Web cutting tuck folding machine and method

Apparatus for cutting and tuck folding web material from a plurality of webs, the apparatus including a plurality of first endless feed belts each having a first run, a plurality of second endless feed belts each having a second run, the run of each of said first belts overlying the run of one of said second belts;

• belt drive means for moving the overlying belt runs downstream together at a belt speed;
• each belt including a plurality of first regularly spaced cut openings extending through the belt and spaced along the belt and a plurality of first regularly spaced tuck fold openings extending through the belt and spaced along the belt, each tuck fold opening located between two adjacent cut openings;
• the cut openings and the tuck fold openings overlying each other at said runs;
• a web cutter for severing lead portions of webs held between belt runs;
• a tuck folder located downstream from the cutter and including a tuck roller on one side of said runs and a gripper roller on the other side of said runs, the tuck folder including a plurality of tucker blades spaced around the circumference thereof to one side of each pair of belt runs, the gripper roller including a plurality of grippers spaced around the circumference thereof adjacent each pair of overlying belt runs, tuck folder drive means the rotating said tuck and gripper rolls to move the tuck blades and grippers downstream along said runs so that the tuck blades extend through tuck openings, move web segments held between such runs at the tuck openings into grippers for clamping and withdrawal of the segments from the runs through tuck fold openings in the belts adjacent the gripper roll.

Apparatus for cutting and tuck folding web material, the apparatus including a first endless feed belt having a first run, a second endless feed belt having a second run, said belt runs overlying each other;

• belt drive means for moving the belt runs downstream together at a belt speed;
• each belt including a plurality of cut openings extending through the belt and spaced along the belt and a plurality of tuck fold openings extending through the belt and spaced along the belt, each tuck fold opening located between two adjacent cut openings, the cut openings in each belt and the tuck fold openings in each belt overlying each other at said runs;
• a web cutter;
• a tuck folder;
• said belt runs extending past said cutter and folder with said cutter located upstream of said folder;
• the cutter including a first cut member on one side of said runs and a second cut member on the other side of said runs, said members cooperable to cut a segment from the lead end of a web fed between said runs through overlying cut openings;
• said tuck folder including a tucker member on one side of said runs and a gripper on the other side of said runs, and tuck folder drive means to move the tucker member and the gripper so that the tucker member extends through overlying tuck openings, moves a web segment held between said runs at the tuck openings into the gripper for clamping by the gripper and the gripper pulls the gripped web segment from between said belt runs and through the tuck fold opening in the belt adjacent the gripper roll.

The method of cutting and tuck folding web material in a device having downstream moving belts with overlying runs comprising the steps of:

• a) moving the belts downstream at said runs with said runs overlying each other and each moving at a belt speed;
• b) feeding an end of a web into the upstream end of said runs and downstream between said runs at a web speed;
• c) severing a web portion from an end of the web and moving the severed web portion downstream with said belts at said belt speed;
• d) extending a tucker blade on one side of said runs through said belts to move a part of the web portion outwardly from the other side of said runs;
• and
• e) gripping the part of the web segment located outwardly of the other side of the runs and moving said part away from the runs to pull the entire web segment through a belt and out from between the runs.

Apparatus for cutting and tuck folding web material, the apparatus including a first endless feed belt having a first run;

• a second endless feed belt having a second run, said second run overlying said first run;
• belt drive means for moving the belt runs downstream;
• a plurality of openings extending through both belts at said runs, said openings including a plurality of first cut openings extending through the first belt and spaced along the first belt and a plurality of first tuck fold openings extending through the first belt and spaced along the first belt, each tuck fold opening located between two adjacent cut openings;
• a first web cutter;
• a first tuck folder;
• said belt runs extending past said cutter and folder with said cutter located upstream of said folder;
• the cutter including a first cut member on one side of said runs and a second cut member on the other side of said runs, said members cooperable to cut a segment from the lead end of a web fed downstream between said belts at said runs at each cut opening;
• said tuck folder including a tucker blade on one side of said runs and a gripper on the other side of said runs;
• tucker blade drive means for extending the tucker blade through tuck openings and moving web segments held between said belts at the tuck openings away from the belts and into the gripper;
• and gripper drive means for moving the gripper away from the belts to pull the web segments from between the belts through tuck fold openings and fold the web segments.

The method of cutting and tuck folding web material in a device having downstream moving belts with overlying runs, comprising the steps of:

• a) moving the belts downstream at said runs with said runs overlying each other and each belt moving at a belt speed;
• b) feeding an end of a web into the upstream end of said runs and downstream between said runs at a web speed;
• c) severing a web portion from an end of the web and moving the severed web portion downstream with said belts at said belt speed;
• d) extending a tucker blade on one side of said runs through said belts to move a part of the web portion outwardly from the other side of said runs;
• and
• e) gripping the part of the web segment located outwardly of the other side of the runs and moving said part away from the runs to pull the web segment through a belt and away from between the runs and fold the web segment.