US 12,434,937 B2
Folding or interfolding unit for folding or interfolding sheets of paper
Daniele Dettori, Capannori (IT); Graziano Dini, Bagni di Lucca (IT); and Massimo Bianchi, Viareggio (IT)
Assigned to KÖRBER TISSUE FOLD S.R.L., Porcari (IT)
Appl. No. 18/287,369
Filed by KÖRBER TISSUE FOLD S.R.L., Lucca (IT)
PCT Filed Apr. 20, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/053678
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 18, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/224155, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000010283 (IT), filed on Apr. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0208766 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. B65H 45/20 (2006.01); B65H 45/24 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 45/20 (2013.01) [B65H 45/24 (2013.01); B65H 2403/51 (2013.01); B65H 2406/34 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A folding or interfolding unit of a plurality of sheets of paper, comprising:
a first and a second folding or interfolding roll configured to fold or interfold, said plurality of sheets of paper according to a predetermined folding or interfolding configuration, at a folding or interfolding zone, each said first and second folding or interfolding roll including:
a tubular body configured to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation about a longitudinal rotation axis oriented along a horizontal direction;
a plurality of gripping groups each of which includes:
a mechanical gripping member comprising a movable part and a fixed part, said movable part being configured to move, at a gripping point having a first predetermined angular position, from an opening position to a closing position with respect to said fixed part, in said closing position said mechanical gripping member being arranged to mechanically hold said or each sheet of said plurality of sheets up to a releasing point having a second predetermined angular position; and
at least one suction hole associated to each mechanical gripping member and configured to cause said or each sheet of paper to be sucked between a position of starting suction and a position of ending suction introduce the same into said mechanical gripping member; and
an actuation group configured to cause a movable element at a time to move from said opening position to said closing position and vice versa;
said actuation group including:
an opening device that is a cam device and is configured to selectively cause a movement of a movable element at a time from said closing position to said opening position, at said releasing point; and
a closing device configured to cause a movable element to move from said opening position to said closing position at said gripping point;
wherein said cam device comprises a support shaft rotatably connected to a respective folding or interfolding roll, and arranged to support said movable part, each support shaft being engaged at an end portion of an actuation shaft; and
wherein said cam device further comprises a feeler member arranged to engage at a second end of said actuation shaft, said feeler member being arranged to move along a fixed guide member and configured to cause said movable part to change inclination with respect to said fixed part at said gripping and releasing points to cause the same to move from said closing position to said opening position and vice versa.