Patent Application
20240351819
The present invention relates to the technical field of paper converting, and similar products, and, in particular, relates to a machine for interfolding a web or sheet of paper equipped with an innovative folding or interfolding unit, in particular able to cut the web in sheets of predetermined length before folding or interfolding them.
As it is known, in the paper industry many types of machines and processes are used for producing paper tissues, towels, and similar products in packages of interfolded sheets of a determined height. These are obtained by folding the sheets in an “interfolded” way that means closing at each fold a final edge of the previous sheet and a starting edge of the following sheet.
In this way, at the moment of its use, when a sheet is extracted from the package, also an initial edge of the following sheet is extracted, thus simplifying its use for some kinds of uses.
The interfolding machines of known type work one or more webs of paper coming from one or more reels and that are cut at a cutting unit into sheets of predetermined length, and staggered fed to a folding unit at which 2 counter-rotating folding rolls work. More precisely, the cut into sheets of the webs is carried out on cutting rolls which alternately cooperate with related counter-blades.
Among the possible ways to fold the sheets, are known, in particular, the “L” and “V” interfolded, with 2 panels, the “Z” interfolded, with 3 panels, and the “W” interfolded, with 4 panels.
In the case of “L” and “V” interfolded, obtained by “single-fold” machines, of the type that is for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,014, the webs of paper are cut in such a way to form two staggered sequences of sheets which are alternately fed to the folding rolls. In this way, each sheet coming from a first direction is superimposed, for about half sheet, to a portion of the sheet coming from a second direction, and vice versa, at the moment in which the fold is carried out.
In the case of “Z”, “W”, or even more interfolded panels, obtained by the so called “multi-fold” machines of the type for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,762, only one web of paper is worked and, a sequence of sheets, which are already partially superimposed to each other, reaches the folding rolls from a single direction. As described in EP1520822, the superimposition between two following sheets is carried out immediately after the cut by a transfer roll and a delay roll, which together carry out a small fold at a previous sheet under which the following sheet is in part positioned.
Both in the single-fold and in the multi-fold machines, the folding rolls have a circumference whose length is a multiple of the panel length. In particular, in order to fold or interfold the sheets, the folding rolls are provided with retaining devices, such as suction holes, or mechanical pliers, which are synchronously operated for alternately starting and finishing each fold between two following panels.
For example, as described in EP1457444B1 which provides advancing rolls and folding rolls having suction holes, a first series of holes holds the sheets on a folding roll for a determined angular distance, and then “passes” them to the other folding roll also this provided with a parallel retaining device with suction holes, which works for another predetermined angular distance. Through this controlled “passage” of the sheet or web of paper from a folding roll to another one, the desired folding or interfolding configuration is carried out obtaining a stack of folded or interfolded sheets. Since the “panel length”, which determines the width of the package of folded sheets exiting the machine, is a submultiple of the circumferential development of the folding rolls, is, therefore, one of the main structural constraints of the folding machines, which impede to change the length of the panels without completely replacing the folding rolls.
Therefore, both in the case of multi-fold machines and in the case of single-fold machines of prior art, it is necessary to provide both the folding or interfolding rolls, and at least one cutting roll, in addition to the rolls which transfer the sheets cut by the cutting roll to the folding or interfolding rolls. Therefore, in addition to be complex from a structural point of view, the prior art machines have a great size. Furthermore, in the known machines, it is necessary to have suction rolls both for the cutting rolls and for the folding or interfolding rolls, resulting in high energy consumption for generating the vacuum necessary for aspiration.
Furthermore, both the multi-fold machines, and the single-fold machine of known type, have a high production rigidity, because, as anticipate above, both the folding or interfolding rolls, and the cutting rolls have a predetermined circumference whose length is a multiple of the panel length, whereby they are able to produce only a particular type of product.
In EP1630118 an interfolding machine is described having a support structure comprising a folding section at which the sheets are fed to the folding rolls staggered to each other, and, then, folded in such a way to obtain a determined interfolding configuration. The folding section provides a modular structure comprising a portion that can be removed and replaced with an equivalent portion, but adapted to work with a different length of the panels.
Even though the solution described in EP1630118 allows to make the machine a bit versatile because it allows to diversify the production of the machine, however, it requires long times to carry out the replacement of a module with another one having different characteristics with a not negligible loss of productivity. In particular, both the removal of the module from the machine and the installation of a new module are carried out by sliding the module along tracks parallel to the rolls of the machine. Therefore, the machine described in EP1630118 has a big size in the direction longitudinal to the rolls, because it requires to have an available manoeuvring area having a length which is, at least, comparable to the length of the removed rolls. It is, furthermore, suitable to note that EP1630118 does not describe in detail the devices that are able to cause the aforementioned sliding of the modules.
A drawback of the solution described in EP1630118 relates, in particular, the replacement of the folding section. This, in fact, comprises both the cutting rolls and the folding rolls and the separation groups, in particular the detaching fingers which operate the detachment of the sheets from the surface of the folding rolls once that the replacement of the module has been made, have to be necessarily repositioned in phase with the new folding rolls, operation which is very complex.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a machine for producing packages of laminar products, such as packages of napkins, tissues and similar products, able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art solutions.
It is, in particular, an object of the present invention to provide a machine for producing packages of laminar products, such as packages of napkins, tissues and similar products which allows to easily and quickly replace a portion of the machine with another one having the same functions.
It is, in particular, an object of the present invention to provide a machine for producing packages of laminar products, such as packages of napkins, tissues and similar products which allows to reduce the overall longitudinal dimension of the machine with respect to analogous solutions of prior art.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method producing packages of laminar products having analogous advantages.
These and other objects are achieved by a machine for producing packages of laminar products made of paper material folded or interfolded, in particular packages of napkins, tissues, towels, or similar products, said machine comprising a support frame configured to support:
Other features of the invention are and related embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.
In particular, the displacement group can be configured to move the support body from the assembled position to the disassembled position by lifting the support body from the support frame, in particular up to a predetermined height q1. More in particular, the displacement group can be, furthermore, configured to displace the support body from the disassembled position to the assembled position by lowering the support body on the support frame, in particular starting from the aforementioned predetermined height q1.
Advantageously, the displacement group can be configured to move the support body along a first displacement direction and at least a second displacement direction.
In particular, the first and second displacement directions can be orthogonal to each other.
In particular, the displacement group can be configured to lift, or lower, the support body causing the displacement of the same along the aforementioned first displacement direction. More in particular, the displacement can be configured, furthermore, to displace the support body in the raised position from or towards the support frame causing the same to slide along the aforementioned second displacement direction.
In an embodiment foresee by the invention, the aforementioned displacement group can be configured to displace the support body between the assembled position and the disassembled position by a rotation about at least a rotation axis, preferably parallel to the longitudinal rotation axes of the first and second rolls. In a further alternative embodiment provided by the invention, the displacement group can be adapted to displace the support body between the assembled position and the disassembled position by at least a translation and at least a rotation.
In particular, a motor group can be, furthermore, configured to cause at least one between the first and second folding or interfolding rolls to rotate about the respective rotation axis. More in particular, the motor group can comprise a motor and a motion transmission device adapted to transmit the rotational motion of the motor shaft of the aforementioned motor to at least one between the first and second folding or interfolding roll.
Advantageously, the transmission group of the motion can comprise at least one motion transmission member, for example a transmission belt, adapted to cause the aforementioned rotation of at least one folding or interfolding roll, about the respective longitudinal axis.
Preferably, a group for adjusting the tension can be, furthermore, provided configured to adjust the tension of the or each motion transmission member, in particular of the aforementioned transmission belt.
In particular, the aforementioned group for adjusting the tension can be configured to keep the tension of the motion transmission member, substantially constant, or constant. More in particular, the group for adjusting the tension can be configured to keep constant or substantially constant, the tension of the motion transmission member during the movement of the support body from the assembled position to the disassembled position that is carried out by said displacement group.
In a possible embodiment, the group for adjusting the tension can comprise a measurement device configured to directly or indirectly measure the tension on the transmission belt, for example a force sensor, in particular a load cell.
Preferably, the aforementioned measurement device is operatively connected to a processing device configured to operate an actuation device adapted to cause a lengthening or a shortening of the path of the or each motion transmission member depending on a tension signal measured by the aforementioned measurement device.
Advantageously, each said first and second folding or interfolding roll comprises:
Preferably, only one vacuum generation device is provided that is operatively connected to the vacuum distribution device of the first and of the second folding or interfolding roll.
Alternatively, can be provided:
In particular, the vacuum distribution device of the first and of the second folding or interfolding roll, and the or each vacuum generation device are pneumatically connected to each other by a connection duct.
More in particular, the aforementioned connection duct comprises:
In a possible embodiment, the connection duct comprises, furthermore, a third portion configured to move from a connection position for connecting the first and second portions of the connection duct, and a disconnection position for disconnecting the first and the second portion of the connection duct.
In particular, the third portion can be slidingly mounted with respect to the first and second portions of the connection duct. More in particular, the third portion can be configured to move between a retracted position corresponding to the disconnection position, and an advanced position corresponding to the connection position. Advantageously, at least one sealing element is, furthermore, provided positioned between the third portion, in particular between internal surface of the third portion, and the first and/or the second portion, in particular the external surface of the first and/or of the second portion.
Advantageously, a first and a second sealing element can be provided adapted to be positioned between the first and the third portion and between the second and the third portion, respectively, at the aforementioned advanced position.
In particular, the or each sealing element can be configured to move from a working configuration, where is adapted to exert a sealing action to pneumatically isolate the first and second portions of the connection duct from the external environment, and a rest configuration, where is not adapted to exert a sealing action. For example, the or each sealing element can be pneumatically connected to an inflating device adapted to cause it to move from the rest configuration to the working configuration, in particular by introducing air or another gas, into each sealing element.
Preferably, can be, furthermore, provided:
In particular, the first and second driving groups can be, furthermore, associated to a first and a second phase adjustment group configured to delay or anticipate the oscillatory motion of the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers with respect to a predetermined reference oscillatory motion, in such a way to delay or anticipate the instant (tr) at which the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers are adapted to alternately respectively cause the detachment of the folded or interfolded sheets of paper, from the first and second folding or interfolding roll.
More in particular, the first and second driving groups can be adapted to bring, respectively, the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers in predetermined reference position, in particular before that the displacement group is adapted to displace the support body between the assembled position and the disassembled position. In this way, it is ensured that at the moment of positioning a new support body on the support frame, no interference occurs between the different parts which remain on the support frame, in particular the detaching fingers and the parts that are mounted on the support body.
In particular, in that the folding or case interfolding rolls are provided with counter-blades, in particular integral to the roll, it is avoided that these can interfere with the detaching fingers. Furthermore, in this way, t is possible to speed up the starting operation of the machine once that a support body has been replaced with another. In other words, in this way it is possible to significantly reduce the downtime of the machine necessary to complete the operation.
Advantageously, the aforementioned engagement portions of the support body of the displacement group can be configured to reversibly move from an engagement configuration to a disengagement configuration. In particular, the aforementioned engagement portions of the support body and of the displacement group can be adapted to move from the engagement position to the disengagement position by translating with respect to each other in a first translation direction and from the disengagement position to the engagement position by translating with respect to each other in a second translation direction opposite to the first one.
Advantageously, a separation group can be, furthermore, provided configured to separate a finished stack of folded or interfolded sheets, from a following stack once that a predetermined height of the aforementioned stack to be formed is reached.
In particular, the aforementioned cutting group can comprise a first and a second cutting device provided, respectively, with at least a first and a second cutting blade. More in particular, the first and second cutting devices can be associated, respectively, to the first and second folding or interfolding rolls. These are, advantageously, respectively, provided with a first and a second plurality of counter-blades distributed peripherally to the first and to the second folding or interfolding roll.
Advantageously, the first and second pluralities of counter-blades are configured to operate, respectively, in combination with the first and with the second cutting blades of the cutting device to divide a first and a second web of paper, or similar products, in the first and in the second plurality of sheets.
In particular, the separation group comprises a first and second pluralities of separation members configured to move between a first position and a second position to cause the aforementioned separation of a finished stack from a stack to be formed. More in particular, the first and second pluralities of separation members are configured to move from the first to the second position moving along a respective movement trajectory external to the encumbrance of the first and of the second folding or interfolding roll, in such a way not to intersect the first and second pluralities of counter-blades.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for producing packages of folded or interfolded laminar products made of paper material, in particular packages of napkins, tissues, towels, or similar products, provides the steps of:
In particular, at least a first and a second support body can be provided and wherein are provided the steps of:
Advantageously, a first and a second plurality of detaching fingers can be, furthermore, provided configured to cause the detachment of the folded or interfolded sheets of paper, respectively from said first and from said second folding or interfolding roll and wherein, furthermore, are provided the steps of:
In particular, a vacuum distribution device can be, furthermore, provided configured to selectively pneumatically connect a vacuum generation device configured to generate a predetermined vacuum degree to at least one row of the aforementioned plurality of rows of suction holes, at predetermined angular positions of the tubular body, in such a way to cause the first and second pluralities of worked sheets of paper to be sucked and to adhere at predetermined portions of the folding or interfolding roll, said vacuum distribution device and said vacuum generation device being adapted to be pneumatically connected to, or disconnected from, each other by a connection duct comprising:
The invention will be now illustrated with the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
In
The machine 1 comprises, in particular, a support frame 100 configured to support a feeding group 10 adapted to feed at least one web of paper 5, preferably a first and a second web of paper 5a and 5b, along a respective predetermined feeding direction 105a and 105b. The machine 1 comprises a folding or interfolding group 30 equipped with a first and a second folding or interfolding roll 31 and 32. A cutting group 20 is, furthermore, provided configured to cut the, or each, web of paper 5 into a respective plurality of sheets 6 of predetermined length. This is determined, in particular, by the diameter of the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 and, if present, by the diameter of the cutting rolls 21 and 22 of the cutting group 20 as well as by the number of blades 26 which are mounted on the same. The folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 are configured to rotate about respective longitudinal rotation axes 131 and 132 in such a way to be counter-rotating with respect to each other, and to fold or interfold the or each aforementioned plurality of sheets of paper 6 at a folding or interfolding zone 35. In this way a stack 150 is obtained of sheets which are folded or interfolded according to a predetermined folding or interfolding configuration growing in height along a predetermined forming direction. In particular, the cutting group 20 and the folding or interfolding group 30 are mounted on the same support body 110. More in particular, the support body 110 is configured to move between an assembled position, in which is supported by the support frame 100, and a disassembled position, in which is, instead, not supported by the support frame 100. Preferably, once that the support body 110 has been moved to the disassembled position, it can be positioned in a store area 130, for example in order to be subject to ordinary or extraordinary maintenance operations, before being positioned, again, in the machine 1, and precisely on the support frame 100.
According to the present invention, the machine 1, furthermore, comprises a displacement group 50 configured to displace the support body 110 between the assembled position and the disassembled position. More in detail, the displacement group 50 and the support body 110 are provided with respective engagement portions 58 and 118 configured to engage with each other, in particular in a removable way, in such a way to allow the displacement group 50 to cause the displacement of the support body 110 between the assembled position and the disassembled position with respect to the support frame 100.
Preferably, the displacement group 50 is configured to cause the movement of the support body 110 from the assembled position to the disassembled position by lifting the same from the support frame 100, and the opposite movement, i.e. from the disassembled position to the assembled position, by lowering the support body on the support frame 100.
Advantageously, the displacement group 50 can be configured to displace the support body 110 at least along a first displacement direction 101. In particular, the first direction 101 can be a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axes 131 and 132 of the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32. More precisely, the first direction 101 can be the direction along which the displacement group 50 is adapted to cause the aforementioned lifting with respect to the support frame 100 to move the support body 110 same from the assembled position to the disassembled position, or the aforementioned lowering, to move, instead, the support body 110 from the disassembled position to the assembled position. More in particular, the aforementioned displacement group 50 can be, furthermore, configured to displace the support body 110 along a second displacement direction 102. For example, the aforementioned displacement direction 102 can be a direction orthogonal to the first displacement direction 101.
In particular, in the embodiment diagrammatically shown in
In an alternative embodiment provided by the present invention and diagrammatically shown from
As diagrammatically shown for example in the
In the example that is diagrammatically shown in the
In some embodiments, the support member 55 can be configured to slide with respect to a third guide member 53 along a third displacement direction 103 orthogonal to the first and to the second displacement direction 101 and 102. In this way, it is possible to approach or move away the engagement portions 58 and 118 with respect to each other to cause them to move from the disengagement position shown in the
As diagrammatically shown for example in
In this way, if a production change is requested, for example in terms of length of the panel and/or the sheet 6, it is sufficient to operate the displacement group 50 in order to carry out the operations that are diagrammatically shown in the
In particular, the displacement group 50 can be configured to alternately and selectively bring a first support body 110a in the disassembled position from the assembled position, and a second support body 110b from the disassembled position in the assembled position.
As diagrammatically shown in
According to the present invention, the vacuum distribution device and the or each vacuum generation device 250 are pneumatically connected to each other by a connection duct 70. This, as diagrammatically shown in
In particular, as diagrammatically shown in the
As diagrammatically shown in the
In particular, the or each sealing element 75 can be configured to move from a working configuration, in which is adapted to exert a sealing action to pneumatically isolate the first and second portions 71 and 72 of the connection duct 70 from the external environment (
Advantageously, as diagrammatically shown in
In particular, the motion transmission device 42 can comprise a first transmission member 43, for example a first toothed belt 43. As diagrammatically shown in the
Advantageously, a group for adjusting the tension 60 is, furthermore, provided configured to adjust the tension of the motion transmission device 42, in particular the tension acting on the first and/or on the second motion transmission member 43 and/or 45.
In particular, the group for adjusting the tension 60 can be configured to keep constant, or substantially constant, the tension of the motion transmission device 42, preferably of the second transmission member 45, in particular during the movement of the support body 110 between the assembled position and the disassembled position carried out by the displacement group 50. In this way, it is possible to ensure that during the replacement of a support body 110, for example of the support body 110a with the support body 110b, the second motion transmission member 45, in particular the toothed belt, is correctly positioned with respect to the different movable parts remaining on the support frame 100. Therefore, it is ensured that the different parts of the machine 1 are able to correctly work when the machine 1 is operated again and arranged in working conditions.
In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figure for simplicity, the transmission of the motion of the motor shaft of the main motor 41 to the rotation shaft 145 can be obtained by using as motor shaft 145 the motor shaft of the main motor 41, i.e. mounting the same coaxially to the rotation axis 144.
In an embodiment of the invention, the group for adjusting the tension 60 comprises a measurement device 63, for example a force sensor, such as a load cell, advantageously configured to measure the tension on the second motion transmission member 45.
In particular, the measurement device 63 can be operatively connected to a processing device 200 configured to operate an actuation device 65. More in particular, the actuation device 65 can be configured to cause a lengthening or a shortening of the path of the motion transmission member 45 depending on the tension signal detected by the aforementioned measurement device 63. More in detail, the motion transmission belt 45 can be mounted on a series of guide pulleys or rollers 46 and 47 at least one of which able to move along a predetermined direction. For example, the transmission belt 45 can be mounted on a series of fixed guide pulleys 46 and on at least one movable guide pulley 47, for example on two movable guide pulleys 47. In particular, the actuation device 65 can be arranged to lengthen or to shorten the path of the transmission belt 45 thus causing the or each movable guide pulley 47 to move away from the fixed guide pulleys 46. As diagrammatically shown in the
Advantageously, the tension adjustment device 60 can be used also during the normal working conditions of the machine 1 to keep the transmission belt 45 constantly at a determined correct working tension. In this way both overloads and loosening, which could cause the loss of phase between the folding rolls 31 and 32 with other components of the machine 1 exposing to the risk of jamming, are avoided, or malfunctions in general that in the worst cases can cause the machine 1 to be damaged.
As diagrammatically shown in
In particular, a first and a second driving group 80a and 80b are provided configured, respectively, to cause a oscillatory back and forth motion of the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b towards the or from the folding or interfolding zone 35, in such a way to cause the e detachment of the sheets of paper 6, respectively, from the first and second folding or interfolding roll 31 and 32. More in particular, the first and second driving groups 80a and 80b can be configured to convert the rotational motion of a motor, or of respective motor, in an oscillatory back and forth motion that is transmitted to the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, a transmission device can be provided operated by a main motor 41, not shown in the figure, configured to cause the first and second driving groups 80a and 80b to rotate and that is, therefore, converted in an oscillatory motion.
Advantageously, the first and second driving groups 80a and 80b can be configured to bring, respectively, the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b in a predetermined reference position, preferably corresponding to the position of top dead centre of the detaching fingers 85a and 85b during the respective back and forth motion. In particular, the reference position can be a position where the detaching fingers 85a and 85b do not have mechanical interference with other components of machine 1, in particular with the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 and with the cutting blades 36. Advantageously, the first and second driving groups 80a and 80b are arranged to move, respectively, the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b in the reference position before that the displacement group 50 is arranged to move the support body 110 between the assembled position and the disassembled position. In this way, it is ensured that, at the moment of positioning a new support body 110 on the support frame 100, no interference occurs between the different parts of the machine 1, which remain on the support frame 100 and the parts that are mounted on the support body 110, in particular between the detaching fingers 85a and 85b and the cutting blades 36 distributed along the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32, in the case that the cutting group 20 is of the type described above with reference to
In particular, according to the present invention, the first and second driving groups 80a and 80b can be configured to delay or anticipate the oscillatory motion of the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b with respect to a predetermined reference oscillatory motion. In this way, it is possible to delay or anticipate the instant (tr) at which the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b are arranged to cause the detachment of the sheets of paper 6 folded or interfolded, respectively from the first and the second folding or interfolding roll 31 and 32. This particular technical solution allows to adjust the motion of the detaching fingers 85a and 85b on the basis of the type of support body 110 installed in the machine 1, in particular of the diameter of the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32, of the number of blades 36 of which they are, in case, provided with, and of the other parameters of the cutting group 20 and/or of the folding or interfolding group 30 installed on the support body 110 arranged in the assembled position.
In the embodiment diagrammatically shown in
Advantageously, the first and second phase adjustment devices 90a and 90b can comprise, respectively, a first and a second epicycloidal gear 95a, and 95b. More precisely, in this case, the first and second epicycloidal gear 95a and 95b can be operatively connected respectively to a first and a second motor group 91a and 91b, for example by a first transmission belt 87a, and 87b, and to a first and a second driving device 92a and 92b by a second transmission belt 88a and 88b. More precisely, the first and second driving device 92a and 92b are adapted to transmit the rotational motion generated by the first and second motor groups 91a and 91b, respectively to the first and to the second driving group 80a and 80b. The first and second epicycloidal gears 95a and 95b are, respectively, provided with a first and a second electric motor 96a and 96b. These are adapted to adjust the velocity of rotation of the first and of the second driving device 92a and 92b adjusting the velocity and the direction of rotation of a first and of a second epicycloidal gear, not shown in the figure for simplicity, housed, respectively, within the first and the second epicycloidal gear 95a and 95b.
According to a possible functioning mode provided by the invention, the first and second electric motors 96a and 96b can be normally still in such a way not to change the phase of the detaching fingers 85a and 85b with respect to the other parts of the machine 1, in particular the folding rolls 31 and 32. If it is necessary to change the phase of the first and of the second plurality of detaching fingers 85a and 85b, for example as a consequence of the replacement of a support body 110 with another, the first and the second electric motors 96a and 96b are operated to actuate, respectively, the first and second epicycloidal gears in such a way to temporarily accelerate or decelerate the second transmission belt 88a and 88b. In this way, it is possible to introduce a delay, or an advance, in the oscillatory motion of the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b and, therefore, to postpone, or anticipate, the instant at which the web or sheet of paper is released by the respective folding or interfolding roll 31 and 32, i.e. the instant tr at which the first and second pluralities of detaching fingers 85a and 85b are adapted to cause the web or sheet of paper 6 to be detached from the respective folding or interfolding roll 31 and 32, in particular with respect to a reference detaching instant tr*. In particular, maintaining still the first and the second motor group 91a and 91b and operating the first and the second electric motor 96a and 96b, it is possible to move the detaching fingers 85a and 85b with respect to the respective folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32. In this way when it is necessary to replace a support body 110 with another, it is possible to move the detaching fingers 85a and 85b in the reference position maintaining the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 still. Once that the reference position has been reached, it is possible to start the replacement of the support body 110.
In a possible embodiment of the invention that is diagrammatically shown in
In particular, according to a possible sequence of steps provided by the invention, at the moment of replacing a first support body 110a with a second support body 110b, a step of positioning the detaching fingers 85a and 85b in a reference position can be provided. The displacement group 50 can be, then, operated in such a way to engage the first support body 110a to be replaced at respective engagement portions 58 and 118.
Advantageously, for example with reference to the
In particular, the engagement portions 58 and 118 can be configured in such a way that during the movement from the assembled position to the disassembled position and vice versa, no relative motion occurs between the aforementioned respective contacting surfaces 59 and 119, or, however, there is no significant relative motion, that means excluding relative motion due to vibrations, or stresses, produced on the same during the displacement by the displacement group 50.
For example, at the engagement t configuration the contacting surface 119 of the engagement portion 118 is adapted to be in contact, for example to lay above, with the contacting surface 59 of the engagement portion 58 of the displacement group 50.
In particular, still as diagrammatically shown in the
Advantageously, the engagement portions 58 and 118 can be configured to interlock with each other.
Therefore, the first support body 110a once engaged can be displaced by the displacement group 50 at the store area 130 where is positioned at a determined storing position 132a. Then, the displacement group 50 engages a second support body 110b, in particular positioned at a corresponding storing position. The second support body 110b is, therefore, displaced by the displacement group 50 at the working area 120, and, then, positioned on the support frame 100. Once that the second support body 110b has been moved in the assembled position, the detaching fingers 85a and 85b are, then, moved from the reference position to the working position in order to start a new production cycle.
In an alternative embodiment provided by the invention, if the connection duct 70 is of the type described above with reference to the
The aforementioned step of engaging by the engagement portions the displacement group 50 and the support body 110 and of positioning the first and second portions 71 and 72 of the connection duct 70 in the disconnection position, can be carried out simultaneously, or one before the other. The same can be said for the steps of positioning the first and second portions 71 and 72 of the connection duct 70 in the connection position and the positioning of the detaching fingers 85a and 85b from the reference position to the working position. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a step can be provided of approaching or moving the detaching fingers 85a and 85b away with respect to each other, before displacing the support body 110a by the displacement group 50 to the store area 130. In this case, a step can be also provided of repositioning the detaching fingers 85a and 85b with respect to the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 in a predetermined position before positioning the detaching fingers 85a and 85b in the working position. Advantageously, all the aforementioned steps, or at least a part of these, can be automatically managed, operated and controlled by the processing device 200.
Once that the new support body 110 has been positioned on the support frame 100, it is possible to block it by blocking devices in such a way to constrain their relative position. The blocking devices are not shown in the figure for simplicity. In some cases, during the replacement of a support body 110 with another, among the steps, it is possible to carry out a further step of positioning the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 in a predetermined reference position, or a position zero. This further step can be particularly necessary in case that the folding or interfolding rolls 31 and 32 have the cutting blades 36 on board. In the case that the support body 110 comprises both the folding or interfolding group 30 and the cutting group 20, this further step can be omitted.
In an alternative embodiment provided by the invention and diagrammatically shown in
In the alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in the
The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this departing reason, from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021000022133 | Aug 2021 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/057554 | 8/12/2022 | WO |
