Apparatus for folding and cutting paper

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is directed toward an apparatus for folding and cutting a continuous length of paper, the paper having a longitudinal direction and fold lines spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, the fold lines dividing the paper into a series of adjacent sheets, the apparatus including: a folding mechanism for moving the paper in a zigzag fashion to fold the paper across the fold lines and to stack the sheets on top of each other; a vertically movable supporting table for supporting the sheets stacked by the folding mechanism, the supporting table descending according to the quantity of sheets supported thereon; and a cutting mechanism for cutting the paper when a desired quantity of sheets is supported on the supporting table, the cutting mechanism having a cutting edge with a tip which is pierced into an upper surface of one of the sheets while the sheet is being folded onto the stack and before an adjacent sheet is moved by the folding mechanism to be folded onto the stack, the cutting edge descending with the supporting table as the paper is folded, the cutting edge moving horizontally to cut the paper at one of the fold lines when the supporting table reaches a predetermined position.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes a first pair of spiral members at one side of the stack of sheets and a second pair of spiral members at an opposite side of the stack of sheets, the pairs of spiral members having uppermost portions, the pairs of spiral members (1) alternately supporting the sheets at the uppermost portions and (2) rotating to fold the sheets onto the stack and to feed the sheets downwardly.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes a driving mechanism for moving the cutting edge (1) downwardly at substantially the same speed as the speed at which the spiral members feed the sheets downwardly, (2) downwardly with the supporting table, and (3) horizontally to cut the paper.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes a central supporting member for supporting a substantial portion of the stack of sheets; and fold end supporting members for supporting portions of the stack near the fold lines, the fold end supporting members being capable of applying vertical pressing and moving forces to the portions of the stack near the fold lines