Importance

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Abstract

A device for folding paperboard blanks, the device including folding rails for supporting the blanks traveling through the device which define a path of travel for the blanks and a conveyor for conveying the blanks through the device. The device further includes a first operator side elongated helix folding assembly rotatably supported at each end, a second operator side elongated helix folding assembly rotatably supported at each end and aligned with the first operator side helix folding assembly, a first drive side elongated helix folding assembly rotatably supported at each end, and a second drive side elongated helix folding assembly rotatably supported at each end and aligned with the first drive side helix folding assembly. Actuators are connected to the ends of each second helix folding assembly for translating the ends either toward and away or above and below the blank path. A servo motor having a resolver may be connected to each helix folding assembly for rotating it to fold the blanks. An incremental motion controller which determines and stores the position of the helix folding assemblies from data obtained from the servo motor resolvers may also be provided. A target may be disposed on each helix folding assembly and a proximity sensor located adjacent each helix folding assembly for detecting the presence of its associated target for determining the home position of each helix folding assembly.

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First Claim