STRUCTURE OF INTERFOLDING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE CUT-OFF

• US 20070203007A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mtc-Macchine Trasformazione Carta SRL
• Original Assignee: Mtc-Macchine Trasformazione Carta SRL
• Inventors: DE MATTEIS, Alessandro
• Granted Patent: US 7,998,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/360
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/10 Modular constructions, e.g. using preformed elements or profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2601/324 Removability or inter-changeability of machine parts, e.g. for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/6618 upon transfer from a first conveyor to a second conveyor advancing at slower speed
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/24 Interfolding sheets, e.g. cigarette or toilet papers

Abstract

An interfolding machine (100) having a modular structure and with variable cut-off, having a frame (21) comprising a first plate (21a) and a second plate (21b), parallel to each other, interconnected by means of beams (25). Between the plates (21a and 21b) folding rollers (8 and 9), means for moving (10) and an overlap roller (6), are arranged. Each plate (21a, or 21b), has a complementary shape to a respective upper plate (31a, or 31b). The higher plates (31a and 31b) are connected by means of beams (35) among one another. Between the plates (31a and 31b) instead the cutting roller (16), the transfer roller (5) and the cutter (17) with the blade (3) are arranged. This way, a modular portion (30) is formed removable independently from a main portion (20) of the frame. Alternatively, the removable portion (30) can comprise the only cutting roller (16) and the cutter (17) with the blade (3). Alternatively, the only transfer roller (5) may be provided. The advantage of the invention is that the removable portion brings with it gearings, bearings, supports, etc. of the substituted rollers, and it is exchanged with another equivalent but with different cut-off with a machine stop that is very short. The removable portion (30) can be slidingly mounted on longitudinal guides (36). This assists its removal from the working position, and provides a change with another removable portion (30) provided with rollers (16, 17 and 5) of diameter corresponding to the length of the interfolded sheets of the final stack.

Claims

1. Interfolding machine having a frame comprising:

a feeding section where at least one web of paper is fed at a first speed,

a cutting section comprising;

at least one cutting roller on which at least one blade acts adapted to divide the web of paper into sheets of determined length;

at least one transfer roller adapted to convey forward at said first speed the sheets cut in turn by the cutting roller;

an interfolding section at which the sheets of paper coming from the cutting section travel at a second speed less than the first speed, said interfolding section comprising;

means for partially overlapping the sheets suitable to form an overlapped portion between two consecutive sheets exploiting the difference between the first and the second speed,

folding means comprising folding rollers, said folding means being adapted to arrange said partially overlapped sheets in a determined interfolded configuration causing the sheets to form underneath a stack of product;

a separating section where a stack of interfolded sheets is separated from a next stack and is withdrawn from the area of process through separating means;

characterised in that said cutting section comprises a portion having a modular structure removable integrally from said frame for being replaced with an equivalent portion that is adapted to work with different cut-off.

2. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein said integrally removable cutting section comprises:

at least said cutting roller;

at least said transfer roller;

said cutting roller and said transfer roller.

3. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein said means for partially overlapping said sheets comprises an overlapping roller adapted to cooperate with said transfer roller, said transfer roller rotating at said first speed and said overlapping roller rotating at said second speed in order to deposit on said overlapping roller said overlapped sheets according to a determined overlapping ratio.

4. Interfolding machine, according to claim 3, wherein conveying means are provided adapted to convey said partially overlapped sheets into a portion set between said means for overlapping and said folding rollers.

5. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of removable portions is provided, each with rollers of different diameter, mounted on a automatic introduction/extraction machine, said introduction/extraction machine being capable of receiving more removable portions and introducing/extracting selectively a portion at a time in said interfolding machine.

6. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein a first removable portion at said cutting section and a second removable portion at said interfolding section are provided, said first and said second portion being removable independently.

7. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein said removable portion is slidingly mounted on guides arranged longitudinally with respect to said frame.

8. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein said separating means adapted to enter said completed stack for separating it from the next stack being formed, and vertical guides containing said stack are mounted on carriages that can approach/move away from each other along a direction transversal to said frame for arrange them at a operative distance responsive to the size of the rollers mounted on said machine.

9. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein said removable portion comprises two plates, or sides, parallel to each other and interconnected by means of transversal beams parallel to said cutting roller, components of the machine

10. Interfolding machine, according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises two sides, each consisting of one or more parallel plates interconnected by means of transversal beams, to which the remainder of said components of the machine are connected, at least one of said sides having an opening or a recess with complementary shape for introducing said removable portion.