Separator for forming discrete stacks of folded web

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output web from a web source, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end, adjacent the web source to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface, adjacent the web source, constructed and arranged to support a web exiting the web source remote from the conveyor for a selected duration so that a selected volume of web, based upon a predetermined compression of sheets in the stack, is formed on the supporting surface free of contact with the conveyor;
• and
• a drive member for moving the supporting surface between the position remote from the conveyor and a position in communication with the conveyor so that web on the supporting surface can be conveyed downstream by the conveyor.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web from web folder and separator, the conveyor driving the web from an end, adjacent the web folder and separator, to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface, adjacent the web folder and separator, that supports a web exiting the web folder and separator remote from the conveyor for a selected period of time so that a selected volume of web is formed on the supporting surface free of contact with the conveyor;
• a drive member for moving the supporting surface between the position remote from the conveyor and a position in communication with the conveyor so that web on the supporting surface can be conveyed downstream by the conveyor;
• and
• wherein the supporting surface comprises at least one pivoting rail located with respect to a recess in the conveyor that receives the rail when the rail is in communication with the conveyor, the rail extending pivotably out of the slot toward the folder and separator at selected times to support web output from the folder and separator remote from the conveyor.

A conveying system comprising;

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface that moves between a position aligned with the conveyor for movement of the web downstream by the conveyor, to a position remote from the conveyor wherein folded web is deposited on the supporting surface free of downstream conveyance;
• a means for sensing when a desired volume of web is deposited on the supporting surface to move the supporting surface from the position remote from the conveyor to the position aligned with the conveyor for movement of the folded web to the downstream location by the conveyor;
• and
• wherein the means for sensing includes a spring that biases the supporting surface to the position remote from the conveyor, the spring being overcome by a predetermined weight of folded web located on the supporting surface.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web from a web folder and separator, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end, adjacent the web folder and separator, to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface, adjacent the web folder and separator, that supports a web exiting the web folder and separator remote from the conveyor for a selected period of time so that a selected volume of web is formed on the supporting surface free of contact with the conveyor, the selected volume of web being based upon a predetermined compression of folded web;
• and
• a drive member for moving the supporting surface between the position remote from the conveyor and a position in communication with the conveyor so that web on the supporting surface can be conveyed downstream by the conveyor.

A conveying system comprising;

• a conveyor for directing web from a folder and separator to a downstream location;
• an elevator platform located at the downstream location for receiving the folded web from the conveyor, the elevator platform selectively ascending and descending relative to the conveyor;
• a drive for rotating the elevator platform on an axis that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction wherein successive stacks of folded web deposited on the elevator platform can be rotationally offset relative to each other;
• and
• a retractable pusher that extends through the conveyor, into a path of travel of the folded web at selected times to drive an upstream end of the folded web off of the downstream end of the conveyor and onto the elevator platform.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for directing web from a folder and separator to a downstream location;
• an elevator platform located at the downstream location for receiving the folded web from the conveyor, the elevator platform selectively ascending and descending relative to the conveyor:
• a drive for rotating the elevator platform on an axis that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction wherein successive stacks of folded web deposited on the elevator platform can be rotationally offset relative to each other:
• a discharge conveyor located downstream of the elevator platform, the elevator platform being movable so that it can be positioned in communication with the discharge conveyor to transfer a stack of folded web onto the discharge conveyor;
• and
• wherein the elevator platform includes a conveyor for transferring the stack of folded web onto the discharge conveyor.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web from a web folder and separator, the conveyor driving the web from an end, adjacent the web folder and separator, to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface adjacent the web folder and separator, that supports a web exiting the web folder and separator remote from the conveyor for a selected period of time so that a selected volume of web is formed on the supporting surface free of contact with the conveyor;
• a drive member for moving the supporting surface between the position remote from the conveyor and a position in communication with the conveyor so that web on the supporting surface can be conveyed downstream by the conveyor;
• and
• a retractable pusher, located at the downstream end of the conveyor, for driving at least an upstream trailing protion of a folded web off the downstream end of the conveyor.

A conveying system comprising

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface that moves between a position aligned with the conveyor for movement of the web downstream by the conveyor, to a position remote from the conveyor wherein folded web is deposited on the supporting surface free of downstream conveyance;
• a means for sensing when a desired volume of web is deposited on the supporting surface to move the supporting surface from the position remote from the conveyor to the position aligned with the conveyor for movement of the folded web to the downstream location by the conveyor;
• and
• an elevator platform positioned at the downstream end of the conveyor, the elevator platform including a turntable drive for rotating a web received from the conveyor by the elevator platform to a desired rotational orientation.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end to a downstream end;
• a supporting surface that moves between a position aligned with the conveyor for movement of the web downstream by the conveyor, to a position remote from the conveyor wherein folded web is deposited on the supporting surface free of downstream conveyance;
• a means for sensing when a desired volume of web is deposited on the supporting surface to move the supporting surface from the position remote from the conveyor to the position aligned with the conveyor for movement of the folded web to the downstream location by the conveyor;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking the supporting surface in the position aligned with the conveyor so that web is received for direct conveyance in the downstream direction by the conveyor.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end to a downstream end;
• a platform located at the downstream end, the platform receiving the folded web from the conveyor, the platform including an elevator drive for raising and lowering the platform relative to the conveyor so that stacks having a plurality of thicknesses can be received by the platform;
• a turntable drive interconnected with the platform to rotate the platform relative to a downstream direction so that the folded web received by the platform is positionable in a plurality of desired rotational orientations:
• a sensor that senses passage of the folded web onto the platform, the sensor signaling the elevator drive to lower the platform in response to the passage therethrough;
• and
• a pusher mechanism that biases a tail end of the folded web onto the platform in response to passage of the folded web through the sensor.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for receiving a stack of output folded web, the conveyor driving the web from an upstream end to a downstream end:
• a platform located at the downstream end, the platform receiving the folded web from the conveyor the platform including an elevator drive for raising and lowering the platform relative to the conveyor so that stacks having a plurality of thicknesses can be received by the platform;
• a turntable drive interconnected with the platform to rotate the platform relative to a downstream direction so that the folded web received by the platform is positionable in a plurality of desired rotational orientations:
• and
• a pivoting plate having a plate sensor attached thereto, the pivoting plate being engaged by an edge of the folded web in at least one rotational orientation and being free of engagement with the web in at least another rotational orientation, wherein engagement of the pivoting plate by the edge instructs the elevator drive to cease raising movement.

A method for conveying a folded web comprising:

• outputting web from a folder;
• conveying the outputted web to a downstream location;
• supporting the folded web, adjacent the folder, so that the web is free of conveying at selected times;
• locating the folded web output by the folder so that the folded web is conveyed to the downstream location;
• and
• forming the web into discrete stacks at the downstream location including locating successive stacks of folded web at the downstream location and further including lowering a supporting surface so that a top of each of the successive stacks is located to receive an additional stack of folded web thereon.

A method for conveying a folded web comprising:

• outputting web from a folder;
• conveying the outputted web to a downstream location;
• supporting the folded web, adjacent the folder, so that the web is free of conveying at selected times;
• locating the folded web output by the folder so that the folded web is conveyed to the downstream location;
• and
• applying an auxiliary driving force, adjacent the downstream location, to an upstream trailing end of the web, to drive the upstream trailing end of the web into the downstream location.

A conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor for directing a stack of web from an upstream location to a downstream location;
• an elevator platform located at the downstream location for receiving the folded web from the conveyor, the elevator platform selectively ascending and descending relative to the conveyor;
• and
• a drive for rotating the elevator platform on an axis that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction, wherein successive stacks of folded web deposited on the elevator platform can be rotationally offset relative to each other.