Abstract:
An apparatus for folding in two a continuous web (10) that advances in a longitudinal direction (A), comprising: a folding station (22) designed to fold said continuous web (10) along a line of longitudinal folding (B) parallel to said longitudinal direction (A); and an alignment station (24) for mutual alignment of opposite longitudinal edges (14) of said continuous web (10), wherein said alignment station (24) comprises two suction belt conveyors (42, 44) having respective branches facing one another (50, 52) designed to pick up by means of suction respective folded sections (34, 32) of said web (10), said suction belt conveyors (42, 44) being mobile in a transverse direction (D) and being associated to a control device (72) designed to move said suction belt conveyors (42, 44) by the same amount and in opposite directions in said transverse direction (D) as a function of information on the position of said longitudinal edges (14).
Abstract:
An adjustable, web-folding system for folding a web substrate (16). The adjustable web folding system has an adjustable folding detour (12) and at least one sensor (14) for measuring a characteristic of a web substrate (16). A surface of the adjustable folding detour (12), or the folding detour (12), is adjustable in response to the value of the characteristic of the web substrate.
Abstract:
An elongate rail (10) for an equal path folder that has a hollow tube (12) having a a longitudinal axis and a vacuum applied thereto, and a first and second substantially planar surfaces (24, 26) parallel to the longitudinal axis and forming a folding edge (28) therebetween. The hollow tube (12) has at least one opening (18) positioned angularly away from both the first and said second surfaces (24, 26). The vacuum causes a negative pressure to be applied to the opening (18) so that a web substrate passing over the first and second surfaces (24, 26) has at least a portion of the vacuum applied to a face of said web substrate when said web substrate is proximate to at least one of the first and second surfaces (24, 26) thereby substantially reducing particulate matter build-up on the folding equipment and substantially reducing the undesirable particulate matter left on the out-going web product.
Abstract:
A method for making a longitudinal fold in a web, including the steps of: (1) providing a web-supporting device; (2) providing a folding belt disposed adjacent to a first longitudinal edge of he web-supporting device; (3) providing the web which is superimposed onto a web-contacting surface of the web-supporting device such that a first longitudinal edge of the web extends laterally beyond the first longitudinal edge of the web-supporting device and at least partially onto the folding belt; and(4) folding the first longitudinal fold of the web by twisting the folding belt around its longitudinal axis of rotation. The longitudinal axis of rotation of the holding belt extends parallel to the longitudinal fold line of the web.
Abstract:
A system and method for selectively replacing one set of folding boards for another set of folding boards is provided. The system can include a first frame assembly secured to a first set of folding boards. The first set of folding boards con be initially placed in a web-receiving position for receiving and folding webs, such as tissue webs. The system can also include a second frame assembly secured to a second set of folding boards, which is placed in another position. The first set of folding boards at the web-receiving position can then be selectively replaced by the second set of folding boards. For example, in one embodiment, each frame assembly can be simultaneously rotated about an axis to replace the first set with the second set.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for pleating or otherwise shaping a web are described herein. The method and apparatus may have numerous applications. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus are used in the formation, filling, and sealing of unit dose packages for consumer products. A method and apparatus for forming sealing two moving webs together, which webs have portions that are non-planar are also described herein.
Abstract:
The apparatuses and methods herein may be configured to transport articles in the form of continuous lengths of substrates having thicknesses that varies along a machine direction and/or cross direction. The conveyance apparatuses may be configured to include a first carrier and second carrier, wherein each carrier includes an endless belt positioned adjacent to the other so as to define a nip region between the endless belts, the nip region extending in a machine direction and a cross direction. The carriers may also include compliant rollers in rolling contact with the endless belts. Each compliant roller may be elastomeric and adapted to provide a reaction force normal to the endless belt along the machine and/or cross direction of the nip region. As such, the compliant rollers help maintain and hold the endless belts in contact with both relatively thin and thick areas of the substrate advancing through the nip region.
Abstract:
A bias tape making device including a housing, a spindle rotatably disposed in the housing for supporting a strip of fabric, at least one bias tape folding tip located in the housing in communication with the spindle for folding the strip of material into a bias tape having folded longitudinal edges, and a heated pressing assembly disposed in the housing for receiving the bias tape and setting the folded longitudinal edges of the bias tape. The device includes a plurality of interchangeable bias tape folding tips to produce a variety of different sized single fold bias tapes.
Abstract:
A web has a series of cut outs that define bridging portions therebetween. A method for folding the web includes providing the web to a first conveyor, folding the web about a folding wheel to define a folded edge that extends through the series of cut outs, transferring the web to a second conveyor having an included angle of 15 to 40 degrees in relation to the first conveyor, folding the web about a folding bar to maintain the folded edge, and spanning at least one cut out with the folding bar and contemporaneously contacting at least two bridge portions with the folding bar to maintain the folded edge of the web about the folding bar as the web passes the folding wheel edge.