Device for batch production of folded sheets

• US 6,599,228 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Brennan, Jonathan Paul, Harnish, David A., Hailey, Kerri Crain
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LOUIS K
• Application Number:
  US10/308,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 493/405, 493/416, 493/436, 493/438, 493/439, 493/440, 270/40, 270/41
• US Class Current: 493/405
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/428 Details of the folds or interfolds of the sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/00 Winding webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 39/16 Associating two or more webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/24 Interfolding sheets, e.g. cigarette or toilet papers

Abstract

A device and a method for producing a batch of products having a multiplicity of interfolded, generally rectangular sheets including wet wipes, from a limited amount of a web material, at a high production speed and in efficiently used floor space. The method includes the steps of folding a first and second ribbons by a first and second folding devices, respectively; interfolding the ribbons to provide a first pair of ribbons; securing the first pair to a perimeter surface of a cyclical accumulator; accumulating the first pair onto the perimeter surface by providing a tangential velocity to the first pair; interfolding the first pair with a newly formed second pair of ribbons; rotating the perimeter surface of the cyclical accumulator to provide the tangential velocity to the second pair so as to superimpose the second pair onto the first pair of ribbons; displacing the cyclical accumulator linearly to accommodate the second pair in a machine direction; repeating the steps of rotating and linearly displacing the cyclical accumulator to form successive pairs of ribbons until a desired stack of ribbons is accumulated on the perimeter surface; and selectively cutting through the stack of ribbons.

Claims

1. A folding device for folding a ribbon from a continuous web of material traveling along a path having folding margins, the folding device comprising:

(i) a first planar part including

a first planar surface and a first relief surface depressed in relation thereto, the first planar surface having a generally trapezoidal shape providing

a first folding edge extending transversely across the path of travel and having a first end point in a first vertical marginal plane of said path and a second end point in a second vertical marginal plane of said path, wherein the first and second vertical marginal planes are generally parallel to the path of travel,

a second planar surface extending forwardly in the path of travel from the first folding edge, the trapezoidal shape of the first planar surface providing

a second folding edge and a third folding edge, the second folding edge extending from the first end point and the third folding edge extending from the second end point, the third folding edge forming a relief angle between the first planar surface and a third relief surface sufficient to create a space angle between the third relief surface and the continuous web of material, wherein said third relief surface extends from said third folding edge;

(ii) a second planar part having a generally triangular shape and extending forwardly in the path of travel from the first end point and generally parallel to the second planar surface, the second planar part comprising;

a fourth folding edge extending forwardly in the path of travel from a third end point located in the first vertical marginal plane and separated downwardly by an interfolding gap from the first end point, and

a fifth folding edge extending from the first end point diagonally forwardly relative to the path of travel and across the path of travel;

(iii) a third planar part having a generally triangular shape and extending from the second end point in the path of travel forwardly and generally parallel to the second planar surface, the third planar part comprising;

a third planar surface and a fourth planar surface opposed thereto, the third planar surface and the fourth planar surface forming

a seventh folding edge extending forwardly in the path of travel in the second vertical marginal plane from the second end point, and

a fourth relief surface and a fifth relief surface opposed thereto, the fourth relief surface being depressed in relation to the third plane surface, the fifth relief surface being depressed in relation to the fourth plane surface; and

(iv) a sixth folding edge forming a first gap with the third planar part and a second gap with the second end point, the sixth folding edge extending from the second vertical marginal plane diagonally across the path of travel to the first vertical marginal plane and generally parallel to the third planar part.