A method in which, while an article is carried with a main portion in contact with a carrying surface and a to-be-folded portion in contact with a folder plate, includes: a first guiding step, wherein a first guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion of the unfolded article, on a side of the carrying surface, in parallel to the carrying surface; a second guiding step, following the first guiding step, wherein a second guide surface, while being in contact with the to-be-folded portion, gradually raises the to-be-folded portion while moving downstream; and a third guiding step, following the second guiding step, wherein a third guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion so that the to-be-folded portion is folded onto the main portion.

A method in which, while an article is carried with a main portion in contact with a carrying surface and a to-be-folded portion in contact with a folder plate, includes: a first guiding step, wherein a first guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion of the unfolded article, on a side of the carrying surface, in parallel to the carrying surface; a second guiding step, following the first guiding step, wherein a second guide surface, while being in contact with the to-be-folded portion, gradually raises the to-be-folded portion while moving downstream; and a third guiding step, following the second guiding step, wherein a third guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion so that the to-be-folded portion is folded onto the main portion.

The present invention provides a system 100 for a paper folding machinery 200. The paper folding machinery 200 includes a roller folding unit, a strip directing The strip directing unit 220 directs a strip 300 received from the roller folding unit 210 in a predefined direction and at least one folding unit 230 folds the strip 300 received from the strip directing 200 unit 220. The system 100 includes a detecting unit 20 and mounting units 30a & 30b. The detecting unit 20 detects misalignment of the strip 300 on the strip directing unit 220 and at least one folding unit 230. Each of the mounting unit 30a and 30b enables movements in at least one direction of the strip directing unit 220 and the folding unit 230 respectively mounted thereon for correcting the misalignment of the strip 300 thereon.

The present invention provides a system 100 for a paper folding machinery 200. The paper folding machinery 200 includes a roller folding unit, a strip directing The strip directing unit 220 directs a strip 300 received from the roller folding unit 210 in a predefined direction and at least one folding unit 230 folds the strip 300 received from the strip directing 200 unit 220. The system 100 includes a detecting unit 20 and mounting units 30a & 30b. The detecting unit 20 detects misalignment of the strip 300 on the strip directing unit 220 and at least one folding unit 230. Each of the mounting unit 30a and 30b enables movements in at least one direction of the strip directing unit 220 and the folding unit 230 respectively mounted thereon for correcting the misalignment of the strip 300 thereon.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a plurality of folding devices, a control unit that controls a job involving a folding process, and an input unit that accepts settings for the job from a user. The input unit accepts, from the user, specification of a priority preference out of a plurality of predetermined preferences related to the folding process. The control unit selects, out of the plurality of folding devices, a folding device that can perform the folding process with the settings for the job made by the user as a target folding device. If a plurality of target folding devices are present, then based on the priority preference, the control unit determines, out of the plurality of target folding devices, a folding device with which to perform the folding process.

A folding device and a folding method are provided. The folding device includes a bearing and fixing mechanism configured to bear and fix a main body portion of a to-be-folded device; a folding mechanism disposed on at least one lateral side of the bearing and fixing mechanism, the folding mechanism being configured to bear a to-be-folded portion of the to-be-folded device and fold the to-be-folded portion to one side in a thickness direction of the main body portion; a first driving mechanism configured to drive the folding mechanism to move along a direction perpendicular to a bearing surface, which bears the main body portion, of the bearing and fixing mechanism; and a second driving mechanism configured to drive the folding mechanism to move close to or away from the bearing and fixing mechanism along a direction parallel to the bearing surface.

An apparatus for diverting and/or folding articles includes an infeed conveyor, an outfeed conveyor, and a diverter. The diverter is a non-contact, fluid emitting diverter, configured to emit a fluid jet to exhibit the diverting force on the impact zone of the article at a side of the article facing away from the outfeed entry. An angle of the average direction of the diverting force of the fluid jet with the outfeed path at the outfeed entry is in the range of 5° to 85°.

A bending system for separating a page from a cover of a value document, wherein the page is connected to a spine of the cover, the spine separating the cover in first and second cover portions, wherein an angle γ is formed between the first and second cover portions. The bending system includes a bending unit connected to a motor, wherein the motor is configured to operate the bending unit such that the bending unit bends the value document to a first state, where γ is larger than 180°, and then back to a second state, where γ is at least 180° but less than γ in the first state, to separate the page from the cover. Also disclosed is an engraving system for engraving a front side and backside of a page of the value document and a document manufacturing device including the bending system and engraving system.

A bending system for separating a page from a cover of a value document, wherein the page is connected to a spine of the cover, the spine separating the cover in first and second cover portions, wherein an angle γ is formed between the first and second cover portions. The bending system includes a bending unit connected to a motor, wherein the motor is configured to operate the bending unit such that the bending unit bends the value document to a first state, where γ is larger than 180°, and then back to a second state, where γ is at least 180° but less than γ in the first state, to separate the page from the cover. Also disclosed is an engraving system for engraving a front side and backside of a page of the value document and a document manufacturing device including the bending system and engraving system.

A biodegradable sampling bag for containing samples or the like, comprises a flexible enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the sample, the flexible enclosure being made of a plastic material, which contains an additive that renders the flexible enclosure biodegradable when exposed for a sufficient period of time to microbial action. The additive is adapted to enable microorganisms to metabolize the molecular structure of said flexible enclosure. The additive is effective in altering the polymer chain of the plastic material to allow microbial action of a suitable environment to colonize in and around the plastic material, whereby microbes can then form a biofilm on a surface of the flexible enclosure and secrete acids which break down the entire polymer chain. The flexible enclosure, when exposed to microbial action, is adapted to withstand biodegradation for a given period of time, typically of at least three months.