U.S. patent number 3,873,082 [Application Number 05/317,534] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-25 for synthetic paper folding device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Oji Yuka Goseishi Kenkyusho. Invention is credited to Kotaro Imaizjmi, Katsukuni Nitta.
United States Patent |
3,873,082 |
Imaizjmi , et al. |
March 25, 1975 |
SYNTHETIC PAPER FOLDING DEVICE
Abstract
A paper folding apparatus for use with a supply of synthetic
paper, making use of an array of rollers disposed in proximity to
such supply. The rollers are in communication with one another to
form a series of corresponding roller nips for pressing and guiding
the paper in a predetermined manner to impart folds thereon. A
plurality of paper turn-up passages disposed in alternate offset
relation with respect to said roller nips receive the paper prior
to its travel to the next respective nip. Heating means, i.e.,
electric coil, etc. are disposed in proximity to the underside of
the folding rollers in order to heat such rollers during the
folding operation. A conveyor belt receives the folded paper and
transfers such paper to a pair of rollers where a suitable knife
blade cuts the paper to size. Heating means disposed beneath such
pair of rollers also provide a source of heat for the rollers as
the blade acts upon the paper.
Inventors: |
Imaizjmi; Kotaro (Tokyo,
JA), Nitta; Katsukuni (Tokyo, JA) |
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Oji Yuka Goseishi
Kenkyusho (Kashima, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
11511917 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/317,534 |
Filed: |
December 22, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 25, 1971 [JA] |
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47-1810 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
493/427; 493/341;
493/420; 493/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H
45/147 (20130101); B65H 45/144 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65H
45/12 (20060101); B65H 45/14 (20060101); B65h
045/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;270/68,68A,61 ;93/DIG.1
;425/384 ;223/51 ;72/176,200 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Heinz; A. J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Smolowitz; Martin
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A synthetic paper folding apparatus for successively folding
paper sheet material advancing through said apparatus, comprising:
a buckle chute folder having a plurality of adjacent paper folding
rollers forming corresponding nips at the respective interface
surfaces of said rollers; alternately disposed buckle chutes and
paper folding roller heating means disposed in proximity to said
folding rollers, said roller heating means being provided with an
inner cylindrical chamber having a series of nozzle passages
disposed along its longitudinal axis, an outer generally
cylindrical member surrounding said chamber thusly defining a
channel therebetween, said outer member being further defined by an
integrally formed elongated slot means, heating element means
positioned within said channel for heating a heat transfer fluid
being fed into said chamber from a source of supply, said outer
cylindrical member being rotatable relative to said chamber for
orientation of said elongated slot means with respect to adjacent
roller undersurfaces to enable heated fluid travelling from said
nozzle passages in said channel to exit through said elongated slot
means and impinge tangentially upon said undersurfaces in the
direction of roller rotation as folded paper is drawn through said
nips.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said elongated slot
means being an integrally formed slotted nozzle disposed in the
axial direction of said outer cylindrical member for directing a
heat fluid stream out of said channel into said ambient
atmosphere.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said heating element
means is an electrical heating element disposed about said inner
cylindrical member.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said heat transfer
medium supplied to said inner cylindrical chamber is pressurized
air.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said paper folding
rollers are heated to a temperature varying from 50.degree. to
90.degree. C.
Description
The present invention is directed to an apparatus suitable for use
in the folding of synthetic paper. More particularly, the present
invention relates to an apparatus adapted to fold synthetic paper
of the type which will be more fully described hereinafter, in a
manner such that the tendency of the paper as folded exhibits
physical characteristics similar to that normally found in natural
paper.
By way of background, it has recently been found that synthetic
paper has been developed, that is material made from stretched
plastic resin film such as: polyolphin (single component or mixture
of homo or copolymer) polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutane,
etc., which exhibits physical properties similar to natural paper,
i.e., retaining printed or written matter thereon. Empirical
methods and testing have indicated that such synthetic papers
manifest a high resistance against folding, with the result that
such synthetic paper does not lend itself in the manufacture of
such articles as books, bags, maps to be folded, etc. Presently
available conventional folding machines which are employed in the
manufacture of these articles with natural paper have not worked
out well with synthetic paper. For an example, if the synthetic
papers of the type mentioned above are to be folded by conventional
folding machines, the deformation recovery of any fold is quite
great, and in the event that a plurality of folding operations are
to be performed continuously as within the manufacture of a book or
a folded map, the fold deformation of preceding folds tends to
recover so that the article is not in its proper form for further
travel in the manufacturing operation. As a result, the article
cannot be smoothly fed from one sequence into the next.
Furthermore, problems arise in maintaining proper folds in order to
assure that subsequent folds are in proper registration. Another
problem that has been found is the tendency of such synthetic
folded papers to expand from their intended shape by the recovery
of folding deformation. Once this occurs, any stacking or wrapping
process is disturbed and the paper is no longer within the
parameters of the manufacturing operation.
On the other hand, if pressure between the paper folding rolls
increases, the position of the folding line tends to remain within
its predetermined position, and fold recovery and alignment is
consequently improved. However, once this pressure increases beyond
a predetermined amount, a rupture of the paper can occur or the
printed matter on such synthetic paper will tend to come off; an
obvious result is that it is difficult to fold such synthetic
papers to the same degree as with natural papers. This problem is
further compounded as the number of steps in the folding operation
are increased, since there is a direct relationship between the
number of folds on such synthetic paper and the difficulty in
maintaining the fold in place.
A principal feature of the present invention is provided with a
synthetic paper folding machine for use with a supply of synthetic
paper, including: a series of alternately disposed folding rollers
in cooperative relation with respect to one another, said rollers
forming an array where mutually associated rollers form paper
contact nips with respect to each other; said rollers being
disposed in proximity to a passage provided for said paper to enter
into said series of folding rollers; one of more paper
fold-directing means in offset relation with respect to said nips
of said rollers; and heating means for heating said folding rollers
to a predetermined temperature.
Also within the scope of the present invention is a fold-directing
means having a turned up portion extending away from about the nip
of the respective folding rollers at an off-setting angle, wherein
such means urges said paper passing therethrough from said nips to
be formed by folding and returned to the next set of roller
nips.
Accordingly, it is the main object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus adapted to overcome the defects of the prior
art.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for folding synthetic paper free of any defects after
such folding operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
synthetic paper folding apparatus which employs a heated folding
roller yielding a folded synthetic paper exhibiting the
characteristics of that of natural paper.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a synthetic
paper folding apparatus which is able to perfectly execute a
multitude of paper folds suitable for use in the manufacture of
articles requiring numerous folds.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
synthetic paper folding device effective for multi-step
folding.
The aforementioned objects will be best understood with respect to
the specification, claims and accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1a is a side view illustrating the present invention.
FIG. 1b is an end elevation along a line I--I shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the turned-up portion of
the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a heated air nozzle of the present
invention.
FIG. 3b is a cross-section of the heated air nozzle of FIG. 3a.
FIG. 4 is a perspective elevation of the folded paper.
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation showing the relation of roll
temperature and deformation recovery.
FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of roll temperature and
contraction of synthetic paper.
FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present
invention. In accordance with the operation of the present
invention, the paper 1 enters through a supply passage 2 into a
sequence of cooperating rollers A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, A.sub.4,
and A.sub.6, where such rollers are disposed in cooperating
relationship and in communication with one another. For an example,
the even numbered rollers such as A.sub.2, A.sub.4, A.sub.6, are
each disposed to communicate with two adjacent rollers; one in
front and one to the rear, i.e., roller A.sub.2 communicates with
roller A.sub.3 and A.sub.1 ; roller A.sub.4 communicates with
roller A.sub.3 and A.sub.5 and roller A.sub.6 communicates only
with roller A.sub.5. The points or nips at which the even-numbered
rollers communicate with the odd numbered rollers have been
identified with the indication B. Therefore, A.sub.2 roller
communicates with A.sub.1 at point B.sub.1 and with roller A.sub.3
at point B.sub.2 ; A.sub.4 roller communicates with roller A.sub.3
at nip B.sub.3 and with A.sub.5 roller at nip B.sub.4. Lastly, the
A.sub.6 roller communicates with roller A.sub.5 at point B.sub.5.
The rollers A.sub.1 through A.sub.6 are adjustable by suitable
means such as by spring means (not shown). The rollers A.sub.1
through A.sub.6 are intended to rotate in counter-direction with
respect to each other so as to engage and urge the paper 1 to
travel in a select course of travel where folds on paper 1 are
completed in, for example, four steps. An alternating array of
turned-up passages or buckles iddentified as C.sub.1, C.sub.2,
C.sub.3, C.sub.4 are provided at an angle (slanting) with respect
to the previously identified nips B.sub.1, B.sub.2, B.sub.3,
B.sub.4, B.sub.5. More specifically, this array of buckles or
passages are offset with respect to the roller nips and extend
alternately to the left and to the right of the indicated points
B.sub.1 through B.sub.5. For an example, the buckle C.sub.1 extends
in a slanting direction from the upper direction of contacting
points B.sub.1, B.sub.2 ; buckle C.sub.2 for example, extends from
the rear or the lower portions of contacts of B.sub.2, B.sub.3 and
so on for the remainder of the buckles, C.sub.3 C.sub.4, etc.
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged side elevation of the turned-up passage or
buckle C.sub.4. This configuration comprises a pair of upper grid
frames 4 and lower frames 5 which oppose one another through a
nominal clearance 3 which corresponds to the thickness of the
folded paper 1. The leading part of the upper frame 4 forms a
smooth curved surface so as to guide the paper 1 from the nip
B.sub.4 and the upper face of the lower frame 5 extends to the
direction of the tangent under roll A.sub.6 of the nip B.sub.5. At
the lower end of the clearance 3, stopper 6 is provided which is
intended for adjustment corresponding to the length of the folding
paper. The other buckles or turned up passages C.sub.1, C.sub.2,
C.sub.3, are of similar construction to that shown in FIG. 2.
Disposed beneath the folding rollers A2 and A4 are thin tubes
D.sub.1, D.sub.2, which eject heated air to the folding rollers
A.sub.4, A.sub.6. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b the thin tube
comprises an inner pipe 7, a coil heater 8, wound on the outer face
of the inner pipe 7 and an outer pipe 9. The inner pipe 7 is
communication with an air compressor of a conventional type (not
shown) and includes nozzles 10 disposed in one direction and with
corresponding nozzles 11 oriented in a direction opposite to that
of nozzles 10 disposed on outer pipe 9. The outer pipe 9 is closed
at both ends and is adjustable, by rotating about its axis for
proper positioning, so that nozzles 11 can be positioned to eject
heated air in the direction of rotation of the folding roller
A.sub.4, A.sub.6. In so doing, the heated air does not in any way
interfere to adversely affect the movement of the paper through the
rollers. More particularly, the position of the thin tube D.sub.1,
D.sub.2 is selected to most advantageously provide for efficient
movement of the folded paper and to provide heat to the roller. In
the case where a buckle or turned-up passage type of folding
machine is employed, it is desirable to dispose the tube D.sub.1,
D.sub.2 under the folding roller so as to provide for effective
heating and to thereby permit ease modification of the apparatus in
the event additional folding steps are required. The direction of
the stream of air heating the rollers must be the same as that of
the folding roller. At the outset of the folding operation, the
paper is usually pressed several times and by subsequent treatment
via rollers, the fold is made firm. In such subsequent steps, the
latter folding requires a lesser amount of pressing; however, it
follows that the resultant folds are not very satisfactory. In an
endeavor to overcome the aforementioned problem, it has been found
desirable to provide heat underneath such folding rollers.
A conveyor belt 12 disposed in front of the last in the series of
contact edges or nips, namely B.sub.5 is governed by a pair of
rollers 13, 14, such belt 12 conveys the folded paper in the
longitudinal direction to a pair of folding rollers 15, 16 which
are disposed in the line of travel of such conveyor belt 12. A
paper folding blade in the form of a knife 17 is provided above the
nip formed by the rollers 15, 16 and is adapted to adjustably be
positioned upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto.
Furthermore, thin tubes D.sub.3, D.sub.4 disposed beneath rollers
15, 16 eject heated air to the folds of the paper 1 with a high
level of heat emmission; to achieve this, ejected air from the thin
tube D.sub.3, D.sub.4 travels in a direction consistent with a
rotation of rollers 15, 16.
By way of further explanation, the apparatus of the instant
invention is intended to operate as follows:
Air is supplied to the inner pipe 7 by a compressor and such air is
urged to pass through nozzles 10 to the space between the inner
pipe 7 and the outer pipe 9, and is then heated by the heating coil
wire 8; thereafter, the heated air is ejected from the nozzle 11
and impinges upon the rollers A.sub.4, A.sub.6 to heat them, as
well as the synthetic paper 1 as such paper travels therethrough.
The temperature of the rollers A.sub.4, A.sub.6 is regulated to a
level in order to maintain it below that point where the synthetic
paper can deform and contract. The synthetic paper 1 is cut to a
predetermined length and passes from the supply passage 2 to
contacting nip B.sub.1 which is that point between folding rollers
A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and in turn enters and travels up the buckle
C.sub.1. Subsequently, the end of paper 1 contacts a stop portion 6
on C.sub.1 and then the paper is urged to bend and travel toward
the nip B.sub.2 and is retained in the nip B.sub.2 between the
folding roller A.sub.2, A.sub.3 such that the paper is folded. Then
the folded paper in turn is urged to travel and enter into the next
turned up passage or buckle C.sub.2 and contacts a stop portion 6
on the buckle C.sub.2. Next, the paper begins to bend and travels
toward the nip B.sub.3 between rollers A.sub.3, A.sub.4 and is in
turn folded again. As hereinbefore explained, the paper is folded
successively by passing contacting points or nips B.sub.1 . . .
B.sub.5 for example, at least four times, and is then in turn urged
to travel onto the conveyor belt 12 from whence the folded paper
rides on rollers 15, 16. The cutting blade 17 is urged to descend
and makes an appropriate cut, and the paper is then folded in a
longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 4. At this moment, the
folding rollers A.sub.4, A.sub.6 are heated and the paper 1 is
heated at the nips B.sub.4, B.sub.5. In this connection, the folded
portions of the paper thus exhibit a lower Young modulus and in
turn exhibits the properties of: readily achieving plastic
deformation, mini=mization for deformation to recover, and a
tendency on the part of the synthetic paper to remain in its folded
state.
In the aforementioned arrangement, the nozzle which is ejecting
heated air for heating the folding rollers can include: heating
means such as electronic heating wire, steam ducts or other
suitable means. Furthermore, it is also within the contemplation of
the present invention to employ an infra-red lamps or other heating
means instead of a nozzle arrangement as described above.
By way of example, the following are illustrations of the operation
of the instant invention.
EXAMPLE I
A folding machine of the type hereinbefore described was
constructed in a manner to fold the synthetic paper in four stages
or steps as was provided with thin tubes of the type identified as
D.sub.1, D.sub.2 which were 16 mm in diameter and provided with an
array of spaced nozzles 4 mm in diameter disposed under the folding
rollers A.sub.4, A.sub.6. Heated air at a temperature of
150.degree. C was ejected from nozzles in the direction identical
to that of the direction of the rollers A.sub.4, A.sub.6 and the
heated roller 15, 16. The pressure at the nips B.sub.1 B.sub.2 was
set at 0.7 kg/cm and the rotating velocity of the folding roller
A.sub.1, A.sub.2 was 900 rpm. The paper being folded in the machine
was a synthetic paper of a polypropylene with a thickness of
110.mu. and a weight of 88 gr/m.sup.2. The results were most
satisfactory; the synthetic paper folded to the same degree of
responsiveness as the folds in natural paper and the folds
maintained their position at a predetermined point in a precise
manner.
EXAMPLE II
Utilizing the same machine as indicated above, the temperature and
volume of the heated air were adjusted and the temperature of the
heated folding rollers A.sub.4, A.sub.6 was adjusted to vary from
20.degree. C to 90.degree. C. Furthermore, the data reflects the
ease in gathering and arranging 25 sheets of folded synthetic
paper. (0 = good; .DELTA. = less than good; X = bad). The results
are tabulated in Table A hereinbelow.
TABLE A ______________________________________ Roller Yield
Temperature Rate Operation ______________________________________
20.degree. C 35% X 30.degree. C 40% X 35.degree. C 86% .DELTA.
50.degree. C 98% .DELTA. 60.degree. C 98% 0 70.degree. C 97% 0
80.degree. C 97% 0 90.degree. C 55% X
______________________________________
From the Table it is apparent that if the temperature of the folded
roller is set at from 35.degree. to 80.degree. C, the yield rate
and the overall gathering and wrapping operation are as good as
with natural paper.
EXAMPLE III
A further test utilizing the same machine as above, had the
synthetic paper folded under a roller pressure of 0.5 kg/cm. at
various roller temperatures. Deformation recovery of the fold was
measured (the term deformation recovery, that is the height, H at
10 cm. from the fold after a period of 30 seconds after the folding
operation) and is shown in FIG. 4. The relationship between roller
temperature and deformation is shown in FIG. 5 and roller
temperature and contraction is shown in FIG. 6. It is apparent from
the graphs in FIGS. 5 and 6 that the deformation recovery is quite
substantial under 30.degree. C. However, if the roller temperature
is above 90.degree. C deformation recovery is less, but contraction
is large.
In the aforementioned embodiment, the turned-up passages buckles
C.sub.1, C.sub.2 were employed for deflecting the paper into the
nips B.sub.1, B.sub.2 etc. However, instead of such buckles
C.sub.1, C.sub.2 etc. it is possible to employ one or more folding
blades disposed in parallelism with the axis of the rollers
A.sub.1, A.sub.2 as a means for folding paper into such nips. In
the same sense the invention can employ a pair of folding rollers
15, 16 in the paper supply passage at a point prior to the folding
rollers A.sub.1, A.sub.2 instead of as mentioned above.
It will be understood that the foregoing relates only to a
preferred embodiment of the invention and it is not intended to
cover changes and modifications of the invention which do not
represent a departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *