US20080200324A1 - Folding Machine with Suction Means for Zig-Zag Folding a Continous Web Material and Associated Folding Method - Google Patents

Folding Machine with Suction Means for Zig-Zag Folding a Continous Web Material and Associated Folding Method Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080200324A1
US20080200324A1 US11/630,509 US63050905A US2008200324A1 US 20080200324 A1 US20080200324 A1 US 20080200324A1 US 63050905 A US63050905 A US 63050905A US 2008200324 A1 US2008200324 A1 US 2008200324A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
folding
web material
suction
cylinders
cylinder
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/630,509
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English (en)
Inventor
Alessandro Morelli
Mauro Gelli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fabio Perini SpA
Original Assignee
Fabio Perini SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fabio Perini SpA filed Critical Fabio Perini SpA
Publication of US20080200324A1 publication Critical patent/US20080200324A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
    • B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
    • B65H45/28—Folding in combination with cutting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
    • B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
    • B65H45/20—Zig-zag folders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/11—Dimensional aspect of article or web
    • B65H2701/112—Section geometry
    • B65H2701/1123—Folded article or web
    • B65H2701/11231—Fan-folded material or zig-zag or leporello

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a folding machine to fold a web material along transverse folding lines. More specifically, the invention relates to a folding machine of the type comprising a pair of adjacent counter-rotating folding cylinders having parallel axes, each of which has at least one gripping member to grasp the web material along transverse lines and make folds along said lines.
  • the invention also relates to a means to perform folding of a continuous web material according to transverse zigzag lines.
  • a continuous web material is fed to a pair of counter-rotating folding cylinders, disposed adjacent to each other to define a nip through which the web material passes and having parallel axes.
  • Disposed on each cylinder are members that make the fold in the web material.
  • the aforesaid members are disposed and controlled so that the web material is folded in a zigzag manner, adhering alternately first to one and then to the other of the two counter-rotating folding cylinders.
  • the pack formed of the zigzag folded web material is then cut by a blade and divided into two piles of paper napkins or similar folded products.
  • a machine of this type is described for example in WO-A-9728076 and in WO-A-0162651.
  • Other examples of folding machines are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,882, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,974, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,774, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,061, in German patent 4.446.753 and in German patent 429.288.
  • the folding members of these folding machines include, disposed on each folding cylinder, a gripping member, which grips the web material along a folding line at each turn of the cylinder.
  • a gripping member which grips the web material along a folding line at each turn of the cylinder.
  • respective folding blades or wedges are disposed on the two folding cylinders, in positions angularly staggered with respect to the gripping members.
  • a folding blade of one of the two folding cylinders and a gripping member of the other folding cylinder are disposed in angular positions so that they correspond with each other in the nip defined between the two folding cylinders, so that the web material is pushed by the folding blade inside the gripping member.
  • each of the two folding cylinders has at least one folding blade and one gripping member, so that for each complete turn of the pair of folding cylinders at least two folds are made on the web material.
  • folding blades and gripping members on the counter-rotating folding cylinders makes these machines particularly complex from a mechanical viewpoint. Moreover, the mechanical action of the folding blade or wedge on the web material tends to damage it. The folding blades are subject to rapid wear with consequent maintenance costs.
  • the object of the present invention is to produce a folding machine of the aforesaid type, which is simpler, while at the same time efficient and reliable.
  • a folding machine comprising: a pair of counter-rotating folding cylinders, each provided with at least one gripping member to fold a continuous web material in a zigzag manner; a cutting member disposed in front of said folding cylinders to cut the zigzag folded web material and divide it into two piles of folded articles; characterized in that each gripping member is a suction member which retains the web material by suction at the respective folding line.
  • the continuous web material (typically and preferably tissue paper for producing handkerchiefs or napkins and the like) is thus engaged alternately on one and on the other of the counter-rotating folding cylinders by suction, and said suction which engages the web material in equidistant areas causes the zigzag folding thereof, without the need to use complex mechanical members to grip the material with relative cam mechanisms to control them. This simplifies the machine, also making it efficient and reliable.
  • each of the folding cylinders can be provided with a wedge element in phase with the gripping member of the opposed cylinder, to produce a line which facilitates folding in the web material, at the level of said gripping member.
  • the line which facilitates folding is in substance a sort of crease and can be obtained in a particularly efficient way by providing, for each wedge element, a corresponding notch produced on the opposite cylinder, associated with the suction gripping member.
  • the invention relates to a method for producing folded articles from a continuous web material, advantageously and preferably in tissue paper, comprising the phases of: feeding the continuous web material into a nip defined between two counter-rotating folding cylinders, each provided with at least one gripping member; folding the web material in a zigzag manner by means of said folding cylinders, engaging the web material with the gripping members of one and of the other of said folding cylinders alternately; feeding the zigzag folded web material towards a cutting member ( 60 ); by means of said cutting member, cutting the zigzag folded web material into two piles of folded articles; characterized in that the web material is retained and folded in said folding cylinders by suction.
  • the method can include a creasing phase of the web material, preferably obtained by means of said folding cylinders.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a folding machine incorporating the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the folding cylinders of the machine
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view according to III-III in FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the folding cylinders
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section according to V-V in FIG. 2 of the two folding cylinders
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are enlargements, in two subsequent positions, of the gripping members of one of the folding cylinders in the point in which the folded web material starts to detach from the folding cylinder;
  • FIG. 7 is a section according to VII-VII in FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 8 is an enlargement in longitudinal section of the suction area of one of the folding cylinders
  • FIG. 9 is a plan detail of the assembly flange of the suction unit.
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged local section according to a plane orthogonal to the axes of rotation of the folding cylinders at the level of the folding area, in the instant in which the crease is formed on the web material.
  • the folding machine has a pair of folding cylinders 1 and 3 rotating according to the arrows f 1 and f 3 around respective vertical axes of rotation 1 A and 3 A, disposed parallel to each other and spaced so that the two folding cylinders 1 , 3 are adjacent to each other at the level of a nip 5 .
  • the folding cylinder 1 is supported by shanks 1 C and 1 D ( FIG. 2 ) in corresponding supports 7 , 9 .
  • the folding cylinder 3 is supported in a similar way by shanks 3 C and 3 D in supports 11 and 13 .
  • the two folding cylinders 1 and 3 are made to rotate in opposite directions (arrows f 1 and f 3 in FIGS. 1 , 5 and 7 ) by means of a toothed wheel 14 which meshes with a toothed wheel 15 keyed onto the shaft of the folding cylinder 1 , and which in turn meshes with a toothed wheel 17 keyed onto the shaft of the folding cylinder 3 .
  • An eccentric 19 is mounted at the upper end of the shaft 1 C of the folding cylinder 1 , and, by means of a connecting rod 21 , provides an alternate movement to a rocker 23 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ).
  • the rocker 23 is keyed onto a vertical shaft 25 , parallel to the axes of the two folding cylinders 1 , 3 and carries integral therewith three shaped bars 26 which are inserted into corresponding annular grooves 27 of the folding cylinder 1 (see in particular FIG. 2 ).
  • a further connecting rod 29 is hinged to a bracket 31 keyed onto a shaft 33 , parallel to the shaft 25 .
  • integral with the shaft 33 are three bars 35 , analogous to the bars 26 , which are inserted into corresponding grooves 37 provided on the folding cylinder 3 .
  • the number of bars 26 , 35 can vary according to the height of the folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • a longitudinal seat or cavity is produced inside each of the folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • the two cavities 41 are symmetrical to each other as can be seen in particular in FIG. 5 and the folding cylinders are in phase with each other so that the cavities are in diametrically opposite positions.
  • the cavities 41 emerge on the cylindrical surface of each of the two folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • a gripping member housed in each of the two seats or cavities of each folding cylinder 1 , 3 is a gripping member, indicated as a whole with 43 , used to grasp and fold the web material N fed into the nip 5 between the two folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • the two gripping members 43 are symmetrical to each other and only one of them shall be described in detail hereunder with particular reference to FIG. 4 .
  • the gripping member 43 is essentially composed of a block provided with a series of through holes 45 (disposed in the example shown on four rows parallel to the axis of the folding cylinder).
  • the holes emerge on an essentially flat internal or rear surface 47 of the block 43 and on an essentially cylindrical outer surface 49 positioned flush with the cylindrical surface of the respective folding cylinder 3 (or 1 ).
  • the cylindrical surface 49 is interrupted at the level of the grooves 37 (or 27 ) of the folding cylinders 1 and 3 and at the level of said annular grooves has lowered areas 51 , to allow passage of the bars 26 , 35 .
  • the seat 41 of both cylinders 1 and 3 is in connection with a suction duct 53 extending coaxially to the axis of rotation of the respective cylinder and emerging on the upper front surface thereof, where (as shall be described hereunder) it is carried for a certain angle of rotation of the respective cylinder in communication with a suction line.
  • a suction is produced—for a predetermined angle—the purpose of which, as shown in greater detail hereunder, is to temporarily retain the web material to be folded along a transverse folding line.
  • each block 43 On the cylindrical front surface 49 of each block 43 , a cut or notch 55 is produced (see enlargement in FIG. 10 ), into which a wedge 57 , produced on an insert 59 disposed on the opposed cylinder, penetrates.
  • a wedge 57 produced on an insert 59 disposed on the opposed cylinder, penetrates.
  • the block 43 and the insert 59 are disposed in diametrically opposed positions, so that during rotation of the two cylinders 1 , 3 in the nip 5 each notch 55 of a block 43 mounted on one of the two cylinders comes to correspond with the wedge 57 of the insert 59 mounted on the other cylinder.
  • a web material N is fed (arrow fN, FIG. 1 ) through the nip 5 between the folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • a web material N is fed (arrow fN, FIG. 1 ) through the nip 5 between the folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • it is engaged along transverse folding lines alternately by one or by the other of the two suction gripping members composed of the blocks 43 with the relative suction holes 45 .
  • Suction through the holes 45 is activated, for each cylinder 1 , 3 before the line of holes 45 farthest forward with respect to the direction of rotation of the respective cylinder 1 , 3 reaches the nip 5 , so that the web material is drawn and retained on the cylindrical surface of the respective folding cylinder.
  • the plurality of lines of suction holes 45 guarantees efficient retention of the web material when this passes through the nip 5 and moves therebeyond, following the movement of rotation of the cylinder.
  • suction has been interrupted and the folded edge of web material N is detached from the folding cylinder 3 , facilitated in this by the oscillatory movement of the bars 35 , the oscillating movement of which is advantageously synchronized with the angular position of the folding cylinders 1 , 3 .
  • the fold produced by the gripping member 43 associated with the folding cylinder 3 is indicated with P.
  • the cutting member can be (in a per se known manner) a fixed or movable member and divides the pack P into two piles M 1 , M 2 of napkins or other folded articles, which are fed towards the unloading area of the machine, where members known and not described in detail herein are disposed to separate the individual packs of articles from each other.
  • wedges 57 cooperating with the notches 55 are provided. These two elements are inserted inside each other at the level of the nip 5 ( FIG. 10 ), deforming the web material N between them. This forms a line to facilitate folding, essentially in the form of a crease. To obtain this, it is not necessary for particularly high pressure to be exerted between the two elements 55 , 57 . However, it is advantageous for the notch 55 to be produced in a removable and replaceable portion of the block 43 . This removable portion can advantageously be made of a yielding material, such as rubber, which may be relatively hard although with greater elasticity than the metal material of which the remaining part of the block 43 is composed. As can be seen in the drawing, for each block 43 , the notch 55 is positioned at the level of the row of suction holes 45 farthest forward with respect to the direction of rotation of the respective folding cylinder 1 or 3 .
  • each of the two folding cylinders 1 , 3 to the suction, for example a line connected to a fan
  • an arrangement is provided of a connection cooperating with the upper front surface of each of the two cylinders, indicated with 1 F for the folding cylinder 1 and with 3 F for the folding cylinder 3 .
  • This arrangement is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 , 8 and 9 for the folding cylinder 3 .
  • a symmetrical arrangement is provided for the folding cylinder 1 .
  • a shoe 81 rests on the front surface 3 F of the cylinder 3 .
  • the shoe 81 is connected slidingly to two vertical guide columns 85 clamped in respective sleeves 87 . These are in turn fixed on a flange 89 clamped on a portion 91 of the fixed structure of the machine.
  • Two compression springs 93 (one of which can be seen in FIG. 8 ) stress the shoe 81 against the front surface of the respective folding cylinder 1 or 3 .
  • the flange 89 is shown in a plan view in FIG. 9 .
  • Two sets of three holes of the fixing screws 97 of the sleeves 87 to retain the guide columns 85 are indicated with 95 .
  • the flange 89 is provided with two curved slots 99 .
  • Two screws (one of which is indicated with 101 in FIG. 8 ) are inserted in these slots to fix the flange 89 to the structure 91 of the machine. Thanks to the curved slots 99 , by loosening the screws 101 the angular position of each flange 89 can be modified with respect to the axis of the relative folding cylinder 1 or 3 . In this way it is possible to adjust the angular position of the respective shoe 81 .
  • the structure of the shoe 81 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8 . It has a main body in which a lowered seat 103 is produced, inside which the plate 83 is housed.
  • the main body and the plate 83 of the shoe 81 have a hole with an oblong section 105 , which extends parallel to the axis of the folding cylinder 1 and 3 .
  • the oblong hole 105 is joined to a side hole 107 connected to a suction pipe 109 in turn connected to a fan or other suitable suction member, not shown.
  • the oblong hole 105 extends angularly, corresponding to the angle of rotation of the cylinder 1 or 3 along which suction is implemented through the holes 45 of the block 43 .

Landscapes

  • Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Shaping Of Tube Ends By Bending Or Straightening (AREA)
US11/630,509 2004-06-25 2005-06-20 Folding Machine with Suction Means for Zig-Zag Folding a Continous Web Material and Associated Folding Method Abandoned US20080200324A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000144A ITFI20040144A1 (it) 2004-06-25 2004-06-25 Macchina piegatrice con mezzi aspiranti per piegare un materiale nastriforme continuo e relativo metodo di piegatura
ITFI2004A000144 2004-06-25
PCT/IT2005/000352 WO2006001043A1 (en) 2004-06-25 2005-06-20 Folding machine with suction means for zig-zag folding a continuous web material and associated folding method

Publications (1)

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US20080200324A1 true US20080200324A1 (en) 2008-08-21

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US11/630,509 Abandoned US20080200324A1 (en) 2004-06-25 2005-06-20 Folding Machine with Suction Means for Zig-Zag Folding a Continous Web Material and Associated Folding Method

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US (1) US20080200324A1 (it)
EP (1) EP1776304B1 (it)
AT (1) ATE384021T1 (it)
BR (1) BRPI0512614A (it)
DE (1) DE602005004419T2 (it)
ES (1) ES2299051T3 (it)
IT (1) ITFI20040144A1 (it)
WO (1) WO2006001043A1 (it)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130184138A1 (en) * 2012-01-18 2013-07-18 Neil C. Waldrop Method and apparatus for forming fan-folded web of labels with improved registration
US9371209B2 (en) 2012-05-01 2016-06-21 C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. Single path single web single-fold interfolder and methods
US10449746B2 (en) 2016-06-27 2019-10-22 C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. Web processing system with multiple folding arrangements fed by a single web handling arrangement
US11104540B2 (en) * 2018-05-24 2021-08-31 Chan Li Machinery Co., Ltd. Fiber product folding and stacking system

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5356131A (en) * 1993-02-15 1994-10-18 Fabio Perini S.P.A. Apparatus for transferring paper napkins or similar products from the production machine to stacker means
US5447262A (en) * 1992-10-15 1995-09-05 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co.) Apparatus for transporting and bending web-shaped packing material
US6120240A (en) * 1996-01-30 2000-09-19 Fabio Perini S.P.A. Method and device for separating groups of flat products from each other, and a folding machine comprising said device
US6280373B1 (en) * 1997-09-02 2001-08-28 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Cutting tool support

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2909006A1 (de) * 1979-03-08 1980-09-11 Winkler Duennebier Kg Masch Falzvorrichtung zum erzeugen einer zickzackfoermigen bahn aus papier, zellstoff, tissue o.dgl. werkstoff
DE3708016A1 (de) * 1987-03-12 1988-09-22 Womako Masch Konstr Vorrichtung zum zick-zack-falten einer materialbahn
US4765604A (en) * 1987-04-17 1988-08-23 C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Company Resilient creaser
DE3923436A1 (de) * 1989-07-15 1991-01-24 Winkler Duennebier Kg Masch Verfahren und vorrichtung zum herstellen von papierstapeln

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5447262A (en) * 1992-10-15 1995-09-05 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co.) Apparatus for transporting and bending web-shaped packing material
US5356131A (en) * 1993-02-15 1994-10-18 Fabio Perini S.P.A. Apparatus for transferring paper napkins or similar products from the production machine to stacker means
US6120240A (en) * 1996-01-30 2000-09-19 Fabio Perini S.P.A. Method and device for separating groups of flat products from each other, and a folding machine comprising said device
US6280373B1 (en) * 1997-09-02 2001-08-28 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Cutting tool support

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130184138A1 (en) * 2012-01-18 2013-07-18 Neil C. Waldrop Method and apparatus for forming fan-folded web of labels with improved registration
US8939877B2 (en) * 2012-01-18 2015-01-27 Century Printing & Packaging, Inc. Method and apparatus for forming fan-folded web of labels with improved registration
US9371209B2 (en) 2012-05-01 2016-06-21 C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. Single path single web single-fold interfolder and methods
US10464774B2 (en) 2012-05-01 2019-11-05 C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. Single path single web single-fold interfolder and methods
US10449746B2 (en) 2016-06-27 2019-10-22 C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. Web processing system with multiple folding arrangements fed by a single web handling arrangement
US11104540B2 (en) * 2018-05-24 2021-08-31 Chan Li Machinery Co., Ltd. Fiber product folding and stacking system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1776304B1 (en) 2008-01-16
ATE384021T1 (de) 2008-02-15
DE602005004419D1 (de) 2008-03-06
WO2006001043A1 (en) 2006-01-05
EP1776304A1 (en) 2007-04-25
ES2299051T3 (es) 2008-05-16
DE602005004419T2 (de) 2009-01-15
BRPI0512614A (pt) 2008-03-25
ITFI20040144A1 (it) 2004-09-25

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