Separator Belt Finger Count Apparatus and Method
AssigneeC.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorJames Andrew Walsh
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.
Claims109
A method for separating a stack of folded sheets disposed in a stacking region extending from an upstream to a downstream direction along a folded sheet path into packs having a desired number of folded sheets, wherein the folded sheets in the stack have successive folds in the stack alternatively disposed on opposite sides of the folded sheet path with each fold joining two successive panels opening from one another on the opposite side of the folded sheet path to form an opening between successive folds, the method comprising:
- inserting first, second, third and fourth count fingers into the stack respectively into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third fingers to form a completed pack downstream from the second count finger.
A method for separating a stack of folded sheets, being continually built in a stacking region extending from an upstream to a downstream direction along a folded sheet path with the stack moving generally downstream at a build rate, into packs having a desired number of folded sheets, wherein the folded sheets in the stack have successive folds in the stack alternatively disposed on opposite sides of the folded sheet path with each fold joining two successive panels opening from one another on the opposite side of the folded sheet path to form an opening between successive folds, the method comprising:
- supporting the downstream end of each pack being built with a build finger;
- when one of the packs being built has reached the desired number of folded sheets, sequentially inserting first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack to define a completed one of the packs downstream from the first and second count fingers as the stack continues to build upstream from the third and fourth count fingers, with the first and second count fingers being inserted into the stack at opposite transverse edges of a penultimate panel of a last folded sheet of the completed pack downstream and upstream respectively from the penultimate panel, and the third and fourth count fingers being inserted into the stack at opposite transverse edges of a second panel of a first sheet of a next pack, upstream and downstream respectively from the second panel;
- moving the count fingers downstream at the build rate until all of the count fingers have been inserted, and then moving the first and second count fingers in a downstream direction away from the third and fourth count fingers at a speed faster than the build rate to form a gap between the second and third count fingers, to pull the completed pack away from the remainder of the stack;
- inserting a strip finger into the gap between the second and third count fingers over the penultimate panel of the completed pack;
- and
- moving the completed pack out of the stacking region with the strip and build fingers.
An apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets, disposed in a stacking region extending along a folded sheet path defining a downstream direction, into packs having a desired number of folded sheets, wherein the folded sheets in the stack have successive folds in the stack alternatively disposed on opposite sides of the folded sheet path with each fold joining two successive panels opening from one another on the opposite side of the folded sheet path to form an opening between successive folds, the apparatus comprising:
- first, second, third and fourth count fingers configured and operatively connected for sequential insertion, starting with the first count finger and ending with the fourth count finger, into the stack to separate the stack, between the second and third count fingers into a completed pack downstream from the second count finger and further into a next pack upstream from the third count finger.
A count finger cassette, for separating a stack of folded sheets into packs having a desired number of sheets, the count finger cassette comprising:
- a frame, first and second rotatable drive elements, first and second rotatable primary idler elements, first and second endless drive members each having at least one count finger extending outward therefrom, and a guide element;
- the frame defining first and second spaced parallel rotational axes;
- the first and second drive elements being respectively journaled for rotation independent of one another about the first and second rotational drive axes, with the first drive element being adapted to receive a first driving input for driving the first drive element about the first drive axis, and with the second drive element being adapted to receive a second driving input for driving the second drive element about the second drive axis;
- the first primary idler element being journaled for rotation upon and independently from the second rotatable drive element about the second rotational axis;
- the second primary idler element being journaled for rotation upon and independently from the first rotatable drive element about the first rotational axis;
- the first endless drive member being drivingly engaged with a portion of the outer peripheries of the first primary idler element and the first rotatable drive element to thereby at least partly define a first substantially planar path for travel of the first endless drive member extending generally perpendicular to, and around the first and second rotational axes;
- the second endless drive member being drivingly engaged with a portion of the outer peripheries of the second primary idler element and the second rotatable drive element to thereby at least partly define a second substantially planar path for travel of the second endless element extending generally perpendicular to, and around the first and second rotational axes, and lying in a substantially side-by-side relationship to the first substantially planar path;
- and
- the guide member being attached to the frame and configured for urging both the first and second endless drive members to travel substantially in parallel with one another along a substantially straight line for a portion of the respective paths of travel of the first and second endless members.
A folding and separating apparatus comprising:
- a folding roll rotatably mounted about a roll axis for providing a stream of folded sheets to a stacking region downstream from the roll, with the roll having an annular groove opening outward through the periphery of the roll;
- and
- a count finger cassette having a portion thereof operatively disposed within the annular groove.
A method for separating a stack of folded sheets disposed in a stacking region extending from an upstream to a downstream direction along a folded sheet path into packs having a desired number of folded sheets, wherein the folded sheets in the stack have successive folds in the stack alternatively disposed on opposite sides of the folded sheet path with each fold joining two successive panels opening from one another on the opposite side of the folded sheet path to form an opening between successive folds, the method comprising:
- inserting at least a first and a second count finger operatively mounted on endless drive members into the stack respectively into at least two successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the count fingers to form a completed pack downstream from the count fingers.
An apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets disposed in a stacking region extending from an upstream to a downstream direction along a folded sheet path into packs having a desired number of folded sheets, wherein the folded sheets in the stack have successive folds in the stack alternatively disposed on opposite sides of the folded sheet path with each fold joining two successive panels opening from one another on the opposite side of the folded sheet path to form an opening between successive folds, the apparatus comprising:
- at least a first and a second count finger operatively mounted on endless drive members for insertion respectively into at least two successive openings in the stack and separating the stack between the count fingers to form a completed pack downstream from the count fingers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.