Folding machine and operation method of the same

Abstract

A paper folding machine includes: a conveyor belt configured to transport a sheet; a stopper configured to abut against the leading end of the sheet to stop the sheet; a knife having an elongated shape and configured to move onto a folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper; a guide made of a rigid material and configured to hold the sheet between the conveyor belt and the guide and press the sheet transported to the stopper; and a lifting mechanism configured to adjust the clearance between the guide and the conveyor belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A folding machine comprising:
 a conveyor belt configured to transport a sheet;   a stopper configured to abut against the leading end of the sheet to stop the sheet;   a knife having an elongated shape and configured to move onto a folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper;   at least one guide made of a rigid material and configured to hold the sheet between the conveyor belt and the guide and press the sheet transported to the stopper; and   a clearance adjusting unit configured to adjust the clearance between the guide and the conveyor belt.   
     
     
         2 . The folding machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the guide has an elongated shape extending in a transport direction of the conveyor belt, and a plurality of guides are provided in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction, and   wherein the position in the orthogonal direction of each of the guides is variable.   
     
     
         3 . The folding machine according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the knife is fixed to a body, and   wherein the guides are arranged on both sides of the knife, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The folding machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the guides is expandable in a longitudinal direction along the transport direction. 
     
     
         5 . The folding machine according to  claim 1  further comprising a control unit configured to adjust the clearance defined by the clearance adjusting unit. 
     
     
         6 . An operation method of a folding machine, wherein the folding machine comprises
 a conveyor belt configured to transport a sheet,   a stopper configured to abut against the leading end of the sheet to stop the sheet,   a knife having an elongated shape and configured to move onto a folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper, and   at least one guide made of a rigid material and configured to hold the sheet between the conveyor belt and the guide and press the sheet transported to the stopper,   the operation method comprising a clearance adjusting step of adjusting the clearance between the guide and the conveyor belt.   
     
     
         7 . The operation method of the folding machine according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the guide has an elongated shape extending in a transport direction of the conveyor belt, and a plurality of guides are provided in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction, and   wherein the position in the orthogonal direction of each of the guides is variable.   
     
     
         8 . The operation method of the folding machine according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the knife is fixed to a body, and   wherein the guides are arranged on both sides of the knife, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . The operation method of the folding machine according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the guides is expandable in a longitudinal direction along the transport direction.