A SUCTION ROLLER STRUCTURE FOR AN INTERLEAVING MACHINE

Abstract

Suction roller structure for the pneumatic transport of sheets inside an interfolding unit, comprising a suction source, an external roller (3) rotating with respect to the cylinder (1) and provided with longitudinal rows of bores (4) angularly spaced and selectively communicating with said internal cavity (2) during the angular rotation of the roller (3), a distribution of pneumatic valves (5) that are normally closed, inserted between said internal cavity (2) and at least one bore (4), cam means (6) operatively associated with the rotation of the roller (3) and arranged to open one or more of said valves (5) at one or more angular positions taken by the roller (3).

Claims

1. A suction roller structure to pneumatically transport sheets, the suction roller structure comprising: a suction source; a rotating external roller comprising longitudinal rows of bores angularly spaced and said longitudinal rows of bores selectively communicating with said suction source during angular rotation of said rotating external roller; a distribution of intermediate suction chambers communicating and associated with corresponding longitudinal rows of bores; a distribution of pneumatic valves, each of said pneumatic valves being interposed between said suction source and one of said intermediate suction chambers; an actuation means operatively associated with said rotation of said rotating external roller and arranged for opening one or more of said pneumatic valves at one or more angular positions taken by said rotating external roller.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said suction source comprises an internal cavity of an inner hollow cylinder and said rotating external roller is rotatable with respect to said inner hollow cylinder.

3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein said hollow cylinder comprises an arrangement of bores to establish a pneumatic communication between said internal cavity and a ring gap defined by an external surface of said inner hollow cylinder and an internal surface of said rotating external roller.

4. A structure according to claim 3, wherein said pneumatic valves comprise a shutter and an actuation element, said shutter being closed, interposed between a vacuum volume communicating with said ring gap and said bores of said rotating external roller, said actuation element being actuated by said actuation means against a thrust of an elastic return element as a reaction to the rotation of said rotating external roller.

5. A structure according to claim 4, wherein said pneumatic valves are mounted along at least one longitudinal chamber, arranged in said ring gap and seal-secured with respect to an inner surface of said rotating external roller, in correspondence to at least one row of longitudinal bores, and said vacuum volume comprises a volume communicating with said ring gap by transverse bores of said at least one longitudinal chamber.

6. A structure according to claim 5, wherein said at least one longitudinal chamber is formed by a modular composition of linear segments and valve-holding blocks.

7. A structure according to claim 5, wherein said at least one longitudinal chamber is integrally made with said rotating external roller.

8. A structure according to claim 5, wherein said at least one longitudinal chamber comprises one or more pneumatically sealing sectioning buffers placed at predetermined positions along said at least one longitudinal chamber.

9. A structure according to claim 8, further comprising a means for adjusting at least one of said predetermined positions of said one or more pneumatically sealing sectioning buffers.

10. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means comprises a cam means.

11. A structure according to claim 10, wherein said cam means comprises at least an outer ring profile arranged in correspondence to at least one actuation element of at least one of said pneumatic valves.

12. A structure according to claim 10, further comprising a means for adjusting or replacing said cam means.

13. An interfolding unit comprising: a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side and counter-rotating to operate at a common tangency point on successions of sheets fed according to a staggered position between said pair of folding rollers, at least one of said folding rollers comprising a suction roller structure, said suction roller structure comprising a suction source, a rotating external roller, a distribution of intermediate suction chambers, a distribution of pneumatic valves and an actuation means, said rotating external roller comprising longitudinal rows of bores angularly spaced and said longitudinal rows of bores selectively communicating with said suction source during angular rotation of said rotating external roller, said distribution of intermediate suction chambers communicating and being associated with corresponding longitudinal rows of bores, each of said pneumatic valves being interposed between said suction source and one of said intermediate suction chambers, said actuation means being operatively associated with said rotation of said rotating external roller and arranged for opening one or more of said pneumatic valves at one or more angular positions taken by said rotating external roller.

Description

LIST OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other advantages will be better understood by anyone skilled in the art thanks to the following specification and the accompanying drawings, given as a non-limiting example, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 schematically shows an axonometric view of a suction roller for an interfolding unit according to the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows the roller of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal front view;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the roller of FIG. 1 in a side view;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the roller of FIG. 3 in a longitudinal C-C section;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the roller of FIG. 2 in a diagonal F-F section;

[0023] FIG. 6 shows the roller of FIG. 2 in a diagonal A-A section and a detail D;

[0024] FIG. 7 shows the detail pertaining to a valve used in the roller of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 8 shows the valve of FIG. 7 in a B-B section;

[0026] FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of a valve used in the roller of the invention, a few pieces of which have been removed for a better understanding;

[0027] FIG. 10 shows a detail G of FIG. 8;

[0028] FIG. 11 shows the internal hollow cylinder of the roller of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal front view;

[0029] FIG. 12 shows the cylinder of FIG. 11 in a side view;

[0030] FIG. 13 shows the cylinder of FIG. 11 in a top view;

[0031] FIG. 14 shows a longitudinal suction chamber of the roller of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal front view;

[0032] FIG. 15 shows the detail G of FIG. 14;

[0033] FIG. 16 shows the top view of the chamber of FIG. 14;

[0034] FIG. 17 shows an isometric view of the chamber of FIG. 14;

[0035] FIG. 18 schematically shows an interfolder equipped with suction rollers according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 19 shows a preferred embodiment of the longitudinal suction chamber of the roller of FIG. 1 in an isometric view;

[0037] FIG. 20 shows the detail A of FIG. 19;

[0038] FIG. 21 schematically shows two suction rollers while the interfolding unit is running;

[0039] FIG. 22 schematically shows the functioning of the machine in FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] With reference to the attached drawings, described herein is a preferred embodiment of a structure, according to the invention, of a suction roller for pneumatically transporting sheets, which is especially used in a U-shaped interfolding unit.

[0041] The structure comprises a hollow cylinder 1 equipped with an internal cavity 2, which is preferably fixedly mounted onto a pair of sides F so that the cavity 2 is constantly connected to a suction source V (FIG. 2).

[0042] Moreover, an external roller 3 is mounted onto cylinder 1, rotatable with respect to cylinder 1, for instance on side bearings 32, and is provided with longitudinal rows of bores 4 angularly spaced (for example eight equally spaced rows) and selectively communicating with said internal cavity 2 during the angular rotation of the roller 3.

[0043] Preferably, the roller 3 is a folding roller of the type used in pairs in interfolders to fold successions of sheets 7a, 7b at a common tangency point Z, in order to create stacks of interfolded sheets S (FIG. 18) in combination with detachment elements M that detach the sheet from the rollers.

[0044] To this end, the roller 3 may be equipped with an external grooved surface 22 that transports the sheets and towards which the bores 4 are faced.

[0045] The functioning of an interfolder is generally known, for example from the Italian patent application BO2008A000167 in the name of the same inventors and is thus not described in further detail.

[0046] According to the invention, the structure of the roller comprises an arrangement of pneumatic valves 5 that are normally closed and inserted between the internal cavity 2 of the hollow cylinder 1 and at least one bore 4 of the roller 3, preferably a longitudinal row of bores 4.

[0047] In order to achieve the selective communication of bores 4 with the vacuum cavity 2, cam means 6 are envisaged and operatively associated to rotation of the roller 3 and arranged to be able to open one or more of said valves 5 at one or more angular positions taken by the roller 3.

[0048] In the described embodiment, the hollow cylinder 1 comprises an arrangement of bores 9 to establish a pneumatic communication between the internal cavity 2 and a ring gap 10 that is generally defined by the external surface 11 of the internal cylinder 1 and the internal surface 12 of the roller 3 and towards which valves 5 are faced, normally closed.

[0049] Preferably, valves 5 comprise a shutter 13 that is normally closed, equipped with a sealing head 23 and a stem 24, interposed between a vacuum volume 14 communicating with the gap 10 and the bores 4 of the roller 3. Valves 5 are also equipped with an actuation element 8, for instance a small wheel connected to the stem 24, that can be activated by the cam means 6 against the thrust of an elastic return element 16 as a reaction to the rotation of the roller 3.

[0050] In the described example, cam means 6 comprise at least an external ring profile of the hollow cylinder 1 arranged in correspondence to at least one actuation element 8 of at least one valve 5.

[0051] What is understood, however, is that various embodiments of the cam means will be possible, as well as various technical solutions for actuating the valves 5.

[0052] In particular, cam means 6 may be fixed or adjustable (for example, by providing cam profiles that can be replaced or adjusted in an angular position with respect to cylinder 1) in order to be able to change the angular phase of the opening/closing of the valves 5.

[0053] With particular reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, the valves 5 are mounted along at least one longitudinal chamber 7 placed in the space of the gap 10 and secured by means of a pneumatic seal with respect to the internal surface of the roller 3 by at least one longitudinal row of bores 4.

[0054] Thanks to this solution, the chamber 7 is pneumatically isolated with respect to the gap 10 and the vacuum volume 14 constantly communicates with the gap 10 by means of transverse bores 15 of the longitudinal chamber 7.

[0055] Particularly, the pneumatic seal of chamber 7 is obtained by seal-applying the peripheral edges 24 of the chamber 7 to the internal surface 12 of the roller and by fixing the chamber 7 to the roller, for example by means of screws.

[0056] Preferably, moreover, the longitudinal chamber 7 is in the shape of a longitudinal profile made of linear modules or segments 17, alternating with valve-holding blocks 18.

[0057] In this way, it is possible to compose chambers 7 of the correct length for the roller 3, to be put in suction, and to place the valves in the desired position.

[0058] FIGS. 19, 20 show a preferred embodiment of the chamber 7.

[0059] In this embodiment, the chamber 7 comprises one or more sealing buffers 25 that can be placed at predetermined positions along the chamber 7 at the sides of the valves 5. In different embodiments, the buffers 25 may be securely positioned by means of screws or by means of adjusting means, such as a threaded rod 26 that is accessible and operable from the outside, at the ends of the chamber 7.

[0060] Advantageously, this solution allows to adjust, and possibly section into several sectors, the transverse width of the volume of the chamber that is subject to the suction phase, thus increasing the flexibility of the system for the transport of sheets of different transverse format, without having to plug the bores 4 and without reducing the efficiency and speed of the suction and release phases.

[0061] What is specified is that in a different embodiment, the chamber 7 can be obtained directly in the thickness of the roller 3 itself instead of being taken back.

[0062] With particular reference to FIG. 21, the functioning of two folding rollers according to the invention is shown, upon the exchange of the sheet from a roller 3s (shown on the left in the representation) to the other roller 3d.

[0063] In order to achieve the exchange, the valves 5 of the roller 3s are closed and do not create vacuum in the bores 4, while the valves 5 of the roller 3d enters the vacuum state and hold the sheet.

[0064] In the figure, a indicates the angular position of the cams 6 of the roller that hold the valves 5 open, and thus in the vacuum state, such valves holding the head and tail edges of the sheets to be folded, and b indicates the angular position of the cams 6 of the roller (indicated by a dotted line) that hold the valves open, such valves holding the central portion of the same sheets.

[0065] During the rotation of the suction rollers 3s, 3d, cams 6 in the a position cause the valves 5 to open at the point t of the exchange of the sheet between the cutting roller 31placed above (and only schematically shown in the figure)and the folding roller 3s and let the valves close at the tangency point z between the left and right folding rollers 3s, 3d.

[0066] Cams corresponding to the angle b cause instead the valves to open at the tangency point z and close them at the point S, where the sheet must be detached from the underlying detachment elements M.

[0067] As a result of the succession of the hold and release phases of the sheet and of the rotation of the folding roller, the cut sheet is then transported, folded by the two rollers at the tangency point z and then released at the bottom.

[0068] As it is known in the sector, in order to obtain interfolding, the succession of the suction and release states as described above keeps going in an alternate way in the two rollers 3s, 3d in order to transport, fold and release the two successions of sheets fed to the two left and right rollers and staggered in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 22 schematically shows phases f1-f5 of interfolding of two successions of sheets 7a, 7b, performed with a pair of folding rollers 3s, 3d according to the present invention.

Phase f1

[0069] During this phase, a first fold P between the first and the second face of a sheet 7a wrapped on the first roller 3s is created, the sheets 7a and 7b are coupled starting from the tangency point Z; [0070] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s immediately upstream and downstream of the tangency point z are in suction and rotatively drag the tail edge of the first face and the second face of the sheet 7a, [0071] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, immediately downstream of the tangency point, are closed, [0072] the element M of the second roller 3d has started the detachment of the head edge of the first face of sheet 7a,

Phase f2

[0073] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s, immediately downstream of the tangency point z, are still in suction mode and rotatively drag the second face of the sheet 7a and the first face, coupled to it, of the second sheet 7b; [0074] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, upstream of the tangency point, are open and drag the second sheet 7b; [0075] the element M of the second roller 3d has performed the detachment of the head edge of the first face of sheet 7a;

Phase f3

[0076] during this phase, the succession of foldings of the interfolded (that is partially overlapped) sheets 7a, 7b begins, [0077] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s, immediately upstream of the tangency point z, are open and feed a sheet 7a towards the tangency point Z, [0078] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s, immediately downstream of the tangency point z, are closed, and they do not hold the coupled sheets 7a/7b; [0079] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, upstream of the tangency point, are open and drag the second sheet 7b; [0080] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, downstream of the tangency point, are open and drag the coupled sheets 7a/7b, thus forming a further fold P, [0081] the element M of the first roller 3s has started the detachment of the coupled sheets 7a/7b.

Phase f4

[0082] at this phase, the first interfolding of two staggered sheets 7a, 7b has been already obtained, [0083] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s immediately upstream of the tangency point z are open and drag a sheet 7a to the tangency point Z, [0084] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s, immediately downstream of the tangency point z, are closed, and they do not hold the coupled sheets 7a/7b; [0085] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, upstream of the tangency point, are open and drag the second sheet 7b; [0086] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, downstream of the tangency point, are open and drag the coupled sheets 7a/7b, thus completing the further fold P, [0087] the element M of the first roller 3s has completed the detachment of the coupled sheets 7a/7b; [0088] the element M of the second roller 3d is about to start the detachment of the coupled sheets 7a/7b upstream of the further fold p;

Phase f5

[0089] in this phase, the second interfolding of two staggered sheets 7a, 7b has been obtained, [0090] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s immediately upstream of the tangency point z are open and drag a sheet 7a to the tangency point Z, [0091] the valves 5 of the first roller 3s, immediately downstream of the tangency point z, are open and drag the coupled sheets 7a/7b, starting to form another further fold P; [0092] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d upstream of the tangency point are open and drag the second sheet 7b towards the tangency point; [0093] the valves 5 of the second roller 3d, downstream of the tangency point, are closed, and do not hold the coupled sheets 7a/7b, [0094] the element M of the second roller 3d has started the detachment of the coupled sheets 7a/7b upstream of the fold P that had been previously created.

[0095] The described phases are repeated in succession and the interfolded sheets 7a/7b are stacked at the bottom, forming a stack of interfolded sheets.

[0096] The invention presents important advantages in that the provided seals are tight, there is no drawing or dragging, friction is low and allows energy saving and reduced pollution, and furthermore, they can independently enter the suction mode and, when valves are activated, the vacuum does not affect the friction inside the roller.

[0097] A further advantageous aspect is that a single suction system feeds all the rollers of the interfolder.

[0098] A further advantageous aspect is that the valves may change in number, but they are all the same regardless of the number of sheets to be processed.

[0099] A further advantageous aspect is that the roller can be equipped with different sectors, and each sector can be provided with an internal buffer, which may have different positions with respect to the valves and can thus close selected bores by reducing the suction chamber.

[0100] A further advantageous aspect is that the shutter valves are long-lived over the years and they can be changed without disassembling the roller.

[0101] A further advantageous aspect is that the adjustment of the transport and transfer suction of sheets is made easier, with the possibility of installing an automatic suction variation system, that might be advanced or delayed.

[0102] The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be designed without departing from the agreed scope of protection.