Method and apparatus for folding a stack of sheets
AssigneeAhlstrom Oyj
InventorsDaniel L. Cournoyer, Bruno Dellier, Eric Rousset, Philippe Sorel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for folding a stack of superposed sheets. The method comprises transferring the stack to a folding station, gripping a first part of the stack with a first grip and forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding. Then the at least a part of the stack is folded over the first part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease, the folded stack is gripped with a second grip and the folded stack is transferred from the folding station to a next handling stage and releasing the first grip.
Claims19
A method for folding a stack of superposed sheets, comprising:
- transferring the stack to a folding station;
- forming a first grip between a first lower conveyor system and a first upper conveyor system;
- gripping a first part of the stack with the first grip;
- transferring the stack on an upwards sloping part of the first lower conveyor system and forwarding the stack partially on a second upper conveyor system having an upper incoming side that is set in the same upwards tilting angle as the upwards sloping part of the first lower conveyor system;
- forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding;
- folding at least a part of the stack over the first part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease;
- gripping the folded stack with a second grip;
- and
- transferring the folded stack from the folding station to a next handling stage and releasing the first grip.
An apparatus for folding a stack of superposed sheets, comprising:
- a first conveyor system for receiving the stack to a folding station;
- first gripping elements for gripping a first part of the stack with a first grip, wherein the first gripping elements for forming the first grip are a first lower conveyor system and a first upper conveyor system forming a nip, wherein the first lower conveyor system comprises an upwards sloping part for transferring the stack on the first lower conveyor system and forwarding the stack partially on a second upper conveyor system having an upper incoming side that is set in the same upwards tilting angle as the upwards sloping part of the first lower conveyor system;
- a creasing element for forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding;
- transfer elements for folding at least a part of the stack over the part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease;
- second gripping elements for gripping the folded stack with a second grip;
- and
- a control sensor to perform control of transferring the folded stack from the folding station and releasing the first grip.
A method for folding a stack of superposed sheets, comprising:
- transferring the stack to a folding station;
- gripping a first part of the stack with a first grip;
- forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding;
- folding at least a part of the stack over the first part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease;
- gripping the folded stack with a second grip;
- and
- transferring the folded stack from the folding station to a next handling stage and releasing the first grip,
- wherein the stack is transferred on a second lower conveyor system, and comprising forming the first grip by a set of clamps.
An apparatus for folding a stack of superposed sheets, comprising:
- a first conveyor system for receiving the stack to a folding station;
- first gripping elements for gripping a first part of the stack with a first grip;
- a creasing element for forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding;
- transfer elements for folding at least a part of the stack over the part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease;
- second gripping elements for gripping the folded stack with a second grip;
- a control sensor to perform control of transferring the folded stack from the folding station and releasing the first grip;
- and
- a second lower conveyor system for receiving the stack and a set of clamps for forming the first grip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.