System for support and movement of a stack of interfolded sheets during production of paper products in stacks of interfolded sheets in an interfolding machine

A system for support and movement of a stack of interfolded sheets during production of stacks of interfolded sheets in an interfolding machine, wherein the interfolding machine comprises an unwinder/folder for folding the sheets in an interfolded way to form a stack of interfolded sheets of a desired height, the system comprising:

• at least a support table predisposed to support a stack of interfolded sheets under formation up to formation of a completed stack of interfolded sheets of a desired height;
• a conveyor belt, configured to be able to restingly receive a completed stack of interfolded sheets and transport the completed stack of interfolded sheets towards a work station;
• wherein the at least a support table, for the formation of a stack of interfolded sheets of a desired height, is vertically movable superiorly of the conveyor belt in order to be positionable in a first raised position (S1), in order to start to restingly receive the sheets folded in an interfolded manner from the unwinder/folder of the interfolding machine, and then, during the folding in an interfolded manner of the sheets, is movable vertically downwards in order to enable the formation of a stack of interfolded sheets until it is positioned in a second raised position (S2) at which the formation of the stack of interfolded sheets is completed, at the desired height,
• wherein the at least a support table, after the stack of interfolded sheets has been formed at the desired height, is movable from the second raised position (S2) towards the conveyor belt in such a way as to deposit the formed stack of interfolded sheets on the conveyor belt and then be returned into the first raised position (S1) in order to restingly receive a next stack of interfolded sheets under formation;
• the conveyor belt including a translator arranged and configured, according to the height of the stack of interfolded sheets which is to be formed, in order to translate the conveyor belt vertically and adjust the position of the conveyor belt, and therefore the distance of the conveyor belt, with respect to the second raised position (S2) into which the support table is brought for the completion of the formation of the stack of interfolded sheets;
• and
• comprising vertical guide bars of the stack of interfolded sheets, arranged vertically facing one another and parallel in order to laterally guide the stack of interfolded sheets under formation, during the movement of the support table from the first raised position (S1) to the second raised position (S2), and in order to laterally guide the formed stack of interfolded sheets during the movement of the support table from the second raised position (S2) towards the conveyor belt, wherein the vertical guide bars are distanced from one another in such a way as to enable passage between them of the conveyor belt when the conveyor belt is translated vertically by the translator in order to vary the distance of the conveyor belt from the position of the support table when the support table is in the second raised position (S2) for the completion of the formation of the stack of interfolded sheets at the desired height.

A system for support and movement of a stack of interfolded sheets during production of stacks of interfolded sheets in an interfolding machine, wherein the interfolding machine comprises an unwinder/folder for folding the sheets in an interfolded way to form a stack of interfolded sheets of a desired height, the system comprising:

• at least a support table predisposed to support a stack of interfolded sheets under formation up to formation of a completed stack of interfolded sheets of a desired height;
• a conveyor belt, configured to be able to restingly receive a completed stack of interfolded sheets and transport the completed stack of interfolded sheets towards a work station;
• wherein the at least a support table, for the formation of a stack of interfolded sheets of a desired height, is vertically movable superiorly of the conveyor belt in order to be positionable in a first raised position (S1), in order to start to restingly receive the sheets folded in an interfolded manner from the unwinder/folder of the interfolding machine, and then, during the folding in an interfolded manner of the sheets, is movable vertically downwards in order to enable the formation of a stack of interfolded sheets until it is positioned in a second raised position (S2) at which the formation of the stack of interfolded sheets is completed, at the desired height,
• wherein the at least a support table, after the stack of interfolded sheets has been formed at the desired height, is movable from the second raised position (S2) towards the conveyor belt in such a way as to deposit the formed stack of interfolded sheets on the conveyor belt and then be returned into the first raised position (S1) in order to restingly receive a next stack of interfolded sheets under formation, the at least a support table (10) comprising a fork element or a pair of fork elements (11, 12) facing one another;
• the conveyor belt including a translator arranged and configured, according to the height of the stack of interfolded sheets which is to be formed, in order to translate the conveyor belt vertically and adjust the position of the conveyor belt, and therefore the distance of the conveyor belt, with respect to the second raised position (S2) into which the support table is brought for the completion of the formation of the stack of interfolded sheets,
• wherein the conveyor belt is closed loop-wound on relative driving pulleys which are mounted on a support member interposed between the driving pulleys and arranged internally of the loop-wound conveyor belt, wherein the support member is mounted slidably vertically by respective straight sliding guides on a frame, and wherein the translator is configured and arranged to be connected to the support member in order to translate the support member vertically with respect to the respective straight sliding guides and thus vary a distance of the conveyor belt from the position of the support table when the support table is in the second raised position (S2) for the completion of the formation of the stack of interfolded sheets at the desired height;
• and
• vertical guide bars of the stack of interfolded sheets, arranged vertically facing one another and parallel in order to laterally guide the stack of interfolded sheets under formation, during the movement of the support table from the first raised position (S1) to the second raised position (S2), and in order to laterally guide the formed stack of interfolded sheets during the movement of the support table from the second raised position (S2) towards the conveyor belt.