Discharge and transfer system for interfolded sheets

A method of separating a group of interfolded sheets from a series of interfolded sheets discharged from a sheet folding mechanism, wherein the sheets are discharged from the folding mechanism in a substantially vertical direction, comprising the steps of:

• forming intermittent separations in the interfolded sheets so as to separate the interfolded sheets into groups of interfolded sheets including an endmost group of sheets;
• moving the sheets in a substantially horizontal direction subsequent to discharge from the folding mechanism, wherein the endmost group of sheets is supplied by substantially horizontal movement to a clamping mechanism;
• supporting the endmost group of sheets during horizontal movement of the endmost group of sheets;
• engaging the clamping mechanism with the endmost group of sheets;
• and
• moving the clamping mechanism laterally in a direction transverse to the first direction to exert a pulling force on the endmost group of sheets, wherein the separation between the endmost group of sheets and the next adjacent group of sheets, functions to enable the endmost group of sheets to be moved laterally relative to the next adjacent group of sheets.

A method of separating a group of interfolded sheets from a series of interfolded sheets discharged from a sheet folding mechanism, wherein the sheets are discharged from the folding mechanism in a substantially vertical direction, comprising the steps of:

• forming intermittent separations in the interfolded sheets so as to separate the interfolded sheets into groups of interfolded sheets including an endmost group of sheets;
• moving the sheets in a substantially horizontal direction subsequent to discharge from the folding mechanism, wherein the endmost group of sheets is supplied by substantially horizontal movement to a clamping mechanism;
• engaging the clamping mechanism with the endmost group of sheets by engaging a first clamping member outwardly of the endmost separation in the interfolded sheets such that the first clamping member is engaged within the endmost group of sheets, and engaging a second clamping member with the endmost group of sheets outwardly of the first clamping member;
• and
• moving the clamping mechanism laterally in a direction transverse to the first direction to exert a pulling force on the endmost group of sheets by laterally moving a carriage to which the first and second clamping members are mounted;
• wherein the separation between the endmost group of sheets and the next adjacent group of sheets, functions to enable the endmost group of sheets to be moved laterally relative to the next adjacent group of sheets.

A method of separating a group of interfolded sheets from a series of interfolded sheets discharged from a sheet folding mechanism, comprising the steps of:

• forming intermittent separations in the interfolded sheets in the sheet folding mechanism, wherein the intermittent separations function to separate the interfolded sheets into a series of side-by-side groups of interfolded sheets including an enidmost group of sheets and a series of inner groups of sheets, wherein each group of sheets defines a length and terminates laterally spaced ends, and wherein each group of sheets extends along a longitudinal horizontal axis;
• advancing the groups of sheets in a forward direction toward a reciprocating clamping mechanism;
• engaging the clamping mechanism with the endmost group of sheets in a clamping location adjacent one of the laterally spaced ends of the endmost group of sheets without engaging the remainder of the length of the endmost group of sheets;
• and
• moving the clamping mechanism in a lateral horizontal direction along the longitudinal axis of the endmost group of sheets while maintaining engagement of the clamping mechanism with the endmost group of sheets in the clamping location without engaging the remainder of the length of the endmost group of sheets, wherein the lateral horizontal direction is perpendicular to the forward direction in which the sheets are advanced toward the clamping mechanism, and wherein movement of the clamping mechanism in the lateral horizontal direction exerts an axial separating force on the endmost group of sheets that moves the endmost group of sheets lengthwise in the lateral horizontal direction relative to the inner groups of sheets and along the longitudinal axis of the endmost group of sheets, wherein the separation between the endmost group of sheets and the next adjacent inner group of sheets functions to enable the endmost group of sheets to be separated from and moved laterally and horizontally relative to the next adjacent inner group of sheets.