Delivering foil leaves of selected lengths from an indeterminate length of foil

1. A method for delivering consecutive foil leaves, each leaf being of a selected length severed from a supply of foil of indeterminate length, with a leading edge and a unitary tab folded along a fold line extending across the leaf, at the leading edge of the leaf, the method comprising:

providing a supply of foil of indeterminate length at a supply station;

advancing the foil along a feed path extending in a forward direction from the supply station to a delivery station;

juxtaposing a platform with the feed path, the platform having a forward edge located at a folding station placed between the supply station and the delivery station;

providing a shearing blade having a shearing edge extending across the feed path and spaced forward of the forward edge of the platform by a gap between the forward edge of the platform and the shearing edge of the shearing blade;

providing a cutter having a cutting edge extending across the feed path;

moving the cutting edge along a cutting path extending transverse to the feed path, the cutting path passing through the feed path, at the gap, and intercepting the feed path in shearing juxtaposition with the shearing edge of the shearing blade such that the foil is sheared along the shearing edge as the cutting edge is moved along the cutting path and through the gap to sever a leaf from the indeterminate length of foil and thereby deliver the severed leaf at the delivery station, while leaving a severed edge of the indeterminate length of foil extending across the feed path in juxtaposition with the shearing edge;

providing a folder having a folding member extending across the feed path; and

moving the folding member along a folding path extending transverse to the feed path, the folding path passing through the feed path, at the gap, and intercepting the feed path in folding juxtaposition with the forward edge of the platform;

locating the folding member relative to the cutting edge such that the folding member intercepts the feed path subsequent to interception of the cutting edge with the feed path as the cutting edge and the folding member are moved through the feed path and into the gap, to engage the folding member with a segment of the indeterminate length of foil extending between the forward edge of the platform and the severed edge of the indeterminate length of foil subsequent to severing the leaf from the indeterminate length of foil; and

subsequently folding the segment about the forward edge, along a fold line formed in the indeterminate length of foil, as defined by and placed at the forward edge of the platform, to form a tab on the indeterminate length of foil, between the fold line and the severed edge of the indeterminate length of foil and folded over the indeterminate length of foil, while simultaneously forming, at the fold line, the leading edge of a next-consecutive foil leaf and providing a gripping site along the leading edge, reinforced by the folded-over tab.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the indeterminate length of foil is advanced from the supply station until a desired selected length is placed at the delivery station, and the cutting edge and the folding member are moved subsequently to sever the leaf from the indeterminate length of foil and fold the segment about the forward edge.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge and the folding member are moved simultaneously along the respective cutting path and folding path.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the simultaneous movement of the cutting edge and the folding member is a pivotal movement about a common pivotal axis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the foil is advanced along the feed path from a roll of foil placed at the supply station, the roll of foil being rotated in response to advancement of the foil along the feed path.