INTERFOLDING MACHINE

• US 3,850,425 A
• Filed: 04/17/1973
• Issued: 11/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jesse B. Snaw, Nicholas Marcalus
• Original Assignee: Jesse B. Snaw, Nicholas Marcalus
• Inventors: Marcalus, Nicholas, Snaw, Jesse B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Charles, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US05/351,854
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 270/41-44,93,94,32,52,40,39 93/84R,93R
• US Class Current: 270/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/24 Interfolding sheets, e.g. cigarette or toilet papers

Abstract

An interfolding machine for interfolding webs to form facial tissues whereby these may be placed in a slotted container, with the top or first leaf projecting out therefrom and thus the tissues can be withdrawn one-by-one, with the first leaf of the next tissue projecting in position for grasping. The machine receives webs in overlapped relation so as to be disposed transversely of an assembly of folding plates arranged in staggered relation and converging so as to direct the interfolded webs to a pair of pull rolls. Each folding plate has a V-shaped guide at the receiving end thereof over which the web extends and a pair of diverging fingers in positions to cause the web to be folded around opposite sides of the plate as it travels lengthwise thereof. The series of webs are brought together near the inner ends of the folding plates and are directed by one or more pairs of pull rolls. The bundle of webs traveling therefrom may be combined with additional bundles so as to form a desired number for assembly in a package when these bundles of webs are severed into appropriate lengths of tissues.

Claims

1. A machine for interfolding webs of material comprising a plurality of elongated folding plates extending in side-by-side converging relation, each of alternate plates having a folding edge extending longitudinally thereof at one side of the plurality of plates and each of the alternate intermediate plates having a folding edge extending longitudinally thereof at the opposite side of the plurality of plates, means for feeding webs of material to receiving end portions of the folding plates and extending along the folding edge of each of the folding plates, and folding fingers extending transversely of each of the plates adjacent the receiving end portions thereof for folding the opposite edge portions of the web thereover in overlapping relation with the lateral edges of adjacent webs.

2. A machine for interfolding webs of material, according to claim 1, wherein the fingers are disposed at acute angles to the length of the folding plates.

3. A machine for interfolding webs of material, according to claim 1, wherein the fingers extend in diverging relation with respect to each of the plates.

4. A machine for interfolding webs of material, according to claim 2, including means for adjustably mounting the fingers at different angular positions with respect to the length of the plates.

5. A machine for interfolding webs of paper, comprising a plurality of elongated flat folding plates extending in side-by-side spaced converging relation, each of alternate plates having a folding edge extending longitudinally thereof at one side of the plurality of plates for receiving a web of paper at one end portion thereof, and each of the alternate intermediate plates having a folding edge extending longitudinally thereof at the opposite side of the plurality of plates, means for feeding a web of material to each of the folding edges at the receiving end portion thereof for folding the opposite edge portions of the web thereon in overlapping relation with the lateral edges of adjacent webs.

6. A machine for interfolding webs of paper, according to claim 5, including means mounting the folding plates with the folding edges on one side diverging with respect to the folding edges on the opposite side.

7. A machine for interfolding webs of paper, according to claim 5, wherein each of the folding plates has a V-shape guide extending transversely of the leading end thereof to form an initial fold in the paper web extending thereover.

8. A machine for interfolding webs of paper according to claim 5, including means pivotally mounting each of the plates at one end thereof and adjacent a lateral edge for swinging movement of the plate transversely with respect to alternate plates tO vary the degree of overlap of the webs.

9. A machine for interfolding webs according to claim 8, including a V-shaped guide member mounted on said one end of each of the plates disposed transversely thereof and at an acute angle to the length of the plate.

10. A machine for interfolding webs of paper according to claim 5, including snub rolls mounted substantially in longitudinal alignment with the respective folding plates in positions to guide the webs of paper thereto.

11. A machine for interfolding webs of paper according to claim 5, and support members extending transversely of the direction of the length of the folding plates at opposite sides of the plurality of plates and toward the edge of each plate opposite from the folding edge thereof, the support members having the plates mounted on the inner ends of the respective support members.

12. A machine for interfolding webs of paper according to claim 5, including mounting means for the folding fingers, the folding fingers extending inwardly from the mounting means in embracing relation with the folding edge of each folding plate and in directions at acute angles to the length of the plate.

13. A machine for interfolding separate webs of paper, comprising a supporting frame structure, a pair of pull rolls mounted in the frame and having a bite in position to receive a bundle of webs therein, a plurality of elongated folding plates extending in side-by-side spaced converging relation substantially radially with respect to the bite of the pull rolls, means mounting the folding plates in the frame structure with outer ends spaced from the pull rolls and inner ends adjacent the pull rolls, an approximately V-shaped guide extending transversely of the outer end of each folding plate, and means for directing a web centrally over the V-shaped guide and over an edge of each folding plate, said V-shaped guide being adjacent opposite edges of alternate folding plates and directing the webs in folded relation thereover and interfolded with adjacent webs.

14. A machine for interfolding separate webs of paper, according to claim 13, wherein the V-shaped guide is located adjacent the folding edge of each plate in longitudinal alignment with said edge.

15. A machine for interfolding separate webs of paper, according to claim 13, including fingers extending transversely of each folding plate in directions inwardly over the folding edge and at acute angles to the direction of the length thereof.