US 11,858,774 B2
System and method for folding paper carriers with attached cards
Brad Swinford, New Milford, CT (US); and Robert J. Allen, Shelton, CT (US)
Assigned to DMT Solutions Global Corporation, Danbury, CT (US)
Filed by DMT Solutions Global Corporation, Danbury, CT (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/728,314.
Application 17/728,314 is a continuation of application No. 16/731,581, filed on Dec. 31, 2019, granted, now 11,414,294.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242689 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 45/14 (2006.01); B41J 13/12 (2006.01); B65H 29/12 (2006.01); B65H 45/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 45/14 (2013.01) [B41J 13/12 (2013.01); B65H 29/125 (2013.01); B65H 45/04 (2013.01); B65H 2511/224 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for folding a carrier that has at least one card attached thereto, the system comprising:
a paper inlet for receiving a carrier having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the carrier comprising at least one card attached thereto;
a paper path defined, in part, by an interface of one or more drive belts operably coupled to a drive motor configured to cause the one or more drive belts to advance the carrier along the paper path from the paper inlet;
a paper guide positioned along the paper path downstream from the paper inlet;
a feeding nip formed at an interface of a first roller and a second roller and positioned downstream from the paper guide and configured to receive the first portion of the carrier as the carrier advances along the paper path;
a folding nip formed at an interface of the second roller and a third roller and downstream from the feeding nip; and
a movable fold chute configured to transition between a first position and a second position, wherein:
when in the first position, an inner lumen of the fold chute is aligned with the feeding nip and configured to receive at least the first portion of the carrier from the feeding nip without the attached card being bent; and
when in the second position, movement of the fold chute causes a buckle to be formed in the second portion of the carrier and the inner lumen of the fold chute is aligned with the folding nip such that the buckled second portion of the carrier is ingested into the folding nip to thereby create a fold in the second portion without folding the at least one attached card.