An interfolding machine includes a folding roll having a tucker assembly (20) configured to interact with a gripper assembly (100) of an adjacent folding roll for gripping and folding a sheet of material into a zig-zagged stack. The tucker assembly (20) includes a tucker (120) positioned in a cavity or slot in the folding roll (95). The tucker assembly further includes an axial air supply passage (194) disposed along a central axis of the folding roll, and an outwardly extending passage (173) extending from the axial air supply passage to the cavity. The axial air supply passage is configured to receive and communicate a flow of air to the outwardly extending passage, which is configured to direct the flow of air in a radial outward direction along the cavity. The disposition of the tucker (120) in the cavity is configured to create positive air pressure around the tucker so as to inhibit dust and debris from contaminating the components of the tucker assembly.