Folder and method of operating the same

Abstract

To provide a folding machine capable of suppressing floating of a sheet as much as possible when the sheet is stopped by a stopper.SOLUTION: The paper folding machine includes a conveyor belt 16 that conveys paper, a stopper 18 that comes into contact with a leading end of the paper S to stop the paper S, a long knife 10 that advances to a folding position of the paper S stopped by the stopper 18, a guide 14 that is a rigid body that holds the paper S between the guide 14 and the conveyor belt 16 and presses the paper S conveyed to the stopper 18, and a lifting mechanism 30 that adjusts a gap between the guide 14 and the conveyor belt 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding machine for folding sheets of paper, for example, and a method for operating the same. [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1, a paper folder (folding machine) is known that folds paper by advancing a knife against the paper (sheet) and pinching the paper between folding rollers. The paper folder is provided with a stopper that stops the paper being transported by a conveyor belt. When the leading edge of the paper collides with the stopper, the impact can cause the paper to lift up. For this reason, Patent Document 1 reduces the paper transport speed before it collides with the stopper to prevent the paper from lifting up. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5522805 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is also effective to suppress the paper from floating up by weakening the impact force between the stopper and the paper, as in Patent Document 1. However, as the paper becomes thinner or the size of the paper increases, the paper bends (waviness) more during transport, and adjusting the transport speed may not be enough to suppress the paper from floating up.

[0005] It is also possible to hold down the paper using a brush, but if the thickness of the paper or the number of layers (number of folds in a signature, etc.) changes, the brush cannot finely adjust the gap through which the paper passes, and there is a risk that the paper may not be properly prevented from floating up when the leading edge of the paper hits the stopper.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a folding machine and an operating method thereof that can minimize the lifting of sheets when stopped by a stopper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the folding machine and the operating method thereof of the present invention employ the following means.

[0008] A folding machine according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a conveyor belt for transporting a sheet, a stopper for contacting the leading edge of the sheet to stop the sheet, a long knife for advancing toward the folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper, a rigid guide for sandwiching the sheet between the conveyor belt and the stopper and holding the sheet transported to the stopper, and a gap adjustment unit for adjusting the gap between the guide and the conveyor belt.

[0009] When the leading edge of a sheet conveyed by a conveyor belt comes into contact with a stopper, a guide prevents the sheet from floating up. A long knife then advances toward the sheet, folding it by, for example, guiding the sheet to folding rollers arranged opposite the sheet and pinching it between them. Because the guide is rigid and has a smaller amount of elastic deformation than when an elastic body such as a brush is used, the gap between the conveyor belt and the guide can be accurately determined. Furthermore, the gap between the conveyor belt and the guide is adjusted using a gap adjuster, so the gap dimension can be adjusted appropriately depending on the sheet thickness and number of layers (number of sheet folds). This allows the sheet stop position to be accurately determined for any sheet thickness or number of layers, enabling precise knife folding. Because the gap can be adjusted with precision, this system is particularly effective when the sheet is thin or large, resulting in significant sheet deflection. As the rigid guide, for example, a metal guide can be used. The sheet typically includes paper.

[0010] Furthermore, in the folding machine according to one aspect of the present invention, the guide is elongated and extends in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, and a plurality of guides are provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, The position of each of the guides in the orthogonal direction is variable.

[0011] A plurality of elongated guides extending in the conveying direction are provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, thereby making it possible to suppress lifting of the sheet not only in the conveying direction but also in the perpendicular direction. Since the position of each guide in the orthogonal direction is variable, the position of the guide can be set appropriately according to the size of the sheet in the orthogonal direction, thereby making it possible to accommodate sheets of various sizes.

[0012] Furthermore, in the folding machine according to one aspect of the present invention, the knife is fixed to the main body, and the guides are arranged on both sides of the knife.

[0013] Since the knife is fixed to the main body, the folding position of the sheet by the knife is determined relative to the main body. Multiple guides are arranged on both sides of the knife. This allows the knife to be positioned approximately in the center of the width direction of the sheet (the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction), and the sheet to be accurately positioned at the stopping position.

[0014] Furthermore, in the folding machine according to one aspect of the present invention, each of the guides is extendable and contractible in the longitudinal direction along the conveying direction.

[0015] Since each guide is extendable in the longitudinal direction along the conveying direction, the length of the guide can be set appropriately according to the size of the sheet in the conveying direction, making it possible to accommodate sheets of various sizes. For example, by making the guide a sheath tube structure made up of a cylindrical portion and a core portion inserted into the cylindrical portion, the guide can be made to expand and contract in the longitudinal direction.

[0016] Furthermore, the folding machine according to one aspect of the present invention includes a control unit that adjusts the gap of the gap adjustment unit.

[0017] The gap can be adjusted automatically by commands from the control unit, rather than manually.

[0018] Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating a folding machine that includes a conveyor belt for transporting a sheet, a stopper that contacts the leading edge of the sheet to stop the sheet, a long knife that advances toward the folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper, and a rigid guide that sandwiches the sheet between the conveyor belt and the stopper and holds down the sheet that has been transported to the stopper, and includes a gap adjustment process for adjusting the gap between the guide and the conveyor belt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] This can minimize the lifting of the sheet when it is stopped by the stopper. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a paper folding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the knife folding unit of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the knife of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a perspective view showing the main part of the knife folding unit, illustrating a state when processing small sheets of paper compared to FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the conveyor belt and the base plate are connected. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers a guide. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view showing an eccentric state of the downstream slide shaft relative to the fixed shaft portion of the lifting mechanism. [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged front view showing the gap between the guide and the upper surface of the conveyor belt. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a paper folding machine 1. The paper folding machine 1 includes a paper feeding section 3, a parallel folding section 5, and a knife folding section 7.

[0022] The paper feed unit 3 includes a loading table 3a on which a plurality of papers (sheets) S are stacked and arranged, and a paper feed roller 3b that operates in response to commands from a control unit (not shown). The papers S are taken out one by one from above the stack of papers S and transported along the transport direction A1 toward the parallel folding unit 5.

[0023] The parallel folding unit 5 is equipped with a plurality of folding rollers 5a. The folding rollers 5a are operated by a control unit, whereby the sheet S is sandwiched between the folding rollers 5a and folded. In the parallel folding unit 5, the folding rollers 5a fold the sheet S in half by providing a fold line in an orthogonal direction A2 perpendicular to the conveying direction A1. The sheet S2 folded in half in the conveying direction A1 is conveyed to the knife folding unit 7.

[0024] The knife folding unit 7 includes a long knife 10 extending in the conveyance direction A1, and a pair of knife folding rollers 12 provided below the knife 10. The folded sheet S2 stops between the knife 10 and the knife folding rollers 12, and the knife 10 moves downward to press the sheet S2 down toward the knife folding rollers 12, sandwiching the sheet S2 between the pair of knife folding rollers 12. As a result, the folded sheet S2 is further folded in half in the width direction (orthogonal direction A2) to form a sheet S4 folded in four.

[0025] <Knife folding part 7> 2 shows the main parts of the knife folding unit 7. As shown in the figure, the knife folding unit 7 includes a knife 10, a plurality of long guides 14 provided on both sides of the knife 10, a plurality of conveyor belts 16 provided below the guides 14, and a stopper 18 provided downstream of the guides 14.

[0026] The knife 10 is disposed above the sheet S, approximately in the center in the orthogonal direction A2, and is fixed to the main body of the knife folding unit 7. In other words, the folding position of the sheet S by the knife 10 is fixed to the main body of the knife folding unit 7, and this position is set as the reference position in the center in the orthogonal direction A2 of the paper folder 1. Note that the knife folding roller 12 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed below the knife 10 and the sheet S, but is not shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] As shown in a partially enlarged view in Figure 3, the knife 10 has a shaft 10a and a blade 10b. The shaft 10a is shaped like a round bar extending in the conveying direction A1. Although not shown, a knife drive mechanism is connected to the shaft 10a, and the shaft 10a reciprocates in the vertical direction A3. This allows the knife 10 to move toward and away from the paper S. The operation of the knife drive mechanism is controlled by a control unit.

[0028] The blade 10b is fixed to the lower part of the shaft 10a. The blade 10b is a plate-like member extending in the conveyance direction A1, with a tapered tip 10b1 facing vertically downward. The tip 10b1 of the blade 10b comes into contact with the paper S.

[0029] 2, a plurality of guides 14 are provided on the sides (orthogonal direction A2) of the knife 10. The guides 14 are elongated and extend in the conveying direction A1, and are made of a metal such as stainless steel, and are rigid. Here, "rigid" means that the amount of elastic deformation is smaller than that of an elastic body such as a brush.

[0030] In Figure 2, three guides 14 are provided on each side of the knife 10. However, the number of guides 14 is not limited to this, and may be two on each side of the knife 10, or may be four or more.

[0031] The lower ends of the guides 14 restrict the upward movement of the sheet S, thereby preventing the sheet S from floating up. That is, the guides 14 extending in the conveying direction A1 prevent the sheet S from floating up in the longitudinal direction, and the multiple guides 14 provided at predetermined intervals in the perpendicular direction A2 prevent the sheet S from floating up in the width direction (perpendicular direction A2). The height position of the guides 14, i.e., their positional relationship with the sheet S, is changeable and can be set appropriately by the lifting mechanism 30. The lifting mechanism 30 will be described later.

[0032] The guide 14 includes a core 14a located downstream in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction A1) and a tubular portion 14b located upstream of the core 14a. The upstream end of the core 14a has a sheath-tube structure that is inserted into the tubular portion 14b, allowing the core 14a to be displaced relative to the tubular portion 14b in the longitudinal direction. This allows the longitudinal length of the guide 14 to be changed.

[0033] A hole 14a1 is formed in the downstream end of the core 14a of each guide 14, and a downstream slide shaft 20 is provided to pass through each hole 14a1. The downstream slide shafts 20 are round rod-shaped and extend in the orthogonal direction A2, with one provided on each side of the knife 10. Each downstream slide shaft 20 is fixed to downstream fixing parts 22 provided on both sides in the orthogonal direction A2. The downstream fixing parts 22 are members that support the ends of the downstream slide shafts 20 and are not displaceable in the orthogonal direction A2 but are displaceable back and forth in the conveying direction A1 (see FIG. 4). In FIG. 2, three cores 14a are supported by the downstream slide shafts 20 on the left and right sides of the knife 10.

[0034] A hole 14b1 is formed in the cylindrical portion 14b of each guide 14, and an upstream slide shaft 21 is provided to pass through each hole 14b1. The upstream slide shafts 21 extend in the orthogonal direction A2 and are provided on both sides of the knife 10. Each upstream slide shaft 21 has a round bar shape and is fixed to upstream fixing portions 23 provided on both sides in the orthogonal direction A2. The upstream fixing portions 23 are members that support the ends of the upstream slide shafts 21 and do not move in the orthogonal direction A2 or the conveying direction A1 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the cylindrical portion 14b of the guide 14 is fixed and does not move in the conveying direction A1. In FIG. 2, three cylindrical portions 14b are supported by the left and right upstream slide shafts 21 that sandwich the knife 10.

[0035] Below each guide 14, multiple conveyor belts 16 are provided so as to sandwich the paper S. Each conveyor belt 16 is endless and extends in the conveying direction A1. Each conveyor belt 16 is provided on both sides of the knife 10, sandwiching the knife 10 therebetween. In FIG. 2, three conveyor belts 16 are provided on each side of the knife 10. However, the number of conveyor belts 16 is not limited to this.

[0036] Each conveyor belt 16 is wound around rollers (not shown) at both ends in the conveying direction A1. One of the rollers is a drive roller and the other is a driven roller. The rotation speed of the drive roller is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0037] The sheet S is transported in the transport direction A1 while being placed on the upper surface of each conveyor belt 16. The sheet S runs in the gap between the upper surface of the conveyor belt 16 and the lower surface of the guide 14.

[0038] A stopper 18 is provided on the downstream end side in the conveying direction A1 of the guide 14. The leading edge of the sheet S conveyed by the conveyor belt 16 comes into contact with the stopper 18 to stop the sheet S.

[0039] The stopper 18 includes a gate-shaped central stopper 18a through which the knife 10 passes, and side stoppers 18b disposed on both sides of the central stopper 18a. The dimension of the side stoppers 18b in the width direction (orthogonal direction A2) is larger than that of the central stopper 18a.

[0040] The central stopper 18a and the side stoppers 18b are each fixed to a single fixed beam 19, which is a square bar. Both ends of the fixed beam 19 are fixed to respective fixing portions 22.

[0041] The downstream end of each guide 14 is located on the upstream side of the stopper 18, and the stopper 18 and each guide 14 are in a positional relationship where they do not interfere with each other.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a case where a sheet S smaller than the sheet S used in Fig. 2 is processed. As shown in the figure, when processing a small sheet S, the stopper 18 is moved upstream in the conveying direction A1, and the guide 14 and the conveyor belt 16 are moved toward the central knife 10.

[0043] When moving the stopper 18 upstream in the conveying direction A1, the downstream fixed part 22 is displaced relative to the upstream fixed part 23 fixed to the main body of the paper folding machine 1. At this time, the core part 14a of the guide 14 is inserted into the tubular part 14b, thereby shortening the length of the guide 14. When moving the stopper 18 downstream in the conveying direction A1, the above operation is reversed. The downstream fixed part 22 may be moved manually or automatically by a command from the control unit based on information about the sheets S and / or the signatures.

[0044] One guide 14 and one conveyor belt 16 corresponding to each other in the up-down direction A3 move integrally along the downstream slide shaft 20 and the upstream slide shaft 21 in the perpendicular direction A2.

[0045] 5 shows a state in which one corresponding guide 14 and one corresponding conveyor belt 16 are connected in the up-down direction A3. In the figure, a conveyor belt base plate 25 (hereinafter simply referred to as "base plate 25") is provided on the side of the conveyor belt 16. The base plate 25 extends in the conveying direction A1 along the conveyor belt 16. Although not shown, the base plate 25 holds a drive roller and a driven roller around which the conveyor belt 16 is wound. This allows the conveyor belt 16 to move together with the base plate 25.

[0046] The base plate 25 is provided with slide mechanisms 27 on both the front and rear sides in the longitudinal direction (transport direction A1). The slide mechanisms 27 include a feed screw portion 27a extending in the orthogonal direction A2. The base plate 25 moves in the orthogonal direction A2 along the feed screw portion 27a by operating a drive motor (not shown).

[0047] A downstream bracket 29a is connected to the base plate 25 on the downstream side in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction A1), and an upstream bracket 29b is connected to the upstream side. The downstream bracket 29a is fixed to the core portion 14a of the guide 14, and the upstream bracket 29b is fixed to the cylindrical portion 14b of the guide 14. Each bracket 29a, 29b has a curved shape so as not to interfere with the conveyor belt 16. In this way, the base plate 25 and the guide 14 are integrated by each bracket 29a, 29b, so that the base plate 25, the guide 14, and the conveyor belt 16 can be displaced together in the orthogonal direction A2.

[0048] 5, only the leftmost conveyor belt 16 is shown, but the rightmost guide 14 (see FIG. 2) is also integral with the base plate 25 (not shown) and the conveyor belt 16 and is displaceable in the orthogonal direction A2. Each guide 14 and each conveyor belt 16 located between the guides 14 on both sides moves appropriately in accordance with the movement of the guides 14 on both sides.

[0049] Next, the lifting mechanism (gap adjustment unit) 30 that lifts and lowers the guide 14 in the up-down direction A3 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The lifting mechanism 30 includes a fixed shaft portion 30a to which the end of the downstream slide shaft 20 is fixed, and a lever 30b attached to the side peripheral surface of the fixed shaft portion 30a.

[0050] The fixed shaft portion 30 a is cylindrical, and the end opposite to the end that receives the downstream slide shaft 20 is attached to the downstream fixed portion 22 so as to be rotatable.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, the center O2 of the downstream slide shaft 20 is offset by a predetermined amount from the center O1 of the fixed shaft portion 30a. By eccentrically positioning the fixed shaft portion 30a and the downstream slide shaft 20 in this manner, when the lever 30b is rotated in the rotation direction R1 about the center O1, the height of the downstream slide shaft 20 in the up-down direction A3 changes, and accordingly the height of the guide 14 also changes. As the height of the guide 14 changes, the gap t1 between the upper surface of the conveyor belt 16 (i.e., the surface on which the paper S is placed) and the lower end (tip) of the guide 14 changes, as shown in FIG. 7. Note that the lifting mechanism 30 is not limited to the eccentric mechanism shown in FIG. 7, and other lifting mechanisms, such as a mechanism using a screw feed mechanism, may also be used.

[0052] The user rotates lever 30b to adjust the gap t1 appropriately according to the thickness of the sheets S or signatures to be processed. While the gap t1 may be adjusted manually using lever 30b, it may also be adjusted by a command from the control unit, rather than manually, using an electric motor or the like to rotate fixed shaft 30a. In this case, the control unit adjusts gap t1 based on information about the sheets S and / or signatures. Even if a lifting mechanism other than the eccentric mechanism shown in FIG. 7, such as a screw feed mechanism, is provided, the gap may be adjusted by a command from the control unit.

[0053] The position of the guide 14 in the orthogonal direction A2 may be directly above the conveyor belt 16, or as shown in Figure 8, it may be offset in the orthogonal direction A2 by a predetermined position from the top surface of the conveyor belt 16. This makes it possible to prevent the paper S from floating up at a position where the paper S is not placed on the conveyor belt 16.

[0054] 2, the above-mentioned lifting mechanism 30 is also provided for the downstream slide shaft 20 on the opposite side of the knife 10, and is also provided for each upstream slide shaft 21. It is preferable that the gap adjustments by each lifting mechanism 30 be performed synchronously.

[0055] The control unit (not shown) described above is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and a computer-readable storage medium. A series of processes for realizing various functions is stored in a storage medium or the like in the form of a program, for example. The CPU reads this program into RAM or the like and executes information processing and arithmetic operations to realize various functions. The program may be pre-installed in a ROM or other storage medium, provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or distributed via wired or wireless communication means. Examples of computer-readable storage media include magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and semiconductor memories.

[0056] The knife folding unit 7 of the above-described paper folding machine 1 operates as follows. The sheet S, which has traveled from the sheet feed section 3 through the parallel folding section 5 and reached the knife folding section 7, is stopped when the leading edge of the sheet S hits the stopper 18. At this time, the sheet S is prevented from floating up by the lower end of the guide 14, which is set to a desired gap t1 relative to the upper surface of the conveyor belt 16. Gap t1 is set to an appropriate value depending on the thickness of the sheet S.

[0057] Then, the knife 10 is driven to move downward, and the tip of the blade 10b of the knife 10 presses down the center of the sheet S while feeding it between the knife folding rollers 12 (see Figure 1) and folding the sheet S (see the sheet S4 folded in four in Figure 1).

[0058] The paper folding machine 1 of this embodiment provides the following advantages. When the leading edge of the sheet S conveyed by the conveyor belt 16 abuts against the stopper 18, the sheet S is prevented from floating by the guide 14. After that, the long knife 10 advances toward the sheet S, and folds the sheet S by, for example, guiding the sheet S to a knife folding roller disposed opposite the sheet S and pinching it between the rollers.

[0059] Because the guide 14 is a rigid body, its elastic deformation is smaller than when an elastic body such as a brush is used, and so the gap t1 between the conveyor belt 16 can be accurately determined. Furthermore, the lifting mechanism 30 adjusts the gap t1 between the conveyor belt 16 and the guide 14, allowing for adjustment to an appropriate gap dimension depending on the thickness and number of stacks of the sheets S (the number of folds in the signature of the sheets S). This allows for accurate determination of the stopping position of the sheets S for any thickness or number of stacks of the sheets S, enabling precise knife folding. Being able to accurately adjust the gap t1 is particularly effective when the sheets S become thinner or larger, causing significant bending of the sheets S.

[0060] A plurality of elongated guides 14 extending in the transport direction A1 are provided in the orthogonal direction A2, thereby making it possible to prevent the sheet S from floating up not only in the transport direction A1 but also in the orthogonal direction A2.

[0061] Since the position of each guide 14 in the orthogonal direction A2 is variable, the position of the guide 14 can be set appropriately according to the size of the paper S in the orthogonal direction A2. This makes it possible to accommodate paper S of various sizes.

[0062] Since the knife 10 is fixed to the main body of the knife folding unit 7, the folding position of the sheet S by the knife 10 is determined relative to the main body. The multiple guides 14 are arranged on both sides of the knife 10, more specifically, symmetrically on either side of the knife 10. This allows the knife 10 to be positioned approximately in the center of the width direction of the sheet S (orthogonal direction A2), and the sheet S to be accurately positioned at the stop position.

[0063] Since each guide 14 is extendable in the longitudinal direction along the conveying direction A1, the length of the guide 14 can be set appropriately according to the size of the paper S in the conveying direction A1. This makes it possible to accommodate paper S of various sizes.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, a paper folding machine 1 that folds paper S has been described as an example, but the object to be folded is not limited to paper, and the folding machine may also fold sheets of other materials such as resin. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Paper folding machine (folding machine) 3 Paper feed section 3a Mounting table 3b Paper feed roller 5 Parallel fold 5a Folding roller 7 Knife folding section 10 Knife 10a Shaft 10b Blade part 10b1 Tip 12 Knife folding roller 14 Guide 14a Core 14a1 Hole 14b Cylinder part 14b1 Hole 16 Conveyor Belt 18 Stopper 18a Central stopper 18b Side stopper 19 Fixed beam 20 Downstream slide shaft 21 Upstream slide shaft 22 Downstream fixed part 23 Upstream fixed part 25 Conveyor belt base plate (base plate) 27 Slide mechanism 27a Lead screw 29a Downstream bracket 29b Upstream bracket 30 Lifting mechanism (gap adjustment part) 30a Fixed shaft part 30b Lever A1 Conveying direction A2 Orthogonal direction A3 vertical direction R1 Rotation direction S Paper (sheet) S2 Folded paper S4 Quarter-folded paper t1 gap

Claims

1. A conveyor belt for transporting the sheet; a stopper that contacts the leading edge of the sheet to stop the sheet; a long knife that advances toward the folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper; a guide that is a rigid body that sandwiches the sheet between itself and the conveyor belt and presses the sheet that has been conveyed to the stopper; a gap adjustment unit that adjusts the gap between the guide and the conveyor belt; A folding machine equipped with the above.

2. The guide is elongated and extends in a conveying direction of the conveyor belt, and a plurality of guides are provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, 2. The folding machine according to claim 1, wherein the positions of the guides in the orthogonal direction are variable.

3. The knife is fixed relative to the body; 3. The folder according to claim 2, wherein the guides are disposed on both sides of the knife.

4. 3. The folding machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the guides is extendable and contractible in a longitudinal direction along the conveying direction.

5. The folding machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for adjusting the gap of the gap adjustment unit.

6. A conveyor belt for transporting the sheet; a stopper that contacts the leading edge of the sheet to stop the sheet; a long knife that advances toward the folding position of the sheet stopped by the stopper; a guide that is a rigid body that sandwiches the sheet between itself and the conveyor belt and presses the sheet that has been conveyed to the stopper; A method for operating a folding machine comprising: A method for operating a folding machine, comprising a gap adjusting step for adjusting the gap between the guide and the conveyor belt.

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