Method and apparatus for reducing noise in a folding machine

(19)

(11)

EP 1 022 246 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	23.05.2001 Bulletin 2001/21

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	26.07.2000 Bulletin 2000/30

(21)	Application number: 99125914.4

(22)	Date of filing: 23.12.1999

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: B65H 45/14

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

24.12.1998 US 220512

(71)	Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC.
	Stamford, Connecticut 06926-0700 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Belec, Eric A. Southbury, CT 06458 (US) Farrell, Michael M. Naugatuck, CT 06770 (US) Gateman, Jeffrey A. Gates Ferry, CT 06335 (US) Jacobson, Gary S. East Norwalk, CT 06855 (US) Stefan, Christopher J. Derby, CT 06418 (US)

(74)	Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE
	Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)

(54)	Method and apparatus for reducing noise in a folding machine

(57) A method for folding a media (3) in a folding machine includes the steps of moving the media in the folding machine using at least one feeding/folding roller combination (5,7); transporting the media into a buckle chute (21); decelerating the media within the buckle chute using a smart nip roller configuration (23,25) while continuing to move the media with the feeding/folding roller combination to form a buckle in the media without the use of a backstop in the buckle chute; and pulling the media from the buckle chute and the feeding/folding roller combination to form a folded panel in the media.

Search report