The PaperFolder PH-17 is a 4 fold plate Pharmaceutical folding machine. It can perform 4 folds on a sheet of paper. Most machines have 2 fold plates and can only perform 2. Consequently, it can fold paper into much smaller sizes than those machines, (up to 1/5th of the paper length).
It can fold paper into very small sizes for package inserts. It cannot perform a cross fold by itself.
It is also available as part of the Knife 17 PaperFolder Cross Fold System which makes right angle (cross) folds in one pass.
The main reason people buy a 4 fold plate folding machine is to fold paper into smaller sizes than is possible with 2 fold plate machines. It can make 4 folds on a sheet of paper vs regular machines which can only do 2. Here is a graphic showing the possible fan (accordion) folds that can be made by these machines. Normal machines can only perform the first 2.
It is called a Pharmaceutical folder because it can fold paper to fit into small pill packages. This machine alone can only fold the length of the paper. It does not fold the width.
CROSS FOLDS
Cross folds are made when a sheet of paper is folded in one direction, and then folded again from the side. These are pictures of basic cross folds. It is folded in half or thirds and then again from the side.
Few single machines can perform a cross fold. It requires 2 passes, with the second pass much harder to perform without jamming. We have a few machines that can. See the Cross Fold category. These are suitable for small jobs of less than 500.
CROSS FOLD SYSTEMS
For more volume, you need a 2 machine cross fold system to save time and money. The first machine folds along the length of the paper, and the second machine folds the width in half in one pass. FOR CROSS FOLDS, SEE OUR CROSS FOLD SYSTEMS.
If you need to fold paper into a narrow strip, the PH-17 is all you need. If it needs to be folded from the side to be smaller, PaperFolder Cross Fold Systems can fold paper into even smaller sizes.
The Cross Fold Systems consists of 2 folding machines with a conveyor between them, and an optional output stacker to neatly accumulate the folded output, which can be very small in size. The first machine has 4 fold plates rather than 2 like most machines. So, for example, you could fold a piece of paper into 1/5 the length in the first folder. The second folder then folds that in half from the side.
FOLD TYPES
The PH-17 can fold paper into smaller sizes than most folding machines because it has 4 fold plates instead of 2. For example, a regular folder can make 2 folds, so the maximum number of panels in an accordion fold is 3. With the PH-17, you can fold it in up to 5 panels. See the chart.
The PH-17 can fold paper as small as 3.2" x 2"(L) up to 11" x 17" paper.
You set the fold plates according to the paper size. So for example, a half fold on a letter size would be set at 5.5" (half of 11") for plate one. The others would be closed.
| Fold Type | Image | Plate 1___ | Plate 2 | Plate 3 | Plate 4__ |
| | | | | |
| Half |  | 1/2_______ | Closed_____ | Closed_____ | Closed___ |
| Letter |  | 2/3 | 1/3 | Closed___ | Closed___ |
| Z |  | 1/3 | 1/3 | Closed___ | Closed___ |
| Double |  | 1/2 | 1/4 | Closed___ | Closed___ |
| Engineering |  | 1/4 | 1/4 | Closed___ | Closed___ |
| Gate |  | 3/4 | 1/2 | Closed___ | Closed___ |
| 4 panel |  | 1/4 | 1/4 | 1/4 | Closed___ |
| 5 panel |  | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| | | | | |
CROSS FOLD
Due to the number of fold plates, the PH-17 cannot perform a cross fold on a second pass by itself. If you need to process a large volume of cross folds, a Knife folder can be added to the PH-17 to make a cross fold system consisting of 2 folding machines. This allows you to create a cross fold of small size in one pass.
PF Cross Fold Systems can fold sheets of paper ranging from 5.5" x 8.5" to 11" x 17" in these folds and more. Call us for your needs:
| Paper Size (inches) | *** | First fold | ***
| Second fold | *** | End size (inches |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| 5.5 x 8.5 | | Half | | Half | | 2.55 x 4.25 |
| 5.5 x 8.5 | | Half | | Tri | | 1.85 x 4.25 |
| 5.5 x 8.5 | | Tri | | Tri | | 2.84 x 1.85 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| 8.5 x 11 | | Half | | Half | | 4.25 x 5.5 |
| 8.5 x 11 | | Half | | Tri | | 2.84 x 5.5 |
| 8.5 x 11 | | Tri | | Tri | | 2.84 x 3.67 |
| 8.5 x 11 | | 5 panel | | Tri | | 2.2 x 2.84 |
| *** | | | | | | |
| 8.5 x 14 | | Half | | Half | | 4.25 x 7 |
| 8.5 x 14 | | Half | | Tri | | 2.84 x 7 |
| 8.5 x 14 | | Tri | | Tri | | 2.84 x 4.67 |
| 8.5 x 14 | | Tri then half | | Tri | | 2.34 x 2.84 |
| *** | | | | | | |
| 11 x 17 | | Half | | Half | | 5.5 x 8.5 |
| 11 x 17 | | Half | | Tri | | 3.67 x 8.5 |
| 11 x 17 | | Tri | | Tri | | 3.67 x 5.67 |
| 11 x 17 | | Tri then half | | Tri | | 2.84 x 3.67 |
The PaperFolder Cross Fold Systems perform folds that cannot be done by any other commercial machine. If you need to perform a lot of cross folds or fold paper into very small sizes, this system has no equal because it has 2 additional fold plates to perform more folds while folding cross folds in one pass.
Please call if you would like to discuss your jobs with us or have questions. 800-520-6008.