Web folding apparatus
First Claim
1. In apparatus for folding web material which includes a frame, an entrance roller supported by said frame transversely thereof, an exit roller supported by said frame in parallel spaced relation from said entrance roller, and a plow folder supported intermediate said entrance and exit rollers and cooperative therewith to effect longitudinal folding of web material moved longitudinally from said entrance roller to said exit roller, the improvement wherein said plow folder includes a fold forming member having its longitudinal axis oriented substantially normal to the direction of web movement and having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface portion, said forming member having an end thereof formed by an axially outwardly facing generally planar fold surface lying in a plane subtending an acute angle with a plane transverse and normal to the longitudinal axis of said fold forming member, said fold forming member being cooperative with the web material so as to effect folding thereof at the area of intersection of said cylindrical surface portion with said fold surface as said web material is passed from said entrance to said exit rollers, said fold surface being operative to limit the extent of folding of said web material at said fold forming member during longitudinal movement of said web material.
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Abstract
Apparatus for use in folding web material includes a plow folder supported intermediate transverse entrance and exit rollers and cooperative therewith to effect longitudinal folding of the web as it moves longitudinally through the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the plow folder includes at least one rotatable cylindrical web engaging roller and a fold forming member coaxial with the web engaging roller and having a partial cylindrical outer peripheral surface and an axially outwardly facing fold surface subtending an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the fold forming member. Air orifices are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the fold forming member to facilitate air lubrication between the fold forming member and the moving web. The plow folder is adjustable vertically and laterally to facilitate different fold widths, and the fold forming member is selectively rotatably adjustable about its longitudinal axis to optimize folding of different type web materials without forming wrinkles or gussets at the fold line and without marking the web. The plow folder is supported on a support frame which enables substantially 180° pivotal movement of the plow folder between upwardly and downwardly directed positions relative to the main frame for upward and downward folding. A fold holding roller is mounted to extend transversely of the folded web and is adjustable to selectively vary the pressure applied against the folded web to prevent unfolding.
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Citations
33 Claims
- 1. In apparatus for folding web material which includes a frame, an entrance roller supported by said frame transversely thereof, an exit roller supported by said frame in parallel spaced relation from said entrance roller, and a plow folder supported intermediate said entrance and exit rollers and cooperative therewith to effect longitudinal folding of web material moved longitudinally from said entrance roller to said exit roller, the improvement wherein said plow folder includes a fold forming member having its longitudinal axis oriented substantially normal to the direction of web movement and having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface portion, said forming member having an end thereof formed by an axially outwardly facing generally planar fold surface lying in a plane subtending an acute angle with a plane transverse and normal to the longitudinal axis of said fold forming member, said fold forming member being cooperative with the web material so as to effect folding thereof at the area of intersection of said cylindrical surface portion with said fold surface as said web material is passed from said entrance to said exit rollers, said fold surface being operative to limit the extent of folding of said web material at said fold forming member during longitudinal movement of said web material.
- 25. A plow folder for use in folding a web material as it is selectively moved in a substantially longitudinal direction, said plow folder including a fold forming member having a longitudinal axis and defining a cylindrical outer peripheral surface portion, said forming member having an end thereof formed by an axially outwardly facing generally planar fold surface lying in a plane subtending an acute angle with a plane transverse and normal to said longitudinal axis, and support bracket means facilitating selective adjustable mounting of said plow folder relative to a moving web material such that the longitudinal axis of said forming member is substantially normal to the direction of movement of said web material and said fold surface effects folding of said web material at the area of intersection of said cylindrical surface with said fold surface, said fold surface being operative to limit the extent of folding of said web at said fold surface.
Specification