GB2251239A

GB2251239A - Fan-folding webs

Info

Publication number: GB2251239A
Application number: GB9023507A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Upton
Original assignee: UPTON MECHANICAL DESIGNS LIMIT
Current assignee: UPTON MECHANICAL DESIGNS LIMIT
Priority date: 1990-10-29
Filing date: 1990-10-29
Publication date: 1992-07-01
Also published as: GB9023507D0

Abstract

A web of paper fed downwardly by toothed rollers 30 is fanfolded between disc like folding means 23a and rotary brushes 26 which urge the fanfolded web on to an underlying conveyor belt (not shown). There are several coaxial means 23a, each having a sector missing and being associated with a semi-circular block bearing bristles. Several coaxial brushes 26 are also provided, these being interspersed with rollers 29, against which the folds are moved before being transported by the conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER The invention relates to apparatus, e.g. a converter or processor for making a stack of folded, preferably fanfolded, sheets. In one particular use of the apparatus a reel of paper is converted into a stack of folded sheets each having a track of perforations along their length, the sheets being joined together along transverse score lines. Such a stack may be used in paper to paper conversion where, for example, printing is applied to each sheet of a stack in succession and the stack is reformed.

It is one object of the invention to provide apparatus incorporating a novel sub-assembly for fanfolding the sheets into a stack, which is especially compact and efficient in operation.

According to the invention, in one aspect there is provided apparatus for fanfolding a web, the apparatus comprising a pair of shafts arranged to rotate in opposite directions, the shafts being spaced apart and mounted above a conveyor, one shaft carrying folding means, and the other shaft carrying pressure means, feed means arranged to supply web between the shafts to fold the web between the fold means and the conveyor, whereby to fanfold the webs and to transport them along the conveyor.

Most preferably the fold means associated with shaft adjacent the inlet side of the apparatus includes disc like members arranged to fold one web portion over another. The member is preferably formed of a material and shape which will apply a fold pressure less than that will cause a crease mark. The pressure means on the second shaft preferably comprises bristles or the like, arranged to direct the web towards rollers and/or the belt.

roost preferably the feed means comprises a set of rollers, preferably having spiked or toothed surfaces, mounted above the rotating shafts and between them. Because the feed means is so located, the total horizontal area required by the apparatus is relatively small.

In a more specific aspect, the invention provides apparatus for fanfolding a web, the apparatus comprising a pair of shafts arranged to rotate in opposite directions, the shafts being spaced apart and mounted above a conveyor comprising a moving belt, one shaft carrying a disc like fold member, the other shaft carrying a wheel and a roller therefor, feed means above the space between the shafts, the apparatus being arranged to feed web portions successively to the shaft having the disc member, rotation of that shaft being arranged to cause the web to be urged towards the conveyor belt whereby the disc member folds the web, rotation of the other shaft being arranged to apply pressure between the wheel and the roller and/or the belt to compress the folded web portions.

The invention also includes a method of fanfolding, using apparatus as defined.

In order that the invention may be well understood the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of apparatus for folding paper from a reel into a fanfolded stack; Figure 2 is a plan view of the folding sub-assembly; Figure 3 and 4 are enlarged side views of components of the sub-assembly; and Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation showing the folding step.

The paper processor or converter comprises an unreeling station A, a perforating station B, a scoring station C and a folding station D. A reel of paper R at station A is mounted on an axle 1 and the web is drawn off via roller assembly 2 to the perforating station B. The rollers of the assembly 2 are arranged to ensure that the paper drawn off the roll is held under a predetermined tension and to be drawn along a predetermined path. The web is passed between a pair of hole perforators 3, 4, one male and the other female, which form the longitudinally spaced apart holes along both longitudinal edges of the web for the later tractor wheel feeding of the paper. A wheel 5 is arranged to make continuous longitudinal score lines in the web adjacent the longitudinal margins thereof.A wheel 6 having a cutting blade 7 is rotated to score a transverse score line in the web, to define the length of each formed sheet. The web, now comprising a train of formed perforated and scored sheets, is then passed to the folding station D.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5 the folding station D comprises a moving conveyor belt 20 above which are mounted two spaced apart contra-rotating shafts 21, 22. As shown in Figure 1, the conveyor 20 extends downwardly at an angle. The left hand shaft 21 carries a number of partial discs 23, each formed of a low friction material, e.g. PERSPEX. Each disc 23 has a socket to surround the shaft. The disc 23 defines an incomplete ellipse, as shown best in Figure 3, having a blade portion 23a. A block 24 having a short area of bristles 25 is mounted alongside each disc. The disc 23 is secured at one side to the block 24. The block is in two parts which clamp together about the shaft 21 to hold the disc to the shaft.

The shaft 22 carries a set of spaced apart semi-circular blocks 26 which are also of two part construction so that they can be clamped to the shaft 22. A set of bristles 27 is mounted in the outer wall of each block. The shaft 22 is spaced from a fixed shaft 28 carrying passive rollers 29, which lie above and adjacent a respective block 26 (see Figure 2). A pair of spiked rollers 30 is mounted above the conveyor 20 and between the shafts 21, 22. In use, the formed webs are successfully fed between the nip of the rollers 30 and are drawn downwardly towards the shaft 21. As the rollers 30 rotate, the web is fed towards the shaft 21. The discs 23 rotate and contact the side of the web, the portion 23a tending to urge the web downwardly on to the preceding portion of the web which is adjacent the conveyor belt 20. This causes each sheet to fold and by synchronisation along the transverse score line. The portion 23a is shaped and formed of a material selected so that the level of pressure applied is less than that which will crease the paper.

The web is moved by the conveyor 20 towards the fixed roller 29, the discs 27 serving to fold the webs, as shown in Figure 5. The bristles lightly contact the paper without causing creasing. The stack is built up and then transported to an unloading platform.

The apparatus may be used to form a pack of fanfold paper having sheets of the correct length and perforations with the minimum of fuss. The apparatus is compact and occupies little floor space.

Claims

1. Apparatus for fanfolding a web, the apparatus comprising a pair of shafts arranged to rotate in opposite directions, the shafts being spaced apart and mounted above a conveyor, one shaft carrying folding means, and the other shaft carrying pressure means, feed means arranged to supply web between the shafts to fold the web between the fold means and the conveyor, whereby to fanfold the web and to transport the fanfolded web along the conveyor.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the folding means associated with shaft adjacent the inlet side of the apparatus includes disc like members arranged to fold one web portion over another.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the disc like members are formed of a material and shape selected to apply a fold pressure less than that will cause a crease mark.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the pressure means on the second shaft comprises bristles or the like, arranged to direct the web towards the conveyor.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the feed means comprises a set of rollers, mounted above and between the rotating shafts.

6. Apparatus for fanfolding a web of continuous paper or the like, the apparatus comprising a pair of shafts arranged to rotate in opposite directions, the shafts being spaced apart and mounted above a conveyor comprising a moving belt, one shaft carrying a disc like folding member, the other shaft carrying a wheel and a roller therefor, feed means above the space between the shafts, the apparatus being arranged to feed web portions successively to the shaft having the disc member, rotation of that shaft being arranged to cause the web to be urged towards the conveyor belt whereby the disc member folds the web, rotation of the other shaft being arranged to apply pressure between the wheel and the roller and/or the belt to compress the web portions.

7. Apparatus for fanfolding a web, substantially as described and with reference to the drawings.