Folding machine for paper and soft folding material

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding machine for paper and soft folding material, comprising a supporting frame (1), in which a rotary bearing (2) is rotatably mounted, the rotary bearing containing mutually parallel rotatable working rolls (17, 18, 19), wherein: a pressing device (6) for pressing the paper (39) onto positions of the rotary bearing (2) is provided, and an outer control element (7) which is rotated conjointly with the rotary bearing is provided: the pressing device (6) is mounted in an opening flap (26) and is formed by two profiled elements (28, 36), which are controlled by the outer control element (7); the first profiled element (28) receives and transports the paper (39) in cooperation with a first working roll (17), and the second profiled element (36) leads the paper (39), in contact with a first working roll (17) and a third working roll (19) running oppositely to each other, to a folding gap (44); and a pivoting nose (20), which is rotated conjointly with the rotary bearing (2) and is positively controlled by means of an inner control element (11), is provided for a second folding of the paper (39) in a second folding gap (45) between the first working roll (17) and the second working roll (18).

Claims

1. A folding machine for paper and soft folding material with a bearing frame (1), in which a rotary bearing (2) is rotatably mounted, wherein the rotary bearing includes a first working roll 17, a second working roll 18, and a third working roll 19 that are mutually parallel and rotatable, wherein a press-on device (6) for pressing the paper (39) against positions of the rotary bearing (2) and an external control element (7), which is rotated together therewith, are provided, characterised in that the press-on device (6) is mounted in an opening flap (26) and is formed by two profile bodies (28, 36) which are controlled by the external control element (7), wherein the first profile body (28) receives and transports the paper (39) in interaction with the first working roll (17), and the second profile body (36) guides the paper (39) in contact with the first working roll (17) and the third working roll (19) running in opposite directions to a first folding nip (44) for a first folding of the paper (39), and, wherein in that a pivoting lug (20), which rotates with the rotary bearing (2) and is positively controlled via an internal control element (11), is provided for a second folding of the paper (39) in a second folding nip (45) between the first working roll (17) and the second working roll (18).

2. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that by means of the opening flap (26), the press-on device (6) can be folded away for the insertion of new paper (39) and a transport channel (27) can be opened.

3. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the first profile body (28) with a transport roll (29) or alternatively with a contact surface (30) and the second profile body (36) with a round spout (37) are spring-pivotable in the direction of the paper (39) and the rotary bearing (2).

4. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the pivoting lug (20) is pivotably mounted about a longitudinal axis running parallel to the working rolls, preferably about a bearing shaft (19a) of the third working roll (19), and is spring-biased in a disengaged position and is pivotable into the folding position via a control cam (12) of the internal control element (11) when the rotary bearing (2) is rotated, the pre-folded paper (39) being guided by the pivoting lug (20) into the second folding nip (45) between the first and second working rolls (17, 18).

5. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the external control element (7) is a control curve (10) which rotates with the rotary bearing (2) and controls the pivoting of the profile bodies (28, 36).

6. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotary bearing (2) has two side discs (8, 9) rotatable about a bearing axis (2a) and in that at least one of the side discs (8, 9) is designed with a control curve (10) as the external control element (7).

7. The folding machine according to claim 6, characterised in that a guide web (5) is provided between the side discs (8, 9) for guiding the paper (39) in interaction with the separation of the paper (39) and for guiding the folded paper (39) to be provided.

8. The folding machine according to claim 6, characterised in that a separating web (13), preferably provided with an external structure, is arranged between the side discs (8, 9) for separating a folded, perforated paper (39).

9. The folding machine according to claim 6, characterised in that a toothed folding blade (15) interacting with a separating web (14) and pivotable via a lever (16) is arranged between the side discs (8, 9) for separating a folded, non-perforated paper (39).

10. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening flap (26) is formed with at least one locking surface (32) and the second profile body (36) is formed with at least one locking surface (34).

11. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the first profile body (28) is formed with two abutting surfaces (33, 35) for interaction with locking surfaces (32, 34).

12. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the two profile bodies (28, 36) together with the rotary bearing (2) in the bearing frame (1) form a transport channel (27) for the feed of the paper (39).

13. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that a sensor (42) for detecting the paper (39) is arranged in the second profile body (36).

14. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that an outwardly directed side of the pivoting lug (20) has a gripping structure for entraining the paper (39) in interaction with a transport roll (29).

15. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the second profile body (36) is formed with a profile finger (47) for separating folded, perforated paper (39) selectively designed with variable sheet lengths.

Description

(1) Further advantageous features of the invention can be found in the description, the claims and the drawings. In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of the invention in an apparatus embodiment with the opening flap folded open.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective view of the press-on device with both profile bodies.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the first profile body of the press-on device.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the folding spout.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a vertical side section view of a device for receiving, folding, separating and sheet length determining in an open position with a paper lying in the receiving position.

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows the paper being received by the rotary bearing and transported further in the transport channel.

(8) FIG. 7 shows the feeding of the paper until it is fed into the first folding nip.

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows the further transport of the paper through the rotary bearing after the first folding.

(10) FIG. 9 schematically shows a separation of a perforated paper during the revolution of the rotary bearing.

(11) FIG. 10 schematically shows a separation of a non-perforated paper by a folding blade revolving with the rotary bearing.

(12) FIG. 11 shows the second folding process with the paper being fed by the pivoting lug into the second folding nip.

(13) FIG. 12 shows the further transport of the paper after the second folding through the rotary bearing until it is ready for provision.

(14) FIG. 13 schematically shows the transport of the paper remaining in the transport channel after separation in interaction with the pivoting lug as well as a path as a guide value for the design.

(15) FIG. 14 shows the front view of the folding machine with pivoting lug and second working roll.

(16) FIG. 15 shows the view of the inside of the folding machine with the side disc removed.

(17) FIG. 16 shows a view of the inside with the side disc and opening flap removed.

(18) FIG. 17 shows a view of the inside of a modified version of the two profile bodies of the press-on device.

(19) FIG. 18 shows a position of the press-on device with the variant according to FIG. 17, wherein the already partially folded sheet of paper is separated from the newly fed sheet of paper.

(20) FIGS. 6 to 13 and 18 show the respective positions of the rotation bearing, the press-on device and the pivoting lug.

(21) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the folding machine in the form of a barrier-free toilet paper dispenser with a stationary bearing frame 1 in which a rotary bearing 2 is rotatably mounted via a bearing axis 2a in lateral bearing plates 3, 4 and is driven via a drive pulley 43, wherein the rotary bearing 2 contains three working rolls 17, 18, 19 parallel to each other, which interact with the pivoting lug 20 also mounted in the rotary bearing 2, a press-on device 6 movably mounted in an opening flap 26, a further external control element 7 and an internal control element 11 with the control cam 12 and a link roller 23 when receiving, transporting, detecting the sheet length, folding, separating and providing paper 39. The working rolls 17, 18, 19 are provided with bearing shafts 17a, 18a, 19a at their two end faces, which are rotatably mounted in the side discs 8, 9 of the rotary bearing 2. The bearing plate 3 is shown in a cutaway view.

(22) The press-on device 6, shown in an open position, comprises a first profile body 28 and a second profile body 36 for interacting with the working rolls 17, 18, 19 of the rotary bearing 2. The press-on device 6 is movably mounted in an opening flap 26 via the pivot axis AV 6a and is positively displaced against the spring pressure of opposing compression springs (not shown) via the lateral link rollers 31, 38 of the profile bodies 28, 36, which are guided on the control curve 10 acting as an external control element 7 and moved on the bearing axes 31 a and 38a.

(23) The transport roll 29 of the first profile body 28 transports the paper 39 in the transport channel 27 in interaction with the first working roll 17, wherein the round spout 37 of the second profile body 36 guides the paper 39 to the first folding nip 44. The paper 39 is pulled off the paper roll 41 above the folding machine.

(24) FIG. 2 shows a side of the press-on device 6 facing the rotary bearing 2 with the opening flap 26, via the pivot axis 26a of which the opening flap 26 can be released together with the press-on device 6 for inserting and refilling the paper 39, and also a sensor 42 for detecting an inserted paper 39. The press-on device 6 has a transport roll 29 as the first profile body 28.

(25) FIG. 3 shows a first profile body 28 with a contact surface 30 alternative to the transport roll 29. The parts of the press-on device 6 and their function are described below.

(26) The pivoting lug 20 shown in FIG. 4 is formed from a lug-shaped element with two lateral bearing pins 21, 22 and a parallel, lateral link roller 23 moving on a bearing axis 23a. The pivoting lug 20 is arranged in the rotary bearing 2 (see FIGS. 5 to 13) in such a way that it is radially movable on an axis 20a running parallel to the working rolls 17, 18, 19 via lateral bearing pins 21 or via a bearing axis of a third working roll 19 and is pivotable against the spring pressure of form springs 24 via an internal control element 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 11 to 13).

(27) FIGS. 1 and 5 to 9 show a separating web 13 arranged in the rotary bearing 2 between the side discs 8, 9 parallel to the bearing axis 2a and interacting with the guide web 5 for separating perforated paper 39, and FIGS. 10 to 13 show one with the separating web 14 and with the folding blade 15 for separating non-perforated paper 39.

(28) FIGS. 10 to 13 show a folding process as a further embodiment based on the version of a fixed gear.

(29) FIGS. 5 to 13 show the successive positions of the rotary bearing 2 of the folding machine during a 360 folding process and the respective positions of the pivoting lug 20 and the profile bodies 28, 36 when inserting, receiving, transporting, folding and providing the paper 39 using the example of a wrap fold. In this example, after the opening flap 26 is closed, the inserted paper 39 is received in interaction with the first working roll 17 and the first profile body 28 with its transport roll 29 and transported further in the transport channel 27 in the bearing frame 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). With an open opening flap 26, the first profile body 28 is limited in its movement towards the rotary bearing 2 by the locking surface 32 of the opening flap 26 in the same way as with a closed opening flap 26 for bridging lower set curve sections of the control curve 10 (see FIG. 5).

(30) After the leading edge of the paper 39 is detected by the sensor 42 and the resulting precisely defined paper feed, the revolution of the rotary bearing 2 starts. The arrows in FIGS. 6 to 13 show the direction of rotation of the working rolls 17, 18, 19 of the transport roll 29 and the rotary bearing 2 as well as the transport direction of the paper 39.

(31) To prevent compression when folding soft material, the direction of rotation of the rotary bearing 2 corresponds to the transport direction of the paper 39 in the transport channel 27. The transport roll 29 of the first profile body 28 transports the paper 39 in the transport channel 27 after contactless passage of the third working roll 19 and in interaction with the first working roll 17, where the round spout 37 of the trailing second profile body 36 guides the paper 39 to the first folding nip 44.

(32) As shown in FIG. 7, the constant transmission ratio between the working rolls 17, 18, 19 and the rotary bearing 2 during further rotation of the rotary bearing 2 causes the paper 39 to be fed through the second profile body 36 and its round spout 37 precisely to that point in the rotary bearing 2, which guides the paper 39 directly to the first folding nip 44 through the contact of the round spout 37 with the working rolls 17, 19 (see FIG. 7).

(33) With the first folded edge on the front side, the paper 39 continues to advance in the revolving rotary bearing 2 (see FIG. 8).

(34) In the version in which the paper 39 is separated via a perforation, the first profile body 28, when rolling over the separating web 13, interacts with the second profile body 36 and its locking surface 34 and, by means of the pivot axis AV 6a and a defined section of the control curve 10, causes a counter-tension in the paper feed.

(35) The paper 39 guided and tensioned over the separating web 13 during transport is separated by the external structure of the separating web 13 at the perforation of the last sheet and transported onwards. The paper 39 remaining in the transport channel 27 after the separation process is picked up during the next revolution of the rotary bearing 2 in interaction with the first working roll 17 and the first profile body 28 and pulled off the paper roll 41 for further transport (see FIGS. 6, 9, 10, 13, 18).

(36) In the version of a separation of perforated paper 39 with variable sheet length, the second profile body 36 is moved over the pivot axis 6a to the second working roll 18 via a rocking movement caused by a cam 48 of a control curve 10, wherein the profile fingers 47 of the second profile body 36 with the working roll 18 generate a punctual counter-tension in the paper 39 running between them and separate it in the area of the freely guided separation path 46 (see FIG. 18).

(37) In the version of separation by a blade, the second profile body 36 moves the spring-mounted, toothed folding blade 15 via a lever 16 and via the bearing axis 16a into the transport channel 27 during the revolution of the rotary bearing 2 in a predetermined position (see FIG. 10).

(38) As the rotary bearing 2 continues to rotate, the pivoting lug 20 is brought in engagement of its lateral link roller 23 with a predetermined position on the control cam 12 and, as a result of the constant transmission ratio and against the force of a form spring (24), precisely to the position in which the paper 39 is guided into the second folding nip 45 for receiving by a pair of working rolls 17, 18 (see FIG. 11).

(39) In the further advance, the pivoting lug 20 is returned to the starting position via the control cam 12 and the paper 39 with the second folded edge on the front side is guided out of the rotary bearing 2 and the bearing frame 1 and provided (see FIG. 12).

(40) In operation with a fixed gear, before the joint receiving by means of the first working roll 17 and the first profile body 28, the paper 39 remaining in the transport channel 27 after separation is guided further into the transport channel 27 by the pressure of the transport roll 29 from the first profile body 28 against a higher transport surface 25 of the pivoting lug 20 as part of the first sheet section 40 during the revolution of the rotary bearing 2 (see FIG. 13).

(41) The path 46 from the separating web 13 to the second folding nip 45 defines the maximum length of a sheet section 40 (see FIG. 13).

(42) FIG. 14 shows a top view of the folding machine and FIG. 15 a side view with the side disc 8 removed and also shows the arrangement of the form spring 24 for positioning the pivoting lug 20.

(43) FIG. 16 shows an oblique view with the side disc 8 removed and shows the arrangement of the folding blade 15 and its lever 16.

(44) FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a profile body 31 with two profile fingers 47.

(45) FIG. 18 schematically shows the separation of perforated paper 39 with variable sheet lengths, whereby the press-on device 6 is pivoted by the cam 48 of the control curve 10 and the profile fingers 47 briefly hold the paper sheet.

(46) By way of explanation, it is also indicated that the speed ratio of the drive pulley 43 (FIG. 1) driven by a 1st motor and the working rolls driven by a 2nd motor can determine the length of the separated sheets of paper 39. If a fixed gear is provided, positive control can be performed by a motor.

(47) In FIGS. 9 and 13, the radial arrow drawn in the transport roll 29 indicates the clamping function for blocking the paper feed for tearing off the perforated paper 39. FIG. 10 shows the separation process by cutting of the folding blades 15 when non-perforated paper 39 is used.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(48) 1 Bearing frame 2 Rotary bearing 2a Bearing axis RL 3 Bearing plate 4 Bearing plate 5 Guide web 6 Press-on device 6a Pivot axis AV 7 External control element 8 Side disc 9 Side disc 10 Control curve 11 Internal control element 12 Control cam 13 Separating web with structure 14 Separating web without structure 15 Folding blade 16 Lever 16a Bearing axis KL 17 First working roll 17a Bearing shaft 18 Second working roll 18a Bearing shaft 19 Third working roll 19a Bearing shaft 20 Pivoting lug 20a Axis 21 Bearing pin 22 Bearing pin 23 Link roller 23a Bearing axis LR 24 Form spring 25 Transport surface 26 Opening flap 26a Pivot axis opening flap 27 Transport channel 28 First profile body 29 Transport roll 30 Contact surface 31 Link roller 31a Bearing axis LR 32 Locking surface 33 Abutting surface 34 Locking surface 35 Abutting surface 36 Second profile body 37 Round spout 38 Link roller 38a Bearing axis LR 39 Paper 40 Sheet section 41 Paper roll 42 Sensor 43 Drive pulley 44 First folding nip 45 Second folding nip 46 Path 47 Profile finger 48 Cam