Method of and apparatus for gathering and manipulating stacked zig-zag formations of paper sheets
First Claim
1. A method of separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation from a growing second stack which is being formed by zig-zag folding a continuous web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising the steps of advancing the web longitudinally in a predetermined direction to a stacking station wherein the second stack is located at a level above the first stack so that the foremost panel is the lowermost panel of the second stack and the rearmost panel is the topmost panel of the first stack;
- breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels; and
removing the first stack from the stacking station in the course of said breaking step, including unfolding the rearmost panel of the first stack.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuous running paper web is folded in zig-zag formation at a stacking station to form a pile of superimposed panels which are joined to each other by weakened fold lines. A stack containing a preselected number of superimposed panels at the bottom of the pile is moved laterally away from the stacking station so that the topmost panel of the stack or the lowermost panel of the remainder of the pile is unfolded, and the web is broken between such panels by tearing it along a weakened fold line or by severing it from one marginal portion to the other marginal portion along a weakened fold line or across one of the panels. The part or parts which move the stack from the stacking station can include or constitute the web breaking device. The remainder of the pile is supported from below during removal of the stack from the stacking station.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation from a growing second stack which is being formed by zig-zag folding a continuous web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising the steps of advancing the web longitudinally in a predetermined direction to a stacking station wherein the second stack is located at a level above the first stack so that the foremost panel is the lowermost panel of the second stack and the rearmost panel is the topmost panel of the first stack;
- breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels; and
removing the first stack from the stacking station in the course of said breaking step, including unfolding the rearmost panel of the first stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels; and
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8. Apparatus for separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation at a stacking station from a growing second stack which is being formed at the stacking station by zig-zag folding a continuous longitudinally advancing web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising means for locating the first stack at the stacking station beneath the second stack so that the foremost panel of the second stack is disposed above the rearmost panel of the first stack;
- means for supporting the second stack at said station including a supporting member and means for moving the supporting member between the foremost panel of the second stack and the rearmost panel of the first stack at said station;
means for breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels; and
means for evacuating the first stack from said station prior to or during breaking of the web between the first and second stacks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- means for supporting the second stack at said station including a supporting member and means for moving the supporting member between the foremost panel of the second stack and the rearmost panel of the first stack at said station;
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20. A method of separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation from a growing second stack which is being formed by zig-zag folding a continuous web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising the steps of advancing the web longitudinally in a predetermined direction to a stacking station wherein the second stack is located at a level above the first stack so that the foremost panel is the lowermost panel of the second stack and the rearmost panel is the topmost panel of the first stack;
- breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels, including changing the orientation of one of the stacks relative to the other of the stacks with attendant tearing of the web from one toward the other marginal portion of the web; and
removing the first stack from the stacking station in the course of said breaking step. - View Dependent Claims (21)
- breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels, including changing the orientation of one of the stacks relative to the other of the stacks with attendant tearing of the web from one toward the other marginal portion of the web; and
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22. A method of separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation from a growing second stack which is being formed by zig-zag folding a continuous web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising the steps of breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels, including unfolding the foremost panel of the second stack and separating the unfolded foremost panel from the rearmost panel of the first stack;
- and refolding the foremost panel of the second stack.
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23. A method of separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation from a growing second stack which is being formed by zig-zag folding a continuous web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising the steps of breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels, including unfolding the rearmost panel of the first stack and separating the unfolded rearmost panel from the foremost panel of the second stack;
- and refolding the rearmost panel of the first stack.
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24. Apparatus for separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation at a stacking station from a growing second stack which is being formed at the stacking station by zig-zag folding a continuous longitudinally advancing web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising means for breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels, said breaking means including evacuating means having means for moving the first stack away from the stacking station in a direction to unfold one of the foremost and rearmost panels and through a distance which exceeds the length of the unfolded panel, as considered in the longitudinal direction of the web, so that the web breaks in the region of the unfolded panel.
- 25. Apparatus for separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation at a stacking station from a growing second stack which is being formed at the stacking station by zig-zag folding continuous longitudinally advancing web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising means for breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels, said breaking means including means for changing the orientation of one of the stacks relative to the other stack so that the web tears in said region in a direction from one marginal portion toward the other marginal portion of the web.
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28. Apparatus for separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation at a stacking station from a growing second stack which is being formed at the stacking station by zig-zag folding a continuous longitudinally advancing web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising means for breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels;
- means for evacuating the first stack from the stacking station including means for unfolding the rearmost panel of the first stack prior to breaking of the web in said region; and
means for refolding the rearmost panel of the first stack upon completed breaking of the web.
- means for evacuating the first stack from the stacking station including means for unfolding the rearmost panel of the first stack prior to breaking of the web in said region; and
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29. Apparatus for separating a fully grown first stack of overlapping panels which are folded over each other in zig-zag formation at a stacking station from a growing second stack which is being formed at the stacking station by zig-zag folding a continuous longitudinally advancing web of paper or the like and has a foremost panel integral with a rearmost panel of the first stack, comprising means for breaking the web in the region of one of the foremost and rearmost panels;
- means for evacuating the first stack from the stacking station including means for unfolding the rearmost panel of the second stack prior to breaking of the web in said region; and
means for refolding the foremost panel of the second stack upon completed breaking of the web. - View Dependent Claims (30)
- means for evacuating the first stack from the stacking station including means for unfolding the rearmost panel of the second stack prior to breaking of the web in said region; and
Specification