John A. McCabe, Sheboygan Falls, WI; Gottfried Jason Hohm, Sheboygan Falls, WI; Anthony A. Nelson, New Holstein, WI; and Zachary J. Giffey, Plymouth, WI.
Assigned to Curt G. Joa, Inc., Sheboygan Falls, WI.

Filed: 3/20/19
Issued: 7/27/21

A method for folding discrete items, the method comprising: conveying an item in a machine direction via a feed conveyor; engaging a first side of a leading portion of the item with a first drum positioned adjacent the feed conveyor, the first drum rotating the leading portion in a first rotational direction; contacting a folding location of the item with a folding finger oriented in a cross-machine direction and traveling in the machine direction; timing movement of the folding finger such that the folding finger is positioned within a notched portion formed in the first drum as the folding finger travels between the first drum and the feed conveyor, so as to allow for passage of the folding finger past the first drum; releasing the first side of the leading portion of the item from the first drum; engaging a second side of the item with a second drum positioned adjacent the first drum and downstream therefrom in the machine direction, the second drum rotating the item in the first rotational direction; and releasing the second side of the leading portion from the second drum to fold the leading portion of the item onto a trailing portion of the item, with the item remaining on the feed conveyor after folding the leading portion onto the trailing portion.