Self-centering tucker assembly for a folding roll
First Claim
1. A folding roll assembly, comprising:
- a first rotating roll having an outer roll surface;
a second rotating roll having a gripper assembly;
a slot formed in the first rotating roll and extending inwardly from the outer roll surface, wherein the slot defines first and second spaced apart sidewalls;
a tucker element disposed in the slot;
a tucker element mounting arrangement interposed between the first rotating roll and the tucker element, wherein the tucker element is connected to the tucker element mounting arrangement via a pivot connection that provides pivoting movement of the tucker element about a pivot axis, and wherein the tucker element mounting arrangement is axially movable within the slot so as to provide axial inward and outward movement of the tucker element relative to the slot;
a spring carried by the first rotating roll and disposed in the slot, wherein the spring acts on the tucker element mounting arrangement, and wherein the spring and the tucker element mounting arrangement are configured and arranged to bias the tucker element toward a normal operating position in which the tucker element is biased axially outwardly relative to the slot and spaced from both the first and second sidewalls of the slot, wherein the tucker element defines an outer end located outwardly of the outer roll surface when the tucker element is in the normal operating position;
a retainer arrangement carried by the first rotating roll and configured to engage the tucker element mounting arrangement to retain the tucker element in the slot against the bias of the spring; and
wherein, upon rotation of the first and second rolls, the tucker element of the first roll contacts the gripper assembly of the second roll and wherein the gripper assembly applies forces to the tucker element tending to cause the tucker element to move relative to the outer roll surface in at least one of the following directions;
1) away from the normal operating position in a first direction in which the tucker element is movable toward the first sidewall of the slot by pivoting movement of the tucker element about the pivot axis,
2) away from the normal operating position in a second direction toward the second sidewall of the slot by pivoting movement of the tucker element about the pivot axis, and
3) axially inwardly relative to the outer roll surface against the bias of the spring by inward movement of the tucker element mounting arrangement within the slot.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interfolding machine includes a first folding roll with a series of the gripper assemblies and a series of tucker assemblies uniformly and alternately spaced to interact with a series of gripper and tucker assemblies of an adjacent second folding roll. The series of alternately spaced gripper and tucker assemblies interact to grip, carry, and release a sheet of material in a manner so as to generate an interfolded stack of sheets. Each tucker assembly includes an outwardly biased tucker element that is operable to self-center in a slot formed in the folding roll. The tucker assembly further includes a roller mounted by a pin to the tucker element such that the tucker element rolls along a surface defined by the slot. Another embodiment of the tucker assembly includes a pivot spring and bumper to self-center the tucker element in the slot.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A folding roll assembly, comprising:
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a first rotating roll having an outer roll surface; a second rotating roll having a gripper assembly; a slot formed in the first rotating roll and extending inwardly from the outer roll surface, wherein the slot defines first and second spaced apart sidewalls; a tucker element disposed in the slot; a tucker element mounting arrangement interposed between the first rotating roll and the tucker element, wherein the tucker element is connected to the tucker element mounting arrangement via a pivot connection that provides pivoting movement of the tucker element about a pivot axis, and wherein the tucker element mounting arrangement is axially movable within the slot so as to provide axial inward and outward movement of the tucker element relative to the slot; a spring carried by the first rotating roll and disposed in the slot, wherein the spring acts on the tucker element mounting arrangement, and wherein the spring and the tucker element mounting arrangement are configured and arranged to bias the tucker element toward a normal operating position in which the tucker element is biased axially outwardly relative to the slot and spaced from both the first and second sidewalls of the slot, wherein the tucker element defines an outer end located outwardly of the outer roll surface when the tucker element is in the normal operating position; a retainer arrangement carried by the first rotating roll and configured to engage the tucker element mounting arrangement to retain the tucker element in the slot against the bias of the spring; and wherein, upon rotation of the first and second rolls, the tucker element of the first roll contacts the gripper assembly of the second roll and wherein the gripper assembly applies forces to the tucker element tending to cause the tucker element to move relative to the outer roll surface in at least one of the following directions;
1) away from the normal operating position in a first direction in which the tucker element is movable toward the first sidewall of the slot by pivoting movement of the tucker element about the pivot axis,
2) away from the normal operating position in a second direction toward the second sidewall of the slot by pivoting movement of the tucker element about the pivot axis, and
3) axially inwardly relative to the outer roll surface against the bias of the spring by inward movement of the tucker element mounting arrangement within the slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tucker arrangement for a folding roll having an outer roll surface, comprising:
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a tucker element disposed within a slot defined by the folding roll and extending inwardly from the outer roll surface, wherein the slot defines first and second spaced apart sidewalls; a tucker element mounting arrangement interposed between the folding roll and the tucker element, wherein the tucker element is connected to the tucker element mounting arrangement via a pivot connection that provides pivoting movement of the tucker element about a pivot axis, and wherein the tucker element mounting arrangement is axially movable within the slot so as to provide axial inward and outward movement of the tucker element relative to the slot; a biasing arrangement carried by the roll and disposed within the slot, wherein the biasing arrangement acts on the tucker element mounting arrangement to bias the tucker element toward a normal operating position in which the tucker element is biased axially outwardly relative to the slot and spaced from both the first and second sidewalls of the slot, wherein the tucker element defines an outer end located outwardly of the outer roll surface when the tucker element is in the normal operating position, and wherein the tucker element is configured to retract radially inwardly within the slot against the bias of the biasing arrangement; and wherein the tucker element mounting arrangement is configured and arranged such that the tucker element is laterally movable relative to the outer roll surface about the pivot connection away from the normal operating position in a first direction toward the first sidewall of the slot, and in a second direction toward the second sidewall of the slot, and such that the tucker element is movable inwardly into the slot by axial movement of the tucker element mounting arrangement into the slot; wherein the biasing arrangement and the tucker element mounting arrangement are configured to bias the tucker element for movement about the pivot axis toward the normal operating position, and to bias the tucker element outwardly, wherein the tucker element is movable against the biasing arrangement laterally away from the normal operating position and inwardly into the slot when an external force, generally opposite to the biasing force provided by the biasing arrangement, is applied to the tucker element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification