Method and apparatus for wrapping a folio ream of paper

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wrapping a folio ream. The method includes pre-creasing a wrap sheet and driving the ream into the wrap sheet toward a fold position. A bubble of wrap is formed in the wrap sheet, which is cut while the ream advances, such that a lower flap of the wrap sheet extends beyond the rear edge of the ream. An upper flap fold is formed on the rear edge of the ream, and glue is applied to the lower flap as it is held flat via a vacuum. The lower flap of the wrap sheet is then folded in an upward direction, while the vacuum simultaneously applies a force to an opposite side of the lower flap to keep it flat during folding. The ream is reversed to compress the glue between the lower and upper flaps, forming a rear edge seam on the folio ream.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for wrapping a folio ream of paper to form a rear edge seam, the apparatus comprising:
 a first station having a lower infeed conveyor, an upper infeed conveyor, and a folio ream disposed on the lower infeed conveyor and nipped by the upper infeed conveyor;   a second station having a pre-creased wrap sheet and a pair of vacuum belts that hold the wrap sheet before the folio ream is driven through the wrap sheet, the second station also having a cutting mechanism for cutting the wrap sheet after a bubble of wrap is formed in the wrap sheet; and   a third station having an upper intermediate conveyor, a lower intermediate conveyor, a fold position, an upper folding unit, and a lower folding unit, the lower folding unit having a vacuum, the vacuum providing a force on a bottom surface of the lower flap to maintain a flat position of the lower flap;   the lower and upper infeed conveyors arranged to actuate the folio in a downstream direction or an upstream direction.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the upper folding unit and the lower folding unit are controlled by dual axis servos. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the upper intermediate conveyor and the lower intermediate conveyor are servo actuated and controlled, and the upper and lower intermediate conveyors are adapted to run at an equal speed and an equal acceleration and have an equal position via synchronized servo motors. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a transversal glue unit for applying glue to the inner surface of the lower flap, the transversal glue unit having a glue head that is servo controlled and lowered via pneumatics to apply the glue at a consistent distance from the lower flap. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the vacuum of the lower folding unit further holds the glue away from the upper folding unit as the lower flap is bonded to the upper flap fold. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the upper folding unit includes an axis and the lower folding unit includes an axis, the axes move together when the upper folding unit is moved in a downward direction and the lower folding unit is moved in an upward direction, and a small gap is maintained between the axes. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the glue passes through the small gap. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lower folding unit further includes a front face having a compliant material, such that when the ream is reversed the glue is compressed between the ream and the compliant material. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled)