STRUCTURE OF MULTIPURPOSE SHEET FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE

• US 20110230324A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mtc-Macchine Trasformazione Carta SRL
• Original Assignee: Mtc-Macchine Trasformazione Carta SRL
• Inventors: De Matteis, Alessandro
• Application Number:
  US13/119,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/442
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/24 Interfolding sheets, e.g. cigarette or toilet papers

Abstract

Folding and stacking machine (100) of a web of paper, or similar products comprising a first sheet feeding line (201) and a second sheet feeding line (202). The machine (100) comprises, furthermore, a folding section (200) having a couple of folding rollers (7, 8) that work at a linear folding speed V_P and are adapted to receive a plurality of sheets (11) of length L that are overlapped for a fraction Y of their length L and to fold them into a plurality of panels (P). The first and the second sheet feeding lines (201, 202) provide respective cutting sections of the sheets starting from webs of paper (10, 10′). These proceed respectively at a speed V₁ and V₂ with respect to the folding speed V_P, where a first speed (V₁) has a ratio X₁ with respect to the folding speed V_P, V₂ and a second has speed V₂ second h a ratio X₂ with respect to the folding speed V_P. The first and the second sheet feeding lines (201, 202) can be operated selectively and independently, i.e. separately from each other or at the same time, according to the desired type of interfolded configuration.

Claims

1. Folding and stacking machine to obtain packages of folded sheets starting from a web of paper, or similar material, comprising:

a folding section comprising a couple of folding rollers, said couple of folding rollers having a folding linear speed V_P, said folding rollers receiving a plurality of sheets and folding said sheets into a plurality of panels;

feeding means for feeding said sheets to said folding rollers, said feeding means comprising a first and a second sheet feeding line that are separate from each other, characterised in that;

said first sheet feeding line has a first sheet cutting section starting from a first web that works at a first feeding speed V₁, wherein said first feeding speed V₁ has a ratio X₁ with respect to the folding speed V_P,

said second sheet feeding line has a second sheet cutting section starting from a second web that works at a second feeding speed V₂, wherein said second feeding speed V₂ has a ratio X₂ with respect to the folding speed V_P,

means are provided for operating selectively and independently said first and said second sheet feeding lines.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said first cutting section of said first sheet feeding line comprises:

first cutting and transfer means adapted to cut a first web of paper into first sheets of length L₁ and to transfer them along a transfer path;

actuating means for actuating said cutting and transfer means so that said first web of paper and said first sheets proceed at said first speed V₁;

and furthermore, said first sheet feeding line comprises;

overlapping means adapted to pick up said sheets from said transfer path and to overlap them in turn for a predetermined sheet portion, said portion being a fraction Y₁ of said length L₁;

actuating means for actuating said overlapping means adapted to convey said first sheets at said speed V_P less than said first speed V₁ towards said folding section, said speed difference being achieved for overlapping partially two consecutive sheets according to said portion;

and the cutting section of said second sheet feeding line comprises;

second cutting and transfer means adapted to cut the second web of paper into second sheets of length L₂=L₁ and to transfer them along a transfer path towards said folding section;

actuating means for actuating said second cutting and transfer means adapted to cause them to work at a speed V2 with said ratio X₂ equal to 1, whereby V₂=V_P;

a microprocessor unit being provided adapted to control said actuating means between a first and a second condition, such that;

in said first condition said actuating means for actuating said second line are kept still and said machine operates as multi-fold machine with sheets fed only through said first line;

in said second condition said actuating means for actuating said second line are operated so that said ratio X₁ is equal to 1, whereby V₁=V_P and so that said first sheets and said second sheets arrive already shifted in a confluence between said first and second line, so that said machine has single-fold type operation.

3. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said first cutting section of said first sheet feeding line comprises:

first cutting and transfer means adapted to cut a first web of paper into first sheets of length L₁ and to transfer them along a transfer path;

actuating means for actuating said cutting and transfer means so that said first web of paper and said first sheets proceed at said first speed V₁;

and furthermore, said first sheet feeding line comprises;

overlapping means adapted to pick up said sheets from said transfer path and to overlap them in turn for a predetermined sheet portion, said portion being a fraction Y₁ of said length L₁;

actuating means for actuating said overlapping means adapted to convey said first sheets at said speed V_P less than said first speed V₁ towards said folding section, said speed difference being achieved for overlapping partially two consecutive sheets according to said portion;

and the cutting section of said second sheet feeding line comprises;

second cutting and transfer means adapted to cut a first web of paper into first sheets of length L₂ and to transfer them along a transfer path;

actuating means for actuating said cutting and transfer means so that said first web of paper and said first sheets proceed at said first speed V₂;

and furthermore, said second sheet feeding line comprises;

overlapping means adapted to pick up said sheets from said transfer path and to overlap them in turn for a predetermined sheet portion, said portion being a fraction Y₂ of said length L₂;

actuating means for actuating said overlapping means adapted to convey said first sheets at said speed V_P less than said first speed V₂ towards said folding section, said speed difference being achieved for overlapping partially two consecutive sheets according to said portion;

a microprocessor unit being provided adapted to control said actuating means between a first and a second condition, such that;

in said first condition said actuating means for actuating said second line are kept still and said machine operates as multi-fold machine with sheets fed to said folding section only through said first line obtaining a first folded and stacked product with folded sheets having a number of panels P₁;

in said second condition said actuating means for actuating said first line are kept still and said machine operates as multi-fold machine with sheets fed to said folding section only through said second line obtaining a second folded and stacked product with folded sheets having a number of panels P₂.

4. Machine according to claim 1, where in said first condition said first feeding speed V₁ has a ratio X₁ with respect to the folding speed VP selected from the group comprised of:

X₁=3/2, for Z-type folded sheets with two interfolded panels;

X₁=4/2, for W-type folded sheets with two interfolded panels;

X₁=5/4 for five panel folded sheets with one interfolded panel;

X₁=6/3, for six panel folded sheets with three interfolded panels;

X₁=6/4 for six panel folded sheets with two interfolded panels;

whereas in said second condition said second feeding speed V2 has a ratio X₂ with respect to the folding speed VP selected from the group comprised of;

X₂=3/2, for Z-type folded sheets with two interfolded panels;

X₂=4/2, for W-type folded sheets with two interfolded panels;

X₂=5/4 for five panel folded sheets with one interfolded panel;

X₂=6/3, for six panel folded sheets with three interfolded panels;

X₂=6/4 for six panel folded sheets with two interfolded panels;

being X₁ different from X₂.

5. Machine according to claim 4, where in said first condition said first feeding speed V₁ has a ratio X₁=3/2 with respect to the folding speed V_P and in said second condition said second feeding speed V₂ has a ratio X₂=4/2 with respect to the folding speed V_P, such that when operating the first or second sheet feeding line it is possible to have with a single machine Z-type interfolded sheets or W-type interfolded sheets.

6. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said folding and stacking machine has a folding section and two cutting sections, wherein a portion of said folding section is removable independently with respect to said cutting sections, said folding section comprising at least two folding rollers and being replaceable with an equivalent portion.

7. Machine according to claim 6, wherein said folding section comprises two modules having each a mobile folding roller.

8. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said folding and stacking machine has a folding section and two cutting sections, wherein a portion of said or each cutting section is removable independently with respect to the other cutting sections, said removable portion of said cutting section comprising at least one cutting roller and being replaceable with an equivalent portion.

9. Machine according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the first cutting section that is adapted to operate at a speed V₁ with sheets of length L₁ is replaceable with an equivalent modular portion adapted to operate at a speed V₁′

with sheets of length L₁′

.

10. Machine according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the first cutting section that is adapted to operate at a speed V₂ with sheets of length L₂ is replaceable with an equivalent modular portion adapted to operate at a speed V₂′

with sheets of length L₂′

.

11. Machine according to claim 6, wherein said folding and stacking machine has a folding section and two cutting sections, each cutting section and said folding section having a removable portion that can be removed independently in order to change the length of the sheet, the panel length, the folding configuration.

12. Machine according to claim 1, wherein for not interfolded folded products, said cutting sections are such that said speed V₁ or V₂ are identical or less than said speed V_P.