transmission portion that transmits the drive force to the second arm, and a drive coupling portion that couples the first drive transmission portion to the second drive transmission portion and transmits the drive force from the first drive transmission portion to the second drive transmission portion.

A recording medium processing apparatus that performs processing on a recording medium bundle includes an advancing member that advances from a side facing one surface of the recording medium bundle toward the recording medium bundle and presses the recording medium bundle; a transporter that transports the recording medium bundle to a downstream side in a direction of movement of the recording medium bundle so that a portion of the recording medium bundle that is being pressed by the advancing member moves ahead of other portions; and a processor configured to change at least one of an advancing velocity of the advancing member and a transport velocity at which the recording medium bundle is transported by the transporter on a basis of medium information, which is information on the recording medium bundle, and/or apparatus information, which is information on the recording medium processing apparatus.

A collation folding device comprising one or more fold rollers mounted in fixed positions. Below and adjacent to the fold rollers are adjustable nip rollers to form nip spacing between the rollers. The adjustable nip roller is mounted on a nip axis shaft. An adjustment mechanism is used for moving the nip axis shaft to adjust the nip spacing. The nip adjustment mechanism includes a bearing block cam follower on which the nip axis shaft is fixedly mounted and supported. An eccentric cam in operative contact with the bearing block cam follower. Rotation of the eccentric cam on the eccentric cam axis drives the bearing block cam follower in its linear motion to adjust the nip spacing.

A postprocessing device includes a pair of folding rollers, a folding blade, a transport device, a roller driver, a blade driver, and a drive controller. The drive controller selectively performs one of a first rotation control, including controlling the roller driver to keep rotation speed of the pair of folding rollers constant, while the folding blade is moving away from a nip region, and a second rotation control, including controlling the roller driver to stop the rotation or slow down the rotation speed of the pair of folding rollers, while a tip portion of the folding blade is being withdrawn from a folded portion of a sheaf of sheets folded, and to restore the rotation speed of the pair of folding rollers to original rotation speed, after the tip portion of the folding blade has been removed from the folded portion of the sheaf of sheets folded.

A machine (1) for producing packages of napkins, tissues, towels, or similar products, comprises a support frame (100) to support a feeding group (10) which feeds a first and a second web of paper (5a, 5b). The support frame (100) supports, furthermore, a cutting group (20) which cuts the first and second webs of paper (5a, 5b) respectively in a first and a second plurality of sheets (6) of predetermined length, and a folding or interfolding group (30) which folds or interfolds the sheets of paper (6) at a folding or interfolding zone, (35) in such a way to obtain a stack (150) of folded or interfolded sheets, according to a predetermined folding or interfolding configuration. The cutting group (20) and the folding or interfolding group (30) are mounted on the same support body (110) to move between an assembled position in which is supported by the support frame (100), and a disassembled position, in which is not supported by the support frame (100). A displacement group (50) is, furthermore, provided to displace the support body (110) between the assembled position and the disassembled position. The displacement group (50) and the support body (110) are provided with respective engagement portions (58,118) to engage with each other in such a way to allow the displacement group (50) to displace the support body (110) between the assembled position and the disassembled position

To prevent or suppress cutting of paper with a simple configuration in a creasing device (100), the creasing device (100) includes a receiving member (120) including a groove (124) extending in a width direction (Y) of paper (300), a rotary blade (135) that is movable at a constant height along the groove (124), and a movement mechanism (180) configured to move the rotary blade (135) along the groove (124). The groove in an outside range (124a) in the width direction (Y) is wider than the groove in an inside range (124b) in the width direction (Y). The outside range (124a) in the width direction (Y) corresponds to at least one of the first and second edges (302, 303) of the paper (300) in the width direction (Y) that is located on a side where the rotary blade (135) starts contacting the paper (300) when the rotary blade (135) moves along the groove (124).

A sheet folding device includes two rollers, a blade, two parallel pins, and two gears. The first and second parallel pins are passed through first and second pin through-holes penetrating through first and second shaft portions in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the shaft portions. The first and second gears have first and second shaft through-holes through which the first and second shaft portions are passed, and first and second grooves in which the first and second parallel pins are inserted, respectively. Projection portions formed on inner side wall of the second groove and projecting from both sides of the second shaft portion cause the second parallel pin to closely contact a side wall that is, in the second groove, opposite to the projection portions, and cause the second parallel pin to closely contact a portion of the second pin through-hole.

A sheet folder includes a conveyance roller pair, first, second and third folding rollers, a guide, and circuitry. The conveyance roller pair conveys a sheet in a conveyance direction at a first speed. The first folding roller is downstream from the conveyance roller pair. The second and third folding rollers are in contact with the first folding roller to form first and second nips, respectively, with the first folding roller, and rotate along with the first folding roller. The guide is between the conveyance roller pair and the first nip in the conveyance direction, and is changeable between first and second postures. The circuitry is to control the guide to guide the sheet to the first nip and change the posture to the second posture to fold the sheet into the second nip, and control the first folding roller to rotate at a second speed and folds the sheet.

A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyance passage along which a sheet is conveyed and a driving roller and a driven roller that are arranged opposite each other across a folding conveyance passage branching off the sheet conveyance passage and that are kept in pressed contact with each other. The sheet post-processing apparatus double-folds the sheet passing through a nip portion between the driving and driven rollers and conveys the double-folded sheet. The nip portion is formed with one of the driving and driven rollers pivoting about a pivoting shaft to be pressed against the other. To one of the rotation shaft of the driving roller and the pivoting shaft, the driving shaft of the driving motor is directly coupled. The other of the rotation shaft of the driving roller and the pivoting shaft is coupled to the driving shaft via a driving transmission gear.