Method of forming zigzag-shaped piles from a continuous band of a flexible material and machine for carrying out this method
First Claim
1. A method for forming piles from a continuous band of a flexible material comprising the steps of:
- providing the continuous band with transverse folding lines such that a folding flap is defined between adjacent folding lines;
conveying the continuous band in a forward direction along a path that is in the vicinity of a stationary rupture device;
folding the continuous band along said transverse folding lines and depositing the folded flaps on a support and a pile forming station that is downstream from said path such that said folding flaps are arranged in a zigzag configuration and stacked in the form of a pile;
rupturing the continuous band at a predetermined folding line between two flaps, the downward flap being designed to become the last flap of a pile that is about to be formed and the upward flap being designed to become the first flap of a new pile to be formed;
determining the instant of time when said predetermined rupture folding line arrives in a zone substantially in front of said rupture device;
deviating the continuous band with said rupture folding line being in said zone in front of said rupture device, in a direction substantially perpendicular to said path at a location near to said rupture device such that the region of the continuous band encompassing said predetermined rupture folding line is forced against said rupture device and subjected to traction forces that rupture said continuous band along said predetermined folding line, thereby separating said first and last flaps, without stopping the forward motion of the continuous band;
maintaining said first and last flaps in close proximity to one another as said separate band continues forward towards a pile forming station;
depositing said last flap on said pile being formed to form a complete pile and removing said complete pile from said pile forming station; and
positioning said first flap for forming said new pile.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a machine for forming zigzag-shaped piles from an endless band of paper wherein the band is deposited and folded on an appropriate support and, at the end of the formation of a pile, a rupture of the band is provoked along a predetermined folding line, the first folding flap of the following pile to be formed is brought into a predetermined position, the forward movement of the band is stopped and the pile which has just been completed is removed, the traction force for rupturing the band being exerted during the forward motion of the same, by applying the band by one of its surfaces advantageously at the predetermined rupture line, against stationary means, by deviating the band downstream and upstream of its part under application, from its normal path, advantageously in a perpendicular direction with respect to the plane of the band, while guiding the band.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for forming piles from a continuous band of a flexible material comprising the steps of:
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providing the continuous band with transverse folding lines such that a folding flap is defined between adjacent folding lines; conveying the continuous band in a forward direction along a path that is in the vicinity of a stationary rupture device; folding the continuous band along said transverse folding lines and depositing the folded flaps on a support and a pile forming station that is downstream from said path such that said folding flaps are arranged in a zigzag configuration and stacked in the form of a pile; rupturing the continuous band at a predetermined folding line between two flaps, the downward flap being designed to become the last flap of a pile that is about to be formed and the upward flap being designed to become the first flap of a new pile to be formed; determining the instant of time when said predetermined rupture folding line arrives in a zone substantially in front of said rupture device; deviating the continuous band with said rupture folding line being in said zone in front of said rupture device, in a direction substantially perpendicular to said path at a location near to said rupture device such that the region of the continuous band encompassing said predetermined rupture folding line is forced against said rupture device and subjected to traction forces that rupture said continuous band along said predetermined folding line, thereby separating said first and last flaps, without stopping the forward motion of the continuous band; maintaining said first and last flaps in close proximity to one another as said separate band continues forward towards a pile forming station; depositing said last flap on said pile being formed to form a complete pile and removing said complete pile from said pile forming station; and positioning said first flap for forming said new pile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 22, 23, 24)
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4. An apparatus for forming piles from a continuous band of a flexible material containing flaps defined by transverse folding lines, comprising:
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a pendulum assembly adapted for depositing the continuous band on a supporting device in a zigzag configuration of superposed folding flaps and folded along said folding lines; means for separating the continuous band along any of said folding lines, located upstream of said pendulum assembly; said separating means comprising a band rupture device provided with rupture edges mounted near to one surface of the continuous band and a band deviating device located on the side of the continuous band that is opposite to the side where the rupture device is located, at a predetermined distance from said rupture device in said band travel path, said deviating device comprising a band deviating rotatable cylinder having an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band that is movably mounted perpendicular to said band travel path in a support structure between a first position distant from the continuous band and a second position in contact with the adjacent surface of the continuous band wherein the continuous band is deviated from its travel path and applied against said rupture device, thereby causing the continuous band to separate the continuous band; means for controlling the motion of said deviating cylinder; means for detecting predetermined folding lines coded to constitute rupture lines, said detecting means being positioned at a location upstream of said band separator means; means for calculating a time interval necessary for said coded folding line to move from said detector means to a location in a zone in front of said rupture device and for producing at the end of said time interval a control signal; means for applying said control signal to said deviating cylinder motion control means to cause said deviating cylinder to move to said second position; means for guiding said separated band downstream of said separating device to said pendulum assembly. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification