WO2016049338A1 - Agencement d'entreplieuse et de séparateur et procédés de séparation d'une pile de feuilles provenant d'un flux de fabrication continu de feuilles - Google Patents

Agencement d'entreplieuse et de séparateur et procédés de séparation d'une pile de feuilles provenant d'un flux de fabrication continu de feuilles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016049338A1
WO2016049338A1 PCT/US2015/051982 US2015051982W WO2016049338A1 WO 2016049338 A1 WO2016049338 A1 WO 2016049338A1 US 2015051982 W US2015051982 W US 2015051982W WO 2016049338 A1 WO2016049338 A1 WO 2016049338A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
count
sheets
carriage
count finger
finger
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2015/051982
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James Andrew Walsh
Original Assignee
C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
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 C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. filed Critical C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Publication of WO2016049338A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016049338A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/54—Article strippers, e.g. for stripping from advancing elements
    • B65H29/56—Article strippers, e.g. for stripping from advancing elements for stripping from elements or machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H33/00—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles
    • B65H33/02—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles by moving a blade or like member into the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/26—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by dropping the articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/66—Advancing articles in overlapping streams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/26—Separating articles from piles by separators engaging folds, flaps, or projections of articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
    • B65H31/3054—Arrangements for removing completed piles by moving the surface supporting the lowermost article of the pile, e.g. by using belts or rollers
    • B65H31/3063—Arrangements for removing completed piles by moving the surface supporting the lowermost article of the pile, e.g. by using belts or rollers by special supports like carriages, containers, trays, compartments, plates or bars, e.g. moved in a closed loop
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/32—Auxiliary devices for receiving articles during removal of a completed pile
    • 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
    • B65H45/16—Rotary folders
    • B65H45/162—Rotary folders with folding jaw cylinders
    • 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
    • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
    • B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
    • B65H45/24—Interfolding sheets, e.g. cigarette or toilet papers
    • 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
    • B65H45/26—Folding in combination with unpiling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
    • B65H2301/4216—Forming a pile of web folded in zig-zag form
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/446—Assisting moving, forwarding or guiding of material
    • B65H2301/4461—Assisting moving, forwarding or guiding of material by blowing air towards handled material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/10—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium
    • B65H2406/12—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium producing gas blast
    • B65H2406/122—Nozzles
    • 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
    • B65H2701/18—Form of handled article or web
    • B65H2701/182—Piled package
    • B65H2701/18271—Piled package of folded sheet material
    • 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
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1924—Napkins or tissues, e.g. dressings, toweling, serviettes, kitchen paper and compresses

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded articles, such as paper towels, napkins, facial tissues or the like, into stacks having a desired number of folded articles.
  • Such products are often formed from one or more continuous webs of materials or from one or more streams of sheets which are folded in a folding apparatus into the desired configuration and deposited in a stacking region extending downstream from the folding apparatus. The stack of sheets in the stacking region is then periodically separated into packs having a desired number of sheets.
  • Prior separating methods and apparatuses have also generally been limited to use with folded sheets issuing along a substantially vertically oriented folded sheet path to form a stack in which the successive sheets rest vertically upon one another.
  • Many vertically oriented separating methods and apparatuses have relied, at least in some parts, on gravity for creating spaces for insertion of separating devices.
  • gravity due to the inconsistencies in the material, environmental temperature/humidity and product folding and interfolding, the spaces may not form consistently such that the spaces are not always formed in the proper spots.
  • the present invention provides improvements over the current state of the art of separators for separating stacks of sheets from a continuous stream of sheets provided by a folder.
  • a new and improved separator and method of separating stacks of sheets from a continuous stream of interfolded sheets is provided.
  • a method of separating a stack of sheets from a continuous stream of interfolded sheets is provided.
  • the method includes supporting a continuously forming stream of interfolded sheets on a lower carriage; inserting first, second, third and fourth count fingers into separate openings of the stream of interfolded sheets upstream of the lower carriage; supporting a first upstream sheet forming a first bottom sheet of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets with the third count finger and controlling a first downstream sheet forming a top sheet of the stack with the second count finger; increasing the spacing between the third and second count finger to separate the first upstream sheet from the first downstream sheet.
  • the method includes supporting a second bottom sheet forming a bottom of the stack with the lower carriage and securing the stack of sheets between the lower carriage and the first count finger and second count finger such that the stack of sheets is controlled by the lower carriage and the first count finger and second count finger.
  • the method includes transporting the stack of sheets to a downstream component under the control of the first count finger, the second count finger and the lower carriage and directly transferring the stack of sheets to the downstream component from the control of the first count finger, second count finger and lower carriage
  • the downstream component is a conveyor.
  • Transporting the stack of sheets includes directly transferring the stack of sheets to the conveyor from the control of the first count finger, second count finger and the lower carriage.
  • directly transferring the stack of sheets to the downstream component includes retracting the lower carriage, first count finger and second count finger transversely from a center line defined by the stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the retraction of the lower carriage, first count finger and second count finger is perpendicular to center line defined by the stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the method further includes, after transferring the stack of sheets to the downstream component, inserting the lower carriage into the opening in which the third count finger is located and then retracting the third and fourth count fingers to hand off the continuously forming stream of interfolded sheets to the lower carriage.
  • the method includes separating a second stack of sheets from the stream of interfolded sheets including: inserting first, second, third and fourth count fingers into a second set of separate openings of the stream of interfolded sheets upstream of the lower carriage; supporting a second upstream sheet forming a second bottom sheet of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets with the third count finger and controlling a second downstream sheet forming a top sheet of the second stack of sheets with the second count finger; increasing the spacing between the third and second count finger to separate the second upstream sheet from the second downstream sheet.
  • the separate openings include first, second, third and fourth openings.
  • the first and second openings are immediately adjacent one another.
  • the third and fourth openings are immediately adjacent one another.
  • the second and third openings are separated from one another by a fifth opening.
  • inserting first, second, third and fourth count fingers into separate openings of the stream of interfolded sheets upstream of the lower carriage includes: inserting the first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four consecutive openings when adjacent sheets of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets have only a single panel interfolded; and inserting the first and second count fingers into consecutive openings and inserting the third and fourth count fingers into consecutive openings and wherein the second and third count fingers are inserted into openings that are separated from one another by an opening other than the first and fourth openings when adjacent sheets of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets have more than one panel interfolded.
  • the count fingers are mounted to independently movable carriages.
  • none of the openings in the continuous stream of interfolded sheets in which components are inserted are formed by gravity.
  • the method further includes switching the order of insertion of the first count finger and the second count finger such that the first count finger acts as the second count finger but from an opposite side of a center line of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the method further includes switching the order of insertion for the third count finger and the fourth count finger such that the fourth count finger acts as the third count finger but from the opposite side of the center line.
  • the method further includes switching the order of insertion of the lower carriage and a sixth carriage such that the sixth carriage acts as the lower carriage but from the opposite side of the center line.
  • the first count finger, third count finger and lower carriages are located on a same first side of the center line and the second count finger, fourth count finger and sixth carriages are located on same second side of the center line being opposite the first side.
  • an apparatus for forming stacks of interfolded sheets from a stream of sheets includes an interfolder arrangement and a separator arrangement.
  • the interfolder arrangement interfolds the stream of sheets into a continuous stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the separator arrangement includes a lower carriage, first, second, third and fourth count fingers and a controller.
  • the lower carriage is downstream from the interfolder arrangement.
  • the lower carriage selectively supports the continuous stream of interfolded sheets exiting the interfolder arrangement.
  • the first, second, third and fourth count fingers are insertable into first, second, third and fourth openings of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets upstream of the lower carriage.
  • the controller is configured to control the motion of the lower carriage, and first, second, third and fourth count fingers into the continuous stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the controller is configured to control the third count finger to be inserted into the third opening formed by a first upstream sheet forming a first bottom sheet of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets to support the first bottom sheet of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets upstream of the lower carriage.
  • the controller is configured to control the second count finger to be inserted into the second opening formed by a first downstream sheet forming a top sheet of the stack to control a top of the stack upstream of the lower carriage.
  • the controller is configured to control the second count finger, third count finger and lower carriage to increase the spacing between the third and second count finger to separate the first upstream sheet from the first downstream sheet.
  • the separator arrangement is configured to operate in a first count insertion sequence when adjacent sheets of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets have only a single panel interfolded.
  • the separator arrangement is configured to operate in a second count insertion sequence when adjacent sheets of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets have more than one panel interfolded.
  • the controller controls the first, second, third and fourth count fingers to be inserted into the first, second, third and fourth openings such that the first, second, third and fourth count openings are consecutive openings.
  • the controller controls the first, second, third and fourth count fingers to be inserted into the first, second, third and fourth openings, respectively, with the first and second openings being adjacent one another, the third and fourth openings being adjacent one another and the second and third openings being separated from one another by an opening other than the first, second, third and fourth openings.
  • the apparatus includes a downstream component downstream from the interfolder arrangement.
  • the separator arrangement transports the stacks of interfolded sheets to the downstream component with the stack being controlled between the lower carriage and the first and second count fingers such that the stacks of interfolded sheets are directly transferred from the lower carriage, first count finger and second count finger to the downstream component.
  • the downstream component is a conveyor.
  • the first count finger is mounted to a first carriage
  • the second count finger is mounted to a second carriage
  • the third count finger is mounted to a third carriage
  • the fourth count finger is mounted to a fourth carriage.
  • the apparatus further includes a sixth carriage.
  • the lower carriage, first, second, third, fourth and sixth carriages all being independently moveable.
  • the continuous stream of interfolded sheets defines a center line.
  • a first three of the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and lower carriages are located on a first side of the centerline.
  • a second three of the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and lower carriages being located on a second side of the centerline.
  • the first three includes the first carriage, the third carriage and the sixth carriage and the second three includes the second carriage the fourth carriage and the lower carriage.
  • each of the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and lower carriages is movable parallel to the center line as well as into and out of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the controller is configured to switch the order of insertion for the first count finger and the second count finger such that the first count finger acts as the second count finger but from the opposite side of the center line.
  • the controller is configured to switch the order of insertion for the third count finger and the fourth count finger such that the fourth count finger acts as the third count finger but from the opposite side of the center line.
  • the controller is configured to switch the order of insertion of the lower carriage and the sixth carriage such that the sixth carriage acts as the lower carriage.
  • a separating and interfolding apparatus in another embodiment, includes a pair of counter rotating folding rolls and at least one count finger.
  • the counter rotating folding rolls rotate about axis of rotation.
  • the at least one count finger pivots between a retracted state and an extended state about a count finger axis of rotation.
  • the count finger axis of rotation is positioned laterally outward from the axis of rotation of the folding rolls such that the count finger axis of rotation is not positioned between the folding roll axis of rotation.
  • a tip of the count finger moves in an axial direction parallel to a stream of interfolded sheets exiting the counter rotating folding rolls a further distance than the tip of the count finger moves horizontally perpendicular to the stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the axial motion is at least 30 percent greater than the horizontal motion.
  • the axial motion is at least 60 percent greater than the horizontal motion.
  • a separator arrangement for separating stacks of interfolded sheets from a stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the stream of interfolded sheets forms a center line.
  • the separator arrangement includes a lower carriage, a first carriage, a second carriage, a third carriage, a fourth carriage, and a sixth carriage.
  • the first, third and lower carriage are located on a first side of the center line, the second, fourth and sixth carriage are located on a second side of the center line opposite the first side.
  • a first count finger is mounted to the first carriage.
  • a second count finger is mounted to the second carriage.
  • a third count finger is mounted to the third carriage.
  • a fourth count finger is mounted to the fourth carriage.
  • a controller is configured to control the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and lower carriages independently to insert the first, second, third, fourth count fingers, the lower carriage, and the sixth carriage into openings formed in the stream of interfolded sheets.
  • the controller is configured to insert the first count finger, second count finger, third count finger, fourth count finger, lower carriage and sixth carriage into the stream of interfolded sheets based on a first count insertion sequence for a first interfolded product and based on a second count insertion sequence for a second interfolded product different than the first interfolded product.
  • the controller is configured to operate in the first count insertion sequence when adjacent sheets of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets of the first product have only a single panel interfolded.
  • the controller is configured to operate in the second count insertion sequence when adjacent sheets of the continuous stream of interfolded sheets of the second product have more than one panel interfolded.
  • the controller controls the first, second, third and fourth count fingers to be inserted into first, second, third and fourth openings that are consecutive openings.
  • the controller controls the first, second, third and fourth count fingers to be inserted into the first, second, third and fourth openings, respectively, with the first and second openings being adjacent one another, the third and fourth openings being adjacent one another and the second and third openings being separated from one another by an opening other than the first, second, third and fourth openings.
  • the controller is configured to switch between first and second count insertion sequences. Switching between the first and second count insertion sequences switches the order of insertion for the first count finger and the second count finger such that the first count finger acts as the second count finger but from the opposite side of the center line. Switching between the first and second count insertion sequences switches the order of insertion for the third count finger and the fourth count finger such that the fourth count finger acts as the third count finger but from the opposite side of the center line. Switching between the first and second count insertion sequences switches the order of insertion of the lower carriage and the sixth carriage such that the sixth carriage acts as the lower carriage.
  • Figures 1-12 illustrate a system and method for separating a continuous stream of interfolded sheets into a stack of interfolded sheets.
  • Figures 13 and 14 illustrate alternative features that may be incorporated into the system and method illustrated in Figures 1-12.
  • Figure 15 illustrates different interfold patterns that could be separated using embodiments of the invention.
  • Figure 16 illustrates separation of one of the patterns of interfolded sheets in Figure 15.
  • Figure 17 compares count finger motion profile of an improved separator arrangement with the motion profile of a count finger of a prior separator arrangement.
  • Figure 18 illustrates a stack of sheets formed using a count finger motion profile according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 19 illustrates a stack of sheets formed using a count finger motion profile of prior count finger configurations.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a sheet interfolder and separation arrangement 100.
  • the sheet interfolder and separation arrangement receives a plurality of sheet like product, such as napkins or facial tissues, and interfolds the sheets to form a continuous stream 102 of interfolded sheets.
  • the sheet interfolder and separation arrangement 100 is configured to separate the continuous stream 102 of interfolded sheets into individual stacks 104 of sheets (see e.g. Figure 7) which will ultimately be formed into packs for shipment to customers.
  • the sheet interfolder and separation arrangement 100 includes an interfolder arrangement 106 configured to receive the sheets and interfold the sheets to form the continuous stream 102 of interfolded sheets.
  • the interfolder arrangement 106 of the illustrated embodiment is formed by a pair of counter-rotating folding rolls 108, 110 which may include mechanical folding components such as tuckers and grippers or vacuum folding components or a combination thereof as are generally known in the art.
  • the counter-rotating folding rolls 108, 110 rotate about parallel axis 112, 114 and form a folding nip 1 16 therebetween.
  • the interfolder arrangement 106 may form various different configurations of interfolded sheets. Three such configurations are illustrated in Figure 15.
  • a separator arrangement 120 of the interfolder and separation arrangement 100 Downstream from the interfolder arrangement is a separator arrangement 120 of the interfolder and separation arrangement 100.
  • the separator arrangement 120 separates the continuous stream 102 of interfolded sheets into individual stacks 104.
  • the separator arrangement 120 directly transfers the separated stacks 104 to a downstream component.
  • the downstream component is a conveyor 122 illustrated by a broken dash-dot line in the relevant figures.
  • the separation arrangement 120 includes four count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 for separating the continuous stream 102 of sheets into individual stacks 104 when a predetermined number of interfolded sheets have passed through the interfolder
  • the count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 of a same side of the stream 102 of interfolded sheets are shown axially offset from one another. However, in operation, they would typically be aligned at a same axial location along the sheet flow path exiting the interfolder arrangement 106.
  • the count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 pivot from a retracted state (see Figure 1.) to an extended state (see e.g. Figures 2-5) about axis 138, 140.
  • the count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 are generally out of and do not interfere with the stream 102 of interfolded sheets.
  • the count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 are recessed in grooves 142, 144 formed in the folding rolls 112, 114 and preferably radially inward of the outer surfaces of the folding rolls 112, 114 such that they do not interfere with the sheets exiting nip 116.
  • the count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 are pivoted out of the grooves 142, 144 and into the continuous stream of sheets 102 and particularly into openings (e.g. opening 150 in Figure 1) in the stream of sheets formed between adjacent panels of the sheets within the stream 102 of sheets.
  • the separation arrangement 120 includes a carriage 152 upon which the stream 102 of sheets builds prior to separation of stacks.
  • the carriage 152 moves axially along the sheet building path illustrated by arrow 154 so as to attempt to maintain a constant back pressure during the sheet interfolding process.
  • the four count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 are staged in folding roll grooves 142, 144 while product (e.g. interfolded sheets) is building on lower carriage 152.
  • First count finger 130 inserts into the stream 102 of interfolded sheets and particularly into opening 150.
  • the count finger 130 pivots about axis 138 from the retracted state into the extended state and is now out of groove 144.
  • the remainder of the count fingers 132, 134, 136 remain retracted and staged within grooves 142, 144.
  • Product continues to build on lower carriage 152.
  • a second count finger 132 is inserted into stream 102 and particularly into opening 154 which is upstream of opening 150 and adjacent opening 150.
  • Product is building on lower carriage 152.
  • the count finger 132 pivots about axis 140 from the retracted state into the extended state and is now out of groove 142.
  • the remainder of the count fingers 134, 136 remain retracted and staged within grooves 142, 144.
  • Product continues to build on lower carriage 152.
  • a third count finger 134 is inserted into stream 102 and particularly into opening 156 which is upstream of opening 154 and adjacent opening 154.
  • Product is building on lower carriage 152.
  • the count finger 134 pivots about axis 138 from the retracted state into the extended state and is now out of groove 144.
  • the remaining count finger 136 remains retracted and staged within grooves 142.
  • Product continues to build on lower carriage 152.
  • Count fingers 130, 132 begin to move axially downstream away from the interfolder arrangement 106 so as to avoid creating too much back pressure on the interfolder arrangement 106. This can be illustrated by the rotational axis 138A, 140 A of these count fingers 130, 132 being moved axially downstream.
  • a fourth count finger 136 is inserted into stream 102 and particularly into opening 145 which is upstream of opening 154 and adjacent opening 154.
  • Product is building on lower carriage 152.
  • the count finger 136 pivots about axis 140B from the retracted state into the extended state and is now out of groove 142.
  • Count fingers 130, 132, 134 are moving axially downstream away from the interfolder arrangement 106 so as to avoid creating too much back pressure on the interfolder arrangement. This can be illustrated by the rotational axis 138A, 140A , 138B of these count fingers 130, 132, 134 being moved axially downstream.
  • the first and second count fingers 130 and 132 together with the lower carriage 152 strip the counted stack 104 down toward the product conveyor 122 by accelerating away from count fingers 134, 136 and the interfolder arrangement 106.
  • the continuous stream 102 continues to build on the third and fourth count fingers 134, 136.
  • a panel of an upstream sheet controlled by upstream count fingers 134, 136 is pulled from opening 154 formed by adjacent panels of a downstream sheet controlled by count fingers 130, 132.
  • the pack 104 is actively separated from the stream 102 while all sheets are controlled by the count fingers.
  • the separation is not reliant on gravity.
  • the insertion of the count fingers occurs at openings that are created by the interfolder arrangement 106, again, without relying on gravity.
  • an air blast 162 near the conveyor 122 tucks the bottom panel of the counted stack 104 under the lower carriage 152 as the first and second count fingers 130, 132 together with the lower carriage 152 deliver the pack to the conveyor 122.
  • Continuous stream 102 continues to build on count fingers 134, 136.
  • the first and second count fingers 130, 132 return to the home position within grooves 142, 144 and in a retracted state.
  • the lower carriage 152 moves up to receive the building continuous stream 102 of sheets from the second and third count fingers 134, 136 and is inserted into opening 156 occupied by third count finger 134.
  • the stack 104 on the conveyor 122 is being conveyed out of the separator arrangement 120.
  • the separator arrangement 120 has returned to its original state of Figure 1.
  • the product is building on the lower carriage 152 and the four count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 are retracted and ready for forming the next count, i.e. stack.
  • Figure 13 illustrates a variation of the process, and particularly, the portion of the process of Figure 7.
  • Figure 13 illustrates the addition of refold fingers 170, 172 mounted to the carriages that carry the first and second count fingers 130, 132.
  • the refold fingers 170, 172 actively refold the two panels remaining on the top of each counted stack 104 after separation.
  • Figure 14 illustrates a variation of the process, and particularly, the portion of the process of Figures 7 and 13.
  • the system includes the addition of a fold finger 176 used to create a half-panel known as a starter sheet on the bottom of each counted stack 104.
  • This additional fold finger 176 could be mounted to the second count finger carriage or it could be a sixth independently mounted and driven carriage similar to the four count carriages and the lower carriage.
  • An air blast 180 folds the half-panel around the additional fold finger 174.
  • Figure 15 illustrates three common interfolded sheet overlap patterns and the count finger placements for proper separation using this method.
  • the far left is the known as the singlefold overlap.
  • the middle is known as three-panel multifold interfold overlap.
  • the far right is known as four-panel multifold with 50% overlap.
  • the four count fingers are inserted into four consecutive panel openings which requires alternating sides with each count finger.
  • the four-panel multifold with 50% overlap cannot be separated in the same way. This method provides the flexibility to alter the count insertion sequence to separate different products.
  • Figure 16 illustrates the count finger and resulting panel arrangement of separating the four-panel 50%> overlap. Similar to Figure 14, this method uses refold fingers 170, 172 mounted to the first and second count finger carriages and an additional fold finger 176 below each counted pack. Again, the lower fold finger 176 could be mounted directly to a count finger carriage or be an independent carriage.
  • the count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 and the lower carriage 152 are mounted to carriages for independent motion both axially parallel to the flow sheets as well as perpendicular to the flow of sheets, i.e. into and out of the stream.
  • the motion of each component can be individually controlled.
  • the count fingers can be moved laterally toward the center line of the stream of sheets or laterally away from the center line of the stream of sheets each independently.
  • the count fingers can also be moved axially parallel to the center line of the stream of sheets, i.e. toward or away from the interfolder arrangement 106, independently.
  • the count fingers can also each be independently actuated for rotation about corresponding axis 138, 140.
  • Figure 14 illustrates a controller 190 which can operably control actuation of the various components including the pivoting motion of count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 as well as the axial and transverse positioning into and along the sheet stream 102.
  • the motion of the refold and fold fingers and lower carriage can also be controlled by the controller 190.
  • the controller 190 of the system in Figure 14 is not tied to forming separations with the lower carriage entering from the same side. Instead, the system is effectively ambidextrous such that the first and third count fingers can switch responsibilities and order of insertion with the second and fourth count fingers and the lower carriage and additional fold finger scan switch responsibilities and order of insertion.
  • the separation of a stack 104 from the stream 102 of sheets is fully controlled by the separator arrangement 120 and particularly count fingers 130, 132, 134, 136 such that the formation of openings for insertion of separator fingers or other fingers does not rely on gravity.
  • the top sheet of a stack to be formed is controlled by a count finger during the entire stripping or separation process rather than being inserted after the stack has been partially transitioned away from the continuous stream 102 of sheets and into an opening formed, at least in part, by gravity acting on the sheets forming the stack.
  • the axis 138, 140 are preferably spaced radially outward from the central axis 112, 114 of the folding rolls 108, 110 while transitioning the count fingers from the retracted to the extended states. It is also desired to have the axis 138, 140 above or proximate the panels of the sheets with in continuous stream 102 upon which the count fingers will press when inserted into the stream 102 after being transitioned into the extended state.
  • Figure 17 illustrates a motion profile, illustrated by arc 192, on the left side of the illustration with improved count fingers having the axis of rotation laterally outward from the axis of rotation of the folding rolls as well as with an elevated position.
  • the count finger 200 on the right has an increased horizontal, i.e. transverse or lateral, vector component as compared to the horizontal component of profile 192.
  • the profile of count finger 200 is illustrated by motion profile arc 202.
  • Figure. 18 illustrates a stack formed using a motion profile similar to arc 192 while Figure 19 illustrates a stack formed using a motion profile similar to arc 202.
  • Figure 17 illustrates a packer finger used to pack the sheets in the continuous stream of sheets. It is desired to transition the pivot axis for the count fingers as close as possible to the axis of rotation of the packer finger pivot axis.
  • motion profile 192 has a greater amount of axial motion parallel to the sheet stream, i.e. axis 210, than the amount of motion perpendicular to axis 210.
  • axial motion parallel to axis 210 is at least 20 percent greater than the horizontal motion towards axis 210, more preferably at least 30 percent greater, more preferably 50 percent greater, more preferably at least 60 percent greater.
  • the axial motion parallel to axis 210 may be in excess of 70 percent of the horizontal motion towards axis 210.
  • the count fingers and carriage directly hand off the separated stack 104 to the downstream components, such as the conveyor 122 as discussed above.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Forming Counted Batches (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des procédés et des appareils de séparation de flux de feuilles entrepliées en piles individuelles de feuilles. La séparation des piles est effectuée par une pluralité de doigts montés sur des chariots qui entrent dans des ouvertures du flux de feuilles entrepliées et en sortent. Les ouvertures peuvent se former sans l'aide de la force de gravité. En outre, les doigts peuvent être insérés dans les ouvertures par un mouvement qui a un composant plus grand dans une direction parallèle au flux de feuilles entrepliées que dans une direction perpendiculaire au flux de feuilles entrepliées. En outre, les composants qui séparent les piles peuvent également transporter les piles et transférer directement les piles vers des composants en aval.
PCT/US2015/051982 2014-09-26 2015-09-24 Agencement d'entreplieuse et de séparateur et procédés de séparation d'une pile de feuilles provenant d'un flux de fabrication continu de feuilles WO2016049338A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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US201462056084P 2014-09-26 2014-09-26
US62/056,084 2014-09-26
US14/864,067 US20160090263A1 (en) 2014-09-26 2015-09-24 Interfolder and Separator Arrangement and Methods of Separating a Stack of Sheets From a Continuously Building Stream of Sheets
US14/864,067 2015-09-24

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WO2019219168A1 (fr) * 2018-05-15 2019-11-21 Essity Hygiene And Health Aktiebolag Procédé pour compresser des tissus structurés
IT202000022963A1 (it) * 2020-09-29 2022-03-29 Omet Srl Macchina e procedimento per la piegatura, il taglio e l’impilaggio di tovaglioli

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IT202100030209A1 (it) * 2021-11-30 2023-05-30 Ot Lucca S R L Metodo e apparecchiatura per separare due pile successive di fogli interfogliati del tipo uniti da una linea o punto di prefrattura e per ottenere un pacco di fogli interfogliati in cui un foglio estremo del pacco e' ripiegato a definire un lembo di presa per una estrazione facilitata dei fogli dal pacco

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WO2019219168A1 (fr) * 2018-05-15 2019-11-21 Essity Hygiene And Health Aktiebolag Procédé pour compresser des tissus structurés
CN112074460A (zh) * 2018-05-15 2020-12-11 易希提卫生与保健公司 压缩结构化棉纸的方法
AU2018423670B2 (en) * 2018-05-15 2021-11-04 Essity Hygiene And Health Aktiebolag Method for compressing structured tissues
CN112074460B (zh) * 2018-05-15 2022-07-05 易希提卫生与保健公司 压缩结构化棉纸的方法
US11981465B2 (en) 2018-05-15 2024-05-14 Essity Hygiene And Health Aktiebola Method for compressing structured tissues
IT202000022963A1 (it) * 2020-09-29 2022-03-29 Omet Srl Macchina e procedimento per la piegatura, il taglio e l’impilaggio di tovaglioli
WO2022070087A1 (fr) * 2020-09-29 2022-04-07 Omet S.R.L. Machine et procédé pour plier, couper et empiler des serviettes

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