Method for forming a sheet material web and assembly

• US 5,992,682 A
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Traugott, David K., Keating, Brian E., Loppnow, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, ALEXANDER S
• Application Number:
  US09/152,029
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 428/126, 428/124, 428/130, 221/47, 221/48
• US Class Current: 221/48
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/428 Details of the folds or interfolds of the sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/24 Interfolding sheets, e.g. cigarette or toilet papers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24231 At opposed marginal edges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24264 Particular fold structure [e.g., beveled, etc.]

Abstract

A sheet material assembly comprising a stack of longitudinally folded sheet material webs including a first web and second web. The first web includes a first fold, a second fold overlying a portion of said first fold, and a third fold lying between the first and second folds. The second web includes a first fold underlying the first fold of the first web, a second fold overlying the second fold of the first web and a third fold underlying the third fold of the first web. A folding device for forming a web includes a first, second and third folding edge extending from a first junction and formed in a first plane, a fourth folding edge extending from the first junction out of the first plane, a fifth and sixth folding edge extending from a second junction formed in a second plane parallel to and above the first plane, and a seventh folding edge extending from the second junction out of the second plane. The fifth folding edge crosses over the third folding edge in a spaced apart relationship. A method for forming a sheet material web includes drawing the web over the second, third and fourth folding edges to form the first fold, drawing the web over the first folding edge to form a second fold and drawing the web over the fifth, sixth and seventh folding edge to form the third fold.

Claims

1. A method for forming a sheet material web, said method comprising:

forming a first longitudinal fold of the web by drawing said web over a second, third and fourth folding edges, said second and third folding edges extending from a first junction and formed in a first plane, said fourth folding edge extending from said first junction away from said first plane;

forming a second longitudinal fold of the web in an overlying relationship with said first longitudinal fold by drawing said web over a first folding edge, said first folding edge extending from said first junction and formed in said first plane;

forming a third longitudinal fold of the web in an overlying relationship with said first longitudinal fold and in an underlying relationship with said second longitudinal fold by drawing said web over a fifth, sixth and seventh folding edge, said fifth and sixth folding edges extending from a second junction and formed in a second plane parallel to and above said first plane, said fifth folding edge crossing over said third folding edge in a spaced apart relationship, said seventh folding edge extending from said second junction and away from said second plane.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said web comprises a first web and further comprising the steps of applying a second web to said first web and forming a first, second and third longitudinal fold in said second web simultaneously with forming said first, second and third longitudinal folds of said first web respectively.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first longitudinal fold of said second web underlies said first longitudinal fold of said first web, said second longitudinal fold of said second web overlies said second longitudinal fold of said first web and said third longitudinal web of said second web underlies said third longitudinal fold of said first web.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first longitudinal folds of said first and second webs are in contact, said second longitudinal folds of said first and second webs are in contact, said third longitudinal folds of said first and second webs are in contact, and said second and third longitudinal folds of said first web are in contact.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising a third web having a longitudinal fold lying between said first longitudinal fold of said first web and said third longitudinal fold of said second web.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of next lower webs progressively interfolded with said third web and the next lower web of said plurality.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of next lower webs comprises a V-shaped web having a first and second longitudinal fold.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said second and third longitudinal folds of said web are in contact.

9. A method for forming a stack of sheet material webs, said method comprising:

applying a first web to a second web;

forming a first longitudinal fold in each of the first and second webs, said first longitudinal fold of said first web overlying said first longitudinal fold of said second web;

forming a second longitudinal fold in each of said first and second webs in overlying relationship with said first longitudinal folds such that said first and second longitudinal folds of each of said first and second webs form a longitudinal folded edge respectively, and such that said second longitudinal fold of said second web overlies said second longitudinal fold of said first web;

forming a third longitudinal fold in each of said first and second webs in an underlying relationship with said second longitudinal folds and in an overlying relationship with said first longitudinal folds such that said second and third longitudinal folds of each of said first and second webs form a longitudinal folded edge respectively, said third longitudinal fold of said first web overlies said third longitudinal fold of said second web, and a free edge of each of said third longitudinal folds of said first and second webs lies between said first and second longitudinal folds of said first and second webs.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising interfolding a third web comprising a first and second longitudinal fold with said first and second web wherein said first longitudinal fold of said third web lies between said first longitudinal fold of said first web and said third longitudinal fold of said second web.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising progressively interfolding a plurality of next lower webs with said third web and the next lower web of the plurality.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of next lower webs comprises a V-shaped web having a first and second longitudinal fold.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said second and third longitudinal folds of said first web are in contact.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said first longitudinal folds of said first and second webs are in contact, said second longitudinal folds of said first and second webs are in contact, said third longitudinal folds of said first and second webs are in contact, and said second and third longitudinal folds of said first web are in contact.

15. A method for assembling a stack of sheet material webs in a container, said method comprising:

providing said container comprising a removable portion covering an opening, said opening adapted to be exposed upon removal of said removable portion;

depositing a stack of sheet material webs in said container, said stack comprising opposite sides and a first web, said first web comprising a first fold, a second fold overlying a portion of said first fold, said first and second folds forming a first longitudinal folded edge at one of said sides of the stack, and a third fold lying between said first and second folds, said second and third folds forming a second longitudinal folded edge intermediate the sides of the stack, said third fold comprising a free edge proximate said first longitudinal edge whereby said third fold underlies substantially the entirety of said second fold, and wherein said second fold is the uppermost fold of said first web such that said second longitudinal folded edge can be grasped by a user at said opening when said removable portion is removed so as to expose said opening.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said stack further comprises a second sheet material web comprising a first fold underlying said first fold of said first web, a second fold overlying said second fold of said first web, and a third fold underlying said third fold of said first web.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first folds of said first and second webs are in contact, said second folds of said first and second webs are in contact, said third folds of said first and second webs are in contact and said second and third folds of said first web are in contact.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said stack further comprises a third web having a fold lying between said first fold of said first web and said third fold of said second web.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said stack comprises a plurality of next lower webs progressively interfolded with said third web and the next lower web of the plurality.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of next lower webs comprises a V-shaped web having a first and second fold.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said second and third folds of said first web are in contact.