C.g. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc.

James Andrew Walsh

James R Michler

Tad T Butterworth

Charles Louis Schmidt, V

Tim Schramm

Timm Schramm

Embodiments of the present invention provide new and improved folding apparatuses and methods for interfolding a continuous stream of sheets into a single-fold interfolded pattern of sheets while passing all of the sheets substantially along a single sheet path. More particularly, all sheets in the continuous stream of sheets pass through the nips between adjacent components.

Single path single web single-fold interfolder and methods

An apparatus and method are provided, for alternatively producing either small or bulk packs of napkins from a stack of folded napkins produced by one folding machine, through use of a pack dispatching arrangement having an inlet, a small pack transfer station and a bulk pack transfer station, and configured for operation in a small pack mode for dispatching a stream of spaced apart small packs of folded sheets separated from the stack of folded sheets, and received at an inlet of the pack dispatching arrangement, to the small pack transfer station, and alternatively operable in a bulk pack mode for dispatching a stream of spaced apart bulk packs of folded sheets separated from the stack of folded sheets, and received at an inlet of the pack dispatching arrangement, to the bulk pack transfer station.

Small and bulk pack napkin separator

An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.

High speed interfolder separator

The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.

Separator belt finger count apparatus and method

A method and apparatus for folding over a portion of at least one top sheet of a stack of interfolded sheets. The foldover apparatus includes a conveyor adapted to move the stack in the downstream direction, a vacuum assembly adapted to separate at least a portion of the at least one top sheet from the remainder of the stack, and a forming plow to fold over the portion of the at least one top sheet. The method includes moving the stack of sheets downstream along a path, separating the portion of the at least one top sheet from the remaining portion of the stack of interfolded sheets, moving the portion of the at least one top sheet adjacent a forming plow, moving the portion of the at least one top sheet along the folding plow, and folding over the portion of the at least one top sheet.

Growing community of inventors

Ashland, WI, United States of America

James Andrew Walsh