Rolls to fold, cut, or advance segments in folding apparatus

Abstract

A hollow roll assembly for cutting, advancing, and folding segments when used in a folding machine, including discreet transversely extending vacuum conduits superposed against the inside surface of a rotating roll. The conduits have closed ends, apertures in one surface connecting the conduit to vacuum ports on the surface of the roll, and open sliding connections communicating with vacuum grooves in a non-rotating vacuum valve. The conduits also have apertures in another surface to communicate with vacuum grooves in the inside of the roll and extend vacuum to side margins of the segment. Similar conduits are provided for air with connections to surface apertures at one end and a pressurized air source at the other end. In another embodiment of the roll assembly, anvils and roll stiffening means are provided. In other embodiments, rolls include a pre-molded section having air and vacuum conduits for use in single or double fold applications. In all embodiments, the pre-molded plastic or prefabricated tubing can have a closed end and an end with sliding connections on both ends to cooperate with two stationary valves. In the preferred embodiment, a single vacuumized roll with anvils completes a singlefolded product versus two vacuumized rolls required for present art machines, and can complete a doublefold with one roll versus three vacuumized rolls with present art machines.